Books: Night Must Fall
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Williams, Emlyn >> Night Must Fall
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MRS. TERENCE (_surprised_): _You_ going out?
DORA: Oh?
DAN (_in the hall, putting on hat and mackintosh_): Yes. I still
feel a bit funny.
MRS. TERENCE: But you can't leave 'er 'ere by herself!
DORA: She'll scream the place down!
DAN (_over-explanatory_): I asked her, this very minute, and she
don't seem to mind. You know what she is. Said it'd do me good, and
won't hear of me stayin'. It's no good arguin' with her.
DORA _puts the chocolates down on the occasional table. She and_
MRS. TERENCE _follow_ DAN _into the hall._
DORA: No good arguin' with her--don't I know it!
MRS. TERENCE: You 'ave a nice long walk while you get the chance; you
wait on 'er too much.... (_Closing the plush curtains so that they
are all out of sight_) Ooh, ain't it dark.... Got the torch, Dora?
DORA: O.K., honey.
MRS. TERENCE: Laws, I'd be frightened goin' off by meself.... Well,
we'd best 'urry, Dora.... Good night, Dan. Pity you aren't comin' our
way---DAN'S VOICE: See you in the morning! Good night!
DORA'S VOICE: O.K.!... Toodle-oo!
_The door bangs. A pause._
DAN'S VOICE (_outside the left window_): Good night!
MRS. TERENCE'S VOICE (_outside the right window_): Good night!
DORA (_same_): Good night!
_Silence._
MRS. TERENCE (_farther away_): Good night!
DORA (_same_): Good night!
MRS. BRAMSON _comes trundling back from the bedroom in her chair._
MRS. BRAMSON: Good night here, good night there; anybody'd think it was
the night before Judgment Day. What's the matter with ... (_Seeing
the room is empty_) Talking to myself. Wish people wouldn't walk out
of rooms and leave me high and dry. Don't like it. (_She wheels
herself round to the table. A pause. She looks round impatiently._)
Where's my chocolates?...
_She looks round again, gets up out of her chair for the first time
in the play, walks quite normally across the room to the mantelpiece,
sees her chocolates are not there, walks up to the occasional table,
and takes up the box._
That girl's been at them again....
_She walks back to her chair, carrying the chocolates, and sits in it
again. She begins to munch. She suddenly stops, as if she has heard
something._
What's that?...
_She listens again. A cry is heard far away._
Oh, God ... Danny!
_The cry is repeated._
Danny!
_The cry is heard a third time._
It's an owl ... Oh, Lord!
_She falls back in relief, and eats another chocolate. The clock
strikes the half-hour. Silence. The silence gets on her nerves.
(After a pause, calling softly_) Danny!... (_As there is no
answer_) What's the boy doing in that kitchen?
_She takes up the newspaper, sees a headline, and puts it down
hastily. She sees the Bible on the table, opens it, and turns over
pages.
(After a pause, suddenly_) I've got the jitters. I've got the
jitters. I've got the jitters.... (_Calling loudly_) Danny!
_She waits; there is complete silence. She rises, walks over to the
kitchen door, and flings it wide open.
(Shouting_) Danny! (_No reply._) He's gone ... They've all gone
... They've left me ... (_Losing control, beating her hands wildly on
her Bible_) Oh, Lord, help a poor old woman ... They've left me!
(_Tottering to the sun-room_) Danny ... where are you?... Danny
... I'm going to be murdered ... I'm going to be murdered!... Danny ...
(_Her voice rising, until she is shrieking hysterically_) Danny!
Danny! Danny!
_She stops suddenly. Footsteps on the gravel outside the front door.
(In a strangled whisper_) There's something outside ... something
outside ... Oh, heavens ...
(_Staggering across to the sofa_) Danny, where are you? Where are
you? There's something outs--
_The front door bangs. She collapses on the sofa, terrified, her
enormous Bible clasped to her breast._
Oh, Lord, help me ... help me ... Oh, Lord, help me ... (_Muttering,
her eyes closed_) ... Forgive us our trespasses ...
_The curtains are suddenly parted. It is_ DAN, _a cigarette
between his lips. He stands motionless, his feet planted apart, holding
the curtains. There is murder in his face. She is afraid to look, but
is forced to at last._
Danny ... Oh ... Oh ...
DAN (_smiling, suddenly normal and reassuring_): That's all right
... It's only Danny ...
MRS. BRAMSON: Thank God ... (_Going off into laughing hysterics_)
Ah ... ah ... ah ...
DAN _throws his cigarette away, lays his hat on the occasional table,
throws his mackintosh on the left window-seat, and sits beside her,
patting her, looking round to see no one has heard her cries._
I'll never forgive you, never. Oh, my heart ... Oh--oh--oh---
_He runs across to the medicine cupboard and brings back a brandy
bottle and two glasses._
DAN: Now have a drop of this ... (_As she winces at the taste_) Go
on, do you good ... (_As she drinks_) I am sorry, I am really ...
You see, they wanted me to see them to the main path, past the rubbish-
heap, see, in case they was frightened. ... Now that's better, isn't
it?
_They are seated side by side on the sofa._
MRS. BRAMSON: I don't know yet ... Give me some more....
_He pours one out for her, and for himself. They drink._
All alone, I was ... (_Her face puckering with self pity_) Just an
old woman calling for help ... (_her voice breaking_) ... and no
answer....
DAN (_putting the bottle on the floor beside him_): Poor old mum,
runnin' about lookin' for Danny----
MRS. BRAMSON (_sharply_): I wasn't running about as much as all
that ... Oh, the relief when I saw your face----
DAN: I bet you wasn't half glad, eh?
MRS. BRAMSON: You're the only one that understands me, Danny, that's
what you are----
DAN (_patting her_): That's right----
MRS. BRAMSON: I don't have to tell you everything I've been through. I
don't have to tell you about my husband, how unkind and ungodly he
was--I wouldn't have minded so much him being ungodly, but oh, he
_was_ unkind ... (_Sipping_) And I don't have to tell _you_ how
unkind he was. You know. You just know ... whatever else I've not
been, I was _always_ a great one on psychology.
DAN: You was. (_He takes her glass and fills it again and his
own._)
MRS. BRAMSON: I'm glad those other people have gone. Awful screeching
common women. Answer back, answer back, answer back.... Isn't it time
for my medicine?
_He hands her glass back. They both drink._ DAN _sits smiling
and nodding at her._
That day you said to me about me reminding you of your mother.... (DAN
_slowly begins to roll up his sleeves a little way._) These poets
and rubbishy people can think all they like about their verses and
sonnets and such--that girl Olivia writes sonnets--would you believe
it--
DAN: Fancy.
MRS. BRAMSON: They can think all they like, that was a beautiful
thought. (_Her arm on his shoulder_) And when you think you're
just an ignorant boy, it's ... it's startling.
DAN (_with a loud laugh_): That's right.
MRS. BRAMSON: I'll never forget that. Not as long as I live ...
(_Trying to stem her tears_) I want a chocolate now.
DAN: Right you are!... (_Placing her glass and his own on the floor,
and walking briskly to the table_) A nice one with a soft centre,
the kind you like.... Why, here's one straight away.... (_He walks
slowly to the back of the sofa. In a level voice_) Now shut your
eyes ... open your mouth ...
MRS. BRAMSON (_purring_): Oh, Danny.... You're the only one ...
_She shuts her eyes. He stands behind her, and puts the chocolate
into her mouth. His fingers close slowly and involuntarily over her
neck: she feels his touch, and draws both his hands down, giggling, so
that his face almost touches hers._
(_Maudlin_) What strong hands they are.... You're a pet, my little
chubby-face, my baby-face, my Danny.... Am I in a draught?
_A pause._ DAN _draws his hands slowly away, walks to the back,
and shuts the plush curtains._
I've got to take care of myself, haven't I?
DAN (_turning slowly and looking at her_): You have.
_He picks up the paraffin can briskly and goes towards the
kitchen._
MRS. BRAMSON: What are you--
DAN: Only takin' the paraffin tin in the kitchen.
_He goes into the kitchen._
MRS. BRAMSON (_half to herself_): That girl should have carried it
in. Anything to annoy me. Tomorrow--(_Turning and seeing that he is
gone_) Danny! (_Shrieking suddenly_) Danny!
DAN _runs back from the kitchen._
DAN: What's the matter?
_He looks hastily towards the hall to see no one has heard._
MRS. BRAMSON: Oh, dear, I thought--
DAN (_sitting on the back of the sofa_): I was only putting the
paraffin away. Now--(_He leans over the sofa, and raises his arm
slowly._)
MRS. BRAMSON (_putting her hand on his arm_): I think I'll go to
bed now.
DAN (_after a pause, dropping his arm_): O.K.
MRS. BRAMSON: And I'll have my supper-tray in my room.
(_Petulantly_) Get me back into my chair, dear, will you?
DAN (_jerkily_): O.K....
_He crosses to the invalid-chair._
MRS. BRAMSON: Has she put the glass by the bed for my teeth?
DAN (_bringing over the chair_): I put it there myself.
_He helps her into the chair and pulls it over towards the
bedroom._
MRS. BRAMSON (_suddenly, in the middle of the room_): I want to be
read to now.
DAN (_after a pause of indecision_): O.K. (_Clapping his hands
effusively_) What'll you have? The old _East Lynne_?
MRS. BRAMSON: No, I don't feel like anything sentimental to-night....
DAN (_looking towards the desk_): What'll you have, then?
MRS. BRAMSON: I think I'd like the Bible.
_A pause. He looks at her._
DAN: O.K.
MRS. BRAMSON (_as he goes smartly to the sofa, fetches the Bible,
pulls up a chair to the right of her, sits, and looks for the
place_): That piece you were reading.... It's Sunday.... Isn't that
nice ... all the aches and pains quiet for once ... pretty peaceful....
DAN (_reading_): "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the
counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth
in the seat of the scornful...."
MRS. BRAMSON (_drowsily_): You read so nicely, Danny.
DAN: Very kind of you, my lady. (_Reading a little breathlessly_)
"But his delight is in the Law of the Lord; and in His law doth he
meditate day and night--"
MRS. BRAMSON: Sh!
DAN: What?
MRS. BRAMSON: What's that?
DAN: Can you hear something?
MRS. BRAMSON: Yes! A sort of--thumping noise....
_She looks at him suddenly, leans forward, and puts her right hand
inside his jacket._
Why, Danny, it's you! It's your heart ... beating!
_He laughs_.
Well! Are you all right, dear?
DAN: Fine. I been running along the path, see.... (_Garrulously_)
I been out of training, I suppose; when I was at sea I never missed a
day running round the decks, o' course....
MRS. BRAMSON (_sleepily_): Of course.
DAN (_speaking quickly, as if eager to conjure up a vision_): I
remember those mornings--on some sea--very misty pale it is, with the
sun like breathing silver where he's comin' up across the water, but
not blowing on the sea at all ... and the sea-gulls standing on the
deck-rail looking at themselves in the water on the deck, and only me
about and nothing else ...
MRS. BRAMSON (_nodding sleepily_): Yes ...
DAN: And the sun. Just me and the sun.
MRS. BRAMSON (_nodding_): There's no sun now, dear; it's night!
_A pause. He drums his fingers on the Bible._
DAN: Yes ... it's night now. (_Reading, feverishly_) "The ungodly
are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away----"
MRS. BRAMSON: I think I'll go to bye-byes.... We'll have the rest
to-morrow, shall we? (_Testily_) Help me, dear, help me, you know
what I am----
DAN (_drumming his fingers: suddenly, urgently_): Wait a minute ...
I--I've only got two more verses----
MRS. BRAMSON: Hurry it up, dear. I don't want to wake up in the morning
with a nasty cold.
DAN (_reading slowly_): "... Therefore the ungodly shall not stand
in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous....
For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous ... But the way of the
ungodly ... shall perish ..."
_A pause. He shuts the Bible loudly, and lays it on the table._
MRS. BRAMSON _can hardly keep awake._
That's the end.
MRS. BRAMSON: Is it?... Ah, well, it's been a long day----
DAN: Are you quite comfortable?
MRS. BRAMSON: A bit achy. Glad to get to bed. Hope that woman's put my
bottle in all right. Bet she hasn't----
DAN: Sure you're comfortable? Wouldn't you like a cushion back of your
head?
MRS. BRAMSON: No, dear, just wheel me----
DAN (_rising_): I think you'll be more comfortable with a cushion.
(_Rising, humming_) "I'm a pretty little feller, everybody knows ...
dunno what to call me ..."
_He goes deliberately across, humming, and picks up a large black
cushion from the sofa. His hands close on the cushion, and he stands
silent a moment. He moves slowly back to the other side of her; he
stands looking at her, his back three-quarters to the audience and his
face hidden: he is holding the cushion in both hands._
MRS. BRAMSON _shakes herself out of sleep and looks at him._
MRS. BRAMSON: What a funny look on your face, dear. Smiling like
that.... (_Foolishly_) You look so kind ...
_He begins to raise the cushion slowly._
So kind ... (_Absently_) What are you going to do with that
cushion?...
_The lights dim gradually into complete darkness, and the music grows
into a thunderous crescendo._
SCENE II
_The music plays a few bars, then dies down proportionately as the
lights come up again.
Half an hour later. The scene is the same, with the same lighting; the
room is empty and the wheel-chair has been removed._
DAN _comes in from the sun-room, smoking the stub of a cigarette. He
crosses smartly, takes the bottle and glasses from the floor by the
sofa and places them on the table, pours himself a quick drink, places
the bottle on the floor next the desk, throws away his stub, takes
another cigarette from his pocket, puts it in his mouth, takes out a
box of matches, and lights a match. The clock chimes. He looks at it,
seems to make a decision, blows out the match, throws the matchbox on
the table, takes_ MRS. BRAMSON'S _tape and keys from his trouser
pocket, crosses quickly to the safe by the fireplace, opens it, takes
out the cash-box, sits on the sofa, unlocks the cash-box, stuffs the
keys back into his trousers, opens the cash-box, takes out the notes,
looks at them, delighted, stuffs them into his pocket, hurries into the
sun-room, returns a second later with the empty invalid chair, plants
it in the middle of the room, picks up the cushion from the floor above
the table, looks at it a moment, arrested, throws it callously on the
invalid chair, hurries into the kitchen, returns immediately with the
paraffin, sprinkles it freely over the invalid chair, places the can
under the table, lifts the paraffin lamp from the table, and is just
about to smash it over the invalid chair when there is the sound of a
chair falling over in the sun-room. His face inscrutable, he looks
towards it. He carries the lamp stealthily to the desk, puts it down,
looks round, picks a chair from near the table, and stands at the
sun-room door with the chair held high above his head.
The stagger of footsteps;_ OLIVIA _stands in the doorway to the
sun-room. She has been running through the forest; her clothes are
wild, her hair has fallen about her shoulders, and she is no longer
wearing her spectacles. She looks nearly beautiful. Her manner is
quiet, almost dazed. He lowers the chair slowly and sits on the other
side of the table. A pause._
OLIVIA: I've never seen a dead body before.... I climbed through the
window and nearly fell over it. Like a sack of potatoes, or something.
I thought it was, at first.... And that's murder.
_As he looks up at her._
But it's so ordinary.... I came back ...
_As he lights his cigarette._
... expecting ... ha (_laughing hysterically_) ... I don't know
... and here I find you, smoking a cigarette ... you might have been
tidying the room for the night. It's so ... ordinary.... (_After a
pause, with a cry_) Why don't you _say_ something!
DAN: I thought you were goin' to stay the night at that feller's.
OLIVIA: I was.
DAN: What d'you come back for?
OLIVIA (_the words pouring out_): To find you out. You've kept me
guessing for a fortnight. Guessing hard. I very nearly knew, all the
time. But not quite. And now I do know.
DAN: Why was you so keen on finding me out?
OLIVIA (_vehemently, coming to the table_): In the same way any
sane, decent-minded human being would want--would want to have you
arrested for the monster you are!
DAN (_quietly_): What d'you come back for?
OLIVIA: I ... I've told you....
_He smiles at her slowly and shakes his head. She sits at the table
and closes her eyes._
I got as far as the edge of the wood. I could see the lights in the
village.... I came back.
_She buries her head in her arms._ DAN _rises, looks at her a
moment regretfully, puts away his cigarette, and stands with both hands
over the invalid chair._
DAN (_casually_): She didn't keep any money anywhere else, did
she?
OLIVIA: I've read a lot about evil----
DAN _realises his hands are wet with paraffin and wipes them on his
trousers._
DAN: Clumsy....
OLIVIA: I never expected to come across it in real life.
DAN (_lightly_): You didn't ought to read so much. I never got
through a book yet.... But I'll read you all right.... (_Crossing to
her, leaning over the table, and smiling at her intently_) You
haven't had a drop to drink, and yet you feel as if you had. You never
knew there was such a secret part inside of you. All that book-learnin'
and moral-me-eye here and social-me-eye there--you took that off on the
edge of the wood same as if it was an overcoat ... and you left it
there!
OLIVIA: I hate you. I ... hate you!
DAN (_urgently_): And same as anybody out for the first time
without their overcoats, you feel as light as air! Same as I feel,
sometimes--only I never had no overcoat--(_Excited_) Why--this is
my big chance! You're the one I can tell about meself! Oh, I'm sick o'
hearin' how clever everybody else is--I want to tell 'em how clever
_I_ am for a change!... Money I'm goin' to have, and people doin'
what they're told, and _me_ tellin' them to do it! There was a
'oman at the Tallboys, wasn't there? She wouldn't be told, would she?
She thought she was up 'gainst a soft fellow in a uniform, didn't she?
She never knew it was _me_ she was dealin' with--(_striking his
chest in a paroxysm of elation_)--_me!_ And this old girl
treatin' me like a son 'cause I made her think she was a chronic
invalid--ha! She's been more use to me to-night (_tapping the notes
in his jacket pocket, smartly_) than she has to any other body all
her life. Stupid, that's what people are ... stupid. If those two
hadna' been stupid they might be breathin' now; you're not stupid;
that's why I'm talkin' to you. (_With exaggerated self-possession_)
You said just now murder's ordinary.... Well, it isn't ordinary at all, see?
And I'm not an ordinary chap. There's one big difference 'tween me and
other fellows that try this game. I'll _never be found out_. 'Cause I
don't care a----(_Snapping his fingers grandly_) The world's goin' to
hear from me. That's me. (_Chuckling_) You wait.... (_After a
pause_) But you can't wait, can you?
OLIVIA: What do you mean?
DAN: Well, when I say I'll never be found out, what I mean is, no
living soul will be able to tell any other living soul about me.
(_Beginning to roll up a sleeve, nonchalantly_) Can you think of
anybody ... who can go to-morrow ... and tell the police the fire at
Forest Corner ... wasn't an accident at all?
OLIVIA: I--I can.
DAN: Oh, no, you can't.
OLIVIA: Why can't I?
DAN: Well, I'm up against a very serious problem, I am. But the answer
to it is as simple as pie, to a feller like me, simple as pie ...
(_Rolling up the other sleeve a little way_) She isn't going to be
the only one ... found to-morrow ... in the fire at Forest Corner....
(_After a pause_) Aren't you frightened? You ought to be!
(_Smiling_) Don't you think I'll do it?
OLIVIA: I know you will. I just can't realise it.
DAN: You know, when I told you all that about meself just now, I'd made
up my mind then about you. (_Moving slowly after her, round the
table, as she steps back towards the window._) That's what I am,
see? I make up me mind to do a thing, and I do it.... You remember that
first day when I come in here? I said to meself then, There's a girl
that's got her wits about her; she knows a thing or two; different from
the others. I was right, wasn't I? You----(_Stopping abruptly, and
looking round the room_) What's that light in here?
OLIVIA: What light?
DAN: There's somebody in this room's holdin' a flashlight.
OLIVIA: It can't be in this room.... It must be a light in the wood.
DAN: It can't be.
_A flashlight crosses the window-curtains._ OLIVIA _turns and
stares at it._
OLIVIA: Somebody's watching the bungalow....
_He looks at her, as if he did not understand._
DAN (_fiercely_): Nobody's watching!... (_He runs to the window.
She backs into the corner of the room._)
I'm the one that watches! They've got no call to watch me! I'll go out
and tell them that, an' all! (_Opening the curtains in a frenzy_)
I'm the one that watches!
_The light crosses the window again. He stares, then claps his hands
over his eyes.
(Backing to the sofa_) Behind them trees.
(_Clutching the invalid chair_) Hundreds back of each tree....
Thousands of eyes. The whole damn world's on my track!... (_Sitting
on the edge of the sofa, and listening_) What's that?... Like a big
wall fallin' over into the sea.... (_Closing his hands over his ears
convulsively_.)
OLIVIA (_coming down to him_): They mustn't come in....
DAN (_turning to her_): Yes, but ... (_Staring_) you're
lookin' at me as if you never see'd me before....
OLIVIA: I never have. Nobody has. You've stopped acting at last. You're
real. Frightened. Like a child. (_Putting her arm about his
shoulders_) They mustn't come in....
DAN: But everything's slippin' away. From underneath our feet.... Can't
_you_ feel it? Starting slow ... and then hundreds of miles an
hour.... I'm goin' backwards!... And there's a wind in my ears,
terrible blowin' wind.... Everything's going past me, like the
telegraph-poles.... All the things I've ever seen ... faster and faster
... backwards--back to the day I was born. (_Shrieking_) I can see
it coming ... the day I was born!... (_Turning to her, simply_)
I'm goin' to die.
_A pause.
A knock at the front door._
It's getting cold.
_Another knock, louder. She presses his head to her._
OLIVIA: It's all right. You won't die. I'll tell them I _made_ you
do it. I'll tell lies--I'll tell----
_A third and louder knock at the front door. She realises she must
answer, goes into the hall, opens the front door, and comes back,
hiding_ DAN _from view._
BELSIZE (_in the hall_): Good evening.... Sorry to pop back like
this----
_He comes into the room, followed by_ DORA _and_ MRS.
TERENCE, _both terrified_.
(_Looking around_) Everything looks all right here.
MRS. TERENCE: I tell you we _did_ 'ear her! Plain as plain! And
we'd gone near a quarter of a mile----
DORA: Plain as plain----
MRS. TERENCE: Made my blood run cold. "Danny!" she screamed. "Danny,
where are you?" she said. She wanted 'im back, she did, to save 'er----
DORA: Because she was bein' murdered. I knew it! I'd never a' run like
that if I 'adn't 'eard----
BELSIZE: We'll soon find out who's right.... Now then----(_As_
OLIVIA _steps aside behind the sofa_) Hello, Dan!
DAN (_quietly, rising and standing by the fireplace_): Hello.
BELSIZE (_standing behind the invalid chair_): Second time to-day,
eh?...
DAN: That's right.
BELSIZE: How's the old lady?
DAN (_after a pause_): Not so bad, thanks, inspector! Gone to bed,
and says she didn't want to be disturbed----
BELSIZE: Smell of paraffin ...
DAN (_with a last desperate attempt at bluster_): You know what
she's like, inspector, a bit nervy these days--
_As_ BELSIZE _goes to the bedroom and flashes a light into
it_.
I'd no sooner got round the corner she screamed for me--"Danny, Danny,
Danny!" she was screamin'--"Danny," she calls me, a pet name for Dan,
that is--
_As_ BELSIZE _goes into the sun-room.
(Rambling on mechanically_) I told her so then. I said, "It's
dangerous, that's what it is, havin' so much paraffin in the house."
That paraffin--she shouldn't ha' so much paraffin in the house--
_His voice trails away. Silence._ BELSIZE _comes back, his face
intent, one hand in coat pocket. A pause._
BELSIZE (_to_ OLIVIA): What are you doing here?
OLIVIA: I'm concerned in--
DAN (_loudly, decisively, silencing her_): It's all right.
(_Crossing to_ BELSIZE _and swaggering desperately, in front of
the women_) I'm the feller. Anything I'm concerned in, I run all by
myself. If there's going to be any putting me on a public platform to
answer any questions, I'm going to do it by myself ... (_looking
at_ OLIVIA) ... or not at all. I'll manage myself all right--
BELSIZE: I get you. Like a bit of limelight, eh?
DAN (_smiling_): Well ...
BELSIZE (_as if humouring him_): Let's have a look at your hands,
old boy, will you?
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