the night of the dance is also officer rooney's birthday; he is on patrol outside the dance hall. back at home, tim and annie are preparing for their father's return. at the dance, a fight breaks out between joe and two of his fellow gang members, tony and spider. the lights in the dance hall are switched off, attracting the attention of officer rooney, who ventures inside. tony fires a gun, but the bullet meant for joe hits officer rooney instead, killing him.