| (1, 0) 1 | SCENE.─A Bakehouse; on the right {From stage to audience.} in the middle of wall, the oven. |
| (1, 0) 2 | Left back, in corner, a door. |
| (1, 0) 3 | Middle of back, a window. |
| (1, 0) 4 | Right front corner, upturned wooden box. |
| (1, 0) 5 | Table at back, a foot or two away from wall─while being scrubbed. |
| (1, 0) 6 | Left of this table a chair. |
| (1, 0) 7 | Table against left wall; chair at end of this table near front of stage. |
| (1, 0) 8 | In back right hand corner stand a sweeping brush and a short-handled bake-house shovel. |
| (1, 0) 9 | Near by, on nails, hang two pieces of white cloth. |
| (1, 0) 10 | On table at back are a lighted candle and four or five empty bread tins. |
| (1, 0) 11 | On table to left are three or four loaves of bread. |
| (1, 0) 12 | On wall, near oven, hangs a cheap clock. |
| (1, 0) 13 | ~ |
| (1, 0) 14 | Stage in half-darkness with faint red glow about oven. |
| (1, 0) 15 | Bakehouse is lit either by oil lamp on wall, or by electric lamp. |
| (1, 0) 16 | ~ |
| (1, 0) 17 | Mrs. BETSI EVANS, with a bucket of hot water and a scrubbing brush, is busily washing table at back. |
| (1, 0) 18 | There is a knock at a door off left. |
| (1, 0) 19 | BETSI goes quietly to bakehouse door and listens. |
| (1, 0) 20 | Door without opens. |
| (Mrs Morgan) {Without.} | |
| (Mrs Morgan) Thank you. | |
| (1, 0) 30 | Knock at bake-house door. |
| (Mrs Evans) Dewch mewn! | |
| (Mrs Evans) Dewch mewn! | |
| (1, 0) 32 | Enter MRS. MORGAN with a tea-tray and teacloth. |
| (Mrs Morgan) Oh, Mrs. Evans─ | |
| (Mrs Evans) I'll just turn up the light. | |
| (1, 0) 38 | She crosses, turns up the light, blows out candle. |
| (1, 0) 39 | Full light on stage. |
| (1, 0) 40 | MRS. MORGAN comes in and stands close to table at back. |
| (1, 0) 41 | She is a pretty young woman of twenty-one, neatly and daintily dressed. |
| (1, 0) 42 | Betsi is seen to be a work-worn woman of about fifty-five. |
| (Mrs Morgan) {With great anxiety.} | |
| (Mrs Evans) But sit down you. | |
| (1, 0) 54 | MRS. MORGAN takes chair front left corner. |
| (Mrs Morgan) {Nervously.} | |
| (Mrs Evans) About ten. | |
| (1, 0) 182 | As MRS. MORGAN goes out, MRS. MARY ANN HOWELLS comes in, to MRS. MORGAN's left. |
| (1, 0) 183 | She is a woman of about fifty, poorly dressed and wearing an old apron. |
| (1, 0) 184 | Her face preserves the suggestion of by-gone good looks. |
| (1, 0) 185 | Her speech is slow and pleasant; with a certain reflectiveness in it. |
| (1, 0) 186 | There is a lurking humour in her eyes. |
| (1, 0) 187 | She has a copy of the "South Wales Echo" in her hand.}: |
| (Mrs Howells) {Nodding genially to MRS. MORGAN.} | |
| (Mrs Evans) I didn't quite understand when your Maggie brought five loaves instead of three, as usual. | |
| (1, 0) 198 | Saying this, takes up bucket and crosses towards door. |
| (1, 0) 199 | Then pauses to listen to MRS. HOWELLS. |
| (Mrs Howells) Yes. | |
| (Mrs Howells) I'd be glad if he put a bit by for her to fall back on after my days. | |
| (1, 0) 213 | MRS. EVANS pushes table at back to wall, puts bucket in right hand corner at back, and, taking broom, begins to sweep the floor, but breaks off repeatedly to enjoy the conversation. |
| (Mrs Evans) So, after all, in a way of speaking, Mary Ann, it was a good thing Richards the Checkweigher brought your Evan before the Chapel? | |
| (Mrs Howells) Yes, quick. | |
| (1, 0) 264 | Betsi replaces broom, hurries off, and returns with two large pictures wrapped in brown paper. |
| (1, 0) 265 | MRS. HOWELLS shows signs of great interest. |
| (1, 0) 266 | MRS. EVANS, having unwrapped the first, stands it on table at back against the wall. |
| (1, 0) 267 | The portrait, badly done in crayon, is of a careless, happy-looking man. |
| (Mrs Howells) Well, tan i marw! | |
| (Mrs Evans) And here's Zachariah. | |
| (1, 0) 274 | Stands picture of Zachariah on table. |
| (1, 0) 275 | It shows a thin-faced, severe-looking man with side-whiskers. |
| (Mrs Howells) Well, diwedd annwyl, Betsi fach! | |
| (Mrs Evans) {Takes pictures out.} | |
| (1, 0) 290 | MRS. HOWELLS smiles reflectively and sighs to herself. |
| (1, 0) 291 | Then she crosses to table on left and examines bread with a critical eye. |
| (1, 0) 292 | She goes back to the box as Mrs. Evans comes in. |
| (1, 0) 293 | Re-enter Mrs. Evans with a stocking she is knitting. |
| (Mrs Evans) I was thinking just now about those old days when Mrs. Morgan was in. | |
| (Mrs Howells) They thought a lot of his wife down there at the Paris House, and I'll say this for her whatever─that bonnet she made for our Sarah when Matthew died was almost enough to make a woman thankful to be a widow. | |
| (1, 0) 319 | MRS. MORGAN is seen passing the window. |
| (Mrs Evans) H'sh! | |
| (Mrs Morgan) I go it at the Top Shop last night─ | |
| (1, 0) 393 | Mrs. Howells and Mrs Evans together: |
| (Mrs Howells) {Rising.} | |
| (Mrs Morgan) I thought I'd keep it for next time. | |
| (1, 0) 420 | Mrs. Howells and Mrs Evans together: |
| (Mrs Howells) Keep it? | |
| (Mrs Evans) Keep yeast? | |
| (1, 0) 423 | They exchange glances. |
| (Mrs Howells) You'd better run home quick, and bring me a bit to look at. | |
| (Mrs Evans) Quick! | |
| (1, 0) 430 | MRS. MORGAN goes off, leaving tray and cloth on table at back, and is seen hurrying past the window. |
| (1, 0) 431 | MRS. HOWELLS and MRS. EVANS stand looking at ach other in astonishment and dismay. |
| (Mrs Howells) Betsi? | |
| (Mrs Howells) I don't like to think of her looking simple before all the others, and her only newly married. | |
| (1, 0) 441 | Voices are heard without. |
| (Mrs Evans) H'sh! | |
| (Mrs Evans) {Standing right side of table at back, begins to polish tins on table.} | |
| (1, 0) 449 | MRS. HOWELLS stiffens involuntarily as MRS. RICHARDS and JINNIE come in. |
| (1, 0) 450 | The atmosphere: becomes frigid and formal. |
| (1, 0) 451 | MRS RICHARDS is a middle-aged woman, sharp-visaged and angular. |
| (1, 0) 452 | JINNIE is a fairly good-looking girl of twenty-five. |
| (1, 0) 453 | She carries a tray. |
| (Mrs Richards) Noswath dda 'chi, Mrs. Evans. | |
| (Mrs Evans) {Pointing to chair left of table at back.} | |
| (1, 0) 466 | JINNIE takes seat. |
| (Mrs Richards) I was just saying to Jinnie─ | |
| (Mrs Richards) I was just saying to Jinnie─ | |
| (1, 0) 468 | Enter Mrs. Price Shop Loshin, carrying tray. |
| (Mrs Price) Noswath dda 'chi i gyd! | |
| (Mrs Evans) Pretty near now, Mrs. Price. | |
| (1, 0) 473 | MRS. PRICE, after a curt nod towards MRS. HOWELLS, turns to JINNIE and whispers to her.) |
| (Mrs Evans) {To MRS. HOWELLS aside.} | |
| (Mrs Price) That's my opinion, however. | |
| (1, 0) 496 | Enter Mrs. Jones Shop Flannel, standing in the doorway. |
| (1, 0) 497 | She carries a plain basket. |
| (Mrs Jones) Is it out yet, Mrs. Evans? | |
| (Mrs Evans) Come in, you! | |
| (1, 0) 501 | MRS. JONES takes up position by table on left. |
| (Mrs Richards) And how is Mr. Jones to-night, Mrs. Jones? | |
| (Mrs Howells) Well, I wouldn't like to be the one to say so, Mrs. Richards; but you ought to know your own husband best─ | |
| (1, 0) 521 | JINNIE RICHARDS sees MRS. MORGAN's cloth on table and picks it up. |
| (Mrs Richards) {Haughtily.} | |
| (Mrs Howells) Understand, indeed! | |
| (1, 0) 531 | Turns away, as JINNIE rises with cloth in her hand. |
| (Jinnie) Nice little cloth, indeed, Mrs. Price. | |
| (Mrs Price) Hers it is, Mrs. Evans? | |
| (1, 0) 540 | MRS. RICHARDS and JINNIE show signs of interest. |
| (1, 0) 541 | The cloth is passed via MRS. JONES to MRS. RICHARDS, who examines it critically. |
| (Mrs Evans) Yes, yes. | |
| (Mrs Howells) Only, of course, in a way of speaking, it means you've got to go on fishing. | |
| (1, 0) 580 | JINNIE, overwhelmed, resumes her seat. |
| (1, 0) 581 | MRS. RICHARDS stalks up majestically to table at back, and puts down cloth with a bang. |
| (Mrs Richards) {Looking fiercely at MRS. HOWELLS.} | |
| (Mrs Richards) Well, Jinnie fach, if ever you should happen to get married, I hope it'll be to a man that can walk home on a Saturday night. | |
| (1, 0) 584 | MRS. HOWELLS's lips tighten, but she says nothing. |
| (1, 0) 585 | MRS. PRICE, looking at Mrs. RICHARDS, nods approvingly. |
| (1, 0) 586 | Enter MAGGIE HOWELLS─a little girl of twelve. |
| (1, 0) 587 | She carries a basket. |
| (Maggie) {In doorway.} | |
| (Mrs Jones) Such lovely bread I never did see! | |
| (1, 0) 603 | During this, MRS. PRICE produces a large piece of sweetmeat, which MAGGIE eyes with appreciation. |
| (1, 0) 604 | She takes it and says, 'Thank you.' |
| (1, 0) 605 | Then crosses and stands by her mother. |
| (Mrs Howells) {Aside to MAGGIE.} | |
| (Mrs Jones) Three small you're baking all the time, I suppose? | |
| (1, 0) 614 | MRS. HOWELLS is about to answer when she is suddenly struck by an idea. |
| (Mrs Howells) Well─er─yes. | |
| (Mrs Richards) Both of them? | |
| (1, 0) 630 | There is a general flutter of interest. |
| (Mrs Howells) Yes, Yanto and Zachariah. | |
| (Mrs Price) I was thinking of having one of our William─ | |
| (1, 0) 639 | For a second or two, in dumb show, she seems to be enlarging on the matter to MRS. RICHARDS, MRS. JONES, and JINNIE.) |
| (Mrs Howells) {Pulling Mrs. Evans to the front right corner.} | |
| (Mrs Evans) In the house they are. | |
| (1, 0) 646 | She goes towards the door, followed by the others, except MRS. HOWELLS and MAGGIE. |
| (1, 0) 647 | All go off, talking together. |
| (Mrs Howells) {Jumping up briskly.} | |
| (Mrs Howells) I've been young myself; and I know what it is. | |
| (1, 0) 664 | Seizing a cloth from nail in the right back corner, takes out two tins holding a dull pasty mass. |
| (Mrs Howells) Ach y fi! | |
| (Mrs Howells) No more like bread than I'm like the Queen of England! | |
| (1, 0) 667 | Tips out contents of tins on box on which she sat. |
| (1, 0) 668 | Puts tins on box also. |
| (Mrs Howells) Anyone coming, Maggie? | |
| (Mrs Howells) And if anything shifts me off this old box for a bit, it'll be nothing short of sudden death. | |
| (1, 0) 690 | Sits down in a most determined way. |
| (1, 0) 691 | Voices are heard from the house as she takes her seat. |
| (Mrs Howells) Cera shathre, Maggie. | |
| (Mrs Howells) Cera waft! | |
| (1, 0) 694 | MAGGIE goes out. |
| (Mrs Richards) {Without.} | |
| (Mrs Richards) Yes, Mrs. Evans, if there's one thing I do like to see, it's people showing respect for the dead. | |
| (1, 0) 697 | Enter MRS. RICHARDS. |
| (1, 0) 698 | Takes former position. |
| (Mrs Price) {As she enters.} | |
| (Mrs Jones) It wouldn't be fair to make a difference. | |
| (1, 0) 705 | MRS. JONES takes position by table at back. |
| (1, 0) 706 | MRS. EVANS crosses towards MRS. HOWELLS, who whispers to her, pointing to oven as if explaining. |
| (Jinnie) {Entering quickly.} | |
| (Jinnie) She's coming. | |
| (1, 0) 709 | Takes up position left of MRS. JONES. |
| (1, 0) 710 | MRS. MORGAN is seen hurrying past window. |
| (Mrs Howells) Well, Betsi, how about the bread? | |
| (Mrs Howells) Well, Betsi, how about the bread? | |
| (1, 0) 712 | BETSI opens oven door. |
| (1, 0) 713 | MRS. MORGAN appears. |
| (1, 0) 714 | Seeing the RICHARDSES, she is nonplussed. |
| (1, 0) 715 | The RICHARDSES stiffen in their manner. |
| (Mrs Howells) Oh! | |
| (Mrs Howells) Here's the bread coming out now, however! | |
| (1, 0) 726 | MRS. MORGAN gasps and retreats a few steps, taking position to MRS. JONES's right, by table at back. |
| (1, 0) 727 | JINNIE moves over to MRS. PRICE and her mother. |
| (Mrs Morgan) {Staring fascinated at the oven.} | |
| (Mrs Howells) That's my lot. | |
| (1, 0) 736 | MRS. JONES looks at MRS. HOWELLS's bread with frank admiration. |
| (1, 0) 737 | MRS. RICHARDS and Co. eye it sideways with ill-disguised envy. |
| (1, 0) 738 | MRS. MORGAN looks at it with a kind of solemn awe. |
| (Mrs Evans) {Turning again to oven.} | |
| (Mrs Morgan) Oh! | |
| (1, 0) 743 | The RICHARDS faction move in a little, watching. |
| (Mrs Evans) Two, isn't it─bake-house tins, and no mark? | |
| (Mrs Evans) Here we are then! | |
| (1, 0) 748 | Produces two splendid loaves and advances a few steps, holding them out. |
| (1, 0) 749 | There is a general murmur. |
| (1, 0) 750 | Mrs. Morgan claps her hands with a cry of delight. |
| (Mrs Jones) Da iawn, merch i! | |
| (Mrs Morgan) Are these─mine? | |
| (1, 0) 759 | Mrs. Evans nods. |
| (Mrs Howells) {Rising, takes loaves from tins with apron, taps them and examines them critically.} | |
| (Mrs Howells) I wouldn't be ashamed to see it in my own tins. | |
| (1, 0) 764 | MRS. MORGAN turns round and takes up her tray. |
| (1, 0) 765 | MRS. JONES opens out the cloth. |
| (1, 0) 766 | With a laugh of triumph and a victorious glance towards JINNIE, MRS. MORGAN holds out tray to MRS. HOWELLS, who puts loaves on. |
| (1, 0) 767 | MRS. JONES covers them reverentially. |
| (1, 0) 768 | MRS. MORGAN turns to go.) |
| (Mrs Evans) That'll be a penny, Mrs. Morgan. | |
| (Mrs Morgan) I was forgetting. | |
| (1, 0) 772 | Hands tray to MRS. JONES; produces purse and pays MRS. EVANS; takes tray again; to MRS. HOWELLS.) |
| (Mrs Morgan) P'raps you'll come up and have a cup of tea with me one day this week, Mrs. Howells? | |
| (Mrs Morgan) Good night, Mrs. Richards; good night, Miss Richards. | |
| (1, 0) 788 | MRS. RICHARDS and party, crushed and crestfallen, turn slowly and stare at her as she goes out. |
| (1, 0) 789 | MRS. HOWELLS resumes her seat, sighing softly to herself. |
| (1, 0) 790 | ~ |
| (1, 0) 791 | CURTAIN |