Brian Friel Plays 2 (55 page)

Authors: Brian Friel

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 after 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.

The
moment
Trish
completes
her
first
encircling
Berna
joins
her.
First
she
places
the
flowers
Frank
gave
her
at
the
foot
of
the
stand.
Then
she
does
the
ritual
that
Trish
is
doing.
And
this
ceremony
–
encircling,
lifting
a
stone,
encircling,
lifting
a
stone,
touching
the
votive
offering
–
is
repeated
by
every
character.
Frank
immediately
behind
Berna,
Terry
immediately
after
Frank.
And
when
they
finish
they
pick
up
their
belongings
and
–
still
humming
to
George’s
accompaniment
–
move
slowly
off.
Now
only
George
and
Angela
are
left.
George
stops
playing.
He
looks
at
her
and
gestures
towards
the
mound.

Angela
You go ahead, George, I think I’ll pass.

She
watches
him
as
he
does
the
ritual.
When
he
has
finished
he
stands
beside
her,
puts
his
arm
on
hers.
They
take
a
last
look
round.

George
Nice place.

Angela
Nice place. (
She
nods
in
agreement.
)

George
You’ll come back some day.

Angela
I don’t think –

George
Yes, you will. Some day. And when you do, do it for me. No, no, I don’t mean
for
me – just in memory of me.

She
looks
at
him
for
a
second.
Then
quickly,
impetuously,
she
catches
his
head
between
her
hands
and
kisses
him.
Then
she
breaks
away
from
him,
rushes
to
the
stand,
kisses
her
sun
hat
and
hangs
it
resolutely
on
the
very
top
of
the
stand.

Angela
(
defiantly
)
For you, George! For both of us!

She
rushes
back
to
him,
takes
his
arm
and
begins
singing
‘
Down
by
the
Cane-brake’
loudly,
joyously,
happily
–
and
he
accompanies
her
with
comparable
brio.
The
others
(
off
)
join
in.

George
and
Angela
exit.
The
engine
starts
up.
The
singing
and
the
engine
compete.
Both
sounds
are
encompassed
by
the
silence
and
complete
stillness
and
gradually
surrender
to
it.

Acknowledgements

‘There I Was Waiting at the Church’ Copyright © 1906. Reproduced by permission of Francis Day and Hunter Ltd, London
WC
2
H
0
EA.

‘Down in de Cane-brake’ Copyright © 1928, Forster Music Pub Inc., USA. Reproduced by permission of Francis Day and Hunter Ltd, London
WC
2
H
0
EA.

‘Heavenly Sunshine’ Copyright © 1970, Al Gallico Music Corp., USA. Reproduced by permission of EMI Music Publishing Ltd, London
WC
2
H
0
EA.

Every effort has been made to contact all copyright holders of songs quoted in the text of this play. In case of any queries, please contact Curtis Brown Group Ltd, 4th Floor, Haymarket House, 28/29 Haymarket, London
SW
1
Y
4
SP
.

MOLLY SWEENEY

for
Megan

Characters

Molly Sweeney

Frank Sweeney

Mr Rice

First Performance

Molly Sweene
y was first produced at the Gate Theatre, Dublin, on 9 August 1994, with the following cast:

Molly
Catherine Byrne

Frank
Mark Lambert

Mr Rice
T. P. McKenna

Directed
by
Brian Friel