The Playboy of the Western World | Page 4

JIMMY FARRELL, small farmers. SARA TANSEY, SUSAN BRADY,
AND HONOR BLAKE, village girls. A BELLMAN. SOME
PEASANTS.
The action takes place near a village, on a wild coast of Mayo. The first
Act passes on an evening of autumn, the other two Acts on the
following day.
THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD __________
ACT I.
SCENE: [Country public-house or shebeen, very rough and untidy.
There is a sort of counter on the right with shelves, holding many
bottles and jugs, just seen above it. Empty barrels stand near the
counter. At back, a little to left of counter, there is a door into the open
air, then, more to the left, there is a settle with shelves above it, with
more jugs, and a table beneath a window. At the left there is a large
open fire-place, with turf fire, and a small door into inner room. Pegeen,
a wild looking but fine girl, of about twenty, is writing at table. She is
dressed in the usual peasant dress.]
PEGEEN -- [slowly as she writes.] -- Six yards of stuff for to make a
yellow gown. A pair of lace boots with lengthy heels on them and
brassy eyes. A hat is suited for a wedding-day. A fine tooth comb. To
be sent with three barrels of porter in Jimmy Farrell's creel cart on the
evening of the coming Fair to Mister Michael James Flaherty. With the
best compliments of this season. Margaret Flaherty.
SHAWN KEOGH -- [a fat and fair young man comes in as she signs,
looks round awkwardly, when he sees she is alone.] -- Where's
himself?
PEGEEN -- [without looking at him.] -- He's coming. (She directs the
letter.) To Mister Sheamus Mulroy, Wine and Spirit Dealer, Castlebar.
SHAWN -- [uneasily.] -- I didn't see him on the road.
PEGEEN. How would you see him (licks stamp and puts it on letter)
and it dark night this half hour gone by?
SHAWN -- [turning towards the door again.] -- I stood a while outside

wondering would I have a right to pass on or to walk in and see you,
Pegeen Mike (comes to fire), and I could hear the cows breathing, and
sighing in the stillness of the air, and not a step moving any place from
this gate to the bridge.
PEGEEN -- [putting letter in envelope.] -- It's above at the cross-roads
he is, meeting Philly Cullen; and a couple more are going along with
him to Kate Cassidy's wake.
SHAWN -- [looking at her blankly.] -- And he's going that length in the
dark night?
PEGEEN -- [impatiently.] He is surely, and leaving me lonesome on
the scruff of the hill. (She gets up and puts envelope on dresser, then
winds clock.) Isn't it long the nights are now, Shawn Keogh, to be
leaving a poor girl with her own self counting the hours to the dawn of
day?
SHAWN -- [with awkward humour.] -- If it is, when we're wedded in a
short while you'll have no call to complain, for I've little will to be
walking off to wakes or weddings in the darkness of the night.
PEGEEN -- [with rather scornful good humour.] -- You're making
mighty certain, Shaneen, that I'll wed you now.
SHAWN. Aren't we after making a good bargain, the way we're only
waiting these days on Father Reilly's dispensation from the bishops, or
the Court of Rome.
PEGEEN -- [looking at him teasingly, washing up at dresser.] -- It's a
wonder, Shaneen, the Holy Father'd be taking notice of the likes of you;
for if I was him I wouldn't bother with this place where you'll meet
none but Red Linahan, has a squint in his eye, and Patcheen is lame in
his heel, or the mad Mulrannies were driven from California and they
lost in their wits. We're a queer lot these times to go troubling the Holy
Father on his sacred seat.
SHAWN -- [scandalized.] If we are, we're as good this place as another,
maybe, and as good these times as we were for ever.
PEGEEN -- [with scorn.] -- As good, is it? Where now will you meet
the like of Daneen Sullivan knocked the eye from a peeler, or Marcus
Quin, God rest him, got six months for maiming ewes, and he a great
warrant to tell stories of holy Ireland till he'd have the old women
shedding down tears about their feet. Where will you find the like of
them, I'm saying?

SHAWN -- [timidly.] If you don't it's a good job, maybe; for (with
peculiar emphasis on the words) Father Reilly has small conceit to have
that kind walking around and talking to the girls.
PEGEEN -- [impatiently, throwing water from basin out of the door.] --
Stop tormenting