Read Brian Friel Plays 1 Online

Authors: Brian Friel

Brian Friel Plays 1 (29 page)

FRANK
:
Yes, yes. Everything’s in hand.

(
He
goes quickly into the living-room
.)

Anna must be asleep. We’ll give her another quarter of an hour – it’s going to be a tiring evening for her. (
Hands
the
bottles
to
TINA
.) These are for later, in case we have some people back. Leave them on the sideboard. Did the cuff links turn up?

TINA
:
In the jacket pocket.

FRANK
:
I thought you said you looked there.

(
To
MIRIAM
) Are those ready?

MIRIAM
:
Another minute. Commandant, sir.

FRANK
:
(
To
TINA
) And Anna’s stuff – her dress and all

that – that’s all arranged?

TINA
:
Lying on the bed in Ben’s old room. Everything’s perfect. Stop fussing, Daddy.

FRANK
:
No, I’ll tell you what you can do: give her another ten minutes and then bring her a cup of tea.

TINA
:
What about yourself?

FRANK
:
I think I’ll take a drink instead – no, maybe I shouldn’t. Yes, I’ll take a cup of tea, too.

MIRIAM
:
What are they all at over there?

FRANK
:
Standing around, talking, drinking.

MIRIAM
:
Isn’t it time you changed?

FRANK
:
I know. And I’ve still to get a speech ready.

TINA
:
Helen’ll help you.

MIRIAM
:
(
Offering the shoes
) There you are.

FRANK
:
I don’t want them just now, do I?

(
MIRIAM
makes
a
face
.)
(
To
TINA
) Where is Helen?

TINA
:
In the garden. (
Calls
) Helen! Daddy wants –!

FRANK
:
Shhh – Anna. I can go out, can’t I?

(
He
goes out to the garden
.
MIRIAM
looks up at the ceiling
.)

MIRIAM
:
God, isn’t he a charmer! Sooner you nor me, daughter.

(
MIRIAM
goes
into
the
kitchen.
After
a
time
TINA
joins
her
.)

HELEN
:
See the conquering hero comes;
Sound the trumpets, beat the drums.

FRANK
:
Hah!

HELEN
:
(
Offering a flower
) For the Hero of Hari.

FRANK
:
Thank you.

(
As
he
accepts
it
he
leans
over
her
as
if
he
is
about
to
kiss
her
forehead,
hesitates,
then
quickly
:)

Did you see the heading in today’s
Donegal
Enquirer
?

HELEN
:
No.

FRANK
:
It’s above the photograph taken at the airport yesterday – ‘President Greets Humble Hannibal.’

(
They
both laugh. He sits beside her
.)

God, I feel so ancient, Helen.

HELEN
:
It’ll soon be over.

FRANK
:
Walking over here from the camp, d’you know what I was thinking: what has a lifetime in the army done to me? Wondering have I carried over into this life the too rigid military discipline that – that the domestic life must have been bruised, damaged, by the stern attitudes that are necessary over – I suppose what I’m saying is that I’m not unaware of certain shortcomings in my relationships with your mother and with Ben; and indeed with you when you and Gerald decided to –

HELEN
:
The past’s over, Father. And forgotten.

FRANK
:
That’s true. Over and forgotten. (
Then briskly
– to their
mutual
relief
) Any good at writing after-dinner speeches?

HELEN
:
Expert. What kind?

FRANK
:
Short and brilliant. And modest.

HELEN
:
Let’s see. ‘Gentlemen, I want to welcome you most sincerely, and even more sincerely to congratulate you on finding your way here.’

FRANK
:
Ah-ha!

HELEN
:
‘I will not dwell on the modest part I played in the event which the world now calls the Siege of Hari –’

FRANK
:
I certainly will.

HELEN
:
‘– and which brought fame and honour not only to United Nations troops everywhere –’

FRANK
:
But also –

HELEN
:
‘– to this country and to our own illustrious army.’

FRANK
:
Hear, hear; hear, hear.

HELEN
:
‘As for my own paltry part –’

FRANK
:
Silence! Silence!

HELEN
:
‘– as I carried each of those nine men back to safety –’

FRANK
:
‘– across those burning desert wastes –’

HELEN
:
‘– my one sustaining thought was –’

FRANK
:
(
Quickly
) Do you know what it was?

HELEN
:
‘– that you’d make me chief of staff as from this moment.’

FRANK
:
And why not?

HELEN
:
There you are – nothing to it.

FRANK
:
I knew you’d be good.

HELEN
:
Pleasure.

(
Pause
.)

FRANK
:
When’s your flight tomorrow?

HELEN
:
Eleven.

FRANK
:
I’ll get someone to drive you to Deny.

HELEN
:
I enjoy the bus.

FRANK
:
I’m delighted you came, Helen. And very, very grateful.

HELEN
:
A big occasion. A national hero.

FRANK
:
For a day.

HELEN
:
And some time before I go you must tell me exactly what happened. All I know is what I’ve read in the papers.

FRANK
:
I’ll post you a copy of the reports I’ve got to make out for GHQ.

HELEN
:
Will you?

FRANK
:
Promise.

(
Again
a silence. And as before he stretches across instinctively
to
catch
her
hand.
She
looks
at
him.
A
moment
of
embarrassment.
He
pats
her
hand
briskly
instead
.)

Well, at least they’re seeing the place at its best.

HELEN
:
That’s true.

FRANK
:
In weather like this you forget how grim it can be. When you heard about Anna and me –

HELEN
:
Yes?

FRANK
:
Were you hurt?

HELEN
:
Why would I be hurt?

FRANK
:
That I hadn’t told you about it in advance.

HELEN
:
No, not at all.

FRANK
:
We told nobody. It was all very – at my time of day I thought – just Anna and myself, and Tom. I suppose I should have told Tina, being in the house and all, but I knew Tina wouldn’t mind. And I was on the point of phoning you one night but we decided – I felt – it would be better to present you all with the
fait
accompli
. Very impressive little ceremony it was, too; quiet, you know, simple; very – that little Franciscan church in Dublin – the one along the quay. Full of atmosphere; lovely. And we came straight back here intending to take a honeymoon
later. And then, as you know, no sooner am I back than I’m off for five months. So in a way we still haven’t had a honeymoon – you’re sure you didn’t mind?

HELEN
:
Positive.

FRANK
:
As soon as the fuss dies down we’ll head off somewhere.

HELEN
:
So you should.

FRANK
:
France, maybe.

HELEN
:
You deserve a holiday.

FRANK
:
Or Italy. Somewhere. (
Pause
.) Have you and she had a chance to talk yet?

HELEN
:
For half an hour or so.

FRANK
:
Oh, good, good – yes?

HELEN
:
We had lunch together.

FRANK
:
Yes?

HELEN
:
Then I set her hair for her.

FRANK
:
Yes?

HELEN
:
Haven’t you seen it?

FRANK
:
(
Sudden
rush
) Isn’t she beautiful, Helen? Isn’t she beautiful?

HELEN
:
Yes.

FRANK
:
Yes, and warm and open and refreshing. And so direct – so direct – so uncomplicated. Anything she thinks – whatever comes into her head – straight out – it must come straight out – just like that. So unlike us: measured, watching, circling one another, peeping out, shying back.

HELEN
:
Is that us?

FRANK
:
Oh, yes, that’s us – you, me, your mother –

HELEN
:
Tina?

FRANK
:
Tina’s special, you know that; Tina’s a baby.

HELEN
:
Is she? And Miriam?

FRANK
:
All right – maybe not Miriam.

HELEN
:
And Ben?

FRANK
:
I know nothing about him. But my mascot – I call her my mascot. A good name for her, isn’t it? – whatever she is, it’s there before you. And from the moment I met her – and I can say this to you, Helen: you’re the only person I could
say this to without embarrassment … There! You see! Typical! You’re withdrawing!

HELEN
:
I’m not! – I’m not!

FRANK
:
Yes, you are. And now I’m embarrassed. It’s a family –

HELEN
:
Go on. Say what you were going to say.

FRANK
:
I can’t now.

HELEN
:
Say it, Father.

(
Pause
.)

FRANK
:
(
Simply
) What I was going to say is that for the first time in my life I am profoundly happy. (
Pause
.) And now you’re thinking there’s no fool like an old fool.

HELEN
:
No.

FRANK
:
(
Quickly
) Infinitely happier than I ever was with your mother. Is that a despicable thing to say? No, it’s not. It’s the truth. During all those years of illness she was patient and courageous and admirable. And I responded to that as best I could. Despite what Ben thinks, I did my best. But it had all withered into duty, Helen. There was no joy – the joy had gone. And that’s what Anna did – she restored joy to me – she animated me again. If I’m a hero today – whatever that silly word means – it is because of her.

HELEN
:
I’m sure that’s true, Father.

FRANK
:
And nothing would give me more pleasure than to bestow some of that joy on you.

HELEN
:
Me?

FRANK
:
If I could.

HELEN
:
Why me?

FRANK
:
Because I have a superabundance and because I sense a melancholy about my first child.

(
TINA
enters
living-room
with
tray
.)

TINA
:
(
Calls
) Tea, everybody!

FRANK
:
If that’s not too arrogant of me – is it? (
He
looks at her
.
Pause
.) And now you’re convinced I’m an old fool, aren’t you?

HELEN
:
You keep looking for reassurance, hero.

FRANK
:
(
Rising briskly
) Do I? – it must be – because I need it. God, look at the time – and I’ve still to get dressed.

(
FRANK
goes
quickly
into
the
living-room.
TINA
is
about
to
bring
a
cup
of
tea
upstairs
.)

Other books

Changer (Athanor) by Jane Lindskold
The Red Horseman by Stephen Coonts
Rough Justice by Stephen Leather
Falling Away by Devon Ashley
The Lady of Secrets by Susan Carroll
The Door in the Moon by Catherine Fisher
The Poison Oracle by Peter Dickinson


readsbookonline.com Copyright 2016 - 2024