Three Plays: The Fiddler's House, The Land, Thomas Muskerry Part 46

SCOLLARD No doubt, Mrs. Crilly.

MRS. CRILLY There are people who will blame me, but they cannot see into my mind.

SCOLLARD Will you come down to the parlour, Mrs. Crilly?

MRS. CRILLY Yes, I'll go down.

_She remains seated, looking out steadily before her. Myles Gorman comes in. He is dressed in his own clothes_.

SCOLLARD Well, Gorman, what brings you back to the ward?

GORMAN I just want to do something to my pipes, Master.

SCOLLARD Very well, Gorman. You have your discharge, and you are free to leave.

GORMAN Oh, in a while I'll be taking the road.

_He seats himself at the fire and begins to fix the bag of his pipes_.

SCOLLARD Now, Mrs. Crilly, come down to the parlour.

MRS. CRILLY Yes.

SCOLLARD Anna is waiting to see you.

MRS. CRILLY _(rising)_ He will be well cared for here.

SCOLLARD He will, Mrs. Crilly. I will give him all attention.

MRS. CRILLY He expected to be in a different place to-day, but delay does little harm.

SCOLLARD Come down to the parlour, Mrs. Crilly, and drink a gla.s.s of wine with us.

_They go out. The door of the Select Ward opens, and Thomas Muskerry appears. He has got a stroke. His breathing makes a noise in his mouth. As he moves he lags somewhat at the right knee. He carries his right hand at his breast. He moves slowly across ward.

Felix Tournour enters, carrying a bunch of keys_.

TOURNOUR And where are you going?

MUSKERRY _(in a thickened voice)_ Ow--out. _(Motioning with left hand.

He moves across ward, and goes out on door of corridor)_

TOURNOUR Well, you're not getting back to your snuggery, my oul' cod.

_(He goes into the Select Ward and begins to pitch Muskerry's belongings into the outer ward. First of all come the pillows and clothes off the bed)_ And there's your holy picture, and there's your holy book. _(He comes out holding another book in official binding. He opens it and reads)_ "Marianne, born May the 20th, 1870."

_(He turns back some pages and reads)_ Thomas Muskerry wrote this, 1850--

"In the pleasant month of May, When the lambkins sport and play, As I roved out for recreation, I spied a comely maid, Sequestered in the shade, And on her beauty I gazed in admiration."

"I said I greatly fear That Mercury will draw near, As once he appeared unto Venus, Or as it might have been To the Carthaginian Queen, Or the Grecian Wight called Polyphemus."

_Muskerry comes back to the ward. He stands looking stupidly at the heap Tournour has thrown out. Tournour throws down the book.

Muskerry goes towards the open door of the ward. Felix Tournour closes the door deliberately turns the key and holds the key in his hand_.

TOURNOUR You have no more to do with your snug little ward, Mr.

Muskerry. _(He puts the key on his bunch and goes out)_

MUSKERRY _(muttering with slack lips and cheeks)_ It's--it's--the pau--pauper's bed they've given me.

GORMAN _(turning round his face)_ Who's there?

MUSKERRY It's--it's--Thomas Muskerry.

GORMAN Is that the Master?

MUSKERRY It's--it's the pauper's bed they've given me.

GORMAN Can I give you any hand, Master?

MUSKERRY I'll want to make--the bed. Give me a hand to make the bed.

_(Gorman comes over to him)_ My own sheet and blanket is here. I needn't lie on a pauper's sheet. Whose bed is this?

GORMAN It's the middle bed, Master. It's my own bed.

MUSKERRY _(helplessly)_ What bed will I take, then?

GORMAN My bed. I won't be here.

MUSKERRY And where are you going?

GORMAN I'm leaving the house this day. I'll be going on the roads.

MUSKERRY Myles--Myles Gorman. The man that was without family or friends. Myles Gorman. Help me to lay down the mattress. Where will you sleep to-night, Myles Gorman?

GORMAN At Mrs. Muirnan's, a house between this and the town of Ballinagh. I haven't the money to pay, but she'll give me the place for to-night. Now, Master, I'll spread the sheet for you. _(They spread the sheet on the bed_.)

MUSKERRY Can you go down the stairs, Myles Gorman? I tried to get down the stairs and my legs failed me.

GORMAN One of the men will lead me down.

MUSKERRY _(resting his hand on the bed and standing up)_ Sure one of the men will lead me down the stairs, too.

_Myles Gorman spreads blanket on bed. He stands up, takes pipes, and is ready to go out. Muskerry becomes more feeble. He puts himself on the bed_.

MUSKERRY Myles--Myles Gorman--come back.

GORMAN What will I do for you, Master?

MUSKERRY Say a prayer for me.

GORMAN What prayer will I say, Master?