Six One-Act Plays Part 18

QUINN--Am I in the lock-up?

MRS. QUINN--(_Quickly._) Whose head have _you_ smashed John?

QUINN--To-night while we stood at the corner of Fourth and Marion, a trolley came along with pa.s.sengers in it, a woman and two men.

MRS. QUINN--John, ye didn't--

QUINN--The dirty scab who ran the car must have come from New York with that last bunch of strike breakers.

MRS. QUINN--What did ye do?

QUINN--(_Defiantly._) I picked up a brick, and let it fly through the window. Maybe the company can starve us, but we'll teach the public it's a d.a.m.ned unsafe thing to ride in the cars, while we're bein' starved.

MRS. QUINN--Did ye do any hurt?

QUINN--Well, I guess I damaged the woman's arm, if ye want to know. She let out a yell ye could hear a mile, and flopped over. Then I took to me heels.

MRS. QUINN--(_In a rage._) Ye fool, have ye quite quit yer senses? Ye'll be caught and locked up fer this.

QUINN--(_Glad that he has gotten the story out._) Not much.

MRS. QUINN--Yer temper'll do fer ye, one of these days, me man. I suppose that's what ye call seem' red? Seein' red! Gawd'll get ye by the scruff of the neck when yer not lookin', and shake the ugly devil of a temper out of ye. Ye'll face the consequence for it, sooner or later.

QUINN--Aw, stop yer blather, and get me a cup of tea.

MRS. QUINN--Tea! I'm tempted to put a pink bean in it, and make ye croak before the gallows gets ye, ye ruffian.

(_There is a knock at the front door. Mrs. Quinn exits R. and returns with the Martins._)

QUINN--h.e.l.lo Martin, what's up now?

MARTIN--Have ye seen the papers?

QUINN--No.

MARTIN--It's in them already.

QUINN--What's in them?

MARTIN--Listen, (_reads_) "Just at dusk this evening a mob of strikers attacked a west bound car at Fourth and Marion Streets, and did considerable damage to the car and occupants. The only woman pa.s.senger was seriously injured in the right hand and arm, and was taken to the Lester Hospital, where"--

QUINN--(_Interrupting._) Do they know who done it?

MARTIN--(_Reads._) "No clue to the man has been found, but Chief of Police"--

QUINN--(_Shortly._) Aw, cut it, Martin. They'll never find the man who did it, unless your tongue wags. I'd like to break the arms of ev'ry one who runs or rides in the cars till we win our fight.

MARTIN--(_Somberly._) Maybe the only way _is_ to do a little damage, break a few bones, show them we've got some s.p.u.n.k ... and yet it is written if a man smite thee on the right cheek--

Mrs. QUINN--I thought the plan this time was to keep the confidence of the people?

QUINN--We've tried that for seven weeks, and it's taken us nowheres.

MRS. MARTIN--We've tried most everything I guess, but prayer. Maybe we'd do more if we prayed over it.

QUINN--(_Slowly._) Do ye say pray over it?

MARTIN--(_Diffidently._) If we could all get together on it. I know it's hard to talk religion to the boys, they all think different about it. It takes some courage for a man to come out and say he's a Christian, but I'm willing to do it. Think--if all the men and women and children would pray for a settlement, it would have some weight with the Lord.

MRS. MARTIN--(_Eagerly._) He'd give an answer, I know. I heard a minister say once, if we'd ask for _anything_ with all our hearts and souls the Lord wouldn't deny us.

MRS. QUINN--What a mix-up we'd have then!

QUINN--Well, I've not much use for prayers when there's a fight on--but if ye--

MRS. QUINN--Ye know, I had a mad sort of a dream tother night.

QUINN--(_Impatiently._) Whist woman, with yer dreams!

MRS. QUINN--(_Undeterred._) I dreamed I was after havin' a nice easy talk with Gawd, and he sez to me, "Mary Ann Quinn, I want ye to sit up here with me in Heaven on me right hand side. For sure," sez he, pleasant like, "_you've_ never pestered me with requests since ye've been a woman grown." "Well Gawd," sez I, "I've been that mortal busy tendin' to the bodily comforts of me man John, and me daughter Molly, that I've had me mind fair occupied, and I apologize for not comin' to ye oftener." "Oh, Mary Ann," sez he, "can't ye see I like it? I'm fair sick of havin' to stand sponsor for all the mistakes of me numberless Christian children. They go along in their headstrong ways doin' the things they _want_ to do, right or wrong, and when they run amuck, they up and come to _me_ with prayers and supplications, cryin' and pleadin'

for help, when a slight use of their own wits and decency and common sense would have kept them from difficulties in the first place."

"Oh, Gawd," begins I, but he smiles at me and sez he, "get up wid ye on me right hand side, and keep that grin on yer face Mary Ann Quinn, while I tend to me regular customers."

QUINN--(_Shocked._) I can't help ye bein' heathenish in yer views, but I'll not have ye outspoken voicin' them.

MARTIN--(_Puzzled._) It was a very odd dream to have.

MRS. MARTIN--It certainly was.

MRS. QUINN--The meanin' of it's mortal clear, I'm thinkin'. But, that's not gettin' the tea, is it?

(_Exit to kitchen L._)

QUINN--Martin, I don't know about yer prayers, but fer meself I'm in this fight till the finish, and man nor devil'll make me yield an inch.

MARTIN--Then I'm with you, Quinn. (_To Mrs. Martin, who goes to him protestingly._) No, Bessie, its no use. We can _pray_ after we've won.

(_Molly enters door R. She is in hat and coat, and carries a m.u.f.f._)

MRS. MARTIN--Molly!

(_Molly does not answer, but stands and looks at Quinn._)

MARTIN--(_Taking Mrs Martin by the arm, and going to door R._) I guess you'd rather be alone with her.

(_Exeunt Martins door R._)

MOLLY--Father.