The Plough and the Stars Read Free Page A

derogatory thing on me conscience’ an’ me dyin’, to look back in rememberin’ shame of talkin’ to a word-weavin’ little ignorant yahoo of a red flag Socialist!
    Mrs Gogan has returned to the front room, and has wandered around looking at things in general, and is now in front of the fireplace looking at the picture hanging over it.
    Mrs Gogan    For God’s sake, Fluther, dhrop it; there’s always th’ makin’s of a row in th’ mention of religion … ( Looking at picture ) God bless us, it’s a naked woman!
    Fluther    ( coming over to look at it ) What’s undher it? ( Reading ) ‘Georgina: The Sleepin’ Vennis’. Oh, that’s a terrible picture; oh, that’s a shockin’ picture! Oh, th’ one that got that taken, she must have been a prime lassie!
    Peter    ( who also has come over to look, laughing, with his body bent at the waist, and his head slightly tilted back ) Hee, hee, hee, hee, hee!
    Fluther    ( indignantly, to Peter ) What are you hee, hee-in’ for? That’s a nice thing to be hee, hee-in’ at. Where’s your morality, man?
    Mrs Gogan    God forgive us, it’s not right to be lookin’ at it.
    Fluther    It’s nearly a derogatory thing to be in th’ room where it is.
    Mrs Gogan    ( giggling hysterically ) I couldn’t stop any longer in th’ same room with three men, afther lookin’ at it!
    She goes out. The Covey, who has divested himself of his dungarees, throws them with a contemptuous motion on top of Peter’s white shirt.
    Peter    ( plaintively ) Where are you throwin’ them? Are you thryin’ to twart an’ torment me again?
    The Covey    Who’s thryin’ to twart you?
    Peter    ( flinging the dungarees violently on the floor ) You’re not goin’ to make me lose me temper, me young Covey.
    The Covey    ( flinging the white shirt on the floor ) If you’re Nora’s pet, aself, you’re not goin’ to get your way in everything.
    Peter    ( plaintively, with his eyes looking up at the ceiling ) I’ll say nothin’ … I’ll leave you to th’ day when th’ all-pitiful, all-merciful, all-lovin’ God ’ll be handin’ you to th’ angels to be rievin’ an’ roastin’ you, tearin’ an’ tormentin’ you, burnin’ an’ blastin’ you!
    The Covey    Aren’t you th’ little malignant oul’ bastard, you lemon-whiskered oul’ swine!
    Peter runs to the sword, draws it, and makes for the Covey, who dodges him around the table; Peter has no intention of striking, but the Covey wants to take no chances.
    ( Dodging ) Fluther, hold him, there. It’s a nice thing to have a lunatic like this lashin’ around with a lethal weapon! ( The Covey darts out of the room, right, slamming the door in the face of Peter .)
    Peter    ( battering and pulling at the door ) Lemme out, lemme out; isn’t it a poor thing for a man who wouldn’t say a word against his greatest enemy to have to listen to that Covey’s twartin’ animosities, shovin’ poor, patient people into a lashin’ out of curses that darken his soul with th’ shadow of th’ wrath of th’ last day!
    Fluther    Why d’ye take notice of him? If he seen you didn’t, he’d say nothin’ derogatory.
    Peter    I’ll make him stop his laughin’ an’ leerin’, jibin’ an’ jeerin’ an’ scarifyin’ people with his corner-boy insinuations! … He’s always thryin’ to rouse me: if it’s not a song, it’s a whistle; if it isn’t a whistle, it’s a cough. But you can taunt an’ taunt – I’m laughin’ at you; he, hee, hee, hee, hee, heee!
    The Covey    ( singing through the keyhole )
    Dear harp o’ me counthry, in darkness I found thee,
    The dark chain of silence had hung o’er thee long –
    Peter    ( frantically ) Jasus, d’ye hear that? D’ye hear him soundin’ forth his divil-souled song o’ provocation?
    The Covey    ( singing as before )
    When proudly, me own island harp, I unbound thee,
    An’ gave all thy chords to light, freedom an’ song!
    Peter