Chapter 1 - The Rising of the Moon

Scene:- Side of a Quay in a seaport town. Some posts and chains. A large barrel.Enter three policemen.Moonlight.(sergeant,who is older than the others,crosses the stage of right and looks down steps.The others put down a pastepot and unroll a bundle of placards.)policemanB:- I think this would be a good place to put up a notice. (He points to barrel.) Policeman X:- Better ask him.(Calls to sergeant) Will this be a good place for a placard? Will put up notice here on the barrel? Sergeant:- there's a flight of steps her that leads to the wate. This is a place that should be minded well. If we got down here his friend might have a boat to meet him they might send it in here from outside. Policeman B:- would the barrel be a good place to put a notice up? Sergeant :- it might; you can put it there. Sergeant :- dark hair eyes, smooth face ,height 5 feet 5 there's s not much to take hold of the that it's pity I had no change of seeing him before he bro broke out of gaol. There say he's wonder, that it's he make all the plans for the whole organisation. There isn't another man in your ireland would have broken gaol they were he did. He must have some friends among the gaolers.Policeman B:- 200 pounds is little enough for the government to offer for him.youmay be sure any man in the force that takes will be get promotion. Sergeant:- I'll mind this place my self. I would wonder at all if he came this way.he might come slipping along there and his friend might be ra waiting for his for him there and ones he got away it's little change we have of finding him; its maybe under a load of kelp he'd be in a fishing boat, and not one to help a married man that wants it to the reward.Policeman X:- and if we get him itself nothing but abuse on your heads for it from the people ,and maybe for your oven relations. Sergeant:- will we have to do our duty in the force. Haven't be the whole country depending on us to keep law and order? It's those that are down would be up and those that are up would be down, if its wasn't for us .will hurry on, you have a plenty of other places to play card yet, and come back here then to me. You can take the lantern. Don't be too long now. It's very longesome here with nothing but the moon. Policeman B:- it's a pity can't stop with you .the government should have brought more police into the town, with him in gaol, and at assize time to .well,good luck to your watch .Sergeant :- a hundred pounds and promotion sure there must be a great deal of spending in 100 pounds .its pity some honest man not be the better of that . Sergeant :- where are you going? Man :-I am a poor ballad singer honour. I thought to sell some of these to the sailors. Sergeant :- stop! didn't it tell you stop? you can't go on there. Man:- Oh, very well. It's a hard thing to be poor. All the world's against the poor! Sergeant:- who are you ? Man :- you'd be as wise as myself if I told you, but I don't mind . I'm one Jimmy Walsh, a ballad- singer.Seageant:- Jimmy Walsh? I don't know that name. Man:- Ah, sure,they know it well enough in Ennis.were you ever in Ennis, Sergeant? Sergeant:- what brought you here? Man :- sure, it's to the assizes I came, thinking I might make a few shillings here or there.Its in the one train with the judges I came. Sergeant:- well, if you came so far, you may as well go father ,for you'll walk out of this.Man:- I will,I will; I'll just go on where I was going. Sergeant:- come back from those steps ; no one has leave to pass down theme. to - night.Man :- I'll just sit on the top of the steps till I see will some sailor buyaballadoff me that would give me my supper. They do be late going back to the ship. It's often I saw them in cork carried down the Quay in a hand- card.