Young Boys, young girls, máire sitting on her own
colm: (the master dancer) we'll have a song. will you sing a song for us máire?
They got up and went to the middle of the stage. He announced aloud now we'll have a song from máire Ní Chathasaigh. What song will you sing máire?
Máire: siúl a ghrá
colm: very well, máire ní Chathasaigh will sing 'siúl a ghrá'
song: siúl a ghrá. While the song is being sung pádraig comes along and laughs with another boy. He stops laughing, steps aside and listens, clapping after the song.
colm: What a singer Máire! That was lovely. Now girls and boys, what will we have?
Young People: dancing, Fallaí Luimní, caidhp an chúil Aird, ionsaí na hinse etc
Colm: ionsaí na hinse it is
The young people go. The only people left on the stage are máire, colm, pádraig, Liam and Beití and the school teacher.
colm: Your not dancing Máire. I'll have to get you a partner. Pádraig come here, this is máire and máire this is Pádraig, the new teacher.
Máire: I know, I saw him today at mass.
Pádraig: You saw me at the old harmonium. Thats how it is with a school teacher isn't it colm? A tutor without achievement in the running of the week. A chaplain without order on a sunday morning.
Colm: and a dance teacher without pay at night! excuse me now. I have to keep an eye on the dancing. Take good care of her Pádraig. She's going to the nuns.
Pádraig: I'll do that. You sung that song lovely
Máire: Thank you
Pádraig: Are you enjoying the night?
Máire: Oh I am, it's great (suddenly) I rarely get to go to a dance but because it was on in the school hall and there was a priest present, my mother let me go.
Pádraig: On your own?
Máire: No with my brother Liam. Look he's there with Beití de Búrca.
Pádraig: You'll have a drink. There's orange juice and lemonade.
Máire: Orange Juice please.
Pádraig: (with another teacher) are you enjoying the night?
M.scoile: I think I am
the teacher leaves. Pádraig comes down with two glasses and they both drink the orange Juice
Pádraig: Máire Ní chathasaigh will you dance with me or do I need permission from your mother? or from your brother Liam?
Máire: You don't but you have to be patient with me. I'm not too good at it, I haven't much experience dancing
Pádraig: A lovely young girl with no experience dancing!
Máire: My mother doesn't allow me go to dances
Pádraig: Is she scared of the wolf's?
Máire: No she think's i'll be a nun
Pádraig: and what do you think?
Máire: I don't know
Pádraig: Ah well! have courage, No one knows what will happen. They are waiting for you
Pádraig and máire leave
Beití: (with Liam) the dancing is starting. Here you go. Beití leaves. Liam is about to carry on until his name is called.
the solicitor and clerk come
Clerk: Liam... Liam
Solicitor: Are you Liam Ó Cathasaigh?
Liam: that's me
Solicitor: are you the brother of the prisinor?
Liam: that's me
Solicitor: are you the oldest brother she has?
Liam: that's me ... but I shouldn't get any of the blame . I had my own company that night. You couldn't be on your heels all the time. I didn't keep her.
Solicitor: That was an excuse of another brother once. He had his own company and didn't know how his sister went home.
Liam: No.
Solicitor 1: She was able to take care of herself you thought?
Liam: she was after leaving school and...
Solicitor: She was able to get from the school hall to her house without anyone looking after her. wasn't that the way it was?
Liam: Yes
Solicitor 1: and it wasn't too late in the night? what time was the dancing finished? was it midnight?
Liam: Dancing in the school hall is it? dancing is finished at 11pm
Solicitor 2: You took your sister to the dance?
Liam: My mother forced me to do it
solicitor 2: You left her then without a partner not knowing what kind of company she'd be left with?
Liam: Don't try and put the blame on me. I don't know what happened that night and I don't want to know.
Beití: (calling at the side of the stage) boys and girls come to the stage and they go to hear 'oíche mhaith agat' goodbye.
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