The Field by John B. Keane Page A

you.
    Bull: I’m telling you now for the last time … turn around and go home!
    [William pauses, undecided. Bull flexes the ashplant in his hand]
    William: I’m legally entitled to look at this field.
    Bull: I want your solemn oath that you’ll leave Carraigthomond first thing in the morning and never set foot here again. Your solemn oath!
    William: Don’t you threaten me!
    Bull: You’ll do as you’re told or your wife won’t know you when she sees you again … an’ I’m not foolin’ you, boy!
    William: For God’s sake, get out of my way.
    [He endeavours to advance but the Bull draws a sweeping blow with his ashplant which William narrowly avoids]
    William: Hey, that’s dangerous!
    Bull: Your solemn oath! Come on, your solemn oath that you’ll quit Carraigthomond and never come back.
    William: Come on, have a bit of sense.
    [He tries to advance again but the Bull repels him with the stick. Then the Bull drops the stick]
    Bull: Come on! Pass us, if you’re able!
    [Behind him silently, Tadhg emerges from the darkness]
    Bull: [To William] Come on, if you fancy yourself.
    William: You won’t goad me into assaulting you. A good night’s sleep and you might see things a little clearer.
    [William attempts to pass Bull but Tadhg jumps on him from behind, hits him on back of head and knocks him to ground]
    Bull: Hold on to him!
    [Tadhg holds William’s arms and Bull hits him heavily, skilfully, three or four times. William breaks from them, weakly desperate, but Tadhg grabs him by the legs and brings him to the ground again. Bull grabs his stick and beats William across the back and head. William’s screaming dies out. Tadhg pulls William up as the Bull stops beating him with his stick and gives William the knee. William falls helplessly. Bird rushes to Tadhg]
    Bird: In the name of God, stop! … stop! … or you’ll do for him.
    [Tadhg throws Bird aside and gets in a crucial kick at William’s head]
    Bull: Stop it! … Stop it! That’s enough. We only want to frighten him.
    Tadhg: That’s what he wanted, wasn’t it?
    Bull: [Pulling him away] Now, if there’s any questions about this, where were we tonight? What were we doing? … We were in the pub, the three of us. ’Tis ag’in the law but ’tis a sound excuse. Agreed? All to be on the one word. Come on now across the fields. That way we won’t be seen … Move!
    Bird: You’re after going too far. I don’t like the look of him.
    Bull: Get back to the pub!
    [The Bull pushes them off an turns to look down at William]
    Bull: Why couldn’t you stay away, you foolish boy? Look at the trouble you drew on yourself, you headstrong foolish boy, with your wife and family depending on you … Jesus Christ –
    [He kneels and examines William. He is suddenly aware that William is dead. He looks desperately around, then rises and remains looking down at William. He then suddenly kneels and takes William’s head in his lap and whispers an act of contrition. Looks around him and disappears into the night]
Scene 2
    [Leamy and Maimie preparing to leave for Mass]
    Maimie: Put their scarves and hats on, Aoife.
    Aoife: [Offstage] Give me your hand. Off you go, wait for me at the corner.
    Leamy: Has the bishop spoken here before?
    Maimie: I can’t remember. Your father would know.
    Leamy: Muddy …?
    Maimie: Yes, love?
    Leamy: Muddy, why are the Bull McCabe and Tadhg and my father and the Sergeant such bullies?
    Maimie: The McCabes are bullies. Your father isn’t a real bully and the Sergeant isn’t a real bully.
    Leamy: Oh, but they are!
    Maimie: Aoife, take the girls to Mass.
    Leamy: Do you remember the day of the big hurling match, when the Blezzop brothers nearly beat the man to death …
    Maimie: Yes.
    Leamy: Well, afterwards they came into the pub and my father served them with drinks. He started praising them and telling them