Brian Friel Plays 2 (38 page)

With all the excitement I forgot to tell you the rumour that’s going round Dublin: the Lord Deputy’s about to proclaim you a traitor.

O’Neill
That’ll do no harm at all. Good. Excellent.

O’Donnell
And do you know what they’re offering as a reward for you? Go on – guess – guess.

O’Neill
All right. Tell me.

O’Donnell
£
2000 alive,
£
1000 dead. The same as they were offering five years ago – for the shit O’Doherty! (
He
gives
a
great
whoop
and
exits
.)

O’Neill
(
to
Lombard
)
Your network of priests could be useful. How many are you in touch with?

Lombard
Twenty, twenty-five.

O’Neill
Every week? Every month?

Lombard
It varies. They have a price on their head, too.

O’Neill
Get in touch with them as soon as possible. Tell them I’ll need them as messengers all over Europe.

Lombard
I’ll do what I can. (
He
goes
to
the
door.
)

O’Neill
And put Oviedo to work on that
Excommunication
Bull.

Lombard
Oviedo can’t demand it, Hugh. The decision is the Pope’s. Excommunication is a spiritual matter.

O’Neill
Don’t play those games with me, Peter. The situation is as ‘spiritual’ now as it was twenty years ago. I need Excommunication for solidarity here, for solidarity with Europe. I expect you to deliver it.

Lombard
As I said, I’ve tried. I’ll try again.

He
leaves
.
O’Neill
goes
to
the
desk
and
busies
himself
with
papers
.
Silence
.
Mabel
watches
him
for
a
while
and
then
goes
to
him.

Mabel
Stop it, Hugh.

O’Neill
Stop what?

Mabel
This Spanish business. Don’t let it happen.

O’Neill
Why should I do that?

Mabel
Because you know this isn’t what you really want to happen.

O’Neill
I’ve spent twenty years trying to bring it about, haven’t I?

Mabel
This isn’t your way.

O’Neill
But you know what my way is.

Mabel
Calculation – deliberation – caution. You inch forward – you withdraw. You challenge – you retreat. You defy – you submit. Every important move you have ever made has been pondered for months.

O’Neill
I have –

Mabel
That’s why you’re the most powerful man in Ireland: you’re the only Irish chieftain who understands the political method. O’Donnell doesn’t. Maguire doesn’t. McMahon doesn’t. That’s why the Queen is never
quite
sure how to deal with you – you’re the antithesis of what she expects a Gaelic chieftain to be. That’s your strength. And that’s why your instinct now is not to gamble everything on one big throw that is more than risky.

O’Neill
This time Spain is with us.

Mabel
Spain is using you.

O’Neill
We’re using each other. We’ve courted each other for years.

Mabel
And that has given you some small negotiating power with England. But the manoeuvrings are over now. And I promise you, Hugh, England will throw everything she has into this war.

O’Neill
So will Spain.

Mabel
No, she won’t. It’s not Spain’s war. It’s your war. And you’re taking on a nation state that is united and determined and powerful and led by a very resolute woman.

O’Neill
Is there an echo of pride in that?

Mabel
Please, Hugh.

O’Neill
Are we so inconsiderable? We aren’t without determination. We aren’t disunited.

Mabel
Just look calmly at what you are.

O’Neill
I know exactly what we are.

Mabel
You are not united. You have no single leader. You have no common determination. At best you are an impromptu alliance of squabbling tribesmen –

O’Neill
Careful!

Mabel
– grabbing at religion as a coagulant only because they have no other idea to inform them or give them cohesion.

Pause
.

O’Neill
Is that a considered abstract of the whole Gaelic history and civilization, Mabel? Or is it nothing more than an honest-to-goodness, instant wisdom of the Upstart? (
He
is
instantly
sorry
and
grabs
her
and
holds
her
in
his
arms
.)
I’m sorry, Mabel. Forgive me. I’m very sorry. I’m a bit on edge. (
He
kisses
the
top
of
her
head.
) Of course you’re right. We have no real cohesion. And of course I’m worried. Even O’Donnell‘s enthusiasm worries me: for him it’s all a huge adventure – cattle-raiding on an international scale.

Mabel
moves
away
.

And I never quite know what the Archbishop is thinking.

Mabel
He talks about a Catholic Confederation, a Catholic Army, about you leading Europe in a glorious Catholic Counter-Reformation. But I always have the feeling that when he’s talking about you and about Ireland, he’s really talking in code about Rome and Roman power. Is that unfair to him?

O’Neill
I don’t know.

Mabel
Just as Spain’s only interest is in Spain and in Spanish power. But my only real concern is you, Hugh. This is not going to be just another skirmish at the edge of a forest. This is a war that England must win because her very survival is at stake. And all I know for sure is that, when the war is over, whatever the outcome, the Lombards and the Oviedos won’t be here – they’ll have moved on to more promising territories.
(Pause.)
I
shouldn’t have spoken. (
Pause
.)
I didn’t mean to intrude. (
Pause
.)
I’m sure I don’t really understand the overall thing.

O’Neill
The overall thing.

Mabel
That’s what matters in the end, isn’t it?

O’Neill
The overall thing – we don’t even begin to know what it means.

Silence
.
She
gathers
her
pieces
of
lace
and
goes
to
the
door
.

Mabel
Something Mary told me: a new Lord Deputy is about to be appointed, somebody called Lord Mountjoy. Henry says he’s meticulous, and a ruthless fighter. Blount – that’s his real name; Charles Blount. That’s all she knows. Oh yes – he smokes a lot. It’s all very secret. She made me swear not to tell you.

She
is
about
to
leave
when
she
is
arrested
by
the
controlled
passion
of
O’Neill’s
voice.

O’Neill
I have spent my life attempting to do two things. I have attempted to hold together a harassed and a confused people by trying to keep them in touch with the life they knew before they were overrun. It wasn’t a life of material ease but it had its assurances and it had its dignity. And I have done that by acknowledging and indeed honouring the rituals and ceremonies and beliefs these people have practised since before history, long before the God of Christianity was ever heard of. And at the same time I have tried to open these people to the strange new ways of Europe, to ease them into the new assessment of things, to nudge them towards changing evaluations and beliefs. Two pursuits that can scarcely be followed simultaneously. Two tasks that are almost
self-cancelling
. But they have got to be attempted because the
formation of nations and civilizations is a willed act, not a product of fate or accident. And for you to suggest that religion is the only coagulant that holds us together is to grossly and ignorantly overlook an age-old civilization. In one detail you are right: it is not my nature to gamble everything on one big throw –

Mabel
So have your war.

O’Neill
But if I don’t move now that civilization is certainly doomed.

Mabel
So go and fight. That’s what you’ve spent your life doing. That’s what you’re best at. Fighting to preserve a fighting society. I don’t care any more.

O’Neill
Because you’re not quite sure which side you’re on?

Mabel
Why do you keep rejecting me, Hugh?

O’Neill
I can see it wouldn’t break your heart to see the Gaelic order wiped out. But let’s look at what the alternative is: the buccaneering, vulgar, material code of the new colonials –

Mabel
(
leaving
)
Excuse me.

O’Neill
The new ‘civility’ approved, we’re told, by God Himself. Isn’t that your coagulant – God? No, better still, God and trade. Now there’s a combination.

She
swings
back
and
glares
at
him
in
hatred
.
He
ignores
her
and
pretends
to
busy
himself
at
the
desk
.

Mabel
I want your mistresses out of this house immediately.

O’Neill
(
Tyrone
accent
)
Aw, now sorry, ma’am.

Mabel
What does sorry mean?

O’Neill
That my mistresses stay.

Mabel
I will not live in the same house as those – those harlots! Get those tramps out of here!

O’Neill
No.

Mabel
Then I go.

O’Neill
That’s your choice.

Pause
.
She
tries
not
to
cry
.

Mabel
I’m pregnant, Hugh.

O’Neill
goes
to
the
exit
.

O’Neill
(
calling
)
Harry! Have you a moment?

Mabel
Did you hear what I said?

He
returns
to
the
desk
.

O’Neill
That you’re pregnant? Yes, I heard. So if all goes well – isn’t that the expression? – if all goes well that will be ten legitimate children I’ll have sired and about – what? – maybe thirty bastards.

Mabel
Oh, Hugh –

O’Neill
Or so my people boast. An affectionate attribute every nation bestows on its heroes.

Again
he
has
instant
remorse
.
As
she
runs
to
the
door
he
runs
after
her
.

Mabel! Mabel, I’m –

O’Donnell
dashes
on.

O’Donnell
A messenger from Spain outside, Hugh! (
to
Mabel
)
It gets better by the minute! (
to
O’Neill
)
The Spanish fleets sails on September 3! (
to
Mabel
)
Maybe you speak Spanish? You should hear your man out there: ‘Beeg fleet – beeg ships’!

O’Neill
Where do they sail from?

O’Donnell
Lisbon. On the first tide.

O’Neill
And where do they land?

Harry
enters.

Harry
Did you call me?

O’Neill
Where do they land?

O’Donnell
‘Keen-sall.’

O’Neill
Where – where?

O’Donnell
‘Keen-sall’ – Kinsale, I suppose.

O’Neill
Oh, God, no.

O’Donnell
Wherever Kinsale is. This is it, Mabel darling! This is it! Yipeeeeee!

Quick
black.

O’Donnell
It’s only me. I suppose you thought something had happened to me.

O’Neill
You were longer than you thought.

O’Donnell
I had to make detours going and coming back – the countryside’s crawling with troops. And then there were a lot of things to see to at home – disputes – documents – the usual. Look at my feet. These Sperrins aren’t mountains – they’re bloody bogs! I suppose you wouldn’t have a spare pair of boots?

O’Neill
What you see is all I have.

O’Donnell
I was afraid you might have had to move on to some new place.

O’Neill
It’s been very quiet here.

O’Donnell
God, I’m exhausted.

He
throws
himself
on
the
ground
and
spreads
out
in
exhaustion.
His
eyes
closed.
O’Neill
continues
writing.
Silence
.

O’Neill
Have you any food?

O’Donnell
opens
his
leather
bag
and
produces
a
scone
of
bread.
O’Neill
goes
to
him,
takes
the
bread
and
eats
it
hungrily
.

O’Donnell
My mother made me half-a-dozen of them but I met a family begging on the roadside near Raphoe. Everywhere you go there are people scavenging in the fields, hoking up bits of roots, eating fistfuls of watercress. They look like skeletons. Where’s Mabel?

O’Neill
Harry took her to relatives of Ruadhaire Dall O Cathain’s near Dungiven. She wasn’t able to keep moving about any more.

O’Donnell
Proper order, too. When is she due?

O’Neill
Next week probably.

O’Donnell
She’s been terrific, Hugh. Not a whimper out of her all these months – and us skulking about like tramps.

O’Neill
I know.

O’Donnell
Next week. Great. At least that’ll be something to celebrate. I’m wild dry. Have you any water?

O’Neill
hands
him
a
bottle
.

O’Neill
Well?

O’Donnell
I hate this aul brown Tyrone water – with all respects. How do you drink it?

O’Neill
What did you learn?

O’Donnell
I never made Ballyshannon. Dowcra’s troops
were waiting for me there. I got no further than Donegal Town. My mother says to tell you she was asking for you.

O’Neill
Well?

O’Donnell
Well, it’s a complete collapse, she says. The countryside’s in chaos, she says: slaughter, famine, disease. There must be eight thousand people crowded into Donegal Town looking for food.

O’Neill
Where’s Mountjoy?

O’Donnell
Mountjoy’s riding up and down the country and beheading everything that stirs. And every week somebody new caves in; and those that are holding out are being picked off one after the other. But do you know what I heard? Jesus, wait till you hear this, Hugh. We were betrayed at Kinsale! They knew we were going to attack that morning. They were sitting waiting for us. And do you know how they knew? Brian Og McMahon slipped them the word! Time, place, number of men, everything. And do you know how they bought him? With a bottle of whiskey! Jesus, wouldn’t it break your heart? That’s what they’re all saying at home. There could have been 10 million Spanish soldiers and we still wouldn’t have won. Because one of our own captains bloody well betrayed us.

O’Neill
Rubbish.

O’Donnell
What d’you mean – rubbish?

O’Neill
All lies.

O’Donnell
You don’t believe me?

O’Neill
You don’t believe it yourself.

O’Donnell
It’s what everybody at home’s saying … I don’t know … maybe … but you’ll agree those McMahons were always shifty buggers.

O’Neill
How big is the collapse?

O’Donnell
It’s all over. It’s all finished, Hugh.

O’Neill
Who has submitted? Names.

O’Donnell
My mother says they’re crawling in on their hands and knees and offering hostages and money and whatnot. It would be easier to count the handful that are still holding out.

O’Neill
Names.

O’Donnell
Names … where do you begin? … all right, names … Jesus, I just hate saying them … Turlough McHenry of the Fews. The two Antrim O’Neills. O’Malley of Mayo. O’Flaherty of Annaly. Maguire of Fermanagh –

O’Neill
Cuchonnacht?

O’Donnell
God, no! The wee get, Connor Roe. Christ, man, aul Cuchonnacht’s still dodging about the Lisnaskea area with fifteen picked men and hammering away every chance he gets! The McDevitts of Ballybeg, all of them, every branch of the family. The McSwineys of Fanad. Wouldn’t it sicken you? – the bloody McSwineys that our family has kept and protected for generations and then when you’re down in your luck, (
suddenly
brightening
) But do you know who’s holding out? You’d never guess! Still the same wee maggot he always was but at least he hasn’t caved in yet. The sheep-stealer! – the shit O’Doherty from Inishowen! Jesus, isn’t it well we didn’t slip him the Bordeaux Special that time?

O’Neill
Go on.

O’Donnell
O’Kelly of Kilconnell. Brave enough; he held out until last Sunday and then do you know what he did? The aul eejit, Jesus, pompous as ever; he had this blond
wig that an aul aunt had brought home from Paris. Anyhow he sticks the blond wig on his head, puts on a scarlet jacket, marches into Galway town and offers his surrender – in French! Poor aul bugger – trying to make a bit of a gesture out of it … Anyhow, one swing of an axe and the aul blond head was rolling about the street …

O’Neill
Go on.

O’Donnell
Who else? … O’Reilly of East Breffni. McWilliam Burke of Connaught. O’Kane –

O’Neill
Which O’Kane?

O’Donnell
Your daughter Rose’s husband. Sure you always knew he was a bloody weed. Fitzmaurice of Kerry. Donnell McCarthy of Bandon. I can go on forever. O’Dowd. O’Dwyer of Kilnamanagh. God, Hugh, I’m telling you – it’s endless.

O’Neill
picks
up
his
papers
and
puts
them
in
order.
Silence
.

O’Neill
Where’s Chichester?

O’Donnell
He’s taken over your place at Dungannon.

O’Neill
Hah!

O’Donnell
He controls the whole of East Ulster. Dowcra controls the whole of West Ulster. Carew controls the whole of Munster. And Mountjoy controls the whole country. (
Pause.
)
He did a kind of a dirty thing last week, Mountjoy.

O’Neill
stops
and
looks
at
him
.

He smashed the O’Neill crowning stone at Tullyhogue. There was no call for that, was there? (
Pause
.)
What else is there? The King of France has written to Elizabeth to come to terms with us. Wasting his bloody time. All your
Derry lands have been given to Bishop Montgomery and your Armagh lands to the new Protestant bishop there … I don’t think I heard anything else … they’ve taken over your fishing rights on the Bann and the Foyle … And I’ve resigned, Hugh.

O’Neill
What do you mean?

O’Donnell
Handed over to the brother, Rory.

O’Neill
Oh, Hugh.

O’Donnell
And I’m leaving at the end of the week.

O’Neill
Where for?

O’Donnell
I don’t know. Wherever the ship takes me. Maybe Spain. (
Pause.
He
smiles
resolutely
and
uncertainly.
)
No, it’s not a sudden decision. I’ve been thinking about it for months, ever since Kinsale. And Rory’ll be a fine chieftain – he’s a solid man, very calm, very balanced. He hasn’t my style or flair, of course; but then I have a fault or two, as you know. The blood gets up too easy and I was always useless at dealing with civil servants and Lord Deputies and people like that. Not like you. Even with my own people, for God’s sake: the bloody McSwineys of Fanad couldn’t wait to get a thump at me. Anyhow the chieftain isn’t all that important – isn’t that what our bards tell us? The land is the goddess that every ruler in turn is married to. We come and we go but she stays the same. And the Tyrconnell goddess is getting a new man. Trouble is, no matter who she’s married to, I’ll always be in love with her … (
He
takes
a
drink
of
water.
)
Jesus, that stuff would physic an elephant!

O’Neill
When are you leaving?

O’Donnell
Next Friday.

O’Neill
Where from?

O’Donnell
I’m getting a ship at a place called
Castlehaven
– wherever that is.

O’Neill
Near Skibbereen.

O’Donnell
Wherever Skibbereen is.

O’Neill
You’ll be back, Hugh.

O’Donnell
Aye. In a blond wig and a scarlet jacket and leading a hundred thousand Spaniards! And next time we’ll land in Derry – better still Rathmullan and my mother’ll get landing fees from the buggers – right? (
He
laughs.
)
No, it’s all over, Hugh. Finished for all time. Poor aul Peter Lombard, terrible bleak ending for his history, isn’t it? I mean, Jesus, how can the poor man make an interesting story out of a defeat like this – eh? If he’d any sense he’d scrap the whole thing. Yes, there is one thing that might bring me home sometime – to get my sheep back from the shit O’Doherty. Oh, man …

Impulsively
,
about
to
break
down
,
he
flings
his
arms
around
O’Neill
.
They
embrace
for
several
seconds
.
Then
O’Donnell
goes
to
his
bag
for
a
handkerchief
.

What about you? What are you going to do?

O’Neill
I don’t have many choices. And I’m not as young as you.

O’Donnell
Damned right – twenty years older at least.

O’Neill
My instinct is to leave like you.

O’Donnell
What does Mabel think?

O’Neill
She’s urging me to hang on, pick up the pieces, start all over again. They’re very tenacious, the New English.

O’Donnell
Maybe she’s right. She’s a very loyal wee girl.

O’Neill
Her reasoning is that since the country is in such anarchy Mountjoy has neither the energy nor the resources to impose order; but if I were to make a public declaration of loyalty to the Queen and if she were to reinstate me –

O’Donnell
Are you out of your –?!

O’Neill
With only nominal authority, without political or military power whatever, then Mabel says I should accept almost any conditions, no matter how humiliating, as long as I’d be restored to my base again and to my own people.

O’Donnell
And why in God’s name would Elizabeth restore you?

O’Neill
Because she knows that the only way she can rule Ireland at this point is by
using
someone like me. She hates me – but she can rule through me provided she has control over me. At least that’s Mabel’s argument. I think I could get enough of my people behind me and she thinks some of the New English would back it – those that are sick of England.

O’Donnell
So you’re writing your submission?

O’Neill
What’s the alternative? The life of a soured émigré whingeing and scheming round the capitals of Europe.

O’Donnell
Like me.

O’Neill
I didn’t mean that, Hugh.

O’Donnell
Show me that. You know, you’re a tenacious bugger, too. You and Mabel are well met.

At
first
O’Donnell
reads
his
portions
of
the
submission
in
mocking
and
exaggerated
tones.
He
is
unaware
that
O’Neill
is
deadly
serious.
But
as
they
proceed
through
the
document
–
O’Donnell
reading
his
sections
,
O’Neill
speaking
his
by
heart
–
O’Donnell’s
good
humour
drains
away
and
he
ends
up
as
formal
and
as
grave
as
O’Neill.