Chapter-23

-- The Great MacFin --
(An English Crumpet Western)

ACT V

$SCENE I
[the Owner's main ranch house.]

[Enter the Doc and a Lady Shirl]

Doc
I have been here for two nights and watched with you, but haven't yet seen what you have reported,

Tell me again, When was it that she walked, last?

Lady Shirl
Since her husband went down the canyon. It is the truth, I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her night-gown upon herself, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon't, read it, then afterwards seal it, and again return to bed;

... yet all this while she is most fast sleep.

Doc
Yes it is a wonder of nature, to receive the benefit of sleep, and yet walk aboot in some purposeful performance!

Now when you see her this way, In this slumbery agitation, besides her walking and other nocturnal activity, what have you heard her say?

Lady Shirl
That, sir, I will not report, here!

Doc
You may say it to me: and 'tis most proper you should.

Lady Shirl
Neither to you ... nor any one; as I have no witness to confirm me.

[Enter LADY MacFin, with a candle]

Look, here she comes in the manner I reported; and, she is fast asleep.

Now Observe her; stand close.

Doc
Whar'd she get that light?

Lady Shirl
It is always placed by her bed: she has light by her continually; 'tis her command.

Doc
You see, her eyes are open.

Lady Shirl
Ay, but their sense is shut.

Doc
What is it she does now?

Look, how she rubs her hands.

Lady Shirl
It has become an accustomed action with her-to wash her hands: I have watched her continue doing this for a quarter of an hour.

LADY MacFin
Yet here's another spot.

Doc
Quiet! she's talking: I must write down what she says, to remember most accurately, later.

LADY MacFin
Out, damned spot! out, I say!

... One: two: why, then, 'tis time to do't.

... Hell is murky!

... To Hell with my husband

... To Hell with the ol' Owner

... To Hell with all men,

Why are they afeard? Who cares who knows it, when none can call our power to account?

--Yet who would have thought that old man would have had so much blood in him.

Doc
Do you understand this?

LADY MacFin
Horace had a wife: whar's she now?

... What ... will these hands ne'er be clean?

... No more o'that, my Husband, no more o'that:

... You'll mar all we have started.

Doc
Forgit what you have just heard else you will know what you should not.

Lady Shirl
She has spoken aboot things when she should not, for shame.

Ha! I am sure that heaven knows what she knows.

LADY MacFin
Here's the smell of the blood still ... and all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand. Oh, oh, oh!

Doc
What pain is there! Her heart sorely aches.

Lady Shirl
I would not have such a heart in my bosom as it shames the whole body.

Doc
Well, well, well,--

Lady Shirl
What is the problem with her?

Doc
This disease is beyond my practise: yet I have known those which have walked in their sleep but have died holy in their beds.

LADY MacFin
Wash your hands, put on your nightgown and look not so pale. -- I tell you yet again, Langstorm's buried; he cannot come out of his grave.

Doc
What?

LADY MacFin
To a bed, to a bed! there's knocking at the gate: come, come, come, come, give me your hand. What's done cannot be undone. -- To a bed, to a bed, to a bed!

[Exit]

Doc
Will she go now to bed?

Lady Shirl
Yes, Directly.

Doc
I have heard bad stories and bad things, here, do breed unnatural troubles in their minds, then People talk in their sleep aboot such secrets: I think she needs more the divine than the physician.

God forgive us all! Look after her; I fear suicide so Remove any dangerous objects from her room And keep your eyes upon her.

So, good night: My mind is amazed and confused by what I saw, here tonight. I want to think aboot it for a while.

Lady Shirl
Good night, good Doc.

[They All Git Out]

---

 

-- The Great MacFin --
(An English Crumpet Western)

ACT V

$SCENE II
[On The Trail to the the Midnight Ranch]

[Drum and colours. Enter Larry, John, His other brother, John, McRiffkin, and cowpokes]

Larry
The Governor's force is near, led on by Arthur, His uncle McFlabs and the good Horace: Revenges burn in them and their cause They are prepared for a bloody and desperate attack.

His other brother, John We will meet them, In the clearing, below the top of this trail and Some come secretly from a different route.

John
Do you know if McGillis is with his brother?

McRiffkin
I know he is not: Acording to plan there is McFlabs's son, And many rough folk Protest their first of manhood.

Larry
Whar's MacFin?

John
At the Main Ranch at the top of this trail. He is ready for us and has turned his buildings into a fortress: Some say he's mad; his few remaining friends still call him valiant and brave: but, for certain, His wild actions have weaken his authority.

His other brother, John He knows that His secret murders woory him and he know that he is beginning to lose it; Even Now small revolts continually wear him down; Those he commands move only in command, and there is no love of him: He doesn't know how to handle it, He has become only a small thief.

Larry
Well ... I can't blame him for being screwed up with all the guilt he should have inside himself.

John
Well, march on! W're obliged to git rid of this bloody tyrant even if we all are kilt- every last mother's son of us!

McRiffkin
Ha! Or at least much as we need to dew the flower-yet drown the weeds.

Let's Go!

[They All Git Out, marching]

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