A young man’s search for opportunity leads to revolution. Ambitious twenty-somethings, inspired by their brilliant but troubled leader, set up a counter-state government in a unique challenge to British rule in Ireland; a true story where the West Wing meets Peaky Blinders.
Michael Collins, 28, the ambitious, energetic and professional finance minister and director of intelligence of the counter-state government. Haunted by the death of his father when he was seven.
Eilis Ryan, 24, a ‘Thoroughly Modern’ country girl, strong and independent, loving life and work in the bustling city of Dublin in 1919. She has just received a promotion when called to join the counter-state government.
Alan Bell, 65, near-retired resident magistrate and former detective, given a final opportunity to redeem a career held back by a controversial arrest in his twenties.
Inspired by:
A new generation dedicated more than the last to the fear of poverty and the worship of success; grown up to find all gods dead, all wars fought, all faiths in man shaken. – F. Scott Fitzgerald.
Between my finger and my thumb, the squat pen rests; snug as a gun. – Seamus Heaney.
BELL: Can you say whether your Bank has an account in the name of a man called Michael Collins?
CAMPBELL: I would not like to say that from memory. I would have to go and look it up.
BELL (repeating back the answer): I cannot say from memory whether there is in my bank an account in the name of one Michael Collins.
CAMPBELL: That is quite right. It would be too dangerous for me to speak from memory.
“I had a yearning for something that I cannot explain. I still have it. I used to walk the docklands in London looking at the ships going to America. However happy I happened to be in a particular job, the thought was always with me that my future was otherwise than among the facts and figures of money. I did not really dream of greater things; only the thought was always there.”
Michael Collins
