Read Online The Field by John B. Keane - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John B. Keane
Tags: Drama, Fiction, General, english, Scottish, irish, Welsh, Kerry, Man from Clare, Many Young Men of Twenty, Durango, Brian Dennehy, The Field, Sive, Moll, Big Maggie, Richard Harris, John B. Keane, Keane, High Meadow, Bull McCabe, Listowel, Chastitute
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Fr Murphy: Thereâs nothing to fear. Anything you tell us will be held in the strictest confidence. This is a job which nobody likes but someone must do it or a murderer will be allowed to go free ⦠I hope you have no objections, Mick, at our barging in like this.
Mick: Oh, good God, no, Father! Not at all! Anything I can do, Iâll do.
Bull: Whatever is in our power to be done, will be done, right, Bird? Right, Tadhg? Whatever is in our power by the grace of God.
Sergeant: Then weâll begin with you, Mrs Butler. And if the rest of you wouldnât mind waiting in the back room for a moment or two, weâll begin right away.
[All look at Bull]
Bull: It can never be said that we stood in the way of the law. Come on, Tadhg! Come on, Bird ⦠Dandy!
Mick: This way, gentlemen, you know where to go.
[The four exit]
Fr Murphy: Now, Mrs Butler. This is neither official nor formal. All we want is a little chat and whatever you have to tell us, will go no further.
Maggie: Yes, Father.
Fr Murphy: You heard the Bishopâs appeal on Sunday last?
Maggie: Yes, Father.
Fr Murphy: Unfortunately, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Now the Sergeant here assures me that the slightest bit of information might easily break the case. Now, Mrs Butler, you live near where the body was found ⦠where the murder actually took place. Did you see or hear anything on the night?
[Maggie entwines her fingers but does not reply and the priest exchanges looks with the Sergeant]
Sergeant: Anything at all, Mrs Butler?
Fr Murphy: Did you hear or see anything? It doesnât matter what. Even a little thing might help the Sergeant.
Maggie: âTis me needs the help, God help me.
Sergeant: You met the man didnât you? On the morning of the day he was killed.
Maggie: He was in here all right, that morning. He was a nice man ⦠a bit strong-willed.
Fr Murphy: Most men are!
Sergeant: Did anything take place on that day? Was anything said?
Maggie: If there was, I have it forgotten by now. I have no memory at all. âTwas often a Saturday when I drew my pension, even though Iâd want the money.
Sergeant: Had the dead man an argument with the Bull McCabe?
Maggie: If he did, I donât remember it. I hate fighting or noise.
Fr Murphy: Mrs Butler, if you know anything, donât be afraid to tell us. Nothing will happen to you.
Maggie: Iâm a lone widow, living on the side of the road with no one to look after me.
Fr Murphy: We understand perfectly, Mrs Butler, but place yourself in Godâs hands and you need have no fear. If youâre afraid of anyone, the Sergeant will caution that person and you can be assured of peace and privacy.
Sergeant: Iâll go to the person and tell him that if he so much as looks at you sideways, it will be as much as his life is worth.
Maggie: Oh, no ⦠no ⦠you mustnât ⦠you mustnât ⦠You canât.
Sergeant: So there is a person ⦠someone you fear. [Gently] Who is it, Mrs Butler? It is your duty to tell us.
Maggie: Iâm an old woman, living alone, and I do be worryinâ nights. I have no one with me.
Sergeant: We all have to worry nights, no matter who we are.
Maggie: I donât live in the barracks with guards in all the rooms. An old woman ⦠a woman drawing her pension that wants to be left alone ⦠I never did harm to no one ⦠I only ask to be left alone.
[She becomes silent, Sergeant and Priest exchange looks]
Fr Murphy: [Kindly] Very well, Mrs Butler. You can go now.
[Maggie rises and goes to exit]
Maggie: God bless you, Father ⦠and pray for me. Pray for me, Father!
Fr Murphy: God bless you, Mrs Butler. I will pray for you.
Sergeant: Good day to you, Mrs Butler.
[Exit Maggie]
Fr Murphy: [To Sergeant] Sorry, Tom! I was certain that, after the sermon and with the informal approach, you might learn something.
Sergeant: Itâs not your fault, Father. You
Fr Murphy: Thereâs nothing to fear. Anything you tell us will be held in the strictest confidence. This is a job which nobody likes but someone must do it or a murderer will be allowed to go free ⦠I hope you have no objections, Mick, at our barging in like this.
Mick: Oh, good God, no, Father! Not at all! Anything I can do, Iâll do.
Bull: Whatever is in our power to be done, will be done, right, Bird? Right, Tadhg? Whatever is in our power by the grace of God.
Sergeant: Then weâll begin with you, Mrs Butler. And if the rest of you wouldnât mind waiting in the back room for a moment or two, weâll begin right away.
[All look at Bull]
Bull: It can never be said that we stood in the way of the law. Come on, Tadhg! Come on, Bird ⦠Dandy!
Mick: This way, gentlemen, you know where to go.
[The four exit]
Fr Murphy: Now, Mrs Butler. This is neither official nor formal. All we want is a little chat and whatever you have to tell us, will go no further.
Maggie: Yes, Father.
Fr Murphy: You heard the Bishopâs appeal on Sunday last?
Maggie: Yes, Father.
Fr Murphy: Unfortunately, it seems to have fallen on deaf ears. Now the Sergeant here assures me that the slightest bit of information might easily break the case. Now, Mrs Butler, you live near where the body was found ⦠where the murder actually took place. Did you see or hear anything on the night?
[Maggie entwines her fingers but does not reply and the priest exchanges looks with the Sergeant]
Sergeant: Anything at all, Mrs Butler?
Fr Murphy: Did you hear or see anything? It doesnât matter what. Even a little thing might help the Sergeant.
Maggie: âTis me needs the help, God help me.
Sergeant: You met the man didnât you? On the morning of the day he was killed.
Maggie: He was in here all right, that morning. He was a nice man ⦠a bit strong-willed.
Fr Murphy: Most men are!
Sergeant: Did anything take place on that day? Was anything said?
Maggie: If there was, I have it forgotten by now. I have no memory at all. âTwas often a Saturday when I drew my pension, even though Iâd want the money.
Sergeant: Had the dead man an argument with the Bull McCabe?
Maggie: If he did, I donât remember it. I hate fighting or noise.
Fr Murphy: Mrs Butler, if you know anything, donât be afraid to tell us. Nothing will happen to you.
Maggie: Iâm a lone widow, living on the side of the road with no one to look after me.
Fr Murphy: We understand perfectly, Mrs Butler, but place yourself in Godâs hands and you need have no fear. If youâre afraid of anyone, the Sergeant will caution that person and you can be assured of peace and privacy.
Sergeant: Iâll go to the person and tell him that if he so much as looks at you sideways, it will be as much as his life is worth.
Maggie: Oh, no ⦠no ⦠you mustnât ⦠you mustnât ⦠You canât.
Sergeant: So there is a person ⦠someone you fear. [Gently] Who is it, Mrs Butler? It is your duty to tell us.
Maggie: Iâm an old woman, living alone, and I do be worryinâ nights. I have no one with me.
Sergeant: We all have to worry nights, no matter who we are.
Maggie: I donât live in the barracks with guards in all the rooms. An old woman ⦠a woman drawing her pension that wants to be left alone ⦠I never did harm to no one ⦠I only ask to be left alone.
[She becomes silent, Sergeant and Priest exchange looks]
Fr Murphy: [Kindly] Very well, Mrs Butler. You can go now.
[Maggie rises and goes to exit]
Maggie: God bless you, Father ⦠and pray for me. Pray for me, Father!
Fr Murphy: God bless you, Mrs Butler. I will pray for you.
Sergeant: Good day to you, Mrs Butler.
[Exit Maggie]
Fr Murphy: [To Sergeant] Sorry, Tom! I was certain that, after the sermon and with the informal approach, you might learn something.
Sergeant: Itâs not your fault, Father. You
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