THE BUND REPERTORY PLATS, No. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND R44 All acting rights are reserved by the author THE DUMB AND THE BLIND A PLAY IN ONE ACT BY HAROLD CHAPIN GOWANS & GRAY, LTD. 5 ROBERT STREET, ADELPHI, LONDON, W.C. 58 CADOGAN STREET, GLASGOW 1914 Produced for the first time on any stage by the Scottish Reper- tory Theatre Company, under the direction of Mr. ALFRED WAREING, at the Royalty Theatre, Glasgow, on Monday, November zvth, 1911, with the following cast : Joe - Mr. FREDERICK LLOYD. Liz - Miss ELSIE DAVISON. Bill Mr. ELIOT MAKEHAM. Emmy - - Miss EUGENIE GRAY. Cast of performance by the "THE PLAYACTORS," Royal Court J^heatre, London, 1912. Joe - Mr. HUBERT WILLIS. Liz - Miss WINIFRED RAE. Bill - Mr. TELFORD HUGHES. Emmy - - Miss IRENE Ross. Cast of Performance under Miss MARIE TEMPEST'S manage- ment, Prince of Waks Theatre, London, 1912. Joe - Mr. W. GRAHAM BROWNE. Liz - Miss ELSIE DAVISON. Bill - - Mr. JOHN ALEXANDER. - Miss BESSIE COURTNEY. 829251 CHARACTERS JOE HENDERSON (of mud-barge 4). Liz (his wife). EMMY (his daughter, aged twelve'). TOM (his son, aged 14 months). BILL PEPPER (also of the mud-barge; his friend). THE DUMB AND THE BLIND SCENE : a top room in a tenement-house in Bermondsey. The door opens on to the landing, across which is the bedroom. Through the open window a large sash-window without curtains can be seen an extensive panorama of smoking chimneys, dirty steeples, and telegraph poles, silhouetted against a sky across which the neutral greys and warmer rose tints of a Spring evening are creeping. Through this window a flood of dusty yellow sunlight illumines most of the room. The large kitchen table covered with a red cloth which stands in the window is full in this light. The linoleum- covered floor reflects it more remotely , and its furthest beams just reach the three rough chairs which are in the course of conversion into a make- shift bed of childish proportions against the watt below the door. Other chairs are at the table : one above, one below, and one beside it facing the window. The fire is burning brightly behind a large three-fold clothes-horse covered with wet linen, which, being semi-transparent, is converted by the flames into a luminous screen of flaming orange which dies to a dull red and leaps again to flame when the fire is replenished. In the shadows on either side of 8 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND the fire are articles of furniture ; a dresser, poorly furnished with crockery but rich in undarned socks, novelettes, etc. ; and an old chest of drawers. A cheap alarum clock, ticking on the mantelpiece and just visible above the clothes-horse, points to some- thing past Jive as the curtain rises, disclosing Mrs. Henderson engaged in hanging the last of the wet linen on the horse, taking it from a zinc bath and wringing it with considerable strength. Mrs. Henderson is a big, capable-looking woman of the labouring class. About thirty-six years of age, she is not uncomely, but equally not a beauty. Her dark hair is twisted into a knot at the back of her head and locked in unostentatious curl-papers around her forehead. She wears a dark skirt and a red blouse, open at the neck, the sleeves being rolled up above her elbows. From somewhere a long way off comes the monotonous reiteration of an incomplete set of chimes : three notes repeated again and again rhythmically and endlessly. Some one in the street below is calling " Any chafss tomerf or bar *ss tomerf ? " at inter- vals of half a minute. His voice is fading away into the distance when a clatter of juvenile boots on the stairs heralds the approach of Emmy Henderson, daughter of the house. The young lady enters swinging her school-bag, and crosses to the table, where she throws it down loudly. She is an ordinary Board School child of eleven or twelve: long black legs, slightly darned, and slightly in need of darning; short black skirt in THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 9 need of lengthening ; and blue blouse. Also pig tai/s, boots, and a sailor hat. She addresses her mother reproachfully. EMMY Nice fing, muvver ! I dunno wot you did wiv vat compoun' multiplication. MRS. HENDERSON {Apprehensively.} Were you kep' in for it ? EMMY (Incensed!) Kep' in?... Didn't you never learn compoun' multiplication, muvver. (Mrs. H. is too busy to reply.} You went to school, didn't you ? MRS. HENDERSON 'F course. EMMY Well, wot did vey learn you ? MRS. HENDERSON Oh... all sorts o' things. EMMY Pity vey didn't learn you compoun' multiplication. MRS. HENDERSON (With sudden authority.} Nah, vat's enough of it. [Emmy is subdued. She opens her satchel and produces an exercise book. Kneeling on io THE DUMB AND THE BLIND chair by table she examines a page. Then, after a moments struggle, curiosity triumphs. EMMY Wot did you try to do wiv it ? MRS. HENDERSON (Evasively!) Oh, I dunno. EMMY (Cuttingly.} No more don't noboddy ! Teacher kep' me arf-an-'our trying to show 'er 'ow I'd done it ; an' ven she kep' me anover 'arf tryin' to show me w'y it was wrong. (Decisively.} I'll tell you wot it is, muvver : you'll 'ave to take Tommy aht yourself of an evening nah I've got into compoun' multi- plication. MRS. HENDERSON (With a slight sigh.} Alright. EMMY (Compassionate but firm.'} Yes, I know you like to get rid of 'im for a bit w'en you've 'ad 'im all day, but I can't trust you wiv me 'ome work like I used to, nah, can I ? MRS. HENDERSON (Regretfully.} No. (She dries her hands on towel at door.} THE DUMB AND THE BLIND n EMMY (Her good nature getting the best of her.} Tell you wot. I'll take Tommy aht on grammar nights. You're alright at parsin'. MRS. HENDERSON Oh, yes. EMMY You used to be alright at arifmetic but you must admit compoun' multiplication MRS. HENDERSON (With another sudden access of authority .} Nah, look 'ere, miss : if you say " compoun' multi- plication" to me again, I'll warm you, so mind. (She attacks the makeshift bed, arranging the chairs and patting up the nondescript mattress. That done, she fetches from the chest of drawers a blanket and sheet.} EMMY (Reading these omens.} Farver's night 'ome ? MRS. HENDERSON (Returning with the bedclothes to the bed.} Friday ; don't you know it is ? EMMY You needn't snap me 'ead off. 'E ain't always 'ome of a Friday. iz THE DUMB AND THE BLIND MRS. HENDERSON Pretty near. EMMY (Still watching the bed-making.} 'E seems to be always comin' 'ome, don't 'e ? MRS. HENDERSON D'you mind ? (A cockney sarcasm, popular with the fair sex.} EMMY Well I don't particularly like sleeping on free chairs. MRS. HENDERSON (For consolation.} It's only for a couple o' nights. EMMY Yes (then remlnlscently} muvver ! Do you remember w'en we J ad 'im 'ome for a 'ole week w'ile ve barge was bein j painted ? MRS. HENDERSON (In exculpation.} Well, 'e 'adn't got nothin' to do then. A man always gets a bit irritable-like w'en 'e ain't got nothin' to occupy 'is mind. EMMY I don't see as 'e's got much to occupy 'is mind muckin' abaht on a mud-barge. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 13 MRS. HENDERSON (Straightening her back.} Nah, Miss 'Igh-an'-Mighti- ness, don't you get turnin' of your nose up at ve barge ; it's kept us for nigh on ten years. EMMY Wiv your bit o* charing. MRS. HENDERSON (At work again.} 'F course. EMMY (After some thought.} Muvver . . . MRS. HENDERSON Wot? EMMY Wot did farver do before 'e started on ve barge ? MRS. HENDERSON E looked for work. EMMY All the time ? MRS. HENDERSON Well, of course, 'e got dis'eartened sometimes w'en I was out of a place and couldn't give 'im nothin' to spend. EMMY (After a sniff".} Muwer. . . i 4 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND MRS. HENDERSON (Parrying further questions.} There's Tommy. EMMY (Holding her ground.) I've got me 'ome-work to do. MRS. HENDERSON 111 EMMY (Warningly .} It's compoun' multiplication. MRS. HENDERSON I'll give you a note to the teacher. EMMY (Shaking her head.} It's a bad 'abit to get into. MRS. HENDERSON (Wearily.} Oh, alright disobliging (moves to- wards door.} EMMY (Jumping down.} No alright, muvver I'll see to 'im for a bit. You'll 'ave to (she finishes the remark from the other side of the door} get me up early in ve morning to do it, vat's all. [Mr/. H. finishes making the bed. From the other room Emmy can be heard talking to the baby, and occasionally calling to her mother across the landing. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 15 EMMY 'Ullo, melord, 'n' how long 'ave you been awake for ? Come on ! (A grunt as she lifts the baby.) There we are ! (Calling.) Muvver ! MRS. HENDERSON Yes? EMMY (Enthusiastically.) Ain't 'is bump gettin' on alright ? Can't 'ardly see it. MRS. HENDERSON Good job for you it is, Miss. Take better care of 'is 'ead another time. Dancin' about. EMMY (Greatly offended.) I wasn't dancin' about. MRS. HENDERSON I suppose the lampost barged into you of itself ? EMMY (Triumphant.) It wasn't a lampost, it was a tram- car, see ? (To the baby.) Nah ven (Calling.) Where's 'is ovver shoe? (To the baby.) W'ere's your ovver shoe, Tommy ? Ain't et it, J ave you ? Oh, 'ere we are. (Pause.) 'Ullo. (Calling.) Muvver ! MRS. HENDERSON Well? 1 6 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND EMMY 'Ere's Farver comin' upstairs. MRS. HENDERSON Oh ven if you'll wait 'arf a minute you can run aht for a pint. \A clumping of heavy feet on the stairs and a rough voice somewhere about the floor below. JOE (Below.) Hullo. EMMY (Just outside door.) Hullo. JOE Wot are you 'avin' a game at ? (Pause.) 'Ullo Tommy ! 'Ullo young feller-me-lad. \Thf heavy feet are ascending the stairs ; two pairs of them. EMMY Say " hullo " to farver, Tommy, 'cos 'e only comes 'ome once a week. JOE Something like, ain't 'e ? \A third voice Bill Peppet's replies. BILL (Off) Not 'arf. [Joe Henderson enters followed by Bill. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 17 Pepper. Both are barge-labourers: heavy- footed, ill-shaven Joe wears a scrubby moustache and roughly dressed in corduroys and heavy coats with red handkerchiefs around their necks. MRS. HENDERSON Hullo. JOE (Not to be outdone in courtesy.} Hullo. (Then after a pause?} I've brought old Bill up ; d'you (He stumbles over the bath on the floor R. C. and instantly is in a temper.} Blast it ! Wot d'yer want to 'ave vat blinkin' fing abaht ve floor for ? MRS. HENDERSON I was wringing JOE I might 'a* broke me bloomin' neck over it. MRS. HENDERSON Well you didn't. JOE Clever, ain't you ? Leavin' fings. Can't you sit dahn, Bill, after those stairs ? BILL Vey are a bit... (Crosses and sits below table.} R45 1 8 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND JOE (Crosses and cuts a piece of bread at table, then sits and starts eating.) Puh ! You've got it 'ot enough in 'ere. MRS. HENDERSON I've 'ad the window open. I 'ad to J ave the fire, to dry by. JOE (Angrily.) Washin' ? MRS. HENDERSON (Nervously.) Yes, Joe. EMMY (Appearing in door.) Can I 'ave 'apenny to spend, muvver ? MRS. HENDERSON (Shocked at the idea.) No ! Wot next ? EMMY Oh muvver just 'apenny, cos MRS. HENDERSON You know perfeckly well as I JOE (Raising his voice above theirs in spite oj the handicap of a mouthful of bread.) Go on ! Give 'er a 'apenny wen she arsts for it. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 19 MRS. HENDERSON (Expostulating.} Joe, 'ow can I JOE Give 'er a 'apenny I say, when I tells you to... And don't answer me back. [Mr/. Henderson with dull obedience obeys, taking from her pocket a purse. JOE (Less loudly.} And send 'er out to get me a drop o' beer. [Mrs. Henderson takes down a jug from dresser. EMMY Nah, you know I can't go into a pub wiv baby, farver. JOE Wot ? W'y not ? EMMY It's agin ve law. BILL (Quietly, but with authority.} Vat's right, Joe. MRS. HENDERSON (In further corroboration.} Yes, vey JOE (Turning on her.} Ven go an' get it yourself. 20 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND MRS. HENDERSON Alright. EMMY Goo'bye. (Turns to go.) MRS. HENDERSON You might fetch ve beer an ven come back for baby EMMY I'm JOE (Loudly.) I tol j you to fetch it, didn't I ? Well ven, go an' do it. [Emmy exits and clatters downstairs. MRS. HENDERSON (Going on to landing and calling after.) Emmy ! (More loudly.) Emmy ! EMMY (Pausing on the floor belotv.) Wot ? MRS. HENDERSON (Just outside door.) Don't go running downstairs so fast wiv baby You'll be catching 'is 'ead in ve bannisters again. EMMY (Scornfully.) Fusspot ! (Clatters en down.) THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 21 MRS. HENDERSON (Rf turning to room.} Vere you are, Joe ! Wot d'you make me give 'er a 'apenny for ? JOE (Aggressively.} 'Cause I chose... see ? I suppose I can give me own kid a 'apenny wen she arsts for it, can't I ? It ain't often I'm 'ome, and I likes to see people lookin' 'appy 'n' glad to see me (pointedly) not grizzlin'. MRS. HENDERSON I ain't grizzlin'. JOE (Loudly.} Yus you are. An' don't answer me back before Bill ! I'm surprised at you. Wot will 'e fink of us? BILL (Politely.} Oh, vat's alright. I've been married mesself ; I knows wot women are. JOE Vey wouldn't be so bad if vey didn't jaw. BILL (Agreeing}. Vat's it ! JOE Did you ever see a couple o' women over a cup o' tea ? Gawd's truff! Clack, clack, clack. 22 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND BILL (Nodding.) Vat's it ! JOE Clack, clack, clack... ve woman nex' door or else runnin' dahn veir 'usbands. BILL Ah! JOE (Turning on his wife again.) Nah, wot about vat beer? MRS. HENDERSON (Who has been quietly making up the fire.) I'm going, Joe. Gimme time to make the fire up. JOE (Grunting scornfully) Make ve fire up. MRS. HENDERSON (With more acerbity.) You don't want to sleep in wet sheets to-night, I suppose. JOE I never see anythink like you ! You've always got fings dry in' wen I come 'ome. Wot's up wiv you ? THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 23 MRS. HENDERSON You wouldn't like to come 'ome to find ve place all dirty, would you, Joe ? JOE Well ven, w'y couldn't you get 'em done early in ve week ? You know puffeckly well as I'd be 'ome o' Friday night. An' 'ere you are a doin' of 'em ve very day I comes 'ome. Aggravator ! MRS. HENDERSON I 'ad a bit o' charing to do yesterday. I'll 'ave 'em all done an' out of ve way before your nex' night 'ome I (She is taking down jug as she speaks.} JOE You won't 'ave ve chance. I'm not goin' away no more. MRS. HENDERSON (Turning, jug in hand.} Wot ? JOE I ain't goin' away with ve barge no more. MRS. HENDERSON (Apprehensively.} Got ve sack ? JOE (Insulted.} Wot d'you mean "Got ve sack?" Vey've put me on ve dredger ; ten bob a week extra an' live at 'ome. 24 THE DUMB AND THE BUND MRS. HENDERSON At 'ome ? JOE Yus, at 'ome...Wot's up wiv you ? MRS. HENDERSON You'll be 'ome all ve week ven ? Every week ? JOE (Sarcastically.} D'you mind ? MRS. HENDERSON I'll (Suddenly opens door and exits, closing it after her.} BILL She don't seem very pleased. JOE (Roughly tolerant.} She's alright. Bit startled, vat's all. She'll 'ave to get used to it. BILL (After a pause, enviously.} Bit o' luck ain't it ? JOE (Unenthusiastically.} It's alright. BILL Ten bob a week more. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 25 JOE Liz'll get that aht o' me some of it wen I'm 'ome all the week. BILL (Azved.) You won't go givin' 'er ve 'ole lot of it ? JOE Ve 'ole ten bob ? Wot do you take me for ? Do you fink I'm goin' to slave me 'eart out on ve blinkin' dredger an' not 'ave a bit for mesself ? Don't be silly. (Changing subject.) Firsty ? BILL (With some satisfaction.') Not bad. JOE So'm I. Jolly 'ot in 'ere, ain't it ? BILL I don't mind it. JOE It's not 'ealthy, you know. (Rises and pulls chair out from table to enable himself to stoop and undo his boots.) Vat's Liz all over ! Goes aht charin' wile I'm away an' messes abaht ve place all ve bloomin' time wen I'm 'ome. Never goes aht, 'ardly, except to get me a drop o' beer. Aggravator ! [There is a moment's pause while Joe removes a boot. 26 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND BILL (Voicing his thoughts.) You 'ave to work jolly 'ard on the dredger. JOE (Unlacing the other boot.') Yes. BILL (Continuing.) All ve time wiv ve foreman watch- ing you. JOE I know. (Straightening his back, and speaking zvith becoming seriousness.) I'm not so sure as I'm really betterin' mesself, you know, Bill. (Pauses, thinking.) Of course, it's ten bob more... but they gets it out of you in work. BILL I expecks vey'd put you back on one of ve ol* barges if you arst 'em to. JOE (Sucking doubtfully on a tooth.) Risky. BILL Risky ? 'Ow ? JOE Make 'em fink as you didn't like work. BILL Ah! THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 27 JOE (Disparagingly.} Vey're like vat. BILL Vat's true. JOE (Returning to his boot.} She's takin' 'er time over vat beer. BILL Far to go for it ? (Rising and looking out of the window.} JOE Just across ve road. BILL Don't see no sign of 'er. Wich pub ? JOE Fird along... not countin' those two opposite. BILL (Crossing room to a small photo of a group hanging on wall below door.} Vis you ? JOE (Looking up.} Wot r Oh vat. Yes wiv Liz. BILL Taken wen you was married ? Plenty of you, ain't vere ? 28 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND JOE Vat's all Liz's family. BILL None o* yours ? JOE (Grimly.} I saw to vat. BILL Oo's vis ? (Appreciatively.') Bit of alright. JOE Vat ? One of Liz's sisters or somethink ; vey all turned up. BILL W'y didn't you marry 'er ? JOE She wasn't respectable. BILL Was you married in church ? JOE Yes. Liz would 'ave it. You know wot women are for a bit o' show. BILL It don't do to give way to 'em. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 29 JOE One 'as to at ve start. Liz said as 'ow she'd be married in church or not at all... BILL You should a' said not at all ven. JOE (Tolerantly.} Oh, I donno... BILL (Still at photo.} Go's vis ? Ol' chap wiv a beard... JOE Liz's farver... worked at a brewery. Were ve blinkin' Sam's vat beer ? BILL She does take 'er time, don't she ? JOE I'd go after 'er only (Divested of his boots he pads softly up to the door and opens if. He is about to step out on to landing when something catches his eye in the room opposite and he stops dead, staring across the landing more in curiosity than surprise.} > Ullo...Wot... ? BILL (Turning.} Wot's up ? 30 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND JOE (Softly.) Come 'ere. BILL (Taking his tone from the other.) Wot is it ? (Mows softly up stage towards door.) JOE (Suddenly changing his mind and closing the door stviftly but silently.) No. . .'arf a mo'. BILL (Stopping, surprised.) Wot's up wiv you ? JOE Nuffin'. (Turns to door, his hand upon the knob, but looks lacks suspiciously at Bill before opening it.) It ain't nuffin', I say. BILL Alright. JOE Ven don't go lookin' over my shoulder. BILL I wasn't. JOE (Pointing to the furthest chair : the one below the table.) Go an' sit over vere. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 31 BILL (Surprised but amiable.} Alright. [Joe watches him to the chair and then quietly opens door again and peers across landing. He holds the door a bare couple of feet open, and, as it opens down stage, nothing can be seen from the audience. After a moment of perfect silence he closes the door softly, ruffling his hair thoughtfully. An idea strikes him. He resumes his chair by the table and calls. JOE (Loudly.) Liz ! BILL (Who has been watching his friend in amazement^) Wot... ain't she gone for it, ven ? JOE She's in ve ovver room. BILL 'Iding ? JOE Shut up. (Calls again.) Liz. \While the name is still on his lips Mrs. Henderson opens the door and stands on the threshold, her hat on and the jug in her hand. 32 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND MRS. HENDERSON (Stopping just inside the door.} I'm just goin' for it, Joe. I 'ad to stop an' put on me 'at. (Turns to go.) JOE Liz. MRS. HENDERSON (Turning obediently.} Wot ? JOE 'Arfamo'. MRS. HENDERSON (Obediently returning to C. of room.} Wot ? JOE (Awkwardly, as he forms a question in his mind.} Liz... wot (Suddenly remembering the presence of his friend.) 'Ere, Bill... oblige me by poppin* aht for vat beer... you don't mind ? BILL (Rising, mystified.} No. JOE I'd go mesself, only I've got me boots off. 'Ere. (Hands over some money.} Get a quart... no 'urry... BILL Alright. (Goes off in dull perplexity.} THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 33 MRS. HENDERSON I 'ope Bill don't mind... JOE (Ignoring her remark.} Liz. MRS. HENDERSON Wot? JOE Wot was you adoin j of? MRS. HENDERSON Wot was I wot ? JOE Wot was you adoin' of? MRS. HENDERSON W'en? JOE Just now. W'en I called you. MRS. HENDERSON Putting me 'at on. JOE No, you wasn't. I opened ve door. MRS. HENDERSON Ve door ? What for ? R 46 34 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND JOE To 'ave a look aht an' see wot 'ad become of you an' vat beer. An' I see you in vere kneelin' wiv your 'ed on ve bed. Wot's up wiv you ? MRS. HENDERSON (Guiltily.} I was sayin' me prayers. JOE Wot? MRS. HENDERSON It don't take... JOE You don't 'ave to say your prayers before fetchin' a drop o' beer, do you ? MRS. HENDERSON (Reproaching the irreverence.} Joe ! JOE Well, wot's up wiv you, ven ? (No answer.} Ain't you well ? MRS. HENDERSON I'm alright. JOE You don't say vem every day, do you ? THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 35 MRS. HENDERSON No, nuffink like. JOE Ven wot...? MRS. HENDERSON I felt I wanted to. JOE Felt you wanted to ? W'y ? MRS. HENDERSON I felt grateful-like vat's all. JOE Felt wot ? MRS. HENDERSON Grateful-like... you know... (Ashamed.) I sort of felt I wanted to (Hesitates.) JOE Well ? MRS. HENDERSON (More and more ashamed.) To sort o' fank Gawd it come over me... JOE Fank Gawd ? Wot for ? 36 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND MRS. HENDERSON Well, because... you... ain't goin' away no more. [Joe is paralysed with amazement and sits staring at her, unable to speak. At last awed he clears his throat. JOE You... (Inadequately?) You're glad, ven ? MRS. HENDERSON It's it's a bit o' company for me JOE Wot ? I am ? Get aht ! (Rises and looks out of window, thinking.'} You don't like me goin' away, ven ? MRS. HENDERSON Well, I missed you sometimes. JOE (Under his breath.} 'Struth ! MRS. HENDERSON You mean you don't miss me ? JOE I donno. I never noticed. MRS. HENDERSON Oh, but you always 'ad something to occupy your mind. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 37 JOE Yes (with afresh thought) Liz. MRS. HENDERSON Wot? JOE You... I mean... It ain't just a 'abit wiv you ? MRS. HENDERSON Wot? JOE Fankin' Gawd for fings. You ain't always adoin* of it ? MRS. HENDERSON No. I just come over JOE D'you believe in Gawd ? MRS, HENDERSON I donno...Yes. JOE (In just the same tone he has been looking out of the window as he spoke.} 'Ere comes ol' Bill wiv ve beer. 38 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND MRS. HENDERSON (Relieved.) I'll put aht ve glasses. [She brings down glasses from the dresser to table. He takes her by the arm and turns her to him. JOE You're quite sure it ain't just a 'abit ? You're really glad as I'm goin' to be 'ome...all ve time ? Spit your oaf? MRS. HENDERSON Of course I'm glad, Joe. Really glad [Bill enters with the beer. BILL (Engrossed In his purchase?) I spilt a bit comin' up ve stairs. Vey're vat dark ! JOE Vat's alright. BILL (Stopping and looking at them suspiciously.) Anything up? JOE No. [Bill returns to his usual chair below the table. Mrs. Henderson has taken the beer from him, and takes it to Joe. THE DUMB AND THE BLIND 39 JOE (Slowly pouring out the beer and passing it to Bill.} D'you believe in Gawd, Bill ? BILL (Vaguely surprised.} Wot ? I donno. Yes, I suppose so. W'y. JOE Nuffin'. After all, it don't signify. (Pushing the jug across.} 'Ere, you pour it out. I don't want none. BILL Wot? JOE I feels a bit 'Ere, 'ave some bread V cheese. BILL Fanks. JOE (After wrestling with his thoughts.} Liz. MRS. HENDERSON Wot? JOE (Laboriously.} I ain't J ome -forever even nah. We I shall 'ave to leave you agin some day. Wot about vat ? You (Turns 40 THE DUMB AND THE BLIND almost with a groan to the table.} Gawd's truth ! Wot are we 'ere for ? BILL (Eating.} I don no. [Emmy clatters in at the door, carrying the my *h> baby, and bubbling over with amazing news. EMMY Mummy, Tommy's seen a black'n'white horse, V an ol' man in a carriage dressed up like a soldier, 'n' a monkey in Jute Street, 'n' [The curtain descends, cutting short her volu- bility ; but not before Joe his face clearing has held out his arms for his baby. Glasgow : Printed at the University Press by Robert MacLehose and Co. Ltd. l