enough？
YOUNG OFF。 Yes； I like you。
GIRL。 It is because I am German； then？
YOUNG OFF。 No。
GIRL。 Then why won't you stay？
YOUNG OFF。 ＇With a shrug＇ If you must knowbecause you upset me。
GIRL。 Won't you kees me once？
＇He bends； puts his lips to her forehead。 But as he takes them
away she throws her head back； presses her mouth to his； and
clings to him。＇
YOUNG OFF。 ＇Sitting down suddenly＇ Don't！ I don't want to feel a
brute。
GIRL。 ＇Laughing＇ You are a funny boy； but you are veree good。 Talk
to me a little； then。 No one talks to me。 Tell me； haf you seen
many German prisoners？
YOUNG OFF。 ＇Sighing＇ A good many。
GIRL。 Any from the Rhine？
YOUNG OFF。 Yes； I think so。
GIRL。 Were they veree sad？
YOUNG OFF。 Some were； some were quite glad to be taken。
GIRL。 Did you ever see the Rhine？ It will be wonderful to…night。
The moonlight will be the same there； and in Rooshia too； and France；
everywhere； and the trees will look the same as here； and people will
meet under them and make love just as here。 Oh！ isn't it stupid； the
war？ As if it were not good to be alive！
YOUNG OFF。 You can't tell how good it is to be alive till you're
facing death。 You don't live till then。 And when a whole lot of you
feel like thatand are ready to give their lives for each other；
it's worth all the rest of life put together。
＇He stops； ashamed of such； sentiment before this girl； who
believes in nothing。＇
GIRL。 ＇Softly＇ How were you wounded； ni…ice boy？
YOUNG OFF。 Attacking across open ground： four machine bullets got me
at one go off。
GIRL。 Weren't you veree frightened when they ordered you to attack？
＇He shakes his head and laughs。＇
YOUNG OFF。 It was great。 We did laugh that morning。 They got me
much too soon； thougha swindle。
GIRL。 ＇Staring at him＇ You laughed？
YOUNG OFF。 Yes。 And what do you think was the first thing I was
conscious of next morning？ My old Colonel bending over me and giving
me a squeeze of lemon。 If you knew my Colonel you'd still believe in
things。 There is something； you know； behind all this evil。 After
all； you can only die once； and； if it's for your countryall the
better！
＇Her face； in the moonlight； with； intent eyes touched up with
black； has a most strange； other…world look。＇
GIRL。 No； I believe in nothing； not even in my country。 My heart is
dead。
YOUNG OFF。 Yes； you think so； but it isn't； you know； or you
wouldn't have 'been crying when I met you。
GIRL。 If it were not dead； do you think I could live my life…walking
the streets every night； pretending to like strange men； never
hearing a kind word； never talking； for fear I will be known for a
German？ Soon I shall take to drinking； then I shall be 〃Kaput〃 veree
quick。 You see； I am practical； I see things clear。 To…night I am a
little emotional； the moon is funny； you know。 But I live for myself
only； now。 I don't care for anything or anybody。
YOUNG OFF。 All the same； just now you were pitying your folk at
home； and prisoners and that。
GIRL。 Yees； because they suffer。 Those who suffer are like meI
pity myself； that's all； I am different from your English women。 I
see what I am doing； I do not let my mind become a turnip just
because I am no longer moral。
YOUNG OFF。 Nor your heart either； for all you say。
GIRL。 Ni…ice boy； you are veree obstinate。 But all that about love
is 'umbog。 We love ourselves； noting more。
At that intense soft bitterness in her voice； he gets up；
feeling stifled； and stands at the window。 A newspaper boy some
way off is calling his wares。 The GIRL's fingers slip between
his own； and stay unmoving。 He looks round into her face。 In
spite of make…up it has a queer； unholy； touching beauty。
YOUNG OFF。 ＇With an outburst＇ No； we don't only love ourselves；
there is more。 I can't explain； but there's something great； there's
kindnessandand…
＇The shouting of newspaper boys grows louder and their cries；
passionately vehement； clash into each other and obscure each
word。 His head goes up to listen； her hand tightens within his
armshe too is listening。 The cries come nearer； hoarser； more
shrill and clamorous； the empty moonlight outside seems suddenly
crowded with figures； footsteps； voices； and a fierce distant
cheering。 〃Great victorygreat victory！ Official！ British！
'Eavy defeat of the 'Uns！ Many thousand prisoners！ 'Eavy
defeat！〃 It speeds by； intoxicating； filling him with a fearful
joy； he leans far out； waving his cap and cheering like a
madman； the night seems to flutter and vibrate and answer。 He
turns to rush down into the street； strikes against something
soft； and recoils。 The GIRL stands with hands clenched； and
face convulsed； panting。 All confused with the desire to do
something； he stoops to kiss her hand。 She snatches away her
fingers； sweeps up the notes he has put down； and holds them out
to him。＇
GIRL。 Take themI will not haf your English moneytake them。
Suddenly she tears them across； twice； thrice； lets the bits。
flutter to the floor； and turns her back on him。 He stands
looking at her leaning against the plush…covered table； her head
down； a dark figure in a dark room； with the moonlight
sharpening her outline。 Hardly a moment he stays； then makes
for the door。 When he is gone； she still stands there； her chin
on her breast； with the sound in her ears of cheering； of
hurrying feet； and voices crying： 〃'Eavy Defeat！〃 stands； in the
centre of a pattern made by the fragments of the torn…up notes；
staring out unto the moonlight； seeing not this hated room and
the hated Square outside； but a German orchard； and herself； a
little girl； plucking apples； a big dog beside her； and a
hundred other pictures； such as the drowning see。 Then she
sinks down on the floor； lays her forehead on the dusty carpet；
and presses her body to it。 Mechanically； she sweeps together
the scattered fragments of notes； assembling them with the dust
into a little pile； as of fallen leaves； and dabbling in it with
her fingers； while the tears run down her cheeks。
GIRL。 Defeat！ Der Vaterland！ Defeat！。 。 。 。 One shillin'！
＇Then suddenly； in the moonlight； she sits up； and begins to
sing with all her might 〃Die Wacht am Rhein。〃 And outside men
pass； singing： 〃Rule； Britannia！〃＇
CURTAIN
THE SUN
A SCENE
CHARACTERS
THE GIRL。
THE MAN。
THE SOLDIER。
THE SUN
A Girl； sits crouched over her knees on a stile close to a
river。 A MAN with a silver badge stands beside her； clutching
the worn top plank。 THE GIRL'S level brows are drawn together；
her eyes see her memories。 THE MAN's eyes see THE GIRL； he has
a dark； twisted face。 The bright sun shines； the quiet river
flows； the Cuckoo is calling； the mayflower is in bloom along
the hedge that ends in the stile on the towing…path。
THE GIRL。 God knows what 'e'll say； Jim。
THE MAN。 Let 'im。 'E's come too late； that's all。
THE GIRL。 He couldn't come before。 I'm frightened。 'E was fond o'
me。
THE MAN。 And aren't I fond of you？
THE GIRL。 I ought to 'a waited； Jim； with 'im in the fightin'。
THE MAN。 ＇Passionately＇ And what about me？ Aren't I been in the
fightin'earned all I could get？
THE GIRL。 ＇Touching him＇ Ah！
THE MAN。 Did you？ ＇He cannot speak the words。＇
THE GIRL。 Not like you； Jimnot like you。
THE MAN。 Have a spirit； then。
THE GIRL。 I promised him。
THE MAN。 One man's luck's another's poison。
THE GIRL。 I ought to 'a waited。 I never thought he'd come back from
the fightin'。
THE MAN。 ＇Grimly＇ Maybe 'e'd better not 'ave。
THE GIRL。 ＇Looking back along the tow…path＇ What'll he be like； I
wonder？
THE MAN。 ＇Gripping her shoulder＇ Daisy； don't you never go back on
me； or I should kill you； and 'im too。
＇THE GIRL looks at him； shivers； and puts her lips to his。＇
THE GIRL。 I never could。
THE MAN。 Will you run for it？ 'E'd never find us！
＇THE GIRL shakes her head。＇
THE MAN ＇Dully＇ What's the good o' stayin'？ The world's wide。
THE GIRL。 I'd rather have it off me mind； with him home。
THE MAN。 ＇Clenching his hands＇ It's temptin' Providence。
THE GIRL。 What's the time； Jim？
THE MAN。 ＇Glancing at the sun＇ 'Alf past four。
THE GIRL。 ＇Looking along the towing…path＇ He said four o'clock。
Jim； you better go。
THE MAN。 Not I。 I've not got the wind up。 I've seen as much of
hell as he has； any day。 What like is he？
THE GIRL。 ＇Dully＇ I dunno； just。 I've not seen him these three
years。 I dunno no more； since I've known you。
THE MAN。 Big or little chap？
THE GIRL。 'Bout your size。 Oh！ Jim； go along！
THE MAN。 No fear！ What's a blighter like that to old Fritz's
shells？ We didn't shift when they was comin'。 If you'll go； I'll
go； not else。
＇Again she shakes her head。＇
THE GIRL。 Jim； do you love me true？
＇For answer THE MAN takes her avidly in his arms。＇
I ain't ashamedI ain't ashamed。 If 'e could see me 'eart。
THE MAN。 Daisy！ If I'd known you out there； I never could 'a stuck
it。 They'd 'a got me for a deserter。 That's how I love you！
THE GIRL。 Jim； don't lift your hand to 'im！ Promise！
THE MAN。 That's according。
THE GIRL。 Promise！
THE MAN。 If 'e keeps quiet； I won't。 But I'm not accountablenot
always； I tell you straightnot since I've been through that。
THE GIRL。 ＇With a shiver＇ Nor p'raps he isn't。
THE MAN。 Like as not。 It takes the lynch pins out； I tell you。
THE GIRL。 God 'elp us！
THE MAN。 ＇Grimly＇ Ah！ We said that a bit too often。 What we want
we take； now； there's no one else to give it us； and there's no
fear'll stop us； we seen the bottom of things。
THE GIRL。 P'raps he'll say that too。
THE MAN。 Then it'll be 'im or me。
THE GIRL。 I'm frightened：
THE MAN。 ＇Tenderl