Dramau Cymru

The Rabbit (2001)

Meredydd Barker

Ⓗ 2001 Meredydd Barker
Mae angen caniatâd cyn perfformio neu recordio unrhyw ran o’r ddrama.

Act 3


	A gale force wind blows outside. Garan brings in objects/rearranges the area to resemble a farmhouse kitchen. He looks freshly showered in white shirt, black trousers and braces. Sian cooks the food in the background. Rabbits and pheasants hang from hooks. Garan places a candelabra on the table. He looks at Rhys.
Garan	Come on, Rhys. You need to get changed.
	Rhys looks around. Sian walks forward and gives Rhys a white shirt and black trousers. He takes them and she goes back to the food. Rhys washes himself in the sink area.
Rhys	What happened after he learnt his name?
	Garan doesn't respond.
Rhys	Father?
Garan	What?
Rhys	After Dav learnt his name what went wrong.
Garan	Well. He didn't get enough oxygen as a child.
Rhys	'He didn't get enough oxygen as a child.' It's like he was born in the Himalayas or something. Jesus.
Garan	'When he was born,' I should have said.
Rhys	Yeh. This isn't something you and the vet have cooked up, is it?.
Garan	(Affronted.) Paper from the doctor somewhere.
Rhys	Saying what?
Garan	Whatever it says.
Rhys	When did you get this piece of paper?
Garan	Oh, a long time back. Pause. Rhys groans.
Rhys	Not old Pugh?
Garan	Probably.
Rhys	Good God Father. He was a psychopath as doctors go.
Mal	I don't know. I quite liked him.
Rhys	Oh I'll give him that. He was all smiles and shw' maes. But that's how psychopaths work. You remember how much he liked rugby, well he was the boy with the sponge, and how crap we were when we played at home?
	Garan shakes his head.
Rhys	Well it wasn't a coincidence. We played like fannies because we knew that if we got ourselves injured, old Pugh would be the one to sponge us down and say, I can remember him now (adopts a low, thin tone), 'What's the matter then boy? Slipped something?'
	Garan smiles.
Rhys	I'm talking about six year old boys here, backing away with dislocated shoulders, 'I'm fine really Doctor Pugh, plenty of fresh air and I'll back good as new. Just leave me alone for Christ's sake' And this is the man who says that my brother didn't get enough oxygen as a child. But it's on a piece of paper somewhere, so there's nothing to worry about.
Garan	What's the idea then Rhys?
Rhys	Take him to see somebody.
Garan	Who?
Rhys	I don't know, but I'll find out. Be the best though.
Garan	Always was a bit different, and there's nothing we can do about it. Bits of paper don't matter. Why is it you want to change him?
Rhys	I don't want to change anybody. He could be better, that's all.
Garan	Better than the boy you remember?
Rhys	Just better than he is now.
Garan	So what's this somebody going to do?
Rhys	Take a look at him and work out how things could be better for him, and us. Through a series of─
Garan	Injections, tablets─
Rhys	─no, no, it's not like that. Don't you want him to be brighter?
Garan	We are what we are, Rhys. What if they take one look at Dafydd and keep him?
	Mal appears in the background with Sian. He has a flask in his hand.
Rhys	A specialist wouldn't lock─
	Mal says something upsetting to Sian.
Garan	─How would you know? You said you didn't know who would look at him. Now you've got an idea of what a specialist, no less, would do. Dafydd's been happy here for the past twenty years. He's not going to be better. Throw as much money at it as you like. He'll just end up being different to the Dafydd we had before. Have you talked to Maldwyn about this?
Rhys	No.
Garan	Well what are we talking about then?
Rhys	Mal wants the best for him, I'm sure. I've got the money to make Dav better, not different.
Garan	Your money can't guarantee anything.
	Garan draws a deep breath.
Garan	It didn't stop Sian from leaving you.
Rhys	Sian's here. Cooking food.
Garan	I know. Why are you doing this to yourself?
Rhys	I asked her to be here. I need her.
	Garan begins to protest.
Garan	No, Rhys bach. You shouldn't rely─
Rhys	─We need her. You don't understand about Sian. Mal doesn't either, so leave it alone.
Garan	Why don't you just tell me what's going on.
	Mal steps forward. He drinks freely from his flask and is obviously drunk.
Mal	That's not going to happen. We don't understand see?
	Garan is disappointed in Mal.
Garan	Oh Maldwyn.
	Mal takes a swig from his bottle.
Mal	Mal doesn't understand, father doesn't understand, and Dav needs a specialist to help him understand.
	Mal finishes the flask and throws it to the floor. He takes another from his back pocket and takes a swig. Garan shakes his head.
Rhys	You got one strapped to your ankle?
	Mal ignores Rhys' jibe.
Sian	Do you know what he said to me then?
	No response.
Sian	Do you want to know what he said to me?
Rhys	He's pissed Sian.
Sian	He knows what he's saying.
Mal	Yes I do. What's going on then?
Garan	What you've heard. Rhys wants to take Dafydd to see a specialist.
Rhys	All I'm saying is─
Mal	─we can't afford it.
Rhys	What?
Mal	We can't afford it. I've just counted the money, my little treat, and there isn't enough.
Garan	There isn't enough to pay the death duty?
Rhys	Yes there is. You counted it in that state?
Mal	Oh no. No, no. I started drinking when I finished counting it.
	Mal looks at Garan.
Mal	You'd have started drinking as well.
Rhys	There's more than enough─
Mal	─four hundred pounds.
Garan	(Very shocked.) There's only four hundred pounds?
Mal	Left. Never stole more than we needed.
	Rhys immediately understands.
Rhys	We can talk about this some other time, I think.
	Mal ignores him. His voice rises.
Mal	Who could want more? Said it himself. Once we've paid for the death of our mother─
	Rhys winces.
Mal	─there's four hundred. Pay off bank interest for a month maybe. That's if you're staying. Still think you should go to Brazil.
Rhys	You might drive me there, or is that the idea?
	Rhys and Mal stare at each other for a while. Rhys eventually turns to Garan.
Rhys	There wasn't as much as I thought. I said I'd get a million.
Garan	But there's enough?
Rhys	Yes.
Garan	Well what a coincidence.
Mal	A coincidence?
Garan	The same amount being there.
Mal	(To Garan.) Do you think he's going to stay?
Rhys	(To Mal.) I can't predict what a Chinese bookie is going to have in his office. Happened to be just enough.
	Mal raves.
Mal	The sun, right? And the moon? Are the same size in the sky. The same. Exactly the fuckin' same give or take. That's a bloody coincidence.
Rhys	Bit too cosmic for me that Mal.
	Garan gets up and holds out his hand.
Garan	Give me that flask.
	Mal steps back and takes a defiant slurp.
Mal	Sun and moon. Same size. Coincidence.
	Mal points at Rhys.
Mal	Torturing us you are.
Rhys	Look Mal. I said we'd pay bit by bit. Some on the duty, some on the farm. We'll start making money because of the investment in this place and there'll be enough to go around.
Garan	If we make a profit.
Rhys	Not if. When.
Garan	We've never made a profit, Rhys bach. Not for a long time.
	Mal laughs, then looks sadly at Rhys.
Mal	We should get you a specialist.
	Garan gets up. His conscience pricks him.
Garan	Maybe I should help Sian. On her own there.
Mal	No rush father. Guests aren't here yet.
Garan	Guests?
Mal	Rhys has set a table for six. Not there for Richard and Mumma, are they?
Garan	Now look here Maldwyn─
Rhys	─no ghosts.
	Rhys' remark shocks Garan.
Mal	So we can expect Sian and her new boyfriend to eat with us. Lovely.
Garan	Are you sure he's still here? Where would he go all afternoon?
Rhys	He'd stand in the rain and wait. He's not going to go away.
Mal	What about Royson?
Rhys	Who?
Mal	Rymans. Rison.
Rhys	Don't worry too much about a name you can't remember.
Mal	I can remember what Cooper said to him.
Rhys	If Tag's here then Rikeman isn't.
Mal	Simple as that?
Rhys	Don't listen father.
Mal	Why can't we go looking for him?
Rhys	And what would you do if you found him.
	Pause.
Rhys	Tag won't freeze like a rabbit mate.
	As Rhys says this, Dav runs at Mal and mounts his back like a cowboy showing off at a rodeo. He holds his hat in the air triumphantly then whacks Mal repeatedly on the haunches with it. Mal is angry.
Mal	Get off you twat.
Dav	Ride em' horsey.
	Mal stumbles around in circles as Dav whoops and hollers.
Rhys	Ride em' cowboy it is Dav. Ride em' cowboy.
Garan	Rhys, stop it. Dafydd, that's enough.
Dav	Come on horsey.
	Mal snaps.
Mal	Get off you fucker.
	Mal throws Dav to the floor. Dav bounces up before Mal can make a grab for him. Mal's face looks nasty. Dav steps back and laughs. Mal lunges for Dav again but Dav is far too fast. Mal falls to the ground. Rhys, Dav and Garan look over Mal. He sounds breathless.
Mal	I'll have you, mind.
Dav	Naughty horse.
	Mal tries to get up but fails. He holds his hand up. Pause as no one helps. He smiles sheepishly.
Mal	I don't care who.
	Dav steps forward and helps Mal to his feet. Mal looks around to get his bearings. He wavers a little then looks at Dav.
Mal	When are you going to get those potatoes boy?
Dav	How many?
Mal	How hungry are you?
	Rhys goes to sit at the table.
Rhys	(Grim.) We won't need them.
	They all look at Rhys.
Mal	We'll see. Rhys shakes his head. Dav sits opposite Rhys.
Dav	Food?
Garan	You have to get changed first, Dafydd.
Rhys	Dad wants us to look smart for dinner.
Garan	Sian washed your jeans. Clean shirt upstairs.
	Dav gets up. He looks at Rhys.
Dav	Why you shaking?
	Dav leaves.
Rhys	I should be rattling.
Mal	You always make jokes when you're nervous. You're not fooling me.
Rhys	Just calm down Mal.
Mal	Jesus, aren't you worried?
	Rhys doesn't reply. Sian brings a tray with a jug and glasses. She puts them on the table then goes. Mal closes his eyes. They stay closed.
Mal	What's happening with her?
	Before Rhys can answer, Garan replies.
Garan	Leave it alone Maldwyn. We can talk about it again.
Rhys	I asked her to help tonight. It's not easy for her.
Mal	Easy is what she is.
Rhys	You don't say a word or go anywhere near her. Understand?
Garan	Go and lie down, Maldwyn.
	Mal doesn't reply.
Garan	Go on. We'll tell you when dinner's ready.
	Mal snores.
Rhys	(Bitterly.) Hell.
Garan	You alright boy?
	Rhys turns to Garan. He takes a long time to answer.
Rhys	I don't know. Might be later.
	Dav appears in jeans and a clean white shirt.
Sian	Oh, don't you look smart.
Garan	If your mother could see you now.
Rhys	If Mumma could see him now he wouldn't be dressed like that would he? None of us would.
Sian	Give it a rest.
Rhys	Sorry. Sorry father. Very smart Dav.
Dav	Photo.
Garan	Camera's broken Dafydd.
	Dav goes over to lamp.
Rhys	Looks like an undertaker in this light. Should have a proper look at him.
	Dav plugs in the lamp and all the lights go out.
Rhys	You bloody fool.
Garan	Now look what you've done.
	Sian shouts from the background.
Sian	How am I supposed to cook with no electric?
Garan	Aga. Candles in the drawer.
Rhys	Nice one Dav. Has he tripped a fuse or what?
Dav	Donkey.
Rhys	Hey.
Garan	Haven't got a bloody spare. Could be water in the fuse box.
	A light appears at the table. Tag is sat at the head with a lighter. He speaks as he lights the candles.
Tag	God it's cold out there. September. Can you believe that? Suppose you can. What a wind. Need miles of ocean to build a wind like that. Sea on three sides. It's as if we're on the bow of a ship. You know, I don't blame you for wanting to come back to this place. There's a wise old man you've got there. All of you should learn as much as you can from him, while you can. That's something I never did. But then my Father couldn't read the weather. In fact he couldn't read a fuckin' newspaper.
	He takes a bottle of wine from his coat and puts it on the table. The men stand transfixed.
Tag	Aren't you going to join me? I won't bite yet.
	The three men slowly join Tag at the table. Dav turns to look at Tag, but isn't interested and soon looks back at his empty plate. Garan looks dignified. Rhys is the last to sit down. Tag doesn't look at Rhys or Garan. He has eyes only for Dav. Dav looks at him, then around the table, and then finally he looks again to Tag. Tag continues to look at Dav.
Tag	(To Dav.) What's for dinner?
	Dav looks at his family, and then back to Tag. Dav doesn't answer. Tag's smile becomes frozen.
Tag	(To Rhys.) Does he understand what I just─
Dav	Not. Rabbit.
Tag	(To Dav.) That's good. Doesn't do to have the same thing ten nights in a row.
	Tag looks around the table.
Tag	Set for six. You were expecting me after all. Sian seemed to think that this was a private affair. Guests not welcome.
	Sian walks across. She looks nervously at Tag.
Sian	Hello.
Tag	Ah. My girl. Get us a corkscrew love. Boys are thirsty.
	Sian turns. Tag grabs her arm.
Tag	What's on the menu?
	Sian pulls her arm away. She sounds nervous.
Sian	There's potted rabbit to start─
Garan	─potted rabbit?
Tag	Like paté. Potted shrimp, potted rabbit, I guess. Well I'm famished, so, whenever you're ready.
	Sian goes. Tag shouts after her.
Tag	Corkscrew and glasses.
	He turns to the table.
Tag	She's never cooked me a meal before. Potted rabbit, eh?
	Garan is dismissive. He stands and opens a drawer in the table.
Garan	Never heard of it.
	Garan takes a large knife and steel out of the drawer.
Rhys	Me neither.
Dav	Don't like rabbit.
	Pause as Tag looks at Dav, then at Garan sharpening the blade on the steel.
Garan	Must be a speciality of Sian's. Just for the occasion.
Rhys	Must be.
	Sian returns with glasses and corkscrew. Garan puts the steel in the drawer. Tag watches her every move. Sian goes back to the cooking.
Tag	Where's the big man?
Rhys	Behind you.
	Tag turns quickly in his chair. Instead of Mal looming above him he's relieved to see Mal crumpled in his chair.
Dav	Long day.
	Tag turns back in his chair. Garan looks concerned.
Garan	He should wake up. Dav gets up. Tag puts a hand on his arm.
Tag	No, don't. He's got the right idea.
	Dav sits down. Tag opens the wine and pours a measure into every glass. Tag lifts his glass.
Tag	Cheers.
Rhys	Twll dy dun.
Dav	Taga.
Tag	What?
Dav	Tag... ah.
Rhys	Twll dy dun. To the hole in your arse. Doesn't translate really. Just an old Welsh saying when we raise our glasses.
Tag	Taga?
Rhys	Choke.
	Slight pause.
Rhys	The masculine order to go and choke. The feminine is tagwch.
Dav	Old Welsh saying.
Tag	You're taking the piss.
Garan	We have a dictionary, Mr Cooper.
Rhys	No, I'll translate. Father thinks I've been away for so long I've forgotten.
	Pause. Tag stern. Sian brings in a dish and puts it on the table. They all look at the dish.
Rhys	It's a joke, Tag.
Tag	It's a funny language you mean.
Sian	I made it in one batch. You can help yourselves.
	Sian looks at Dav.
Sian	You sure you don't want anything to start, Dav? Do you soup?
	Dav shakes his head. Tag grabs Sian's arm as she walks away.
Tag	Aren't you eating?
Sian	No.
Tag	There's a place for you. Next to me.
	Sian looks at Rhys. He avoids her gaze. She sits down. They eventually begin to eat. Sian nibbles at her food. Tag is hungry but watchful. He glances at Mal every so often. Rhys and Garan eat slowly. Dav stares into space. Pause. Tag tastes something in his mouth. He gulps wine. The taste becomes worse. He gets up and puts a finger in his mouth. What the fuck─
Rhys	─shot, probably Tag. Dav does like to get up close.
	Tag looks annoyed, then he smiles, chuckles, and sits down. He looks at Dav.
Tag	If you ate rabbit, you might care a bit more. Not a special present for me, was it?
Garan	All from the same pot. Could have been any one of us had that.
	Tag looks at the terrine.
Tag	Of course.
	Tag looks at Sian.
Tag	Lovely though.
Garan	Rhys. Give Maldwyn a push.
Tag	No.
Dav	Food!
Sian	I'll get the rest.
	Sian goes. Pause.
Tag	Had a good look around the farm this afternoon. You've got a fortune in bits and pieces.
Rhys	But you couldn't find what you're looking for.
Tag	No. I couldn't. Where is it?
Garan	Where did you buy the wine, Mr Cooper?
Tag	Pub. The Black Horse.
	Tag turns to address Rhys.
Tag	Look─
Garan	─I haven't been there for a good ten years. Had a big collection of rare whisky on the top shelf.
Tag	I didn't notice.
	Tag turns to Rhys.
Rhys	Different landlord now father.
Garan	Aye, maybe. Old Thomas would have taken it with him, no doubt about that.
	Dav takes a slurp of wine.
Tag	I'm sure. Look Rhys─
Garan	Dafydd. No. You know what you're like with Cola.
Rhys	Leave him be, Father. Help his digestion.
Dav	Aye.
	Dav gulps down some wine.
Rhys	Sip it Dav. Try and enjoy it.
Tag	Rhys. Look.
	Tag pauses for thought.Sian comes in with steaming tureens of vegetables. Tag sits back in his seat.
Tag	Look. I can't compromise. The money is mine─
Rhys	─homemade bread?
Sian	Everything homemade. Ham, potatoes mashed, swede, cauliflower─
Tag	─moron?
Sian	Carrots. Yes. And parsley.
Garan	Fresh parsley?
Sian	Wild parsley. Picked it myself. Rice pudding to finish.
Tag	Don't grow rice do you?
Rhys	Parsley sauce, Sian?
Sian	Oh hell─
	Sian gets up. Tag rounds on Rhys.
Tag	Can't you get it your fuckin' self?
	The wind howls. Sian carries on and gets the parsley sauce. She returns with the sauce and offers it around. The last to accept a portion is Tag. Dav devours his food. Tag looks at Dav.
Tag	Do you always eat like that?
Dav	No starter.
	Dav grabs a big hunk of bread.
Tag	Your hands are filthy.
	Dav rips out the dough from inside the lump of bread and rubs it all over his hands until it looks like a grey cricket ball. He throws it over his shoulder, wipes his hands on his shirt and eats the remaining crust. Tag looks perplexed.
Rhys	Lifts the dirt like nothing else.
	Rhys giggles, but continues eating. Tag turns to Sian. He tries to stay calm.
Tag	This ham is very good. Could be Spanish.
	They eat for a little longer. Tag glances at Mal. No movement. Tag stops eating and thinks for a while
Garan	More potatoes, Mr Cooper?
Tag	Hmm? Yes, please. What's potato in Welsh?
Rhys	Tato.
Dav	Na. Tatws.
Rhys	Yeh?
	Rhys passes the tureens along to Tag. Tag helps himself.
Tag	Potato, potahto. I'll be fluent before you know it.
	They continue to eat. A couple of spots of rain hit the roof. Silence. A few more spots. Silence, then spots of rain hit the roof regularly. A pattern builds to regular rain. Pause. The rain becomes heavy, the wind howls. All continue to eat except Tag, who looks up. Eventually everyone looks up with him.
Rhys	Long walk home, Tag.
	Tag finishes his wine in one gulp.
Tag	But you never know with sea on three sides. Might walk home by moonlight yet.
	Mal opens his eyes to the ceiling. He listens to the rain for a while then looks forward, still a little dead to the world. Tag pours himself a glass of water. He drinks the whole glass. Mal looks across at the table and specifically at Tag. No one notices him.
Tag	But I've noticed that means there's only one way out of here.
	Tag turns to Sian.
Tag	What do you say, my love? We've only one way to go.
Dav	That's right.
	Loud bang from outside.
Tag	What the fuck was that?
	Tag turns in shock and looks straight at Mal. Mal looks straight back. The sound from outside becomes rhythmic; sometimes loud, sometimes dull. A large door has popped its latch in the farmyard. The wind throws it onto the wall of a shed. Mal and Tag continue to stare at each other. Everyone looks at Mal.
Garan	Drink some water, Maldwyn.
	Garan pours a glass of water from the jug. The clamour of the outside door continues.
Mal	(In Welsh.) Be' ma' ni wneud da hwn?
	Everyone understands except Tag. Tag angry/nervous.
Tag	What?
	Mal spells it out directly to Tag.
Mal	Be', ma', ni, wneud, da, hwn?
Dav	Tagu fe.
	Tag turns on Dav.
Tag	Shut up─
Rhys	─Speaks two languages, don't you Dav? You speak two languages, Tag? What are we going to do with him?
Tag	Tell him to fuck off to bed. We've got business to do.
Rhys	No. That's what Mal said in Welsh. 'What are we going to do with him?'
	The door continues to crash on its frame. Mal walks away.
Tag	Where are you going?
	Mal puts on wellingtons and coat, goes outside.
Tag	Come back.
	Tag turns to Rhys.
Tag	Where the hell is he going?
	Rhys doesn't answer. The sound of the door stops with a bang. Tag looks a little relieved.
Tag	Oh. Welsh, eh? I'm fluent enough to know when monkeys are talking about bananas, mate.
	They continue to eat. Sian gets up and takes some plates away. Short pause. Tag realises that Mal hasn't returned. He looks around.
Tag	Where is he?
Garan	He must have seen something else that needs doing.
	Tag turns to Rhys.
Tag	I don't have that much time.
Rhys	Not going to have your pudding?
Tag	Look Rhys. You know I'm not going without my money. I─
	Another crash from outside. The door has been caught in the wind again. Slight pause.
Mal	(O.S.) Dav, Rhys, Father? I need a hand here.
	The three get up. Tag nervous.
Tag	Where do you think you're going?
Rhys	Mal needs a hand.
Tag	To do what?
Rhys	It's a big door in that wind. Don't worry. It doesn't take three people to pick up a gun.
Garan	Always damage with this sort of wind, Mr Cooper. Door might be off its hinges. Can't have rain getting in the grain store.
	Short pause.
Tag	Don't be long.
	The men dress for outside then leave. He seems ill at ease. Sian returns.
Sian	Where are the boys?
Tag	Job to do. Packed your bags?
	Sian doesn't answer.
Tag	I said─
Sian	No.
Tag	Why?
	Sian falters.
Sian	I haven't... haven't had time.
Tag	You could go and pack them now.
Sian	I've got to clean up.
Tag	Clean up? No. You don't have to do anything. Go and pack your bags.
	Sian glances around.
Tag	What's the matter? You're safe with me. Short pause. Tag looks at his watch, looks around.
Sian	How safe are you?
	Sian gulps at a glass of wine. Pause.
Tag	I had a long think this afternoon. About you, me and everything. I was thinking about how lucky I was to have a girl as pretty as you fall for me. Then I did a bit more thinking. I'm soft you see. Willing to reason with everyone when I should be hard. Tough. Selfish.
Sian	Soft? I've never heard that before.
Tag	You got me here on purpose. Rhys knows that I'm never in the same place as Rikeman. But how could you make sure it was me who came down here, and not a killer? Love. Have me fall for you.
Sian	Don't be ridiculous.
Tag	It isn't so daft. If I was Rhys, that's what I would do.
	Sian glances around. She is afraid.
Tag	I'm giving you the benefit of the doubt here.
Sian	And if I didn't get the benefit of the doubt?
	Slight pause. Tag stares at Sian for a moment.
Tag	It's funny how you two still look out for each other.
	Dav enters.
Dav	Mumma's coming, Mumma's coming.
	Tag and Sian jump. Before they can react, the door opens, Mal, Rhys and Garan return, soaked and windswept. They carry a coffin. The wind howls.
Sian	Oh my god.
Tag	What the fuck's going on.
Mal	Get the stands, Dav.
	Dav goes outside and brings in two A frame stands.
Tag	What the fuck's going on?
Mal	Hold on Rhys.
Rhys	I am holding on.
Mal	She's slipping.
Garan	Careful.
Rhys	Grab hold Tag.
Tag	Christ she's heavy.
Garan	She was a big woman Mr.Cooper.
Tag	Why bring her in here?
Mal	Funeral tomorrow, Mr.Cooper.
Rhys	You didn't think you were the guest of honour, did you?
Tag	Yeh, but did you have to... It's a coffin for Christ's sake.
Rhys	If she makes you nervous now, you should have met her when she was alive.
	Long silence. Tag becomes resolved. His voice hard
Tag	The money. Where is it?
Dav	Rice pudding.
Tag	Shut up. Sian. Sit down.
	Sian sits at the table. Long silence. He taps in some numbers then puts the phone down on the table. All look at Tag except Dav, who keeps his eyes on the mobile.
Tag	I press one button and I'm through to Rikeman. (Tag looks at his watch.) Seven thirty. He'd be here before midnight. To stop that from happening, all you have to do is give me my money. What's it to be?
Garan	Who is this Rikeman?
Tag	Just another example of someone I have no control over.
	Dav stretches out his left hand towards the phone. Tag slaps his hand. Dav withdraws it quickly, but keeps his eyes on the phone.
Tag	What's it to be?
Rhys	A lot can happen in four hours.
	Pause.
Mal	I'm hungry.
	Tag turns to Mal. Dav grabs the telephone and holds it close to his face like he's inspecting a hot dog that he's about to eat. Tag holds out his hand. Angry.
Tag	Give it back. Now.
Dav	(Into the phone quickly.) Hello, hello, hello, shw' mae, shw' mae, shw' mae... Shit, cunt, wank and howdeedoodee. It's Dav, Dav, Dafydd.
Rhys	No Dav, put it down.
Tag	Give me the phone.
Garan	Mr Cooper please. Can't we sit down and discuss this?
Tag	That's something you'll have to ask Rhys. He─
	Dav looks across at the gun and smiles.
Dav	Toy. Said before.
Tag	Shut up.
Rhys	You were doing well then, Tag. Kept your cool and your dinner down. Wine was a nice touch.
Tag	What do you mean?
Rhys	Well it was never going to last was it? You're knackered. It's pissing down and you're not going to stay here tonight. You don't know where the money is.
Mal	It's on the farm by the way.
Rhys	The closest thing to a city is a kid swiping your mobile. Must be lonely.
	Sian backs away a little. Tag immediately points the gun at Sian.
Mal	If he wasn't lonely before, he is now.
	Tag points the gun back at Dav.
Tag	Where's the money?
Rhys	Somewhere in the house.
Tag	Go and get it.
Rhys	Are you sure you want me to do that?
Tag	No doubt in my mind.
Dav	Waterpistol.
Mal	Leaking is it, Dav?
Dav	No.
	Tag becomes agitated.
Tag	(To Rhys.) What are you fuckin' waiting for? Go and get it.
Rhys	Do you want to take that risk?
Tag	What risk? You get the money, give it to me, and I leave without killing anybody.
Rhys	There might be a gun next to the money.
Tag	You never carry a gun.
Rhys	Farms usually have a couple of guns. You know, vermin and the like. I might come back and fix you.
Tag	Not before I fix one of these.
	Garan gets up from his chair.
Garan	(Pleads.) This is too─
Tag	(Savagely to Garan.) Sit down.
	Garan looks at Tag for a moment then sits down.
Rhys	There's four exits from this house. I could get outside and shoot you through the window. You'd never see me.
	Dav looks across at the gun pointing at him, and then at Tag.
Dav	Caps?
Tag	What?
Dav	Caps. Not water.
Garan	Dafydd, please be quiet.
Mal	Looks like caps to me, Dav.
Tag	Will you all shut the fuck up?
Rhys	You know it is a lot of money.
	Short pause. Everyone looks at Rhys.
Rhys	You killing some of the family might be a risk worth taking.
	Mal and Garan look at Rhys in horror. Dav looks quite content.
Rhys	I might go and leave you all to it. One way to Rio.
Garan	You can't mean that.
	Rhys ignores him.
Dav	(To Tag.) Want caps? Got some.
Rhys	That's nice Dav. Go and get him some caps.
Dav	Okay.
Tag	I don't need caps.
	Tag points the gun at Garan.
Tag	You. Go and get the money.
	Tag points the gun at Rhys.
Tag	You tell him where it is.
	Tag points the gun at Dav.
Tag	Move again and you're dead.
	Tag looks at Rhys.
Tag	Tell him, I said.
Dav	(To Tag.) How long dead?
Tag	(To Dav.) How long do you think?
Garan	Dav, please be quiet. You don't understand. Tell him, Rhys.
	Rhys has to stifle a nervous giggle. All eyes turn to Rhys. Rhys stops smiling
Rhys	So you do trust me to go and get it?
Tag	Yes.
Rhys	I'll be back in just a minute.
Tag	No wait.
	Tag glances between Rhys and Mal. He nods at Mal.
Tag	Tell him.
	Mal shakes his head.
Dav	I want to play with Rhys. Always playing with Mal.
	Tag presses the barrel of the gun into Dav's cheek. He looks at Rhys then nods at Mal.
Tag	Tell him.
Garan	Mr Cooper, please listen to me.
Dav	Ten seconds.
Tag	(To Rhys.) What the fuck is he talking about?
	Rhys shrugs and smiles.
Dav	(To Tag.) The game. Dead for ten seconds.
Garan	I'm afraid you have upset him, Mr Cooper.
	Dav and Tag's eyes meet.
Tag	He's fuckin' upsetting me. (To Rhys.) Go and get the money.
Dav	(Very serious.) Then it's your turn.
	Mal, Rhys and Tag struggle. Garan stands helpless. Rhys shouts.
Rhys	Back off Mal.
Tag	How stupid am I? It's in here somewhere. You Maldwyn. Pull all the drawers from the table.
	Mal pauses.
Tag	I've had enough, mate. It'll be Rhys, then your father.
	Mal pulls the drawers from the table, tips them on the floor. Old papers fly everywhere. No money. Short pause.
Tag	Tip over the vases.
	Mal pauses. He looks at Rhys.
Rhys	This is stupid, Tag.
Tag	Is it? Then where's the money?
	Rhys doesn't answer. Tag looks to Mal.
Tag	Tip them over.
Garan	I─
	Tag points the gun at Garan.
Mal	Alright, alright.
	Mal tips the vases over. Water and roses everywhere. No money.
Garan	What kind of people do you think we are?
Tag	I've stopped thinking about it.
	Tag looks around the room.
Tag	Get back.
	Mal puts his hands up. Tag's eyes rest on the coffin. He laughs.
Tag	Well Jesus, where else?
Sian	Tag. You can't.
Tag	Then where's the money?
	No reply from anyone. Tag pushes Rhys away.
Tag	Just stand there.
	Tag barges the coffin over. A thousand potatoes cascade over the floor. Tag looks dumbstruck. Garan brings up a shotgun. Points it at Tag. Pause.
Rhys	Yours is going to be a big funeral, Tag. People from all over will come and pay their respects. They'll behave as if they knew you. They'll tell stories about you most of which they'll make up. But that's the way, isn't it? Us here, we'll follow you on your final journey. We'll make sure people draw their curtains and that men and boys take off their hats. The minister will talk about your strength and personality. And he'll mean most of it. And then, in the years to come, Dav will drop by every so often and clean your grave. That's something that doesn't happen to many people. Caring for the dead is out of fashion. You won't be forgotten. But tomorrow you'll be honoured when I look down on you. I'm going to drop a flower on your coffin. So will Mal and so will Dav. Flowers from our own Mother's grave. Now I can't say fairer than that, can I? Tag gasps and looks at the coffin.
Tag	You mean me coming down here... And everything?
	Rhys looks as if he's about to reply.
Sian	Everything.
Tag	Everything?
	Pause.
Tag	I was right.
Sian	Please Rhys…do it now.
	Tag looks in shock at Garan then turns to Rhys. Rhys points the gun at Tag. Pause. Rhys doesn't have the nerve. Pause. Tag laughs.
Tag	Isn't easy.
	Garan shoots Tag. Tag falls to the ground. Rhys, Garan and Mal shoot Tag's body.
Rhys	I said I was going to do it, father.
Garan	Were you?
Rhys	Yes. That was one thing we agreed on. The one thing.
	Garan puts a hand on Rhys' shoulder. Sian begins to clear up the mess.
Garan	I won't have to live with it for long. Where's Dafydd?
Mal	God, I hope I'm not that confused when I die.
Rhys	He wasn't confused. Everything was crystal clear. How confused are you?
Mal	Jesus. Look at the blood. A large pool of blood spreads from Tag's body. They all stand around him. Pause. I think I'm going to be sick.
	All look at Mal.
Mal	Feel sorry for him there I do.
Rhys	What? He was going to take everything away from us, sorry, from me.
Mal	That can't all be blood, can it? We should have done this in the parlour.
Rhys	What difference would that have made?
Garan	Milking parlour. Pressure washer in there. God what a mess.
	Mal sits down with his face in his hands. Rhys seems happy.
Rhys	This is the man who can stick his hand up─
Mal	─for fucks sake this is different, Rhys. I've never seen so much... so much...
	Mal's voice trails away.
Rhys	Agh, think of it as afterbirth. Come on Mal. Where's the grog?
Mal	What?
	Rhys seems happy.
Rhys	Booze. He's gone and I'm still here. Free. I'm free for the first time since I was a kid. I told you we wouldn't need the spuds. Ballast, my arse.
	Everyone stares at Rhys. Sian begins to sob and clean frantically. Mal and Garan put Tag's body in the coffin. Sian sweeps up the potatoes as best she can. Mal goes to the table and picks up Tag's mobile. Rhys stands amongst the chaos, surprised at everyones attitude. Pause. A loud gunshot is heard from outside.
Sian	What was that?
Garan	Good God Dafydd, why is it always both barrels with you? Well we know where he is anyway. Better put him in the coffin.
	Mal hands the phone to Rhys. Rhys becomes very nervous.
Rhys	It's on. He heard everything.
Sian	What?
Rhys	Dav must have pressed call.
	Rhys puts the phone to his ear.
Rhys	Rikeman?
Mal	But its nothing to worry about, is it?
	Rhys puts the phone to his ear. Rhys looks at Mal. Mal can see there's a lot to worry about.
Mal	You cocky bastard Rhys. You cocky fucker. I said. I should have known.
	Rhys shouts down the phone.
Rhys	Rikeman? Rikeman?
	Mal picks up a shotgun.
Mal	Dav hasn't got a gun.
Garan	But there was a shot.
Mal	The three guns are here.
	Rhys turns to everyone.
Rhys	The line's open, but...
Mal	Didn't you hear me? Dav hasn't got a gun, they're all here.
Rhys	Rikeman, where are you? Bang on the door. It crashes in. A strong torch beam illuminates everyone in the kitchen. A vague tall shadow with a hat shimmers across the stage. They all look towards the light. Rikeman?
	Dark. END