The Playboy of the Western World and Other Plays Read Online Free PDF Page B

ear.
    NORA. I’m thinking it’s myself will be wheezing that time with lying down under the Heavens when the night is cold; but you’ve a fine bit of talk, stranger, and it’s with yourself I’ll go. (She goes towards the door, then turns to DAN.) You think it’s a grand thing you’re after doing with your letting on to be dead, but what is it at all? What way would a woman live in a lonesome place the like of this place, and she not making a talk with the men passing? And what way will yourself live from this day, with none to care for you? What is it you’ll have now but a black life, Daniel Burke, and it’s not long I’m telling you, till you’ll be lying again under that sheet, and you dead surely.
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    (She goes out with the TRAMP. MICHEAL is slinking after them, but DAN stops him.)
    DAN. Sit down now and take a little taste of the stuff, Micheal Dara. There’s a great drouth on me, and the night is young.
    MICHEAL (coming back to the table). And it’s very dry I am, surely, with the fear of death you put on me, and I after driving mountain ewes since the turn of the day.
    DAN (throwing away his stick). I was thinking to strike you, Micheal Dara, but you’re a quiet man, God help you, and I don’t mind you at all.
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    (He pours out two glasses of whisky, and gives one to MICHEAL.)
    DAN. Your good health, Micheal Dara.
    MICHEAL. God reward you, Daniel Burke, and may you have a long life, and a quiet life, and good health with it.
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    (They drink.)
    CURTAIN

RIDERS TO THE SEA
    A PLAY IN ONE ACT

CAST OF CHARACTERS
    MAURYA (an old woman)
BARTLEY (her son)
CATHLEEN (her daughter)
NORA (a younger daughter)
MEN and WOMEN
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    SCENE. An island off the West of Ireland.
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    Cottage kitchen, with nets, oil-skins, spinning-wheel, some new boards standing by the wall, etc. CATHLEEN, a girl of about twenty, finishes kneading cake, and puts it down in the pot-oven by the fire; then wipes her hands, and begins to spin at the wheel.
    NORA, a young girl, puts her head in at the door.
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    NORA (in a low voice). Where is she?
    CATHLEEN. She’s lying down, God help her, and may be sleeping, if she’s able.
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    (NORA comes in softly, and takes a bundle from under her shawl.)
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    CATHLEEN (spinning the wheel rapidly). What is it you have?
    NORA. The young priest is after bringing them. It’s a shirt and a plain stocking were got off a drowned man in Donegal.
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    (CATHLEEN stops her wheel with a sudden movement, and leans out to listen.)
    NORA. We’re to find out if it’s Michael’s they are, some time herself will be down looking by the sea.
    CATHLEEN. How would they be Michael‘s, Nora. How would he go the length of that way to the far north?
    NORA. The young priest says he’s known the like of it. “If it’s Michael’s they are,” says he, “you can tell herself he’s got a clean burial by the grace of God, and if they’re not his, let no one say a word about them, for she’ll be getting her death,” says he, “with crying and lamenting.”
    (The door which NORA half closed is blown open by a gust of wind.)
    CATHLEEN (looking out anxiously). Did you ask him would he stop Bartley going this day with the horses to the Galway fair?
    NORA. “I won’t stop him,” says he, “but let you not be afraid. Herself does be saying prayers half through the night, and the Almighty God won’t leave her destitute,” says he, “with no son living.”
    CATHLEEN. Is the sea bad by the white rocks, Nora?
    NORA. Middling bad, God help us. There’s a great roaring in the west, and it’s worse it’ll be getting when the tide’s turned to the wind. (She goes over to the table with the bundle.) Shall I open it now?
    CATHLEEN. Maybe she’d wake up on us, and come in before we’d done. (Coming to the table) It’s a long time we’ll be, and the