A man's coerced confession to an IRA bombing he did not commit results in the imprisonment of his father as well. An English lawyer fights to free them.

[Speaking to people outside the court]
Gerry Conlon: I'm an innocent man. I spent 15 years in prison for something I didn't do. I watched my father die in a British prison for something he didn't do. And this government still says he's guilty. I want to tell them that until my father is proved innocent, until all the people involved in this case are proved innocent, until the guilty ones are brought to justice, I will fight on. In the name of my father and of the truth!
[after his case is dismissed, and the guards try to escort him out]
Gerry Conlon: I'm a free man, and I'm going out the front door.
Gerry Conlon: I'll be older than you when I get out of this place. If I get out. Are you listening to me?
Giuseppe Conlon: I'm not talking to you.
Gerry Conlon: Now who's being childish?
Giuseppe Conlon: I've not heard a sensible word out of you in two weeks. That stuff will kill you.
[talking about drugs]
Gerry Conlon: Sure I'm dead anyway. Look I'm sorry. I'll not take it again as long as you live. Are you happy now?
Giuseppe Conlon: No.
Gerry Conlon: Why not?
Giuseppe Conlon: I don't want you to take it whether I live or die.
Gerry Conlon: Oh, give me strength. Ok, I'll do nothing to annoy you in your grave. Now are you happy?
Giuseppe Conlon: Is that a promise?
Gerry Conlon: Ay, maybe.
Gareth Peirce: It's not the stairs that are killing your father.
Gerry Conlon: Aye, what is it then?
Gareth Peirce: It's your lack of faith.
Gerry Conlon: Lack of faith? Faith in what?
Gareth Peirce: In yourself.
Gerry Conlon: No. I have faith in myself. Gerry Conlon. Lifer. 30-year sentence. And I know how to survive it, no problem.
Gareth Peirce: At what price?
Gerry Conlon: I'll pay the fuckin' price, don't you worry about it.
Gareth Peirce: The price for what?
Gerry Conlon: Aye. You're very good at the English, aren't you? You see, I don't understand your language. "Justice." "Mercy." "Clemency." I literally don't understand what those words mean. I'd like to put in an application to get all my teeth extracted. That way I could put my fist in my mouth and never speak another word of fuckin' English so long as I live. Do you see what I'm saying... Mrs. Peirce is it?
Gareth Peirce: Are you trying to impress me?
Gerry Conlon: When can I go back to Belfast?
Detective: Next time you'll see Belfast, they'll be flying day trips to the moon.
Gerry Conlon: I always wanted to be an astronaut.
Gerry Conlon: Was I always bad, was I?
Giuseppe Conlon: Not always.
Gerry Conlon: I don't deserve to spend the rest of my life in here do I?
Giuseppe Conlon: All they done was block out the light.
[points to his head]
Giuseppe Conlon: They can't block out the light in here.
Gerry Conlon: What I remember most about my childhood is holding your hand. My wee hand in your big hand, and the smell of tobacco. I remember, I could smell the tobacco in the palm of your hand. When I want to feel happy, I try to remember the smell of tobacco.
Giuseppe Conlon: Oh, my heart.
Giuseppe Conlon: I want you have some respect.
Gerry Conlon: Respect for who?
Giuseppe Conlon: For yourself.
Giuseppe Conlon: I'm going to die.
Gerry Conlon: Don't be saying that.
Giuseppe Conlon: I'm scared.
Gerry Conlon: There's no reason to be scared. You have nothing to be scared about.
Giuseppe Conlon: Don't you be comforting me when I can see the truth staring me in the face. I'm scared I'm gonna die here.
Gerry Conlon: You're not dying alright?
Giuseppe Conlon: Can I not say a thing without you contradicting me? I'm scared to leave your mother behind.
Gerry Conlon: Look, you are not going to die alright? If you do, sure I can look after Ma alright.
Giuseppe Conlon: You think I'd leave Sara in your care?
Gerry Conlon: What do you mean?
Giuseppe Conlon: You haven't the maturity to take care of yourself, let alone your mother.
[On the alibi for Gerry Conlon and Paul Hill]
Appeal Prosecutor: My Lord, this is new evidence.
Appeal Judge: It is shocking new evidence.
Appeal Prosecutor: My lord, this evidence was not submitted at the trial that is under appeal.
Appeal Judge: That, I believe, is the point that Mrs Pierce is trying to make. Proceed, Mrs Pierce.
[after hearing of his father's death]
Gareth Peirce: [With tears in her eyes] Well, I think they ought to take the word 'compassion' out of the English dictionary.
Gerry Conlon: That was a good day's work, McAndrew. A good day's work.
Joe McAndrew: Get away from me.
Gerry Conlon: You're not looking me in the eye when you're speaking to me. You see, I know how to look at people without blinking as well. In all my god-forsaken life I have never known what it was like to want to kill somebody until now. You're a brave man, Joe. A brave man.