147 Juno and the Paycock: ACT II
Sean O'Casey
ACT II
The same, but the furniture is more plentiful, and of a vulgar nature. A glaringly upholstered armchair and lounge; cheap pictures and photos everywhere. Every available spot is ornamented with huge vases filled with artificial flowers. Crossed festoons of colored paper chains stretch from end to end of ceiling. On the table is an old attaché case. It is about six in the evening, and two days after the First Act. Boyle, in his shirt-sleeves, is voluptuously stretched on the sofa; he is smoking a clay pipe. He is half asleep. A lamp is lighting on the table. After a few moments’ pause the voice of Joxer is heard singing softly outside at the door –”Me pipe I’ll smoke as I dhrive me moke– are you there, Mor…ee…ar…i…teee!”[1]
Boyle: (leaping up, takes a pen in his hand and busies himself with papers). Come along, Joxer, me son, come along.
Are you be yourself?
Boyle: Come on, come on; that doesn’t matther; I’m masther now, an’ I’m goin’ to remain masther.
[Joxer comes in.]
Joxer: How d’ye feel now, as a man of money?
Boyle: (solemnly). It’s a responsibility, Joxer, a great responsibility.
Joxer: I suppose ‘tis now, though you wouldn’t think it.
Boyle: Joxer, han’ me over that attackey case on the table there. (Joxer hands the case.)
Joxer: Well, I won’t disturb you; I’ll dhrop in when…
Boyle: It’s all right, Joxer, this is the last one to be signed to-day. Now, Joxer, you want to see me; I’m at your service — what can I do for you, me man?
Joxer: I’ve just dhropped in with the £3:5s.that Mrs. Madigan riz on the blankets an’ table for you, an’ she says you’re to be in no hurry payin’ it back.
Boyle: She won’t be long without it; I expect the first cheque for a couple o’ hundhred any day. There’s the five bob[2] for yourself — go on, take it, man; it’ll not be the last you’ll get from the Captain. Now an’ agen we have our differ, but we’re there together all the time.
Joxer: Me for you, an’ you for me, like the two Musketeers.
Boyle: Father Farrell stopped me to-day an’ tole me how glad he was I fell in for the money.
Joxer: He’ll be stoppin’ you ofen enough now; I suppose it was ‘Mr.’ Boyle with him?
Boyle: He shuk me be the han’…
Joxer: I met with Napper Tandy, an’ he shuk me be the han’![3]
Boyle: You’re seldom asthray, Joxer, but you’re wrong shipped this time. What you’re sayin’ of Father Farrell is very near to blasfeemey. I don’t like any one to talk disrespectful of Father Farrell.
Joxer: You’re takin’ me up wrong, Captain; I wouldn’t let a word be said agen Father Farrell — the heart o’ the rowl,[4] that’s what he is; I always said he was a darlin’ man, a daarlin’ man.
Boyle: Comin’ up the stairs who did I meet but that bummer, Nugent. “I seen you talkin’ to Father Farrell,” says he, with a grin on him. “He’ll be folleyin’ you,” says he, “like a Guardian Angel from this out” — all the time the oul’ grin on him, Joxer.
Joxer: I never seen him yet but he had that oul’ grin on him!
Boyle: “M