Free Brian Friel Plays 2 by Brian Friel

worries me most of all is Rose. If I died – if I lost my job – if this house were broken up – what would become of our Rosie?
    Maggie Shhh.
    Kate I must put my trust in God, Maggie, mustn’t I? He’ll look after her, won’t he? You believe that, Maggie, don’t you?
    Maggie Kate … Kate … Kate, love …
    Kate I believe that, too … I believe that … I do believe that …
    Maggie holds her and rocks her.
    Chris enters quickly left, hugging herself. She sees the boy at his kites, goes to him and gets down beside him. She speaks eagerly, excitedly, confidentially.
    Chris Well. Now you’ve had a good look at him. What do you think of him? Do you remember him?
    Boy ( bored ) I never saw him before.
    Chris Shhh. Yes, you did; five or six times. You’ve forgotten. And he saw you at the foot of the lane. Hethinks you’ve got very big. And he thinks you’re handsome!
    Boy Aunt Kate got me a spinning-top that won’t spin.
    Chris He’s handsome. Isn’t he handsome?
    Boy Give up.
    Chris I’ll tell you a secret. The others aren’t to know. He has got a great new job! And he’s wonderful at it!
    Boy What does he do?
    Chris Shhh. And he has bought a bicycle for you – a black bike – a man’s bike and he’s going to bring it with him the next time he comes. ( She suddenly embraces him and hugs him .)
    Boy Is he coming back soon?
    Chris ( eyes closed ) Maybe – maybe. Yes! Yes, he is!
    Boy How soon?
    Chris Next week – the week after – soon – soon – soon! Oh, yes, you have a handsome father. You are a lucky boy and I’m a very, very lucky woman. ( She gets to her feet, then bends down again and kisses him lightly .) And another bit of good news for you, lucky boy: you have your mother’s eyes! ( She laughs, pirouettes flirtatiously before him and dances into the kitchen .) And what’s the good news here?
    Maggie The good news here is … that’s the most exciting turf we’ve ever burned!
    Kate Gerry’s not gone, is he?
    Chris Just this minute.
    Agnes enters through the back door. She is carrying some roses.
    He says to thank you very much for the offer of the bed.
    Kate Next time he’s back.
    Chris That’ll be in a week or two – depending on his commitments.
    Kate Well, if the outside loft happens to be empty.
    Chris And he sends his love to you all. His special love to you, Aggie; and a big kiss.
    Agnes For me?
    Chris Yes! For you!
    Maggie ( quickly ) Those are beautiful, Aggie. Would Jack like some in his room? Put them on his windowsill with a wee card – ‘ROSES’ – so that the poor man’s head won’t be demented looking for the word. And now, girls, the daily dilemma: what’s for tea?
    Chris Let me make the tea, Maggie.
    Maggie We’ll both make the tea. Perhaps something thrilling with tomatoes? We’ve got two, I think. Or if you’re prepared to wait, I’ll get that soda-bread made.
    Agnes I’m making the tea, Maggie.
    Chris Let me, please. Just today.
    Agnes ( almost aggressively ) I make the tea every evening, don’t I? Why shouldn’t I make it this evening as usual?
    Maggie No reason at all. Aggie’s the chef. ( Sings raucously :)
    ‘Everybody’s doing it, doing it, doing it.
    Picking their noses and chewing it, chewing it,
    chewing it …’
    Kate Maggie, please!
    Maggie If she knew her prayers half as well as she knows the words of those aul pagan songs … ( now at the radio ) Marconi, my friend, you’re not still asleep, are you?
    Father Jack enters. He shuffles quickly across the kitchen floor, hands behind his back, eyes on the ground, as if he were intent on some engagement elsewhere. Now he becomes aware of the others.
    Jack If anybody is looking for me, I’ll be down at the bank of the river for the rest of the … ( He tails off and looks around. Now he knows where he is. He smiles .) I beg your pardon. My mind was … It’s Kate.
    Kate It’s Kate.
    Jack And Agnes. And Margaret.
    Maggie How are you, Jack?
    Jack And this is –?
    Chris Chris –