Home > Authors Index > Eugene O'Neill > Anna Christie > This page
Anna Christie, a play by Eugene O'Neill |
||
Act 4 |
||
< Previous |
Table of content |
|
________________________________________________
_ ACT IV SCENE--Same as Act Three, about nine o'clock of a foggy night two days later. The whistles of steamers in the harbor can be heard. The cabin is lighted by a small lamp on the table. A suitcase stands in the middle of the floor. ANNA is sitting in the rocking-chair. She wears a hat, is all dressed up as in Act One. Her face is pale, looks terribly tired and worn, as if the two days just past had been ones of suffering and sleepless nights. She stares before her despondently, her chin in her hands. There is a timid knock on the door in rear. ANNA jumps to her feet with a startled exclamation and looks toward the door with an expression of mingled hope and fear.
Come in. [Then summoning her courage--more resolutely.] [The door is opened and CHRIS appears in the doorway. He is in a very bleary, bedraggled condition, suffering from the after effects of his drunk. A tin pail full of foaming beer is in his hand. He comes forward, his eyes avoiding ANNA'S. He mutters stupidly.] It's foggy. ANNA So you come back at last, did you? You're a fine looking sight! [Then jeeringly.] CHRIS Don't say dat, Anna, please! [He sits in a chair by the table, setting down ANNA What's the trouble? Feeling sick? CHRIS Inside my head feel sick. ANNA. [Resentfully.] CHRIS Ay'm sorry, Anna. ANNA Sorry! CHRIS. ANNA. CHRIS. [He sees her bag and gives a start] ANNA Yes, I was going right back to what you think. CHRIS. ANNA. CHRIS No, you never do dat, Anna! ANNA Why not, I'd like to know? CHRIS. ANNA Fix what up? CHRIS You vas vaiting, you say? You vasn't vaiting for me, Ay bet. ANNA You'd win. CHRIS ANNA Yes--if you want to know! [Then with a forlorn laugh.] CHRIS. ANNA. CHRIS And Ay'm sorry for you like hell he don't come, Anna! ANNA Seems to me you've changed your tune a lot. CHRIS. [Pleadingly.] ANNA. CHRIS. ANNA CHRIS And you tank--maybe--you forgive me sometime? ANNA I'll forgive you right now. CHRIS Anna lilla! Anna lilla! ANNA Don't bawl about it. There ain't nothing to forgive, anyway. It ain't your fault, and it ain't mine, and it ain't his neither. We're all poor nuts, and things happen, and we yust get mixed in wrong, that's all. CHRIS You say right tang, Anna, py golly! It ain't nobody's fault! [Shaking his fist.] ANNA Gee, won't you ever can that stuff? [CHRIS relapses into injured silence. After a pause ANNA continues curiously.] You said a minute ago you'd fixed something up--about me. What was it? CHRIS Ay'm shipping avay on sea again, Anna. ANNA You're--what? CHRIS. [ANNA stares at him. As he goes on, a bitter smile comes over her face.] Ay tank dat's best tang for you. Ay only bring you bad luck, Ay tank. Ay make your mo'der's life sorry. Ay don't vant make yours dat way, but Ay do yust same. Dat ole davil, sea, she make me Yonah man ain't no good for nobody. And Ay tank now it ain't no use fight with sea. No man dat live going to beat her, py yingo! ANNA So that's how you've fixed me, is it? CHRIS. ANNA But, for Gawd's sake, don't you see, you're doing the same thing you've always done? Don't you see--? [But she sees the look of obsessed stubbornness But what's the use of talking. You ain't right, that's what. I'll never blame you for nothing no more. But how you could figure out that was fixing me--! CHRIS. ANNA Thanks. But I guess I won't be hard up for no small change. CHRIS It ain't much, Ay know, but it's plenty for keep you so you never gat go. ANNA Shut up, will you? We'll talk about it later, see? CHRIS You like Ay go ashore look for dat Irish fallar, Anna? ANNA Not much! Think I want to drag him back? CHRIS Py golly, dat booze don't go veil. Give me fever, Ay tank, Ay feel hot like hell. [He takes off his coat and lets it drop on the floor. There is a loud thud.] ANNA What you got in your pocket, for Pete's sake--a ton of lead? [She reaches down, takes the coat and pulls out a revolver A gun? What were you doing with this? CHRIS Ay forgat. Ain't nutting. Ain't loaded, anyvay. ANNA That ain't telling me why you got it? CHRIS Ay'm ole fool. Ay gat it vhen Ay go ashore first. ANNA Say, you're crazier than I thought. I never dreamt you'd go that far. CHRIS Ay don't. Ay gat better sense right avay. Ay don't never ANNA Well, I'll take care of this for a while, loaded or not. [She puts it in the drawer of table and closes the drawer.] CHRIS Throw it overboard if you vant. Ay don't care, [ANNA takes a magazine from the table. CHRIS hesitates by her chair.] Ve talk again before Ay go, yes? ANNA Where's this ship going to? CHRIS. [He stands hesitatingly--finally blurts out.] ANNA Sure I do. You ain't to blame. You're yust--what you are--like me. CHRIS Den--you lat me kiss you again once? ANNA Sure. No hard feelings. CHRIS Anna lilla! Ay Ay can't say it. Good-night, Anna. ANNA [He picks up the can of beer and goes slowly into the room on left, his shoulders bowed, his head sunk forward dejectedly. He closes the door after him. ANNA turns over the pages of the magazine, trying desperately to banish her thoughts by looking at the pictures. This fails to distract her, and flinging the magazine back on the table, she springs to her feet and walks about the cabin distractedly, clenching and unclenching her hands. She speaks aloud to herself in a tense, trembling voice.] Gawd, I can't stand this much longer! [She laughs helplessly, then checks herself abruptly, as she hears the sound of heavy footsteps on the deck outside. She appears to recognize these and her face lights up with joy. She gasps:] Mat! [A strange terror seems suddenly to seize her. She rushes to the table, takes the revolver out of drawer and crouches down in the corner, left, behind the cupboard. A moment later the door is flung open and MAT BURKE appears in the doorway. He is in bad shape--his clothes torn and dirty, covered with sawdust as if he had been grovelling or sleeping on barroom floors. There is a red bruise on his forehead over one of his eyes, another over one cheekbone, his knuckles are skinned and raw--plain evidence of the fighting he has been through on his "bat." His eyes are bloodshot and heavy-lidded, his face has a bloated look. But beyond these appearances--the results of heavy drinking--there is an expression in his eyes of wild mental turmoil, of impotent animal rage baffled by its own abject misery.] BURKE Let you not be hiding from me, whoever's here--though 'tis well you know I'd have a right to come back and murder you. [He stops to listen. Hearing no sound, he closes the door behind him and comes forward to the table. He throws himself into the rocking-chair--despondently.] There's no one here, I'm thinking, and 'tis a great fool I am to be coming. [With a sort of dumb, uncomprehending anguish.] [ANNA stands up, hesitating, struggling between joy and fear. BURKE'S eyes fall on ANNA'S bag. He leans over to examine it.] [Joyfully.] [Darkly.] [His face suddenly convulsed with grief and rage.] [Raging.] [ANNA starts, her face grows hard. She steps into the room, ANNA What are you doing here? BURKE Glory be to God! [They remain motionless and silent for a moment, holding each other's eyes.] ANNA Well, can't you talk? BURKE You've a year's growth scared out of me, coming ANNA. BURKE Oh, nothing much. I was wanting to have a last word with you, that's all. [He moves a step toward her.] ANNA Careful now! Don't try getting too close. BURKE Is it murdering me you'd be now, God forgive you? [Then with a contemptuous laugh.] [He walks straight for her.] ANNA Look out, I tell you! BURKE Let you shoot, then! [Then with sudden wild grief.] ANNA What d'you want coming here? Why don't you beat it? Go on! [She passes him and sinks down in the rocking-chair.] BURKE 'Tis right you'd be asking why did I come. [Then angrily.] ANNA You look like you ought to be put away some place. Wonder BURKE. [Fiercely.] ANNA Thanks! BURKE That's right, make game of me! Oh, I'm a great coward surely, ANNA. BURKE You to be what you are, and me to be Mat Burke, and me ANNA Then get out. No one's holding you! BURKE And me to listen to that talk from a woman like you and be frightened to close her mouth with a slap! Oh, God help me, I'm a yellow coward for all men to spit at! [Then furiously] [Raising his fist threateningly] [Letting his fist fall helplessly] [Suddenly bending down to her and grasping her arm intensely] ANNA A lie? What? BURKE All the badness you told me two days back. Sure it must be a lie! You was only making game of me, wasn't you? Tell me 'twas a lie, Anna, and I'll be saying prayers of thanks on my two knees to the Almighty God! ANNA I can't. Mat. [As he turns away--imploringly.] BURKE God's curse on you! ANNA. [She takes the ticket from her dress and tries to hold it before his eyes.] But I got to thinking about you--and I couldn't take the train--I couldn't! So I come back here--to wait some more. Oh, Mat, don't you see I've changed? Can't you forgive what's dead and gone--and forget it? BURKE Forget, is it? I'll not forget 'til my dying day, [In a frenzy.] ANNA Mat! [Then after a pause--in a voice of dead, stony calm.] BURKE And what'll you be doing? ANNA. BURKE. ANNA My bag's packed and I got my ticket. I'll go to New York to-morrow. BURKE You mean--you'll be doing the same again? ANNA Yes. BURKE You'll not! Don't torment me with that talk! ANNA Oh, for Gawd's sake, Mat, leave me alone! Go away! BURKE And don't you deserve the worst I'd say, God forgive you? ANNA. BURKE. ANNA What--then you're going--honest? BURKE. ANNA. BURKE. ANNA Cape Town? Where's that. Far away? BURKE. ANNA You're keeping your word all right, ain't you? [After a slight pause--curiously.] BURKE. ANNA The Londonderry! It's the same--Oh, this is too much! [With wild, ironical laughter.] BURKE. ANNA. BURKE Laughing at what? ANNA. [Controlling herself--after a pause--cynically.] BURKE. ANNA. BURKE I'll not, then! God mend you, is it making me out to be the like of yourself you are, and you taking up with this one and that all the years of your life? ANNA Yes, that's yust what I do mean! You been doing the same thing all your life, picking up a new girl in every port. How're you any better than I was? BURKE Is it no shame you have at all? I'm a fool to be [He starts for the door--then stops to turn on her furiously] And I suppose 'tis the same lies you ANNA That's a lie! I never did! BURKE You'd be saying that, anyway. ANNA Are you trying to accuse me--of being in love--really in love--with them? BURKE. ANNA You mutt, you! I've stood enough from you. Don't you dare. [With scornful bitterness.] [Savagely.] BURKE If I could only be believing you now! ANNA Oh, what's the use? [Pleadingly.] [On the point of tears.] BURKE If I was believing--that you'd never had love for any ANNA Mat! BURKE If 'tis truth you're after telling, I'd have a right, maybe, to believe you'd changed--and that I'd changed you myself 'til the thing you'd been all your life wouldn't be you any more at all. ANNA Oh, Mat! That's what I been trying to tell you all along! BURKE For I've a power of strength in me to lead men the way I want, and women, too, maybe, and I'm thinking I'd change you to a new woman entirely, so I'd never know, or you either, what kind of woman you'd been in the past at all. ANNA. BURKE. ANNA You got to believe it. Mat! What can I do? BURKE Would you be willing to swear an oath, now--a terrible, ANNA Sure, I'll swear, Mat--on anything! BURKE Will you swear on this? ANNA Yes. Sure I will. Give it to me. BURKE 'Tis a cross was given me by my mother, God rest her soul. [He makes the sign of the cross mechanically.] [Very earnestly.] ANNA I wouldn't have the nerve--honest--if it was a lie. BURKE Be careful what you'd swear, I'm saying. ANNA Well--what do you want me to swear? You say it. BURKE. ANNA I swear it. BURKE. ANNA I swear it! I swear it by God! BURKE. ANNA. BURKE Oh, glory be to God, I'm after believing you now! [He takes the cross from her hand, his face beaming with joy, and puts it back in his pocket. He puts his arm about her waist and is about to kiss her when he stops, appalled by some terrible doubt.] ANNA What's the matter with you? BURKE Is it Catholic ye are? ANNA No. Why? BURKE Oh, God, help me! [With a dark glance of suspicion at her.] ANNA Oh, Mat, don't you believe me? BURKE If it isn't a Catholic you are-- ANNA. BURKE Oh, I'd a right to stay away from you--but I couldn't! I was loving you in spite of it all and wanting to be with you, God forgive me, no matter what you are. I'd go mad if I'd not have you! I'd be killing the world --[He seizes her in his arms and kisses her fiercely.] ANNA Mat! BURKE If your oath is no proper oath at all, I'll have to be taking your naked word for it and have you anyway, I'm thinking--I'm needing you that bad! ANNA Mat! I swore, didn't I? BURKE Oath or no oath, 'tis no matter. We'll be [Still more defiantly.] [He crushes her to him and kisses her again. The door on the left is pushed open and CHRIS appears in the doorway. He stands blinking at them. At first the old expression of hatred of BURKE comes into his eyes instinctively. Then a look of resignation and relief takes its place. His face lights up with a sudden happy thought. He turns back into the bedroom--reappears immediately with the tin can of beer in his hand grinning.] CHRIS. [They break away from each other with startled exclamations.] BURKE God stiffen it! [He takes a step toward CHRIS threateningly.] ANNA That's the way to talk! [With a laugh.] BURKE Shipmates--Has himself-- CHRIS Ay vas bo'sun on her. BURKE. [Then angrily.] ANNA It's all right, Mat. That's where he belongs, [With a laugh, as she gets the glasses.] [Pouring out their glasses.] BURKE Sure! [Clinking his glass against CHRIS'.] CHRIS [He drinks.] BURKE You'll not be lonesome long. I'll see to that, with the help of God. 'Tis himself here will be having a grandchild to ride on his foot, I'm telling you! ANNA Quit the kidding, now. [She picks up her bag and goes into the room on left. As soon as she is gone BURKE relapses into an attitude of gloomy thought. CHRIS stares at his beer absent-mindedly. Finally BURKE turns on him.] BURKE. CHRIS Vhy yes. Ve vas Lutheran in ole country. BURKE Luthers, is it? [Then with a grim resignation, slowly, aloud to himself.] CHRIS It's funny. It's queer, yes--you and me shipping on same boat dat vay. It ain't right. Ay don't know--it's dat funny vay ole davil sea do her vorst dirty tricks, yes. It's so. [He gets up and goes back and, BURKE I'm fearing maybe you have the right of it for once, divil take you. ANNA Gee, Mat, you ain't agreeing with him, are you? [She comes forward and puts her arm about Aw say, what's the matter? Cut out the gloom. [Pours out more beer into his glass and fills Come on! Here's to the sea, no matter what! [She gulps down her glass. Burke banishes his superstitious CHRIS Fog, fog, fog, all bloody time. You can't see vhere [The two stare at him. From the harbor comes
[THE END] _ |