There Came a Gypsy Riding

Act 1

Simon	Jesus, what has she packed in here?
Leo	That woman carries the contents of the titanic every time we come down here. I swear to Christ, she goes down diving through the cold Atlantic every time my back is turned.
Simon	She can't even swim, da
Leo	She probably threatens some poor merman to carry her on his back
Simon	How would you threaten a merman?
Leo	With a very big fish knife. She's had plenty of practice on me.
Simon	Poor ball-less fucker
Leo	I wouldn't bank on that, boyo. I could still fix you.
Simon	Quit complaining
Note	They enter the cottage
Leo	I'll complain in my own house. Which it is.
Margaret	I might have some say in that
Leo	I'm sure you might. Here, now -
Note	He dumps down what he's carrying
Leo	Are you happy?
Margaret	Happy - happy - would someone remind me of what that word means
Leo	Have you forgotten? Why's that? Have you Alzeimher's
Margaret	I might have. You could be landed with me dribbling at the mouth and peeing myself.
Leo	You do that already - you've been doing it for years so I'll cope.
Margaret	That's nice to know.
Leo	Louise, is there any tea? Would you pour your father a cup?
Margaret	I think there's only one cup left.
Note	She pours it into her own cup
Margaret	I'm so sorry - were you gasping for a cup of tea? Well, you know where the tap is. Make it yourself. Or better still - have a long drink of water. Like yourself.
Leo	How did I first fall for your mother?
Simon	Looks?
Margaret	Personality?
Leo	No - it was her way of opening bottles with her breath
Margaret	You would know - you've opened a fair few in your pubs
Leo	I've never drunk the profits
Margaret	Something I've always admired - how careful with money you are. Some might even say miserly. In fact, isn't that your nickname? Mean - mean dog.
Leo	Who dares to call me that?
Margaret	Me - your loving wife of many years standing
Leo	Aye, standing when you're sober enough
Margaret	I do my bit for the family business. I've never asked you for a free drink, and I've never been offered. Mean - mean dog.
Louise	I'll make you more tea.
Simon	I'll help you.
Margaret	How does it take two people to make a pot of tea
Leo	When one is more useless than the other
Margaret	You have them as you rear them
Louise	Sometimes you don't have them, even though you reared them. They're not there any more. Are they?
Note	Silence
Louise	Stop it now. Stop it immediately. I will not put up with this one minute longer
Leo	What are you talking about?
Louise	Do you not know what I'm talking about? I think you do. I'm nipping this performance in the bud. Because it is all a pretence. I'm not lying, da
Leo	Playing what?
	…..
Simon	You're speaking out of turn Loui. I think you're overtired. Do what ma's doing. Go for a sleep.
Leo	Do what your brother tells you -
Louise	Which brother? I think the dead brother wants me to do what he tells me. Go for a walk down to where he died. Alright, I will do as I am told - will we all do as he tells us, our dead brother, your dead son?
Note	She leaves the cottage
Leo	Louise, don't stray too far. We might go for a long hike later in the afternoon.
Note	She calls back, exiting
Louise	I'll do what you want, Da, whatever you want.
Leo	So it's started.
Simon	As it has to.
Leo	We'll get through it, won't we?
Note	There is a fierce cry of seabirds. Fade

Act 2

Simon	You need a drink
Louise	I know the rules
Note	Leo enters
Leo	I was having a look at that old currach abandoned on the shore
Simon	There's little left of it
Leo	The sea's eaten it away nearly. I'm sorry I didn't do what I'd once planned. Try to put it together again. We could have learned to use it. All of us.
Louise	Can you see my mother setting foot on a currach?
Leo	I was thinking of the boys. Three of us. I always think it mad to be surrounded by water and have no kind of boat. Would you have enjoyed it, Simon? Would he - Gene?
Simon	I don't know
Leo	You never asked him - should we get a boat? He never said anything to you, did he? It's just dawned on me that if he knew how to sail, say, or just take a boat out into the water, he might have loved to do it.
Louise	I don't think ma would have let him, Daddy
Leo	He would not have had to tell her. He could have got up early. Even late at night, when we were asleep, he could have been alone, drifting through the darkness, calm, calming himself, away from us, in control of the boat. Would he have liked that, do you think?
Simon	He might have
Leo	But you don't know. Neither do I. That's a new one, isn't it? Another excuse. If we'd had a boat, my son would have lived. Am I listening to myself? Am I going mad?
Simon	I poured you a glass of iced water
Note	Leo takes it and drinks
Leo	How long is your mother going to keep us on an alcohol free diet?
Simon	You never break out
Louise	When she's not there?
Leo	Alarmous Kate - your mother- the woman is always there, fretting
Simon	She told me today about the breakdown
Louise	What breakdown?
Simon	Near breakdown. She passed it off as a bad flu. Did you know?
Leo	I made a guess. I did noothing. She went back to work. We keep working. That's our way of coping. Might not be the best way, but so far - so far it's got us through.
Louise	Which of the two of you wanted to come here for this?
Leo	It was the two of us. We're glad you came with us.
Simon	We wanted ot come
Leo	Just for this year. His twenty-first. She's getting more used - she's not bought a present. She still did up to last Christmas. I knew it was for him. A pair of shoes in his size. I confronted her. She said she'd forgotten he was dead. It slipped her mind when she was hassled shopping. I told her I didn't believe her. I said Margaret, that's a lie. This carry on has to stop, Lady. And stop it has. There's no birthday presents. We'll just eat together tonight.
Louise	Are we inviting Bridget?
Simon	Herself says no - not tonight
Louise	She'll expect to be asked
Simon	She's not asked
Louise	She'll have a face on her
Leo	She can take it off her. We want nobody but ourselves tonight.
Louise	She's just like a child, Da
Leo	Then you deal with her, teacher - it's what you do
Louise	I'd face fifty crying kids rather than one hell bent Bridget
Simon	You were her favourite when we were youngsters
Louise	Face it - I was nobody's favourite. You were always the prodigy and were going to write masterpieces. Gene was great at maths and science. Muggins here was the eejit in the , going to end up -
Leo	Would you like to buy a house?
Note	Silence
Leo	Each of you, a house. Money down, no mortgage.
Simon	You're talking a fortune
Leo	Maybe so. I've my finger in a fair few pubs. The Irish drink. We're pissing our prosperity into the wind. They're lining my pockets nicely. It's all honestly got. It's natural I should share it with my children. Fuck waiting til I'm dead. No pockets in the shroud.
Simon	Have you run this by mother?
Leo	How can she stop me giving you what's going to be yours? How is either of you going to get a deposit?
Louise	By our own efforts - me teaching kids, him seling books
Leo	You've done what you want to do. I've not stood in your way. I don't need to. I know what's going to happen when it comes to the crunch. The two of you will take over the business.
Louise	I don't think so
Leo	I do. You know why - your mother. Do you imagine that hard headed Donegal woman will let a gold mine slip through our fingers. I doubt it. So do you. Where is she anyway?
Simon	She went in for a shower a while ago.
Leo	That was a nice climb, wasn't it pet?
Louise	It was not, Da, no.
Note	Margaret enters the kitchen. Silence
Leo	You didn't enjoy it?
Louise	I really missed Gene
Note	Silence
Simon	He loved the mountain
Note	Silence
Simon	That's why he died here
Leo	We do know that Simon. Keep your mouth shut.
Simon	We're not supposed to mention it still? Jesus, isn't this why we came here this weekend? Are we going to be allowed to remember him? Me and Louise? Or are you and Ma going to be the sole mourners?
Note	Margaret enters the causeway
	…
Louise	How are you going to fend her off?
Margaret	By saying nothing. The rest of you, do the same.
Leo	You're a brave woman if you succeed
Note	Bridget enters wheeling the buggy
Leo	Here comes the stranger. How are you, cousin?
Margaret	I was just about to call up to see you
Louise	I told her you'd be down to see if they arrived
Bridget	That was hours ago. Not a sign of you since then. I remembered the old saying. If the mountain won't go to the mountain, then Mohammed must go Mohammed. What in Jesus does that mean? Has it something to do with cooking? Now that's a lovely smell from the klitchen. What is it?
Simon	It is chicken, Bridget.
Bridget	Dear me, very swanky, chicken and it not even Christmas, so Louise reminded me. Do you know, I would not thank you for chicken. I would not thank you.
Margaret	Why is that, Bridget?
Bridget	They're disgusting. Rolling in the muck, grunting, the smell of their dung would knock you down. Some people won't touch their flesh for religious reasons. I've heard tell of one eating an infant.
Leo	That's pigs, woman.
Bridget	In these parts it's chicken. Revolting. What are you having with it.
	…
Bridget	Cake - of course. For his birthday. Your dead son's. Gene. Poor Eugene.
Note	Silence
Bridget	I can still see him
Louise	So can we all, Bridget
Bridget	But I found him. He was all cold. He was red. You must miss him.
	Silence
Bridget	You never know the day nor hour
Leo	No, you don't
Bridget	Why do you think he did it?
Margaret	If we could answer that, Bridget. Maybe he might not have done it.
Bridget	Very wise, Margaret. What kind of cake is it.
Margaret	Lemon cake - his favourite. Don't tell me you've something against lemons.
Bridget	A sour taste. They leave your mouth numb. His lips were numb. I tried to rub life into them. I did try to get him breathing. But he was dead. The ambulance men said I could have done nothing. Nothing whatsoever.
Simon	We do know that, Bridget.
Bridget	If one of you smart young ones - even you Margaret - if you had been a doctor.
Margaret	None of us are doctors, Bridget
Bridget	If you might have saved him if you had been. Why didn't you become a doctor?
Leo	Because we were like yourself, Bridget - too stupid.
Louise	We didn't get into medicine.
	….
Simon	I'll do what you want, Ma.
Louise	Whatever pleases you and Da.
Margaret	What do you say, Leo?
Leo	Is anybody else starving?
Louise	Is the dinner ready?
Simon	Very nearly.
Louise	Then we'll get on with it. Come on, I'll give you a hand. Don't worry — I'm not going to poison you. I can set the table and serve.
Note	Louise and Simon go in to prepare dinner
Leo	You can tear it up, you know. Throw it away — into the sea. Bury it on the beach where they found his body.
Margaret	Was he a coward?
Note	Silence
Margaret	Why did he do it?
Leo	It might tell us, the letter.
Margaret	Will we read it?
Leo	When we're ready
Margaret	Yes
Leo	Come in - we'll eat soon
Margaret	Go in to them. Comfort them. Give them time to prepare. That's why I hold back reading it. You have to make them understand that. Go in to them.
Note	Leo enters the house
Louise	Water, Da?
Leo	Jesus, what I'd give for a large whiskey.
Simon	We know
Louise	Would you like some Fanta?
Leo	Fuck Fanta. Double-fuck Fanta.
Simon	Da, fetch Ma inside.
Note	Leo goes back to the garden. Margaret is still standing, listening in silence.
Margaret	Thou wast not born for death, immortal bird.
Leo	Who are you talking to?
Margaret	Nightingale. Keats — his 'Ode to a Nightingale'. He calls it 'immortal bird'.
Leo	You'll not hear much of them in these parts.
Margaret	I've never heard an actual nightingale — only recordings. I never knew what's the fuss. Maybe they sound better out in the fields. My grandmother worked on a farm. A big, strong woman — she could do anything a man could do, even the sorest work. Would I have been better off if I'd never read a book? Stuck to where I belong down in the dirty clay, roughing it with the rest of my breed? Answer me that.
Leo	I know better.
Margaret	I asked Eugene that once. He told me I would have been happier if I'd stayed put. He didn't tell me why, though. Maybe he'll tell me in this.
Note	She looks at the letter.
	Now, more than ever, seems it rich to die, To cease upon the midnight —'
Leo	Are you back talking to that fucking nightingale? Will you get in here to the house? If Bridget finds out you've gone with the birds in this garden, she'll call the police. Hasn't she done enough harm for one evening?
Margaret	We'll see.
Note	She looks at the letter.
Margaret	We'll have patience and we'll see
Note	She puts the letter into her pocket.

Act 3

Louise	Does anyone mind if I help myself to another bit of cake?
Leo	I'm not a great man for the sweet things. You know that. Have this, you.
Louise	Are you not mad,about it either, Ma? You've barely —
Margaret	Louise, pet, would you just stuff your face and not watch me -
Louise	It's hard not to -
Margaret	In my good time I will open the letter.
Simon	Jesus, Ma, why won't you open it?
Note	Silence
Simon	If you can't, will you let one of us do it? Sitting here -
Margaret	There is nothing to stop you leaving, Simon. Get into the car. Drive up to the pub. The three of you, go on. Douse yourself with drink. It's what you want to do. Don't let me stop you.
Simon	If we did, would you come with us?
Margaret	Then we can crawl back here, reeking of drink, open another bottle and have a good old cry together, recalling our beloved Gene, sweet, soft boy, too beautiful to live. Would that be the plan? I'll pass. You may be in the mood for carousing, but me -
Leo	You — what kind of mood are you in?
Margaret	I don't know. Don't want to know.
Leo	Know what?
Margaret	What's in this letter. I cannot face it.
Leo	You have to
Note	Silence
Louise	Six months ago or so, an autistic child was sent to my class to see if she could be taught with ordinary kids. The girl was beautiful. Golden hair. Magnificent eyes. From the minute she arrived, she began to scream. She never stopped the entire morning. And I hear her again right now. That bloody letter pains me the way that child does. Put me out of my misery. Read what he says or else tear it to bits.
Leo	One thing's always puzzled me. Who gave him the load of cash he had on him? Was it one of you?
Note	Louise and Simon shake their heads.
Margaret	I know where he got the money from. He had four hundred euro in his pocket. Nobody knew where he got that amount from. I did know, but I told nobody.
Leo	Where did he get it?
Margaret	Me.
Louise	Ma, you're a mean Donegal bitch, no soft touch
Margaret	He stole it from me. Eugene thieved it
Leo	You never have that big a sum -
Margaret	I kept foreign currency in a certain book. He knew that, he'd seen me do it. He started to take it and change into Irish money. I knew he was thieving. Eugene was a thief.
Leo	How much was he stealing?
Margaret	As much as I could afford.
Louise	You gave him -
Margaret	He took what I left him.
Simon	Why did you -
Margaret	Aid and abet my thief of a son? To stop him stealing outside the house. I knew the word for it is `enabling'. I prefer to call myself a coward. A frightened woman watching her son get worse, not able to talk to him, not able to do anything, hoping the rest of her family are noticing something is not right — hoping her husband, her older son, her daughter -
Simon	We did not give him money.
Margaret	Well, bully for you — aren't you great? Big pats on the back for all of you. It's all down to my fault. The Bank of Ireland here dished out the dough and now she reaps her reward. My son is dead and it's due to me.
Leo	Do you know what you're doing now, Margaret?
Margaret	I'm sure you'll tell me, Leo.
Leo	I think in some way you're showing off. You're acting the martyr. How often have I listened to that tune? If I had a penny for every time —
Margaret	you heard it, you would be a rich man. But you are a rich man, a very rich man. Well done. What a pity bad comes with good. You put a child into the grave before you go into it. A grown child waiting for you, for me — I wonder what he'll say to us.
Leo	Do you think I've not asked myself—
Margaret	He will turn his face away from you. Away from all of us. Do you know why? This will tell us why.
Note	She tears open the letter. She reads it.
Louise	What does he say?
Note	Margaret hands Louise the letter: Louise reads it
Margaret	Tell them
Note	Silence
Margaret	Tell them what's in the letter.
Note	Silence
Margaret	Are you struck dumb? Tell them.
Louise	He gives his own name. His date of birth. The day he died. Then he gives your name, Da. Ma's name. Your name, Simon. And my name.
Simon	That's it?
Louise	That's it.
Simon	That's all?
Louise	All.
Simon	Nothing else but his name — and our names?
Margaret	You're forgetting something
Simon	What?
Margaret	His date of birth, and the date he died. He knew so what he was doing. He wanted to die. At least we now know. He did want to die.
Leo	That is answered.
Margaret	It's answered all right.
Louise	Bridget will be broken-hearted. Nothing to tell her.
Simon	He said nothing.
Margaret	I think he said plenty. I think he said everything he wanted to say to us.
Louise	He just said his name.
Simon	And our names.
Margaret	What do you make of that, Leo? How do you read that?
Leo	I leave the reading to you
Margaret	But I'm asking you — how should I read this?
Leo	I'm not sure I want to know, Margaret.
Margaret	I think you need to know. Isn't it a pity we didn't invite Bridget tonight? That wise old madwoman could read this clear as daylight. No, she wouldn't need to. She could see through the envelope. She made out what he was telling us — what he was doing to us. And she passed on his message when the time was right.
Simon	What are you saying his message is, Ma?
Margaret	His date of birth. His death day. His name, our names. We're born — we die. The curse of Adam. Your brother reminds us. He curses us.
Louise	You should have left that superstition behind you in Donegal. There's no such thing -
Margaret	What do you think, Leo? Do you believe me? Have I not always read for you — the signs, the secrets, good luck and bad luck — have I not always been worth listening to? Have I not given you excellent advice? Was that just nonsense, just Donegal superstition? Am I right? Is your dead son putting us under his curse?
Leo	You must lift that curse.
Margaret	I can't.
Leo	Then what are we going to do?
Simon	We take no notice -
Louise	I'm with Simon on this.
Margaret	Simon, why have you decided not to have kids?
Note	Silence
Margaret	Haven't you made up your mind — no children?
Simon	Who told you?
Margaret	Your dead brother, darling. It's his gift to you in death. You're frightened of having any children because of him.
Note	Silence
Leo	Is that true, son?
Margaret	Is it?
Simon	If I don't want kids, Ma, maybe that's down to me. Maybe it's more to do with you than with Gene.
Margaret	You'd need to explain yourself there.
Simon	I choose not to.
Margaret	You cannot say what you've said to me -
Simon	I can say what I like to you -
Margaret	I'm glad to hear it — so elaborate for me -
Simon	Elaborate — explain — analyse — consider — discuss illustrate — refer to at least two texts on your course piss off, Mother. We're not in one of your seminars.
Margaret	That is not fair -
Simon	If I want to keep my mouth shut -
Margaret	Why do you not want a child?
Simon	Because I would fail. I would fail as a father. And you would waste no time letting me know it. Coaching me, advising me, warning me — letting me bask in your wisdom. Why are you so wise a parent? Why do you know best? It's actually because of your great loss. YoUr son has died. You've suffered the worst. You've survived it. And that makes you — what does it make you, Mother? Perfect. And fuck you for being so perfect. Louise is here to speak for herself. But may I say on behalf of myself, on behalf of Eugene, fuck you for being — being -
Margaret	Perfect. That was your word. I make no apologies for that. It's what has me where I am and what I've made of myself. I have rules and I stick to them. I've needed to. You know where I come from. The back of beyond -
Louise	Not the Donegal lament. The first one from your council estate to go to college. Living on handouts from the county council and your poor parents who could afford to give you next to nothing. Having to win scholarships to finish off your course. Struggling with Da to pay rent and put food —
Leo	Stop this mockery -
Louise	That's history, Da, not mockery. We don't mock
Leo	Nor should you. It's the truth you're laughing at -
Margaret	Let her laugh. It's what they should do, the young against the old. Instil that into them. A good laugh: Maybe if we'd let him laugh louder at us, we would not be mourning Gene. But we are. Though Louise wants to laugh. Here's another laugh. Feel my hands — feel them. Margaret grabs Louise's hands into her own. Are they soft? No, they're rough. They're like sandpaper. How did I get them reading books and marking papers? I'd love you to be able to tell me, because I don't know myself. Maybe it's just in my bones. I can't be the genteel type. Maybe it's because I clawed my way into that job at the university and my hands are indeed claws. Laugh at this, lady. When I was asked at my interview, did I intend to start a family, I could honestly answer, no, for I'd started well before. I make a point of bringing all three of you into my office on my first day. Jesus, the look on their faces — you'd think I'd given birth on the corridor. Have a good laugh at that. I paid a tough price to be a teacher. I will let nothing and nobody deny me that. When I was a young one, I made my vow to each of you. I would not stand before any of you as adults and tell you you stopped me doing what I wanted. I have kept that vow. She turns to Simon. I have kept that vow perfectly.
Louise	Has he cursed me as well? How has he cursed me?
Note	Silence
Louise	Does he curse me with a question? Does he ask me a question? Why was it him and not me who did it?
Simon	Ma, look what you started — all this talk about curses —
Margaret	That we all still believe. There's a lump of the peasant very deep inside you, Louise. I don't believe you'd do what you say you might have done, daughter. You belong to the soil. You won't defile it. But I can't answer your question. You'll have to do that.
Leo	Do it soon. That's the way madness works. Asking questions — always asking. Enough to drive anybody off their head. Drive them daft.
Louise	I have thought about it before. Thought about it since. When did he decide to die, going through what townland or parish? Somebody must have given him a lift here. Did he tell them what he was going to do? Nobody's come forward to say they saw him on the road. Do they not want to get involved? He's left me all those questions. Do they 'stop me doing it myself?
Simon	No, they don't. You don't want to kill yourself. He did. That's what the note proves. You're different from him.
Margaret	Where was all the money going? For once, I want a straight answer. Tell me what you know.
Simon	He was drinking hard.
Louise	He was gambling
Simon	The boy had the makings of an addict.
Louise	If it wasn't going to the drink, it would be the harder stuff.
Simon	If it wasn't cocaine, it would have been the geegees.
Louise	It would have been a mixture of all three. Who knows what he's been spared? Thanks, Eugene. The biggest favour you did this family was your suicide. You've certainly saved me the bother of attempting it. One victim is enough. Fuck off now. Is that right, Ma? Stand up to the bastard, send him back to the spirit world with a ringing in his ears? This is how your family deal with your ghosts — bog on back -
Margaret	To where? Back to where?
Note	Silence
Margaret	Leo, what did you ask me to do about the curse?
Leo	I asked you to lift it.
Margaret	What did I answer?
Leo	You said you can't. I asked then what we'd do.
Margaret	Should we make a start by doing this? She tears the envelope in half. And the next thing we do is this. She tears the sheet of notepaper. just to make sure we'll do this. She tears the envelope and notepaper together. And I'd say we'd all feel this is right to continue. She gathers all the pieces together. Let's go outside into the darkening light. She goes out of the house. They follow her. Now, Gene, should you be watching us, this is what we do, as we did with your ashes, we scatter your last will and testament into the air. Dispose of these, your final written words, as you desire. She throws pieces of paper into the wind. Confetti, darling, not for your wedding but for your burial, your last resting place, as is fitting, for my son - you loved death, you married her, and so she took your life. I never thought this would be the ceremony that would separate you from your mother. On this day you were born — could I have imagined you would lead me to this corner of the west of Ireland where I would reveal your great secret to the winds? What is this secret? You were born for death, my mortal child. She scatters the remains of the paper. We are all born for death, my fragile flesh, my living babies. Your brother does more than remind us of that. He recommends it. It is his preferred way of existing. And he urges me — he urges his mother — to play his game — to join in the fun — to follow my leader. She sings. Following my leader — my leader — my leader - Following my leader wherever he may go. She stops singing. What's wrong with you? Is nobody going to join in? Leo sings, taking her by the arm.
Leo	Following my leader — my leader — my leader - Following my leader wherever he may go.
Note	He tries to steer her into the house. She resists gently, stopping singing, letting go of his arm.
Margaret	No — not a chance — I'm not going back in there yet. I've something to do.
Simon	What can you have to do?
Louise	It's too late for visiting -
Margaret	Visiting — that's it -
Louise	Bridget is no night-owl -
Margaret	Owls — that's it — that's who I need to talk to. And ravens — the nightingale — all the birds of the air. They'll tell me what to do. I've been mad living in this part of the earth, and I've never known or listened to those creatures —
Simon	Da, you have to do something.
Leo	Listen to her. Let her speak.
Louise	She's making no sense.
Margaret	Excuse me, I am always talking sense. It is my misfortune. You may think differently. All of you. You may see sitting on my shoulder a dead weight. You are wrong. It is a child perched there. My son. He is like a bird. A raven. An owl.
Leo	A nightingale?
Margaret	No, Leo, wrong there — not a nightingale
Leo	What happened to him?
Margaret	The nightingale's dead. The boy who sang baby songs, the child who loved poetry, the young fellow great at sums, my gold, my happiness, my hope — Jesus, he is dead. My son is dead. He took his own life. I demand to know why. I want the rocks on the shore — the sea in the 5 8 ocean — answer me why. I want the ground — the earth the mountains tell me why. I want the birds of the air to explain. Why is he not living? Why is he no more?
Louise	Mammy, I want you back. I want it now.
Margaret	I never leave you. What makes you think I'd leave you? The three of you and your daddy. Sure, you're the world to me. I have to work hard to look after you. So does your father. You must get the best. Better than I got. You see, I cheated. I lied to get the job. I said I have no children. And it's brought me bad luck. It's why I lost Gene. He's very angry with me.
Louise	He's dead, Ma, dead and gone.
Simon	We're here. We want you to come back to us.
Margaret	I haven't gone away. I haven't gone anywhere. What's wrong with them? Why are they asking me this, Leo? Give them a slap.
Leo	We do not raise our hand against our children.
Margaret	Give them a hiding. Give them what was done to me if I crossed my father or my mother. The hand across my face. The belt across my arse. Belt across my face. The cane against my cunt. If you do that to me again, I'm going to kill myself. I'm going to kill myself.
Note	Leo takes her in his arms. She calms down.
Margaret	I'm going to kill myself.
Leo	You didn't.
Margaret	I'm going to kill my father.
Leo	He's dead now and he's buried. As Gene is. You've got over your father. You're getting over Gene.
Margaret	And I've kept my job?
Leo	No better woman to hold down her job.
Margaret	The other two — the wains -
Leo	They're here. Worried about you -
Margaret	Simon?
Simon	Present and correct, Mother.
Margaret	Louise?
Louise	Not yet, Ma — don't think it's finished yet.
Simon	Louise, give her -
Louise	We'll finish this tonight. The curse, Ma — his curse — what did he want of you and Daddy? Silence. Come on, you say you can read what he's actually saying. What was the curse on you and Da? Silence.
Margaret	It would be nice, wouldn't it, to walk into the water? Together, all of us.
Leo	Go for a paddle.
Margaret	No, not a paddle. A swim.
Leo	At this hour of the night?
Margaret	We could go to him, you know
Leo	But we're not going to.
Margaret	Are you sure?
Leo	I insist we're not, Margaret.
Margaret	Then what you say goes.
Leo	Occasionally. Very occasionally.
Margaret	He does want us.
Louise	You heard — we're not going. None of us.
Margaret	You're very hard, Louise. I can hear him crying.
Louise	I can hear him laughing. That's why I've lost pity.
Simon	He's lost his life, Louise
Louise	He took his life, Simon. There's a difference. I know that now. So should you.
Margaret	Was I mad out here earlier?
Leo	You were grand. Wasn't she?
Louise	Grand
Simon	The best.
Margaret	I have the distinct impression I was mad.
Leo	I've seen you worse.
Margaret	When?
Leo	After four bottles of red wine
Margaret	I have never in my entire life drank four bottles -
Leo	Your cousin Joe's wedding.
Margaret	That was in Sligo, for fuck's sake. I had to get through it someway. Jesus Christ, do you know I'm wrecked.
Louise	Come with me, beddy-byes for us. We'll leave the men to the moonlight.
Margaret	Right. Early enough start. Bridget wants her lunch. Forgive her and feed her.
Note	She rises to go into the house. Louise goes with her
Margaret	You boys, don't be too late. It's not that warm. If you don't watch yourselves, you'll get a foundering.
Simon	Foundering?
Margaret	Donegal word. Did I never use it to you? It means cold — chill — frozen. It's how we refer to Dublin people. The foundered. Nighty-nighty.
Louise	See you in the morning.
Margaret	Aye — the morning.
Note	They go into the house. Leo and Simon sit looking at each other
Louise	Do you want a cup of tea before you hit the hay?
Margaret	I'd like that.
Louise	Will I make it weak?
Margaret	No, I can take strong. I'll sleep tonight.
Note	Louise makes tea.
Leo	Do you know what I'm going to say, son, and I want you to remember this very clearly.
Simon	I will remember, Da.
Leo	Can you imagine this night if there had been drink involved?
Simon	I don't suppose -
Leo	I've come prepared for all emergencies?
Simon	Have you?
Leo	Back of the car. Half a bottle of Power's whiskey and a few Guinness. Fetch them, like a good young fella. They're hiding in my tool box.
Simon	Tool box? You've never changed a lightbulb -
Leo	I'm learning. Keep your voice down. Go on, do what your da tells you.
Note	Louise gives Margaret the cup of tea. Simon exits. Leo sits alone. A blast of wave showers him.
Leo	It's all right — I'm here.
Louise	Do you know what I think we should do tomorrow?
Leo	I know you're lonely
Louise	We should go down to the beach.
Margaret	And see where -
Louise	he was found, yes.
Leo	I've not talked to you tonight.
Margaret	Yes, I'll do it, but put no pressure on anyone.
Leo	I will tomorrow.
Margaret	Go up to your bed, Louise. I'm grand.
Louise	Are you sure?
Margaret	Yes
Note	Louise climbs up to her loft bed. Margaret sits alone in the kitchen
Leo	Mammy had to talk tonight. I will tomorrow, darling. I will tomorrow. Bridget will be here. Your old pal. She'll help me. Have patience.
Note	he swell of the sea.

Act 4

Bridget	I'm still sorry to miss Margaret.
Leo	You haven't — they're gone for a walk on the shore. Do you like the lemon cake?
Bridget	I didn't, no, but I'll take this last slice. Pity to waste it. Do you see this cake? That is my champagne. I never drink. Never touch a drop. Gin, whiskey, vodka, rum, beer, brandy, wine, porter — they all disagreed with me.
Leo	You tried them all?
Bridget	Many times. I might be found lying stocious under a tree, singing, 'I see the moon, the moon see me.' I gave it up when the tree started to join in the song. Do you think, does the moon see us? I wonder in what way it sees us? I'd love to know. Do you know what I think you should do? Sell this house. He won't go uncared for. Not while I'm here.
Leo	You gave us all a bad fright — the letter.
Bridget	It must have been shocking, but don't thank me.
Leo	For what?
Bridget	My kindness in keeping it from you, till you were ready to receive it.
Leo	Were we ready?
Bridget	You are now. You're over it. That's why you can sell.
Leo	You've very keen to be rid of your nearest and dearest.
Bridget	We're only distant cousins.
Leo	You were a great help when we were first buying
Bridget	The least I could do for my own, even if we're at a far remove.
Leo	Are we that bad neighbours?
Bridget	You've been the best, but you're bad luck. You're very kind people, but no harm to you, it would have been better if you never came here. You're decent as any creature ever looked over a half-door, but, Jesus, do you get notions. You don't belong here. Fuck off.
Leo	Ireland of the welcomes, you'll never die.
Bridget	What would I be doing welcoming anybody? Nobody asked you to come here. You barely land but you're off again. I have to laugh at how you expect me to mourn your dead son. He was a nice enough boy, but I've no more tears. I've cried my eyes out years ago over another death. A very sad death.
Leo	Whose?
Bridget	My own. It was a lovely funeral, though I say so myself. I also have to confess I was quite vexed none of you attended.
Leo	Because it never happened. You're not dead.
Bridget	You're right there. I can't argue with that. But you do know what I'm talking about. Dying before your time. You've done it yourself, haven't you? Putting your child in the earth? That's like dying, isn't it?
Leo	Yes
Bridget	Worse than dying, isn't it?
Leo	I can't say — I've never died.
Bridget	But you can guess.
Leo	I can guess.
Bridget	What's it like?
Leo	Worse than dying.
Note	Silence
Leo	You have to go on living. Night after night — day after day — breath after breath. I started to hear myself breathing. I wanted it to stop. Just stop. I couldn't do that.
Note	Silence
Leo	I've never thought my son a coward, because whatever else it took to drive him to do what he did with his life, he had courage — great courage — that I lacked to copy him, Bridget. And I wanted to -
Bridget	Did you?
Leo	There were times I wanted to.
Bridget	We've all wanted to. We've all thought of it. What's in store for me? A lonely old woman, pushing anyone near her far away. Sell the house — do you know why? I don't want to let you see what's coming to me. More mad, more malignant, more danger to myself. Maybe my reason will be maimed and my mind shattered, me sitting helpless in a hospital starving, dying of thirst no family to give a tinker's curse if I live or let go. Jesus, 6 6 is suicide not better than that fate? If it is, I still don't have the courage to commit it. I too am a coward.
Leo	We're a pair of cowards, then?
Bridget	You're not supposed to say that, Leo. Compliment me. Tell me I'm getting younger by the year. Remark on the way I've kept my figure. Jesus, that's the last time I'm going into a dark depression with you. You would put years on a body. How does Margaret stick you?
Leo	Thanks for your sympathy
Bridget	What good does sympathy do for you?
Leo	It lightens the load.
Bridget	It does in your hole. I've never felt an ounce of sympathy in my life. That's how I've kept my looks. If I wish anyone well, I wish them a hard heart. Don't tell me you're soft carmels. The poor eejits drinking in your pubs — you'd take their last shilling. That's how you built your mansion in Dublin. This place didn't come cheap when you finished with it. Don't look at me for sympathy. You'll find none.
Leo	You would have made a wonderful reverend mother.
Bridget	Nuns are brides of Christ. I am a bride of Satan.
Leo	You never invited us.
Bridget	There was no wedding breakfast as such. What would you serve to the Devil? Hot and cold shite? We've been together some years now. We've been happy in our own way. I don't deny he can be a difficult man, We've never believed in divorce either. In that respect we're devout Catholics. but there are many times he's a little dote. I can make him laugh. Jokes, songs, unspeakable things with a burning coal. We're a normal Irish couple, the Prince of Darkness and his darling wife. Darby and Joan, me and Lucifer.
Leo	How come we never see you together?
Bridget	He's painfully shy — he dislikes publicity. People always bring up - You know, the whole heaven thing.
Leo	The banishment — the fall -
Bridget	It happened years ago. Why are they obsessed by it? We're not keen to talk about it. The other angels the ones who fell with him — they can shoot their mouths off. My fella prefers to keep a dignified silence.
Leo	Does he know me, Satan?
Bridget	He knows everybody.
Leo	Does he know my son?
Note	Silence
Leo	Does he hear my son cry? Is my boy weeping in hell? Does the Devil take any pity on him? Will Satan do what God won't do for me? Will he give me back my child?
Note	Silence
Leo	Will you ask him to do that?
Bridget	I have, he can't help. Gene was dead. He, Satan, did not believe in resurrections. That was the other boyo's business. Pray to him for miracles of that order. But I explained it was unlikely you believed. He was glad. You would be wasting your time. For nobody's listening.
Leo	He's as bleak as that?
Bridget	Bleaker. Especially at the Christmas. Takes very badly to the drink. Raging that nobody remembers when it's his birthday.
Leo	When was he born?
Bridget	Every day of the year. There at all our shoulders, the hour, the minute you're born, plotting badness, taking child from parent, stealing, leading them astray, filling them with poison, putting the knife in their hand, cutting their beautiful flesh, leaving them alone to breathe their last, to be found dead by an old woman.
Leo	I'm glad it was you
Bridget	While I live, I won't forget him
Leo	Thank you.
Bridget	You're still a way to go.
Leo	I'm near the end.
Bridget	It will never end. It will only seem like it. Just when you think it's stopped, the pain, it starts again.
Leo	How do you know this?
Bridget	I don't. I'm guessing. Will you sell the house?
Leo	I don't know yet.
Bridget	If you decide to sell, you could give it away. Give it to me
Leo	You have a house.
Bridget	A wee hovel. I could do with another. A bit more spacious.
Leo	For you and Satan?
Bridget	You didn't fall for that old shite, did you?
Leo	Bridget, I always fall for what you tell me.
Bridget	God, aren't you the right innocent. Just as well you're rich, just as well you're lucky.
Leo	Sometimes luck runs out.
Bridget	Run after it. Catch up with it. Who knows what you'll find.
Leo	My son?
Bridget	The boy is dead. How often do you have to be told? He won't be coming back. Will you stop torturing him? Stop torturing yourself. You might never be rid of him, but will you let him go from you? Stop haunting him. Set him free.
Leo	I can't do that.
Bridget	Then you'll have no comfort.
Leo	Do I want it?
Bridget	No, I see you don't. What do you want?
Leo	My son
Note	Silence
Leo	My son. I've lost my son. My child is dead.
Note	He begins to weep.
Leo	Myself, and my son.
Note	The weeping is now fierce
Leo	Forgive me.
Note	He stops weeping.
Leo	The light's gone out.
Bridget	Put it back on again.
Leo	When?
Bridget	Now.
Leo	I'll try.
Bridget	You better
Leo	I will
Bridget	Fuck it, I hate crying. Especially my own. My face looks like a rubber sheet in an orphanage. Now, have you any food left over you'd like to give me?
Leo	That's Margaret's department. You'll have to ask her.
Note	Louise and Simon enter the causeway. They enter the house
Bridget	Is she speaking to me?
Note	Margaret enters and stays in the causeway.
Leo	Ask them — they're back.
Bridget	Hello, everybody — did you enjoy your stroll?
Louise	Don't talk to me, you.
Bridget	What did I do?
Simon	What did you not do?
Bridget	I was only trying to do my best -
Simon	Leaving a bomb in the house.
Bridget	Bombs — what are you saying — I have nothing to do with bombs -
Louise	You're a bad bitch, lady.
Simon	You knew the havoc you'd cause.
Bridget	If I caused bother, I'm sorry — forgive me. Your father has. He was going to sell the house. I've begged him not to. Can you imagine losing this beautiful place? He says now he's not going to. It was me forced him. You owe me for that. We're quits.
Simon	You're a fucking witch, Bridget.
Bridget	No, I'm not — I'm more of a confused fairy. I really don't know if I'm coming or going.
Louise	We're going — I've had enough of you. The car's packed. I want to be on the road early. Simon's coming with me.
Simon	How long till you and Ma -
Leo	Set off? Soon.
Louise	You driving?
Leo	I think so
Louise	Right. Bye, Dad.
Note	She kisses him. She kisses Bridget.
Louise	Goodbye, witch.
Note	She exits to the causeway.
Simon	See you, Dad. Love you.
Note	He kisses Leo. Louise kisses Margaret in the garden
Louise	She's not too contrite.
Margaret	Surprise, surprise.
Note	Simon kisses Bridget.
Simon	Bad woman.
Note	He exits
Bridget	Pair of fuckers
Louise	Ring us when you get home.
Margaret	I will
Note	Louise exits. Margaret and Simon embrace. Simon exits.
	…
Bridget	I will not stay where I am not wanted.
Margaret	Then leave.
Bridget	I am your relation, Leo. Are you going to let her say things like that to me?
Leo	Leave us for a while, Bridget. Don't go too far
Note	Bridget exits from the house, the buggy before her. She sits on a seat
Margaret	Are you ready to drive back?
Leo	I know she's a bad bitch, but you were very hard —
Margaret	Not as hard as she deserved.
Leo	Do you judge us all -
Margaret	As I judge myself? I try to. What about you? How do you judge yourself?
Leo	I find myself wanting.
Margaret	And Gene — what about him?
Leo	I looked into his coffin the morning of his funeral. I said something to him that nobody heard. I've not told you nor Simon nor Louise.
Margaret	What did you tell him?
Leo	I told him if I were given one wish, I would go back in time to before he was born and I would not change him, Gene, I would still choose him. I would not change my child, no matter what.
Margaret	You loved him that much?
Leo	I did.
Margaret	So did I
Note	They embrace. They kiss. They help each other to keep standing.
Margaret	What is going to become of us?
Leo	I don't know.
Margaret	We have to keep going
Leo	We do.
Margaret	Are you all right?
Leo	Is the car packed?
Margaret	Everything.
Leo	Bridget?
Margaret	What about her?
Leo	Say something as you leave.
Margaret	What?
Leo	Anything.
Note	She leaves the house and enters the causeway. Bridget is still sitting there. Leo fetches food from the fridge. Margaret goes to Bridget. She runs her fingers through Bridget's hair.
Margaret	Mind the house for us, you wicked wagon.
Bridget	I will — I'm sorry.
Margaret	You should be. Don't let the place burn to the ground. If it does, see that you're in it.
Bridget	I will. See you soon.
Margaret	Soon
Note	Margaret exits. Leo enters and puts the bag of food in the buggy.
Bridget	She's not as angry with me, is she?
Leo	She's fairly angry, lady.
Bridget	She's tired. She's not slept right. You do the driving. She'll be less crabbit when she gets to Dublin. It has something to do with the street lights. I'm told they're very soothing on the nerves. Not that I'd know. I've never been asked there to see them.
Note	She looks at the bag of food and lifts it
Bridget	Is that all you've left me? Jesus, you've opened your arse.
Leo	That is your gettings. Take it or leave it. I've slipped a few bob in the bag as well.
Bridget	Thanks — I'm sure that will keep me in fur coats.
Leo	You're an ungrateful fucker, aren't you?
Bridget	If you want gratitude, look elsewhere. Have you not learned that much?
Leo	The hard way.
Bridget	Then at least he's done you that bit of good. Run on to swanky Dublin. I'll stay here. I'll mind him.
Leo	He's not here — he's dead.
Bridget	I think that point has been made with sufficient frequency to render it redundant. There is no necessity to repeat it. I am not deaf. Run on. Put a smile on the sour face of your wife. How much money did you leave me?
Leo	What you're worth
Bridget	Is that all? God, you're tight. Will I see you soon? All of yous? Will you come down to visit soon?
Leo	Soon
Bridget	I miss you. It's lonely.
Leo	All lonely
Bridget	Safe journey
Leo	Aye, safe. I'll lock up. I have the keys. Safe journey.
Note	Leo exits. Bridget stands up to look about her, singing