We
cut to the gallows where RJ's noose is being prepared. A group of youngsters is
standing nearby watching the activity. The leader of the Read Headband Mafia
gets up on the gallows and encourages all the kids there to hang themselves and
smile despite the pain, just like their hero RJ. Murli pulls the kid away from
the noose and gives him a slap for his behavior. He demands to know what they
are all doing there. The responses he gets are less than positive. They all tell
him that they are not afraid of death, and they don't want to live in his world,
just like RJ. With a look of shock and horror, Murli goes to talk to RJ.
RJ
wants to know why Murli looks so depressed. Murli tells him about how his
actions have influenced the children at the orphanage. He tells RJ that if he
dies with a smile on his face, the children will be convinced that life is a
disease, and death is the cure. RJ refuses to go along with Murli's wishes for a
humble death. He
tells Murli that he doesn't want them to give up their lives, but to live with
their heads held high instead of taking all the crap the world will shovel on
them because of their backgrounds. He says that only by "kicking the world" does
one get what they want. Murli pulls his trump card here, and asks if kicking the
world gets results, then why didn't he get Bela?
RJ reacts predictably to this shot. He says that Bela is crazy, and so is
Murli. He's lived his life with pride, and won't listen to any more of this.
Murli casts his gaze to the floor, and the scene fades out.
We see RJ still in his cell writing something down. We then go to a newspaper
headline depicting RJ's face and announcing his imminent execution. Murli slumps
in his chair while Bela tries to comfort him.
Back at the jail, RJ is being readied for his big day. He's getting a shave
and a shower, and seems to be enjoying it all a great deal. He's dressed in a
clean uniform and is lead out to the gallows. As he passes the cells, he says
goodbye to the other inmates, and makes comments about them ("This guy snored a
lot!"). Murli and the RHM are waiting at the last gate he passes. They all run
over to see him before he goes. He smiles and tells them he's feeling good, and
how these are all his boys. Murli gives him a puppy-dog stare as the RHM cheers
and carries on behind him.
RJ takes a good look at Murli, and his face falls. As the guards start to
move him again, he takes another long look at Murli, then begins resisting the
guards. He drops to his knees and begins calling to Murli to save him from his
death. The RHM look stunned. This is not how they liked seeing their hero at
all.
He continues to beg for a moment, telling them he'll behave and give up
crime. Finally the guards haul him away. After he is gone, the RHM members are
very, very confused and angry. They remark about how RJ said he would die with
pride, and that's not at all what they just saw. They peel off their headbands
one by one and leave in disgust.
Once
RJ is out of sight of the kids, he stands back up again and begins his defiant
act once more. However, seeing the noose is sobering for him, and the full
impact of what is about to happen sets in. As he is led to the gallows, the
somber version of the song "Ram Jaane" plays over the scene. As he is being
fitted into the noose, we see scenes intercut where Bela is running down a
street in obvious distress. Finally, the lever is thrown and RJ drops out of the
frame.
Bela reaches the jail to see the Former Red Headband Mafia filing out, each
one dropping his headband into the mud.
