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Jordan, Neil
THE CRYING GAME (1992)
Remastered for this edition, Neil Jordan's acclaimed thriller centers on Fergus (Stephen Rae), who kidnaps British soldier Jody (Forest Whitaker) for the IRA, befriends his captive and promises to contact his girlfriend, Dil (Jaye Davidson), should Jody die. When tragedy occurs, Fergus finds Dil and they hit it off -- but Fergus is in for a big surprise. Miranda Richardson also stars. Extras include director's commentary and an alternate ending.
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This moviescript available in following formats:
Jordan, Neil. THE CRYING GAME
Crying Game Script
The Crying Game
FADE IN:
EXT. CARNIVAL - DAY
A loudspeaker playing Percy Sledge’s "When a Man Loves a
Woman," as we see a carnival in the distance - with a Ferris
Wheel turning round and round.
A black man is by a stall. On his arm is an Irish girl with
blond hair. The black man is drunk, and is tossing rings
around a bowling pin.
JODY
And that’s cricket, hon.
An attendant hands him the teddy bear. It looks ridiculous in
his huge hands. He gives it to the girl.
JODY
You want it?
GIRL
Sure.
JODY
Doesn’t matter if you don’t.
He puts his arm around her and drags her on.
JODY
Jody won’t be offended. Jody’s never
offended. What’d you say your name was?
GIRL
Jude.
JODY
Jude. Suits you, Jude.
JUDE
The teddy bear?
JODY
No, fuck the bear. The name. Jude. And
it’s June. Jude in June.
He comes to a small canvas tent with a sign on it - TOILET.
2.
JODY
Gotta piss, Jude.
He holds her hand.
JODY
Don’t run off, Jude.
JUDE
You don’t know me, do you?
Jody walks inside the canvas flap and vanishes from sight. We
can still see his hand, holding Jude’s. She leans against the
canvas, looking bored.
JODY
(inside)
What if I did?
JUDE
You’d know I wouldn’t run off.
She stands there, listening to the sound of him urinate. Her
eyes flick around the carnival. They settle on a tall dark-
haired man in a dark jacket. He nods.
JODY
Never pissed holding a girl’s hand, Jude.
JUDE
You didn’t?
JODY
And you know what?
JUDE
Tell me, Jody
He staggers out, buttoning up.
JODY
It’s nice.
He goes to kiss her. She turns her head away.
JUDE
Not here.
JODY
Who gives a fuck.
JUDE
You never know.
3.
She pulls him over toward the water.
JODY
I never know nothing.
JUDE
People. They could be looking.
Jody follows her, as she walks backward, drawing him on. He
moves his hips to a song as Jude leads him over the beach,
under a train trestle.
JUDE
Come and get me, soldier --
JODY
Whatever you say, Jude...
He sinks down on his knees toward her. She wraps her arms
around his neck and kisses him. Jody writhes on top of her,
fumbling with his belt. Jude cocks one eye upward. A shadow
falls across them.
CLOSE ON JODY, kissing her. A gun is put to his head. He
turns around, drunkenly.
JODY
What the fuck --
The gun whacks him across the cheek and he falls sideways.
Jude scrambles to her feet and darts like an animal through a
field.
Jody feels his cheek. He can see her blond head vanishing
among the fields. He looks up and sees a group of men around
him. The tallest of them, Fergus, cocks the gun.
INT. CAR - DAY
A mini, driving down a country road. Two men in the front,
three in the back.
On the floor of the car Jody lies, with three pairs of feet
on top of him, a black bag over his head and the barrel of a
gun dangling close to his face. Fergus holds the gun. He is
smoking a cigarette. His movements are slow and somewhat
innocent.
FERGUS
So what’s your name, soldier?
4.
JODY
Fuck you.
FERGUS
Yeah.
EXT. SMALL FARMHOUSE - EVENING.
INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT.
Jody pulled through and tied to a chair. Maguire, a small
lean man, talks to him through the hood.
MAGUIRE
The situation is simple. You’re being
held hostage by the Irish Republican
Army. They’ve got one of our senior
members under interrogation in
Castleraigh. We’ve informed them that if
they don’t release him within three days,
you’ll be shot. You’ll be treated as our
guest until further developments. Have
you anything to say?
Jody is motionless under the black hood.
FERGUS
Give him a cup of tea.
MAGUIRE
Do you want a cup of tea?
He still says nothing.
DISSOLVE.
All the men are drinking tea. The blond woman comes in with a
plate and some food on it.
FERGUS
See does he want some.
JUDE
Do you want some food?
Jody sits as still as a grave, saying nothing.
DISSOLVE.
Late at night -- it is dark. The men are sleeping. Fergus is
sitting by a chair, gun in his hand, watching the prisoner.
Jude comes in, with a flashlight.
5.
FERGUS
Hey -- what’s he like?
JUDE
Horny bastard.
FERGUS
Did you give him it?
JUDE
There are certain things I wouldn’t do
for my country.
FERGUS
Have a look at him.
JUDE
Can’t.
FERGUS
Poke him or something. See if he’s still
alive.
JUDE
He’s all right.
FERGUS
Hasn’t moved for twelve hours. Go on.
Have a heart.
She moves over to him. She prods him in the legs with her
foot. He doesn’t move. Then she lifts the hood ever so
slightly, to peer inside. Suddenly the man moves like
lightning, jerking his head down so the hood comes off,
throwing his body, tied to the chair, over Jude.
JODY
You fucking bitch -- you fucking whore --
He pins her to the ground, his body bent with the chair. He
writhes on top of her in a grotesque parody of love. She is
screaming and the room is alive, each man awake, grabbing
guns, screaming.
MAGUIRE
Turn the fucking thing off --
EXT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT.
Fergus follows Jude out a back door, holding her by the arm.
FERGUS
You all right?
6.
JUDE
Fucking animal.
She takes in huge gobs of air.
FERGUS
You don’t know that.
JUDE
Fucking do. I had him all over me.
He touches her face.
FERGUS
Tough work, that.
JUDE
Someone’s got to do it.
She rubs her hand on his chest.
JUDE
Nah, it was a breeze. Just thought of
you.
She sidles closer, coming on to him.
JUDE
And you know what, Fergus? One of you
made me want it...
She puts her lips to his neck.
FERGUS
Which one?
She doesn’t answer. They embrace.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - MORNING.
A hot summer’s day. There are tall hedges all around the
house. Fergus leads Jody, still bound and hooded, over toward
a greenhouse.
INT. GREENHOUSE - DAY
Dusty tomato plants and vines everywhere. Broken glass. The
sun pouring through. Fergus leads Jody over to a wrought iron
chair and sits him in it. He sits opposite, gun on his lap.
Fergus takes some sandwiches out of a brown paper bag. He
holds one out toward him.
7.
FERGUS
Eat something, would you?
JODY
Can’t.
FERGUS
What do you mean you can’t?
JODY
Can’t eat through a canvas bag.
Fergus walks over to him, lifts the hood up so his mouth is
revealed, and pushes the sandwich toward his lips. Jody eats,
slowly.
JODY
This is a farce, man.
FERGUS
How is it a farce?
JODY
I seen your fucking face.
FERGUS
So, what do I look like?
JODY
You’re the one about five ten with the
killer smile and the baby face.
FERGUS
Am I?
JODY
Yeah. And the brown eyes.
Fergus pushes the last crumbs of the sandwich toward Jody’s
mouth.
JODY
You’re the handsome one.
Jody eats the last bits.
JODY
Thank you, handsome.
FERGUS
My pleasure.
8.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
Jude makes her way from the door toward the greenhouse. She
is carrying a pot of tea and two cups.
INT. GREENHOUSE - DAY
It is sweltering now in the greenhouse. CLOSE ON JODY’S
COWLED HEAD. The hood is drenched with sweat.
JODY
I can’t fucking breathe, man. Be a
Christian, will you?
Jude comes into view.
JODY
Tell him to take the hood off, honey...
Jude says nothing. Lays the tea on the ground.
FERGUS
How did you know it was her?
JODY
I can smell her perfume.
Jude pours out the tea.
JUDE
See, if we took the hood off, we’d have
to shoot you. As it is, you’ve got a
fifty-fifty chance.
JODY
Thought you liked me, bitch.
JUDE
It was fun while it lasted.
JODY
Nice lady.
His breathing becomes labored.
JODY
Please, man, I’m suffocating in here.
FERGUS
Can’t we take it off?
JUDE
Have to check with himself.
9.
Fergus gives her the gun.
FERGUS
You look after him.
Jody’s head follows Fergus while he leaves.
JODY
Don’t leave me with her, man. She’s
dangerous...
Jude smiles, holding the gun on her lap.
INT. FARMHOUSE - DAY
Fergus enters. Maguire and the others. Maguire has a
newspaper, which has a headline regarding the kidnapping.
MAGUIRE
Made the front page. They’ll move now,
the fuckers.
FERGUS
Request permission to take the hood off,
Tommy.
MAGUIRE
Why would you do that?
FERGUS
The poor whore’s suffocating in the heat.
MAGUIRE
So?
FERGUS
And anyway, he’s seen our faces.
MAGUIRE
You sure?
FERGUS
He described me down to a T. Knows what
Jude looks like.
Maguire reads the paper.
FERGUS
Tommy --
10.
MAGUIRE
You’re his keeper. If you don’t mind him
seeing you, I don’t mind. But you’re the
only one he looks at.
FERGUS
Thanks.
MAGUIRE
It’s your decision.
INT. GREENHOUSE - DAY
Jude, drinking tea, looking at Jody sweating. Fergus enters.
He puts his arm casually around her.
FERGUS
Leave us, Judie.
JUDE
My pleasure.
She goes. Fergus walks to Jody and slowly takes the hood off.
Jody looks up at him, his face bathed in sweat. He breathes
in mighty gulps of air. He smiles.
JODY
Thank you, soldier.
Fergus smiles.
JODY
Never thought fresh air would taste this
good.
Fergus pours out a cup of tea and brings it to his lips.
JODY
Now, if you took the ropes off, I’d be
able to feed myself.
FERGUS
No fucking way.
JODY
Only joking.
Fergus drinks.
JODY
You know, I was wrong about one thing.
11.
FERGUS
What’s that?
JODY
Five ten. Brown eyes. But you’re no
pinup.
FERGUS
No?
JODY
Nope. Not handsome at all.
FERGUS
You trying to hurt my feelings?
JODY
No. It’s the truth.
FERGUS
Well, I could say the same about you.
JODY
Could you?
FERGUS
But I won’t. We’re more polite around
these parts.
JODY
So I’ve noticed.
Fergus looks at him. Jody isn’t smiling anymore. Fergus goes
back to his seat and drinks his tea. He fingers the gun on
his lap.
JODY
Hey --
FERGUS
What is it now?
JODY
You’re going to have to do it, aren’t
you?
FERGUS
Do what?
JODY
Kill me.
12.
FERGUS
What makes you think that?
JODY
They’re going to let that guy die. And
you’re going to kill me.
FERGUS
They won’t let him die.
JODY
You want to bet?
FERGUS
I’m not a gambling man.
JODY
And even if he doesn’t die -- you can’t
just let me loose.
FERGUS
Why can’t we?
JODY
Not in your nature.
FERGUS
What do you know about my nature?
JODY
I’m talking about your people, not you.
FERGUS
What the fuck do you know about my
people?
JODY
Only that you’re all tough undeluded
motherfuckers. And that it’s not in your
nature to let me go.
FERGUS
Shut the fuck up, would you?
JODY
And you know the funny thing?
FERGUS
No, what’s the funny thing?
JODY
I didn’t even fancy her.
13.
FERGUS
Didn’t look like that to me...
JODY
She’s not my type.
He looks at Fergus.
JODY
C’mere.
FERGUS
No.
JODY
Ah, c’mere. I want to show you something.
FERGUS
What?
JODY
My inside pocket.
Fergus holds the gun to his face. He fishes inside Jody’s
inside pocket.
JODY
Take out the wallet.
Fergus’s hand emerges with a wallet.
JODY
Open it.
CLOSE ON THE WALLET. Credit cards, army identification
photograph.
JODY
Inside. There’s a picture.
Fergus takes out a picture. It is of Jody, in cricket whites,
smiling, holding a bat. Fergus smiles.
JODY
No, not that one. There’s another.
Fergus takes out another picture of Jody and of a beautiful
black woman, smiling.
JODY
Now she’s my type.
14.
FERGUS
She’d be anyone’s type.
JODY
Don’t you think of it, fucker.
FERGUS
Why not?
JODY
She’s mine. Anyway, she wouldn’t suit
you.
FERGUS
No?
JODY
Absolutely not.
FERGUS
She your wife?
JODY
Suppose you could say that.
Jody chuckles.
FERGUS
You make a nice couple.
JODY
Don’t I know it.
FERGUS
So what were you fucking around for,
then?
JODY
You fuckers set me up. That bitch --
FERGUS
She’s a friend of mine
JODY
Okay. That nice lady. Meets me in a bar.
I’m saying what the fuck am I doing here
anyway. She buys me a drink. She holds my
hand. I’m looking at her saying I don’t
like you, bitch. But what the fuck. Maybe
I’ll get to understand.
FERGUS
What?
15.
JODY
What the fuck am I doing here.
FERGUS
What the fuck were you doing here?
JODY
I got sent.
FERGUS
You could have said no.
JODY
Can’t. Once I signed up.
FERGUS
Why did you sign up?
JODY
It was a job. So I get sent to the only
place in the world they call you nigger
to your face.
FERGUS
Shouldn’t take it personally.
JODY
(He imitates a Belfast accent)
"Go back to your banana tree, nigger." No
use telling them I came from Tottenham.
FERGUS
And you play cricket?.
JODY
Best game in the world.
FERGUS
Ever see hurling?
JODY
That game where a bunch of paddies whack
sticks at each other?
FERGUS
Best game in the world.
JODY
Never.
FERGUS
The fastest.
16.
JODY
Well, in Antigua cricket’s the black
man’s game. The kids play it from the age
of two. My daddy had me throwing googlies
from the age of five. Then we moved to
Tottenham and it was something different.
FERGUS
How different?
JODY
Toffs’ game there. But not at home. .
Fergus looks at him.
JODY
So when you come to shoot me, Paddy,
remember, you’re getting rid of a shit-
hot bowler.
FERGUS
I’ll bear that in mind.
He keeps looking at him.
FERGUS
And by the way, it’s not Paddy. It’s
Fergus.
Jody smiles.
JODY
Nice to meet you, Fergus.
FERGUS
My pleasure, Jody
EXT. GREENHOUSE - NIGHT.
Fergus leads Jody outside, holding the gun against him.
FERGUS
Take it easy, now. Just go slow. Down by
that tree.
JODY
Tree.
He walks toward it, breathing heavily.
JODY
You’ve got to loosen my hands.
17.
FERGUS
Can’t.
JODY
Well then, you’re going to have to take
my dick out for me, aren t you?
Fergus, in the dark, stands motionless, looking at him.
JODY
Come on, man, I’m going to wet my pants!
Fergus turns him around and unzips his fly.
JODY
Take the fucker out, man, I’m dying --
Fergus takes Jody’s penis out.
Jody takes two steps toward the wall.
JODY
I gotta lean forward or I’ll dribble all
over myself. Will you hold my hands for
me.
Fergus holds his hands from behind, so Jody can lean forward.
Jody now pisses with immense relief
JODY
Now, that was worth waiting for.
FERGUS
Hurry up, would you?
JODY
These things take time, Fergus.
He shakes his body.
JODY
It’s amazing how these small details take
on such importance...
He steps back.
JODY
Now put it back in.
FERGUS
Give us a break.
18.
JODY
I can’t do it! It’s only a piece of meat.
For fuck’s sake, it’s got no major
diseases.
Fergus puts Jody’s penis back in his pants and zips him up.
JODY
Thank you. I had a case of the clap two
years ago. Crabs in Ulster. But all in
all it’s served me well.
FERGUS
Shut up, would you?
JODY
I’m sorry. Didn’t mean to offend you,
Fergus.
Fergus leads him hack toward the greenhouse.
INT. GREENHOUSE - NIGHT.
Fergus leads Jody back to his chair.
JODY
Fergus?
FERGUS
Yeah?
JODY
Thanks. I know that wasn’t easy for you.
He begins to laugh.
FERGUS
The pleasure was all mine.
Fergus begins to laugh, without knowing why.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT.
Maguire, walking out of the house, woken by the sound of
laughter.
INT. GREENHOUSE - NIGHT.
Jody, still laughing. Suddenly the hood is slammed back over
his head.
Maguire, standing there in the dark, looking at Fergus.
19.
MAGUIRE
What the fuck is this?
FERGUS
It’s nothing. He’s just got a sense of
humor, that’s all.
MAGUIRE
You’re on duty. Keep your fucking mouth
shut. Go in and get some sleep.
Fergus gets up slowly, walks toward the door.
JODY
Yeah. Get some sleep.
EXT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT.
Fergus, walking toward the house. He looks back and sees the
figures of Maguire and Jody in the dark, in absolute silence.
INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT.
Fergus sleeping.
INT. GREENHOUSE - NIGHT.
Jody sleeping. Maguire sitting with an Armalite in his hands,
watching him.
EXT. FARMHOUSE AND FIELDS - DAY
The sun coming up over the low hills around the farmhouse.
INT. GREENHOUSE - DAY
Fergus enters, with a tray and some breakfast. Maguire is
sitting where he sat before, stock-still.
FERGUS
Did he talk?
Maguire shakes his head.
FERGUS
Didn’t make you laugh?
Maguire shakes his head.
FERGUS
Here. Have some breakfast.
He hands Maguire a plate. Jody stirs.
20.
JODY
Good morning, Fergus?
Maguire looks hard at him.
MAGUIRE
So he knows your name?
FERGUS
I told him.
MAGUIRE
Are you all there?
He rises, and drags Fergus out the door.
FERGUS
Back in a minute, Jody
EXT. GREENHOUSE - DAY
MAGUIRE
You’ll have minimal contact with the
prisoner, do you hear me?
FERGUS
Yes.
MAGUIRE
And do you know why?
FERGUS
Why?
MAGUIRE
Because tomorrow we might have to shoot
him, that’s why.
Maguire goes back to the house.
INT. GREENHOUSE - DAY
Jody sitting with the hood on again. Fergus enters.
JODY
They giving you trouble, Fergus?
Fergus says nothing. He takes a plate and brings it toward
Jody
21.
JODY
It happens. Y’see, there’s two kinds of
people. Those who give and those who
take.
Fergus lifts up Jody’s hood to expose his mouth and begins to
feed him.
JODY
Ah, take the thing off, man.
Fergus says nothing and keeps feeding him.
JODY
It’s okay. I understand. Don’t mind if I
prattle on, do you?
Fergus shakes his head and says nothing.
JODY
I will take it by your silence that you
don’t.
He eats. Fergus feeds himself, then feeds more to Jody.
JODY
Two types, Fergus. The scorpion and the
frog. Ever heard of them?
Fergus says nothing.
JODY
Scorpion wants to cross a river, but he
can’t swim. Goes to the frog, who can,
and asks for a ride. Frog says, "If I
give you a ride on my back, you’ll go and
sting me." Scorpion replies, "It would
not be in my interest to sting you since
as I’ll be on your back we both would
drown." Frog thinks about this logic for
a while and accepts the deal. Takes the
scorpion on his back. Braves the waters.
Halfway over feels a burning spear in his
side and realizes the scorpion has stung
him after all. And as they both sink
beneath the waves the frog cries out,
"Why did you sting me, Mr. Scorpion, for
now we both will drown?" Scorpion
replies, "I can’t help it, it’s in my
nature."
Jody chuckles under his hood.
22.
FERGUS
So what’s that supposed to mean?
JODY
Means what it says. The scorpion does
what is in his nature. Take off the hood,
man.
FERGUS
Why?
JODY
’Cause you’re kind. It’s in your nature.
Fergus walks toward him and pulls off the hood. Jody smiles
up at him.
JODY
See? I was right about you.
FERGUS
Don’t be so sure.
JODY
Jody’s always right.
INT. GREENHOUSE - LATE AFTERNOON.
Both men dozing in the heat.
JODY
Where would you most like to be now, man?
FERGUS
Doesn’t matter where.
JODY
Come on, man. If this shit was all over.
FERGUS
Having a pint in the Rock.
JODY
You lack imagination, Fergus. Think of
something more alluring.
FERGUS
Like what?
JODY
Like having a pint in the Metro --
Fergus laughs.
23.
FERGUS
Having two pints in the Rock.
JODY
Having a pint in the Metro, and Dil’s
having a margarita.
FERGUS
Who’s Dil?
JODY
My special friend.
FERGUS
Oh, yeah.
JODY
We got simple tastes, you and me.
FERGUS
The best.
JODY
But you fellas never get a break, do you?
FERGUS
Do you?
JODY
Oh, yes. We do a tour of duty and we’re
finished. But you guys are never
finished, are you?
FERGUS
We don’t look on it like that.
JODY
I’ve often wondered how you do it.
FERGUS
Depends on what you believe in.
JODY
What do you believe in?
FERGUS
That you guys shouldn’t be here.
JODY
It’s as simple as that?
FERGUS
Yes.
24.
Jude enters.
JUDE
Put that thing back on him, Fergus.
FERGUS
He’s hot.
JUDE
Doesn’t matter if he’s hot. Just cover
the fucker up.
JODY
Have you no feelings, woman?
JUDE
You shut your face --
She pulls the hood down over him.
JUDE
You’re heading for trouble, Fergus --
JODY
He’s a good soldier, Jude.
She whacks him with a pistol.
JUDE
I said shut the fuck up --
JODY
He believes in the future --
INT. GREENHOUSE - NIGHT.
Jody, sitting in the hood. Fergus lifts it a bit; Jody’s
mouth, with blood now in his lips.
FERGUS
Is it bad?
JODY
No. Not bad. Women are trouble, you know
that, Fergus?
FERGUS
I didn’t.
JODY
Some kinds of women are...
25.
FERGUS
She can’t help it.
JODY
Dil wasn’t trouble. No trouble at all.
FERGUS
You liked her?
JODY
Present tense, please. Love her. Whatever
she is. I’m thinking of her now, Fergus.
Will you think of her too?
FERGUS
Don’t know her.
JODY
Want you to do something, Fergus.
FERGUS
What?
JODY
If they kill me --
FERGUS
Don’t think that way.
JODY
But they will. As sure as night follows
day. They have to. I want you to find her
out. Tell her I was thinking of her.
Fergus is moved. He can’t reply.
JODY
See if she’s all right.
FERGUS
I don’t know her.
JODY
Take her picture. C’mere.
Fergus walks toward him.
JODY
Take it. In the inside pocket.
Their faces, close to each other as Fergus searches out her
picture.
26.
JODY
Take the whole lot. I won’t need it.
FERGUS
I told you not to talk that way --
JODY
Go to Millie’s Hair Salon in
Spitalfields. Take her to the Metro for a
margarita. Don’t have to tell her who you
are. Just tell her Jody was thinking --
FERGUS
Stop it --
The door opens. Maguire is there, with another.
MAGUIRE
Volunteer?
Fergus turns toward him.
MAGUIRE
We need you inside.
Fergus walks toward Maguire and the other man walks forward,
takes his seat. Fergus, unseen by Maguire, puts the wallet in
his pocket.
INT. FARMHOUSE - NIGHT.
Maguire, Jude, Fergus, and the others.
MAGUIRE
We’ve had word. They’ve used every trick
in the book on him. He’s starting to
talk. You’re going to have to do it in
the morning.
Maguire lights a cigarette. Fergus looks at him and nods.
MAGUIRE
You OK about that?
FERGUS
I’m a volunteer, am n’t I?
MAGUIRE
Good. I was beginning to have my doubts
about you for the last few days.
JUDE
Not the only one --
27.
MAGUIRE
Shut up, Jude. You best get some sleep
tonight, Fergus.
FERGUS
Peter.
MAGUIRE
What?
FERGUS
Request permission to guard the prisoner
tonight --
JUDE
You’re crazy. Don’t let him, Peter.
MAGUIRE
Shut the fuck up, Jude.
He turns back to Fergus. He puts his arm on Fergus’s
shoulder.
MAGUIRE
Why do you want to do that for?
FERGUS
Would make me feel better about it.
MAGUIRE
You sure about that?
FERGUS
I’m sure.
MAGUIRE
Okay. You’re a good man, Fergus.
Fergus leaves.
INT. GREENHOUSE - NIGHT.
Fergus takes his place in the chair beside Jody.
Jody begins to laugh under the hood. It turns into the sound
of crying.
FERGUS
Don’t.
JODY
I’m sorry.
28.
The crying stops.
JODY
Help me.
FERGUS
How can I?
JODY
I don’t know. Just help me. Give me a
cigarette.
Fergus takes out a cigarette, lights it, and lifts up Jody’s
hood so he can smoke.
JODY
Don’t even smoke, you know that? It just
seemed the right thing to do.
Fergus watches him puff the cigarette, the hood just above
his lips. Jody coughs, but keeps the cigarette in his lips.
Fergus gently takes the cigarette from his mouth.
FERGUS
Go to sleep now.
JODY
I don’t want to sleep. Tell me something.
FERGUS
What?
JODY
A story.
FERGUS
Like the one about the frog?
JODY
And the scorpion. No. Tell me anything.
FERGUS
When I was a child...
JODY
Yeah?
FERGUS
I thought as a child. But when I became a
man I put away childish things...
JODY
What does that mean?
29.
FERGUS
Nothing.
JODY
Tell me something, anything.
Fergus is silent; his eyes wet.
JODY
Not a lot of use, are you, Fergus?
FERGUS
Me? No, I’m not good for much...
EXT. FIELDS - MORNING.
The farmhouse covered in mist. The sun coming through it.
EXT. GREENHOUSE - MORNING.
Maguire opens the door to the greenhouse and clicks the
chamber of his gun. Fergus has a gun in his hand. He checks
the chamber.
Fergus takes Jody, whose hands are still tied behind his
back, by the elbow.
FERGUS
Stand up, now --
Jody rises. Fergus leads him through the door, past Maguire.
MAGUIRE
I wish to say on behalf of the Irish
Republican Army --
Fergus turns with sudden fierceness.
FERGUS
Leave him be --
He pulls Jody through the fields.
EXT. TREES - MORNING.
Fergus pushing Jody through a copse of trees, the gun at his
back.
JODY
Take the hood off, Fergus --
FERGUS
No.
30.
JODY
I want to see a bit. Please, please.
Don’t make me die like an animal.
Fergus pulls the hood off. Jody looks around him. He has a
cut lip where Jude struck him.
Fergus prods him on with the gun. Jody stumbles forward.
Fergus is all cold and businesslike.
JODY
I’m glad you’re doing it, do you know
that, Fergus?
FERGUS
Why?
JODY
Cause you’re my friend. And I want you to
go to the Metro --
FERGUS
Stop that talk now --
JODY
Hurling’s a fast game, isn’t it, Fergus?
FERGUS
The fastest.
JODY
Faster than cricket?
FERGUS
Cricket’s in the halfpenny place.
JODY
So if I ran now, there’s no way I’d beat
you, is there?
FERGUS
You won’t run.
JODY
But if I did... you wouldn’t shoot a
brother in the back --
Jody suddenly sprints, and, loosening the ties on his hands,
then freeing them, he is off like a hare. Fergus screams in
fury after him.
FERGUS
JODY!!!
31.
Fergus aims, then changes his mind and runs.
FERGUS
You stupid bastard --
JODY
What you say, faster?
FERGUS
I said you bastard -- stop --
JODY
Got to catch me first --
Fergus gains on him -- stretches his arm out -- but Jody
sprints ahead again -- as if he has been playing with him. He
laughs in exhilaration. Fergus pants behind him, wheezing,
almost laughing.
JODY
Used to run the mile, you know -- four
times round the cricket pitch -- what was
that game called?
FERGUS
Hurling --
JODY
What?
FERGUS
Hurling --
Jody runs, whipping through the trees -- always ahead of him.
JODY
Come on, Fergie -- you can do it -- a bit
more wind --
Fergus grabs his shoulder and Jody shrugs it off, gaining on
him again.
JODY
Bit of fun, Fergus, eh?
And suddenly the trees give way. Jody turns, laughing, to
Fergus.
JODY
Told you I was fast --
Fergus is panting, pointing the gun at Jody
32.
JODY
Don’t do it.
And suddenly a Saracen tank whips around the corner, hits
Jody with the full of its fender. His body flies in the air
and bounces forward as another tank tries to grind to a halt
and the huge wheels grind over him.
Fergus, screaming, "No-!" He almost moves forward, then sees
soldiers spilling from the tank around the body. Fergus turns
and runs.
EXT. TREES - DAY
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