Long Day's Journey Into Night Page #5

I don't know, nothing in particular dear.

It's foolish of me.

Lunch is ready ma'am. I went down to Mr. Tyrone like you ordered

and he said he'd come right away but...

Alright Cathleen. Tell Bridget I'm sorry but she'll have

to wait a few minutes until Mr. Tyrone is here.

- Yes ma'am.

- Look damn it why don't we go in without him, he told us to.

He doesn't mean it.

Don't you know your father yet? He'd be so terribly hurt.

I'll... I'll go make him get a move on.

Why do you stare like that?

- You know.

- I don't know.

For God's sake Mama, you think you can fool me?

I'm not blind.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- No?

Take a look at your eyes Mama.

I got Papa moving, he'll... he'll be here any minute.

What's the matter.

- Your brother...

- What happened Mama?

Your brother ought to be ashamed of himself

he's been insinuating... I don't know what.

- God damn you!

- Stop it at once! Do it!

He's a liar!

- It's a lie isn't it Mama?

- What's a lie?

Edmund... don't.

Here comes your father up the steps, I must... warn Bridget.

Well?

Well... what?

You're a liar.

- Sorry I'm late. Captain Turner stopped to talk, once he starts gabbing you can't get away from him.

- You mean once he starts listening.

- It's all right, the level of the bottle hasn't changed.

- I wasn't noticing that.

As if it proved anything with you about. I'm on to your tricks.

Did I hear you say "let's all have a drink"?

- Jamie's welcome after his hard morning's work but I won't invite you, Doctor Harding...

- To hell with Doc. Hardy.

One isn't going to kill me.

- I feel all in Papa.

- Well come along then, it's before a meal.

I've always found that good whiskey, taken in moderation,

as an appetizer, is the best of tonics. I said "in moderation".

It'd be a waste of breath mentioning moderation to you.

Well... here's to health and happiness.

That's a joke!

What is?

Nothing. Here's to health.

Well what's the matter here?

There's gloom in the air you could cut with a knife.

You got the drink you were after didn't you?

Why are you wearing that gloomy look on your mug?

- You won't be singing a song yourself soon.

- Shut up Jamie!

I thought lunch was ready. I'm hungry as a hunter.

Where's your mother?

Here I am.

I've had to calm down Bridget.

She's in a tantrum over you being late again and I don't blame her.

If your lunch is dried up from waiting in the oven

she said you could like it or leave it for all she cared

I'm so sick and tired of pretending this is a home!

You won't help me. You won't put yourself out the least bit

You don't know how to act in a home, you don't even want one.

You've never have wanted one since we were married.

You should have remained a bachelor and lived in second rate hotels.

- Entertained your friends in bar-rooms and nothing ever would've happened...

- Mama!

Stop talking.

Why don't we go in to lunch?

Yes. Yes. It is inconsiderate of me to dig up the past

when I know your father and Jamie must be hungry.

I do hope you have an appetite dear.

You really must eat more...

Why is that glass there?

Did you have a drink? How can you be such a fool?

You're to blame James! How could you let him?

Do you want to kill him?!

Don't you remember my father?

He wouldn't stop after he was striken, he said doctors were fools,

he thought like you that whiskey is a good tonic...

But of course... there... there... there's no comparison...

...at all, is there?

I... I don't know why I... I...

Forgive me for... scolding you James.

One... one small drink won't hurt Edmund.

Might be good for him.

If it gives him an appetite.

For God's sake let's eat.

- Come on kid, let's put on the feed bag.

- Yes

You go in with your mother lads, I'll join you in a second.

Why... why do you... look at me like that?

Please stop staring James, one would think you're accusing me.

James...

- ...you don't understand...

- I understand that I've been a god damned fool to believe in you.

I don't know what you mean by "believing" in me,

all I felt was distrust and spying and suspicion.

Why are you having another drink?

You never have more than one drink before lunch.

Well... I know what to expect, you'll be drunk tonight

and it won't be the first time, will it? Or the thousandth.

James... please... please...

...you don't understand... I've been so worried... so worried about Edmund.

I'm so afraid.

- I don't want to listen to your excuses Mary.

- Excuses?

You... you mean... you couldn't believe that of me,

you mustn't believe that James. No.

Shall... shall we not go in to lunch dear?

I don't want anything but I know you must be hungry.

James...

I tried... so hard.

I tried so hard!

- Please believe me.

- Yes I suppose you did Mary.

But for the love of God why couldn't you have the strenght to keep on?

I... I don't know what you're talking about.

Have the strenght to keep on what?

Nevermind.

It's no use now.

It's unreasonable to expect Bridget and Cathleen to act as if this were home,

they know it isn't as well as we know it.

Never has been and never will be.

- No it never can be now but it was once before you...

- Before I what?

No... no dear, whatever you say, it isn't true.

It was never a home. You've always prefered a club or a bar-room.

And for me it's... always been as lonely a dirty room in a one night stand hotel.

I'm... I'm worried about you. Edmund.

Edmund. You... you hardly touched anything.

It's alright for me not to have an appetite,

I've... I've been growing too fat but...

...you must eat.

Pro...promise me you will dear, for my sake.

- Yes Mama.

- That's a good boy.

I'll answer. Maguire said he'd call.

Hello.

How are you doctor?

Well the... you'll explain all about it when you see him this afternoon.

Yes he...he'll be with you without fail at 4 o'clock.

Yes.

Yes.

Goodbye. Goodbye doctor.

- Well that didn't sound like glad tidings.

- It was doctor hardy

- He wants to...you to be sure and see him at 4 this afternoon.

- What did he say?

- Not that I give a damn.

- I wouldn't believe him if he swore on a stack of bibles.

- Don't pay attention to a word he says Edmund.

- Mary!

We all know why you like him James, because he's cheap.

Please don't try to tell me, I know all about Doctor Hardy.

Heaven knows I ought to after all these years.

He's an ignorant fool. Should be a law to keep man like him from practicing.

He hasn't the slightest idea... when you're in agony and half insane.

Sits and holds your hand and delivers sermons on willpower.

He deliberately humiliates you. He makes you beg and plead. He treats you like a criminal.

He understands nothing!

And yet it was exactly the same type of cheap quack who first gave you the medicine

and you never knew what it was until it was too late.

- I hate doctors!

- For christ sake Mama! Stop talking.

- Yes Mary, it's no time to...

- You're... you're... quite right dear, forgive me.

I... It's useless to be angry now.

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