Woman What right does he have to stand in a field in Ireland and talk of the horrors of war? What nation ever learnt from the sufferings it inflicted on others? What did the Roman Empire give to the people it enslaved? Concrete. What did the British Empire give to its colonies? Tribal wars. I don’t want to hear of this British soldier’s humanity. And how he comes to be howling in the middle of my country. And how he thinks Ireland is a tragedy. Ireland’s troubles are not a tragedy. They are the crimes his country has done mine. that he does to me, by standing there.

O’Rourke (to the two Men) When you’ve disarmed him, shoot him.

A silence. Chichester begins to tremble.

Chichester You murdering bastards –

The Second Man shoots him.

Chichester fumbles for his gun.

When will peace come? When will peace come? When will peace come?

The Second Man shoots him again.

O’Rourke Ah Moraed. What will we do when we have peace?

Woman Peace will take care of itself. War will not.

The Three Men, O’Rourke and the Woman walk away.

A moon shines, the light goes as –

Scene Eight

Brilliant moonlight. Corda and Morgana creep into the trees. Corda still carries the Englishman’s sword.

Morgana Father’s not here! He’s still alive!

Corda No. Here he is. Touch him.

Morgana No.

Corda We came back so you could. Touch him.

Morgana touches Cai’s hand.

Morgana Oh.

Corda We’ll get his clothes off.

Morgana Why do that?

Corda Men’s clothes. We can sell them.

Morgana I can’t.

Corda Sister, we’re beggars now. This is how we’ll live.

Morgana Oh why aren’t there fires in the village? Why aren’t the cattle mooing and coughing? Why aren’t husbands and wives laughing or rowing at their evening meal?

Corda Help me.

Then we’ll rob the dead Saxon. Come on.

The two Cooks come on. Morgana sees them.

Morgana Corda –

Corda What?

Sh.

Corda and Morgana hide.

Second Cook Why do we have to come back down here –

First Cook We saw him kill the old bag. Maybe he left something.

Second Cook So quiet. Could be a trap!

First Cook Why are Saxon Soldiers going to set a trap for a Second Cook?

Second Cook This field. Standing among corpses. Their ghosts will be out.

First Cook There she is!

The First Cook goes to the dead Adona. He throws the coverings from the stretcher about.

Nothing but cushions.

Second Cook That smell.

Oh, it’s her. I can’t be sick anymore. I have given my all.

He sees Corda and Morgana.

Now I’m seeing the ghosts.

First Cook For fucksake.

The First Cook sees Corda and Morgana.

Corda We’re women with Saxon Soldiers. You touch us, they’ll cut your bollocks off.

Second Cook Yeah, well actually we’re cooks.

Morgana Cooks?

Corda Have you got food?

Second Cook You give us food and we’ll cook it.

Morgana We’ve not got any food.

Second Cook Goodbye then.