by Brian Friel
Frank (breezily) Maybe that’s a bit reckless, is it? D’you think they’ll stay up by themselves?
Terry I’m all for a gamble.
Frank Pot belly. Safe enough.
Trish witnesses this episode. Trish looks at the mound of stones.
Trish Should we put these back where we found them?
Berna I wouldn’t bother. They were scattered all over the place when we got here.
Trish goes to the stand. She takes off her bracelet and hangs it on one of the arms, balancing Berna’s scarf. Then she goes back to George, who is standing immobile beside their belongings.
Trish Give me your handkerchief.
George does not move. Trish takes the handkerchief out of his breast pocket, returns to the stand and knots the handkerchief beside her bracelet.
Angela (to Terry) Did you say you had honey cake?
Terry Yes. Are you hungry? (He produces the cake from the hamper. A sealed tin.) How do you open this thing?
Angela No, no; don’t open it. I’ll leave it here, I think. (She places the tin on top of a bollard.)
Terry What are you doing?
Angela For Carlin. You don’t mind, do you? He’s sure to come snooping around after we’ve gone. A present.
Terry Will you ever come back here?
Angela Just to keep him sweet.
Berna Is this yours, Frank (camera case)?
Frank Just looking for that. Thank you.
Angela (to Terry) Sorry for that outburst a while ago.
Terry Please …
Angela It was a lovely birthday.
Terry We’ll not talk about that. Interesting place, though.
Angela Pretty.
Terry Wonderful, isn’t it?
Angela (gesturing to the island) I can live without all that stuff, Terry. Honestly. Housework – the kids – teaching – bills – Frank – doctors – more bills – just getting through every day is about as much as I can handle; more than I can handle at times. (remembering that the island is his) I really wish you luck with it. Yes–yes–yes, of course it’s wonderful – beautiful and wonderful.
Terry When will I see you?
Angela Terry –
Terry Next Sunday?
Angela No. Please.
She spreads her hands as if to say, ‘What’s the point? Can’t you see there’s no point?’ Then, very quickly, she takes his hands in hers, squeezes them, and then swiftly moves away from him. Frank has found a small bottle. He holds it up.
Frank Anybody mind if I pour this out? (He reads:) Cherry Brandy. (He empties it out.) God, that’s a sin, isn’t it?
Now he picks up a plastic cup, scoops whatever water is left in the ‘well’ and pours it into the brandy bottle. Now he is aware that Terry and Angela are watching him. He laughs.
For a quick shot on the way home. In case Charlie’s jokes get too bad. Hardly any (water) left …
He corks the bottle with paper tissues. Trish goes to the small pile of rubbish (paper tissues, plastic cups, etc.) that Angela gathered. She strikes a match. Just as she is about to set fire to the refuse, Angela rushes to her and stamps the fire out with her foot.
Angela For God’s sake, woman!
Trish What have I –?
Angela You can’t light a fire here! (calm again) We can take this away with us, can’t we? That would be simpler, wouldn’t it? (She begins piling the rubbish into a plastic bag.)
Trish (excessive astonishment) Oh good Lord, we’re suddenly very house-proud, aren’t we?
Angela puts her hand on Trish’s elbow.
Angela Sorry, Trish. Could do with some sleep.
She moves away to the end of the pier and looks around. The various tasks have been completed.
Frank Now, Terry. Yourself.
Terry What’s that?
Frank You’re going to leave a visiting card, aren’t you?
Terry A visiting –?
Frank On the stand. ‘Terry Martin Was Here.’
Terry (laughing) Nothing to leave. (He produces coins.) Is money any good?
Trish Useless, Terry.
Terry What else can I give you?
Frank What else can he give us? What about that shirt?
Suddenly everybody is listening, watching.
Berna Yes, Terry. The shirt.
Frank Is the shirt what we want?
Trish The shirt will do.
Berna We want the shirt!
Trish Hand it over, Terry.
Terry Ah, come on now –
Frank We all want the shirt, don’t we?
George Yes–yes–yes!
Now Trish sings rapidly – and keeps singing again and again: ‘I want the shirt – I want the shirt’; to the air of ‘Here Comes the Bride’.
Frank We’ll take it now, Terry.
Berna We want it now, Terry, now.
Terry Here – I’ll give you a pen-knife – matches –
Frank No good. The shirt, Terry. Hand it over.
Terry tries to back away from them. They encircle him. They sing with Trish:
All ‘We want the shirt – we want the shirt – (etc.)’
Terry My shoes! My shoes and socks –
Berna The shirt, Terry.
Trish The shirt – the shirt!
Frank The shirt – the shirt – the shirt!
All sing again, ‘We want the shirt – we want the shirt –’ George starts playing ‘Here Comes the Bride’.
Terry For God’s sake, this is the only shirt I have here!
Frank Grab him!
Terry Frank –!
And suddenly they all grab him (all except Angela who is by herself at the end of the pier – but watching). Terry falls to the ground. They pull at his shirt. As they do, overlapping:
Berna We have him!
Frank Hold his feet!
Terry For God’s sake!
Trish Give it to us!
Frank Hold him – hold him!
Trish We want it – we want it!
Terry Help!
Berna Want it – want it – want it!
Frank Want it, Terry – want it!
Berna Pull – pull – pull!
Trish I’ve got it!
Berna Rip it off!
Terry Angela, help –!
Frank Hold his hands!
Berna Need it – need it!
Trish Got it! Yes!
Terry Please –!
Frank Pull – pull – pull!
George stops playing. Now Frank stands up in triumph, a portion of Terry’s shirt held aloft.
There!
Trish Well done, Frank.
Berna Now hang it up, Terry. (to all) Yes?
George Yes – yes!
Trish Hang it up there, Terry. Come on – be a sport!
Terry gets to his feet and pulls the remnant of his shirt together.
Terry Happy now, are you?
Frank On the lifebelt stand. Has to be done in person.
Terry You’re a shower of bastards – you know that.
He takes the piece of the shirt and hangs it up. They applaud.
Berna Terry Martin Was Here.
Terry Satisfied?
Trish Wonderful!
Terry OK?
Frank You’ll be remembered here for ever, Terry.
Terry Happy now? I hope you’re all happy now.
Berna Don’t be such a crank.
Frank Bit of fun, Terry. That’s all.
Terry (relenting) Not a button left.
Frank Just passing the time – killing time.
Terry And I could have split my head on those stones!
Frank Just a bit of fun. (He goes to one of his bags and produces a shirt.)
Trish You look wonderful, Terry. Doesn’t he?
Frank This should fit you.
Terry raises his hand in a pretended gesture of striking him.
And it’s your colour.
Terry I like this now. I’m not going to part with it. Bastards …
The moment has passed. They finish tidying up. They look around the pier, now restored to what it was when they arrived.
Trish So …
Berna So …
They look like people at a station – some standing – some sitting – just waiting patiently to get away.
Trish Lovely harvest day, isn’t it?
Berna What time is it now?
Frank Coming up to seven thirty.
Brief pause. Frank sees two stones a few feet away from the mound of stones. He picks one up and places it on top of the mound.
Simple domestic instincts …
He now picks up the second stone and places it on top of the mound.
(to Terry) At seven thirty in the morning the rage for the absolute isn’t quite so consuming … The acceptance of what is …
Brief pause.
Angela He’s out there somewhere, just below the surface.
Terry Who’s that?
Angela His dancing porpoise.
Frank Damn right. Waiting for an audience.
Terry Not many audiences around here.
Frank Or maybe just searching for the other thirteen. Who’s to say?
Short pause.
Trish Is he punctual?
Terry (laughing) Carlin?
Trish (wearily) God! Your driver – Charlie!
Terry He’ll be on time. He’s always on bloody time.
Short pause.
Trish (to George) Are you not going to put that into the case?
George No.
Trish What’s got into you?
George I’m not finished playing.
Short pause. Angela is still by herself at the end of the pier.
Angela There was a city called Eleusis in Attica in ancient Greece; and every year at the end of summer, religious ceremonies were held there in honour of Demeter, the goddess of the harvest – what we would call a harvest festival. And they were known as the Eleusinian Mysteries.
Frank Off again!
Trish No more stories, Angela. Let’s get back to real life.
Angela All we know about the ceremonies is that they began with a period of fasting; that there was a ritual purification in the sea; and that young people went through a ceremony of initiation. And there was music and dancing and drinking. And we know, too, that sacrifice was offered. And that’s about all we know. Because the people who took part in the ceremonies vowed never to speak of what happened there. So that when the civilization came to an end it took the secrets of the Eleusinian Mysteries with it.
Frank What’s your point – that they had bishops too? I’ll tell you something; it’s going to be another roaster of a day.
Brief pause.
Berna Play something for us, George.
George What?
Berna Whatever gives you pleasure.
George My pleasure … right …
He strikes a few chords as he wonders what he will play. Then suddenly:
Trish Shh! Listen! Listen!
Berna What is it?
Trish Stop! Quiet! Stop!
Frank Is it –?
Trish The minibus! Isn’t it? Listen!
Frank I don’t hear –
Berna It is! She’s right!
Trish At last! At last!
Terry Told you he was bloody punctual.
They are all suddenly animated, excited, joyous. They pick up their belongings. They all talk at the same time.
Frank Good old Charlie!
Terry Whose is this?
Trish What new jokes will he have?
Angela Don’t forget your sleeping-bag.
Berna We’ll be home by lunchtime.
Angela Can you manage all that?
Frank You’re sun-burned.
George Am I?
Frank Your forehead.
Trish The moment I get home – straight to bed!
Frank You’re very lucky to have Charlie.
And gradually as the minibus gets closer, their chatter and their excitement die away. Now the minibus has arrived. The engine is switched off. Frank goes to the exit.
Good man, Charlie. With you in a moment. (He now sees the tin of honey cake and picks it up.) What’s this?
Terry That’s for Carlin.
Frank Like hell. I’m taking –
Terry Leave it, Frank.
Frank Sorry …
Nobody moves, they look around. Nobody speaks. Finally:
Trish Nice place all the same … Isn’t it?
Frank Lovely.
Trish It really is, Terry.
Berna So peaceful.
Trish Lovely.
Frank Really peaceful.
Trish Wonderful.
Frank Wonderful.
Trish (to George) Isn’t it wonderful?
George Yes.
Terry Angela’s right: it was a mess, the whole thing.
Frank Terry –
Terry The least said … I just feel I’ve let you all down.
Frank Don’t say another word. It was a great birthday party. We had a wonderful time.
Trish He’s right, Terry. Terrific.
Frank Thank you. And we’ll do it again some time. (to all) Agreed? (to George) Right, George?
George spreads his hands and smiles.
Only this time I’ll take Mr Carlin in hand and he’ll do what he’s supposed to do.
Trish And even though we don’t make it out there –
Frank Of course we’ll make it! Why wouldn’t we make it?
Trish Well, at least now we know … it’s there.
Frank (calls) ’Bye, Conall!
Trish (calls) ’Bye, Conall!
Frank sings ‘Aloha’.
Terry I should tell you –
Trish (calls) Be good, Conall!
Terry I should have said –
Frank Trish, my love, you’re looking nowhere near it.
Trish What do you –?
Frank turns her head to the right.
Frank Got it now?
Trish Ah.
Frank Still County Sligo.
Trish I know it’s County Sligo, Frank.
Frank (to all) See? Nothing changes.
Angela (to Terry) You should have told us what?
Terry Nothing.
Angela What should you have told us?
Terry (reluctantly) What I said yesterday afternoon – this morning – I’m confused – when was it? – anyhow, when I told you I owned the island, that is true – well, partially true. I have taken an option on it. The option expires in a month. And I’m not going to pick it up.
Trish Now that’s the best news I’ve heard all day! The moment you told that story about –
Terry holds up his hand to silence her.
Terry I want to pick it up. Oh, yes. Trouble is – I haven’t the money. The bookie business – concert promotion – the last few years have been disastrous. And I’m afraid – (He laughs.) – not to put a tooth in it – I’m broke.
Trish But, Terry, you –
Terry Things will pick up. The tide will turn. I’ll rise again. Oh, yes, I’ll rise again. (to Berna) That’s why I didn’t tell you I’d optioned it. Knew I’d lose it. (to all) Actually I didn’t mean to tell anybody … Look at those solemn faces! (He laughs.) To own Oileán Draíochta for two whole months – wasn’t that wonderful enough? Wasn’t that a terrific secret to have? Anyway … One small thing. I’d be glad if you kept it to yourselves – that I’m broke. Don’t want a hundred creditors descending on me.
Berna I’m sorry, Terry.
Terry So we’ll come back again, will we? What d’you say?
Trish But, Terry, how can you –?
Terry When will we come back?
Frank Good God, Terry, how can you –?
Terry Next year? What about next year?
Frank If I’d known – if any of us had any idea you were –
Terry My birthday next year – right?
Frank And you’ve been doling out – day afte
r day – month after –
Angela (triumphantly) Yes, we will! Next year – and the year after – and the year after that! Because we want to! Not out of need – out of desire! Not in expectation – but to attest, to affirm, to acknowledge – to shout Yes, Yes, Yes! Damn right we will, Terry! Yes – yes – yes!
Frank Twelve months’ time – agreed?
Trish Agreed!
Frank Berna?
Berna Yes!
Frank George?
George Agreed!
Frank No more talk! Settled! (calls) ’Bye, Conall! ’Bye, lads. They’re waving to us! Wave back to them!
Frank waves vigorously. Trish, George and Berna make smaller gestures.
Trish ’Bye!
Frank (calls) Terry’s birthday next year! And for a whole night!
They all join in, overlapping:
Trish ’Bye, sheep!
George ’Bye.
Trish ’Bye, cattle.
Terry ’Bye, coloured birds.
Berna ’Bye, whin bush.
Frank ’Bye, bell.
Terry ’Bye, clothes on bushes.
Angela ’Bye, low hill.
George ’Bye.
Trish ’Bye, oak trees.
Angela ’Bye, apple trees.
Terry ’Bye, Conall.
All ’Bye … ’bye … ’bye …
Frank ’Bye, dancing dolphin … ’bye …
Still nobody moves. Now George plays in his ‘sacred’ style:
‘Come, my love, come, my boat lies low
She lies high and dry on the O-hi-o
Come, my love, come, come along with me
And I’ll take you back to Tennessee.’
Trish Charlie’s waiting for us. Shouldn’t we make a move?
But nobody does. Now Berna begins to hum with the song, beginning with the first verse:
Berna (hums)
‘Down by the cane-brake close by the mill
There lived a blue-eyed girl and her name was Nancy Dill …’
George accompanies her. Now Terry hums with her:
Terry and Berna (hum)
‘I told her that I loved her, I loved her very long
I’m going to serenade her and this will be my song …’
Now Trish and Frank join in the humming:
Terry, Berna, Trish and Frank
‘Come, my love, come, my boat lies low
She lies high and dry on the O-hi-o
Come, my love, come, come along with me
And I’ll take you back to Tennessee …’
They play/hum another verse and this time Angela joins them. And this continues to the end of the play.
Trish goes to the mound of stones. She walks around it once. Then she picks up a stone from the bottom of the mound and places it on the top. Then she walks around the mound a second time and again she places a stone on top. Then she goes to the lifebelt stand and lightly touches her votive offering. Then she goes to her belongings, picks them up and slowly moves off.
