Marbury Firmly Rejects Inviting IRA Leader McGann
Plot Beats
The narrative micro-steps within this event
Toby argues that inviting McGann to the White House could strengthen his credibility and encourage negotiations with Protestants.
Marbury challenges Toby by labeling the IRA as a terrorist group and questioning U.S. policy on negotiating with terrorists.
Toby defends the U.S. approach by citing past engagements with figures like Arafat, sparking a debate on the value of such efforts.
Marbury accuses the U.S. of youthful ignorance regarding the centuries-old conflict in Ireland, invoking Kipling’s warning.
Toby and Marbury exchange quotes from dead Irish writers like Joyce and O'Neill, highlighting their differing perspectives on history and intervention.
Marbury firmly declares that McGann cannot come to the White House, ending the debate with a definitive stance.
Who Was There
Characters present in this moment
Confrontational certainty laced with patronizing amusement
Seated at the counter, Lord Marbury aggressively rebuts Toby with IRA's Good Friday breach, brands Sinn Fein terrorists until disarmed, invokes Kipling, Joyce, and O'Neill to underscore history's inescapable cycle, flatly vetoes McGann's visit, and orders another drink to punctuate victory.
- • Block U.S. invitation to Brendan McGann
- • Educate Toby on Ireland's intractable history to deter meddling
- • Sinn Fein inseparable from IRA terrorism without disarmament
- • American naivety dooms intervention in ancient conflicts
Earnest determination yielding to resigned frustration
Seated at the bar counter, Toby earnestly advocates for McGann's White House invite to legitimize Sinn Fein against IRA violence and spur Protestant negotiations, counters Marbury's literary assault with Joyce, pauses heavily before conceding 'True' on terrorists, then pivots wryly to dead Irish writers.
- • Secure British acquiescence for McGann's White House visit
- • Defend U.S. diplomatic strategy in Irish peace process
- • Legitimizing moderates like McGann weakens IRA hardliners
- • U.S. intervention can break Ireland's negotiation deadlock
Detached neutrality
Behind the counter, the unnamed bartender silently pours drinks for Toby and Marbury at the scene's outset, providing neutral service that facilitates their heated exchange without verbal intervention.
- • Serve drinks efficiently
- • Maintain bar ambiance amid tension
- • Customer disputes are none of his concern
- • Alcohol fuels but does not dictate conversations
Sinn Fein leader centrally debated as the figure Toby wants to invite to the White House for legitimacy, whom Marbury insists cannot come due to IRA ties
referenced as author of speech at the General Assembly; his administration's policy on inviting McGann and past invitation of Arafat debated
Objects Involved
Significant items in this scene
Drinks poured by the bartender serve as props anchoring the informal late-night debate, with Marbury ordering another round to cap his triumphant veto; they underscore the raw, unfiltered diplomacy, untouched glasses mirroring stalled U.S. ambitions amid clinking ice and concession's bitter taste.
Location Details
Places and their significance in this event
The dimly lit bar provides intimate, neutral ground for off-hours diplomatic thrust-and-parry between Toby and Marbury, cigar smoke and sweating glasses amplifying tension as historical grievances erupt unchecked, far from White House decorum.
Organizations Involved
Institutional presence and influence
The IRA's Good Friday disarmament breach poisons the well, branded by Marbury as tainting Sinn Fein entirely; Toby acknowledges them as terrorists until armed surrender, dooming McGann's invite.
Sinn Fein stands at the debate's heart as the IRA's political wing, with Toby pushing McGann's White House visit for legitimacy against hardliners, but Marbury equates it to terrorism sans disarmament, forcing Toby's concession.
Narrative Connections
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Themes This Exemplifies
Thematic resonance and meaning
Key Dialogue
"TOBY: "I think there's something to be said for giving McGann credibility by inviting him to the White House. It strengthens his hand in-in dealing with the more violent members of the party.""
"MARBURY: "Degrees of violent.""
"MARBURY: "True/False: Until it disarms the IRA and its political representatives in Sinn Fein are a terrorist group." TOBY: "True.""
"MARBURY: "I'm saying Brendan McGann cannot come to the White House." TOBY: "([pause]) Say, speaking of dead Irish writers...""