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
.)