As fighting erupts throughout Dublin, Ernie desperately tries to impress two older rebel soldiers, O'Toole and Kelly. He joins a group of armed volunteers including two sisters from Belfast, Ita and Ursula Feeney with whom he is deeply impressed. On the roof of the College of Surgeons, with sniper fire all around, Ita Feeney kisses Ernie on the cheek. It is a moment he will never forget.
Ferocious fighting continues but soon the Irish rebels are hopelessly outgunned.
Ernie bravely helps to resist advancing British soldiers, but it is too late. At the GPO, republican leader Padraig Pearse waves the white flag to prevent further slaughter. The leaders of the rebellion are executed and volunteer soldiers are imprisoned. Ernie's father secures his son's release on condition that he never again involves himself with enemies of the Crown, but Ernie chooses to stay in jail. In December 1916 all those imprisoned for their part in the Easter Rising are released and Ernie Coyne resumes his studies at Trinity College.