Act One

Scene One

Song 1: "Playboy of the Western World – Instrumental"

At rise, there is a quaint Irish pub circa 1900, with a counter on the right with shelves, holding many bottles and jugs. By way of introduction, an instrumental version of "Playboy of the Western World" plays in background. 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 long wooden bench with a back with shelves above it, with more jugs, and a table beneath a window. At the left there is a fireplace and a small door into inner room. Pegeen, a girl of about twenty, dressed in a peasant dress, is writing at table.

Pegeen

(slowly as she writes) Six yards of stuff for a fancy wedding gown. A hat that is suited for a wedding day. To be sent with three barrels of Guinness Stout to Mister Michael James Flaherty. With the best compliments of this season. Margaret Flaherty

Shawn

(comes in as she signs, looks round awkwardly, when he sees she is alone) Where's your father?

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) since it’s already dark outside?

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, (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) He’s above the crossroads, meeting Philly Cullen and a couple more are going along with him to Kat Cassidy's wake.

Shawn

(looking at her blankly)And he's going that far in the dark night?

Pegeen

(impatiently)Yes, and he’s leaving me lonesome on the scruff of the hill. (gets up and puts envelope on dresser, then winds clock)Isn't it long the nights are now, Shawn, to be leaving a poor girl alone counting the hours until morning?

Shawn

(with awkward humor) When we're married in a short while you'll have no call to complain, for you’ll have me with you every night.

Pegeen

(with scornful good humor)You're making mighty certain, wee Shawn, that I'll wed you now.

Shawn

Didn’t we make a good bargain, the way we're only waiting these days for Father Reilly to give his permission?

Pegeen

(looking at him teasingly, washing up at dresser) It's a wonder, Shawn, that Father Reilly would be taking notice of the likes of you, for if I were him I wouldn't bother with anyone from this place.

Shawn

(scandalised)We're as good this place as any other, maybe better.

Pegeen

I'm asking only what way I'll pass these twelve hours of dark, and not die with fear. (looking out of door)

Shawn

(timidly)Should I fetch you the Widow Quin, maybe?

Pegeen

That nasty woman? You'll not, surely.

Shawn

On the road here tonight I heard a fellow above in the ditch, groaning wicked like a mad dog, so maybe you have good cause to be afraid now.

Pegeen

(turning on him sharply) What's that? Is it a man you saw?

Shawn

(retreating)I couldn't see him at all, but I heard him groaning out, and crying. I thought it was a young man from his voice.

Pegeen

(going after him) And you never went near to see was he hurt or what ailed him at all?

Shawn

I did not, Pegeen. It was a dark, lonesome place to be hearing the like of him.

Pegeen

Well, you're a daring fellow, and if they find his corpse stretched in the dews of dawn, what'll you say then to police?

Shawn

(thunderstruck)I wasn't thinking of that. For the love of God, Pegeen Mike, don't let on I was speaking of him. Don't tell your father and the other men, for if they heard that story, they'd make fun of me for weeks!

Pegeen

I'll maybe tell them, and I'll maybe not.

Shawn

They are coming at the door, Will you keep quiet, I'm saying?

Pegeen

Shut up yourself.

She goes behind counter. Michael James, jovial pub owner, comes in followed by Philly Cullen, who is thin and mistrusting, and Jimmy Farrell, who middle-aged

Jimmy

Hello to all.

Pegeen

Thank you kindly.

Michael

(to men who go to the counter) Sit down now, and take your rest.(crosses to Shawn at the fire) And how is it you are, Shawn Keogh? Are you coming over the sands to Kate Cassidy's wake?

Shawn

I am not, Michael James. I'm taking the short cut to my bed.

Pegeen

(speaking across the counter)He's right too, and have you no shame, Michael James, to be going off for the whole night, and leaving me alone in your pub?

Michael

(good-humoured) Isn't it the same whether I go for the whole night or a part only?

Pegeen

What kind of a father would leave his daughter here alone for twelve hours?

Jimmy

(flatteringly)What is there to hurt you, and you a fine, hardy girl would knock the head of any two men in the place?

Pegeen

(working herself up) There are ten tinkers camped in the east glen. There's lots around here who could hurt me.

Michael

Isn’t it good luck, then, that wee Shawn should be seeing you now?(they all turn on Shawn)

Shawn

(in horrified confusion)I would gladly stay with your daughter, Michael James, but I'm afraid of Father Reilly. What would he say if he knew I was spending the night alone with Pegeen before the wedding?

Michael

You are a cowardly creature! You could sit outside on the step protecting her while she stayed inside. You'll do that surely, for I've heard tell there's a crazy fellow in a ditch near here. She’d be safer here if you were to stay around, Shawn.

Shawn

I'm afraid of what Father Reilly might think if I stayed here when were so nearly married.

Philly

(pointing to inner room)Lock him in the west room. He'll stay there and have no sin to be telling to the priest.

Michael

(to Shawn, getting between him and the door)We’ve got you now.

Shawn

(at the top of his voice) Don't stop me, Michael James. Let me out the door, I'm saying, for the love of the Almighty. Let me out (trying to dodge past him)

Michael

(loudly)Stop your big mouth, and sit down by the hearth. (gives him a push and goes to counter laughing)

Shawn

(turning back, wringing his hands)Oh, Father Reilly and all the saints! Where will I hide myself today?

Shawn turns round, sees door clear, and makes a rush for it.

Michael

(catching him by the coattail)You'd be going, is it?

Shawn

(screaming) Leave me go, Michael James, leave me go, you old Pagan, leave me go, or I'll call a curse down on you! (with a sudden movement he pulls himself out of his coat, and disappears out of the door, leaving his coat in Michael's hands)

Michael

(turning round, and holding up coat)Well, there's the coat of a cowardly dog. I've got you a decent man, Pegeen! You'll have no call to be worrying about that one cheating on you with any other women!

Pegeen

(taking up the defense of her property) What right have you to be making fun of a poor fellow for minding the priest, when it's your own the fault for not paying a dishwasher to stand along with me and give me courage in the doing of my work? (snaps the coat away from him, and goes behind counter with it)

Michael

(taken aback) Where would I get a dishwasher? Would you have me screaming for one in the streets of Dublin?

Shawn

(opening the door a chink and putting in his head, in a small voice) Michael James!

Michael

(imitating him) What ails you?

Shawn

The dying fellow's beyond looking over the ditch. He's come up, I'm thinking, to be stealing your hens. (looks over his shoulder) Lord help me, he's following me now (runs into room) and if he's heard what I said, he'll likely kill me.

For a perceptible moment they watch the door with curiosity. Some one coughs outside. Then Christy Mahon, a slight young man, comes in very tired and frightened and dirty.

Christy

(in a small voice)Hello to all here!

Men

Hello to you kindly.

Christy

(going to the counter)I'd trouble you for a glass of Guinness, woman of the house. (puts down coin)

Pegeen

(serving him) Are you one of the tinkers, young fellow, that is camped in the glen?

Christy

I am not, but I'm tired from walking.

Michael

(patronisingly) Let you come up then to the fire. You're looking famished with the cold.

Christy

Thank you much. (takes up his glass and goes a little way across to the left, then stops and looks about him) Do the police often come into this place, master of the house?

Michael

And what would the police want spying on me?

Christy

(with relief) It's a safe house. (goes over to the fire, sighing and moaning. Then he sits down, putting his glass beside him and begins gnawing a turnip, too miserable to feel the others staring at him with curiosity)

Michael

Are you wanted by the police?

Christy

There's many wanted.

Michael

Is it for larceny, I'm thinking?

Christy

(dolefully) I had in my mind a different word and a bigger.

Pegeen

You’re an odd lad. Were you never taught anything in school, young fellow, that you don't know the name of your deed?

Christy

(bashfully) I'm slow at learning, a middling scholar only.

Michael

Even a dunce would know that larceny's robbing and stealing. Is it for that you're wanted?

Christy

It’s not for stealing.

Michael

(impressed) If it's not stealing, it's maybe something big.

Christy

(flattered) Aye, it's maybe something big.

Jimmy

He's a wicked-looking young fellow. Maybe he followed after a young woman on a lonesome night.

Christy

(shocked)Oh, I’d never do such a thing, mister! I was always a decent lad.

Philly

Maybe his land was grabbed from him, and he did what any decent man would do.

Michael

Did you hurt your landlord, son?

Christy

Not at all!

Jimmy

Did you marry three wives maybe? I'm told there's a sprinkling have done that around here.

Christy

(shyly) I never married with one, let alone with a couple or three.

Pegeen

(coming from counter) He's done nothing, so. (to Christy)If you didn't commit murder or robbery, or butchery, or the like of them, there isn't anything that you did. You did nothing at all!

Christy

(offended) You're not speaking the truth.

Pegeen

(mock rage) Not speaking the truth, is it? Suppose I knocked your head with the butt of my broom?