Read The Plough and the Stars Online
Authors: Sean O'Casey
Clitheroe
(
to Nora
) What’s wrong, Nora? Did she say anything to you?
Nora
She was bargin’ out of her, an’ I only told her to g’up ower o’ that to her own place; an’ before I knew where I was, she flew at me like a tiger, an’ thried to guzzle me!
Clitheroe
(
going to door and speaking to Bessie
) Get up to your own place, Mrs Burgess, and don’t you be interferin’ with my wife, or it’ll be th’ worse for you … Go on, go on!
Bessie
(
as Clitheroe is pushing her out
) Mind who you’re pushin’, now … I attend me place o’ worship, anyhow … not like some o’ them that go to neither church, chapel nor meetin’-house … If me son was home from th’ threnches he’d see me righted.
Bessie and Fluther depart, and Clitheroe closes the door.
Clitheroe
(
going over to Nora, and putting his arm round her
) There, don’t mind that old bitch, Nora, darling; I’ll soon put a stop to her interferin’.
Nora
Some day or another, when I’m here be meself, she’ll come in an’ do somethin’ desperate.
Clitheroe
(
kissing her
) Oh, sorra fear of her doin’ anythin’ desperate. I’ll talk to her tomorrow when she’s sober. A taste o’ me mind that’ll shock her into the sensibility of behavin’ herself!
Nora gets up and settles the table. She sees the dungarees on the floor and stands looking at them, then she turns to the Covey, who is reading Jenersky’s
Thesis
at the fire.
Nora
Willie, is that th’ place for your dungarees?
The Covey
(
getting up and lifting them from the floor
) Ah, they won’t do th’ floor any harm, will they? (
He carries them into room, back
.)
Nora
(
calling
) Uncle Peter, now, Uncle Peter; tea’s ready.
Peter and the Covey come in from room, back; they all sit down to tea. Peter is in full dress of the Foresters: green coat, gold braided; white breeches, top boots, frilled shirt. He carries the slouch hat, with the white ostrich plume, and the sword in his hands. They eat for a few moments in silence, the Covey furtively looking at Peter with scorn in his eyes. Peter knows it and is fidgety.
The Covey
(
provokingly
) Another cut o’ bread, Uncle Peter?
Peter maintains a dignified silence.
Clitheroe
It’s sure to be a great meetin’ tonight. We ought to go, Nora.
Nora
(
decisively
) I won’t go, Jack; you can go if you wish.
A pause.
The Covey
D’ye want th’ sugar, Uncle Peter?
Peter
(
explosively
) Now, are you goin’ to start your thryin’ an’ your twartin’ again?
Nora
Now, Uncle Peter, you mustn’t be so touchy; Willie has only assed you if you wanted th’ sugar.
Peter
He doesn’t care a damn whether I want th’ sugar or no. He’s only thryin’ to twart me!
Nora
(
angrily, to the Covey
) Can’t you let him alone, Willie? If he wants the sugar, let him stretch his hand out an’ get it himself!
The Covey
(
to Peter
) Now, if you want the sugar, you can stretch out your hand and get it yourself!
Clitheroe
Tonight is th’ first chance that Brennan has got of showing himself off since they made a Captain of him – why, God only knows. It’ll be a treat to see him swankin’ it at th’ head of the Citizen Army carryin’ th’ flag of the Plough an’ th’ Stars … (
Looking roguishly at Nora
) He was sweet on you, once, Nora?
Nora
He may have been … I never liked him. I always thought he was a bit of a thick.
The Covey
They’re bringin’ nice disgrace on that banner now.
Clitheroe
(
remonstratively
) How are they bringin’ disgrace on it?
The Covey
(
snappily
) Because it’s a Labour flag, an’ was never meant for politics … What does th’ design of th’ field plough, bearin’ on it th’ stars of th’ heavenly plough, mean, if it’s not Communism? It’s a flag that should only be used when we’re buildin’ th’ barricades to fight for a Workers’ Republic!
Peter
(
with a puff of derision
) P-phuh.
The Covey
(
angrily
) What are you phuhin’ out o’ you for? Your mind is th’ mind of a mummy. (
Rising
) I betther go an’ get a good place to have a look at Ireland’s warriors passin’ by. (
He goes into room, left, and returns with his cap
.)
Nora
(
to the Covey
) Oh, Willie, brush your clothes before you go.
The Covey
Oh, they’ll do well enough.
Nora
Go an’ brush them; th’ brush is in th’ drawer there.
The Covey goes to the drawer, muttering, gets the brush, and starts to brush his clothes.
The Covey
(
singing at Peter, as he does so
)
Oh, where’s th’ slave so lowly,
Condemn’d to chains unholy,
Who, could he burst his bonds at first,
Would pine beneath them slowly?
We tread th’ land that … bore us,
Th’ green flag glitters … o’er us,
Th’ friends we’ve tried are by our side,
An’ th’ foe we hate … before us!
Peter
(
leaping to his feet in a whirl of rage
) Now, I’m tellin’ you, me young Covey, once for all, that I’ll not stick any longer these tittherin’ taunts of yours, rovin’ around to sing your slights an’ slandhers, reddenin’ th’ mind of a man to th’ thinkin’ an’ sayin’ of things that sicken his soul with sin! (
Hysterically; lifting up a cup to fling at the Covey
) Be God, I’ll –
Clitheroe
(
catching his arm
) Now then, none o’ that, none o’ that!
Nora
Uncle Pether, Uncle Pether, UNCLE PETHER!
The Covey
(
at the door, about to go out
) Isn’t that th’ malignant oul’ varmint! Lookin’ like th’ illegitimate son of an illegitimate child of a corporal in th’ Mexican army! (
He goes out.
)
Peter
(
plaintively
) He’s afther leavin’ me now in such a state of agitation that I won’t be able to do meself justice when I’m marchin’ to th’ meetin’.
Nora
(
jumping up
) Oh, for God’s sake, here, buckle your sword on, and go to your meetin’, so that we’ll have at least one hour of peace! (
She proceeds to belt on the sword.
)
Clitheroe
(
irritably
) For God’s sake hurry him up ou’ o’ this, Nora.
Peter
Are yous all goin’ to thry to start to twart me now?
Nora
(
putting on his plumed hat
) S-s-sh. Now, your hat’s on, your house is thatched; off you pop! (
She gently pushes him from her
.)
Peter
(
going, and turning as he reaches the door
) Now, if that young Covey –
Nora
Go on, go on.
Peter goes. Clitheroe sits down in the lounge, lights a cigarette, and looks thoughtfully into the fire. Nora takes the things from the table, placing them on the chest of drawers. There is a pause, then she swiftly comes over to him and sits beside him.
(
Softly
) A penny for them, Jack!
Clitheroe
Me? Oh, I was thinkin’ of nothing.
Nora
You were thinkin’ of th’ … meetin’ … Jack. When we were courtin’ an’ I wanted you to go, you’d say, ‘Oh, to hell with meetin’s,’ an’ that you felt lonely in cheerin’ crowds when I was absent. An’ we weren’t a month married when you began that you couldn’t keep away from them.
Clitheroe
Oh, that’s enough about th’ meetin’. It looks as if you wanted me to go, th’ way you’re talkin’. You were always at me to give up th’ Citizen Army, an’ I gave it up; surely that ought to satisfy you.
Nora
Ay, you gave it up – because you got th’ sulks when they didn’t make a Captain of you. It wasn’t for my sake, Jack.
Clitheroe
For your sake or no, you’re benefitin’ by it, aren’t you? I didn’t forget this was your birthday, did I? (
He puts his arms around her
.) And you liked your new hat; didn’t you, didn’t you? (
He kisses her rapidly several times
.)
Nora
(
panting
) Jack, Jack; please, Jack! I thought you were tired of that sort of thing long ago.
Clitheroe
Well, you’re finding out now that I amn’t tired of it yet, anyhow. Mrs Clitheroe doesn’t want to be kissed, sure she doesn’t? (
He kisses her again
.) Little, little red-lipped Nora!
Nora
(
coquettishly removing his arm from around her
) Oh, yes, your little, little red-lipped Nora’s a sweet little girl when th’ fit seizes you; but your little, little red-lipped Nora has to clean your boots every mornin’, all the same.
Clitheroe
(
with a movement of irritation
) Oh, well, if we’re goin’ to be snotty!
A pause.
Nora
It’s lookin’ like as if it was you that was goin’ to be … snotty! Bridlin’ up with bittherness, th’ minute a body attempts t’ open her mouth.
Clitheroe
Is it any wondher, turnin’ a tendher sayin’ into a meanin’ o’ malice an’ spite!
Nora
It’s hard for a body to be always keepin’ her mind bent on makin’ thoughts that’ll be no longer than th’ length of your own satisfaction. (
A pause. Standing up
) If we’re goin’ to dhribble th’ time away sittin’ here like a pair o’ cranky mummies, I’d be as well sewin’ or doin’ something about th’ place.
She looks appealingly at him for a few moments; he doesn’t speak. She swiftly sits down beside him, and puts her arm around his neck.
(
Imploringly
) Ah, Jack, don’t be so cross!
Clitheroe
(
doggedly
) Cross? I’m not cross; I’m not a bit cross. It was yourself started it.
Nora
(
coaxingly
) I didn’t mean to say anything out o’ the way. You take a body up too quickly, Jack. (
In an ordinary tone as if nothing of an angry nature had been said
) You didn’t offer me me evenin’ allowance yet.
Clitheroe silently takes out a cigarette for her and himself and lights both.
(
Trying to make conversation
) How quiet th’ house is now; they must be all out.
Clitheroe
(
rather shortly
) I suppose so.
Nora
(
rising from the seat
) I’m longin’ to show you me new hat, to see what you think of it. Would you like to see it?
Clitheroe
Ah, I don’t mind.
Nora suppresses a sharp reply, hesitates for a moment, then gets the hat, puts it on, and stands before Clitheroe.
Nora
Well, how does Mr Clitheroe like me new hat?
Clitheroe
It suits you, Nora, it does right enough.
He stands up, puts his hand beneath her chin, and tilts her head up. She looks at him roguishly. He bends down and kisses her.
Nora
Here, sit down, an’ don’t let me hear another cross word out of you for th’ rest o’ the night.
They sit down.
Clitheroe
(
with his arms around her
) Little, little, red-lipped Nora!
Nora
(
with a coaxing movement of her body towards him
) Jack!
Clitheroe
(
tightening his arms around her
) Well?
Nora
You haven’t sung me a song since our honeymoon. Sing me one now, do … please, Jack!
Clitheroe
What song? ‘Since Maggie Went Away’?
Nora
Ah, no, Jack, not that; it’s too sad. ‘When You Said You Loved Me.’
Clearing his throat, Clitheroe thinks for a moment, and then begins to sing. Nora, putting an arm around him, nestles her head on his breast and listens delightedly.
Clitheroe
(
singing verses following to the air of ‘When You and I Were Young, Maggie’
)
Th’ violets were scenting th’ woods, Nora,
Displaying their charm to th’ bee,
When I first said I lov’d only you, Nora,
An’ you said you lov’d only me!
Th’ chestnut blooms gleam’d through th’ glade, Nora,
A robin sang loud from a tree,
When I first said I lov’d only you, Nora,
An’ you said you lov’d only me!