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Widowing of Mrs Holroyd - D. H. Lawrence · The Bobbsey Twins at Cloverbank

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  Speaker 1: Introduction to the Widowing of Missus Holroyd by D. H. Lawrence.
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  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
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  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more informational to volunteer, please visit
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 2: D H.
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  Speaker 1: Lawrence is one of the most significant of the new
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  Speaker 1: generation of writers just beginning to appear in England. One
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  Speaker 1: of their chief marks is that they seem to step
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  Speaker 1: forward full grown, without a history to account for their maturity.
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  Speaker 1: Another characteristic is that they frequently spring from social layers
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  Speaker 1: which in the past had to remain largely voiceless. And finally,
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  Speaker 1: they have all in their blood what their elders had
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  Speaker 1: to acquire painfully. That is an evolutionary concept of life.
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  Speaker 1: Three years ago, the author of The Widowing of Missus
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  Speaker 1: Holroyd was wholly unknown, having not yet published a single work.
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  Speaker 1: Today he has to his credit three novels, The White Peacock,
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  Speaker 1: The Trespasser and Sons and Lovers, a collection of verse
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  Speaker 1: entitled Love Poems, and the play contained in this volume.
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  Speaker 1: All of these works, but in particular the play and
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  Speaker 1: the latest novel, proved their author a man gifted with
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  Speaker 1: strikingly original vision, a keen sense of beauty, an equally
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  Speaker 1: keen sense of verbal values, and a sincerity which makes
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  Speaker 1: him see and tell the truth where even the most
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  Speaker 1: audacious used to falter. In the past. Flaubert himself was
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  Speaker 1: hardly less free from the old curse of sentimentalizing compromise.
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  Speaker 1: And yet this young writer knows how to tell the
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  Speaker 1: utmost truth with a daintiness that puts offense out of
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  Speaker 1: the question. He was born twenty seven years ago in
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  Speaker 1: a cold miners cottage at the little colliery town of Eastwood,
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  Speaker 1: on the border between Nottingham and Derbyshire. The home was poor,
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  Speaker 1: yet not without certain aspirations and refinements. It was the
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  Speaker 1: mother who held it together, who saved it from a
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  Speaker 1: still more abject poverty, and who filled it with a
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  Speaker 1: spirit that made it possible for the boy, her youngest son,
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  Speaker 1: to keep alive the gifts still slumbering undiscovered within him.
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  Speaker 1: In Sons and Lovers we get the picture of just
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  Speaker 1: such a home and such a mother, and it seems
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  Speaker 1: safe to conclude that the novel in question is in
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  Speaker 1: many ways or to biographical. At the age of twelve,
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  Speaker 1: the boy won a county council scholarship and came near
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  Speaker 1: having to give it up because he found that the
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  Speaker 1: fifteen pounds a year conferred by it would barely pay
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  Speaker 1: the fees at the Nottingham High School and the railway
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  Speaker 1: fares to the city. But his mother's determination and self
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  Speaker 1: sacrifice carried him safely past the seemingly impossible. At sixteen,
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  Speaker 1: he left school to earn his living as a clerk.
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  Speaker 1: Illness saved him from that uncongenial fate. Instead, he became
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  Speaker 1: a teacher, having charge of a class of Colliers boys
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  Speaker 1: in one of those rough, old fashioned British schools where
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  Speaker 1: all the classes used to fight against one another within
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  Speaker 1: a single large room before the classes convened in the
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  Speaker 1: morning at eight o'clock. He himself received instruction from the headmaster.
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  Speaker 1: At night, he continued his studies in the little kitchen
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  Speaker 1: at home, where all the rest of the family were
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  Speaker 1: wont to foregather. At nineteen, he found himself, to his
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  Speaker 1: own and everybody else's astonishment, the first on the list
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  Speaker 1: of the King's Scholarship examination, and from that on he was,
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  Speaker 1: to use his own words, considered clever, but the lack
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  Speaker 1: of twenty pounds needed in a lump sum to pay
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  Speaker 1: the entrance fee at the Training College for Teachers made
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  Speaker 1: it impossible for him to make use of the gained advantage.
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  Speaker 1: Two years later, however, he succeeded in matriculating at the
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  Speaker 1: Nottingham Day Training College. But by that time the creative
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  Speaker 1: impulse had already begun to stir within him, aided by
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  Speaker 1: an early love affair, and so he wrote poems and
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  Speaker 1: worked his first novel when he should have been studying.
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  Speaker 1: At twenty three, he left the college and went to
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  Speaker 1: London to teach school, to study French and German, and
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  Speaker 1: to write. At twenty five he had his first novel,
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  Speaker 1: The White Peacock, accepted and printed, but the death of
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  Speaker 1: his mother only a month before that event made his
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  Speaker 1: victory seem useless and joyless. After the publication of his
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  Speaker 1: second novel in nineteen twelve, he became able to give
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  Speaker 1: up teaching in order to devote himself entirely to his art.
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  Speaker 1: Out of that leisure, and perhaps also out of the
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  Speaker 1: sorrow caused by the loss of her, who until then
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  Speaker 1: had been the mainspring of his life, came Sons and Lovers,
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  Speaker 1: and the widowing of missus Holroyd. What has struck me
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  Speaker 1: most deeply in these two works, Apart from their splendid craftsmanship,
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  Speaker 1: is their psychological penetration, so closely paralleling the most recent
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  Speaker 1: conclusions of the world's leading thinkers. In the hands of
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  Speaker 1: this writer, barely emerged out of obscurity, sex becomes almost
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  Speaker 1: a new thing. Not only the relationship between man and woman,
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  Speaker 1: but also that of mother and child is laid bare
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  Speaker 1: in a new light which startles or even shocks, but
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  Speaker 1: which nevertheless compels acceptance. One might think that mister Lawrence
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  Speaker 1: had carefully studied and employed the very latest theories of
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  Speaker 1: such men as Freud, for instance, and yet it is
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  Speaker 1: a pretty safe bet that most of his studies had
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  Speaker 1: been carried on in his own soul, within his own memories.
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  Speaker 1: Thus it is proved once more that what the student
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  Speaker 1: gropingly reasons out for abstract formulation is flashed upon the
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  Speaker 1: poetic dreamer in terms of living reality. Another thing that
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  Speaker 1: has impressed me is the aspect in which mister Laurence
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  Speaker 1: presents the home life of those hitherto submerged classes which
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  Speaker 1: are now at last reaching out for a full share
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  Speaker 1: in the general social and cultural inheritance. He writes of
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  Speaker 1: that life not only with a knowledge obtained at first hand,
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  Speaker 1: but with a sympathy that scorns any apologetic phrase mongering.
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  Speaker 1: Having read him, one feels inclined to conclude, in spite
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  Speaker 1: of all conflicting testimony, that the slum is not a
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  Speaker 1: location but a state of mind, and that everywhere, on
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  Speaker 1: all levels, the individual soul may create around itself an
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  Speaker 1: atmosphere expressive of its ideals. Book Like Sons and Lovers
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  Speaker 1: ought to go far to prove that most of the
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  Speaker 1: qualities held peculiar to the best portion of the ruling
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  Speaker 1: classes are nothing but the typical marks of normal humanity.
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  Speaker 1: Edwin Bjorkman, end of Introduction.
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  Speaker 3: Act One of the Widowing of Missus Holroyd by D. H. Lawrence.
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  Speaker 3: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 7:31
  Speaker 3: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 7:35
  Speaker 3: visit LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 4: Persons Holroyd read by Our Mapstone.
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  Speaker 2: Missus Holroyd read by.
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  Speaker 5: Blackmore, read by Kristin.
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  Speaker 6: Hand Jack read by Larry Wilson, Minnie read by.
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  Speaker 7: Shrea Sati, Grandmother read by Abbaye Rigley, writ by A Mapstone.
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  Speaker 8: Clara read by Diane Castillo.
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  Speaker 2: Laura read by.
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  Speaker 9: Laura and Emma manager read by Todd.
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  Speaker 3: First bearer read by David Purdy.
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  Speaker 4: Second bearer read by Chuck Williamson.
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  Speaker 3: Narrator read by Scarborough The Widowing of Missus Holroyd. The
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  Speaker 3: first act Scene one, the kitchen of a miner's small cottage.
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  Speaker 3: On the left is the fireplace with a deep, full
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  Speaker 3: red fire. At the back is a white curtained window,
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  Speaker 3: and beside it the outer door of the room. On
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  Speaker 3: the right, two white wooden stairs intrude into the kitchen,
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  Speaker 3: below the closed stairfoot door on the left another door.
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  Speaker 3: The room is furnished with a chintz backed sofa under
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  Speaker 3: the window, a glass knobbed painted dresser on the right,
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  Speaker 3: and in the center, toward the fire, a table with
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  Speaker 3: a red and blue check tablecloth. On one side of
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  Speaker 3: the hearth is a wooden rocking chair, on the other
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  Speaker 3: an armchair of round staves. An unlighted copper shaded lamp
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  Speaker 3: hangs from the raftered ceiling. It is dark twilight, with
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  Speaker 3: a room full of warm fire glow. A woman enters
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  Speaker 3: from the outer door. As she leaves the door open
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  Speaker 3: behind her, the colliery rail can be seen not far
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  Speaker 3: from the threshold and away back the headstalks of a pit.
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  Speaker 3: The woman is tall and voluptuously built. She carries a
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  Speaker 3: basket heaped full of washing which she has just taken
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  Speaker 3: from the clothes lines outside. Setting down the basket heavily,
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  Speaker 3: she feels among the clothes. She lifts out a white
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  Speaker 3: heap of sheets and other linen, setting it on the table.
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  Speaker 3: Then she takes a woolen shirt in her hand. Missus
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  Speaker 3: Holroyd aloud to herself.
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  Speaker 2: You know they're not dry even now, though it's been
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  Speaker 2: as fine as it has.
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  Speaker 3: She spreads the shirt on the back of her rocking chair,
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  Speaker 3: which she turns to the fire, voice calling from outside.
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  Speaker 5: Well have you got them dry?
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd starts up, turns and flings her hand in
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  Speaker 3: the direction of the open door, where appears a man
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  Speaker 3: in blue overalls, swarveed and greased. He carries a dinner basket.
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  Speaker 2: You you, I don't know what to call you. The
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  Speaker 2: idea of shouting at me like that, like the evil
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  Speaker 2: one out of the darkness.
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  Speaker 5: I ought to have remembered your tender nerves. Shall I
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  Speaker 5: come in?
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  Speaker 2: No, not for your impudence. But you're late, aren't you.
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  Speaker 5: It's only just gone six we electricians. You know, we're
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  Speaker 5: the gentleman on a mine. Ours is gentlemen's work. But
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  Speaker 5: i'll bet Charles Holroyd was home before four, Missus Holroyd bitterly.
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  Speaker 2: Ay and gone again before five.
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  Speaker 5: But minds a lad's job, and I do nothing. Where's
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  Speaker 5: he gone?
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd contemptuously.
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  Speaker 2: Don't know he'd got a game on somewhere, doffed himself
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  Speaker 2: up to the nines and skid daddled off as brisk
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  Speaker 2: as a turkey cock.
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  Speaker 3: He smirks in front of the mirror hanging on the
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  Speaker 3: chimney piece, in imitation of a man brushing his hair
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  Speaker 3: in mustache and admiring himself.
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  Speaker 5: Though turkey cocks aren't brisk as a rule, children playing.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd recovering herself coldly, Yes, and I ought to
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  Speaker 3: be it. She continues placing the flannel garments before the fire,
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  Speaker 3: on the fender and on cheer bax till the stove
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  Speaker 3: is hudged in with a steaming fence. Then she takes
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  Speaker 3: a sheet and a bundle from the table, and going
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  Speaker 3: up to Blackmore, who stands watching her, says.
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  Speaker 2: Here, take hold and help me fold it.
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  Speaker 3: I shall swarf it up, Missus Holroyd, snatching back the sheet.
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  Speaker 2: Oh you're as tiresome as everybody.
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  Speaker 3: Else, Blackmore, putting down his basket and moving to door.
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  Speaker 4: On right.
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  Speaker 5: Well, I can soon wash my hands.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, ceasing to flap and fold pillowcases.
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  Speaker 2: That roller towels ever so dirty. I'll get you another.
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  Speaker 3: He goes to a drawer in the dresser, and then
• 12:02
  Speaker 3: back toward the scullery. Where is a sound of water?
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  Speaker 5: Why, bless my life, I'm a lot dirtier than the towel.
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  Speaker 5: I don't want another.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, going into the scullery. Here you are, Blackmore softly,
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  Speaker 3: now she is near him.
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  Speaker 5: Why did you trouble? Now? Pride? You know, pride, nothing else.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, also playful. It's nothing but Dayton, say Blackmore softly.
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  Speaker 5: Pride, Pride, Pride.
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  Speaker 3: A child of eight suddenly appears in the doorway.
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  Speaker 7: Ooh, how dark, Missus.
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  Speaker 3: Holroyd, hurrying agitated into the kitchen.
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  Speaker 2: Why where have you been? What have you been doing now?
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  Speaker 3: Jack surprised?
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  Speaker 6: Why I've only been out to play.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, still sharply, And where's Minnie? A little girl
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  Speaker 3: of six appears by the door.
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  Speaker 10: I'm here, ma'am.
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  Speaker 3: And what do you think, Missus Holroyd, softening as she
• 13:02
  Speaker 3: recovers equanimity.
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  Speaker 2: Well, and what should I think?
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  Speaker 6: Oh, yes, ma'am, you know my father.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd. Ironically, I should hope.
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  Speaker 10: So we saw him dancing, ma'am with a paper bonnet.
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  Speaker 6: What there's some women that you in what's come from Nottingham.
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  Speaker 10: And he's dancing with the pink one.
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  Speaker 6: Shut up our many and they've got paper bonnets on all.
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  Speaker 10: Colors, ma'am.
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  Speaker 3: Jack getting angry.
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  Speaker 6: Shut up our manie. And my dad's dancing with her.
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  Speaker 10: With the pink bonnet one, ma'am.
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  Speaker 6: Up in the club room over the bar, and she's a.
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  Speaker 10: Lot littler than him, ma'am.
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  Speaker 6: Jack piteously shut up our mannie. And you can see
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  Speaker 6: him go past the window because there isn't no curtains up.
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  Speaker 6: And my father's got the pink bonnet one.
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  Speaker 10: And there's a piano, ma'am.
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  Speaker 6: And lots of folks outside watching and looking at my dad.
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  Speaker 6: Oh he can dance, can't he?
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  Speaker 9: Man?
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, she has been lighting the lamp and holds
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  Speaker 3: the lamp glass and.
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  Speaker 10: Who else is there some more men and older women
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  Speaker 10: with paper bonnets on.
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  Speaker 6: There's about ten, I should think, And they say they
• 14:27
  Speaker 6: came in a break from Nottingham.
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  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd trying to replace the lamp glass over the flame,
• 14:33
  Speaker 3: lets it drop on the floor with a smash.
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  Speaker 6: Ah there now, now we'll have to have a candle.
• 14:40
  Speaker 3: Blackmore appearing in the scullery doorway with the towel.
• 14:44
  Speaker 5: What's that the lamp glass?
• 14:47
  Speaker 6: I never know? Mister Blackmore was here?
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  Speaker 3: Blackmore to missus Holroyd, have you got another?
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  Speaker 7: No?
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  Speaker 3: There is silence for a moment.
• 14:57
  Speaker 2: We can manage with a candle for tonight.
• 15:00
  Speaker 3: Blackmore stepping forward and blowing out the smoky flame.
• 15:04
  Speaker 5: I'll see if I can't get you one from the pit,
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  Speaker 5: I shan't be a minute.
• 15:08
  Speaker 2: Don't don't bother. I don't want you to.
• 15:11
  Speaker 3: He, however, unscrews the burner and goes.
• 15:14
  Speaker 10: Did mister Blackmore comforte man?
• 15:17
  Speaker 2: No? He's hot?
• 15:18
  Speaker 6: No tea aye, Betty's hungry.
• 15:21
  Speaker 1: Can I have some bread, Missus Holroyd?
• 15:24
  Speaker 3: She stands a lighted candle on the table.
• 15:27
  Speaker 2: Yes, and you can get your boots off to go
• 15:29
  Speaker 2: to bed.
• 15:30
  Speaker 6: Ah, it's not even seven o'clock.
• 15:33
  Speaker 2: Yet it doesn't matter.
• 15:35
  Speaker 10: What do they bear paper bonnets for, ma'am?
• 15:39
  Speaker 2: Because they're brazen hussies.
• 15:41
  Speaker 6: I saw them having a glass of beer, a nice crew.
• 15:45
  Speaker 6: They say they are old pals of Missus Beekin's. You
• 15:49
  Speaker 6: could hear her screamin a laughin' and my dad says,
• 15:53
  Speaker 6: he ha, this is here a dog's nose for the
• 15:57
  Speaker 6: duchess hopin little smell something? What's a dog's nose?
• 16:03
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd giving him a piece of bread and butter?
• 16:06
  Speaker 2: Don't ask me, child, how should I know?
• 16:09
  Speaker 10: Would she eat it? Ma'am? Eat what her in the
• 16:13
  Speaker 10: pink bonnet? Eat the dog's nose?
• 16:17
  Speaker 2: No, of course not. How should I know what a
• 16:20
  Speaker 2: dog's nose is?
• 16:21
  Speaker 6: I bet he'll never go to work tomorrow, mother, will he?
• 16:26
  Speaker 2: Goodness knows, I'm sick of it disgracing me. There'll be
• 16:31
  Speaker 2: the whole place cackling this now. They've no sooner finished
• 16:35
  Speaker 2: about him getting taken up for fighting than they begin
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: on this. But I'll put a stop to it some
• 16:40
  Speaker 2: road or other. It's not going on if I know it,
• 16:44
  Speaker 2: it isn't.
• 16:45
  Speaker 3: She stops hearing footsteps, and Blackmore enters here.
• 16:49
  Speaker 5: We are then that one?
• 16:50
  Speaker 4: All right?
• 16:52
  Speaker 10: Did they give it to you, mister Blackmoor, No I
• 16:55
  Speaker 10: took it.
• 16:56
  Speaker 3: He screws on the burner and proceeds to light the lamp.
• 16:59
  Speaker 3: He's a tall, slender mobile man of twenty seven, brown haired,
• 17:03
  Speaker 3: dressed in blue overalls. Jack Holroyd is a big, dark, ruddy,
• 17:07
  Speaker 3: lusty lad. Minnie is also big but fair.
• 17:11
  Speaker 10: What do you wear blue trousers for? Mister Blackmore?
• 17:15
  Speaker 5: There to keep my other trousers from getting greasy?
• 17:19
  Speaker 10: Why don't you wear pitbreeches like dads?
• 17:22
  Speaker 6: Because he's an electrician, could you make me a little engine?
• 17:26
  Speaker 6: What would make electric light?
• 17:28
  Speaker 5: Hi will someday?
• 17:30
  Speaker 6: When?
• 17:32
  Speaker 10: Why don't you come and live here?
• 17:34
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, looking swiftly at missus Holroyd.
• 17:38
  Speaker 5: Nay, you've got your own dad to live here.
• 17:41
  Speaker 3: Manie plaintively, well you could come as well.
• 17:46
  Speaker 10: Dad shouts when we've gone to bed, and thumps the table.
• 17:50
  Speaker 10: He wouldn't if.
• 17:51
  Speaker 3: You was here.
• 17:53
  Speaker 6: He doesn't be quiet?
• 17:56
  Speaker 2: Now be quiet here, mister Blackmore.
• 18:00
  Speaker 3: And gives him the sheet to fold.
• 18:02
  Speaker 5: Your hands are cold, are they?
• 18:05
  Speaker 2: I didn't know?
• 18:06
  Speaker 3: Blackmore puts his hand on hers. Missus Holroyd confusably looking aside.
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: You must want your tea. I'm in no hurry selvage
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: to salvage. You'll be quite a domestic man if you
• 18:20
  Speaker 2: go on.
• 18:21
  Speaker 3: Ay, they fold the two sheets.
• 18:25
  Speaker 5: They are white, your sheets.
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: But look at the smuts on them. Look this vile hole.
• 18:32
  Speaker 2: I'd never have come to live here, in all the
• 18:34
  Speaker 2: thick of the pick grime and lonely, if it hadn't
• 18:36
  Speaker 2: been for him so that he shouldn't call in a
• 18:39
  Speaker 2: public house on his road home from work. And now
• 18:42
  Speaker 2: he SLINKs past on the other side of the railway
• 18:45
  Speaker 2: and goes down to the new inn instead of coming
• 18:47
  Speaker 2: in for his dinner. I might as well have stopped
• 18:50
  Speaker 2: him bestwood.
• 18:51
  Speaker 5: So I rather like this little place standing by itself.
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: Jack. Can you go and take the stockings in for me?
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: They're on the line just below the pigsty the props
• 19:01
  Speaker 2: near the apple tree. Mind it, Minnie, you take the
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: peg basket.
• 19:06
  Speaker 10: Will there be any rats, ma'am?
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: Rats? No, they'll be frightened when they hear you.
• 19:11
  Speaker 3: If there are, the children go out, poor little beggars.
• 19:16
  Speaker 2: Do you know this place is fairly alive with rats?
• 19:20
  Speaker 2: They run up that dirty vine in front of the house.
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: I'm always at him to cut it down. And you
• 19:25
  Speaker 2: can hear them at night overhead, like a regiment of
• 19:28
  Speaker 2: soldiers tramping. Really, you know, I hate them. Well, a
• 19:33
  Speaker 2: rat is a nasty thing, but I still get used
• 19:36
  Speaker 2: to them. I'd give anything to be out of this place.
• 19:40
  Speaker 5: It is run when you're tied to a life you
• 19:42
  Speaker 5: don't like. But I should miss it if you weren't here.
• 19:46
  Speaker 5: When I'm coming down the line to the pit in
• 19:48
  Speaker 5: the morning, it's nearly dark at seven now. I watch
• 19:52
  Speaker 5: the firelight in here. Sometimes I put my hand on
• 19:55
  Speaker 5: the wall outside where the chimney runs up to feel
• 19:57
  Speaker 5: it warm. There isn't much in best there.
• 20:01
  Speaker 2: There's less than nothing. If you can't be like the
• 20:03
  Speaker 2: rest of them, as common as them made.
• 20:06
  Speaker 5: It's a fact, particularly for a woman. But this place
• 20:10
  Speaker 5: is cozy.
• 20:11
  Speaker 3: God love me, I'm sick of lodgings.
• 20:14
  Speaker 2: You'll have to get married. I'm sure there are plenty
• 20:17
  Speaker 2: of nice girls about, are there. I never see him? Oh, come,
• 20:23
  Speaker 2: you can't say that.
• 20:25
  Speaker 5: I've not seen a single girl, an unmarried girl, that
• 20:28
  Speaker 5: I should want for more than a fortnight.
• 20:30
  Speaker 3: Not one.
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: Perhaps you're very particular.
• 20:34
  Speaker 3: She puts her two palms on the table and leans back.
• 20:37
  Speaker 3: He draws near to her, dropping his head. Look here
• 20:41
  Speaker 3: he has put his hand on the table near hers.
• 20:44
  Speaker 2: Yes, I know you've got nice hands, but you needn't
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: be vain of them.
• 20:49
  Speaker 3: No, it's not that, But don't they seem he glances
• 20:53
  Speaker 3: swiftly at her. She turns her head aside. He laughs nervously.
• 20:58
  Speaker 3: They sort of go well with one and another.
• 21:02
  Speaker 2: They do.
• 21:03
  Speaker 3: Rather, they stand still near one another with ba heads
• 21:07
  Speaker 3: for a moment. Suddenly she starts up and draws her
• 21:10
  Speaker 3: hand away. Why what is it? She does not answer.
• 21:15
  Speaker 3: The children come in, Jack with an armful of stockings,
• 21:18
  Speaker 3: many with the basket of pegs.
• 21:21
  Speaker 6: I believe it's freezing, mother.
• 21:24
  Speaker 10: Mister Blackmore, could you shoot a rat and hit it?
• 21:28
  Speaker 3: Blackmore laughing? Shoot the lot of them like a wink.
• 21:33
  Speaker 2: But you've had no tea? What an awful shame to
• 21:36
  Speaker 2: keep you here?
• 21:38
  Speaker 5: Nay, I don't care. It never bothers me.
• 21:41
  Speaker 2: Then you're different from most men.
• 21:43
  Speaker 3: All men aren't alike, you know. But do go and
• 21:46
  Speaker 3: get some tea, Mannie plaintively.
• 21:50
  Speaker 10: Gon't you stop, mister Blackmore?
• 21:54
  Speaker 3: Why Minnie so's you're not frightened?
• 21:57
  Speaker 10: Yes? Do? Will you frighten the wood, because there's noises
• 22:02
  Speaker 10: and yet, and perhaps dadd'llgume home and shout.
• 22:07
  Speaker 5: But he'd shout more if I was here.
• 22:10
  Speaker 6: He doesn't win My uncle John's here, so you stop,
• 22:13
  Speaker 6: and perhaps he won't.
• 22:15
  Speaker 5: Don't you like him to shout when you're in bed?
• 22:18
  Speaker 3: They do not answer, but look seriously at him. Curtain
• 22:22
  Speaker 3: scene too the same scene two hours later. The clothes
• 22:27
  Speaker 3: are folded in little piles on the table in the sofa.
• 22:30
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd is holding a thick flannel undervest or singlet,
• 22:33
  Speaker 3: which her husband wears in the pit, and which has
• 22:36
  Speaker 3: just dried on the fender. Missus Holroyd to herself.
• 22:40
  Speaker 2: Now, thank goodness, they're all dried. It's only nine o'clock,
• 22:44
  Speaker 2: so he won't be in for another two hours.
• 22:46
  Speaker 8: A nuisance.
• 22:48
  Speaker 3: She sits on the sofa, letting her arms hang down
• 22:51
  Speaker 3: in dejection. After a minute or two, she jumps up
• 22:54
  Speaker 3: to begin rudely dropping the piles of washed clothes in
• 22:57
  Speaker 3: the basket.
• 22:58
  Speaker 2: I don't care. I'm not going to let him have
• 23:01
  Speaker 2: it all his way.
• 23:02
  Speaker 3: No, she weeps, a little, fiercely, drying her eyes on
• 23:06
  Speaker 3: the edge of her white apron.
• 23:08
  Speaker 2: Why should I put up with it? All, he can
• 23:10
  Speaker 2: do what he likes. But I don't care, No, I don't.
• 23:15
  Speaker 3: She flings down the full clothes basket, sits suddenly in
• 23:18
  Speaker 3: the rocking chair and weeps. There is the sound of
• 23:21
  Speaker 3: coarse bursting laughter in vein subdued, and a man's deep guffaws.
• 23:26
  Speaker 3: Footsteps draw near. Suddenly the door opens, and a little plump,
• 23:30
  Speaker 3: pretty woman of thirty in a close thinning dress and
• 23:33
  Speaker 3: a giddy frilled bonnet of pink paper stands perkily in
• 23:36
  Speaker 3: the doorway. Missus Holroyd springs up. Her small, sensitive nose
• 23:41
  Speaker 3: is inflamed with weeping. Her eyes are wet and flashing.
• 23:44
  Speaker 3: She fronts the other woman, Clara, with a pert smile
• 23:48
  Speaker 3: and a jerk of the head.
• 23:50
  Speaker 8: Good evening, What do you want? Oh, we've not come
• 23:54
  Speaker 8: begging in this is a visit.
• 23:59
  Speaker 3: She stuffs her hand in front of her mouth and
• 24:01
  Speaker 3: a little snorting burst of laughter. There is the sound
• 24:04
  Speaker 3: of another woman behind going off into uncontrollable laughter, while
• 24:07
  Speaker 3: a man gaffas missus Holroyd after a moment of impotence
• 24:13
  Speaker 3: tragically what Clara faltering slightly affecting a polite tone.
• 24:19
  Speaker 8: We thought we'd just call she stuffs.
• 24:22
  Speaker 3: Her handkerchief in front of her explosive laughter. The other
• 24:25
  Speaker 3: woman shrieks again, beginning high and running down the scale.
• 24:29
  Speaker 2: What do you mean?
• 24:31
  Speaker 3: What do you run here, Clara? She bites her lip.
• 24:35
  Speaker 8: We don't want anything, thanks, we just called.
• 24:40
  Speaker 3: She begins to laugh again, so does the other.
• 24:43
  Speaker 8: Well, I don't think much of the manners in this
• 24:45
  Speaker 8: part of the corntree.
• 24:47
  Speaker 3: She takes a few hesitating steps into the kitchen, Missus Holroyd,
• 24:51
  Speaker 3: trying to shut the door upon her.
• 24:54
  Speaker 2: No, you are not coming in.
• 24:56
  Speaker 3: Clara, preventing her closing the door.
• 24:59
  Speaker 8: Dear me, what a to do?
• 25:02
  Speaker 3: She struggles with the door. The other woman comes up
• 25:05
  Speaker 3: to help. A man is seen in the background.
• 25:09
  Speaker 11: My word, aren't we good enough to come in?
• 25:12
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, finding herself confronted by what seems to her
• 25:15
  Speaker 3: excitement a crowd, releases the door and draws back a little,
• 25:18
  Speaker 3: almost in tears of anger.
• 25:20
  Speaker 2: You have no business here? What do you want?
• 25:24
  Speaker 3: Clara, putting her bonnet straight and entering in brisk defiance.
• 25:29
  Speaker 8: I tell you we've only come to see you.
• 25:33
  Speaker 3: She looks round the kitchen, then makes a gesture toward
• 25:35
  Speaker 3: the armchair.
• 25:37
  Speaker 8: Can I sit here?
• 25:38
  Speaker 3: She plumps herself.
• 25:39
  Speaker 8: Down rest for the wary.
• 25:43
  Speaker 3: A woman and a man have followed her into the room.
• 25:46
  Speaker 3: Laura is highly colored, stout, some forty years old. Wears
• 25:50
  Speaker 3: a blue paper bonnet and looks like the landlady of
• 25:52
  Speaker 3: a public house. Both she and Clara wear much jewelry.
• 25:57
  Speaker 3: Laura is well dressed in a blue cloth dress. Holroyd
• 26:00
  Speaker 3: is a big blonde man. His cap is pushed back
• 26:03
  Speaker 3: and he looks rather tipsy and lawless. He has a
• 26:06
  Speaker 3: heavy blonde mustache. His jacket and trousers are black, his
• 26:10
  Speaker 3: vest gray, and he wears a turned down collar with
• 26:12
  Speaker 3: dark bough. Laura, sitting down in a chair on right,
• 26:17
  Speaker 3: her hand on her bosom, panting.
• 26:19
  Speaker 2: I've laughed till I feel fair bad.
• 26:22
  Speaker 8: Haven't you got a drop of nothing to offer us?
• 26:25
  Speaker 8: Measter calm? You are slow. I should have thought a
• 26:29
  Speaker 8: gentleman like you would have been out with the glasses,
• 26:33
  Speaker 8: afore we could have got breadths to ask you.
• 26:36
  Speaker 4: Holroyd clumsily, I don't believe there's out in thouspabott of stout.
• 26:43
  Speaker 3: Clara putting her hand on her stomach.
• 26:46
  Speaker 8: It feels as if the kettle's going to boil over.
• 26:51
  Speaker 3: She stuffs her handkerchief in front of her mouth, throws
• 26:53
  Speaker 3: back her head and snorts with laughter. Having now regained
• 26:57
  Speaker 3: her confidence, Laura laughs in the last state of exhaustion,
• 27:00
  Speaker 3: her hand on her breast.
• 27:02
  Speaker 4: She'll say it, then, what.
• 27:05
  Speaker 8: Do you say, Laura? Are you having a drop?
• 27:08
  Speaker 3: Laura submissively and naturally tongue tied.
• 27:12
  Speaker 11: Well, I don't mind, I will if you do.
• 27:16
  Speaker 8: Clara recklessly, I think we'll have a drop, Charlie and
• 27:20
  Speaker 8: risk it. Elap an old the rest down.
• 27:24
  Speaker 3: There is a moment of silence while Holroyd goes into
• 27:27
  Speaker 3: the scullery. Clara surveys the room and the dramatic pose
• 27:30
  Speaker 3: of Missus Holroyd. Curiously. Holroyd suddenly, hey, wal come here.
• 27:39
  Speaker 3: There's a smash of putts and a rat career is
• 27:41
  Speaker 3: out of the scullery. Laura, the first to see it,
• 27:44
  Speaker 3: utters a scream, but is fastened to her chair unable
• 27:47
  Speaker 3: to move. Clara jumps up to the table, crying, it's
• 27:52
  Speaker 3: a rat.
• 27:53
  Speaker 8: Oh save us.
• 27:55
  Speaker 3: She scrambles up, banging her head on the lamp, which
• 27:58
  Speaker 3: swings violently Missus Holroyd, who with a little shriek, jerks
• 28:03
  Speaker 3: her legs up onto the sofa, where she was stiffly reclining,
• 28:06
  Speaker 3: now cries in despairing falsetto, stretching forth her arms.
• 28:11
  Speaker 2: Ah the lump, mine the lamp.
• 28:14
  Speaker 3: Clara steadies the lamp and holds her hand to her head.
• 28:17
  Speaker 3: Holroyd coming from the scullery a bottle of stout in
• 28:21
  Speaker 3: his hand.
• 28:22
  Speaker 4: Where is he?
• 28:24
  Speaker 8: I believe he's gone under the sofa, my and he
• 28:28
  Speaker 8: is a thumper, if you like, as big as a rabbit.
• 28:32
  Speaker 3: Holroyd advances cautiously toward the sofa, Laura springing suddenly into life.
• 28:38
  Speaker 2: Hi, Hi, let me go, Let me go. Don't touch him?
• 28:41
  Speaker 2: Where is he?
• 28:43
  Speaker 3: She flees and scrambles onto Clara's armchair, catching hold of
• 28:46
  Speaker 3: the latter's skirts.
• 28:48
  Speaker 8: Hang off. Do you want to have a body down?
• 28:52
  Speaker 2: Mind? I tell you, missus.
• 28:54
  Speaker 3: Holroyd, bunched up on the sofa with crossed hands holding
• 28:58
  Speaker 3: her arms fascinated, watches her husband as he approaches to
• 29:02
  Speaker 3: stoop and attack the rat. She suddenly screams, don't you'll
• 29:06
  Speaker 3: fly at you.
• 29:08
  Speaker 4: He'll not get a chance.
• 29:12
  Speaker 2: He will, he will, and they're poisonous.
• 29:15
  Speaker 3: She ends on a very high note, leaning forward on
• 29:17
  Speaker 3: the sofa as far as she dares. She stretches out
• 29:20
  Speaker 3: her arms to keep back her husband, who is about
• 29:23
  Speaker 3: to kneel and search under the sofa for the rat.
• 29:26
  Speaker 4: Come off, I can see him.
• 29:30
  Speaker 2: I won't let you. He'll fly at you.
• 29:33
  Speaker 4: I'll settle him.
• 29:35
  Speaker 2: Open the door and let him go.
• 29:38
  Speaker 4: Uh sunnah, I'll settle him shut like Claver. He'll none
• 29:44
  Speaker 4: come annoy thee.
• 29:46
  Speaker 3: He kneels down and begins to creep to the sofa
• 29:49
  Speaker 3: with a great bound. Missus Holroyd flies to the door
• 29:52
  Speaker 3: and flings it open. Then she rushes back to the couch.
• 29:55
  Speaker 3: There he goes Holroyd simultaneously higher. He flings the bottle
• 30:04
  Speaker 3: of stout out of the door. Laura piteously shut the door.
• 30:09
  Speaker 3: Do Holroyd rises, dusting his trousers, knees and closes the door.
• 30:15
  Speaker 3: Laura heavily descends and drops in the chair.
• 30:18
  Speaker 8: Here comin' up us down, Charley, look at her. She's
• 30:22
  Speaker 8: going off.
• 30:24
  Speaker 3: Though Laura is still purple red. She sinks back in
• 30:26
  Speaker 3: the chair. Holroyd goes to the table. Clara places her
• 30:30
  Speaker 3: hands on his shoulders and jumps lightly down. Then she
• 30:33
  Speaker 3: pushes Holroyd with her elbow.
• 30:35
  Speaker 8: Look sharp, get a glass of water.
• 30:38
  Speaker 3: She unfastens Laura's collar and pulls off the paper bonnet.
• 30:42
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd sits up, straightens her clothing and tries to
• 30:45
  Speaker 3: look cold and contemptuous. Holroyd brings a cup of water.
• 30:50
  Speaker 3: Clara sprinkles her friend's face. Lara sighs and sighs again,
• 30:54
  Speaker 3: very deeply, then draws herself up painfully. Clara tenderly, Do
• 31:00
  Speaker 3: you feel any better?
• 31:01
  Speaker 8: Shall you have a drink of water?
• 31:03
  Speaker 3: Laura mournfully shakes her head. Clara turns sharply to Holroyd.
• 31:08
  Speaker 8: She'll have a drink of something.
• 31:10
  Speaker 3: Holroyd goes out. Clara meanwhile fans her friend with a handkerchief.
• 31:15
  Speaker 3: Holroyd brings stout. She pours out the stout, smells the glass,
• 31:20
  Speaker 3: smells the bottle, then finally the cork.
• 31:23
  Speaker 8: Eh, mister, it's all of the work. It's at a
• 31:27
  Speaker 8: foisty cork.
• 31:29
  Speaker 3: At that instant, the stairfoot door opens slowly, revealing the children,
• 31:33
  Speaker 3: the girl peering over the boy's shoulder, both in white nightgowns.
• 31:37
  Speaker 3: Everybody starts. Laura gives a little cry, presses her hand
• 31:41
  Speaker 3: on her bosom, and sinks back, gasping. Clara appealing and
• 31:46
  Speaker 3: anxious to Missus Holroyd.
• 31:48
  Speaker 8: You don't happen to have a drop of brandy for her,
• 31:51
  Speaker 8: do you? Missus?
• 31:52
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd rises coldly without replying, and goes to the
• 31:56
  Speaker 3: stairfoot door where the children stand. Missus Holroyd sternly to
• 32:00
  Speaker 3: the children.
• 32:02
  Speaker 2: Go to bed.
• 32:03
  Speaker 4: What's a matter?
• 32:04
  Speaker 6: Mother?
• 32:06
  Speaker 2: Never you mind? Go to bed.
• 32:08
  Speaker 3: Clara appealingly, be quick, missus. Missus Holroyd, glancing around, sees
• 32:15
  Speaker 3: Laura going purple and runs past the children upstairs. The
• 32:19
  Speaker 3: boy and girl sit on the lowest stair. Their father
• 32:22
  Speaker 3: goes out of the house. Shamefaced. Missus Holroyd runs downstairs
• 32:26
  Speaker 3: with a little brandy in a large.
• 32:27
  Speaker 8: Bottle, thanks awfully to Laura. Come on, try and drink
• 32:33
  Speaker 8: a drop. There's a deer.
• 32:36
  Speaker 3: They administer brandy to Laura. The children sit watching, open eyed.
• 32:40
  Speaker 3: The girl stands up to look. Minnie whispering, I believe
• 32:45
  Speaker 3: it's blue one net. Jack whispering it isn't.
• 32:51
  Speaker 6: She's in a fit.
• 32:53
  Speaker 3: Minnie whispering, Well, look under the table. Jack peers under.
• 33:00
  Speaker 10: There's a bonnet.
• 33:01
  Speaker 3: Jack creeps forward.
• 33:03
  Speaker 10: Come back our jack.
• 33:05
  Speaker 3: Jack returns with the bonnet.
• 33:08
  Speaker 6: It's all made of paper.
• 33:11
  Speaker 10: Let's have a look it stuck together, not swed.
• 33:15
  Speaker 3: She tries it on. Holroyd enters. He looks at the child.
• 33:19
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd sharply glancing round.
• 33:23
  Speaker 2: Take that off.
• 33:24
  Speaker 3: Minnie hurriedly takes the bonnet from her head. Her father
• 33:27
  Speaker 3: snatches it from her and puts it on the fire.
• 33:30
  Speaker 8: There you're coming round now, love.
• 33:33
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd turns away. She sees Holroyd's eyes on the
• 33:36
  Speaker 3: brandy bottle and immediately removes it, corking it up. Missus
• 33:40
  Speaker 3: Holroyd to Clara.
• 33:43
  Speaker 2: You will not need this anymore.
• 33:45
  Speaker 8: No thanks, I'm very much obliged.
• 33:48
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd does not unband, but speaks coldly to the children.
• 33:53
  Speaker 2: Come, this is no place for you. Come back to bed.
• 33:57
  Speaker 10: No, Mamma don't want to.
• 33:59
  Speaker 3: Missus Hale Contralto come along.
• 34:03
  Speaker 10: I'm frightened, ma'am frightened.
• 34:06
  Speaker 2: What off?
• 34:07
  Speaker 10: Oh DeVos?
• 34:08
  Speaker 3: And wow, Missus Holroyd taking many in her arms.
• 34:13
  Speaker 2: Did they frighten you? My pet?
• 34:15
  Speaker 3: She kisses her Jack in a high whisper.
• 34:19
  Speaker 6: Mother hits pink bonnet and blue bonnet? What was dancy.
• 34:25
  Speaker 3: Mannie whimpering I don't want to go to bed mamma
• 34:30
  Speaker 3: frightened Clara, who has pulled off her pink bonnet and
• 34:33
  Speaker 3: revealed a jug handle coiffure.
• 34:36
  Speaker 8: We're going now, dookie. You're not frightened of us, are you?
• 34:40
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd takes the girl away before she can answer.
• 34:44
  Speaker 3: Jack lingers behind.
• 34:46
  Speaker 4: Now, then get off off here, mother.
• 34:50
  Speaker 3: Jack taking no notice of his father.
• 34:53
  Speaker 6: I say, what's a dog's nose?
• 34:55
  Speaker 3: Clara ups with her handkerchief, and Laura responds with a
• 34:58
  Speaker 3: faint giggle.
• 35:00
  Speaker 4: Go light way upstairs.
• 35:03
  Speaker 8: It's only a small whiskey with a spoonful of beer
• 35:06
  Speaker 8: in it, my dog. Oh, come here, my doc. Come on.
• 35:12
  Speaker 3: Jack, curious advances.
• 35:15
  Speaker 8: You'll tell your mother we didn't mean no harm, won't you?
• 35:20
  Speaker 3: Jack touching her ear rings?
• 35:22
  Speaker 6: What are they made of?
• 35:24
  Speaker 8: They're only ear rings? Don't you like them?
• 35:28
  Speaker 6: Um?
• 35:30
  Speaker 3: He stands, surveying her curiously. Then he touches a bracelet
• 35:33
  Speaker 3: made of many little mosaic brooches.
• 35:36
  Speaker 6: This is pretty, isn't it?
• 35:38
  Speaker 3: Clara? Pleased you like it? She takes it off. Suddenly,
• 35:44
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd is heard calling Jack Jack. Clara starts, no,
• 35:50
  Speaker 3: thein't go, Clara, as Jack is reluctantly going.
• 35:56
  Speaker 8: GISs me good night, ducky, and give this to your sister.
• 36:01
  Speaker 3: She hands Jack the mosaic bracelet. He takes it doubtfully.
• 36:05
  Speaker 3: She kisses him. Holroyd watches in silence. Lara suddenly pathetically, are.
• 36:12
  Speaker 2: You going to give me a kiss? And all?
• 36:14
  Speaker 3: Jack yields her his cheek, then goes Clara to Holroyd.
• 36:20
  Speaker 8: Aren't they nice children?
• 36:23
  Speaker 3: Aye?
• 36:24
  Speaker 8: Clara briskly, Oh dear, you're very short all of a sudden,
• 36:30
  Speaker 8: don't answer if it hurts you my.
• 36:33
  Speaker 5: Isn't he different?
• 36:35
  Speaker 3: Holroyd, laughing forcibly, amm no different.
• 36:40
  Speaker 8: Yes you are. You shouldn't have brought us here if
• 36:44
  Speaker 8: you was going to turn funny over it.
• 36:46
  Speaker 4: I'm not funny, No you're not.
• 36:51
  Speaker 3: She begins to laugh. Lara joins in in spite of herself.
• 36:55
  Speaker 8: Yours about as solemn as a roast potato.
• 37:00
  Speaker 3: She flings up her hands, claps them down on her knees,
• 37:03
  Speaker 3: and sways up and down as she laughs. Lara joining
• 37:06
  Speaker 3: in hand on breast.
• 37:09
  Speaker 8: Are you ready to be mashed?
• 37:11
  Speaker 3: She goes off again, then suddenly wipes the laughter off
• 37:14
  Speaker 3: her mouth and is solemn.
• 37:17
  Speaker 8: But look ear, this'll never do. Now I'm going to
• 37:20
  Speaker 8: be quiet.
• 37:22
  Speaker 4: She prims herself that that'n better.
• 37:26
  Speaker 8: Oh, indeed, do you think I've got to pull a
• 37:29
  Speaker 8: mug to look decent? You'd have to pull a big
• 37:32
  Speaker 8: un at that rate.
• 37:34
  Speaker 3: She bubbles off uncontrollably, shaking herself in exasperation. Meanwhile, Lara
• 37:40
  Speaker 3: joins in. Holroyd leans over close to her.
• 37:44
  Speaker 4: There's got plenty of fizz in these seemly.
• 37:47
  Speaker 3: Clara putting her hand on his face and pushing it aside,
• 37:51
  Speaker 3: but leaving her hand over his cheek and mouth like
• 37:53
  Speaker 3: a caress.
• 37:55
  Speaker 8: Don't you've been drinking?
• 37:58
  Speaker 3: She begins to laugh.
• 38:00
  Speaker 4: Should we be going? Then?
• 38:02
  Speaker 8: Where do you want to take us?
• 38:05
  Speaker 4: Oh? You please yourself for that?
• 38:08
  Speaker 3: Come on with me, Clara sitting up prim Oh indeed,
• 38:16
  Speaker 3: Holroyd catching hold of her.
• 38:19
  Speaker 4: Come on, let's be moving.
• 38:22
  Speaker 3: He glances apprehensively at the stairs.
• 38:25
  Speaker 8: What's your hurry?
• 38:27
  Speaker 3: Holroyd persuasively, Ye, come on, we.
• 38:33
  Speaker 8: I don't think.
• 38:35
  Speaker 3: She goes off uncontrollably. Holroyd sitting on the table just
• 38:39
  Speaker 3: above her.
• 38:40
  Speaker 4: What's the use of scene?
• 38:44
  Speaker 8: I'm very comfy, I thank thee.
• 38:47
  Speaker 4: They are a battling little Ussie.
• 38:50
  Speaker 3: Clara running her hand along his thigh.
• 38:53
  Speaker 8: Aren't you having nothing?
• 38:55
  Speaker 3: My dear, offers him her glass, Holroyd heating down from
• 39:00
  Speaker 3: the table and putting his hand forcibly on her shoulder.
• 39:03
  Speaker 4: Nah, come on, let's shift.
• 39:07
  Speaker 3: Clara struggling, hands off, she fetches him a sharp slap
• 39:12
  Speaker 3: across the face. Missus Holroyd is heard coming downstairs. Clara
• 39:17
  Speaker 3: released sits down, smoothing herself. Holroyd looks evil. He goes
• 39:22
  Speaker 3: out to the door. Clara to missus Holroyd penitently.
• 39:27
  Speaker 8: I don't know what you think of us. I'm sure I.
• 39:30
  Speaker 3: Think nothing at all, Clara bubbling, So you.
• 39:35
  Speaker 8: Fix your thoughts elsewhere?
• 39:37
  Speaker 10: Do you?
• 39:38
  Speaker 3: Suddenly changing to seriousness.
• 39:41
  Speaker 8: No, but I have been awful tonight.
• 39:44
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd contralto emphatic.
• 39:48
  Speaker 2: I don't want to know anything about you. I shall
• 39:50
  Speaker 2: be glad when you go.
• 39:52
  Speaker 8: Turning out time Laura.
• 39:55
  Speaker 11: Lara turtling, I'm sorry, I'm sure, never mind, but as
• 40:01
  Speaker 11: true as I'm here, Missus, I should never have come
• 40:04
  Speaker 11: if i'd thought, but I had a drop. It all
• 40:08
  Speaker 11: started with your husband saying he wasn't a married man.
• 40:13
  Speaker 3: Laura laughing and wiping her eyes.
• 40:16
  Speaker 10: I've never known her to go off like it, so
• 40:18
  Speaker 10: after the time she's had.
• 40:20
  Speaker 8: You know, my husband was a brute to me, and
• 40:24
  Speaker 8: I was in bed three months after he died. He
• 40:28
  Speaker 8: was a brute, he was. This is the first time
• 40:32
  Speaker 8: I've been out. It's almost the first laugh I've had
• 40:36
  Speaker 8: for a year.
• 40:37
  Speaker 3: It's true what she says. I thought she'd grow out
• 40:40
  Speaker 3: of her mind.
• 40:41
  Speaker 2: She never spoke a word for a fortnight.
• 40:43
  Speaker 8: Though he's only been dead for two months. He was
• 40:46
  Speaker 8: a brute to me. I was as nice a young
• 40:49
  Speaker 8: girl as you could wish when I was married him
• 40:52
  Speaker 8: and went to the police inn.
• 40:54
  Speaker 2: I was cure.
• 40:56
  Speaker 3: Her self drinking.
• 40:58
  Speaker 2: And she's that excitable she is will slam an awful
• 41:01
  Speaker 2: time that tomorrow, I know.
• 41:03
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd coldly.
• 41:05
  Speaker 2: I don't know why I should hear all this.
• 41:08
  Speaker 8: I know I must have seemed awful. And then children,
• 41:12
  Speaker 8: aren't they nice little things?
• 41:14
  Speaker 10: Laura?
• 41:15
  Speaker 3: They are that Holroyd entering from the door.
• 41:20
  Speaker 4: Anna, you have that done there?
• 41:23
  Speaker 8: My word, If this is the way you treat a
• 41:26
  Speaker 8: lady when she comes to see you, she.
• 41:28
  Speaker 4: Rises, I'll see you, don't line.
• 41:33
  Speaker 8: You're not coming astride with us. We've got no hat,
• 41:37
  Speaker 8: neither of us. We've got our own hair on our heads.
• 41:41
  Speaker 3: At any rate, drawing herself up suddenly in front of
• 41:45
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd.
• 41:46
  Speaker 8: And I've been educated at a boarding school as good
• 41:49
  Speaker 8: as anybody. I can behave myself either in the drawing
• 41:53
  Speaker 8: room or in the kitchen as is fitting and proper.
• 41:57
  Speaker 8: But if you'd buried a husband like mine, you wouldn't
• 42:01
  Speaker 8: feel you'd much left to be proud of, and you
• 42:04
  Speaker 8: might go off occasionally.
• 42:07
  Speaker 3: I don't want to hear you, Clara bobbing a Curtsey.
• 42:11
  Speaker 8: Sorry I spoke.
• 42:13
  Speaker 3: She goes out, stiffly, followed by Laura Holroyd, going forward.
• 42:19
  Speaker 4: You munn mind points, don't line.
• 42:22
  Speaker 8: I thank you, Charlie, mind thy own points.
• 42:26
  Speaker 3: He hesitates at the door, returns and sits down. There
• 42:30
  Speaker 3: is silence in the room. Holroyd sits with his chin
• 42:33
  Speaker 3: in his hand. Missus Holroyd listens. The footsteps and voices
• 42:38
  Speaker 3: of the two women die out. Then she closes the door.
• 42:42
  Speaker 3: Holroyd begins to unlace his boots. Holroyd, ashamed yet defiant,
• 42:47
  Speaker 3: with all anxious.
• 42:48
  Speaker 4: To apologize, where's my slippers?
• 42:54
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd sits on the sofa with face averted and
• 42:56
  Speaker 3: does not answer.
• 42:58
  Speaker 4: Dustyar.
• 43:00
  Speaker 3: He pulls off his boots noisily and begins to hunt
• 43:03
  Speaker 3: under the sofa.
• 43:04
  Speaker 4: I cannot find the things. No answer, Ah, then I'll
• 43:12
  Speaker 4: do be out um.
• 43:14
  Speaker 3: He stumps about in his stocking feet, Going into the scullery,
• 43:17
  Speaker 3: he brings out the loaf of bread. He returns into
• 43:20
  Speaker 3: the scullery.
• 43:21
  Speaker 4: Where's the cheese?
• 43:24
  Speaker 3: No answer?
• 43:25
  Speaker 4: Suddenly, God blast it.
• 43:30
  Speaker 3: He hobbles into the kitchen.
• 43:32
  Speaker 4: I've trull on that broken basin and cut my foot open.
• 43:37
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd refuses to take any notice. He sits down
• 43:41
  Speaker 3: and looks at his soul, pulls off his stocking and
• 43:43
  Speaker 3: looks again. It's lame me for life, Missus Holroyd glances
• 43:48
  Speaker 3: at the wound.
• 43:50
  Speaker 4: I'm not going to get me out for it, all right?
• 43:55
  Speaker 3: Then he hops to the dresser, opens a drawer and
• 43:59
  Speaker 3: pulls a white rag. He's about to tear it, Missus Holroyd,
• 44:04
  Speaker 3: snatching it from him. Don't tear that, Holroyd, shouting.
• 44:09
  Speaker 4: And what the deuce am I to do?
• 44:13
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd sits stonily.
• 44:15
  Speaker 4: Ah, all right.
• 44:16
  Speaker 3: Then he hops back to his chair, sits down and
• 44:21
  Speaker 3: begins to pull on his stocking.
• 44:23
  Speaker 4: All right, then, all right?
• 44:25
  Speaker 3: Then in a fever of rage. He begins pulling on
• 44:29
  Speaker 3: his boots.
• 44:30
  Speaker 4: I'll go where I can find a bit of rag.
• 44:35
  Speaker 2: Yes, that's all you want. All you want is an
• 44:38
  Speaker 2: excuse to be off again, a bitter.
• 44:40
  Speaker 3: Rag holoid shouting?
• 44:43
  Speaker 4: And what man want to stop with a woman sitting
• 44:47
  Speaker 4: in his frow as a jackass? And can I get
• 44:50
  Speaker 4: a word from her? Age?
• 44:52
  Speaker 2: Boys, don't expect me to speak to you after tonight's show?
• 44:56
  Speaker 2: How dare you bring them to my house? How dare you?
• 45:00
  Speaker 4: They've none hurt your house? Have they?
• 45:03
  Speaker 2: I wonder you dead to cross the doorstep?
• 45:06
  Speaker 4: I should do? What the juice I like? They're as
• 45:11
  Speaker 4: good as you are.
• 45:13
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd stands speechless, staring at him.
• 45:17
  Speaker 2: Then, lo, don't you come near me again?
• 45:21
  Speaker 3: Holroyd suddenly shouting to get his courage up.
• 45:25
  Speaker 4: She's as good as you are, every bit of it,
• 45:29
  Speaker 4: missus Holroyd blazing.
• 45:31
  Speaker 2: Whatever I was and whatever I may be, don't you
• 45:35
  Speaker 2: ever come near me again?
• 45:37
  Speaker 7: What?
• 45:38
  Speaker 4: Oh? Show thee? What's the earth to you? If a
• 45:42
  Speaker 4: woman comes to the house. They're women as good as yourself,
• 45:47
  Speaker 4: every why of it?
• 45:49
  Speaker 2: Say no more? Go with them then, and don't come back.
• 45:53
  Speaker 4: What Yeah, I will go and you shall see what
• 46:00
  Speaker 4: you think you're something since your uncle left you that money.
• 46:06
  Speaker 4: I am Blacky Moore putting you up to it. I
• 46:09
  Speaker 4: can see your little game. I'm not as daft as
• 46:14
  Speaker 4: you imagine. I'm no fool. I'd tell you, no, you're not.
• 46:20
  Speaker 2: You're a drunken beast, that's all you are.
• 46:23
  Speaker 3: What what m what?
• 46:27
  Speaker 4: I'll show you whose gaper though?
• 46:30
  Speaker 3: He threatens her Missus Holroyd between her teeth.
• 46:35
  Speaker 2: No, it's not going on. If you won't go, I will.
• 46:40
  Speaker 4: Go then, for you have always been too big for
• 46:44
  Speaker 4: your shoes in my house.
• 46:47
  Speaker 2: Yes, I ought never to have looked at you, only
• 46:51
  Speaker 2: you showed a fair face.
• 46:53
  Speaker 4: Then what what? We'll see? Who's master in this house?
• 46:59
  Speaker 4: I'd tell you I'm gonna put a stop to it.
• 47:03
  Speaker 3: He brings us fist down on the table with a bang.
• 47:06
  Speaker 4: It's going a stop.
• 47:09
  Speaker 3: He brings the table again.
• 47:11
  Speaker 4: I've put up with it long enough. Do you think
• 47:15
  Speaker 4: I'm a dog in the house and not a man?
• 47:18
  Speaker 2: Do you a dog would be better?
• 47:22
  Speaker 4: Oh? Then we'll see. We'll see who's the dog and
• 47:28
  Speaker 4: who isn't. We're gonna see.
• 47:32
  Speaker 3: He bangs the table.
• 47:34
  Speaker 2: Stop thumping that table. You waken those children. Once you
• 47:38
  Speaker 2: and your trollops.
• 47:40
  Speaker 4: I shall do what the juice I like.
• 47:44
  Speaker 2: No more, you won't no more. I've stood this long enough.
• 47:49
  Speaker 2: Now I'm going as for you. You've got a red
• 47:52
  Speaker 2: face where she slapped you. Now go to her.
• 47:57
  Speaker 4: What what for?
• 48:00
  Speaker 2: I'm sick of the sight and sounds of you.
• 48:03
  Speaker 3: Holroyd bitterly.
• 48:05
  Speaker 4: Ohy god, And I've known it for a long time.
• 48:10
  Speaker 2: You have, and it's true.
• 48:12
  Speaker 4: And I know who he is, their anchory.
• 48:15
  Speaker 2: After I only want to be wood of you.
• 48:19
  Speaker 4: I know it mighty well, but I know him.
• 48:25
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, sinking down on the sofa, suddenly begins to
• 48:28
  Speaker 3: sob half hysterically. Holroyd watches her as suddenly she drives
• 48:33
  Speaker 3: her eyes.
• 48:34
  Speaker 2: Do you think I care about what you say?
• 48:37
  Speaker 3: Suddenly?
• 48:39
  Speaker 2: Oh, I've had enough. I've tried. I've tried for years
• 48:42
  Speaker 2: for the children's sakes. Now I've had enough of you
• 48:45
  Speaker 2: shame and disgrace.
• 48:48
  Speaker 4: Oh indeed, Missus Holroyd.
• 48:52
  Speaker 3: Her voice is dull and inflexible.
• 48:54
  Speaker 2: I've had enough. Go out again, after those trollops leave
• 48:58
  Speaker 2: me alone.
• 49:00
  Speaker 3: Holroyd stands, looking at her.
• 49:03
  Speaker 2: Go I'll mean it, go out again, And if you
• 49:06
  Speaker 2: never come back again. I'm glad Ah've had enough.
• 49:10
  Speaker 3: She keeps her face averted, will not look at him,
• 49:13
  Speaker 3: her attitude expressing thorough weariness.
• 49:17
  Speaker 4: All right.
• 49:18
  Speaker 3: Then he hobbles in unlaced boots to the door. Then
• 49:22
  Speaker 3: he turns to look at her. She turns herself, still
• 49:25
  Speaker 3: farther away, so that her back is toward him. He
• 49:28
  Speaker 3: goes curtain. End of Act one, Act two of The
• 49:42
  Speaker 3: Widowing of Missus Holroyd by D. H. Lawrence. This is
• 49:46
  Speaker 3: a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 49:50
  Speaker 3: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 49:55
  Speaker 3: The second act, the scene is the same two hours later.
• 50:00
  Speaker 3: The cottage is in darkness save for the firelight on
• 50:03
  Speaker 3: the table is spread in newspaper. A cup and saucer,
• 50:06
  Speaker 3: a plate, a piece of bacon in the frying tan
• 50:09
  Speaker 3: are on the newspaper, ready for the miner's breakfast. Missus
• 50:13
  Speaker 3: Holroyd has gone to bed. There is a noise of
• 50:15
  Speaker 3: heavy stumbling down the three steps outside.
• 50:18
  Speaker 5: Steady, now, steady. It's all in darkness. Missus has she
• 50:24
  Speaker 5: gone to bed?
• 50:26
  Speaker 3: He tries the latch, shakes the door Holroyd's voice.
• 50:30
  Speaker 4: He is drunk, he's locked. Mew, let me smash that
• 50:36
  Speaker 4: bloody door in, Come out, Come out, Wilsa.
• 50:42
  Speaker 3: He strikes a heavy blow on the door. There is
• 50:45
  Speaker 3: a scuffle, hold on a bed.
• 50:48
  Speaker 5: What are you doing?
• 50:50
  Speaker 4: I'm smashing a blasted door.
• 50:52
  Speaker 3: In, missus, Holroyd appearing and suddenly drawing the bolts, flinging
• 50:58
  Speaker 3: the door open.
• 51:00
  Speaker 2: What do you think you're doing?
• 51:02
  Speaker 3: Holroyd lurching into the room, snarling, what what.
• 51:08
  Speaker 4: I thought that I'd played the monkey tricks on me?
• 51:11
  Speaker 4: Dizzer shouting, but I'm gonna show thee He lurches.
• 51:17
  Speaker 3: At her threateningly. She recoils Blackmore, seizing him by the arm.
• 51:23
  Speaker 3: Here here, come and sit down and be quiet, Holroyd
• 51:29
  Speaker 3: snarling at him.
• 51:30
  Speaker 4: What what and what's they got to do it? Shouting
• 51:37
  Speaker 4: what they got to do it?
• 51:40
  Speaker 5: Nothing? Nothing?
• 51:42
  Speaker 3: But it's getting late and you want your supper, Holroyd shouting.
• 51:48
  Speaker 4: Oh I warn now, I'm allowed now in this house,
• 51:53
  Speaker 4: shouting louder, be goodgies me every remorsel ib.
• 51:58
  Speaker 3: Oh what a story, Holroyd shouting.
• 52:03
  Speaker 4: It's the truth and you know it.
• 52:07
  Speaker 3: Blackmore conciliatory.
• 52:09
  Speaker 5: You'll rouse the children, you'll rouse the children at this hour.
• 52:14
  Speaker 3: Holroyd suddenly quiet.
• 52:17
  Speaker 4: Not me, not I har I know it. I shan't
• 52:22
  Speaker 4: disturb them, bless them.
• 52:24
  Speaker 3: He staggers to his armchair and sits heavily.
• 52:27
  Speaker 5: Shall I light the lamp?
• 52:29
  Speaker 2: No, don't trouble, don't stay any longer. There's no need.
• 52:33
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, quietly, I'll just see it's all right. He proceeds
• 52:38
  Speaker 3: in silence to light the lamp. Holroyd is seen dropping
• 52:41
  Speaker 3: forward in his chair. He has a cut on his cheek.
• 52:45
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd is in an old fashioned dressing gown. Blackmore
• 52:48
  Speaker 3: has an overcoat buttoned up to his chin. There is
• 52:51
  Speaker 3: a very large lump of coal on the red fire.
• 52:54
  Speaker 2: Don't stay any longer.
• 52:56
  Speaker 5: I'll see it's all right.
• 52:58
  Speaker 2: I shall be all right. He'll go sleep now.
• 53:01
  Speaker 5: But he can't go like that?
• 53:03
  Speaker 2: What has he done to his face?
• 53:05
  Speaker 5: He had a row with Jim Goodwin?
• 53:08
  Speaker 2: What about I don't know the beast.
• 53:12
  Speaker 5: By Joven isn't he await? He's getting fat?
• 53:15
  Speaker 2: Must be he's big, maid, he has a big frame.
• 53:19
  Speaker 5: Whatever he is, it took me all my time to
• 53:21
  Speaker 5: get him home. I thought i'd better keep an eye
• 53:24
  Speaker 5: on him. I knew you'd be worrying. So I sat
• 53:26
  Speaker 5: in the smoke room and waited for him. Oh it's
• 53:29
  Speaker 5: a dirty hole and dull as hell.
• 53:32
  Speaker 2: Why did you, Papa?
• 53:34
  Speaker 5: Well, I thought you'd be upset about him. I had
• 53:36
  Speaker 5: to drink three whiskies, had to.
• 53:39
  Speaker 3: In all conscience, smiling.
• 53:42
  Speaker 2: I don't want to be the ruin of you.
• 53:44
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, smiling, don't you.
• 53:48
  Speaker 5: I thought he'd pitch forward onto the lines and crack
• 53:50
  Speaker 5: his skull.
• 53:52
  Speaker 3: Holroyd has been sinking farther and farther forward, and drunk
• 53:55
  Speaker 3: in sleep. He suddenly jerks too far and is awakened.
• 53:58
  Speaker 3: He sits upright, glaring fiercely and dazedly at the two,
• 54:02
  Speaker 3: who instantly ceased talking. Holroyd to Blackmore, we.
• 54:06
  Speaker 4: Are doing here?
• 54:09
  Speaker 5: Why I came along with you?
• 54:12
  Speaker 4: A liar? Harm only just come.
• 54:15
  Speaker 3: In, missus Holroyd coldly.
• 54:19
  Speaker 2: He's no liar at all. He brought you home because
• 54:22
  Speaker 2: you were too drunk to come.
• 54:23
  Speaker 3: Yourself, Holroyd starting.
• 54:26
  Speaker 4: Up the A liar I never is said as on
• 54:30
  Speaker 4: him this night.
• 54:31
  Speaker 3: Afore now, missus Holroyd, with a of contempt. You don't
• 54:38
  Speaker 3: know what you have done tonight, Holroyd shouting.
• 54:43
  Speaker 4: I shall not a bit. I'll tell thee I shall
• 54:47
  Speaker 4: not have a bit. I shall let may carrying on
• 54:51
  Speaker 4: in my house.
• 54:53
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd shrigging her shoulders. Talk when you've got some sense, Holroyd, fiercely.
• 55:00
  Speaker 4: Have as much sense as that? Am I a fool?
• 55:05
  Speaker 4: Can I see what's he doing here? Then answer me
• 55:09
  Speaker 4: that what.
• 55:12
  Speaker 2: Mister Blackmore came to bring you home because you were
• 55:15
  Speaker 2: too drunk to find your own way? And this is
• 55:17
  Speaker 2: the thanks he.
• 55:18
  Speaker 3: Gets, Holroyd contemptuously.
• 55:22
  Speaker 4: Blacky More, Blacky More, it's him that cuts thy cloth by,
• 55:28
  Speaker 4: is it?
• 55:29
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd Hartly, you don't know what you're talking about,
• 55:33
  Speaker 3: so keep your tongue still, Holroyd filingly, I.
• 55:38
  Speaker 4: Don't know what I'm talking about. I don't know what
• 55:43
  Speaker 4: I'm talking about, don't I? Eh? And what about him
• 55:48
  Speaker 4: standing there? Then? If I don't know what I'm talking about.
• 55:52
  Speaker 5: What you've been to sleep, Charlie and forgotten? I came
• 55:57
  Speaker 5: in with you not long since.
• 55:59
  Speaker 4: I'm not daft, I'm not a fool. I've got eyes
• 56:04
  Speaker 4: in my head and sense.
• 56:07
  Speaker 3: You need.
• 56:07
  Speaker 4: Try to get over me. I know what you're up to.
• 56:13
  Speaker 3: Blackmore flushing, it's a bit off to talk to me
• 56:17
  Speaker 3: like that, Charlie, I must.
• 56:18
  Speaker 4: Say I'm not good enough for her. She wants mister Blackeymore.
• 56:25
  Speaker 4: He's a gentle money is. And now we have it all,
• 56:30
  Speaker 4: Now we understand.
• 56:33
  Speaker 2: I wish you understood enough to keep your tongue still.
• 56:37
  Speaker 4: What what I'm to keep my tongueester? Am I? And
• 56:43
  Speaker 4: what about mister Blackeymore?
• 56:47
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, fiercely.
• 56:49
  Speaker 2: Stop your mouth, you bulg, a low minded brute?
• 56:54
  Speaker 4: Am I am I? And what are you? What ricks
• 57:00
  Speaker 4: are you up to? And all? But that's all right,
• 57:04
  Speaker 4: that's all right, shouting, that's all right. If it's you, I.
• 57:11
  Speaker 5: Think I'd better go. You seem to enjoy culuminating your wife.
• 57:16
  Speaker 4: Holroyd mockingly calamnie in, calamnia in. I'll give you calamnia
• 57:24
  Speaker 4: in your mealy mouth, Jockey, I'll give you a calamnia in.
• 57:30
  Speaker 4: I think you've said a bad enough have I? Have
• 57:34
  Speaker 4: I a flimsy jack?
• 57:36
  Speaker 3: Have I in a sudden burst?
• 57:40
  Speaker 4: But I've not done with thee yet.
• 57:43
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, Ironically, no, and you haven't, Holroyd, shouting, pulling himself
• 57:50
  Speaker 3: up from the armchair.
• 57:52
  Speaker 4: Oh, showy, showy Blackmore laughs, Yeah, yeah, my young monkey. Yes,
• 58:02
  Speaker 4: that is it. Yes, it's me, Holroyd shouting, and I'll
• 58:08
  Speaker 4: make thee wish it weren't. I will what what that
• 58:14
  Speaker 4: comes sliding round here? Would?
• 58:17
  Speaker 3: He lurches forward at Blackmore with clenched fist.
• 58:21
  Speaker 2: Drunk and drunken fool.
• 58:23
  Speaker 3: Oh don't, Holroyd, turning to her.
• 58:27
  Speaker 4: Wah.
• 58:28
  Speaker 3: She puts up her hands before her face. Blackmore seizes
• 58:32
  Speaker 3: the upraised arm and swings Holroyd round. Blackmore in a
• 58:36
  Speaker 3: towering passion.
• 58:38
  Speaker 5: Mind what the art doing?
• 58:40
  Speaker 3: Holroyd turning fiercely on him incoherent woah, woah. He aims
• 58:48
  Speaker 3: a heavy blow. Blackmore evades it so that he is
• 58:52
  Speaker 3: struck on the side of the chest. Suddenly he shows
• 58:55
  Speaker 3: his teeth. He raises his fists, ready to strike Holroyd
• 58:59
  Speaker 3: when the latter stands to advantage missus, Holroyd rushing upon Blackmore.
• 59:04
  Speaker 2: No no, oh no, She.
• 59:07
  Speaker 3: Flies and opens the door and goes out. Blackmore glances
• 59:11
  Speaker 3: after her, then at Holroyd, who is preparing like a
• 59:14
  Speaker 3: bull for another charge. The young man's face lights up. Whoah.
• 59:21
  Speaker 3: As he advances. Blackmore quickly retriets out of doors. Holroyd
• 59:25
  Speaker 3: plunges upon him Blackmore slips behind the door jam, puts
• 59:29
  Speaker 3: out his foot and trips Holroyd with a crash upon
• 59:32
  Speaker 3: the brickyard.
• 59:33
  Speaker 2: Oh what has he done to himself?
• 59:36
  Speaker 3: Blackmore thickly tumbled over himself. Holroyd is seen struggling to
• 59:42
  Speaker 3: rise and is heard incoherently cursing.
• 59:45
  Speaker 2: Aren't you going to getting on? What for? But what
• 59:49
  Speaker 2: shall we do?
• 59:50
  Speaker 5: Let him go to hell.
• 59:52
  Speaker 3: Holroyd, who had subsided, begins to snarl and struggle again.
• 59:56
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd in terror.
• 59:59
  Speaker 2: He's getting up, all right, let him?
• 1:00:03
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd looks at Blackmore, suddenly afraid of him, also
• 1:00:07
  Speaker 3: holoid in a last frenzy u showly. He raises himself
• 1:00:14
  Speaker 3: up and is just picking his balance when Blackmore, with
• 1:00:17
  Speaker 3: a sudden light kick, sends him sprawling again. He is
• 1:00:21
  Speaker 3: seen on the edge of the light take collapse into stupor.
• 1:00:24
  Speaker 2: He'll kill you, He'll kill you.
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 3: Blackmore laughs short.
• 1:00:29
  Speaker 2: Would you believe it? Oh? He isn't it awful?
• 1:00:33
  Speaker 3: She begins to weep in a little hysteria. Blackmore stands
• 1:00:36
  Speaker 3: with his back leaning on the doorway, grinning in a
• 1:00:38
  Speaker 3: strained fashion.
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 2: Is he hurt? Do you think?
• 1:00:42
  Speaker 3: I don't know?
• 1:00:42
  Speaker 5: I should think not.
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 2: I wish she was dead. I do with all my heart.
• 1:00:48
  Speaker 3: Do you He looks at her quickly, She wavers and shrinks.
• 1:00:53
  Speaker 3: He begins to smile, strainedly, as before. You don't know
• 1:00:56
  Speaker 3: what you wish or what you want, Missus hule troubled.
• 1:01:01
  Speaker 2: Do you think I could get past him to come inside?
• 1:01:05
  Speaker 5: I should think so.
• 1:01:06
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, silent and troubled, maneuvers in the doorway, stepping
• 1:01:10
  Speaker 3: over her husband's feet, which lie on the threshold.
• 1:01:14
  Speaker 5: Why you've got no shoes and stockings on?
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 3: No. She enters the house and stands trembling before the fire.
• 1:01:22
  Speaker 3: Blackmore following her.
• 1:01:24
  Speaker 2: Are you cold a little? With standing on the yard?
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 5: What a shame?
• 1:01:30
  Speaker 3: She, uncertain of herself, sits down. He drops on one
• 1:01:34
  Speaker 3: knee awkwardly and takes her feet in his hands.
• 1:01:38
  Speaker 5: Don't, no, don't they are frightfully cold.
• 1:01:43
  Speaker 3: He remains with head sunk for some moments, then slowly rises,
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 3: damn him. They look at each other, then at the
• 1:01:51
  Speaker 3: same time turn away.
• 1:01:53
  Speaker 2: They can't leave him lying there.
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 5: No, No, I'll bring him in, but I won't wake again.
• 1:02:01
  Speaker 3: The drink will have.
• 1:02:02
  Speaker 5: Got hold of him by now.
• 1:02:04
  Speaker 3: He hesitates, could you take hold of his feet, he's
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 3: so heavy.
• 1:02:09
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 1:02:10
  Speaker 3: They go out and are seen stooping over Holroyd. Wait,
• 1:02:13
  Speaker 3: wait till I've got him half a minute. Missus Holroyd
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 3: backs in first. They carry Holroyd in and lay him
• 1:02:20
  Speaker 3: on the sofa.
• 1:02:22
  Speaker 2: Doesn't he look? Ohful?
• 1:02:24
  Speaker 5: It's more Mark than mar It isn't much.
• 1:02:27
  Speaker 3: Really. He is busy taking off Holroyd's collar and tie,
• 1:02:31
  Speaker 3: unfastening the waistcoat, the braces, and the waist buttons of
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 3: the trousers. He then proceeds to unlace the drunken man's boots.
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, who has been watching closely.
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 2: I shall never get him upstairs.
• 1:02:44
  Speaker 5: He can sleep here with a rug or something to
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 5: cover him. You don't want him upstairs.
• 1:02:50
  Speaker 3: Never again, Blackmore. After a moment or two of silence.
• 1:02:55
  Speaker 5: He'll be all right down here.
• 1:02:56
  Speaker 3: Have you got a rug?
• 1:02:58
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 1:02:59
  Speaker 3: She goes up stairs. Blackmore goes into the scullery, returning
• 1:03:03
  Speaker 3: with a laden can and towel. He gets hot water
• 1:03:06
  Speaker 3: from the boiler. Then, kneeling down, he begins to wipe
• 1:03:09
  Speaker 3: the drunken man's face lightly with the flannel to remove
• 1:03:12
  Speaker 3: the blood and dirt. Missus Holroyd returning.
• 1:03:16
  Speaker 2: What's all you doing?
• 1:03:18
  Speaker 5: Only wiping his face to get the dirt out.
• 1:03:20
  Speaker 2: I wonder if he'd do as much for you.
• 1:03:23
  Speaker 5: I hope not.
• 1:03:25
  Speaker 2: Is knee horrible, horrible?
• 1:03:28
  Speaker 3: Blackmore looks up at her.
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 5: Don't look at him.
• 1:03:31
  Speaker 2: Then I can't take it, and it's too much.
• 1:03:35
  Speaker 5: He won't wake.
• 1:03:36
  Speaker 3: I will stay with you, Missus Holroyd, earnestly.
• 1:03:40
  Speaker 5: No, oh no, there will be the drawn sword between us.
• 1:03:45
  Speaker 3: He indicates the figure of Holroyd, which lies in effect
• 1:03:49
  Speaker 3: as a barrier between them. Missus Holroyd, blushing, don't. I'm sorry,
• 1:03:56
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd. After watching him for a few moments, lightly went,
• 1:04:00
  Speaker 3: I think the sleeping man's face with a towel.
• 1:04:02
  Speaker 2: I wonder you can be so careful over.
• 1:04:04
  Speaker 3: Him, Blackmore quietly, it's only because he's helpless.
• 1:04:09
  Speaker 2: But why should he love him ever so little?
• 1:04:12
  Speaker 5: I don't only he's helpless. Five minutes since I could
• 1:04:16
  Speaker 5: have killed him.
• 1:04:17
  Speaker 2: Well, I don't understand you, man, Why I don't know.
• 1:04:22
  Speaker 5: I thought, as I stood in that doorway and he
• 1:04:24
  Speaker 5: was trying to get up, I wished, as hard as
• 1:04:26
  Speaker 5: I've ever wished anything in my life, what that I'd
• 1:04:31
  Speaker 5: killed him. I've never wished anything so much in my
• 1:04:33
  Speaker 5: life if wishes were anything.
• 1:04:36
  Speaker 2: Don't it does sound awful?
• 1:04:38
  Speaker 5: I could have done it too. He ought to be dead.
• 1:04:42
  Speaker 3: This is Holroyd pleading.
• 1:04:44
  Speaker 2: No, don't you know you don't mean it, and you
• 1:04:47
  Speaker 2: make me feel so awful.
• 1:04:50
  Speaker 5: I do mean it. It's simply true what I say.
• 1:04:53
  Speaker 2: But don't say it. No, No, we've had enough.
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 5: Give me the rug.
• 1:05:00
  Speaker 3: She hands it to him and he tugs.
• 1:05:01
  Speaker 2: Holroyd up, You only do it to play on my feelings.
• 1:05:06
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, laughing shortly.
• 1:05:08
  Speaker 5: And now give me a pillow. Thanks.
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 3: There is a pause. Both look at the sleeping man.
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 5: I suppose you're fond of him? Really?
• 1:05:17
  Speaker 2: No more?
• 1:05:18
  Speaker 5: You were fond of him?
• 1:05:20
  Speaker 2: I was, Yes?
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 5: What did you like in him?
• 1:05:24
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd uneasily.
• 1:05:27
  Speaker 2: I don't know.
• 1:05:28
  Speaker 5: I suppose you really care about him even now?
• 1:05:31
  Speaker 2: Why are you so sure of it?
• 1:05:33
  Speaker 5: Because I think it.
• 1:05:34
  Speaker 2: Is so I did care for him. Now he has
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 2: destroyed it.
• 1:05:39
  Speaker 3: I don't believe he can destroy it, Missus Holroyd with
• 1:05:42
  Speaker 3: a short laugh.
• 1:05:44
  Speaker 2: Don't you when you are married, you try, you'll find
• 1:05:48
  Speaker 2: it isn't so hard.
• 1:05:50
  Speaker 5: But what did you like in him? Because he was
• 1:05:52
  Speaker 5: good looking and strong?
• 1:05:54
  Speaker 4: In that.
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 2: I like that as well. But if a man makes
• 1:05:58
  Speaker 2: a nuisance of himself, his good looks are ugly to you,
• 1:06:01
  Speaker 2: and his strength notes. Do you think I care about
• 1:06:05
  Speaker 2: a man because he's got big fists when he is
• 1:06:07
  Speaker 2: a coward in his real self?
• 1:06:10
  Speaker 5: Is he a coward?
• 1:06:11
  Speaker 2: He is a pettyfogging poultry one.
• 1:06:15
  Speaker 3: And so you've really done with him?
• 1:06:17
  Speaker 2: I have?
• 1:06:18
  Speaker 3: And what are you going to do?
• 1:06:20
  Speaker 2: I don't know.
• 1:06:22
  Speaker 5: I suppose nothing. You'll just go on even if you've
• 1:06:25
  Speaker 5: done with him, you'll go on with him.
• 1:06:27
  Speaker 3: There is a long pies.
• 1:06:29
  Speaker 5: But there was nothing else in him but his muscles
• 1:06:32
  Speaker 5: and his good looks to attract you to him.
• 1:06:35
  Speaker 2: Why what does it matter?
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 5: What did you think he was?
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 2: Why must we talk about him?
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 5: Because I can never quite believe you.
• 1:06:44
  Speaker 2: I can't help whether you believe it or not.
• 1:06:47
  Speaker 5: Are you just in a rage with him because of tonight?
• 1:06:51
  Speaker 2: I know tonight finished it, but it was never right
• 1:06:55
  Speaker 2: between us, never, not once and then tonight. No, it's
• 1:07:01
  Speaker 2: too much. I can't stand any more of it.
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 5: I suppose he got tipsy. Then he said he wasn't
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 5: a married man, vowed he wasn't to those paper bonnets.
• 1:07:12
  Speaker 5: They found out he was, and said he was frightened
• 1:07:14
  Speaker 5: of his wife getting to know. Then he said they
• 1:07:17
  Speaker 5: should all go to supper at his house. I suppose
• 1:07:19
  Speaker 5: they came out of mischief.
• 1:07:21
  Speaker 2: He did it to insult me.
• 1:07:23
  Speaker 5: Oh, he was a bit tight. You can't say it
• 1:07:26
  Speaker 5: was deliberate.
• 1:07:27
  Speaker 2: No, but it shows how he feels towards me. The
• 1:07:30
  Speaker 2: feeling comes out and drink.
• 1:07:32
  Speaker 5: How does he feel towards you?
• 1:07:34
  Speaker 2: He wants to insult me and humiliate me in every
• 1:07:37
  Speaker 2: moment of his life. Now I simply despise him.
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 5: You really don't care any more about him?
• 1:07:44
  Speaker 3: No blackmore hesitates, and you would leave him.
• 1:07:50
  Speaker 2: I would leave him and not care that about him anymore.
• 1:07:54
  Speaker 3: She snaps her fingers. Will you come with me, missus Holroyd?
• 1:07:59
  Speaker 3: After a reluctant.
• 1:08:00
  Speaker 2: Pause, Where to Spain?
• 1:08:03
  Speaker 5: I can any time have a job there in a
• 1:08:05
  Speaker 5: decent part. You could take the children.
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 3: The figure of the sleeper stirs uneasily. They watch him.
• 1:08:12
  Speaker 5: Will you when would you go tomorrow? If you like?
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 2: But why do you want to settle yourself with me
• 1:08:19
  Speaker 2: and the children?
• 1:08:20
  Speaker 5: Because I want to?
• 1:08:22
  Speaker 2: But don't you love me?
• 1:08:24
  Speaker 5: Why don't I?
• 1:08:25
  Speaker 2: You don't?
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 5: I don't know about that. I don't know anything about
• 1:08:29
  Speaker 5: love only I've gone on for a year. Now it's
• 1:08:32
  Speaker 5: got stronger and stronger. What has this wanting you to
• 1:08:38
  Speaker 5: live with me? I took no notice of it for
• 1:08:40
  Speaker 5: a long time. Now I can't get away from it
• 1:08:43
  Speaker 5: at no hour and no.
• 1:08:44
  Speaker 3: How He still avoids direct contact with her.
• 1:08:48
  Speaker 2: But you'd like to get away from it.
• 1:08:51
  Speaker 5: I hate a mess of any sort. But if you'll
• 1:08:53
  Speaker 5: come away with me, you and the children.
• 1:08:56
  Speaker 2: But I couldn't. You don't love me.
• 1:08:59
  Speaker 5: I don't know what you mean by I don't love you.
• 1:09:01
  Speaker 2: I can feel it, And do you love me?
• 1:09:05
  Speaker 3: A pause?
• 1:09:07
  Speaker 2: I don't know. Everything is so so.
• 1:09:10
  Speaker 3: There is a long pause.
• 1:09:12
  Speaker 2: How old are you thirty two?
• 1:09:15
  Speaker 5: I'm twenty seven.
• 1:09:17
  Speaker 2: And have you never been in love?
• 1:09:19
  Speaker 5: I don't think so.
• 1:09:20
  Speaker 2: I don't know, but you must know. I must go
• 1:09:24
  Speaker 2: and shut that door that keeps klicking.
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 3: She rises to go upstairs, making a clatter at the
• 1:09:29
  Speaker 3: steer foot door. The noise rouses her husband. As she
• 1:09:33
  Speaker 3: goes upstairs, He moves, makes coughing sounds, turns over, and
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 3: then suddenly sits upright, gazing at blackmore. The latter sits
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 3: perfectly still on the sofa, his head dropped, hiding his face.
• 1:09:47
  Speaker 3: His hands are clasped. They remain thus for a minute.
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 4: Hello.
• 1:09:53
  Speaker 3: He stares fixedly Hello. His tone is undecided, as if
• 1:09:59
  Speaker 3: he mistrusts himself.
• 1:10:01
  Speaker 4: Whoa ooocher.
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 3: Blackmore does not move. Holroyd stares blankly. He then turns
• 1:10:09
  Speaker 3: and looks at the room.
• 1:10:11
  Speaker 4: WHOA, I don't know.
• 1:10:13
  Speaker 3: He staggers to his feet, clinging to the table, and
• 1:10:16
  Speaker 3: goes groping to the stairs. They creak loudly under his weight.
• 1:10:20
  Speaker 3: A door latches heard to click. In a moment, Missus
• 1:10:24
  Speaker 3: Holroyd comes quickly downstairs.
• 1:10:26
  Speaker 5: Has he gone to bed?
• 1:10:28
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd nodding, lying on the bed?
• 1:10:32
  Speaker 5: Will he settle now?
• 1:10:34
  Speaker 2: I don't know. He is like that sometimes he will
• 1:10:37
  Speaker 2: have delirium tremens if he goes.
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 3: On Blackmore softly.
• 1:10:43
  Speaker 5: You can't stay with him, you know, and the children
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 5: will take them.
• 1:10:48
  Speaker 2: Oh.
• 1:10:49
  Speaker 3: Her face packers to cry. Suddenly, he starts up and
• 1:10:53
  Speaker 3: puts his arms around her, holding her protectively and gently,
• 1:10:56
  Speaker 3: very caressingly. She clings to him. They are silent for
• 1:11:00
  Speaker 3: some moments. Blackmore, struggling in an altered voice.
• 1:11:06
  Speaker 5: Look at me and kiss me.
• 1:11:08
  Speaker 3: Her sobs are heard distinctly Blackmore lays his hand on
• 1:11:12
  Speaker 3: her cheek, caressing her always with his hand.
• 1:11:15
  Speaker 5: My god, but I hate him. I wish either he
• 1:11:18
  Speaker 5: was dead or me.
• 1:11:19
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd hides against him. Her sobs cease. After a while.
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 3: He continues in the same murmuring fashion.
• 1:11:27
  Speaker 5: I can't go on like it anymore. I feel as
• 1:11:30
  Speaker 5: if I should come in two. I can't keep away
• 1:11:33
  Speaker 5: from you. I simply can't come with me. Come with
• 1:11:36
  Speaker 5: me and leave him. If you knew what a hell
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 5: it is for me to have you here and to
• 1:11:41
  Speaker 5: see him, I can't go without you. I can't. It's
• 1:11:45
  Speaker 5: been hell every moment for six months.
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 2: Now.
• 1:11:47
  Speaker 5: You say I don't love you.
• 1:11:49
  Speaker 3: Perhaps I don't for all I know about it, But
• 1:11:52
  Speaker 3: oh my god, don't keep me like it any longer.
• 1:11:55
  Speaker 5: Why should he have you? And I've never had anything.
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 2: I've beloved anybody.
• 1:12:01
  Speaker 5: No, I've tried, kiss me of your own wish?
• 1:12:04
  Speaker 4: Will you?
• 1:12:06
  Speaker 2: I don't know?
• 1:12:07
  Speaker 3: Blackmore? After a pause, let's break clear, let's go right away.
• 1:12:13
  Speaker 5: Do you care for me?
• 1:12:15
  Speaker 2: I don't know.
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 3: She loosens herself, rises dumbley.
• 1:12:20
  Speaker 5: When do you think you will know?
• 1:12:22
  Speaker 3: She sits down helplessly.
• 1:12:24
  Speaker 2: I don't know, Yes, you do know?
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 3: Really, if he was dead, should you marry me?
• 1:12:31
  Speaker 2: Don't say it?
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 5: Why not?
• 1:12:33
  Speaker 3: If wishing of mine would kill him, he'd soon be
• 1:12:36
  Speaker 3: out of the way.
• 1:12:37
  Speaker 5: But the children, I'm fond of them.
• 1:12:40
  Speaker 3: I shall have good money.
• 1:12:42
  Speaker 2: But he's there. Father?
• 1:12:45
  Speaker 5: What does that mean?
• 1:12:46
  Speaker 2: Yes? I know?
• 1:12:48
  Speaker 4: A pause?
• 1:12:50
  Speaker 5: But is it him that keeps you?
• 1:12:54
  Speaker 2: No?
• 1:12:55
  Speaker 5: Then come with me, will you?
• 1:12:57
  Speaker 3: He stands waiting for her. Then he turns and takes
• 1:13:00
  Speaker 3: his overcoat, pulls it on, leaving the collar turned up,
• 1:13:03
  Speaker 3: ceasing to twist his cap.
• 1:13:06
  Speaker 5: Well, will you tell me tomorrow?
• 1:13:09
  Speaker 3: She goes forward and flings her arms round his neck.
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 3: He suddenly kisses her passionately.
• 1:13:14
  Speaker 2: But I ought not.
• 1:13:16
  Speaker 12: She draws away a little. He will not let her go. Yes,
• 1:13:20
  Speaker 12: it's all right, He holds her close. Is it, yes,
• 1:13:26
  Speaker 12: it is, It's all right.
• 1:13:28
  Speaker 3: He kisses her again. She releases herself but holds his hand.
• 1:13:32
  Speaker 3: They keep listening.
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 2: Do you love me?
• 1:13:35
  Speaker 5: What do you ask for?
• 1:13:37
  Speaker 2: Have I hurt you these months?
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 5: You haven't, And I don't care what it's been. If
• 1:13:43
  Speaker 5: you'll come with me?
• 1:13:44
  Speaker 3: There is a noise upstairs, and they wait.
• 1:13:47
  Speaker 5: You will soon, won't you?
• 1:13:49
  Speaker 3: She kisses him.
• 1:13:50
  Speaker 2: He's not safe, She disengages.
• 1:13:53
  Speaker 3: Herself and sits on the sofa. Blackmore takes a place
• 1:13:57
  Speaker 3: beside her, holding her hand in both his. You should
• 1:14:01
  Speaker 3: have waited for me, how wait and that have married him?
• 1:14:06
  Speaker 2: I might never have known you. I married him to
• 1:14:09
  Speaker 2: get out of my place. Why I was left a
• 1:14:13
  Speaker 2: norphan When I was six. My uncle John brought me
• 1:14:16
  Speaker 2: up in the coach and horses at Reinsworth. He'd got
• 1:14:20
  Speaker 2: no children. He was good to me, but he drank.
• 1:14:23
  Speaker 2: I went to Mansfield Grammar School and he fell out
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 2: with me because I wouldn't wait in the bar. And
• 1:14:29
  Speaker 2: I went as nursery governess to Beryman's and I felt
• 1:14:32
  Speaker 2: I'd nowhere to go. I belonged to know it, and
• 1:14:35
  Speaker 2: nobody cared about me, and men came after me, and
• 1:14:39
  Speaker 2: I hated it. So to get out of it, I
• 1:14:43
  Speaker 2: married the first man that turned up.
• 1:14:45
  Speaker 5: And you never cared about him, Yes I did.
• 1:14:49
  Speaker 2: I did care about him. I wanted to be a
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 2: wife to him. But there's nothing at the bottom of him.
• 1:14:55
  Speaker 2: If you know what I mean. You can't get anywhere
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 2: with him. There's just his body and nothing else, nothing
• 1:15:02
  Speaker 2: that keeps him, no anchor, no roots, nothing satisfying. It's
• 1:15:06
  Speaker 2: a horrible feeling there is about him, that nothing is
• 1:15:10
  Speaker 2: safe or permanent, nothing is anything?
• 1:15:13
  Speaker 5: And do you think you can trust me?
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 2: I think you're different from him.
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 3: Perhaps I'm not, missus Holroyd warmly you are. At any rate,
• 1:15:25
  Speaker 3: we'll see you'll come on Saturday to London.
• 1:15:28
  Speaker 2: Well you see there's my money. I haven't got it yet.
• 1:15:32
  Speaker 2: My uncle has left me about one hundred and twenty pounds.
• 1:15:35
  Speaker 3: Well see the lawyer about it as soon as you can.
• 1:15:37
  Speaker 3: I can let you have some money if you want any,
• 1:15:40
  Speaker 3: but don't let us wait after Saturday.
• 1:15:42
  Speaker 2: But isn't it wrong?
• 1:15:44
  Speaker 3: Why if you don't care for him and the children
• 1:15:47
  Speaker 3: are miserable be between.
• 1:15:48
  Speaker 5: The two of you, which they are? Yes, well, then
• 1:15:52
  Speaker 5: I see no wrong. As for him, he would go
• 1:15:55
  Speaker 5: one way and only one way. Whatever you do, damn him,
• 1:15:58
  Speaker 5: he doesn't matter. No, Well, then have done with it.
• 1:16:03
  Speaker 5: Can't you cut clean of him?
• 1:16:04
  Speaker 2: Can't you?
• 1:16:05
  Speaker 10: Now?
• 1:16:06
  Speaker 2: And then the children they'll be all right with me
• 1:16:09
  Speaker 2: and you, won't they? Yes?
• 1:16:12
  Speaker 5: Well, then now come and have done with it. We
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 5: can't keep on being ripped in two like this. We
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 5: need never hear of him any more.
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 2: Yes, I love you, I do love you?
• 1:16:25
  Speaker 5: Oh, my god.
• 1:16:27
  Speaker 3: He speaks with difficulty, embracing her.
• 1:16:30
  Speaker 2: And I look at him, and then at you.
• 1:16:33
  Speaker 3: She gives a short laugh.
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 5: He's had all the chance. It's only fair, Lizzie, my love.
• 1:16:41
  Speaker 3: There is silence. He keeps his arm round her. After hesitating,
• 1:16:45
  Speaker 3: he picks up his cat.
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 5: I'll go then, at any rate, shall you come with me?
• 1:16:51
  Speaker 3: She follows him to the door.
• 1:16:53
  Speaker 2: I'll come on Saturday, not now.
• 1:16:56
  Speaker 3: Curtain and of act too, Act three of the Widowing
• 1:17:06
  Speaker 3: of Missus Holroyd by D. H. Lawrence. This is a
• 1:17:09
  Speaker 3: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
• 1:17:14
  Speaker 3: For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
• 1:17:18
  Speaker 3: The third act scene the same time the following evening,
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 3: about seven o'clock. The table is half laid with a
• 1:17:27
  Speaker 3: large cap and saucer plate, et cetera, ready for Holroyd's dinner,
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 3: which like all miners, he has when he comes home
• 1:17:33
  Speaker 3: between four and five o'clock. On the other half of
• 1:17:36
  Speaker 3: the table, Missus Holroyd is ironing. On the hearth stands
• 1:17:40
  Speaker 3: newly baked loaves of bread. The irons hang at the
• 1:17:43
  Speaker 3: fire jack with a bowler hat hanging at the back
• 1:17:46
  Speaker 3: of his head, parades up to the sofa, on which
• 1:17:49
  Speaker 3: stands Many engaged in dusting a picture. She has a
• 1:17:52
  Speaker 3: soiy oled white apron tied behind her to make a
• 1:17:55
  Speaker 3: long skirt.
• 1:17:56
  Speaker 6: Good morning, missus, any scissors.
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 3: Minnie peering down from the sofa.
• 1:18:04
  Speaker 10: Oh, I can't be bothered to come downstairs? Call another day.
• 1:18:09
  Speaker 3: I shan't, Minnie keeping up her part.
• 1:18:14
  Speaker 10: Well, I can't come now now.
• 1:18:17
  Speaker 3: Jack stands, irresolute.
• 1:18:19
  Speaker 10: Go on, you have to go and steal the baby.
• 1:18:23
  Speaker 6: I'm not well.
• 1:18:25
  Speaker 10: You can steal the eggs out of the foul house.
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 10: I'm not then I shan't play with you.
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 3: Jack takes off his bowler hat and flings it on
• 1:18:35
  Speaker 3: the sofa. Tears come in Minnie's eyes. Now I'm not friends,
• 1:18:40
  Speaker 3: she surveys him ruefully. After a few moments of silence,
• 1:18:44
  Speaker 3: she clambers down and goes to her mother, ma'am he
• 1:18:47
  Speaker 3: won't play with me, missus Holroyd Crossley.
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 2: Why don't you play with her? If you begin bothering,
• 1:18:54
  Speaker 2: you must go to bed.
• 1:18:56
  Speaker 6: Well, I don't want to play.
• 1:18:59
  Speaker 2: Then you must go to bed.
• 1:19:01
  Speaker 6: I don't want to And what do you want?
• 1:19:05
  Speaker 2: I should like to know?
• 1:19:07
  Speaker 10: I wish my father'd come, I do.
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 2: I suppose he thinks he's paying me out. This is
• 1:19:14
  Speaker 2: the third time this week he's slunk past the door
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 2: and gone down to Old Brinsley instead of coming into
• 1:19:19
  Speaker 2: his dinner. He'll be as drunk as a lord when
• 1:19:22
  Speaker 2: he does come.
• 1:19:23
  Speaker 3: The children look at her plaintively.
• 1:19:25
  Speaker 10: Isn't he a nuisance?
• 1:19:28
  Speaker 6: I hate him. I wish he'd drop down the pit shaft.
• 1:19:33
  Speaker 2: Jack, I never heard such a thing in my life.
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 2: You mustn't say such things. It's wicked.
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 3: Well I do, missus Holroyd loudly.
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 2: I won't have it.
• 1:19:45
  Speaker 3: He's your father, remember Jack, in a high voice.
• 1:19:50
  Speaker 6: Well, he's always coming home and shouting and banging on
• 1:19:54
  Speaker 6: the table.
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 3: He's getting tearful and defiant.
• 1:19:58
  Speaker 2: Well, you mustn't take any notice.
• 1:20:00
  Speaker 10: Of him, Minnie wistfully happened if you said something nice
• 1:20:05
  Speaker 10: to him, Mother, he'd happen to go to bed and
• 1:20:08
  Speaker 10: not shout.
• 1:20:10
  Speaker 6: I'd hit him in the mouth.
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 2: Perhaps we'll go to another country away from him? Should
• 1:20:15
  Speaker 2: we in a ship? A mother in a ship, ma'am, Yes,
• 1:20:22
  Speaker 2: in a big ship where it's blue sky and water
• 1:20:25
  Speaker 2: and palm trees and and dates. When should we go someday.
• 1:20:33
  Speaker 10: But who would work for us? Who should we have
• 1:20:36
  Speaker 10: for father?
• 1:20:38
  Speaker 6: You don't want a father. I can go to work
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 6: for us.
• 1:20:43
  Speaker 2: I've got a lot of money now that your uncle
• 1:20:45
  Speaker 2: left me.
• 1:20:46
  Speaker 3: Mini after a general thoughtful silence.
• 1:20:50
  Speaker 10: And would my father stop here?
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 2: Oh, he'd be all right.
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 10: But who would he live with?
• 1:20:57
  Speaker 2: I don't know. One of his paper bonnets?
• 1:20:59
  Speaker 10: If he liked then she could have her old bracelet back,
• 1:21:03
  Speaker 10: couldn't she?
• 1:21:05
  Speaker 2: Yes, there it is on the candlestick, waiting for her.
• 1:21:09
  Speaker 3: There is a sound of footsteps, then a knock at
• 1:21:11
  Speaker 3: the door. The children start, Mannie in relief.
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 10: Here he is.
• 1:21:18
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd goes to the door. Blackmore enters.
• 1:21:22
  Speaker 5: It is foggy tonight. Hello, aren't you youngsters gone to ben?
• 1:21:28
  Speaker 10: No, my father's not gone home yet.
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, turning to Missus Holroyd.
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 5: Did he go to work then? After last night?
• 1:21:37
  Speaker 2: I suppose so? His pit things were gone when I
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 2: got up. I never thought he'd.
• 1:21:41
  Speaker 5: Go, And he took his snap as usual.
• 1:21:45
  Speaker 2: Yes, just as usual. I suppose he's gone to the
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 2: new inn. He'd say to himself, he'd pay me out,
• 1:21:51
  Speaker 2: That's what he always does say, I'll pay thee up
• 1:21:54
  Speaker 2: for that bit, I'll make thee regret it.
• 1:21:57
  Speaker 6: We're going to leave him.
• 1:22:00
  Speaker 5: So you think he's at the new Inn.
• 1:22:02
  Speaker 2: I'm sure he is. He'll come when he's full.
• 1:22:05
  Speaker 10: He'll have about now you'll say, go and fetch him,
• 1:22:09
  Speaker 10: mister Blackmore.
• 1:22:11
  Speaker 6: My mother says, we shall go in a ship and
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 6: leave him.
• 1:22:14
  Speaker 3: Blackmore, after looking keenly at Jack to missus Holroyd.
• 1:22:19
  Speaker 5: Shall I go and see if he's at the new Inn?
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 2: No, perhaps you'd better not.
• 1:22:24
  Speaker 5: Oh, he shan't see me. I can easily manage that.
• 1:22:28
  Speaker 6: Fetch him, mister Blackmore.
• 1:22:30
  Speaker 2: All right, Jack to missus Holroyd, shall I we're always
• 1:22:35
  Speaker 2: pulling on you, But yes, do Blackmore goes out?
• 1:22:40
  Speaker 6: I wonder how long he'll be.
• 1:22:43
  Speaker 2: You come and go to bed. Now you'd better be
• 1:22:46
  Speaker 2: out of the way when he comes in.
• 1:22:48
  Speaker 10: And you won't see anything to him, mother, will you?
• 1:22:52
  Speaker 10: What do you mean you won't begin of him?
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 3: Row him?
• 1:22:57
  Speaker 2: Is he to have all his own way? What would
• 1:23:00
  Speaker 2: he be like if I didn't row him?
• 1:23:02
  Speaker 6: But it doesn't matter, mother, if we're going to leave him.
• 1:23:07
  Speaker 10: But mister blackmorey come back, won't he, ma'am? And Dad
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 10: won't shout before him?
• 1:23:14
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, beginning to undress the children.
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 2: Yes, he'll come back, ma'am.
• 1:23:20
  Speaker 10: Could I have that bracelet to go to bed with?
• 1:23:24
  Speaker 2: Come and say your prayers?
• 1:23:26
  Speaker 3: They kneel, muttering in their mother's apron Minnie suddenly lifting
• 1:23:30
  Speaker 3: her head, Can I, ma'am Missus Holroyd, trying to be stern.
• 1:23:36
  Speaker 2: Have you finished your prayers?
• 1:23:38
  Speaker 4: Yes?
• 1:23:40
  Speaker 2: If you want it, beastly thing.
• 1:23:43
  Speaker 3: She reaches the bracelet down from the mantelpiece.
• 1:23:46
  Speaker 2: Your father must have put it up there. I don't
• 1:23:48
  Speaker 2: know where I left it. Suppose he'd think I was
• 1:23:51
  Speaker 2: proud of it and wanted it for an ornament.
• 1:23:54
  Speaker 3: Many gloats over it. Missus Holroyd lights a candle and
• 1:23:57
  Speaker 3: they go upstairs. After a few moments, the outer door
• 1:24:01
  Speaker 3: opens and there enters an old woman. She is a
• 1:24:04
  Speaker 3: middling stature and wears a large gray shawl over her head.
• 1:24:08
  Speaker 3: After glancing sharply round the room, she advances to the fire,
• 1:24:12
  Speaker 3: warms herself, then, taking off her shawl, sits in the
• 1:24:15
  Speaker 3: rocking chair. As she hears Missus Holroyd's footsteps, she folds
• 1:24:20
  Speaker 3: her hands and puts on a lachrymose expression. Turning down
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 3: the corners of her mouth and arching her eyebrows.
• 1:24:26
  Speaker 2: Hello, mother, is are you?
• 1:24:29
  Speaker 7: Yes, it's me. Haven't you finished ironing?
• 1:24:32
  Speaker 2: Not yet?
• 1:24:34
  Speaker 7: You'll have your irons red hot?
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 2: Yes, I shall have to stun them to cool.
• 1:24:39
  Speaker 3: She does so, and moves about at her ironing.
• 1:24:42
  Speaker 7: And you don't know what's become of child's.
• 1:24:45
  Speaker 2: Well, he's not come home from work yet. I suppose
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 2: he was at the new in. Why ah that.
• 1:24:51
  Speaker 7: Young electrician come knocking, asking if I knew where he was? Eh?
• 1:24:55
  Speaker 7: I said, I've not set eyes on him for over
• 1:24:58
  Speaker 7: a week, nor his wife neither, though they passed the
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 7: garden gate every time they go out, I know not
• 1:25:05
  Speaker 7: on him. I asked him what was the matter, So
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 7: he said, missus Holroyd was anxious because he'd not come home.
• 1:25:12
  Speaker 7: So I thought I'd better come and see. Is there
• 1:25:15
  Speaker 7: anything up?
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 2: No more than I've told you.
• 1:25:18
  Speaker 7: It's a rama. If he's neither in the new Inn
• 1:25:21
  Speaker 7: nor the Prince of Wales. I suppose something you've done
• 1:25:24
  Speaker 7: set him off.
• 1:25:26
  Speaker 2: It's nothing I've done.
• 1:25:28
  Speaker 7: If he's gone off and left you, whatever shall we do?
• 1:25:32
  Speaker 7: What ever have you been doing?
• 1:25:34
  Speaker 2: He brought a couple of bright daisies here last night.
• 1:25:38
  Speaker 2: Two of those trollops from Nottingham, and I said I'd not.
• 1:25:41
  Speaker 3: Have it, Grandmother sighing deeply.
• 1:25:45
  Speaker 7: I've never been able to agree.
• 1:25:48
  Speaker 2: We agreed well enough, except when he drank like a
• 1:25:51
  Speaker 2: fish and came home rolling.
• 1:25:54
  Speaker 3: Grandmother whining, Well, what.
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 7: Can you expect of a man as has been shut
• 1:25:59
  Speaker 7: up pit all day? He must have a bit of relaxation.
• 1:26:05
  Speaker 2: He can have it different from that then, at any rate,
• 1:26:08
  Speaker 2: I'm sick of it.
• 1:26:10
  Speaker 7: Hey, you for stiff, Nick, But it'll be about by
• 1:26:13
  Speaker 7: your my age.
• 1:26:15
  Speaker 2: Will it. I'd rather it were broke.
• 1:26:18
  Speaker 7: Well, there's no telling what a jealous man will do.
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 3: She shakes her head.
• 1:26:23
  Speaker 2: Nay, I think it's my place to be jealous. When
• 1:26:26
  Speaker 2: he brings a brazen hussy here and sits carrying on
• 1:26:29
  Speaker 2: with her.
• 1:26:30
  Speaker 7: He'd no business to do that. But you know, Lizzie,
• 1:26:34
  Speaker 7: he's got something on his side.
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 2: What pray?
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 7: Well, I don't want to make any mischief, but you're
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 7: my son's wife, and it's nothing but my duty to
• 1:26:45
  Speaker 7: tell you. They've been saying a long time now, as
• 1:26:49
  Speaker 7: that young electrician is here a bit too often.
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 2: He doesn't come for my asking.
• 1:26:55
  Speaker 7: No, I don't suppose he wants for asking, But Charlie's
• 1:26:59
  Speaker 7: not the man to put up with that sort of work.
• 1:27:02
  Speaker 2: Charlie put up with it. If he's anything to say,
• 1:27:05
  Speaker 2: why doesn't he say it without going to other folks.
• 1:27:09
  Speaker 7: Charlie's never been near me with a word, nor has
• 1:27:12
  Speaker 7: he said a word elsewhere to my knowledge. For all
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 7: that this is going to end with trouble in.
• 1:27:19
  Speaker 2: This hole, every gossiping creature thinks she's got the right
• 1:27:22
  Speaker 2: to cackle about you sickening and a parcel of lies.
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 7: Well, Lizzie, I've never said anything against you. Charlie's been
• 1:27:31
  Speaker 7: a handful of trouble. He made my heart ache once
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 7: or twice before you had him, and he's made it
• 1:27:37
  Speaker 7: ache many many as the time since. But it's not
• 1:27:40
  Speaker 7: all on his side, you know.
• 1:27:43
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd hadly No, I don't.
• 1:27:46
  Speaker 7: Know you thought yourself above him, Lizzie, And you know
• 1:27:50
  Speaker 7: he's not the man to stand it.
• 1:27:53
  Speaker 3: No, he's run away from it grandmother venomously.
• 1:27:57
  Speaker 7: And what man wouldn't leave a woman that allowed him
• 1:28:00
  Speaker 7: to live on sufferance in the home with her when
• 1:28:03
  Speaker 7: he was bringing them money home sufferance.
• 1:28:07
  Speaker 2: Yes, there's been a lot of letting him live on
• 1:28:09
  Speaker 2: sufferance in the house with me. It is I who
• 1:28:12
  Speaker 2: have lived on sufferance for his service and pleasure. No,
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 2: what he wanted was the drink and the public house company,
• 1:28:20
  Speaker 2: and because he couldn't get them here, he went out
• 1:28:22
  Speaker 2: for them. That's all.
• 1:28:24
  Speaker 7: You have always been very clever at hitting things off, Lizzie.
• 1:28:28
  Speaker 7: I was always sorry my youngest son married a clever woman.
• 1:28:32
  Speaker 7: He only wanted a bit of coaxing and managing, and
• 1:28:35
  Speaker 7: you clever women won't do it.
• 1:28:38
  Speaker 2: He wanted a slave, not a wife.
• 1:28:40
  Speaker 7: It's a pity your stomach wasn't too high for him
• 1:28:43
  Speaker 7: before you had him. But no, you could have eaten
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 7: him ravishing at one time.
• 1:28:48
  Speaker 2: It's a pity you didn't tell me what he was
• 1:28:51
  Speaker 2: before I had him. But oh he was all angel.
• 1:28:54
  Speaker 2: You left me to find out what he really was.
• 1:28:58
  Speaker 7: Some women could have lived with him, happy enough and
• 1:29:01
  Speaker 7: a fat lot. You'd have thanked me for my telling.
• 1:29:04
  Speaker 3: There is a knock at the door, Missus. Holroyd opens.
• 1:29:08
  Speaker 4: They tell me, missus, as your mace is not home yet.
• 1:29:13
  Speaker 7: No, who is it, ask him to step inside, don't
• 1:29:17
  Speaker 7: stand there letting the fog in.
• 1:29:20
  Speaker 3: Wriggley steps in. He has a tall, bony very roughly
• 1:29:24
  Speaker 3: hewn Collier.
• 1:29:26
  Speaker 7: Good evening, Oh is it you, mister Ridgley.
• 1:29:30
  Speaker 3: In a querulus spiteful tone to missus Holroyd.
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 7: He butties along with Charlie.
• 1:29:37
  Speaker 4: Oh and then you see now, I'm no was he
• 1:29:42
  Speaker 4: all right?
• 1:29:42
  Speaker 2: And work?
• 1:29:44
  Speaker 3: Well?
• 1:29:44
  Speaker 4: We're now to mention a bit sure like and much
• 1:29:49
  Speaker 4: to say. I cannot make out what he's done with self.
• 1:29:53
  Speaker 3: He is manifestly uneasy, does not look at the two women.
• 1:29:58
  Speaker 7: And did he come up with the same band with you?
• 1:30:01
  Speaker 4: No, he didn't. As I were coming out of the store,
• 1:30:05
  Speaker 4: I shouted, aren't coming, Charlie, we're off, and he said
• 1:30:10
  Speaker 4: I'm coming in a minute. He were just finishing a
• 1:30:13
  Speaker 4: stint like and he wanted us get it set. And
• 1:30:17
  Speaker 4: he'd been a bit roughish in he's temper like, so
• 1:30:20
  Speaker 4: I thought he didn't want to walk to the bottom.
• 1:30:22
  Speaker 3: With us grandmother whaling?
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 7: And what's he gone and done to himself?
• 1:30:29
  Speaker 4: Nay, Missus Humanna asked me that he's not done out
• 1:30:33
  Speaker 4: as I know him. Only I was thinking happened something
• 1:30:38
  Speaker 4: had happened to him, like, seeing as nobody's had any
• 1:30:41
  Speaker 4: knowledge of him coming up.
• 1:30:43
  Speaker 2: What is the matter, mister Rickley tell us it out.
• 1:30:47
  Speaker 4: I canno do that, Missus. It seems as if he
• 1:30:51
  Speaker 4: never come up to pit. As far as we can
• 1:30:53
  Speaker 4: make out, happened a bit of stuff fell and pinned him.
• 1:30:58
  Speaker 3: Grandmother whaling, And have.
• 1:31:01
  Speaker 7: You left him lying down there in the pit, poor.
• 1:31:04
  Speaker 3: Thing, Wriggly uneasily.
• 1:31:07
  Speaker 4: I can't say for certain where he.
• 1:31:09
  Speaker 3: Is, Missus Holroyd agitated.
• 1:31:13
  Speaker 2: Oh it's very likely, not very bad. Mother. Don't let
• 1:31:16
  Speaker 2: us run to meet trouble.
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 4: We have to hope for the best, missus or all
• 1:31:21
  Speaker 4: of us.
• 1:31:23
  Speaker 3: Grandmother wailing, Eh, they'll bring him home, I know they will.
• 1:31:29
  Speaker 7: Smashed up and broke, and one of my sons they've
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 7: burnt down pit till the flesh dropped off him, and
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 7: one was shot till his shoulder was all of a mush,
• 1:31:39
  Speaker 7: and they brought him home to me.
• 1:31:41
  Speaker 3: And now there's this, Missus Holroyd shuddering. Oh don't, mother,
• 1:31:48
  Speaker 3: appealingly to Wriggly. You don't know that he's hurt, Wriggly
• 1:31:53
  Speaker 3: shaking his head.
• 1:31:55
  Speaker 4: I cannot tell you.
• 1:31:57
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, in a high hysterical voice. Then what is it,
• 1:32:03
  Speaker 3: Wriggly very uneasy?
• 1:32:05
  Speaker 4: I cannot tell you. But young young electrician mister Blackmore.
• 1:32:10
  Speaker 4: He wrung down to the night deputy. And it seems
• 1:32:13
  Speaker 4: as though there's been a fool or summer.
• 1:32:16
  Speaker 7: Eh, Lizzie, you parted from him in anger, you a
• 1:32:19
  Speaker 7: little not how do you meet him again?
• 1:32:22
  Speaker 3: Wriggly making an effort.
• 1:32:24
  Speaker 4: Well, I am blessed, be going to see what's beside.
• 1:32:29
  Speaker 3: He goes out.
• 1:32:30
  Speaker 7: I'm sure I've had my share of bad luck.
• 1:32:33
  Speaker 5: I have.
• 1:32:34
  Speaker 7: I'm sure I've brought up five lads in the pit,
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 7: through accidents and troubles, and now there's this. The Lord
• 1:32:42
  Speaker 7: has treated me very hard, very hard. It's a blessing, Lizzie,
• 1:32:47
  Speaker 7: as you've got a bit of money. Else what would
• 1:32:50
  Speaker 7: have become of the children.
• 1:32:52
  Speaker 2: Well, if he's badly hurt, they'll be the union pay
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 2: and sick pay. We shall manage. And perhaps it's not
• 1:32:58
  Speaker 2: very much.
• 1:33:00
  Speaker 7: There is no knowing, but what they'll be carrying him
• 1:33:03
  Speaker 7: to die at the hospital.
• 1:33:05
  Speaker 2: Oh don't say so, mother, it won't be so bad.
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 7: You'll see how much money have you, Lizzie? Come in?
• 1:33:13
  Speaker 2: I don't know, not much of her one hundred pounds.
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 3: Grandmother shaking her head, and what's that?
• 1:33:21
  Speaker 7: What's that?
• 1:33:22
  Speaker 8: Missus?
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 3: Holroyd sharply hush, grandmother crying, why what missus Holroyd opens
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 3: the door. In the silence can be heard the pulsing
• 1:33:34
  Speaker 3: of the fan engine. Then the driving engine chefs rapidly.
• 1:33:38
  Speaker 3: There is a sureer of brakes on the rope as
• 1:33:41
  Speaker 3: it descends.
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 2: That's twice they've sent the chair down. I wish we
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 2: could see, hark. What is it? Yes, it's not that
• 1:33:50
  Speaker 2: the gate. It's the doctor's.
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 3: Grandmother coming to the door.
• 1:33:55
  Speaker 2: What, Lizzie, the doctor's motor.
• 1:33:59
  Speaker 3: She listens acutely.
• 1:34:01
  Speaker 2: There you stop here, mother, while I run up to
• 1:34:03
  Speaker 2: the top and see.
• 1:34:05
  Speaker 7: You'd better not go, Lizzie, you'd better not. A woman's
• 1:34:08
  Speaker 7: best to wait.
• 1:34:10
  Speaker 2: It is unbearable to wait.
• 1:34:12
  Speaker 7: Come in and shut the door. It's a cold that
• 1:34:15
  Speaker 7: gets in your bones.
• 1:34:17
  Speaker 3: She goes in.
• 1:34:18
  Speaker 2: Perhaps while he's in bed we shall have time to
• 1:34:21
  Speaker 2: change him. It's an ill wing that brings no good.
• 1:34:24
  Speaker 2: He'll happen be a better man.
• 1:34:27
  Speaker 7: Well, you can, but try many a woman's thought the same.
• 1:34:32
  Speaker 2: Oh, dear, I wish somebody would come. He's never been
• 1:34:35
  Speaker 2: hurt since we were married.
• 1:34:37
  Speaker 7: No, he's never had a bad accident. All the years
• 1:34:40
  Speaker 7: he's been in the pit, he's been luckier than most,
• 1:34:44
  Speaker 7: but everybody has it sooner or later.
• 1:34:48
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, shivering, It is a horrid night, grandmother, querulous.
• 1:34:55
  Speaker 7: Yes, come your ways in hark.
• 1:34:59
  Speaker 3: There is a quick sound of footsteps. Blackmore comes into
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 3: the light of the doorway.
• 1:35:04
  Speaker 5: They're bringing him.
• 1:35:06
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd quickly putting her hand over her breast.
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 2: What is it?
• 1:35:11
  Speaker 5: You can't tell anything's the matter with him? It's not
• 1:35:14
  Speaker 5: marked him at all?
• 1:35:15
  Speaker 2: Oh what a blessing? And is it much? Well? What
• 1:35:20
  Speaker 2: is it?
• 1:35:20
  Speaker 3: It's the worst?
• 1:35:23
  Speaker 7: Who is it? What does he say?
• 1:35:26
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd sinks on the nearest chair with a horrified expression.
• 1:35:31
  Speaker 3: Blackmore pulls himself together and enters. He is very pale.
• 1:35:35
  Speaker 5: I came to tell you they're bringing him home.
• 1:35:38
  Speaker 7: And you said it wasn't very bad, did you now?
• 1:35:43
  Speaker 5: I said it was as bad as it could be.
• 1:35:47
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, rising and crossing to her mother in law,
• 1:35:50
  Speaker 3: flings her arms around her in a high voice.
• 1:35:54
  Speaker 2: Oh mother, what shall we do? What shall we do?
• 1:35:58
  Speaker 7: You don't mean to say he's dead?
• 1:36:01
  Speaker 3: Yes, grandmother steering, God help us?
• 1:36:06
  Speaker 7: And how was it?
• 1:36:08
  Speaker 5: Some stuff fell?
• 1:36:09
  Speaker 3: Grandmother rocking herself and her daughter in law both weeping.
• 1:36:14
  Speaker 13: Oh God, have mercy on us, Oh God, have mercy
• 1:36:19
  Speaker 13: on us. Some stuff fell on him and did not
• 1:36:23
  Speaker 13: even time to cry for mercy. Oh God, spare him.
• 1:36:28
  Speaker 13: Oh what shall we do for comfort? To be taken
• 1:36:31
  Speaker 13: straight out of his sins? Oh, Lizzie, to think he
• 1:36:35
  Speaker 13: should be cut off in his wickedness. He's been a
• 1:36:38
  Speaker 13: bad lad of late he has, poor Lamb. He's gone
• 1:36:42
  Speaker 13: very wrong of late years, poor dear Lamb, very wrong.
• 1:36:47
  Speaker 13: Oh Lizzie, what's to become of him?
• 1:36:50
  Speaker 3: Now?
• 1:36:51
  Speaker 7: If only you'd have tried to be different with him.
• 1:36:55
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd moaning, don't, mother, don't.
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 2: I can't bear it?
• 1:37:01
  Speaker 3: Blackmore cold and clear?
• 1:37:03
  Speaker 5: Where will you have him laid?
• 1:37:05
  Speaker 3: The man will be here in a moment, Missus Holroyd
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 3: starting up.
• 1:37:10
  Speaker 2: They can carry him up to bed.
• 1:37:12
  Speaker 5: It's no good taking him upstairs. You'll have to wash
• 1:37:15
  Speaker 5: him and lay him out.
• 1:37:16
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd startled.
• 1:37:19
  Speaker 5: Well, he's in his pit dirt.
• 1:37:22
  Speaker 7: He's bless him. We'd better have him down here, Lizzie,
• 1:37:26
  Speaker 7: where we can handle him.
• 1:37:28
  Speaker 2: Yes.
• 1:37:30
  Speaker 3: She begins to put the tee things away, but drops
• 1:37:32
  Speaker 3: the sugar out of the basin and the lumps fly.
• 1:37:35
  Speaker 3: Broadcast never mind.
• 1:37:37
  Speaker 5: I'll pick those up. You put the children's clothes away.
• 1:37:41
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd stares witless around the grandmother sits, rocking herself
• 1:37:45
  Speaker 3: and weeping. Blackmore clears the table, putting the pots in
• 1:37:49
  Speaker 3: the scullery. He folds the white tablecloth and pulls back
• 1:37:52
  Speaker 3: the table. The door opens. Missus Holroyd utters a cry.
• 1:37:57
  Speaker 4: Wrigley enters, bringing him now, Missus.
• 1:38:02
  Speaker 3: Oh Wriggly, Simply.
• 1:38:06
  Speaker 4: There must have been a four directly after we left him.
• 1:38:10
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, frowning horrified, No, no, Wriggly to Blackmore.
• 1:38:18
  Speaker 4: It fell back at him and shut him in as
• 1:38:20
  Speaker 4: you might shut a loaf intoven. They never touched him.
• 1:38:25
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, staring distractedly.
• 1:38:29
  Speaker 4: Well, then you see it come on him, as close
• 1:38:32
  Speaker 4: as a trap on a mouse, and getting him no air,
• 1:38:36
  Speaker 4: and what with a gas, it smothered him. And it
• 1:38:39
  Speaker 4: wouldn't be so very long about it.
• 1:38:41
  Speaker 3: Neither, Missus Holroyd, quiet with horror.
• 1:38:46
  Speaker 13: Oh, oh, dear dear, ah, dear.
• 1:38:52
  Speaker 3: Dear Wriggly, looking hard at her, I was not to
• 1:38:57
  Speaker 3: know what happened. Mother, not heeding him, but weeping all
• 1:39:02
  Speaker 3: the time.
• 1:39:03
  Speaker 7: But the Lord gave him time to repent. He'd have
• 1:39:07
  Speaker 7: a few minutes to repent. I I hope he did.
• 1:39:10
  Speaker 7: I hope he did. Else what was to become of him?
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 7: The Lord cut him off in his sins, but he
• 1:39:17
  Speaker 7: gave him time to repent.
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 3: Wriggly looks away at the wall. Blackmore has made a
• 1:39:22
  Speaker 3: space in the middle of the floor.
• 1:39:25
  Speaker 5: If you'll take the rocking chair off the end of
• 1:39:27
  Speaker 5: the rug, Missus Holroyd, I can pull it back a
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 5: bit from the fire and we can lay him on that.
• 1:39:32
  Speaker 3: Grandmother petulantly, what's the good of missing about?
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 2: She moves it suffocated him.
• 1:39:42
  Speaker 3: Wriggly shaking his head briefly.
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 4: Yeah, and the afterdamp.
• 1:39:48
  Speaker 5: He'd be dead in a few minutes.
• 1:39:51
  Speaker 2: No, oh, think, you mustn't.
• 1:39:53
  Speaker 3: Think, Wriggly. Suddenly they're coming, Missus Holroyd's dance at bay.
• 1:40:01
  Speaker 3: The grandmother half rises, Wriggling. Blackmore efface themselves as much
• 1:40:05
  Speaker 3: as possible. A man backs into the room bearing the
• 1:40:09
  Speaker 3: feet of the dead man, which are shot in great
• 1:40:11
  Speaker 3: pit boots. As the head bearer comes awkwardly past the table,
• 1:40:16
  Speaker 3: the coat with which the body is covered slips off,
• 1:40:19
  Speaker 3: revealing Holroyd in his pit dirt, naked to the waist manager,
• 1:40:24
  Speaker 3: a little stout, white bearded man.
• 1:40:26
  Speaker 9: Mind now, mind, I messures what a job? Indeed it
• 1:40:35
  Speaker 9: is sharply well when they put him, Missus.
• 1:40:40
  Speaker 3: Holroyd turning her face aside from the corpse.
• 1:40:43
  Speaker 9: Lay him on the rug steady, now do it's daddy.
• 1:40:49
  Speaker 3: Second bearer, rising and pressing back his shoulders.
• 1:40:53
  Speaker 4: Bye guy, but e ing's heavy.
• 1:40:56
  Speaker 9: Hey, Joe, I'll back my life of that.
• 1:41:00
  Speaker 7: Ah, mister Chambers, what's this affliction on my old age?
• 1:41:05
  Speaker 7: You kept your sons out o the pit, but all
• 1:41:07
  Speaker 7: mine's in. And to think of the trouble I've had
• 1:41:11
  Speaker 7: to think of the trouble that's come out of Brinsley Pit.
• 1:41:15
  Speaker 9: To me, it has that, it has that missus. You
• 1:41:21
  Speaker 9: seem to have had more in your share. I'll admit it.
• 1:41:26
  Speaker 3: You have Missus Holroyd, who has been staring at the man.
• 1:41:31
  Speaker 3: It is too much blackmore frowns wriggly glowers at her.
• 1:41:36
  Speaker 9: You never knowed such a thing in your life. Here's
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 9: a man hole in a stint. Just finishin'.
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 3: He puts himself as if in the holer's position, gesticulating freely, and.
• 1:41:50
  Speaker 9: A lot of stuff falls behind him, clean as a whistle.
• 1:41:54
  Speaker 9: Shuts him off, safe as a worm and a knot,
• 1:41:57
  Speaker 9: and never touches him. I never knowed such a thing
• 1:42:01
  Speaker 9: in your life. Oh, it never hurt him, never touched him.
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 2: Yes, but but how long would he be?
• 1:42:11
  Speaker 3: She makes a sweeping gesture. The manager looks at her
• 1:42:14
  Speaker 3: and will not help her out.
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 2: How long would it take to oh, to kill him?
• 1:42:21
  Speaker 9: Nay, I can't tell you. He didn't seem to have
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 9: strived much to get out, did he, Joe.
• 1:42:29
  Speaker 4: No, not as far as I'm saying.
• 1:42:32
  Speaker 2: You look at his hands.
• 1:42:34
  Speaker 7: You'll see then eat none.
• 1:42:36
  Speaker 4: I room to swing the pick.
• 1:42:38
  Speaker 3: The manager goes on his knees. Missus Holroyd shuddering, Oh.
• 1:42:43
  Speaker 9: Don't, ah, Daneil tears broken a.
• 1:42:47
  Speaker 3: Bit, Missus Holroyd clenching her fists.
• 1:42:52
  Speaker 2: Don't.
• 1:42:53
  Speaker 9: He'd be sure to make a bit of a fight,
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 9: but the guess would soon get hold of him. Ah,
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 9: it's an awful thing to think of, it is, indeed.
• 1:43:05
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, her voice breaking.
• 1:43:08
  Speaker 2: I can't bear it.
• 1:43:10
  Speaker 9: Eh, dear, we none on us know what's coming next.
• 1:43:15
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd getting hysterical.
• 1:43:18
  Speaker 2: Oh, it's awfully, it's dooful.
• 1:43:21
  Speaker 5: You'll disturb the children.
• 1:43:24
  Speaker 7: And you don't want them down here.
• 1:43:26
  Speaker 9: You need no business to have been left, you know.
• 1:43:30
  Speaker 4: And what man does think we're gonna sit down on
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 4: his arms and wait for a Chappers wouldn't say thank
• 1:43:36
  Speaker 4: you for his company. He'd been ready to fall out
• 1:43:40
  Speaker 4: with the flicker of the candle. So who just think
• 1:43:43
  Speaker 4: we're gonna storm when we knowed he'd only kept on.
• 1:43:46
  Speaker 4: So it's against show us.
• 1:43:49
  Speaker 9: No, it's quite right, Bill, quite right. But there you are.
• 1:43:56
  Speaker 4: And if we stop want going ahead.
• 1:43:58
  Speaker 9: Then oh happen not appen? Not for known, I'm saying
• 1:44:07
  Speaker 9: not again thee neither one road nor the other.
• 1:44:12
  Speaker 3: There is general silence. Then to missus Holroyd, I should think.
• 1:44:17
  Speaker 9: The inquest will be the new inn tomorrow, missus, I'll
• 1:44:22
  Speaker 9: let you know.
• 1:44:23
  Speaker 2: Will there have to be an inquest?
• 1:44:26
  Speaker 9: Yes, there'll have to be an inquest. Shall you want
• 1:44:29
  Speaker 9: anybody in to stop with you tonight?
• 1:44:33
  Speaker 2: No?
• 1:44:34
  Speaker 9: Well then we'd best be going. I'll send my missus
• 1:44:39
  Speaker 9: down first thing in the morning. It's a bad job,
• 1:44:44
  Speaker 9: a bad job it is. You'll be all right?
• 1:44:47
  Speaker 4: Then?
• 1:44:49
  Speaker 2: Yes?
• 1:44:51
  Speaker 9: Well, good night, then good night.
• 1:44:53
  Speaker 4: All good night, good night.
• 1:44:57
  Speaker 9: Good night, good night, good night, good night, good.
• 1:45:03
  Speaker 4: Night, good night.
• 1:45:05
  Speaker 3: The manager followed by the two bearers, goes out, closing
• 1:45:09
  Speaker 3: the door.
• 1:45:10
  Speaker 4: It's not it's Missus. I should never gone if he
• 1:45:13
  Speaker 4: hadn't wanted us to. Yes, I know he wanted to
• 1:45:18
  Speaker 4: come up oncend, Missus Holroyd.
• 1:45:22
  Speaker 3: Wearily, I know how it was, mister Wrigley. Yes, nobody
• 1:45:28
  Speaker 3: could foresee Wriggley shaking his head. No, if there's that,
• 1:45:34
  Speaker 3: Missus as you want, Yes, I think there isn't anything. Wriggley,
• 1:45:40
  Speaker 3: after a moment, Well good night.
• 1:45:43
  Speaker 4: I've worked in the same store four years now. Yes, well,
• 1:45:49
  Speaker 4: good night, missus, good night, good night.
• 1:45:54
  Speaker 3: The grandmother all this time has been racking herself to
• 1:45:57
  Speaker 3: and fro, moaning and murmuring besides the dead man. When
• 1:46:01
  Speaker 3: Wrigley has gone, Missus Holroyd stands staring distractedly before her.
• 1:46:06
  Speaker 3: She has not yet looked at her husband.
• 1:46:08
  Speaker 7: Have you got the things ready, Lizzie? What things to
• 1:46:13
  Speaker 7: lay the child out?
• 1:46:15
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd? She shudders.
• 1:46:18
  Speaker 7: No, what haven't you put him by a pair of
• 1:46:21
  Speaker 7: white stockings nor a white shirt.
• 1:46:24
  Speaker 2: He's got a white cricketing shirt, but not white stockings.
• 1:46:28
  Speaker 7: And he'll have to have his father's. Let me look
• 1:46:31
  Speaker 7: at the shirt, Lizzie.
• 1:46:33
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd takes one from the dresser drawer.
• 1:46:36
  Speaker 7: This'll never do. An old canvas thing with a turned
• 1:46:41
  Speaker 7: down collar has left to fetch his father's suddenly. You
• 1:46:47
  Speaker 7: don't want no other woman to touch him, to wash
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 7: him and lay him out.
• 1:46:51
  Speaker 3: Do you, Missus Holroyd weeping?
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 7: No, then I'll fetch him his father's gear. We mustn't
• 1:46:59
  Speaker 7: let him sit. He'll be that heavy. Bless him.
• 1:47:03
  Speaker 3: She takes her shawl.
• 1:47:05
  Speaker 7: I shan't be more than a few minutes, and the
• 1:47:07
  Speaker 7: young fellow can stop here till I come back.
• 1:47:10
  Speaker 5: Can't I go for you, Missus Holroyd.
• 1:47:13
  Speaker 7: No, you couldn't find the things. We'll wash him as
• 1:47:17
  Speaker 7: soon as I get back.
• 1:47:18
  Speaker 2: Lizzie all right.
• 1:47:21
  Speaker 3: She watches her mother in law go out. Then she starts,
• 1:47:24
  Speaker 3: goes in the scullery for a bowl in which she
• 1:47:27
  Speaker 3: pours warm water. She takes a flannel and soap and towel.
• 1:47:31
  Speaker 3: She stands afraid to go any farther.
• 1:47:34
  Speaker 2: Well, this is a judgment on us, Why on me?
• 1:47:39
  Speaker 10: It is?
• 1:47:40
  Speaker 2: How it is?
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 3: Blackmore shakes his head.
• 1:47:45
  Speaker 2: Yesterday you talked of murdering him. Well, now we've done it.
• 1:47:51
  Speaker 2: How he'd come up with the others, if he hadn't
• 1:47:55
  Speaker 2: felt me murdering him.
• 1:47:57
  Speaker 5: But we can't help it.
• 1:47:59
  Speaker 2: It's my fault.
• 1:48:01
  Speaker 3: Don't be like that, Missus Holroyd, looking at him, then
• 1:48:06
  Speaker 3: indicating her husband.
• 1:48:08
  Speaker 2: I daren't see him. No, I've killed him, that is all. No,
• 1:48:14
  Speaker 2: you haven't, Yes, I have.
• 1:48:17
  Speaker 5: We couldn't help it.
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 2: If he hadn't felt, If he hadn't know, he wouldn't
• 1:48:23
  Speaker 2: have stayed. He'd have come up with the rest well.
• 1:48:26
  Speaker 5: And even if it were so, we can't help it now.
• 1:48:29
  Speaker 2: But we've killed him.
• 1:48:31
  Speaker 3: I'm tired, Yes, Blackmore, After a pause, shall I stay?
• 1:48:38
  Speaker 3: I I daren't be alone with him, Blackmore, sitting down. No,
• 1:48:44
  Speaker 3: I don't love him now he's dead. I don't love him.
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 3: He lies like he did yesterday.
• 1:48:50
  Speaker 5: I suppose being dead, I don't know.
• 1:48:54
  Speaker 3: I think you'd better go, Blackmore rising tell me, yes,
• 1:49:01
  Speaker 3: you want me to go?
• 1:49:02
  Speaker 2: No, but do go.
• 1:49:05
  Speaker 3: They look at each other.
• 1:49:07
  Speaker 5: I shall come tomorrow.
• 1:49:09
  Speaker 3: He goes out. Missus Holroyd stands very stiff, as if
• 1:49:13
  Speaker 3: afraid of the dead man. Then she stoops down and
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 3: begins to Spanish his face, talking to him.
• 1:49:19
  Speaker 2: My dear, my dear, oh my dear, I can't bear it,
• 1:49:24
  Speaker 2: my dear. You shouldn't have done it. You shouldn't have
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 2: done it. Oh, I can't bear it for you. Why
• 1:49:32
  Speaker 2: couldn't I do anything for you? The children's father, right, dear,
• 1:49:37
  Speaker 2: I wasn't good to you. But you shouldn't have done
• 1:49:41
  Speaker 2: this to me, dear dear.
• 1:49:44
  Speaker 7: Did it hurt you?
• 1:49:46
  Speaker 2: Oh, my dear, it hurt you. Oh, I can't bear it. No,
• 1:49:51
  Speaker 2: things aren't fair. We weren't wrong, my dear. I never
• 1:49:56
  Speaker 2: loved you enough. I never did. What a shame for you.
• 1:50:01
  Speaker 2: It was a shame, but you didn't. You didn't try.
• 1:50:05
  Speaker 2: I would have loved you. I tried hard. What a
• 1:50:10
  Speaker 2: shame for you.
• 1:50:11
  Speaker 8: It was so cruel for you.
• 1:50:14
  Speaker 2: You couldn't help it, my dear, My dear, you couldn't
• 1:50:18
  Speaker 2: help it. And I can't do anything for you when
• 1:50:21
  Speaker 2: you soh.
• 1:50:24
  Speaker 3: She weeps bitterly, so her tears fall on the dead
• 1:50:27
  Speaker 3: man's face. Suddenly, she kisses.
• 1:50:29
  Speaker 2: Him, My dear, my dear, What can I do for you?
• 1:50:33
  Speaker 2: What can I?
• 1:50:35
  Speaker 3: She weeps as she wipes his face gently. Grandmother enters,
• 1:50:39
  Speaker 3: puts a bundle on the table, takes off her shawl.
• 1:50:42
  Speaker 7: You're not all by yourself. Yes, it's a wonder you're
• 1:50:46
  Speaker 7: not frightened. You've not washed his face.
• 1:50:50
  Speaker 2: Why should I be afraid of him?
• 1:50:52
  Speaker 3: Now? Mother, grandmother weeping.
• 1:50:56
  Speaker 7: My poor lamb. I can't see as ever you could
• 1:50:59
  Speaker 7: have had reason and to be frightened.
• 1:51:01
  Speaker 2: Of him, Lizzie. Yes, once, Oh, but he went wrong
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 2: and he was a.
• 1:51:07
  Speaker 7: Taking lad as ever was.
• 1:51:10
  Speaker 3: She cries pitifully.
• 1:51:12
  Speaker 7: And when I waked his father up and told him,
• 1:51:15
  Speaker 7: he sat up in bed, staring over his whiskers, and
• 1:51:18
  Speaker 7: said should he come up? But when I'd managed to
• 1:51:21
  Speaker 7: find the shirt and things, he was still in bed.
• 1:51:24
  Speaker 7: You don't know what it is to live with a
• 1:51:26
  Speaker 7: man that has no feeling. But you've washed him, Lizzie, I.
• 1:51:31
  Speaker 2: Was finishing his head. Let me do it, child, I'll finish.
• 1:51:36
  Speaker 7: That poor lamb, poor dear Lamb. Yet I wouldn't wish
• 1:51:42
  Speaker 7: him back, Lizzie, he must deny, peaceful, Lizzie. He seems
• 1:51:46
  Speaker 7: to be smiling. He always had such a rare smile
• 1:51:50
  Speaker 7: on him, not that he smiled much of late.
• 1:51:54
  Speaker 2: I loved him for that.
• 1:51:56
  Speaker 7: I my poor child, my poor child.
• 1:52:01
  Speaker 2: He looks nice. Mother.
• 1:52:02
  Speaker 8: I hope he made his peace with the Lord.
• 1:52:06
  Speaker 7: Yes, if he hadn't time to make his peace with
• 1:52:09
  Speaker 7: the Lord. I've no hopes of him. Dear owe me,
• 1:52:13
  Speaker 7: dear owe me. Is there another bit of flannel anywhere?
• 1:52:18
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd rises and brings a pews. The grandmother begins
• 1:52:22
  Speaker 3: to wash the breast of the dead man.
• 1:52:24
  Speaker 7: Well, I hope you'll be true to his children at least, Lizzie.
• 1:52:28
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd weaves. The old woman continues her washing.
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 7: Eh, and he's fair as a lily. Did you ever
• 1:52:36
  Speaker 7: see a man with a whiter skin and flesh as
• 1:52:39
  Speaker 7: fine as the driven snow? He's beautiful, He is the lamb.
• 1:52:45
  Speaker 7: Many's the time I've looked at him, and I've felt
• 1:52:48
  Speaker 7: proud of him. I have, And now he lies here,
• 1:52:53
  Speaker 7: and such arms on him. Look at the vaccination marks, Lizzie.
• 1:52:58
  Speaker 7: When I took him to be vaxine, he had a
• 1:53:00
  Speaker 7: little pink bonnet with a feather.
• 1:53:03
  Speaker 3: Weeps.
• 1:53:05
  Speaker 7: Don't cry, my girl. Don't sit up and wash him
• 1:53:09
  Speaker 7: at that side, or we shall never have him done.
• 1:53:12
  Speaker 3: Oh, Lizzie, Missus Holroyd sitting up, startled.
• 1:53:18
  Speaker 7: What what? Look at his poor hand?
• 1:53:22
  Speaker 3: She holds up the right hand. The nails are bloody.
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 3: Oh no, oh no, no, Both women weep. Grandmother after
• 1:53:32
  Speaker 3: a while.
• 1:53:34
  Speaker 7: We won't get on, Lizzie.
• 1:53:36
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, sitting up.
• 1:53:38
  Speaker 2: I can't touch his hands, but I'm his mother.
• 1:53:42
  Speaker 7: There's nothing I couldn't.
• 1:53:43
  Speaker 2: Do for him. I don't care. I don't care.
• 1:53:48
  Speaker 7: Prithee, prithee, Lizzie. I don't want thee going off, Lizzy.
• 1:53:53
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd moaning, Oh what shall I do?
• 1:53:58
  Speaker 7: Why go thee and get his feet washed? He's sitting stiff,
• 1:54:02
  Speaker 7: and how shall we get him laid out?
• 1:54:05
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd sobbing, goes kneels at the miner's feet and
• 1:54:09
  Speaker 3: begins pulling out the great boots.
• 1:54:12
  Speaker 7: There's hardly a mark on him. Eh, what a man
• 1:54:16
  Speaker 7: he is. I've had some fine sons, Lizzie. I've had
• 1:54:20
  Speaker 7: some big men of sons.
• 1:54:22
  Speaker 2: He was always a lot whiter than me, and he
• 1:54:24
  Speaker 2: used to chaff me.
• 1:54:25
  Speaker 7: But his poor hands. I used to thank God for
• 1:54:29
  Speaker 7: my children, But they are rods of trouble, Lizzie. They
• 1:54:32
  Speaker 7: are unfastened. His belt, child, MI mun get his things
• 1:54:37
  Speaker 7: off soon, or else will still have such a job.
• 1:54:41
  Speaker 3: Missus Holroyd, having dragged off the boots, rises she is
• 1:54:46
  Speaker 3: weeping curtain. End of Act three. End of the widowing
• 1:54:51
  Speaker 3: of missus Holroyd by D H. Lawrence