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PHILLY。 If he has； he'll be rightly hobbled yet； and he not able to say ten
words without making a brag of the way he killed his father； and the great
blow he hit with the loy。
JIMMY。 A man can't hang by his own informing； and his father should be rotten
by now。 ＇Old Mahon passes window slowly。＇
PHILLY。 Supposing a man's digging spuds in that field with a long spade； and
supposing he flings up the two halves of that skull； what'll be said then in
the papers and the courts of law？
JIMMY。 They'd say it was an old Dane； maybe； was drowned in the flood。 （Old
Mahon comes in and sits down near door listening。） Did you never hear tell of
the skulls they have in the city of Dublin； ranged out like blue jugs in a
cabin of Connaught？
PHILLY。 And you believe that？
JIMMY ＇pugnaciously。＇ Didn't a lad see them and he after coming from
harvesting in the Liverpool boat？ 〃They have them there；〃 says he； 〃making a
show of the great people there was one time walking the world。 White skulls
and black skulls and yellow skulls； and some with full teeth； and some haven't
only but one。〃
PHILLY。 It was no lie； maybe； for when I was a young lad there was a
graveyard beyond the house with the remnants of a man who had thighs as long
as your arm。 He was a horrid man； I'm telling you； and there was many a fine
Sunday I'd put him together for fun； and he with shiny bones； you wouldn't
meet the like of these days in the cities of the world。
MAHON ＇getting up。＇ You wouldn't is it？ Lay your eyes on that skull；
and tell me where and when there was another the like of it； is splintered
only from the blow of a loy。
PHILLY。 Glory be to God！ And who hit you at all？
MAHON ＇triumphantly。＇ It was my own son hit me。 Would you believe that？
JIMMY。 Well； there's wonders hidden in the heart of man！
PHILLY ＇suspiciously。＇ And what way was it done？
MAHON ＇wandering about the room。＇ I'm after walking hundreds and long
scores of miles； winning clean beds and the fill of my belly four times in the
day； and I doing nothing but telling stories of that naked truth。 （He comes to
them a little aggressively。） Give me a supeen and I'll tell you now。 ＇Widow
Quin comes in and stands aghast behind him。 He is facing Jimmy and Philly；
who are on the left。＇
JIMMY。 Ask herself beyond。 She's the stuff hidden in her shawl。
WIDOW QUIN ＇coming to Mahon quickly。＇ you here； is it？ You didn't go
far at all？
MAHON。 I seen the coasting steamer passing； and I got a drought upon me and a
cramping leg； so I said； 〃The divil go along with him；〃 and turned again。
（Looking under her shawl。） And let you give me a supeen； for I'm destroyed
travelling since Tuesday was a week。
WIDOW QUIN ＇getting a glass； in a cajoling tone。＇ Sit down then by the
fire and take your ease for a space。 You've a right to be destroyed indeed；
with your walking； and fighting； and facing the sun （giving him poteen from a
stone jar she has brought in。） There now is a drink for you； and may it be to
your happiness and length of life。
MAHON ＇taking glass greedily and sitting down by fire。＇ God increase
you！
WIDOW QUIN ＇taking men to the right stealthily。＇ Do you know what？ That
man's raving from his wound to…day； for I met him a while since telling a
rambling tale of a tinker had him destroyed。 Then he heard of Christy's deed；
and he up and says it was his son had cracked his skull。 O isn't madness a
fright； for he'll go killing someone yet； and he thinking it's the man has
struck him so？
JIMMY ＇entirely convinced。＇ It's a fright； surely。 I knew a party was
kicked in the head by a red mare； and he went killing horses a great while；
till he eat the insides of a clock and died after。
PHILLY ＇with suspicion。＇ Did he see Christy？
WIDOW QUIN。 He didn't。 （With a warning gesture。） Let you not be putting him
in mind of him； or you'll be likely summoned if there's murder done。 （Looking
round at Mahon。） Whisht！ He's listening。 Wait now till you hear me taking
him easy and unravelling all。 （She goes to Mahon。） And what way are you
feeling； mister？ Are you in contentment now？
MAHON ＇slightly emotional from his drink。＇ I'm poorly only； for it's a
hard story the way I'm left to…day； when it was I did tend him from his hour
of birth； and he a dunce never reached his second book； the way he'd come from
school； many's the day； with his legs lamed under him； and he blackened with
his beatings like a tinker's ass。 It's a hard story； I'm saying； the way some
do have their next and nighest raising up a hand of murder on them； and some
is lonesome getting their death with lamentation in the dead of night。
WIDOW QUIN ＇not knowing what to say。＇ To hear you talking so quiet；
who'd know you were the same fellow we seen pass to…day？
MAHON。 I'm the same surely。 The wrack and ruin of three score years； and
it's a terror to live that length； I tell you； and to have your sons going to
the dogs against you； and you wore out scolding them； and skelping them； and
God knows what。
PHILLY ＇to Jimmy。＇ He's not raving。 （To Widow Quin。） Will you ask him
what kind was his son？
WIDOW QUIN ＇to Mahon； with a peculiar look。＇ Was your son that hit you a
lad of one year and a score maybe； a great hand at racing and lepping and
licking the world？
MAHON ＇turning on her with a roar of rage。＇ Didn't you hear me say he
was the fool of men； the way from this out he'll know the orphan's lot with
old and young making game of him and they swearing； raging； kicking at him
like a mangy cur。 ＇A great burst of cheering outside； someway off。＇
MAHON ＇putting his hands to his ears。＇ What in the name of God do they
want roaring below？
WIDOW QUIN ＇with the shade of a smile。＇ They're cheering a young lad；
the champion Playboy of the Western World。 ＇More cheering。＇
MAHON ＇going to window。＇ It'd split my heart to hear them； and I with
pulses in my brain…pan for a week gone by。 Is it racing they are？
JIMMY ＇looking from door。＇ It is then。 They are mounting him for the
mule race will be run upon the sands。 That's the playboy on the winkered
mule。
MAHON ＇puzzled。＇ That lad； is it？ If you said it was a fool he was； I'd
have laid a mighty oath he was the likeness of my wandering son （uneasily；
putting his hand to his head。） Faith； I'm thinking I'll go walking for to
view the race。
WIDOW QUIN ＇stopping him； sharply。＇ You will not。 You'd best take the
road to Belmullet； and not be dilly…dallying in this place where there isn't a
spot you could sleep。
PHILLY ＇coming forward。＇ Don't mind her。 Mount there on the bench and
you'll have a view of the whole。 They're hurrying before the tide will rise；
and it'd be near over if you went down the pathway through the crags below。
MAHON ＇mounts on bench； Widow Quin beside him。＇ That's a right view again
the edge of th