He lists a wooden idol from the ground. He wipes the earth from it. He kisses it.

N.B. During Chichester’s speech he stays on stage and carefully reburies the idol in the ground. At the end of Chichester’s speech he goes off.

Scene Three

Chichester sits up suddenly.

Chichester I’m soaking!

He stands up, brushing his clothes.

How is the intellectual at war?

Soaked with dew and pissed by eight in the morning.

He looks up.

Hot day. The banners will be bright. The horses, the shields and the swords.

He starts, looking at the trees.

God. Losing your marbles, old son.

With a parade ground manner.

Captain Thomas Chichester!

Yes Sir?

What are you doing?

Waiting to kill a man called O’Rourke, Sir!

Get on with it then!

Yes Sir!

Men have died with the training you’ve had, lad! So what is your problem?

No problem Sir!

Her is out of breath. He waits.

Just one question Sir!

(He breathes, then shouts again:) When will peace come? (Then, low:) When will peace come, Sir?

England out of Ireland? Swords into plough-shares, machine-guns to rakes, ammunition to fertilizer?

The dead in any war would vote for peace, Sir.

He breathes. Parade ground again.

You’re a British Army Officer! Stop wanking! Put myself on a charge, Sir! Do that Captain! Thank you Sir!

He covers his face with his hands, he takes them away quickly.

He turns on his heel, eyeing the countryside.

He takes off his coat, puts it on the ground and lies on it. He lights a cigarette. He blows a cloud of smoke up.

(He shouts:) O’Rourke! Come on brother, let me blow your head off!

He sends another cloud of smoke up, as –

Scene Four

Corda and Morgana run on on opposite sides of the stage. A Saxon Soldier crashes through the trees into the field. He is mortally wounded.

Saxon Feta gehwone. Ic eom gewundod: welc hearm maeg ic to the gedon?

He falls. The sisters watch him. He crawls a little way then stops.

Morgana What was he shouting?

Corda What do you think? At women.

Morgana His arm was jerking in a funny way.

Oh Corda, is he dead?

Corda Where’s father?

Morgana Messing about.

Corda Get him.

Morgana But –

Corda Go and get our father! Go on!

Morgana (as she runs off along the edge of the field) Oh he’s got to be dead, oh Mary Mother of Jesus let him be dead.

Morgana is off. A silence. Then the Saxon stands.

He and Corda stare.

Corda picks up a stone.

Saxon Waelhreowan men! Is eower hete swa to anum eltheoditan geriht?

Corda throws the stone. It misses him widely.

Wielisce wyrgen! Ic the on twa gescieran wille.

He stumbles a few paces towards her then falls. He drags himself a short distance.

Ic eom anhaga, iserne wund.

He grabs a sheaf, it falls about him.

A silence.

Then Morgana comes on, pulling Cai by the hand.

Cai Saxon in my field –