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65INT. PUB - DUSK

COLM & PEADAR at a side table. GERRY, some other REGULARS and MRS MCCORMICK, leaning strangely against the bar, and DOMINIC, hunched at one end of it, avoiding his father. A coin hits his head, thrown across the bar by PEADAR.

PEADAR

One drink you’re having, lady, then

it’s off home with ya. I’ve a shirt

that wants ironing for the morning.

DOMINIC

Okay, Daddy.

PEADAR

(to COLM)

Aye, off to the mainland in the morning

I’m heading. That’s why I need the new

shirt, like.

COLM’s mind is elsewhere.

PEADAR (CONT'D)

And why are you off to the mainland in

the morning, Peadar? Oh thanks for

asking, Colm, I’ll tell ya why. They’ve

asked for extra manpower for a couple

of the...

(whispered)

...executions...

(normal)

....they’re having, in case there’s any

kind of a to-do, like. Six bob and a

free lunch they’re paying me, and sure

I’d’ve gone for nothing! I’ve always

wanted to see an execution, haven’t

you? Although I’d have preferred a

hanging.

COLM

Who are they executing?

PEADAR

The Free State lads are executing a

couple of the IRA lads.

(pause)

Or is it the other way around? I find

it hard to follow these days. Wasn’t it

so much easier when we was all on the

same side and it was just the English

we was killing? I think it was. I

preferred it!

COLM

But you don’t care who’s executing who?

PEADAR