The Gardener's Son (3 page)

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
It’s a bad night out.

M
RS
G
REGG
It’s a bad night for them.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Yes, of course.

M
RS
G
REGG
Have you had your supper?

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
No, I’ll not be taking any. A clear head wants an empty stomach. People eat too damned much anyway.

Interior. McEvoy kitchen. The family is seated at the table. A kerosene lamp is lit and they have just finished their supper. There is a knock at the front door and Martha leaves the table and goes along the hall to the door to open it. Dr Perceval and Mrs Gregg are standing in the door and she admits them and they follow her to the kitchen. When the doctor and Mrs Gregg enter the kitchen Mr McEvoy rises, Mrs McEvoy pushes at her chair and struggles to her feet.

M
RS
G
REGG
Mr McEvoy this is Dr Perceval.

Mr McEvoy extends his hand. 'The doctor gives it a perfunctory shake. They nod mutely at each other.

M
RS
M
C
E
VOY
Lord Mrs Gregg you ort not to of come. What with the trouble in your own house. Martha, put the kettle on.

M
RS
G
REGG
Please dont trouble yourself Mrs McEvoy. I only came to see about the boy.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Where is the boy?

M
R
M
C
E
VOY
I’ll show him, Mama.

He leaves the room, looking after at the doctor for him to follow. The doctor shifts his bag from one hand to the other and leaves the kitchen.

Mrs McEvoy comes around the table toward Mrs Gregg.

M
RS
M
C
E
VOY
Let me take your coat, Mrs Gregg.

M
RS
G
REGG
Thank you.

Mrs McEvoy takes her coat, helping her out of it.

M
RS
M
C
E
VOY
Just get ye a chair.

M
RS
G
REGG
Thank you.

Mrs Gregg sits in the chair nearest the hallway door. Maryellen McEvoy is seated next to her and looks up at her with wide eyes. The table is littered with dishes. Martha is standing by the stove watching her. Mrs McEvoy takes the coat and hangs it from a nail in the back door. She turns and looks back at the table and she goes to the stove and pokes up the fire.

M
RS
M
C
E
VOY
(to Martha)
Scoot girl.

Martha moves to one side. She does not take her eyes from Mrs Gregg.

M
RS
G
REGG
Is this all of your family, Mrs McEvoy?

M
RS
G
REGG
(to Maryellen)
What is your name?

M
ARYELLEN
Maryellen.

M
RS
G
REGG
Yes.

She turns to Martha.

M
RS
G
REGG
And Martha.

M
ARTHA
Yes Mam.

M
RS
G
REGG
Please dont bother with anything, Mrs McEvoy.

Mrs McEvoy comes to the table, wiping her hands on her apron. She takes a chair. Silence.

Mr McEvoy enters the room. He smiles somewhat nervously.

M
R
M
C
E
VOY
We sure do appreciate this, Mrs Gregg. That boy ... I dont know. He aint goin to be no easy patient.

M
RS
G
REGG
Its going to be very difficult for him.

Mrs McEvoy looks at her in alarm.

M
RS
G
REGG
Dr Perceval is an excellent man. We must put our confidence and trust in him.

Mr McEvoy is standing in the doorway. He crosses his hands, holding them in front of him, and bows his head. Mrs McEvoy looks down.

R
OBERT
M
C
E
VOY
(os)
No, damn you! No!

Mrs McEvoy looks up in alarm. Mr McEvoy turns and looks back down the hall. Mrs Gregg rises. The doctor enters the kitchen. He is somewhat embarrassed, but determined. He smiles.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
I’m afraid he’s not taking it at all well. But there’s nothing for it. May I have a glass of water please.

M
R
M
C
E
VOY
Big sister, get the doctor a drink of water.

Martha crosses the kitchen to where the pail and dipper stand on the sideboard.

M
R
M
C
E
VOY
Might it not mend?

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
I’m sorry, McEvoy.

M
RS
G
REGG
Is the operation unavoidable Doctor?

Dr Perceval takes the glass of water and drinks and lowers the glass and looks at Mrs Gregg.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
If he’s to live.

Mrs McEvoy begins to sob.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Badly in sepsis, Madam. Badly.

M
RS
G
REGG
Yes.

M
RS
M
C
E
VOY
It might could mend.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Mrs McEvoy, it could not mend. Not in this world. It is beset with rot. Who can say why? Germs have their flyways, like migratory fowl. Winging unseen through the night. The boy’s leg must come off if his life is to be saved. I’m sorry to be so blunt but you people will not seem to understand.

M
RS
G
REGG
And the boy? How will you . . .

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
There’s nothing for it, I’m afraid. Once my man has administered the chloroform . . .

Mrs Gregg turns to Mr McEvoy.

M
RS
G
REGG
Where is he?

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Mrs Gregg, I dont think he’ll listen. He swore at me.

M
RS
G
REGG
He’ll not at me.

Mrs Gregg turns to Martha McEvoy.

M
RS
G
REGG
Take me to your brother’s room.

Martha leads Mrs Gregg along the hall. She opens the door. Mrs Gregg enters. The boy looks up at her from a small bed. He is pale and angry. She goes directly to the bed and sits down on it. She removes her hat, withdrawing the pins. She lays it by. She looks down at the boy.

M
RS
G
REGG
Robert.

She regards him. He does not answer.

M
RS
G
REGG
Robert, what Dr Perceval says is true. You must have the operation.

R
OBERT
I’d rather to be dead.

M
RS
G
REGG
Life is a precious gift from God. No one has the right. . .

R
OBERT
It's up to him.

She looks at him. She does not understand what he means.

R
OBERT
If God put the rot in it then let it rot off.

M
RS
G
REGG
You dont know what you say. Think of your parents. I lost a son in the war. I know what it is. I’d have wanted him back with no legs.

He does not answer.

M
RS
G
REGG
God does not ask that all the flowers in his garden be perfect. He has a special love for the ones . . .

She does not finish.

R
OBERT
Ones are crippled.

Mrs Gregg looks up at him. She looks down the bed to the shape of his legs under the covers.

M
RS
G
REGG
Have you looked at it?

R
OBERT
Looked at what?

M
RS
G
REGG
Your leg. Have you seen it?

R
OBERT
No. I aint seen it. What do I want to see it for?

His answer is touched with a rising fear and suspicion.

M
RS
G
REGG
Let me see it.

R
OBERT
No.

M
RS
G
REGG
Why not?

R
OBERT
You caint see it. It’s in a cast.

M
RS
G
REGG
No it’s not. That’s a lie. Let me see it.

Robert McEvoy is very much afraid. He shakes his head rapidly from side to side. She takes hold of the bedlinen on the far side of the bed and pulls it back. He half raises up in the bed to stop her.

R
OBERT
No.

She jerks away the covers. He struggles. Her hat is crushed. His legs lie revealed. The injured one is loosely swathed in bandage through which discolored stains have seeped and his whole lower leg and foot are perfectly black. She turns her head aside at the odor. He falls back sobbing. She recovers him and puts her hand to his face.

M
RS
G
REGG
I know it’s very hard. I know. I’ll stay with you.

The kitchen. The doctor and the family waiting. Mrs Gregg enters. The two men rise.

M
RS
G
REGG
Doctor Perceval, I think you may fetch in your assistant now.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Thank you. Thank you very much. Did you want to be driven home?

M
RS
G
REGG
No. I’ll stay. I promised the boy.

The doctor starts for the door.

M
RS
G
REGG
Perhaps Martha would help you with your things. Would you like to help the doctor, Martha?

Martha shrinks. She shakes her head.

D
R
P
ERCEVAL
Perfectly all right. Willis and I can manage.

M
RS
G
REGG
You dont anticipate any complications?

Dr Perceval pauses at the door and turns to look at her.