ACT THIRD
The infirm ward in the Workhouse. Entrance from corridor, right. Forward, left, are three beds with bedding folded upon them. Back, left, is a door leading into Select Ward. This door is closed, and a large key is in lock. Fireplace with a grating around it, left. Back, right, is a window with little leaded panes.
It is noon on a May day, but the light inside the ward is feeble.
Two paupers are seated at fire. One of them, Mickie Cripes, is a man of fifty, stooped and hollow-chested, but with quick blue eyes. The other man, Tom Shanley, is not old, but he looks broken and listless. Myles Gorman, still in pauper dress, is standing before window, an expectant look on his face.
Thomas Muskerry enters from corridor. He wears his own clothes, but he has let them get into disorder. His hair and beard are disordered, and he seems very much broken down. Nevertheless, he looks as if his mind were composed.
MUSKERRY
It's dark in here, Michael.
GRIPES
It is, sir.
MUSKERRY I find it very spiritless after coming up from the chapel. Don't pass your whole day here. Go down into the yard. (He stands before the window) This is the first fine day, and you ought to go out along the country road. Ask the Master for leave. It's the month of May, and you'll be glad of the sight of the grass and the smell of the bushes. Now here's a remarkable thing. I venture to think that the like of this has never happened before. Here are the bees swarming at the window pane.
GORMAN You'll hear my pipes on the road to-day. That's as sure as the right hand is on my body. (He goes out by corridor door)
CRIPES
Myles Gorman must have been glad to hear that buzzing.
MUSKERRY
Why was Myles glad to hear it?
SHANLEY
He was leaving on the first fine day.
CRIPES The buzzing at the pane would let any one know that the air is nice for a journey.
MUSKERRY
I am leaving to-day, myself.
CRIPES
And where are you going, Mr. Muskerry?
MUSKERRY
I'm going to a place of my own.
Muskerry goes into the Select Ward.
CRIPES I'll tell you what brought Thomas Muskerry back to the workhouse to be an inmate in it. Living in a bad house. Living with his own. That's what brought him back. And that's what left me here, too.
SHANLEY (listlessly) The others have the flour, and we may hawk the bran.
An old pauper comes into the ward. His face looks bleached. He has the handle of a sweeping-brush for a staff. He moves about the ward, muttering to himself. He seats himself on chair, right.
THE OLD MAN (speaking as if thinking aloud) I was at twelve o'clock Mass. Now one o'clock would be a late Mass. I was at Mass at one o'clock. Wouldn't that be a long time to keep a priest, and he fasting the whole time?
CRIPES I'll tell you what Thomas Muskerry did when he left the bad house he was in. (He puts coal on the fire)
THE OLD MAN I was at one o'clock Mass in Skibbereen. I know where Skibbereen is well. In the County Cork. Cork is a big county. As big as Dublin and Wicklow. That's where the people died when there was the hunger.
CRIPES He came before the meeting of the Guardians, and he told them he owed them the whole of his year's pension. Then he got some sort of a stroke, and he broke down. And the Guardians gave him the Select Ward there for himself.
SHANLEY
They did well for him.
CRIPES Why wouldn't they give him the Select Ward? It's right that he'd get the little room, and not have to make down the pauper's bed with the rest of us.
SHANLEY He was at the altar to-day, and he stayed in the chapel after Mass.
CRIPES
He'll be here shortly.
THE OLD MAN Skibbereen! That's where the people died when there was the hunger. Men and women without coffins, or even their clothes off. Just buried. Skibbereen I remember well, for I was a whole man then. And the village. For there are people living in it yet. They didn't all die.
SHANLEY
We'll have somebody else in the Select Ward this evening.
CRIPES That's what they were talking about. The nuns are sending a patient up here.
SHANLEY I suppose the Ward-master will be in here to regulate the room. (He rises)
CRIPES Aye, the Ward-master. Felix Tournour, the Ward-master. You've come to your own place at last, Felix Tournour.
SHANLEY Felix Tournour will be coming the master over me if he finds me here. (Shanley goes out)
CRIPES Felix Tournour! That's the lad that will be coming in with his head up like the gander that's after beating down a child.
Christy Clarice enters. He carries a little portmanteau.
CHRISTY
Is Mr. Muskerry here?
CRIPES He's in the room. (A sound of water splashing and the movements of a heavy person are heard) Will you be speaking with him, young fellow?
CHRISTY
I will.
CRIPES Tell him, like a good little boy, that the oul' men would be under a favour to him if he left a bit of tobacco. You won't forget that?
CHRISTY
I won't forget it.
CRIPES I don't want to be in the way of Felix Tournour. We're going down to the yard, but we'll see Mr. Muskerry when he's going away.
Cripes goes out.
MUSKERRY (within) Is that you, Christy Clarke?
CHRISTY
It is, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
Have you any news, Christy?
CHRISTY No news, except that my mother is in the cottage, and is expecting you to-day.
MUSKERRY I'll be in the cottage to-day, Christy. I'm cleaning myself. (A sound of splashing and moving about) The Guardians were good to get the little house for me. I'd as lieve be there as in a mansion. There's about half an acre of land to the place, and I'll do work on the ground from time to time, for it's a good thing for a man to get the smell of the clay.
CHRISTY
And how are you in health, Mr. Muskerry?
MUSKERRY I'm very well in health. I was anointed, you know, and after that I mended miraculously.
CHRISTY
And what about the pension?
MUSKERRY I'm getting three hundred pounds. They asked me to realize the pension. I hope I have life enough before me. (He comes out. He has on trousers, coat, and starched shirt. The shirt is soiled and crushed)
MUSKERRY On Saturdays I'll do my marketing. I'll come into the town, and I'll buy the bit of meat for my dinner on Sunday. But what are you doing with this portmanteau, Christy?
CHRISTY
I'm going away myself.
MUSKERRY
To a situation, is it?
CHRISTY
To a situation in Dublin.
MUSKERRY I wish you luck, Christy. (He shakes hands with the boy, and sits down on a chair) I was dreaming on new things all last night. New shirts, new sheets, everything new.
CHRISTY
I want to be something.
MUSKERRY
What do you want to be?
CHRISTY
A writer.
MUSKERRY
A writer of books, is it?
CHRISTY
Yes, a writer of books.
MUSKERRY
Listen, now, and tell me do you hear anything. That's the
sound of bees swarming at the window. That's a good augury for you,
Christy.
CHRISTY
All life's before me.
MUSKERRY
Will you give heed to what I tell you?
CHRISTY
I'll give heed to it, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
Live a good life.
CHRISTY
I give heed to you.
MUSKERRY
Your mother had great hardship in rearing you.
CHRISTY
I know that, Mr. Muskerry, but now I'm able for the world.
MUSKERRY I wish success to all your efforts. Be very careful of your personal appearance.
CHRISTY
I will, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
Get yourself a new cravat before you leave the town.
CHRISTY
I'll get it.
MUSKERRY
I think I'd look better myself if I had a fresher shirt.
CHRISTY I saw clean shirts of yours before the fire last night in my mother's house.
MUSKERRY
I wish I could get one before I leave this place.
CHRISTY
Will I run off and get one for you?
MUSKERRY
Would you, Christy? Would it be too much trouble?
Muskerry rises.
CHRISTY
I'll go now.
MUSKERRY You're a very willing boy, Christy, and you're sure to get on. (He goes to a little broken mirror on the wall) I am white and loose of flesh, and that's not a good sign with me, Christy. I'll tell you something. If I were staying here to-night, it's the pauper's bed I'd have to sleep on.
Mrs. Crilly comes to the door.
MRS. CRILLY
Well, I see you're making ready for your departure.
MUSKERRY (who has become uneasy) I am ready for my departure.
MRS. CRILLY
And this young man has come for you, I suppose?
MUSKERRY
This young man is minding his own business.
CHRISTY
I'm going out now to get a shirt for the Master.
MRS. CRILLY A starched shirt, I suppose, Christy. Go down to our house, and tell Mary to give you one of the shirts that are folded up.
MUSKERRY
The boy will go where he was bid go.
MRS. CRILLY
Oh, very well. Run, Christy, and do the message for the
Master.
Christy Clarke goes out.
MUSKERRY
I don't know what brought you here to-day.
MRS. CRILLY
Well, I wanted to see you.
MUSKERRY
You could come to see me when I was settled down.
MRS.
CRILLY Settled in the cottage the Guardians have given you?
MUSKERRY
Yes, ma'am.
MRS. CRILLY (with nervous excitement, restrained) No one of us will ever go near the place.
MUSKERRY
Well, you'll please yourself.
MRS. CRILLY
You put a slight on us all when you go there to live.
MUSKERRY
Well, I've lived with you to my own loss.
MRS. CRILLY Our house is the best house in the town, and I'm the nearest person to you.
MUSKERRY
Say nothing more about that.
MRS. CRILLY Well, maybe you do right not to live with us, but you ought not to forsake us altogether.
MUSKERRY
And what do you mean by forsaking you altogether?
MRS. CRILLY When you leave the place and do not even turn your step in our direction it's a sign to all who want to know that you forsake us altogether.
MUSKERRY
What do you want me to do?
MRS. CRILLY Come up to Cross Street with me, have dinner and spend the night with us. People would have less to talk about if you did that.
MUSKERRY
You always have a scheme.
MRS. CRILLY
Come to us for this evening itself.
MUSKERRY I wish you wouldn't trouble me, woman. Can't you see that when I go out of this I want to go to my own place?
MRS. CRILLY
You can go there to-morrow.
MUSKERRY
Preparations are made for me.
MRS. CRILLY
You don't know what preparations.
MUSKERRY Two pounds of the best beef-steak were ordered to be sent up to-day.
MRS. CRILLY I wouldn't trust that woman, Mrs. Clarke, to cook potatoes.
MUSKERRY
Well, I'll trust her, ma'am.
MRS. CRILLY (taking Muskerry's sleeve) Don't go to-day, anyway.
MUSKERRY You're very anxious to get me to come with you. What do you want from me?
MRS. CRILLY We want nothing from you. You know how insecure our business is. When it's known in the town that you forsake us, everybody will close in on us.
MUSKERRY God knows I did everything that a man could do for you and yours. I won't forget you. I haven't much life left to me, and I want to live to myself.
MRS. CRILLY I know. Sure I lie awake at night, too tired to sleep, and long to get away from the things that are pressing in on me. I know that people are glad of their own way, and glad to live in the way that they like. When I heard the birds stirring I cried to be away in some place where I won't hear the thing that's always knocking at my head. The business has to be minded, and it's slipping away from us like water. And listen, if my confinement comes on me and I worried as I was last year, nothing can save me. I'll die, surely.
MUSKERRY (moved) What more do you want me to do?
MRS. CRILLY Stay with us for a while, so that we'll have the name of your support.
MUSKERRY
I'll come back to you in a week.
MRS. CRILLY
That wouldn't do at all. There's a reason for what I ask.
The town must know that you are with us from the time you leave this.
MUSKERRY (with emotion) God help me with you all, and God direct me what to do.
MRS. CRILLY
It's not in you to let us down.
Muskerry turns away. His head is bent. Mrs. Crilly goes to him.
MUSKERRY Will you never be done taking from me? I want to leave this and go to a place of my own.
Muskerry puts his hand to his eyes. When he lowers his hand again
Mrs. Crilly lays hers in it. Christy Clarke comes in. Muskerry turns
to him. Muskerry has been crying.
MUSKERRY
Well, Christy, I'll be sending you back on another message.
Mrs. Crilly makes a sign to Christy not to speak.
MUSKERRY
Go to your mother and tell her—-
CHRISTY
I met my mother outside.
MUSKERRY
Did she get the things that were sent to her?
CHRISTY
My mother was sent away from the cottage.
MUSKERRY
Who sent your mother away from the cottage?
CHRISTY
Mrs. Crilly sent her away.
MUSKERRY
And why did you do that, ma'am?
MRS. CRILLY I sent Mary to help to prepare the place for you, and the woman was impertinent to Mary—
MUSKERRY
Well, ma'am?
MRS. CRILLY
I sent the woman away.
MUSKERRY And so you take it on yourself to dispose of the servants in my house?
MRS. CRILLY I daresay you'll take the woman's part against my daughter.
MUSKERRY
No, ma'am, I'll take no one's side, but I'll tell you this.
I want my own life, and I won't be interfered with.
MRS. CRILLY I'm sorry for what occurred, and I'll apologise to the boy's mother if you like.
MUSKERRY
I won't be interfered with, I tell you. From this day out
I'm free of my own life. And now, Christy Clarke, go down stairs and
tell the Master, Mr. Scollard, that I want to see him.
Christy Clarice goes out.
MRS. CRILLY I may as well tell you something else. None of the things you ordered were sent up to the cottage.
MUSKERRY
Do you tell me that?
MRS. CRILLY I went round to the shop, and everything you ordered was sent to us.
MUSKERRY
And what is the meaning of that, ma'am?
MRS. CRILLY If the town knew you were going from us, in a week we would have to put up the shutters.
MUSKERRY
Well, I'll walk out of this, and when I come to the road
I'll go my own way.
MRS. CRILLY
We can't prevent you.
MUSKERRY
No, ma'am, you can't prevent me.
MRS. CRILLY
You've got your discharge, I suppose?
MUSKERRY I've given three hours' notice, and I'll get my discharge now.
MRS. CRILLY (at corridor door) We can't prevent you going if you have the doctor's discharge.
MUSKERRY
The doctor's discharge! He would have given it to me—
MRS. CRILLY
You can't leave without the doctor's sanction.
MUSKERRY
Out of this house I will go to-day.
James Scollard enters.
SCOLLARD
I believe you want to see me, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
I do, Mr. Scollard. I am leaving the house.
SCOLLARD
I will be glad to take up the necessary formalities for you,
Mr. Muskerry.
MRS. CRILLY First of all, has the doctor marked my father off the infirmary list?
SCOLLARD
No, Mrs. Crilly. Now that I recall the list, he has not.
MUSKERRY
I waited after Mass to-day, and I missed seeing him.
MRS. CRILLY My father was seriously ill only a short time ago, and I do not believe he is in a fit state to leave the infirmary.
SCOLLARD That certainly has to be considered. Without the doctor explicitly sending you down to the body of the house you are hardly under my jurisdiction, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
Mr. Scollard, I ask you to give me leave to go out of the
Workhouse for a day. You can do this on your own responsibility.
MRS. CRILLY In the present state of his mind it's not likely he would return to-night. Then if anything happened him your situation is at stake.
MUSKERRY I'm not a pauper. I'll go out of this to-day without leave or license from any of you.
SCOLLARD As you know yourself, Mr. Muskerry, it would be as much as my situation is worth to let you depart in that way.
MUSKERRY
Well, go I will.
SCOLLARD I cannot permit it, Mr. Muskerry. I say it with the greatest respect.
MUSKERRY
How long will you keep me here?
SCOLLARD
Until the doctor visits the house.
MUSKERRY
That will be on Monday morning.
SCOLLARD
And this is Saturday, Mr. Muskerry.
MUSKERRY
And where will you put me until Monday?
SCOLLARD
Other arrangements will be made for you.
MUSKERRY
It's the pauper's bed you would give me!
SCOLLARD The old arrangements will continue. Can I do anything further for you, Mr. Muskerry?
MUSKERRY No, you can do nothing further for me. It's a great deal you have done for me! It's the pauper's bed you have given me! (He goes into the Select Ward)
MRS. CRILLY
Sit down, Mr. Scollard. I want to speak to you.
Mrs. Crilly seats herself at the table. Scollard sits down also.
MRS. CRILLY The bank manager is in the town to-day, and there are people waiting to tell him whether my father goes to our house or goes away from us.
SCOLLARD No doubt there are, Mrs. Crilly.
MRS. CRILLY
But you have nothing to do with that, Mr. Scollard.
SCOLLARD
No, Mrs. Crilly.
MRS. CRILLY
I have my own battle to fight, and a hard battle it is.
I have to make bits of myself to mind everything and be prepared for
everything.
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 glass 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?
MUSKERRY
Say "God be good to Thomas Muskerry."
GORMAN (taking off his hat) "God be good to Thomas Muskerry, the man who was good to the poor." Is that all, Master?
MUSKERRY
That's—that's all.
Gorman goes to the door.
GORMAN
In a little while you'll hear my pipes on the road.
He goes out. There is the sound of heavy breathing from the bed. Then silence. The old pauper with the staff enters. He is crossing the ward when his attention is taken by the humming of the bees at the window pane. He listens for a moment.
THE OLD PAUPER A bright day, and the clay on their faces. That's what I saw. And we used to be coming from Mass and going to the coursing match. The hare flying and the dogs stretching after her up the hill. Fine dogs and fine men. I saw them all.
Christy Clarke comes in. He goes to table for his bag. He sees the figure on the bed, and goes over.
CHRISTY
I'm going now, Mister Muskerry. Mister Muskerry!
Mister Muskerry! Oh! the Master is dead. (He runs back to the door)
Mrs. Crilly. Mrs. Crilly. (He goes back to the bed, and throws
himself on his knees) Oh! I'm sorry you're gone, Thomas Muskerry.
THE OLD PAUPER And is he gone home, too! And the bees humming and all! He was the best of them. Each of his brothers could lift up their plough and carry it to the other side of the field. Four of them could clear a fair. But their fields were small and poor, and so they scattered.
Mrs. Crilly comes in.
MRS. CRILLY
Christy Clarke, what is it?
CHRISTY
The Master is dead.
MRS. CRILLY
My God, my God!
CHRISTY
Will I go and tell them below?
MRS. CRILLY No. Bring no one here yet. We killed him. When everything is known that will be known.
CHRISTY
I'll never forget him, I think.
MRS. CRILLY
What humming is that?
CHRISTY The bees at the window pane. And there's Myles Gorman's pipes on the road.
The drear call of the pipes is heard.
END OF PLAY
"Thomas Muskerry" was first produced on May 5th, 1910, by the Abbey Theater Company, at the Abbey Theater, Dublin, with the following cast:—
THOMAS MUSKERRY Arthur Sinclair
MRS. CRILLY Cara Allgood
CROFTON CRILLY J.M. Kerrigan
ALBERT CRILLY Eric Gorman
ANNA CRILLY Maire O'Neill
MYLES GORMAN Fred O'Donovan
FELIX TOURNOUR Sydney Morgan
JAMES SCOLLARD J.A. O'Rourke
CHRISTY CLARKE U. Wright
MICKIE GRIPES Fred Rowland
TOM SHANLEY Ambrose Power
AN OLD PAUPER J.M. Kerrigan.