four short plays-第4章
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YOUNG OFF。 All the same； just now you were pitying your folk at
home； and prisoners and that。
GIRL。 Yees； because they suffer。 Those who suffer are like meI
pity myself； that's all； I am different from your English women。 I
see what I am doing； I do not let my mind become a turnip just
because I am no longer moral。
YOUNG OFF。 Nor your heart either； for all you say。
GIRL。 Ni…ice boy； you are veree obstinate。 But all that about love
is 'umbog。 We love ourselves； noting more。
At that intense soft bitterness in her voice； he gets up；
feeling stifled； and stands at the window。 A newspaper boy some
way off is calling his wares。 The GIRL's fingers slip between
his own； and stay unmoving。 He looks round into her face。 In
spite of make…up it has a queer； unholy； touching beauty。
YOUNG OFF。 ＇With an outburst＇ No； we don't only love ourselves；
there is more。 I can't explain； but there's something great； there's
kindnessandand…
＇The shouting of newspaper boys grows louder and their cries；
passionately vehement； clash into each other and obscure each
word。 His head goes up to listen； her hand tightens within his
armshe too is listening。 The cries come nearer； hoarser； more
shrill and clamorous； the empty moonlight outside seems suddenly
crowded with figures； footsteps； voices； and a fierce distant
cheering。 〃Great victorygreat victory！ Official！ British！
'Eavy defeat of the 'Uns！ Many thousand prisoners！ 'Eavy
defeat！〃 It speeds by； intoxicating； filling him with a fearful
joy； he leans far out； waving his cap and cheering like a
madman； the night seems to flutter and vibrate and answer。 He
turns to rush down into the street； strikes against something
soft； and recoils。 The GIRL stands with hands clenched； and
face convulsed； panting。 All confused with the desire to do
something； he stoops to kiss her hand。 She snatches away her
fingers； sweeps up the notes he has put down； and holds them out
to him。＇
GIRL。 Take themI will not haf your English moneytake them。
Suddenly she tears them across； twice； thrice； lets the bits。
flutter to the floor； and turns her back on him。 He stands
looking at her leaning against the plush…covered table； her head
down； a dark figure in a dark room； with the moonlight
sharpening her outline。 Hardly a moment he stays； then makes
for the door。 When he is gone； she still stands there； her chin
on her breast； with the sound in her ears of cheering； of
hurrying feet； and voices crying： 〃'Eavy Defeat！〃 stands； in the
centre of a pattern made by the fragments of the torn…up notes；
staring out unto the moonlight； seeing not this hated room and
the hated Square outside； but a German orchard； and herself； a
little girl； plucking apples； a big dog beside her； and a
hundred other pictures； such as the drowning see。 Then she
sinks down on the floor； lays her forehead on the dusty carpet；
and presses her body to it。 Mechanically； she sweeps together
the scattered fragments of notes； assembling them with the dust
into a little pile； as of fallen leaves； and dabbling in it with
her fingers； while the tears run down her cheeks。
GIRL。 Defeat！ Der Vaterland！ Defeat！。 。 。 。 One shillin'！
＇Then suddenly； in the moonlight； she sits up； and begins to
sing with all her might 〃Die Wacht am Rhein。〃 And outside men
pass； singing： 〃Rule； Britannia！〃＇
CURTAIN
THE SUN
A SCENE
CHARACTERS
THE GIRL。
THE MAN。
THE SOLDIER。
THE SUN
A Girl； sits crouched over her knees on a stile close to a
river。 A MAN with a silver badge stands beside her； clutching
the worn top plank。 THE GIRL'S level brows are drawn together；
her eyes see her memories。 THE MAN's eyes see THE GIRL； he has
a dark； twisted face。 The bright sun shines； the quiet river
flows； the Cuckoo is calling； the mayflower is in bloom along
the hedge that ends in the stile on the towing…path。
THE GIRL。 God knows what 'e'll say； Jim。
THE MAN。 Let 'im。 'E's come too late； that's all。
THE GIRL。 He couldn't come before。 I'm frightened。 'E was fond o'
me。
THE MAN。 And aren't I fond of you？
THE GIRL。 I ought to 'a waited； Jim； with 'im in the fightin'。
THE MAN。 ＇Passionately＇ And what about me？ Aren't I been in the
fightin'earned all I could get？
THE GIRL。 ＇Touching him＇ Ah！
THE MAN。 Did you？ ＇He cannot speak the words。＇
THE GIRL。 Not like you； Jimnot like you。
THE MAN。 Have a spirit； then。
THE GIRL。 I promised him。
THE MAN。 One man's luck's another's poison。
THE GIRL。 I ought to 'a waited。 I never thought he'd come back from
the fightin'。
THE MAN。 ＇Grimly＇ Maybe 'e'd better not 'ave。
THE GIRL。 ＇Looking back along the tow…path＇ What'll he be like； I
wonder？
THE MAN。 ＇Gripping her shoulder＇ Daisy； don't you never go back on
me； or I should kill you； and 'im too。
＇THE GIRL looks at him； shivers； and puts her lips to his。＇
THE GIRL。 I never could。
THE MAN。 Will you run for it？ 'E'd never find us！
＇THE GIRL shakes her head。＇
THE MAN ＇Dully＇ What's the good o' stayin'？ The world's wide。
THE GIRL。 I'd rather have it off me mind； with him home。
THE MAN。 ＇Clenching his hands＇ It's temptin' Providence。
THE GIRL。 What's the time； Jim？
THE MAN。 ＇Glancing at the sun＇ 'Alf past four。
THE GIRL。 ＇Looking along the towing…path＇ He said four o'clock。
Jim； you better go。
THE MAN。 Not I。 I've not got the wind up。 I've seen as much of
hell as he has； any day。 What like is he？
THE GIRL。 ＇Dully＇ I dunno； just。 I've not seen him these three
years。 I dunno no more； since I've known you。
THE MAN。 Big or little chap？
THE GIRL。 'Bout your size。 Oh！ Jim； go along！
THE MAN。 No fear！ What's a blighter like that to old Fritz's
shells？ We didn't shift when they was comin'。 If you'll go； I'll
go； not else。
＇Again she shakes her head。＇
THE GIRL。 Jim； do you love me true？
＇For answer THE MAN takes her avidly in his arms。＇
I ain't ashamedI ain't ashamed。 If 'e could see me 'eart。
THE MAN。 Daisy！ If I'd known you out there； I never could 'a stuck
it。 They'd 'a got me for a deserter。 That's how I love you！
THE GIRL。 Jim； don't lift your hand to 'im！ Promise！
THE MAN。 That's according。
THE GIRL。 Promise！
THE MAN。 If 'e keeps quiet； I won't。 But I'm not accountablenot
always； I tell you straightnot since I've been through that。
THE GIRL。 ＇With a shiver＇ Nor p'raps he isn't。
THE MAN。 Like as not。 It takes the lynch pins out； I tell you。
THE GIRL。 God 'elp us！
THE MAN。 ＇Grimly＇ Ah！ We said that a bit too often。 What we want
we take； now； there's no one else to give it us； and there's no
fear'll stop us； we seen the bottom of things。
THE GIRL。 P'raps he'll say that too。
THE MAN。 Then it'll be 'im or me。
THE GIRL。 I'm frightened：
THE MAN。 ＇Tenderly＇ No； Daisy； no！ The river's handy。 One more or
less。 'E shan't 'arm you； nor me neither。 ＇He takes out a knife。＇
THE GIRL。 ＇Seizing his hand＇ Oh； no！ Give it to me； Jim！
THE MAN。 ＇Smiling＇ No fear！ ＇He puts it away＇ Shan't 'ave no need
for it like as not。 All right； little Daisy； you can't be expected
to see things like what we do。 What's life； anyway？ I've seen a
thousand lives taken in five minutes。 I've seen dead men on the
wires like flies on a flypaper。 I've been as good as dead meself a
hundred times。 I've killed a dozen men。 It's nothin'。 He's safe；
if 'e don't get my blood up。 If he does； nobody's safe； not 'im； nor
anybody else； not even you。 I'm speakin' sober。
THE GIRL。 ＇Softly＇ Jim； you won't go fightin' in the sun； with the
birds all callin'？
THE MAN。 That depends on 'im。 I'm not lookin' for it。 Daisy； I
love you。 I love your hair。 I love your eyes。 I love you。
THE GIRL。 And I love you； Jim。 I don't want nothin' more than you
in all the world。
THE MAN。 Amen to that； my dear。 Kiss me close！
The sound of a voice singing breaks in on their embrace。 THE
GIRL starts from his arms； and looks behind her along the
towing…path。 THE MAN draws back against； the hedge； fingering
his side； where the knife is hidden。 The song comes nearer。
〃I'll be right there to…night；
Where the fields are snowy white；
Banjos ringing； darkies singing；
All the world seems bright。〃
THE GIRL。 It's him！
THE MAN。 Don't get the wind up； Daisy。 I'm here！
＇The singing stops。 A man's voice says 〃Christ！ It's Daisy；
it's little Daisy 'erself！〃 THE GIRL stands rigid。 The figure
of a soldier appears on the other side of the stile。 His cap is
tucked into his belt； his hair is bright in the sunshine； he is
lean； wasted； brown； and laughing。＇
SOLDIER。 Daisy！ Daisy！ Hallo； old pretty girl！
＇THE GIRL does not move； barring the way； as it were。＇
THE GIRL。 Hallo； Jack！ ＇Softly＇ I got things to tell you！
SOLDIER。 What sort o' things； this lovely day？ Why； I got things
that'd take me years to tell。 Have you missed me； Daisy？
THE GIRL。 You been so long。
SOLDIER。 So I 'ave。 My Gawd！ It's a way they 'ave in the Army。 I
said when I got out of it I'd laugh。 Like as the sun itself I used
to think of you； Daisy； when the trumps was comin' over； and the wind
was up。 D'you remember that last night in the wood？ 〃Come back and
marry me quick； Jack。〃 Well； here I amgot me pass to heaven。 No
more fightin'； no more drillin'； no more sleepin' rough。 We can get
married now； Daisy。 We can live soft an' 'appy。 Give us a kiss； my
dear。
THE GIRL。 ＇Drawing back＇ No。
SOLDIER。 ＇Blankly＇ Why not？
＇THE MAN； with a swift movement steps along the hedge to THE
GIRL'S side。＇
THE MAN。 That's why； soldier。
SOLDIER。 ＇Leaping over the stile＇ 'Oo are you； Pompey？ The sun
don't shine in your inside； do it？ 'Oo is he； Daisy？
THE GIRL。 My man。
SOLDIER。 Your…man！ Lummy！ 〃Taffy was a Welshman； Taffy was a
thief！〃 Well； mate！ So you've been through it； too。 I'm laughin'
this mornin' as luck will 'ave it。 Ah！ I can see your knife。
THE MAN。 ＇Who has half drawn his knife＇ Don't laugh at me； I tell
you。
SOLDIER。 Not at you； not at you。 ＇He looks from one to the other＇
I'm laughin' at things in general。 Where did you get it； mate？
THE MAN。 ＇Watchfully＇ Through the lung。
SOLDIER。 Think o' that！ An' I never was touched。 Four years an'
never was touched。 An' so you've come an' took my girl！ Nothin'
doin'！ Ha！ ＇Again he looks from one to the other…then away＇ Well！
The world's before me！ ＇He laughs＇ I'll give you Daisy for a lung
protector。
THE MAN。 ＇Fiercely＇ You won't。 I've took her。
SOLDIER。 That's all right； then。 You keep 'er。 I've got a laugh in
me you can't put out； black as you look！ Good…bye； little
