Harold Shand

Harold Shand is the protagonist of the 1980 British gangster film "The Long Good Friday". He is portrayed by British actor Bob Hoskins.

Warning: Plot and / or ending details below.

Prologue

Harold Shand is first seen at Heathrow Airport, London. He is greeted by his right-hand man Jeff Hughes (Derek Thompson). Harold has returned from New York to settle a deal with some American associates in which he intends to go straight and become a businessman. Unknown to Harold but known to Jeff, Colin (Paul Freeman), Harold's closest friend, has delivered an incomplete amount of money to the IRA, which has led to them tracing Colin back as one of Harold's men.

"Hands Across The Ocean"

Shortly afterwards, Harold meets his American associates Charlie (Eddie Constantine), and his lawyer Tony (Stephen Davies). Harold's wife Victoria (Helen Mirren), suggests that Charlie gets some rest after their long voyage from NY. Harold makes a speech on his yacht, declaring that he believes that London will be Europe's capital, and the UK is a leading European state, in his words.

The Fall

Shortly thereafter, Harold receives information that Colin has been assassinated, and a car has been detonated outside a church, which was meant for Harold's mother. However, she survived the bombing. Harold now wants to find out who is responsible for all the anarchy around the city, and why. He relies on Jeff and another of his right-hand men, dubbed "Razors" (P H Moriarty), who has a scar across his face. Harold suspects a group of Irish criminals are responsible, so he sends his men to round the local crooks up, and takes them to an abattoir, strung up on meat hooks. However, by this time, Harold is informed that the men he has gathered are innocent.

Dinner With The Americans

That night, Harold's wife Victoria is at a dinner party with Charlie, Tony, Jeff, and Councillor Harris (Bryan Marshall). After holding off Harold's issues, Victoria finally caves in and reveals everything to Charlie and Tony. Just as the evening draws to a close, Harris gives Victoria a warning, telling her that she has everything wrong, and Jeff is the mastermind. This angers Jeff. Harold returns home to learn that Victoria had to tell the Americans everything or the deal would have been off. She confides in him that she is scared.

Harold VS Jeff

The following day, Harold is told that Jeff played a key role in Colin's death, and he decides to confront him and get the information out. A security guard is found dead, crucified to the floor, by one of Harold's goons, Alan (Brian Hall). With the help of a few drinks, Jeff gradually reveals the majority of the cause for all the bombings and deaths: Harris has over a hundred IRA officials on his payroll, and in order to keep them satisfied, he needed to deliver money to them. He persuaded Jeff to send one of Harold's men to Belfast in order to give them the money. He chose Colin. However, Colin made one fatal mistake which is the whole cause for everything: He had secretly pocketed "Five poxy grand" (In Harold's words), which enraged the IRA officials, and sent two of their hit men (Pierce Brosnan and Daragh O'Malley) to take Colin out, then to move on to destroying Harold's empire. In a fit of rage, Harold attacks Jeff with a glass bottle and accidentally stabs him in the neck, killing Jeff.

Finale

Harold and Razors then proceed to hunt down Harris and the IRA officials, and defeat them all. Their research leads them to a demolition derby show, in which they find Harris, who is acquainted with O'Flaherty (Tony Rohr) the IRA official responsible for the money scam. Harold gives him a case of money to compensate for the one Colin took from them. A group of Harold's men burst into the room, killing everybody except Harold and Razors. It is done, or so it seems.

Epilogue

Harold goes to the Savoy hotel to inform Charlie and Tony of his success in solving his issue. However, the Americans intend to return to New York, comparing the past 36 hours of terror to the Valentine's Day Massacre. Despite Harold's attempts to persuade them to stay, their minds are made up. Harold decides to give one final speech before leaving. He says that the partner he is looking for needs to contribute to what England has given to the world. "A little bit more than a hot dog.", according to Harold. They attempt to interrupt him, but he cuts them off with his popular one-liner: "Shut up you long streak of paralysed piss!" He finally leaves them with one final thought: He is going into partnership with a German organisation. Harold's last words to the Americans are: "The Mafia? I've shit 'em!"

Harold enters what he presumes to be his car. However, he is in for a shock, as he sees Victoria is not in the car with him, and Razors has disappeared. This prompts him to ask for his wife's whereabouts. He sees a pair of eyes in the rear view mirror, and the assassin who killed Colin appears in front of him, pointing a silenced hand gun at Harold. Harold knows that he is in a world of trouble. In the final minute of the film, we are treated to what could be Bob Hoskins' best talent: A set of facial expressions determining each key event which occurred in the film from start to finish.

Harold Shand's fate is not revealed, as the film ends here.

Spoilers end here.