Read Brian Friel Plays 1 for Free Online

I’ll get it. Besides, ( With dignity ) I have a – a-a source of income that he knows nothing about – that nobody knows nothing about – knows anything about.
    KATE : ( With joy ) Investments? Like Daddy?
    PUBLIC : Well … sort of … ( Quickly ) You know when I go round the country every Tuesday and Thursday in the lorry?
    KATE : Yes?
    PUBLIC : Well, I buy eggs direct from the farms and sell them privately to McLaughlin’s Hotel – ( Winks ) – for a handsome profit – ( Quickly ) – but he knows nothing about it.
    KATE : And how much do you make?
    PUBLIC : It varies – depending on the time of year.
    KATE : Roughly.
    PUBLIC : Oh, anything from 12s 6d to £1.
    KATE : Every Tuesday and Thursday?
    PUBLIC : Every month. ( Grabs her again .) God, Kate, I can’t even wait till Christmas!
    KATE : Shhhh.
    PUBLIC : But I can’t. We’ll have to get married sooner – next month – next week–
    PRIVATE : Steady, steady….
    PUBLIC : Kate … my sweet Katie … my darling Kathy …
    ( They kiss. Suddenly KATE breaks off. Her voice is urgent. )
    KATE : We’ll go now, rightaway, and tell them.
    PUBLIC : Who?
    KATE : Mammy and Daddy. They’re at home tonight.
    ( She catches his arm and pulls him towards the left. )
    Come on. Quickly. Now, Gar, now.
    PUBLIC : ( Adjusting his tie ) God, Kathy, I’m in no – look at the shoes – the trousers–
    KATE : What matter. It must be now, Gar, now!
    PUBLIC : What – what – what’ll I say?
    KATE : That you want their permission to marry me next week.
    PUBLIC : God, they’ll wipe the bloody floor with me!
    KATE : Gar!
    ( She kisses him passionately, quickly, then breaks off and goes .)
    ( Stage right, now lit. A room in Doogan’s house. )
    PUBLIC : God, my legs are trembling! Kathy …
    KATE : Anybody at home? Mammy! Daddy!
    ( PUBLIC hesitates before entering DOOGAN ’ s house. PRIVATE is at his elbow, prompting him desperately. )
    PRIVATE : Mr Doogan – Senator Doogan – I want to ask your permission … O my God! …
    KATE : Yo-ho!
    PRIVATE : Mrs Doogan, Kate and I have to get married rightaway – Cripes, no! –
    KATE : Where is everybody! Yo-ho-yo-ho!
    PRIVATE : If the boys could see you now!
    ( KATE comes back to him, gives him a quick kiss on the cheek. )
    KATE : Don’t look so miserable. Here … ( Fixes his tie ).
    PUBLIC : Kathy, maybe we should wait until – until – until next Sunday–
    KATE : ( Earnestly ) Remember, it’s up to you, entirely up to you.
    DOOGAN : ( Off ) That you, Kate?
    KATE : ( Rapidly ) You have £20 a week and £5,000 in the bank and your father’s about to retire. ( Turning and smiling at DOOGAN who has now entered. )Just Gar and I, Daddy. ( DOOGAN , Lawyer, Senator, middle forties. )
    DOOGAN : Hello, Gareth. You’re a stranger.
    PRIVATE : Speak, you dummy you!
    KATE : ( Filling in ) Where’s Mammy?
    DOOGAN : She’s watching TV. ( To GAR .) And how are things with you, Gareth?
    PUBLIC : Mr Doogan, I want–
    PRIVATE : Go on.
    PUBLIC : I won’t be staying long.
    DOOGAN : ( To KATE ) Francis arrived when you were out. Took a few days off and decided to come north.
    PRIVATE : Cripes!
    KATE : He – he’s – he’s here – now?
    DOOGAN : Inside with your mother. Ask them to join us, will you?
    ( KATE gives PUBLIC a last significant look. )
    KATE : You talk to Daddy, Gar.
    PRIVATE : God, I will, I will.
    ( KATE goes off right. )
    DOOGAN : You’ve met Francis King, haven’t you, Gareth?
    PUBLIC : Yes – yes –
    PRIVATE : King of the bloody fairies!
    DOOGAN : We don’t want to raise Kate’s hopes unduly, butstrictly between ourselves there’s a good chance that he’ll get the new dispensary job here.
    PUBLIC : Kate’s hopes?
    DOOGAN : Didn’t she tell you? No, I can see she didn’t. Of course there’s nothing official yet; not even what you might call an understanding. But if this post does fall into his lap, well, her mother and I … let’s say we’re living in hope. A fine boy, Francis; and we’ve known the Kings,