Top line of
'Manson Creek' to be altered to
'cillis's 6-2age1
Insert after line 5 which ends 1 : that!' new lines as
in APPENDIX B attached, beginning 'STUBB: And Dave...'
Same page 6 lines down delete 'And' at the beginning of
FAWCETT' S line so that it now begins 'Dave..."
14 lines from bottom '?' to '1' M in STUBB' s line.
15 lines from bottom 'Manson Creek' to become Gillis' S
Grave'.
11 lines downe - Instead of DOG's epeech as it stands,
substitute the following liness
DOG (also shouting) There ain't no civilisation--
it don't exist! It's make-believe,
cockroach!
They're all the same as us down exoreyou
FAWCETT: For a beti You' d been on a jag... etc.
These lines thus replzce DOG' s' (taken aback) Fawcett etc'.
11 lines down, STUBB' s 'What?' should now read 'When?'
9 lines from bottom, STUBB' s 'Fivel' should now read
'Five quidi'
Last line of page, please add to : :o.falls' the words,
'Wo : can alteady imagine the rats nibbling them.'


Note
hisens
C) Mention Sos ewly. AeLT
h 7e Ca. 2e 2 CLn Sos
- Ly
a eche
Hand
mure Gane dom elc
pok -
dos
Tanal
taole
m Dave's
bu Hze Jioup
Avveket
ad S
don!
pul
elo
Anol
La ln
halody
A as ol cfot
Inae -
2 P65 Esplain Jhy Davo allan
hemn la daue Ls alu uenri Llrai
i ? Ihn- rhn
Stctir : md Davallns
3 Lost
sayri
haid,
P-gi Welf, luag a
cmde laury Luy edc,
rah
try
AV2C
he mle)
M. erder
fwith hrn
Stit
calaginys
asfrral
ni'Le h tole Jays.
Sometherp hd Cou euld
3 lesbondiation entaminalan ol?
hor iin Aer T


THE ESKINO TRANCE
A Play in Two Acts
Maurice Rowdon
Copyright Library of
Congress Washington


CHARACTERS IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE:
STUBB
PAWCETT
DOG
YOUNG DAVE


SCENI E:
The interior of a trapper's hut in tho North West
Territories close to the Alaskan border, several hundred
miles from the Hackenzie river. There are three simple
beds with pelts thrown roughly over them, and a log table;
no chaire, only store-chests. Three pairs of enowshoes
lean against tho wall near the door, and there are trappers'
packs. Hanging by the window is a large frying pan, the
only cooking utensil we can see. Apparently, the cooking
is done outside.
The place is in a bad state of repairt the door has
no lock or handle, and swinge open; the window ie off its
hinges. There are two sporting guns in the corner.
Tho only modera object in the room is a field-radio,
in the corner farthest from the door.
ke are on top of a hill overlooking a massive valloy,
and the broad window looks out on to the sky.
The present.


Note un Cawcet',
charactos
- Cmugreve
Laur
Aos
Le md'
haidenhond
Welsh
adkigfo
Tas 0 a
ttodian
alsn
DIRECTORS
cmepiacen
NOTE FOR
DOG, STUBB and FAWCETT aro Englishmen. FANCETT'e
parentage io uncertain, but be is cortainly Welsh stock, as
we hear from his accent; porhape born in British Columbia,
illegitimate. STURB is a Londoner by birth; ho workod in a
London vood-yard until he walked out on his wife. DOG is a
Sonerset
with
characteristic
mon,
the
etrang burr.
These three men probably came together in one of the
trapper's towna, perhaps Eakimo Point; or in a nilitary area
like Mackenzie Bay where cacual labour in needed. Or they
may have mot in Montreal, before any of thea took a chance
and cano north. However they mot, A common quality brought
thea togethers loneliness and lack of ties.
They are on a miseion here but exactly vhat it is even
they don't knows Thore is only a radio connecting thon to
the othor side of the valley. They've learned the rudinenta
of trapping to pass the time, and they try to inagine thom-
colves real trappers or even gold prospectors fron fifty or a
hundred years ago.
Relevant to thie play are the following quotations frod
SIR BERNARD LOVELL, Jodrell Bank Astronomical Station:
'In tho case of certain experiments which are now
poscible the initial atepa could produce irremediable
*A modification of conditions in epace could influence
the mental conditions of mankind..
'It oeeme almost thnt we aro moving towards the proof of
the old end univeraal belief that connected the moon with madness.'


INDEX OF TERMS
white-trapping is trapping by laying strychnine poisoning,
illegal because the huaky dogs can pick it up. A trappor's
word for treacherous.
Smudge is a fire lit near tho hut to keep monquitoes away:
it emoulders gently day and night.
Cache ia a structure on poles to koop provisions on, so that
the grizzly bears can't clinb up and tako it at night.
PAS was a famous prospector's otation earlier this century;
saloons, whorohouses, a fev ahope (for
PRINCE
rye whisky).
GEORGE waa the same. EGKIMO POINT and CHURCHILL were where
tho trappers traded their polto. Radiun was found at ECHO
POINT, as the play says. BARKERVILLE nentioned in Act 11
with ridicule was a shanty town fron the goldruch days.
pitchblend are-a kind of gold; assay moans to test this ore
in the laboratory; it cost five pounds in the Tventies.
de luxo prospectors were the speculators, not tho men who did
the actual prospecting and staking out of the ground.
white-fox-- the foxes trapped in the enowy regions.
angekok and torngarconk-termo from Eskino aythology which
aro explained in the play.
the old tolegraphic trail--thie first telephonic trail in the
NW territories was laid by trappers, nostly by a Frenchmon on
horseback. Tho flovers mentioned in the play are those
actually to be found there.
cockroach --adapted fron the Italian as elang for priest.
placer rold in the
the
river bede
gravel bars of
river-tho
were dredged for gold; placer moans the sands or gravol bed
that contained valuable ainerals.
tailinge--refuse from the gold-dredging.
King Prempel---an Aahanti king an the Gold Conet of Africa
who massacred peoplo and used their blood for paint.
Gillis's Gravo---where three trappers died in aysterious
circunstances without a mark on their bodies, leaving their
hut as describod in the play; a true story.


It io lato-norning on a eparkiing,
clear day and light io pouring through
the door.
STUBB and FANCEIT sit on their bads,
their heade in their hando, dosing
gloomily.
STUBB io snall and round, FANCETT alim
and clean-shaven. FANCETT's long, slim
face always scens startled; STUBB looks
round in a gingerly way, like a man cn
the run.
Silence.
FAWCERT starto, looks towards the door,
his eyes wido, then rolaxos again.
STUBB open hie eycs slowly and etares
at the door, too. He auddenly grabe
FANCETT*s arn, and FANCETT jumpe in a
terrified way.
STUBB:
It's himt
They acramble to tho door. There is
the sound of atops and heavy breathing,
and of sonéthing being dragged.
FANCEITE (delightea) Dog!
STUEB:
What you got, Dog?
DOG, an enormous figure of a man, with
a vild board and bushy red hair, enters
dragging an ammunition box.
He has a wild and yet abashed look which
sakes hin squint up his eyeb frequently.
FANCETT: (watching DOG do he drage tho. box in) Gunshot?
DOG: (wiping his brow as ho loto the box fall) That'o right!
STUBBI
How's Dave?


DOG:
OKI
STUBB (with hio quick hunted look) See Mrs. Dave?
DOG:
Nol
FAUCETT: Ian't she there?
DOG:
She's thore, I think! He talki about hort
STUBB:
there'd you kip down, Dog?
DOG:
Dava's. In the shop. Bohind the grain--
where he keepe the ratel
FANCETT: You didn't even gliapee her?
DOGI
Well ---(blinking) I thought I did--once!
STUBB (warnly) You did? Vhere?
DOG:
Just- --disappearing round the hut. I thought
ao. (Sittins on the box, still wiping himself)
Ie just calla hor Krs. Davo--I think.
FAWCETT (fixirig hia with hio eyes) What's she look like, Dog?
DOGI
I didn't really glimpoe her-just an idea- like
feoling. (After a pause) On the plump sido,
aaybe. (Burating out) Why couldn't she come out
and shake ay hand? (Tho othero look at him
sympathetically) Are we scarecrows or eccothing?
STUBBE
She might have been down the lake.
DOG:
She was thered (Pausing again) She mot have been
there! He said-See that hut? That's where
cho iat'
STUBBI
Dave said that?
DOG:
Yest
FAWCETT (quickly) They're not narried?
DOG:
Married? He said ahe was a achoolteacher, come from
Winnipeg, to help hin with the station. He nover
clapped oyes on her beforet
STUBB:
But he called her Mra. Davet
DOG:
She didn't come out and ahake me by tho hand, that's
all I knowl That's just 1ike hin--keop her back
1ike that. (Pansing) I don't go across that valley
often. It's a twenty-mile hiket And I
donv
the
a neaning
keep h
path
(makes
i) beiip srot)


STUBB:
You got suppor all right?
DOG:
Oh, yeal You know how he is. Grinning all the
time.
STUBB:
Did you get the mail?
DOG: (scornfully) Mail! No, I missed it. I thought, to
hell, I'm not waiting all morning for thatt
STUBB:
You'a havo had to wait two years, naybe!
DOG:
Shut upt
FAWCETT and STUBB cease watching him,
and alco sit down.
Husky-dogs bark in the distance. Then
it ie quiet again.
FAWCETT: Dave's huskies-
A pause.
STUBB (to DCG) Wo knew you was there all right by the dogo-
right to the minute, like always.
DOG nods indifferently.
STUBB (glumly) You didn't see nobody?
DOG ahakes hio head like a child,
pouting and alnost in tears.
DOG:
He just laft the food outs And bed. (Lipe
guivering) Like a lopert
STUBB and FAWCETT look at hin
cympathetically.
STUBB:
You didn't seo him or hear him?
DOG shakes hia head.
FAWCETT: But you got a glimpee of the dane, you caidi
DOG (blinking doubtfully, unvilling to lot him down) Well..
FANCETT (oagerly) Did you?
DOG:
I thought I did.s..
FANCETT (vith contempt) "Thought'!
DOG (angrily) They stick me in a hut five hundred yardo away!
Barbed wire all roundt


STUBB (in astonichment) Barbed wire?
DOG:
It oeemed to glean--like bared wirel
FAWCEIT (his eyes glinting and fascinated) You could have
crawled up--taken a peek at this danel (Suddenly
cackling with laughter) - She night have fallon in
love with your beardi
DOG (leering) I'n tirod.
STUBB (half to himself) Barbed wire...
DOG:
kell, I'm not sure. (Trying to make a dofinite
picture) I know hots got a gun trained on the cabin
door, far when you try and get noar hin. That's
for certaint
STUBB (nodding) And why else would he send hio Bon up hero
with the mil? He could give it to you himselfi
DOG:
That'e right!
FAUCEIT: He don't want you poeking at his damest E
set
A pause.
Suddenly STUBB nudgee FAWCEIT to tell
DOG oomething.
FAWCEIT (remembering) It'e the fifteenth of July, Dog. I
worked it out.
STUBB (to DOO) Ie says it's election day. I said I thought
the eighteenth.
DOG (suspiciously, to FAWCETT) Why--you anxious to etep
into my booto?
FANCENT (vith his startled look) Me?
STUBB:
Io he right, Dog?
DOG:
Sure it's olection day! (Again to FAWCETT) You
never miss, do you?
FANCETT: It's our constitutiont We agreed on itt
DOG:
That's not why you resembort
FAWCENT: Why, then?
DOG (turning away, blinking) Jealousy!
Tho othor two are silont in a contrite
way.


FAWCET (auddenly, sniffing) I snell grizely!
DOG: (half to himself) Like hell you dot
STUBB:
They was round lnst night, Dog. They near on
climbed the cache.
DOG:
That's for Favcett to mendt (Nithout looking at
FAWCETT) He'll be fixing a ladder for 1 en nextt
STUBB (fokingly) Thiey can staxp you to pulps Fawcettt
DOG (harshly, to FAWCETT) And look at thie door! How many
mare nighte are you going to barricade us in with
anowshoes? And the windowl (Turning avay
impatiently, eince FANCET ahove no aign of responding).
STUBB:
Remoaber that suner we saw stean coming up fron a
hole, it was after a thaw, it must have bcen the
spring, and Dave juaped otraight. .down into a
grizzly'a lap?
DOG:
And the grizzly didn't even wake up!
FAKCEIT (waking up suddenly) Well, 8o Dave eays, but Dave'a
bloody liar!
DOG:
Re's kopt you in provisions for a couplo or three
years, dveotheart, and hasn't overcharged. Xou
take the nane of the Provider in vain and hi sight
not provide any nore.
FANCETT: Well, I reckon he don't do it for nothing.
DOG:
We all do it for nothing.
STUEB:
We get nothing, that's truot
DOG (still to FAWCETT) He showed you how to make a cacho. He
taught you all you kmnow. How to atretch the pelts.
Lay tho traps. Clean your gunse Keep a smudge
againat nonquitoes. What's wrong with that-did
you want his blood as well?
STUBB (to DOG) But he couldn't introduce you to his whoret
There is silence. Then DOG gots up
wearily.
DOG:
0.K.! Let'a get it done witht
The others rise as woll.


STUBB:
As if we aidn*t know
DOG (cutting nim short angrily) Hell, 1f you know, waive the
formalities---but there's hin (indicating FANCETT)
to contend witht
STUBB:
DOG:
Hall, get it dono with--who's chairmen?
STUBB:
Favcett.
FAWCEIT: It'a always nes Because I get no votes. O.K.-
chow of confidence for me, by raieing tho hand.
fie waits, but noither of tha other tuo
raiecs his hand.
FAWCET (threntening) Why, you mean couple ofomt
DOG:
Got on with iti
FAWCEMT: For Stubbe A show of hands.
DOG raioes his hand.
FALCLIT (reluctantly) For last year's Dog! a ahow of hands.
Only STUBB raises his hand. FAWCEIT
keeps his arme firmly at his side.
DOG (gloworing. at him) That's one for Stubb and one for ne
so you decidel stubb's our Dog, is that it?
(FAUCHT hesitates) Well, come on-- It'e Stubb
you wenti (HE and FAKCEIT stand gloring at each
other) I'1l give you ten secondsl What's it to be?
At last FAWCEIT raices his hand,
still glaring at DOG.
DOGI
Thank youl
STUBB:
Just what I saidi
FAWCETT (to DOG) Was I going to vote hin Dog (meaning STUBB)?
DOG:
Don't blane me for it, that'a allt (Sitting down
again) It'o circumstances!
FAWCETT: I've nevar seen you raise your hand for
that'o
allt
DOG: (mildly) - You're power-hungry, Fawcett, that'a whyl You'd
be atarving us of fires dt night and keeping the
pelts to youroelf if we made you Dog.


FAWCETT: And where did you get your education--at tho
phorehouse roading-room down at Pas?
DOG:
Oh, listen to that--he's bittart Liaten, if you
want to be Dog taka it--1'11 call you Dog a
hundred timea a day---but that wouldn't be free
election, would it?
FANCETT (quiotly) O.K.+ 0.K., you're Dog.
STUBB:
The Bano every year (with a sigh)t
They relax again, yaninig, scratching
themselves, gazing before theme
Suddenly there ia a distant ahot from
across the valloy.
DOG (jumping up furiously) She's shootin', far Christ's sakos
Davo'a whoret LAke a mant (Turning to STUBB)
She's laying trap-lines like a men--yet she couldn't
chake me by the hand-l
STUBB:
0.K., take it easyt
DOG:
What's ahe shootin' at--can you tell no that?
STUBB (vith a wink at FANCETT) A timbor-wolf.
DOG (taking hin seriously) A timber-wolf, ay arset So that'e
how it's going to be from now on---ahowin' us shets
theret A woment In trouserat Talkin' with a gunt
There is eilence while he stands
glaring across the valley, with a very
alight bevildernent in his angor.
STUBB (looking away) Youtre bushed-
DOG:
'Woman'l It's nowhere I can seel It's just rolle
of fatt
FAWCENT (with imaediate fierce interest) Is. that how ahe looks?
(DOG shrugs) I think ahe's thin, vith glasses on-
(Gazing before. him)
STUBB:
And I think sho's---fattieh---I agree vith Dog-
fattieh with lovely-
DOG:
That's enought (Contemptuoucly) Stop thinking-
thinkors! (Striding up and dom) That'e no womant


Dod: (Glancing acrons the valley as if it had contradicted hin)
A wonan carries her flosh, vell, (quietly) liko a
kind of angel. Like we was reading about, ronember
(looking down at STUBB and PANCETT)?
FAWCENT: It'e always angela ar something! Angels are men,
anyhow.
DOG (turning on hin) They'ro any cext
FAKCEIT: Angels? Thoy're boya!
DOG:
Toll hin, Stubb!
STUBB:
I seen to remenber they're both. Gabriel, iike
we was reading--was he a he or a she?
FAWCEIT: A he.
STURB:
The two fallen angola, that started up hell, was
vomen, I soem to romenber.
DOG: (striding again) Woment I've seen women in ny day--
(To FAWCETT) Remember Flaning Ethel down at Paa?
FANCENT: Do II
DOG (To STUBD) She used to keep the most winiaturest rovolver
you've éver seen in her stocking, and she nevor took
it out, it WRS there all the time and you had the
foeling it might go off- Resember that?
PAWCETT: That's rightt
Silence, as they think about this,
smiling.
STUBB:
I always used to think you got like tho air whon you
cane up here--clear all the way through, like you
s0e Davets cabin of a norning on the other side of
tho valloy, 1ike a pioce of canvas. (A paune)
Did you think ao, too?
DCO:
fio. (Another pauce) Yes, I did.
FANCENTTS So did I.
STUBB:
And it didn't happen. Wa're getting bushod-- a
bit noro every day--
DOG:
So what keope you here? (Glaring at them both)
You're a couple of lame ducket You're lousy drunkot
You eit at a table with a couple of pinto of rye in
your guta and bacausc the dice saya six you--uccch!


STUBB:
You did the same.
FAWCETT: In fact, you laid the bet.
DO (imitating thom) *You laid the bet, you laid the bett-
I alwoys get that! You had it in your faces, you
couple of white-trapping lice--you anked for that
sixt
FAWCENT (to STUDB) Linten to thati
DOG:
You think you're strong---what's etrong about sighing
up for voluntary iagrisonment for five years
without a prison, without a eentence, without a crimo?
STUBB (unconfortably) It takes strength--don't it?
DOG:
No, it's just pighoaded and proud, that'e whatt
It'c just conceitt And when you get back to Pas
and plant yourself in Anyte whorehouse and don't
need your trousors for a wouk-l
STUBB (laughing) That'a goodi
DOG:
Who's going to look at you? Who's going to remember?
Who'll even imow your nane? Can you toll ne that?
wil1 Any be there? They'll all be deadt The
saloon won't be there where you threv the dicel
*Five years't
FAKCETT: That'a the béauty of it.
DOG:
That's right--talk to me about beautyt
FALCENT: There won't be anybody there. Nobody'1l remember.
There'll juot be us.
DOG:
That's right, thinkert
FANCETT: There'il just be our lives, like eigning your name
in water, as somebady said down at Pas when I was
prospecting.
DOG:
That's it, that's itt
FAWCETT: Just between yourself and God, if you follow mel
DOG:
Oh, I follow you, I've been following you for near
on three yearo-(bellowing at the top of his voice)
but I want some NOISE---some real NOISE, do you hear
me, not your voices any more-some HOISES


There is another ahot in the dietance.
DOG gapes in the direction it cano frome
STUBB:
You got your noice, mate (vith a vink at FAWCETT):
DOG:
What dose ahe mean-? (He stops, trying to purzle
something out)
STUBB:
You're bushed.
PAWCETT (with a sigh) Svery election day there'e sonething
crazy!
DOG (turning on hin again) And that's because of me, I
supposel (Scornfully) Elocting ne Dogt What
nanel
STUBB:
It was your names He'll epell God the wrong way
round, you said.
FANCEIT: You've certainly boan thati God the wrong way
roundi
DOG (squinting at him danterously) Meaning I'a the devil?
FAWCEIT (with foar) I didn't mean exactly thatt
STUBB (to DOG) He means like he said tho other night.
DOS:
What was that?
STUBBI
About you running messages between God and use
DOG (appensed) Oh, thatt (Looking out across the vallay again)
There adght be sonething in that.
A paune.
STUBB:
Can you soe the fing?
DOG:
STUBB:
Put your telescope up.
DOG (quietly) Why, who'e going to write you mail?
Cwt
STUBB:
It was that last letter---I--
DOG (with a sigh) O.K., O.K.-
FAWCETT: There wo got
STUBB (almost in tears) What's she have to rub it in for? She
don't havo to writel It makas ne think-i of the
kitchen, where'a ahe aitting. And her--front--


FAWCETT (mournfully, as if they'd heard it a hundred times
before) Oht
STUBB (in teara) What an I doing here? I don't remenber
what happonedt
lul n
FAWCEIT: A cool san-of-a-bitch happenedt
STUBB (in a atrange reasoning way) He wasn't cool, nate-
bo was on the same bench-
DOG:
Yes, yest
STUBBI
We used to give each other
DOG:
'a anoke at teatimet' (With disgust) Oh, Christ!
STUBB:
Wo dial
DOG (to himself) Five yearst (Glaring at both of then) And
where's it going to get you? I'll tell you where-
where it got the boya at Gillis'a Graye, down at
Manson Cracki
FAUCENT (with his startled look) What's that?
DOG:
Never hear?
0 7 FANCETT:
Nof.
DOGI
There waa a couple of trappers--they'd been trapping
ten years or more. Found doad, aitting up againet a
couple of treos, each cide of a dead fire, frozo stiff,
thay was nearly covered over with autunn leaves, they'd
been aitting there a long tise, all winter long-
FANCETT: Yes, I think I heard-
DOGt
There was a rusty frying pan by the fire. A fow
yarde on there was tho other one---
STUBB:
There was three?
DOG:
That's right. fie was leaning against a treo, too.
His rifle was cocked, none of tho bullets was firod.
Not a mark on thoir faces. Just aitting there.
Their hut waB a couple of hundred yards up the hill.
The door was ewinging open. There was a bundle of
letters nailed to the table.
STUBB:
What did the letters say?
DOG:
Thoy was eaten by ratse
foBlul


FANCETT: That'e the way to go out-liko Flaming Ethel used
to Bay down at Pas, 'Just sit and fall asleep's
STUBB (to DOG) They could have got eome white bait in their
food--strychnine kills straight off.
DOG:
How do you get white bait in a frying pan?
FAWCENT: A: noose comes along and gots trapped-
DOGt
What? Horild you cut up a noose you hadn't shot?
FAHCEITE They might have beon desperate!
DOG:
In tho middle of. summer? With all the fish in tho
lako?
FAWCENT: Oh, this waa aumoer?
DOGt
How olse would they be sitting out there-how elee
would they be going along the traps at all? It'e
only nuts like you who stay out in the vintertimo
and have to have the frostbite rubbed out of their
fingerst
GTUBB (to FAWCETT) And how about the lettors? How did thoy
got nailed on the table if thoy didn't know aomothing
beforehand?
DOG:
That'a righti
FAWCEMIT: Becaise thoy didn't have any rat-food and the rate
had to eat somethingt (He cackles vith laughter)
DOG (with disgust) That'a why you're never Dog-I
FAHCEIT: why?
DOGI
Because you can't be dormed-well eericust You've
got that cacklo at tho end of everything--
(imitating him) hat hat hal If I do go bushod,
it'll be your long face eont not
FAWCETT: You was buehod before you ever cet foot in Princo
George, matet
DOG:
I was bushed to eet foot in Any's whorehouse and get
to know yout
STUBB:
He and Long Hartin had just sold two hundred fax at
Eskimo Point for eighteen hundred dollars, romenber
that?


DOG (relaxing) You could bave got double the price at Churchill!
STUBBI
We waB in a hurryl
FANCEIT (to STUBB) You and Long Kartin must have lookod a
scream together, setting the trapa-the iong and
the chort of itt
STUBB (conically) I have ay dignity.
FANCETT: You need it, natel
DOG:
The biggest let-down I ever had was when they found
radiu at Echo Point. I must have walked over that
ground about fifty thousand tinest It took five
pounda to have a bit of pitchblend ore assayed in
those days tnd I didn't have it-I didn*t evon have
a couple of centot That was a big rush, Eldorado
Gold Mino sharee want up to eighteen shillings a
charet Thoy all cane in aeroplanes, all the de luxe
prospectors!
Silence.
FANCETT: Did you say Daveta whore has rollo of fat?
DOGI
That's itt
FANCETT: From just a glimpee?
DOO (with a vink et STUBB) I can tell from the way she firea
a gumt
STUBB:
Hlat
DOG:
That's not tail and thini That'a a heavy
domineering type of worant
FANCENTE Yes?
DOG (with authority) In any case, sha laya white trapse
FANCETT (suddenly rojecting this) To hell with yout Just
becauce you found a dead fox froa last wintert
DOG:
On hor linet
FAWCET: What does that prove? Supposo Young Dave laid it?
I wouldn't put it past hial
DOGS
It's a greenhorn's trick, that'e whyt Young Dave
knows better than thatt
STUBB (to FANCETT) What's vrong in a vhite trap anyway?


DOGI
What?
STUBB:
I'a getting to think it's better.
DOG:
Well, listen to that-he's boen trapping and
atretching pelta for three years and he suddenly
gets humanel
STUBB:
You know it yourself, mata-the animals euffer, thoy
bite off their legs, they atarve to déath, thoy're
oaten alive by their oun kind, aitting in a trap 1ike
that. I rockon a roal man don't do that, for noney
or anything elsos
DOG (suspiciqualy) Bo that's it? I've heard you toe thea
worde before- (Squinting at him) You-
STUBB looka questioningly at FAWCINT.
FAWCENT (to STURB) He neans froal man'.
STUBB (blinking at DOG) What?
DOG (still snouldering) Should we all be sitting down in
Montreal uriting accounts---in that it?
STUBB:
We could ru mink farncomchite-fox farns. It'a
the big thing in the eouthi
DOGt
Tho pelta arentt B0 goodt
STUBB:
They sell all rightt
A ailence, during which DOG continues
to squint his eyes dangerounly at STUBB,
who begins to look unconfortable.
.DOG (quietly) I'm not quite a 'reai mntoie that.it?
FANCITS He dian't say thatt
DOG (turning round on hin) Keap your nouth ahuti (He slowly
puta his hand on hie rifle, still staring at STUBD)
STUBB (frightened but without movint-in a whisper) Kow,
then, Dog.
DOG:
I know what'a in your minds (Gripe hold of the rifle)
You noan I'a a pouf, eh?
FAKCEIT: Drop thatt
STULB has his oyes fixed an the gun in
a terrified way.


STUBB:
Suddenly DOO picks the rifle up as if
to point it and STUBB dachag'to his
foet.
FANCETT (trying to roach over) Drop itt
DOG lifte the rifle and begins to
oight it calaly. STUHB is trenbling
all over.
STUBB (running) Dogt Dagt Stop him, Favoett, for Chrict's
sakel
He Boes DOG taking ain and in dosperation
doubles hinself up on the floor, showing
hio behind, soaning and trembling. DOG
takes ain on hia: behind. FAWCENYT
watches him vith horror.
FAWCETT: Dog, you cantt You can't
Juat at the moment DOG io about to pull
the trigger there in another ahot from
across the valloy, but closer. STUBB
leto out a scream, taking himbelf as
shot.
STUBB:
Oh, Christ! Oh, Christi (Rolling over) He'o got
mes Fawcett, oh, Christ:
DOG lovers his gun elovly. watching
hin in a fascinated way, hie head on
one eide. FAHCENT aleo vatchos him.
STUBBI
He'e dono it, ho'a dono it, oh, Christ, I know he'd
do it one day (crying)t
DOG creepe over and touches STUBB on
the behind with his foot.
STUBB (taking it as anothor. blow) Oh, no, for Christ's sake,
no--no more, matel
FANCENT (quiotly) Get up, mates Ho didn't fire
STUBB looke up, astoninhed. DCG in
tovering ovor him.


FANCETT (bogining to cackle vith laughter. and init tating STUEB)
Oh, ohy ho's done it, he's done itt (Eeaping round
as STUBB did) Oh, Christ, chs Christ, I knew he'a do
it, oh, Chriett (cackling holplesaly)
STUBB:
There's no need to mock.
DOG: (watching him, but abashed) I just raiee my gun and you go
1ika thatt
STUBBE
Well, you bave done it. before, ante. (Glunly and
reproachfully) And a gun'e a gun, you know.
FAWCET (pointins at DOG) Look, he'e anhanedt
STUBB (walking away) So he should bet
FAVCETT: That's the first tine you've bet your eights on hin,
Dog. And yet you're supposad to be responsiblet
DOG (limply) Have another election, thene
STUBB (to hinsolf) Blinoyt I thought that was the end of
Joo Stubb all rightt
DOG (trying to appease) You're auggestible, that'e all, natel
STUEBI
But you Ma pointing a gun at met
PAWCETTS That'a it.
DOG:
I wouldn't have fired.
FANCENT: You near on diat I oaw yout
DOG (decisively) I won't stand for nomination agains
FANCETT: Listen to it-prido--
A pause during which they all etare
giunly before thoma
DOGI
0.K.; I'm sorry, then.
STUBBI
That's all right I'd 1ike to take a gun on
you somotimes.
Theylaugh politely.
DOG (converoationally, to STUBB) Thie thing of the white trapo
how are you going to keep your huakies off the poison?
A whole pack died of strychnine down at Menoon Creek
ten years back.
STUBBE
what I onidi breed your animala instend. Don*t let
tam run wild and then trap.


A pause.
DOG (in a hositant way) Did you notice something? She's
getting to Ge0 ay Gide of things?
The other two gaze at him in silonce.
FAWCETT: Vhat's that?
STUBB:
Who's ahe?
DOG:
Davo's whore.
FAKCETT: Vhat do you mean?.
DOG:
She fired off just when she should have-did you
notice that? (As they stare at hin) All right,
look at mo as if I was cracy!
FALCETT: What are you talking about?
DOG:
She fired to stop ae firing.
STUBB:
You are bushed, you know
FANCETT: Who's the *thinkor' now?
DOG:
That'o not thinking, it's plain factet
FAKCETT: Ohl
DOG (to STUBB) She fired to stop me killing you.
FAKCETT (with an amused glance at STUBB) Woll....
DOG:
I'm not suro, mind you--
STUBB (to DOG) You're better in tho wintor-time, mate---
not 60 jumpy.
DOG:
Well, it'a true. It's the angekok in me, I euppose.
(Seeming to hope that thoy vill ask hin vhat the
word meana) That means....
STUBB (mechanically) Medicine man'.
DOG:
That's right. It was the longest apprenticeship
I ever aerved. The hardest, too. When tho Eakimo
feols he's been called he rotiros to a lonely place-
I chose Carlylo Straet, binnipop---I didn't hardly
speak to a living aoul for two years nor more--I
prayed and faited until tho Torngarsoak appeared
FAWCEIT and STUBB both rocite the noxt
sentence with hin, as if they know overy
word of his narrative.


ALL:
...that's the great whito bear.
DOG:
It cano up in front of the iron bedstead. Yet I
scile
wasn't ourprised. He did evorything thoy said, too.
AbZ
a here? DGi-> He ate ne up and vonited out the pieces, and theso
formed togethor again, and the great white bear
disappeared. Thoy gave ne a wife, and I used to do
all thoir healing. I cwear I had healing powers.
STUBB:
Did you use the wifo?
The radio begins blinking red, a
dovice for whon it is unattended.
DOG:
Not mo. I'vo soen a few white men go nativel I
didn't want the lice picked out of my hairt And
the stench of those pelto in the igloos- I novor
really got used to it.
STUBB:
As long as you don't go into that Eekimo trance
again--eh, Fawcott?
FAKCETT: I'll sayt
STUBB:
Last time you looked like deadt
DOG (quiotly) We've been known to die.s.
STUBB:
It lnsted ali day--scarod tho balle off mel You
couldn't answer the radio for twonty-four houret
FAKCETT (geeing the radio) Hoy, it'a ohowing rod, Dog.
DOG (vith a acowl tovards the radio) Leave it bet It's Dave
wanting to apologise. 'I'll be up for a game of
cards, boyol'--he's beon promising that for near on
three yearat
The radio censas to blink.
FAWCEIT (to STUBB) Remember that old tolegraph trail in the
Arctic, and all those flowers--tho blue lupina,
saxifrage, forget-me-nots, yellow Arctic poppies?
No radio theret You had to lay it all by wiret
STURB:
That's rightt
DOG:
'Flovers'l (In a leg-pulling way) khat did you
do-mako posies?
FANCEIT: That's itt
A pause.


DOG (looking round) It'o funny---I expected her to fire thont
FANCETT: Why?
DOG (with a ohrug) I don't knowt
STUBB (to FANCETT) She'e the voice of his conscienco:
Bocause he sneered at your floverst
DOG:
'Conscience*!
They liston. But nothing happens.
STUBB (to DOG) How do you fast at Carlyle Street, Winnipeg, Dog?
FANCENT: He Reans he didn't eat, he only dranko (with his
cacklo)t
DOG (disregarding him) I used to havo water for broakfast.
If you eat nothing firat thing it shrinks the stomach.
Then dry bread and water for dinner. "Or unsalted
potatoes. Then I vent on a jag Saturday and Sunday.
It usually took fourteen hours* aleep to bring me
round. A jag never had less effeot on mo in ny life.
That was the fasting. I'll tell you something about
fasting, I mean when you don't eat a thing for a
couple or more weeke, only drink wator-
Again FAWGETT and STUBB rocite with hin.
ALL:
..all yoo disoases cone out backwards.
FALCETT (with sudden ourprise) They do?
DOGI
That's right. You get a touch of all the disenses
you evor had, starting from the last one you had to
the firat one when you wàs a baby. I started with
a dose of clap and ended up with nappy-rasht
Theylaugh. But FANCETT'O cackle
spoils DOG's fun.
FALCETT (otill cackling) That's difficult to boliove!
DOG:
It's truot Ask anybody who's fasted. It purgos
you right through. Ack any of tho shiporeckod
fellove, they'1l tell they didn't even want to eat.
The trouble's eating again, you don't want itt
STUEB:
You get out of the habit, I suppose.
A shot, from the aame distance.


DOG (flaring up) Now-t (Taking the shot. as a challenge to
his truthfulness)
FAWCETT and STUBB gaze at each other.
FAECETT (with a vink at STUBB) What did that one moan?
DOG ie gazing across the valley with
his mouth open.
DOG (to hinsolf) toll, 1 did want to eat, I. suppose. I wanted
a fag-how's that? Not oxactly food, but a
prolonged jag. (Addressing the valley) Nov ie that
all right?
STUBB (to FAWCEIT) Liston to itt
DOG (still addressing the valley) I wanted a Sag-to--purge
myself. It was part of tho fast. I wanted-
(insipidly) well, à carnival, release of the spirit -1
A shot.
DOG:
The devil- -?
The others ait staring at hin.
DCG:
But it's true-it'd-- (Ho stope)
FAKCENT:(another wink at STUBB) Io it true?
DOG (wearily) No. I just vanted a jag, that's all. Just
to got disgusting drunk and flop out on - bed. Like
suicide for half-a-day.
Ho stares enptily before him. They
listen. Silence.
FALCENT: That seemed like the trutht
STUEB:
You're bushed!
DOG (oagerly) I'11 try an experiment, I'll- (Staring acrose
the valley)
STUBB (ecared) Keep your hand off that gun, that'a alli
DOG:
I'l1 seo if wo're tuned!
FANCETT: What?
DCO (speaking in tho direction of the valley) Fire--in ten
soconds-
STUBB:
Hey! (Superstitions aroused)


FAWCETT: Saah! (He quickly reade his watch) Five-l
Six-i
Thoy listen. A shot.
DOG (excited) What was that-as that ton seconds? God
abovel Who's bushed now, oh?
FAWCETT: About seven seconds.
DOG:
It's near enought Wake up, Btubb-
STUBB (with disgust) Oh, Christ-
DOG (to the valley) Fire when I eay--(turning to FAHCETT)
Who was that in tho bible-reading last night--?
FAKCETT: Eh?
DOG:
The guardian angel--the one who brings peace-
you said ahe was a man and Stubb eaid ahe was a
woman-
FAUCEIT: Oh, Gabrieli
A ahot.
DOG:
That's itt (Juming up and down) By Christ, I
didn't mean her to be that exact---I-I
STUBB (ohaking his head) Look at it, just look at it-
DOG:
That's the word I meant-I seant her to fire on
Gabriel--
A shot.
STUBB:
Blimeyt
DOG (beyond hiaself) That'a itt That's itt Oh, Christ,
that's it!
FAWCEIT (wary for the firat time) Listen---yon'd botter stop--
DOG:
Gabrielt (A shot) Gabriol! (A shot)
FAWCEIT (frightened) Now ahut up!
DOG:
FAWCENYT
Shut upt Do you hear me? Shut up!
DOG (panting) 0.K. But-don't say I'n wrong! Eh?
(to STUDB) whots wrong about the shots?
FAWCEIT: Just cala downt If it's true or not don't make
any difference---just caln downi


Silence. They gaxa before thon and
gradually calm returns.
FAWCETT: That'a---impossible-
Gilis Griave
DOG:
Impossible? I told you the atory of Hanson Creek-
strango thinge happen up here-
FANCETTS O.K., 0.K.:
DOG (still excited) -letters eaten away by rato not a mark
on thoir bodios---door leaning opent
STUBB:
That's funny wO should have talked about Gab-
FALCENT: Seahi
DOG:
What?
STUBB:
FAWCETT: Stubbt
STUBB (almost whiopering) Gabriel.
A abot. Ho jumpe.
STUBB:
Blimey!
DOGE
Thorel
STUBB (to himeelf) Bliney-
DOA (to FAWCETT) Don't talk to ae about impossible after that!
FANCETT (trembling) Well, just don't lot's say that word again,
that's all!
DOG:
why not? i thought you was silence's best friendt
Until it happene! LAke the storn on the lako--
FAWCETT: Don't say thati
DOG:
Just a littie wave--
FAECEIT (pleading) No, pleasel
STUBB (to DOG) Leave hin alonot
FAUCETT: I did all I couldt I-
STUBB (to DOG) You've done it now!
DOG (quietly) 0.K., 0.K., I didn't mean it-
FANCETT (almost in teare) I could hear her crying! Thoy Bay
you can't ahout whon you'ro drowning but sho didl A
kind of a long call, like a moan or a crooning noise,
1ike an Indian calling- she went up and down in tho


water-she lost her foothold, you seo--she was
being taken further and further off-well, I'm
just standing thereI just start to wade in with
my hands etretched out, can you imagine that?-
what a thing to dot And she was fifty yards avayt
And I couldn't evin---there I was atretching out my
hands--l
DOG:
If you couldn't svin---thore's nothing to be ashamed
FAVCEIT: Bufi was e0 ashanedi Then all of a oudden the
lifeguard cane o down with a boat-it was off
Vancouver Islond-
STUBB:
You said a lake!
TANCENT: Vancouver Ialand, I seidi And he pushes the boat
out-he takee hold of her arns and pulls her in-
I never seen a life saved ao easy! Ile even rowod
with one handt And all I did wns etand and watch!
She was thin--with glasses on-
DOG:
*Vancouver Ialand's They all come here with their
dreams---expect the air to wear 'om down---but it don't!
FANCETT: Woll, God forgive me, that'a all! In three years of
eilence you'd think he'd have spokent
STUBB:
Who?
FANCETT: God.
STUBB (with a twinkle) Ho just ain't talkative, matel
DOG:
He'o talkative all right to thea vith earst
FAWCETT: Meaning---?
DOG:
You've bean on many a jag since your cockroach-days,
Fawcett, and you havon't asked forgiveness for them!
FAKCETT: It's 0.K. for you. You was never in the cloth,
I beliovo?
DOG:
Cloth be damedt Cloth don't change a mant
STUBB (with sly humour) What's vrong with a cockroach having
a drop of-?
FANCETT (porsuasively) It'e a miesiont It'e a trust! That'e
whyi And 1 failed the trusti Can't you sce that?


STUEB:
You waan't cut out for the 1ife, mate, that's alli
DOG (reminiecing pleasantly) Remomber we used to fish of a
Sunday---rogular-takce a bout on the lake-havo
the daya all marked up--Monday for washing-
Tuesdaye for the cache--Mednonday the polts and
Dave's store---those were early dayst
STUEB:
That's right!
FANCETT (reflecting) I used to run a cormunion-clase and a child
aaked we once, *why can't wo ses the reat of God'e
body?' I said, 'Uhat do you ncan?', and he said,
*We can oee God's face in the moon, vhy can't we nee
the rest of hin?* And do you know what I said?
DOO:
FANCENT: I saids *What you see ia the face of C man, your
owni face, reflectod in the moon.'
STUBB:
I thought God vas a coppor when I was a kid. Tho
night was his dark-blue uniform, whon he cane up
close, to see you was all right when you vis asleep.
DOG (to FANCETT) And now you know better?
FANCETT: That'e right. Now I know that that child was right.
A pause.
STUBB (in a matter-of-fact way) A policeman cano to tho door
and he said, 'I hear you've been getting violent?'
And I said, 'Oh?* He eaid, 'Yes, the wife's boen
doun to the station, she says she wante protection.'
I told him about the lodger, with hie long black coat,
and he said they'd drop the case. All I did WRS take
my belt off, chow her the belt. But her going down
to the station finished mee It wac like the fireplace
walking out of the back door, I've never felt waia
eincel
FAVCETT: Thore's a Judas everywhere.
STUBB:
I couldn't go back nov. I'd be-sickt That
fireplace with tho little black bars in front-the
way the clock ticke of a Saturday afternoon---ny
waistcoat ueed to emell of wood shavings, from the
adll, it used to get in my hair. (Looking at the
othora) You've saddled yoursolves with thie for 1if0.
Dying cantt be much different. You can't go back now.
kle 0 Ssov
dcad. And ho (vas 'd l the
viser,


DOG:
There's alvaye a wonan in it. Not women- just
one woman. The same one every tine. (Nodding
tovards tho valley) There she io again-tho onmo
one.
FANCETT: Who do you reckon this Mrs. Dave is?
DOG:
Sho come from vinnipeg--that's all Dave Baid.
She's so brainy. che's evil, he said, and very hondy
with a gunt
FAWCETT: Bocause there was a schoolteacher down at Pas,
too-had a big let-dovn in love, so Long Martin
caid. Suppose thia ia ber?
DOG:
Long Martin*e a liar. He's aloo the biggest pimp
in the North West Territories. Ho rua throo
whorchouses in Fort Churchill alone, to my knowlodge.
FAWCETT: That's what he daid, anyhow---she had a big love-
hitch.
STUBB (to DOG) Ho was no pinp when we was prospecting together,
that'a all I know!
DCG:
But he found trapping was slow monoy-he neoded a
lot of hot nonoy, illegalt
STUBB:
That's no proof he's a pimp.
DOG:
Ask Davet Flaming Ethel told him over at Past
STURB:
Over at Pas---that's whero tall stories are hatcliedt
Down at Fort St. John or Hudson's Hlope you don't hoar
of whorehouses!
DOG:
Flaming Ethel saye he pulled out a wad of fifty-
dollar bills---threw it across the table-said keep
iti You don't got that trappingi
STUBB:
You got it dicing.
DOGt
She said ho didn't touch thé cards all weck. Ho
was looking round for white traffic all the time.
Sho told him, keep off my girla. That'o a pimp!
FALCETT (eagerly) I feel like slipping across tho valley
tonight and knocking at her cabin-door. She might.
throw mo the koyt Thog I'11 clip it in- the key
I meant
He cackles with laughter. DOG looks
at him with dicgust. FANCEIT'E
laughtor subsidos and he bogins looking
surreptitioualy at his pack an the ground.


DOG (watching him closely and talking to STURB) I do believe
he'a ocrious, by God!
FAWCETT (hesitantly) I thought for a night--I-
DOG:
You'll stay here! We're not having a wcek of
wailing and gnashing of teoth, is that right, Stubb?
STUBB:
That's right.
DOG:
If you want a jag go down to Pas and stay there a week-
break your bat-but you're not turning this valley
into your vicarage-I
FANCENT: Vicaragel (Starting touards him) You-l
DOG:
Watch itt
FAVCEIT (draving back because of DOG's grin look) All I wanted
to do wns tall you what she's likot
DOG:
Go down in the daytines feast your eyes and come back.
But we're not having you try and got ue to burn your
hands vith flaming loga and Christ knows what olee-
tie your hande up and whip your backnide---aling soil
all over your face--no, airt
STUBB (to DOG) Remember hin putting a sack over Me head-
that's what he thought sackeloth and aches wast
Blinoy, you ought to have seen his facel
FANCEIT (to DOG) I noed a jagt
DOG:
You need the remorse after, too. But you're not
getting it up here. Not while I'a Dog. You want
to break the bot, go down and brenk it, stay at Auy'e
for a couple of weeks, she'll give you plenty to
gnash your teeth about, and a dose of somothing, too.
FAWCETT: I never had a vicarage. Your education don't atretch
that far, it ceems.
DOG (laughint) It'd be soie vicaraget With cubiclos on every
floor!
FANCETT (smiling unillingly) *Cubicles'-
STUBB:
Remember those cubicles at Prince George-with the
boys anawering each other over the walls?
DOG:
And tho trapper from Eakino Bay who sat on tho bed and
just looked at her for a couple of hours, and paid
double the price and went away? There's 1 lot of
strange love in tho huan breasti


STUBB:
That's right.
DOG:
I'll tell you sonething. Before I cane up here I
thought I'd bave a tough tine. I thought not just
a tough time with the freezing cold and the yak-food
but tough with the other boys---plenty of fighte,
knife-brawls and jage every night. Big muscley
fellows who'd knock you down if you breathed too deep.
I was frightened. But there's lese of that than
uflest
down belowt We're 1ike the animalo-thoy don't
scrap each other, only for food or their mates or
protection---not just for a scrapt That'e why I
couldn't go back downstairs. I couldn't get back
to that haraness. They're 1ike insectst And thoy
all eit down there in their offices thinking-
bevare of thinkors, that's what I've alwaye told yout
FANCEIT: I couldn't go down because of tho jags. The jags
lack syupathy down thore. (To STUBB) Know what
I mean?
STUBB (irritated) No jags are good enough for you, are they,
mata- ever since you whored vith your cassock an?
FAWCEIT (to DoG) It'e true what he sayal
STUBB (to FAWCETT, beginning to be fascinated) Favcetti Row
did you-? (Wriggling closer to hin) Was this
on your morning visite?
FAKCETT: Eh?
STUBB:
You juot called in of a morning--you aid the
FAWCETT (as fascinated) They needed it, I tell yout
STUBB (excited) Go ont
FANCETT: The married--the unmarriods Young---and old!
DOG:
Drop it!
FANCETT (still to STUBB) It seemed---to fascinate then-
beins under-- (With a glance at DOG) KNow what
I mean?
STUBB:
Yos, yest (Staring into FAWCETT's face)
FAWCEIT: I might be standing thore---just inside tho door--


STUBB: (still staring. at hin) Hey!
FANCETT: Yes?
STUBB (gripping hin by the arm) You eaid inside the door-
(Peering into his oyos) Liaten, weron't you -?
(To himsolf) By God! It's Dog, it'e we :
vell, Christ alivet
Fawcett begins to drav back fron him.
DOG (scrowing up his oyes) What's the matter?
FAVCETT: Stubb!
STUBB:
It'g- It'a him! Dog, it'a hint (Shouting)
You ratt You dirty cassocky rat!
FANCETT: What?
STUBB (breathlessly) There was a cassock upotairs---behind
the door--it gave him a thrill with his cassock
on-he-e
DOG:
Where was the cassock? (To FANCETT) Fhat'o he
talking about? FANCETT shakes his head dumbly)
STUBB:
At homel
DOG:
What?
STUBBS
He-was the lodger!
DOG:
You're buehedt
STUBB:
Tho wife used to Bay, I'll get that long black coat
of hie cleaned, that funny black coat that reachos
down to his feeti (To DOG) Look, he don't say not
DOG (with disgust) You're bushed, Stubbt You diân't evon
know Fawcett thenl
STUBB:
Look at his face--he don't deny iti
DOG:
Deny it, Fawcett.
FAWCETT simply otares at STUBB.
STUBB:
She used to go upstairs-
DOG:
That was fifteen years before you come to Past
Favcett was never in Londoni Stubbi
STUBB:
Look at himt
DOG:
Toll him it'o wrong, Fawcett! Fawcett!


But FANCEIT etill stares beforo hin.
STUBB:
The same long face- The way ho uaed to come
downstairs, very soft--
DOG:
Bushedt
STUBB (in a dreany vay) It makés us---brothers in a way---
DOG:
Brothere!
STUBB:
I know we'd nect up again-
FAWCETT (also dreamily) Ne, tool Stubb--was her namo-
was she called--Gabriel?
A shot. Tho other two gasp.
FAWCLIT (seeming to waka up) Hey! Gabriolt
Another ahot.
DOG (delighted) You did itt
STUBB:
Fawcott!
Thoy rush to congratulato him.
FAWCEIT (beaming) Thanket
DOG:
1 kmew you could do iti
FAWCEIT (to DOG, excited) You may be right-she's over there
to stop us getting bushed! (Gasing across the valloy)
DOG:
That's rightt What did I Bay? (To STUBB) You
wouldn't believe mel (Shouting) Gabriell
A shot.
FAWCETT: Gabriel!
A shot.
DOG (hilariouely) Gabriolt
Anothor shot.
STUBB:
Gabriel!
Silence. STUBB looka acrose the
valley muspiciounly.
STUBB (turning on thom) You ratel Trying to edgo ne oùti
(Shouting at tho top of his voice) Gabrielt
Gabriel!
Gabriel!
Gabriell Gab--l
A shot.


DOG:
At lest! (Encouragingly) How'o that, Stubb, eh?
STUDB (exhausted) Thank Christ! Thank Christ for thatt
DOG:
She means un all-get that into your mutet Now
sit downi
They sit. downi round the table in a
happy spirit.
DOG:
Now I don't know about you two, but it's begun to
be clear to mo that-this nane, thia name- I von't
aay it-means something. (STUBB and FANCETT grunt
agreement) It means something for us. The question
is what?
A pause) Now I've got a sucgestion---I
don't know how you two'll take it.
FANCETT: What?
DOG:
She-the name---sho's bringing us closor---sho's
guiding us all the time-to---(He atope).
FAWCETT: Vhere?
DOG:
It night bo something--rich---and marvollous---I
don't kmowl We've just got to wait and Bea (with
an approciative glanco acrose tha valley).
STUBB:
I think she might bo conebody-connected with us-
DOG:
Connected?
STUBB:
With one of us * Just with ane of usl And wo don't
know which one yett
FAWCEIT: Our namos are cortainly writ in water, like they said
down at Paal I never saw her more than a couple of
minutes, ahe was thore bobbing up and down in the
wator, then she was lying on the cand, then ohs was
gone, walking up the beach- She never even spoke
to mel She went avay with E soul! I don't even
know hèr namot
DOG (burying his head) Ucch!
FALCETT: When you go back downetairs, to Pas or Prince deorge,
nobody recogniees you. They say, Aren't you---?',
then they stare in your face. And you don't say
nothing. That's because you'ro differont now. Your
life goes along like water, you don't belong to places
any soro-- That's why I came up here.


DOG:
To find out you was made of water?
FAWCENTT: That's righti
STUBB:
I heard a doc my it was true. He said we could
be melted downi
DOG (nodding) I tried to molt avay in Kumasi. But the hoat
dian't do it. Nor did the monsoons, though it was
pretty wot. Yes, indeed! I had a punkah-kallah
worked the fan for mel
The radio blinks red again.
STUBB:
You did?
FALCETT (initating DOG) *And a policeman out there, a white
policenan, was next to Godt*
DOG:
He was, toot
STUBB:
But still, you found you vaan't next to God, didn't
you, mate?
DOG:
It was over before I know what was happening, I tell
you!
STUEB:
I know!
Tho radio ceases again, unobeorved.
DOG:
He was standing there--in the governor's drawing room--
under the fan---swich, awiah, 1ike the winge of sone
cort of big bird, and I can remember the pictures on
the wall---wo used to call it the picture gallary--
and. this little black boy was like an angol, an
Achanti-boy in white, BO delicato, so humble and
swoet, I had to touch him-and he didn't say anything---
I think ho even omiled--I don't know what was in my
mind-it just happened--I touched him-I was getting
married the next month-
FAWCETT (with a sirh) That's itt
DOG:
I vast A nagistrate's daughter- But I-i
It was only that chaplain---a blasted cockroach--
(with sudden fury) I could have cruehed him in my
fingera and hetd have made a crackling eoundt
STUBB:
tho givos a dam here?


Dod:
I do! With my hand on that little boy's choek-
thoy mado it dirty---thore was noling wrong in itt
Staring at me-in tho doorwayi
FANCENT: That'e what thoy all say.
DOG:
Why not?
FANCEIT: If I go on a jag I don't say afterwards I've beon
purat What's so pure about-
DOG (understanding what he is about to Eay) You-i (Re leape
acroso and grabs FAVCETT by the throat) Say it, Bay
it, you cockroach, go ont
FAWCEIT strugglos and his facegets
redder and redder. Ho can anly make
wild atrangling sounds. STUBB gets
alarmed.
STUBB (tapping him on the back gingerly) Dog-Dog, matet
(ioa seens unable to release his hands)
DOG (to FAMCETT) Say it-say iti
STUBB:
Gabriell (Shouting across the valley) Gabriol'o
A thot. DOG auddenly releases FANCEIT.
Thoy atare acrose the valley.
DOG (as FAWCETT tries to get. his breath back) She saved hin
lifet She does look after us, Stubbl
STUBB (humouring hin) That's it-now juat calm down, matet
FANCETT (rocovering his apeech) We're- bushedl We nover-
done--thie beforet
STUBB (to hinsolf) She did save us, in a way!
DOG:
Ny hands went ling, I tell you--when I heard that
shoti
FALCEIT: Thank Chriet they didi (to STUBB) Let'a find a
hut up the line, matel This one's bushedt
STUBB (to DOG) You want to watch yourself!
FAWCEIT: Look at his facet Lookt (Focling his own nock)
You never done that beforel It'o tho finisht
He begins to walk off, still feeling
hia neck.


STUBB (alarmed) Whero you going, nate?
FANCENTE Find' & hut up the iinet I'll go to Davetst He's
a killer, that onet Look at himt
STUBB:
Fawcett! Come back!
FANCETT (to DOG, who still stares up at the aky) You killed
that boyt You killed him, didn't you?
DOG (looking at him in horror) Fawcetti
FAWCETT (seoing the effect) It'e in your hands---you've got
murderer's handsi That's what you' did to the iittle
Aahanti boy!
DOG (slancing down at his hands) Kill? (Bith horror) Not
FAWCETT (at the door) Murderort Murderer! You murdered a
little Ashanti boyt
DOG (screaming) No, not (Staring at his own handa) No, for
God's cake, not Not Take them avay! (Holding
out his hendo) Take then away, oh, for Christ's sake
take then awayt (Bursting into tears) Take them
avayi
FANCRIT (moving back, humbled) Dog-I didn't mean-
He approaches DOG to comfort hin.
STUBB:
You didn't-did you, Dog? You didn't kill him,
aid you?
DOO (hopolessly) I don't know! I don*t knowi
He wceps on FAWCETT' s shouldor.
FAWCENT: I didn't mean it, Dog!
DOG:
Thoy never told net They nover-let mo know
FAKCHTT: O.K.r 0.X.
DOG (looking into his eyes 1ike a child) They never saidi
They just-sent me away!
STUBB (to FAWCETT) Sit him downe
They holp DOG to sit down.
FAWCETT: Khat did you do, Dog?. Try and remember!
DOG:
I don*t know!
TAWCETT: What aid you do to the little Achanti boy?


DOG (looking up and reflecting for a timo) Nothing.
FANCETT: What you worried about, then?
DOG:
What they said-what they nade me out to bet
FALCETT (turning away from him) It's pridet What I've alwaya
said---you're proud!
A bird auddenly flies over outaide
and STUBB soizes his gun and moves to
the vindow. But he doean't shoot.
STUBB:
Let him livo, I thought. Probably going home to his
dinneri
They eit down exhausted. DOG pasoes
his hand over hie head and sighs.
FAWCETT: That'o another thing. You get not to 1ike killing
birds any nore. Lant week I took aim at fifteen
birds and didn't fire a ehot. Rear that, Dog?
DOG:
Uh-huhi
FALCEIT (with his cackle) Becaune I had no ammunition!
A pause.
STUBB:
All we do ie live in our eins up here. I thought
we'd be Bo puret But all we hear about is sins.
DOG:
It's all wo goti
FAUCETT: You're too fond of fate, Dog. It's like a black
hood over your head!
STUBB:
That'e why we nake him Dog--he'e alwaya eniffing
tho akyt
DOG:
You lnow dann-well I've got an instinct--I'm your
interlocutor---between the eky and yout
FAWCEIT: Listen to itt
DOG:
You can't fool tho Indiansi I - Baw the white béar
0.K.-he ate me up-in Carlyle Stroet, tinnipeg---
and ho epowed me out againt For five years I told
then all about their goda--I say in their igloost
I know nore about their gods than they know themselveal
I was the firet white angekok---and the last nost
1ikelyi
FAWCENT: Then the stink of noose got you downi


DOG:
I used to ait and talk about tho aky. You've got
nothing 60 poaceful in your life, you cockroach!
1 used to talk about the Eekimo hoavens-
FANCETT: You could take that away from an Indian just by
enapping your fingerst But you couldn't take avay
what I learnedt
DOG:
About Josus?
FANCETT: That'e itt
DOG:
It's God I'a talking about--not the. King of the
Cockroachoal
FAWCETT: You're a blasphomer-
DOG:
And you nevor know what he'll docide. (Speaking
nonotonously, almost drowsily) Liko at Gillis's
Gravo, near Manson Creek. The cabin door evinging
open, letters nailed on the table---oaton by rats-
two men eitting up--a rusty frying pan in between-
not a dark on their bodies---another tan fifty yards
down the hill--rifle cocked-- Cocked--
Thoy eeem to fall asleep. Silence.
STUBB (waking up with a atart) Wero they known mon?
DOG (also waking up vith a 'atart) They were known as much as
a trapper ist A face and a nanot
FAWCENT: Haybe they were on a bet, too-like uot
STUBB:
Don't talk bushod!
DOG (gazing acrose the valloy again) You couldn't go back down
again if you wanted tot
FAWCETT: Why not?
DOG (to STUBB) You can talk to me about white-fox farns, but
it's them's brought your pricea down. Not 00 long
back beaver-pelts took thirty dollars a piece, know
that? All you got for the best prine pelt of eilver
fox is seventy dollars nowadaya! And I remembor
eelling two hundred low-grade dark pelts for near on
five thousand dollars at Eckimo Point--ayself!
Don't talk to no about white-fox farnal
STUBB (with a wink at FANCETT) Why, Dog--are you thinking of
going down all of a sudden?


DOG contimes to gaze acrono the valley,
as if nursing a secret.
FAWCEIT (approaching DOG, intrigued) Where would you go?
DOG (after eveing then both for a monent) Littlo place by the
Peace River-
STUBB (aloo drawing noar him, excited) He's had it all worked
outt
FAWCETT: Mhat would you do?
DOG:
I figured it out like this. A place 1ike Fort
st. John or Hudson's Hope, along the Peace River
valloy: you'vo got the whole of that boiling water--
FANCETT: Yeat
DOG:
All that power in the Poace River Canyon, you*ve
got prospects-at's rich country---you've got coal,
you've got timber, fur, bog iron, coppor---they say
there's atill placer gold in the gravel-bars of the
STUBB:
What about that?--what about the dredging firme that
lost thoir money back before the war?
DOG:
I don't say that's what we'd do--l
STUBB (digging FANCETT excitedly) Vet
DOG:
I say there'o prospecto---there's richea all round--
in the cky-in the water-in the enrtht
FAWCETT: There'd bo--people, too-
DOGt
That's rightt Poople you can talk tot No more of
thia Gabriol stufft
A chort pause, then there ia a ehot.
Thoy oye each othor.
STUBB (quictly) Let her talkt
DOGt
That's iti (Turning hio back on tha valley
deliberately) We'll go down and be among people-
We'1l go in the oaloons, play cardn, wo'll be luxury
proepectors--
STUBB:
That'e itt
FAWCETTE We'll have horses-a fino old house up on wooden.
stilta--


STUBB:
We've got the toney---cached out in those trece-
in poltat
DOG:
And what do ve do? Ke trado thea across. tho valléy
to Dave for half-pricet woll, they say if you'ro
trapping you're not in it for noney, ahd that's the
truthi
STUBB:
Peace Rivort
A pause, during which they all dream
about this.
FAWCEIT (quietly, looking up at DOG) How about the police?
DOG:
It's only what I thinki I don't know I did it-l
It's only vhat I say I didi I don't renoaber! I
just thinkt
FANCENT: And you'd think just the sane down theret
Another silence, more glum than before.
STUBB: (pondering) No could try it. Go down for a veek. Tell
Davo we're salling pelta-
DOG:
No cooking-think of thati I can hear how my
footstope'd sound on the wood floor, going to the
pelt-store-
FAWCETT: They'd laugh at usi
DOG (naring up) They laugh at people who laugh at themselvest
FANCETT (to STUBB) You wouldn't think he gota all wound up 1f
you move hio cup of coffee an inch in the morning,
would you--if you don't have your blankets turned
by half-six---then his Bible-reading at nighti
STUBB (vith a wink) He's got his little Ashanti boy to keep
him warm!
DOG (mrmuring, half to hinself) Ile keeps me goodt When I
think of him-I can see the little gold ringe in
his ears--the way his toeth sparklo--
FAWCETT: But- (leaning forvard persumsivoly) being good's a
struggles Dog, a daily struggle--it's a--
(He atope dead and stares in front of hin)
DOG:
I hate cockroachos--


STUBB (to DOO) Remember that time dovn at Pas he'd boon on a
week'o jag and put his head in the aahcan outside
Any's anloon and got the boye to givo him a wolting
with their strape?
DOG:
Tchaf
STUBB (to FAWCETT) I bet you never evon felt it, you Has 80
drunki
FAWCETT (who has mubsided in a puzeled way after his moral
speech) I saw my cheets next morning, covered with
blood- Thero was sores all over my back.
DOG:
I don't mind - Catholic cockroach, he goes on a jag
and forgets, but you loti
FAWCETT: We're our own judges--we don't eend outy dirty linen
to the mothor-church and expect it to come back cloani
They are quiot again.
DOG (to hincelf) *Being good's a struggle*--yos, I can remember
thati (Io STUBB) Then ho led mo through the
gallery down to the gaolt
STUBB (looking at him) What?
DOG:
Tho sweat was pouring. down my neck--I can remember
my knees shaking. And he said *Being good's a
struggle, Haines'-and he put hio hand on my choulder.
A pause, during which the other two
look at hine
STUBB:
who did?
DOGt
The chaplain. A long-faced-I (Putting his hand
avor his eyes) I've thought about it B0 much-
(Looking up at FANCETT with clear eyes) Liston-
whose idea waa that?
FANCETT (staring at him) Eh?
DOG:
What WRB the plan--you must have known the Governor's
mind like your ownt
FANCEIT: What's that?
DOG (reaconing with him) I reckon you must have iat in his
office four houra R day-I can renembar thatma
you used to take your tiffin together-


FANCEIT (with a perplexed look at STUER) Tiffin? that tho
hell'o that?
DOG:
Was I getting too big for you?
FAWCETT: Big?
DOG:
Too popular? I know the language too woll?
STUBB:
Bushodi
DOG:
You can say bushed, but be knocked a carcer on tho
head inside thirty secondst
STUBB:
Yes, yest
DOG:
"That little native boy'-(imitating a chaplain'e
which is madatall,
fluting voica)- 'is the Prince Regent's oon, Haines.
also FANCETT's) 1'11 have to soe the Governor about thiet' (to STUBB)
I pleaded vith his---'Ploase don't do it, chaplain,
plense don't-l' But he vent on walking up tho
staire, I can remomber the punkah vallah outaide the
Governor's door---then--tip vent Chiof Inspector
Hainee in omoke- phov-
FAWCENT (garing before hin sadly) I wish we was down bolow
DOG:
What does it aake you feel 1ike, Chaplain Fancett?
FAWCENT: And the narble stairs. I can remember the marble
stairal (As if illuminated) Hov the sunlight ehone
cn themt
DOGt
That'e iti
FANCETT: They vere whitel
DOG (to STUBB) He romenberat You see?
FANCETT (radiant) But you deserved it, Haines-you killed
that boy!
STUBB:
Haines'$ It's a different nane evory week-
Haines, Wykham, Stornford, Cramptont It'e time you
noved on to tykhan about now, ien't it (to DOG)?
DOG:
Chief Inspector Haines-until thie cockroach tore
me douni Fifteen yoars in a swent-bath--I provided
royalty vith a wall--ay ovn body-
STUBB (initating him) *And they used to call me the battoring
ramt'


DOGE
My face was known in the highest circles--
*Haines'1l see to it', they always saidt
He yawns unexpectodly.
FAWCEIT (looking about him) Iiston to that silencel
DOG otares before him, recollecting.
A penise.
FAWCETT (to STUBB) Suppose they just foll asleep?
STUBB:
Vho?
Goeess Grave
FAWCETT: Then three at Manson Creek? Tho cold makes you
sleepyt Suppose there'e a sudden cold enap? You
freezol Just sitting thorei
STUBB:
It was cummeri
FANCETT: But a oudden wind-1ike a breath--l It makes you
sleegy-(He yawns and stretcheo out) Remomber that
tima north of the Skeena Rivor, along the trap-line,
behind the huskien---Just niles and miles of white
snow-we had to pinch each other awake--to stop
gotting frost bite-just miles and mileo--of-
white-
He falls asleep.
DOG:
'Haines' (He besine to nod, sitting)
STUBB gets up, stretches and looks down
at the other two.
STUBB (also yaming) Bushed!
He begins strolling off, hie hands in
hie pockets, whistling quictly to hinself.
He disappears out of the doore
Silence.
The other two aleep on, DOG still in
the sitting position, his head hanging
foreard; FANCEIT enoring loudly.
We hear STUBB's whistlo fade away.
A bird suddenly flies over but neither
DOG nor FAWCEIT stir. Two or three
more birds fly over. Suddonly there
are shots from acrose the valloy, one
after the other. FAWCETT jimps into


the aitting position, panic-stricken.
DOG lifts his hoad in a dazed way.
FAUCETT (staring at DOG with horrors as it otiil asleep)
Haines, Hainesewdon't ehoott (As tho volley
continued) Haines, for Chriet's sake, Haines,
you're hitting me--all over my body--Hainen!
(Twitching violently vith oach shot, fust as if he'd
been struck)
DOG eimply stares at hin with fascination.
FANCENT: Rainest Hainost
Unable to bear the 'ahoto' any, moro
FANCEIT eeizes hio own igun andpoints
it at DOa.
DOG is at once an his feet.
DOG:
Tou-- It's guilt, you cockroacht
He wrenches FAWCETT a gun out of his
hand and finge it aside, then vrentles
with hin.
FAHCEIT fighte frantically.
At last DOG overpowers hin, on the
floor cloce to tho door.
DOG (lying on top of FAHCETT, breathless) Who'si Heines?
who's this Haines?
FANCENT (cooning to rocomise hin slovly) Dog-
DOG:
The name's wykhate Get that into your head
Wykhant
STUBB dashos in and alnost tripa over
thome Thoy etruggle to thoir feet
and stare at him in astonishment.
DOG (peering at him) Who---? (Passing hie hand over hio face)
Christ- I thought it was-a---nawcomert
FAWCENT: 8o did I:
DOG:
A new facet
STUBB:
It's always the same--if I go away for a aimute
you two fightt Évery timel Like a couple of
brothera! Don't you?


DOGI
Ho jumps on ne (abashad):
FAKCETT: Ho was firing at ne--like in dreamet
They notice STUBB is ponting.
DOG (to STUBB) What you been running for?
SAUBBI
I've got newet
DOGI
Nova?
STUBB:
Sho's firing at birdet (Fe sita down on a chest
heavily) That'e tho newd. I watched *em falling.
DOG:
You sav--?
FAWCETT: Did you Bee her?
STUBB:
She baggod five in a row. I just saw tho birde.
They gaze before then glumty. This is
bad news, ospecially for DOG.
DOG:
It's all dicappointments up here-
STUBB:
Just 1ike I caid---nothing talks to you up hore-
get that into your nutt
FAWCETT: So what do we do?
DOG:
Go back down---(with sorrow) There's nothing to atay
up here for-
A chot. They ataro at each other.
STUBB:
Anothor bird.
DOO (reniniscing sadly) I asked a parson once---e was sitting
in church ono afternoon---the oun was coming through
the stained glass-I said, 'Ien't God's face in the
noon, if so, whera'a his foct? And he said, *That'e
tho face of man, that'e your face, sona Trust a
cockroach to take the gute out of 1ifel
FAWCENT: I cantt live without sonebodyt
STUBB:
There's just Dave over there-and his eont
PAWCEMT: There's her as wellt
STUBBE
It's anly Dave says cho's there. You know how he
ia-with a little twinkle in his eyot
FAWCENT: Long Hartin says she's noati with plenty in front,
and she had a big let-down in lovot


STUBB:
Long Kartin's a pimp!
DOG:
He's no pimpi
STUBBS
What about that wad of fifty-dollar billd- she
said he hadntt played a card all weekt
DOGE :
You believo that?
STUBB (stopping, acreving up his oyes) Hey- Wasn't it
you-who told me that? (He etops again, looking
puzzled)
DOG ia cilent, thinking something over.
DOGt
And suppose che doea ahoot birds?
FAKCETT: fhat?
DOG (to STUBB) Supposo she does? (to FAWCEIT) Lot hin
ansver--he brought the nevs, after allt
STUBB:
It meano---she's not in tune with wol
DOG:
You think 60? I'a not e0 surel I'd just like to
find out. (Looking across the malley) What do you
say-(suddenly) Gabriel?
An imnediate shot.
FAWCEIT (radiantly) Dogi
DOG:
Gabriell (A shot) Gabriolt (He Baya this one
vith fire confidence, hic chin set)
And again there is a chot.
FAWCETTS Gabrielt
Another ahote
They all three begin ahouting Gabriel
and there ia a volley of shota as before.
Thoy dance up and down happily chanting
the nane as tho volloy continues.
At. last tha shots ceasa. Thoy laugh
happily and sit down in a buoy and
colebrative vay--it is like a happy
reunion.
DOGI
Well, thank God for itt That'e all I can sayt
Thank God for a little guidance--(winking at them)
with or without birdet
The other two nod and laugh maturoly
at this.


FAWCENT: Does it maké you feel poaceful again, Dog?
DOG (nodding) And clear.
FAWCETT: Me, toot
The radio blinks again.
DOG:
My insides feol all right--put it that ways Same
with you? (FANCETT nods quickly 1ike a child tryins
to please)
STUBB:
Like Fawcett said down at Pas, when we laid the bet,
resomber?--"Somothing's got to cone out of the
silencel'
A pause.
DOG:
Another thing. It makes me tungry.
STUBB:
Mo, tool
The radio ceases blinking unobserved.
DOGS
What about the beand-did you put 'em in sonk,
Mrs. Fawcett? (with a gay wink at STUBB)
FAWCSTE doesntt answer. He seens to
be thinking.
STUBB (mudeing DOG happily) He forgott
FANCETT (deliborately) Mra. Dave dop't existi
DOG:
What? Now shut your moutht
FAWCENT: She-
DOG:
You're spodling it, you're-t
FAWCETT: She don't existi
DOG (Gesporately) I've seen her!
FANCENT: You said to Dave, *Nhat you keep in that cabin over
there, Dave?', for a joke, and ho caid, with that
little twinkle, A womanf That'e allt Fora jofee !
STUBB:
That'e righti I vanted to ask Young Dave but
(to DOG) you wouldn't lot met
FAKCEIT (to STUBB) That'a to keep his dream going! Hets
driving us bushed, I toll yout Young Dave'll be
the little Ashenti boy soont
DOG (to hinself) Dontt talk bushodt


FANCEIT: But it'll take none doing-a Canadian boy in the
bloom of sixteen, with bright yellow hair, and
trigger-haypy, to the son of a Gold Coast tribecsiant] J
STUBB:
Dog could do it, don't you vorry about thatt
DOG nods, again thinking it over.
DOG:
A21 I'd like to know is thist vhat differenco does it
make? Something's there-call it a she---call it
Gabricl--:
There ia a shot.
DOG (with increased confidence but etill in a levol voice)
Call it--Dave's whore--it doesn't mattor! Something's
talking to us, and that's all I'n interested in.
(Briskly) Now, cone on, get the lamps ready,
Fawcett---oteam ahead---you vant us in darkness tonight?
He rises in a bumineseliko vay and the
others follow suit, vith a glanco at
each other.
STUBB:
It'o alvays lamps when he loses confidencel
DOG (to STUBB) Have a look at the cacho---wo don't want half
tho grizely population up those polos tonight-
it soems Fawcett can't use greasel
FANCETT: There's no more crease to uses I've told you that.
DCO (to STUBB) And look at the emidge. Whose turn for patrol?
STUBB:
Kine.
DOGt
Then get to it. Have a look at the generators-
the tower-
STUBB stops on his way out.
STUBB:
The what?
DOG:
The gencrators.
STUBB:
What generators?
DOG:
You alwaye aay that! The ones outcidel
FAHCEIT atando watching them as if for
the outcomo of a contest.
STUBB:
Where?
DOG (impatiently) You haven't noticed anything--in three years?


STUBB:
There's--(he traila off dreanily)
DOG:
What would you call thom?
STUBB:
I don't know, I-
(With fear) Vould you call
then towers? I'a say---masts-
DOG (interested deopite hinself) Kasts?
STUBB:
With kind of vings-that turn round and round-
not towers exactly.
DOG (hesitantly) I aae them as towers.
STUBB (quickly) But what for?
DOG (taking this as unfair) Shut upl
They atand there frightened by their
own talk.
DOG (to FAWCEIT) What would you Bay thoy was lika?
FANCEIT (engorly) r'a aay they was for the wenther-aaybe
weathor detection---!
DOG (angrily) I didn't aek you what thoy was fort Nobody
asked you thatt
FANCENT's answer has increased his fear.
STUBB:
And what's the good of looking every day---concrete
towers won't valk away!
DOG (ahoutins at hin) You know your orderat If you see a
stranger, ahoott How get outi
STUBB (going out, rifle on shoulder) It's the only order we
ever got.
Tho other two stand watching him go.
They don't like to be reninded of the
outside.


50c
Only DOG and FANCENT. FAWCETT io
preparing the guns and packa for bunting.
DOG stands scanning the other side of
the valley through a small telescope.
Ho suddonly sights something.
DOG:
Hey! Look at thiel There's maili
FAWCETT: Mail? (Running to the door) Hoy, Stubb---thero's
mailt
DOG (taking the telescope down) The last time it cama was-
He screws up hie eyes painfully and
stops: he can't remomber.
STUBB appears, with his rifle, as if
from his patrol.
STUBBI
What's that?
FAWCEIT: The flag's out! I'm expocting a letter from-l
(He alco stops)
DOG:
At Carlylo Street, Winnipeg, I got forty Christmas
cards one yeari I kept them on my dresser for eix
nonthat
STUBB:
Remenber that time we danced all night-a new moon-
when some nail came up? We got double prico for our
polts and nobody could tell us why!
DOG:
A war broke out downstairs, that's whyt Is the
cache 0.K.?
STUBB:
It won't hold more'n à week.
DOG:
Hear that, Fawcott?
FANCEIT: Stubb*s our cache experti
DOG:
Like hell he ist You just don't liko workt
Listen---Stubb and me'll sit upvind today and cookt
You can eit by the Creek and pick 'en off!
STUBBE
I don't 1ike the way Fawcett shoota---he's too deadlyt
DOGE
He 'e a cockroach, that'e why!.


FANCENT: I'm a stalker, really--I'm no good with the
flying speciest
STUBB (to DCG) Remember when he brought that moose-ran dowm
and we hadn't evan seon it?
DOG:
Como on-thero's thootin' to dol (AB they inspect
their guns) Vire 0.K.?
STUBB:
Yes.
DOG:
Generator?
STUBB (nodding) Beats mo why we can't have light. Thore must
be a couple of million volts out thorel
DOG:
Light's roai, that's why.
STUBB:
They eay Young Dave'e a apy. He only bringe the
mail to spy on us. To sec if we're still around.
DOG (squinting at him) Why, feeling nervous?
STUBB (hushed, making a gesture towarde tha doar) But what's
under that--?
DOG:
Shut up!
FALCEIT (turning suddenly) Why shouldn't he ank questions?
DOG (turning on hin as sviftly) tho can anewer them?
FALCEIT: Dut--
DOG (interrupting him roughly) You can*tt That's for surot
FAWCEIT: Wo had issuo chairs and iasue bashbasins once, and
you had to burn the chairs--use the basins for
goldfishi why?
DCG:
Because them things aro real, that'e why!
FAUCEIT (wildly) I 1ike reality
DOG (gazing at him ecornfully) You? And what are you going
to shoot with, realist? You've got no ammunition!
FAWCETT (baffled) There's ammunition there O.K.1 (pointing
at the chost)
DOG:
Are you sure?
FAUCENT (naking a nove towarda it) I can look!
DOG (keeping hin away roughly) Lay offi Ever aince you elected
me Dog you'vo been giving mo the glass eyol


TAWCETT: Fh?
DOG:
Find yourself ànother Dog, realiat! And some
other dreanse..
He sits dovn an the chest heavily.
STUBB (nervously) Are we going, Dog?
DOOt
S'm just tired af making it up, that's all...
FANCET (humbled) Is thore anything wrong, Dog? Shall Igo
ahead to the Creek? (Trying to be bright) Beans
for supper?
DOG:
I've got no more dreans to weave, boys. (Looka fron
one to the other) There's no Mrs. Dave. Just
sonebody out there shootin' birds.
STUBB:
Wo like your dreamo, Dog.
DOG:
Like holl you do! Ve'ro in a dcad-end atreet, Stubbt
I've hold tho office too long.
FAWCEIT (gingerly) No, no.
DOG:
It'G time to. rocollect, boyst
STUBB (knoving what this means) Oh, no, for Christ's sake
not tho Eskino trancel
DOG:
She ain't there any morel (Calling) Gabriel? * *
No Gabriel. Yes, it's tine to recollectt
He continucs to eit there with a blank
face. It dawns on the other two that
this really will be the Eskino trance.
STUBB (drawing back) Dogi
FANCEIT (alao draving back) Hley, Dog-i
DOG contimues to eit there as if
forcing himself to loze consciouaness.
His head droops more every monent.
STUBB and FANCETT stand close togethor,
gazing at him in groving horror..
DOG's eyos close.
CTUBB (in a whiopor) Dog de Dog
como back!
DOGIS head slumpa foruard. He io
quite still. Thore io a long silonce.


STUBB (without moving) that do wo do?
FAWCETT (runnins to ahake DOG) Dog, it ain't truet She's
there all right! Mrs. Dave's there!
But DOG romains motionloss.
STUBB (with rosignation) He'a gone.
FALCETT (withdraving again and speaking hesitantly) Dog-
shall we be making up the books tonight?
STUBB bends down and opeaks into
DOG's face.
STURB:
Haines! (No reply) wykhant Bailly! Stornford!
(Turning to FALCENT) that'a tho other one?
FANCENT: Crampton.
STUBBI
Cramptont Cramptont (He raioes hinself slowly)
He's on the white-bear stuff again: he'o got to be
spevod out in bita and then put togethor again.
(Turning awaY in disgust) Tchal
FAWCETT (persisting with DOG) Dog--I can't keep the books like
youl Wherets tho rosta? Dogt (Ho turna to STUBB
in alarm) Ha takes the signals from Dave, don't
forget that! Dog--e can't eignalt How do we get
the provicions up? Supposo there'e an S.0.S.?
Listen, Dog-I think there'a on S.0.s.! Right nowl
DOG is motionlese.
STUBB:
Ho's tho only man can talk to the huskies, toot
FAKCETT: Crampton! Baillyi
The radio blinks s.0.8.
STUBB (in alarm, seeing it) Cramptont There's an 5.0.8.1
Thoy both stare at the radio in horror,
until after a fow seconds it ceases.
They relax a little.
FAWCETT: Don't you know one signal?
STUBB:
Not
Thoy staro at DOG with eroving fear.
FAUCITT: Who handles the husky teans now, Dog? I feel coldt


Silenco. They eit down and glance
towards tho radio--no signalo.
STUBB:
He'll sit there till winter comes. That's what the
Indians do! Remembor what he alwaye used to say?
'Thc Eskimo trance is the doath of the Torngarscak,
which moane the death of... (drowmily) dreame...'
FANCETT is staring at DOG in a fixed way.
FAWCEIT (in a hushed voice) Hey-Stubb! Look at his headt
STUBB (starting) What?
FANCETT: He looka 1ike the man who came to the vestry-
A man in the choiri
STUBB:
What aro you talking about?
FAKCETT: It'a true--I ewear by Godt He aaye, 'I've folloved
your career vory close, Ar. Favcett,' he cayo, and
I'11 have the cloth off your back- Standing there
in the ventry-doors His big red benrd- His bead
hanging down 1ike that- Thoy called him the
shaggy mountain- Ho fopt tho norals of the village
in his head. Yet théy say he died a profligate. Ho
dieliked the competition fron a priest, thoy said.
Thare ware too many voren in thè village---sufforing
fron the sane denires, Stubb-I alwaya ueed to call
thon such loud desirest
SWUBB:
What WaG hia name?
FAWCEIT: wBailly, I think.
STUBB:
Bailly?
FAHCEIT (springing up and approaching DOG with fascinated
attontion) It is Baillyt It'B hie head-when
he diedt
He springs back suddenly.
STUBB (frightoned by thia) What?
FAWCEIT (shrieking) Dog, Dog--you can't diol Dogt
A long silence. Ho stande there
trembling.


Gielis à Grave
STUBB (quietly) Maybe that'a how the boya at Mansar-Creek
died. Just-at and died--(Looking rouna)
Por'aps we're dead! It's too quiet, Fawcett-
not a husky--or a bird!
They listen, quaking.
FANCETT (looking towardn the vindow and whieporing) Gabrielt
Gabriel!
STUBB (nudging FAMCETT) Take his pulsel
FAWCEIT (draving back) Not aot
STUBB:
You must havo done the laot offices--to the dead!
FAHCEIT (his teeth chattering) I-
STUBB:
Mas you a cockroach?
STUBB (threateningly) Was you?
FANCETT: Ioe -I--think 00
STUBB:
You're bushedt
FANCEIT: Put a glass under his nose--I done that to--to-
Baillyt
STUBB quickly runmages about in his
pocket, and finds a broken piece of
mirror. He puts it under DOG's nose.
FAKCENT (whispering) Caroful, Stubb---the last officos has
got to ba carefult
STUBB studies the mirror for aomo time,
afraid to get too close.
STUBB:
Re'd--deadt
FAUCEIT: Christ!
STUBB (jumping back) DOG! DOG!
FAWCENT (also shouting) Dogi
DOG is motionless.
STUBB:
fe'a spoofin'-I reckont
FAUCEIT: That's itt He was holding his breathi (A pause)
Do you think so?
STUBB:
I think he'a-not dead.


FALCEIT (amiling) Hell, thank God, thont You see, Stubb,
I think he neods us---I- (Ilo promptly goes and
sits down besido DOG in a confidential way) I did :
reaent your. power, Dog. I nover wanted you electedt
You dien't deserve that grinon-nontence on the Gold
Coast! You bee, the Governor and me resented the
way you opoke the longuage, we couldn't speak 1t, you
ace. Wo tried to learn from the text-booko but it
didn't work-we was jealous of your way with the
natives! You didn't kill that little Aahanti boy,
did you? He keepe you good!
STUBB (banding down and speaking coftly) You said you was going
to lead us to a place, Dog---remenber? Three years
ago? When wa laid the bet? (A pause, then, :o
FANCETT) Is he breathing?
FAMCEIT: Oh, he'a breathing!
STUBB (again to DOG) You aaid we need five years of cilence,
remember?
FAWCEIT (with sudden dinillusion) We should never have como upl
We ahould nevar have signed ant (Shouting at DOO
again) Dogt Dog! Wake upt (Shaking DOG
violently) Dogt
DOG ramains still, alumped on the
ammunition cheat.
STUBB (ahouting in DoG's ear) You ditched us, you rati Now
wake upt
Ho alno shakos DOG violently. AB he
docs Bo he hears somothing clink in
DOG's pockat. He stops.
FAVCENT: that's that?
STUBB seizes a little bunch of koys and
holdo Chem up beforo him.
STUBB:
The gunshot keyst
FAUCHEY(radiantly) Wa'll shoot our, way acrosa the valloy-
With sudden reaolve they both heave
DOG off tho armunition chest--a
tremendous effort--and leave him
slumped against one of the other chests.


STUIB (unlocking the chost) Roy, look at this!
FAWCENT: Bottlest
They staro insido the cheste
STUBB:
Whore'e the gunahot?
FANCETT: It'a ryel Bottles of ryol
STUBB seizes a bottle and toars the
top off, then drinks thiretily.
STUBB (gasping) God aave the King!
FAWCETT (cackling) A couple of sips and you alwaye say thatt
(Also seizing a bottle and drinking) Bing your
prohibition songt
STUBB (with great relish, an enornous enile on his face)
Four and twenty Yankees, feeling very dry,
Went aciross the border to get a drink of rye,
When the rye wan opened, tho Yanks began to sing,
BOTH:
God blens América but God savo the King!
FAWCEIT (peeping at Doa) What's he aver done axcept feed uo on
lies? 'Hrs, Dave'a over therel' (To DOG, defiantly)
Mrs. Dave don't existi And last year it was Young
Dave coming up with a contract froa Prince Georgo to
make us richi Tho year before that there was
radium in the valleyl Then he was on the run-
evory time a bear sniffed round the cache he said,
*That's the copal'
STUBB:
Shall I tell you oomething about Dog? (After
poeping at DOg) Long Martin told me---four yeara
ago. He--ent native with the Indians. (Peeping
cautiously at DOG again) Ato moose-moat with his
hands, had the lice picked out of his hair. Lived
in their stink and liked it. He-he-- - --(lovering
his voice) came to a door in South London and esid,
'I hear you've bin getting violent vith tho wifo?'
IThe wife?t I saye. And the tears started pouring
down xy facet He took mo down tho station and I
tald hin about---Fawcett--and he said--
FAWCEIT: Uccch!
STUBB (in an imploring vay) What did you do it for, mate?


FAWCEIT (drinking)
loll (farcing hinself to Bay sonething)
It was-the village---the women with all their
denires---auch loud desires, I alvaya uned to sayi
The village in Kalost
STURB:
It was Scuth London!
FAUCEIT: South Walest
STUBB:
Londont
FANCEIT: Waleet
STUBB (giving in) All right, then. Fawcett--tell me about
her-m
FANCETT: Who?
STUBB:
My wife-
FAECEIT: Well-I used to cone in-
STUBB:
Yost
FAWCENT: Knock at tho door-start walking up the stairs-
STUBB (fancinated) Yest
FANCENT: She'd say, let me have your cassock for the cleanors,
I'll come and got it-and she---
STUBB:
Go onl
FAWCETT (guddenly rejecting the fantasy) To hell with itt
(Shaking STUBB out of his fancinated state) Don't
you realise---ho'll have us buahed? We'll go bushedi
(Lookins at DOG) Loak what he's come to nowt
STUBB:
Just to think, I used to go out of a norning at five
o'clock sharp and wilk dovm the road to the tram, and.
thay used to call me Mr. Stubb. And Joe at the works.
Or Joceph. The boss called me Joseph. (A paune)
And I vent on the boose every Friday night, regular.
I never got rough but she couldn't atick it after
near on fifteen yenrs.. (Disconmolately) 'You're
not fit to live in a strest', she said, 'You*re-
you're---aahaned of it', she said.
FANCETT: Ashaned of what?
STURB:
-It. (In total distllusion) There nevar was a
lodger. I wanted her to, But aho said no.


FANCERT (with the same dioconsolate air) I nover did take
ordors. I was only in the choir. And I--liked
the girlsm Thnt'o all.
STUBB (turning to DCG) Vhat do you cay to that, Dog? What do
you say to a drop of truth?
FAWCETT (whispering) Let's go down, Stubbt
STUBB (rising with a nod but still looking at DOG) You never
could bear to hear the truth about yoursolf, could
you, mate? bell, you'1l get it now, all on your
own+ You'll get your silenco.
Thoy begin to pack stealthily, with
glanceo at DOG.
FAWCETT: Wonent Think of itt
STUBB:
And paaple talking sanei
FAWCETTS We'll got to Dave's before nightfall--tell hin
Dog'e asleepi
STUBB:
For evart
Thay continue packing busily.
FAMCEIT: Hey-what about gunshot?
STUBB:
Ssaht (Glancing at DOG) Wo don't need shot-m
not in daylightt
Thoy hitch on their packa. An they
do B0 a dog barks on the other oido
of the valley.
PAUCETT (whispering) Dave's huekicst
Thoir own huskios anover, close by.
They wait, fearful that DOG will be
disturbed.
STUBB (whispering) Cone ont
They creep out, with a last glance at
DOG.
DOG is aloné. The huskios bark again
near by. Then thera is silence.
DOG is quite motionless a before.


Buddenly there ia a chot. It is
followed by another, then another,
until there ie a volley.
Tho doge bogin to bark frantically.
DOG ahakos himsele awake.
DOG (looking round with a glare) Gonel
He Jumps up with a tremendous bound
and stands with his feet astride 1iko
a great aninal, glowering.
Tho firing aies down.
DOG:
So that'e itt
Ho meoe the open amunition chest, teara
out a bottle, then another; gazes at
then, and puto then back. le seca the
half-empty bottlo they have left behind
thon, seizoa it, holds it up to the
1ight, and puta it down again.
DOG:
Gonel
He bogins to calm down, picks up his
gun, which they have left lying on the
ground; leans it against tha bed care-
fully, closes the cheet with a violent
kick and eito down on it again.
Silence, as he gazes bofore him.
DOO (to himcelf) And I used to aweep the gravel at the
Governor's lodge---look at me nowi (Takes a drink
from the used bottle) You liart (Pauces) Yos, old
King Prempel painted the wallo of his palace with
human bloodt Gallons of iti But the Engliah broko
him. They turned hin into a citizen. (With a emile)
Lake me. They exiled him to an ieland in the
Indian Oceon, and when he came back ho was talking
about public vorke.
He frowno as if trying to récollect
something.
DOG (with effort) I could never bear to touch--a womant


Re seens astoniched at his own words
and looke round to oee if there are
hearers.
DOG (looking up as if anavering soneono) Fhat's that-Y don*t
1ike the truth? There's the truthi And I hope it
chokes yout They stoned mom (almost weeping)
hissed at net À poor danned whitel (After
recollection) Liar. (Looka up at the sky and
whispers) Gabriel!
Silence. He noda in a rosigned way.
He gazes before him in the silence,
quite lost in memories, it. 00000.
There is a movement close by and ho
aeises his gun.
DOSt
Who'o there? (He waits. breathing heavily, his sun
pointad) whots there?
STUBB and FANCEIT appear again. They
walk in cautiously. DCG lowers hia gun.
They appear ahaken. DOG watches them
cloeely as they put down their packa and
guns.
DOGI
Hou far d'you get?
STUBB:
Edgo of the lakea
DOG:
Then?
STUBB:
We Baw Young Dave.
DOG:
You did? (They nod siiently) What did he say?
STUBBI
He- --he---laughed at us Re just etood there and
lmughed- The teara wan pouring down hie facea
He was holding his sidess He couldn't help it. He's
decent kid. He just couldn't help laughing.
DOG (gritting hia teeth) r'11 give him laught
They ait down again and stare before
thoa in cilence.
FAWCENT: Vhy did he laugh, Dog?
DOG:
Because you're unfit for civilisation! Because
you'ro a couple of scarecrows. You're finiahed-
you can*t go down to reality any noret That's why.


FAKCENT: Thoy'a have drumed us out of Pas 1f we'd gone downt
STUBBS
Ho just stood and laughed. He couldn't get his
breath-he doubled upt And you couldn't biame hint
FAWCEIT: (to DOG) They'a laugh at you, toot
DOG (with sudden fury) I wouldn't try to go downt I wouldn't
try itt Get that into your mtt
A pause.
STUBB (pleasantly) Itto nice to hear your voice agnin, Dog-
DOO (still to FAWCETT) *Momen't Look at yourself in a mirror,
Casanoval
FANCET etrokoe hin chin in a celf-
conscious way.
FAWCEIT: We noed your holp, Dog. Perhape you could choke
Young Dave off for unl - ovar the radio. Tell his
dadi
DOG:
Like hail I coulat You vant tho truth-yon got
iti Out of the nouthe of babes and suckdings--
And I'11 tell you eomething elso--while you was out
butterfly-hunting 1 talked the truth to ayself-
it'o getting quite a habit round heret Truth'a
tup-wy traffict
SYUBB:
te talkeds too, Dog-hile you was aaloep.
DOGs
And vhat did you talk?
STUBB:
Well-
DOGI
No, just toll me, in the cano wordat Go aheadt
STUBBI
I- N (Glancing at FAUCENT for help)
TAWCINT: I said I was anly--in the cloth--t
DOG:
Yes?
FAWCETT: I said I wabi (He can't go on)
DOG:
And that was the truth?
FAWCETT: That'e itt
DOG (with relentloss nockery) I'n fascinated!
STUBB:
I told Fancett about the-I said she. always aaid-
'You'ro not meant-t I said- About--fifteen
yoars--I * (lie gives up)


DOG (nodding) Quite a confession, eh? And you had oone ryo?
STUBB:
That's right.
DOGt
'Four and twenty Yankeest? - (STUBB nodi)
GOD SAVE THE KINGI (Initating STUEB)
DOG finishea off with PANCETT's cackle,
and the other two loak avay, sdomefaced.
FAWCEYT (with eudden spirit, 1ighting up) And what was your
truth?
DOG (momentarily off-guard) Hy oumt (Pointing to the eky)
Por Godi
STUBB (flinging the koys at hin) You can have your rye-keyal
DOG:
Thanks.
They glover at each other.
STUBB:
Dog.
DOG:
Yes?
STUBB:
Young Dave bad some madl. A whole wad of it.
Sticking out of his pack.
DOGt
A wad of it?
STUBB:
That'e rightt
DOO:
So where is he now?
STUBB:
I don't know We just rant
DOG:
Ch, you didi Horoeet
FAWCETT: It soemod 1ike trapper's mail for a couple or three
yearsl
DOG:
We'll just have to vait, then-unless you scared
him off for goodt
STUBB:
I reckon all that shooting was jent Young Dave
coming over with the maili
DOG:
You did? Realisti
STUBB:
And Dog---we talkod it over---(pointing at the
eamunition chest) We thought it was funny-
thereta a lot of bottles theret
DOG:
And you thought you'd find gunahot?


6ha
STURB:
That'a rightt It sesad a lot of bottles-
for an amnition chosti (trying to kid)
DOat
Dantt you 1dko ryo?
STUBB:
lut that's a yearts supplym
FAWOHTTS Dog-where's that gusshot?
DOG:
Hereright under
(He silis dofiantiy)
FANCENT: You nean--? (He sives an alarmed alonce at BYUBE)
Iou traded the pelta for-i You traded all those
STURB (storing at DOG) You did what?.
FANCENT: There's no gunshoti Ch, Christ in heavent How
are we.going to live--ent-? God belp ulls Dog,
that's alli
DOGI
That'a the ided-for Ocd to help you-if ho, wante tot
FANCETTE You're btacbedt
STUBB:
Ru's opoofin'i Lako the Ecdno trancet (laughing)
Dod langhs vith hin ironically, and thay
both aaddenly atop.
STUBB (learing on hin) You rati
DOG pushce hia off wdth a kick.
FALCENT: Suppose 4 griealy come prowling round---suppoce ona
of the Zuakies goss wild--?
SNUBB:
You're bushed, bushedt
DOG (milaly) I çan talk to buekies, you know that. And
grizalies never come near D
Smell lo cadl)?
STUBB:
They night come near uat
DOG:
Then put your faith in God, 14ke I dot
FALCEIT: There's ay ten-foot rodojust that---betwoen us
and starvationt
STUMB:
"God', he caysi 'God's
DOG:
It'e Aumny--(quietly) I don't know wy I did it.
I just had to. I radio-ed to Dave, *Give ne ryo
this time. It'11 help un dreant'
FAVCETT: And there ws No cleaning the gune-


STUBB:
Well, we're stuck now.
DOG:
Why stuck? Go an downi LAke you started doing!
STUBBI
Suppobe we meet a griezly?
DOG:
It's laughter you're afraid ofl Gunahot won*t koep
you fron thntt
Insert
FAWCETT:
And Davo didntt say a word? He just let you?
DOG:
Wouldn't you have let ce-with all those pélts, and
ten-foot fiehing rod?
FAWOETT:
What---? Dogt Dogt (Frantically, almoet in
tears) Hy rod-ry rod-
Ee daches to hie bed in search of hin rod.
STUBB:
You're buahedt
DOG:
Leave gunshot for tho poople downstaire, Stubb-
you're a mild manees (Laughing)
FAMCETT (to STUBB) Ho's done itt Hets etolen my rodt
He seizes his gun and points it at Dog.
DOG (quietly) Bhont mel - I 1ike bedng shot-it's my weaknesat
FAWCEIT pullo the trisger and there is
only a click.
FAWCDIT (ninging the run auky) I'n going dow---I'11 got there
tonight if it kills met (Picka up hia pack again)
Come an, stubbi
STUBB doesn't nove.
He's acared of grizalies.
FAWCETT:
Stubbi
STUBB doesn't move.
FAWCEIT (to STUBB) How are wo going to live, then?
STUBB only shrugs indifferently.
DOG (to STUBB) Remembar when we got your love-letter near on two
years ago? And we laced ourselves with rye all night,
and sat round R fire and listened to the sound of the
trees and then watched the aun come up? And you
wouldn't read your letter-tho only letter we ever
got---tho only time Davets red flag vent upt


STUBBE
That'o your iden, toot--the red flagi When we'vo
got a radiol
DCG:
But we'll read our lettors thie time-and drink oursolves
round the clocki (to FAWCETT) Now, como on, eit down-
Lot'a taik the trutht It makea mo feel good.
FAWCENT: (taking off his pack arain and shaking hie head) You're
bushed, Dog-- You'ro bushed and Gad knows whore
it's going to end!
DOG:
what aid she write a love-lotter for, Stubb, if she'e
having a joy-ride an the lodger every night?
STUBB (hanging his head) The lodger don't exist-
DOG:
Aht (to FANCEIT) Ie that what I missed?
FANCEIT:
Zou was avaket (Scoffing) Eakimo trance!
STUEB (cantimuing in some voin) She wants Do back. She loves me.
DOG (holding out tho bottle to him) Here-wash the truth downt
STUBB (with subdued Serocity) What about your truth?
DOG:
Oh, that'll cone in timet (Suddenly, to FANCETT)
Expecting masl?
FANCSTT:
Not
DOG:
I thought you wanted to talk reality
FAWCETT:
Thero-you was awakeI said oot
DOde
I was more avake than I're ever been before---now who'o
that lotter from?
FAWCEIT (vincing under his glaro) Well-I alvays expected ny
old min and dad to write.
DOS:
Didn't they over?
FANCETTS
Back in Vancouver they did. They hate me.
DOG:
Why?
FAWCRTTS
They think I'm richt They think I'a down in Vancouver
vith a cheroot in ay mouth, living in the whorehouse,
my feet upt I used to send thos a postcard every
yoar-to keop 'em happy-a hotel-- nice garden-
sonathing de luxe. So they think I'a richt Thoy
think, *He doesn't give us a cents Ard he'o rich
1ike that!


DOG (alylz) Not even as a cockroach wasn't you rich, Fawcett?
FAWCETT:
I- (He atares cadly before him)
DOG:
FAWCENT:
I waon't in the cloth.
DOG:
Therol
FANCMET:
They wanted me to, badly. Firat the choir, then a
course in thoolog-
He breaka off, waiting for DOG'O
next question.
DOG:
SThay', Fawcatt? who'e *they'?
FANCEIT:
Woll-
DOG:
Your mum and Gad?
FAKCETT (at the dead bottom of his morale) I haven't got no mun
and dads
DOG (soothingly) You- are rich in a way, Fawcett. You live in
ono of God's loveliest hotel-gardens-
FAWCEIT (looking round hin) I feel coldi
DOG (with a plonsant chuckle) It'e as hot as.you'1l ever get it
thie latitudel
STUBB (quietly, oyeing DOd) Nov it'e your turn.
FANCETT (excitedly) Are you expocting mail, Dog?
DOG:
P'raps. P'rape I ant
FALCENTS
An arrest?
No. Only tax evasione That's from Winnipeg.
Fron the old prospecting days. And a rolice-
summons fron Hackenzie Bey-drunk and disorderly.
A guy fron Eakino Point owes me three hundred dollars.
Ho might be writing to apologises lle did once or
tvice, down at Pas. Very serious letters. That'e all.
salence.
STUBB:
What about the murder charge?
DOG (blinking rapidly) Murder charge?
FANCENT:
Ie your name clear, Dog?
DOG (screving up his eyen) I think ao, yest


STUBB:
Wan you ever in Kumast?
DOG (after a long pauses hanging his head Bo that hin eves aren't
seen) No.
STUBB:
What'a your name?
DOG ahakes his hoad dumbly.
FAWCENT (encouragingly) But, Dogeif there'a no price on your
head, we can go dow--wb're free-you can lead us
down--you know howl
DOG (in a muraur) You'd be laughed at just the same.
STUBB:
P*rape not vith yout
DOG (pullins at hie own beard impetuounly) Look at thist
STUBB:
Thattsma good beardt
DOG:
You don't oee am any noret Not this bigt And
what's your destination?
PANCEIT:
Fort St. John-w-Prince Georget
DOdt
And Any's whorehouse?
FAWCEIT:
That's righti
DOG:
where ve sat and laid the bet?
FALCETT (enthusiastically) Yost
DCG:
The 'truth'! Thoy went the trutht.
A doubtfui pausa.
STUBBI
Where else, then? Aay'a still theret
DCG:
You're thinking of the construction days, Stubbt
STUBB:
Whatta that?
DOG:
*What'e that?* You wamn't alive in construction days,
that's whati fort St. John---Prince George---Ary's
whorehouse-they dan't exiett That's whatt
FAWCENT:
Fort St. John don't exist?
DOGt
Not your Fort St. Johnt I know a raflroad track,
some hotels, a Board of Trado, sono churches, storos-
PANCETT:
What about that?
STUBBS
I-can't remombert
DOG:
How do you talk the truth if you can't reaomber whnt'e
true?


STUBB:
There'e Amy's enloon-
DOG:
The Port Douglas Hotel! They don'e even call it
saloon any morel
FAKCETT:
And Barkerville-
DOG:
"Barkerville'!
STUBB:
Kellyte Hotel- Remenber the tailings along
Williame Creek? I reckon thny turned that gravel
over a thousand times---polished and bright: That's
iti
DOG (mocking) "That's itt
FAWCETT:
Barker took Bix mmdred thounand dollars in gold, no
thoy oay-
DOG:
'And laid the Beed of Britich Columbial
FANCEIT:. That's itt
STUBB:
Richfield---walkor's Guleh--Muggets RB big ae your
hand--Antler Creek-Lov Hee-
DOG (taking up the recital) Conklins Gulch- Reseaber the
Roger's Rectaurant--the tin ahopu?
STUEB:
That's itt
DOGE
The Occidental Hotel-a The Brewery Saloon?
STUBB:
Yest
DOG:
You remenber picturest You remeaber dreane, Stubbt
A hmdrad years agol But I thought you was after the
truth now?
FAWCENT (with his startled look) What's the truth?
DOG:
This-Borkerville's a musoun-piece fron the goldrush
dayat It's a drean that brought you to Canada-
that's what! Aay's whorehoure don't exicti You
laid a bet in the backroon of the Port Douglas Hotel,
drinking ryot with bucinesamen all roundi Nhite
collarst Christian miscion workare! Train tine-
tables! A feller from the civil airlinea! A couple
of Echoolmarme drinking port and lemont That'a whati
(Chickling to hinsolf) And Ary used to clean cut your
rooms, you licet No shocting, no cursing-I No
Flasing Ethelt


FANCEIT (starting up) Flaring Ethel, sho-l
STUBBE
ShoI
Thoy both stop.
DOGE
She exieted all right---bofore you was born-
twith the nost miniaturest little revolver you've éver
céen in her stocking-
STUBB:
I've seen horwo
DOGt
That was a piece froa the north of England our here
on a dream like you! You only called her Flaning
Ethell
FANCETT:
Because cho had red hairt
DOG:
That'e tighti And they took her away for disinfentationt
Then thoy put hor on mienion-work anong tha Indions
Stubb--they go prospocting in helicoptora nowadayat
STUBB:
You don't Bo helicopters round heret
DOG:
What would thoy vant round herow-ait and vatch you
going bushed?
FAWCEIT (bitterly) What about the great whito bear--the two
years fast at Carlyle Streot, Winnipeg? Tell mo
that's not a dreant
DOG (quietly) You take your choice, Fawcett.
FAWCETT:
And the Torngarsoak!
There is cilenco.
STUBB:
that could we do down below, Dog?
DOG (grinly) Hang yourself in a white collart You wanted it
wild when you cane up here and you've got itt
STUBB:
Long Martin was wild all right-e staked our claime
north of the Ingenika River---high-grade or
DOG:
But you went north by trnin. And Lang Martin got
bnck to Vancouver by military plane!
FANCEIT:
What are you trying to prove?
DOG:
That the construction daya are overt If you want to
go dowm,
downt-but thore's just stroete. Streetg.
Town councils--oewnge pland--prostitution lauo-
wives to hook you-politica---nevspa---Dewspsperai (Fixing
EAMOETE vith hin oyog) Dontt you romonber?


FANCEIT (awkwardly) You've got to sign certificates---apecial
liconces---that kind of thing?
DOG:
That kind of thing, yeai You're on the wrong aide
of the law up here, Fawcetti Shall I toll you why?--
because you're freet
FAWCETT nods gravely.
FALCEIT:
Perhape those three fellers at Gillie's Grave got
caught by a equall---like you got on the lake--the
sky goes black before you can turn the boat round-
DOG:
They weren't in a boat!
FANCETT: I thought you said--i (He etope)
STUBB (eagerly) Dog-is that Peace River plan etill on?
DOG:
Suret
STUBB:
A fur farm---lynx---finhers--somme silvers---some
black fox-
DOG (atill watching FAKCETT) You're breaking the law all the
tine, Fawcett. You go stalking in Junet Did you
know that was outside the moose-season?
FAWCELT:
DOG:
Can you tell me whon the moose-season starts?
FANCETT: No.
DOG:
After how nany years? (Uith disgust) Soptenber 15tht
FANCLIT:
I reckan if a fat aooso walks into your territory he
wante to be eateni (With his cackling lauch) In or
out of season!
DOG (watching the other two in oilence) Why do you two follow me--
first for dreans, then for truth?
STUBB (looking up at the sky and shivering) It Boetis to be blowing
up coldt
FAKCEIT (startled) That'e what I thoughti You nevor know what
woather you're going to get. Remenbor that day it
stayed dark till two in the afternoon?
DOG (cynically) It was dark because you was dead asleep--!
FARCETT (indignantly) ke moved around with lampo-
DOG (beyond his tother) Whut about it? khat'e the good of
remenberinga


STUBB (quiotly) I don't like it full moon. It ceens-
dangerous- Thom towera seen to move!
DOGE
What towers?
STUBB:
They-
FAHCEIT (frantic) Shut up!
FAHCEIT sits thore shivering. The
others seem unaware of this cold.
DOG (pleasantly) Liston to that eilence. You can't break a
eilence like that. Do you notice, the animale never
try? Thoy aquavk and bellow but the noises just
sink in.
STUBB nods vigorously.
FAWCEIT (seeing STUBB's nod) That's right!
DOG:
I told the silence a mouthful while you was away. I
said I couldn't nover bear to--(for a moment ho seeme
to falter) touch a woman.
STUBB (laughing doliberately) Go onl Nabody'd Gay you was a
pouf if thoy'd Been you with Flaming Ethel down at
Pas, eh, Fawcett?
FAWCETT:
That's right!
STUBB:
I heard sho nearly pulled her pietol on you in the
acti And she said,. 'Do you want my blood as woll?*
Do you want my bloods
DOG (delighted with the bogus menory) That's right:
The atmosphere of make-believo starts
again.
FAWCENT:
That was tho timo Long Nartin jumped over a cubicle
and landed on May and a de luxe prospector from
Winnipegt Ke was blind that nights He said the
prospector had hor knickors and hi.gh-hoeled choes on
and ahe was painting him red!
DOG (chuckling) Vith her rouge-stick!
FANCETT:
They used to charge all-night prices therel Rose
nover would take an all-night cuatomer if eho could
help it. Remomber that? She said you had to be a
wife every time---and sho wasn't that unfaithful,
not to chango husbando six times a woeki


DOG:
She had a kind of a wit, don't you think 60---Rose?
FAWCETT:
She didt
STUBB:
Reneaber tho guy who used to cit her on hie knees for
a couple of hours and thon go away? They Bay he had
it shot away in the war.
FAVCETT:
Re was scared, that'e all! Ho was pale, you remember?
His eyes moved a lot, they seemed to be floating all
the ting-very dark, very soft!
STUBB (quietly) You're talking about Long Hartin.
FANCETT:
Am I?
STUBB:
That's how the pimps start. No interest in sex!
FAWCEITE
I remember---1
DOG (suddenly) Stop remombering!
Silence.
STUBB:
Young Dave's never been this long.
FANCETT:
If we're leaving, Dog--shall I damp the amudge down?
DOG:
fio, lot it stay!
FAWCENT:
And start a forest fire? It hasn't rained in two
months!
DOG (angrily) It's all right, I tell you-it's dying every
ainute, just the samel
The radio begins blinking again, s.0.S.
FANCEIT (to STUBB) that's the matter with him?
STUBB (seeing tho radio) There's A signal, Dog.
DOG:
You'll get your signals soon enought
FAVCHT (approaching the radio) I'll ansver it.
Lay orff
DOG (belloving) taave it alonet (Murmuring to himself) Long
Hartin- (To STUBB) Perhape you'd 1iko to go into
partnership vith him again-awshen we go down?
STUBB:
Pimping?
DOG:
In the mail-order rackett He took a room eix foot
by ten in a seven-storey house'in Bridge Street,
Vancouver--he rubbed blanco in his collar to get it
white--and he sent out envelopen---ho---1 (Stopping)
You're looking soisadt


FAECEIT (quietly, as if to protect STUEB) Long Martin has a
couple of the brightest whorehouses in the North
West Territories, ien't that right?
DOG:
Like hell he has! He naver even had a socretary!
And he said to you (to STUBB), if your momory
stretches back that far, he oaid, Come in with mo,
we'll advertine our pelts in tho emall-ado colum
in the Vancouver Times, we'll give a mail-ordor number,
and we'll aend 'en bad polts for cut pricos!' that
a horo! And ho went round all the statione from
Mackenzie Bay to Cokimo Point picking up bad peltal
And the business caught like a forest firet It went
from bad to better, and from botter to low-dowm crooked,
and now he's a rich mant e And you was his white-
collarod worker--you wiped his buainess clean evory
day!
STUBB (hanging hin head) Doesn't sound like Long Martin to met
DOG:
Not the Long Martin you've been cooking up for
yourself for three yearal
The radio-signal ceases.
FALCETT:
I alwaya heard he's got the fattest whores in Prince
Georgel It was Dave broke the nows---remember that,
Stubb?
STUBB:
Do 1?
FANCETT:
*He'e gone proepecting in petticoats!'-talk about
laught
STUBB:
And the night Long Martin played Flaming Ethel-
they aidn't take their eyes off the dice for two
whole nights-and that'e where he got the money!.
DOG:
I'll atrike a bargain. Tell me the truth about
Long Martin and we'll go dow--I'1l shave off my
beard at Dave's and I'll march you into Pas like a
victorious arry--we'il make a fortune on a whito-
fox farmt
STUBB (radiantiy) You pronise?
DOG:
If you tell the truth! (Relentlesaly) It's got
ineide mel O.K.?


STUBB and FAECEIT glance at each other.
STUBB:
DOG (to FANCETT) First--your liot of Long Martin's whores-
yourremember?
FAKCEIT (oagerly) Yest
DOG:
How did you draw it up?
FALCENT (in alern) I- -
STUBB (impatiently) Tell himi
FAKCENT:
From-from the girls in the village---South Wales-
the---the fat ones-
DOG:
Thanket And now (to STUBB) I want this one quick--
what's Iong Martin's mail-order address?
STUBB (with lightning speed) Best Pelte Ltd., 24 Bridgo Street,
Vancouver.
DOGt
Like a puppyt Goodi
STUBB:
Now do wa go down?
DOGt
Without the mail? We'1l wait for that-then go down.
FAWCEIT (irritated) Mail-
A long silence.
STUBB (burying his head in his handn) We'll wait a hundrod yoarot
Suddenly there is a ahot, ayite close by.
STUBB:
It'e himt
Théy all listen.
FAHCENT:
What's he shooting his way up for?
DOG (laughing) He'a blaring a trail for your mum and dad's
letteral
STUBB (with sudden resolve) I don't want lettersi
FALCEIT (jumping up at once) Nor mot
STUBB (aleo jumping up) Let's got
DCG (alarmed) You'll stay heret
They stop in the act of picking up
their packs.
STUBB (to FALCETT) He's scared!


DOG (abashed) ke'll go down together. I'm lending you--is
that right? Who elso can fix it up with Dave?
You're on contract, remember!
STUBB (seeing a bargaining point) Vell, it's got to be quickt
DOG:
He's nearly heret Can't you tell by tho chot?
Re's down by the Creekt Now take it easy-
Easy- What about another bottle of-- (laughing
with an effort) gunshot? Eh?
He. jumps up and opens the chest, pulle
out another bottle while the other two
watch him suspiciouoly.
FANCEIT:
It's been a long tine.
STUBB:
FAECEIT:
Three yearal
DOG (handing thom the bottle after oponing it) Heret
STUBB:
PAWCEIT (also shaking his head) It dicngrees vith me. (Suddenly
getting an idoa) Perhaps they aied of a jag--
DOG:
Uho?
Gilli's Graup
FALCETT:
The fellers at Hanaon Creeki Suppose they drank all
night--the mail comos up the night before---thoy vent
out stalking and just-sat there and diad--of boose-
DOG nodo with a kind of diogust as he
puta the untouched bottle on the table.
STUBB (to DOG) Has the lotters read?
DOGI
I don't know!
STUBB:
1 mean, was they opened?
DOG (impatiently) The rats ate 'èm up, Bo how do I knov?
Another chot, even closer.
DOG:
Therel that did I cay?.
Thoy look in tho direction of the
shot, run to the door.
FANCENT (calling out) IB that you, Young Dave?
Thoy wait but there is silence.


STUBB:
You there, Dave?
DOG (sharnly, hia voice much atronger than the others) Gabrielt
Tho othere gape at him.
STUBB:
Listen to that, 'Gabriel't
FANCETT: (suddenly turning on DOG) It was you got us up heret
'Gabriel', 'Gabriei*t Uho you calling to-who you
been calling to for three yearo, for Chriet's sake?
(Screaming at the top of hie voice) You big, fat,
two-faced, bearded pouf! I'm going down, do you
hoar that? I'n going down to-civilicationt
(uho Anine Theve
lio cintisalss V doit >xipt! li hurker balicie,
DOG (taken aback) Faxcett, Fawcott-
j" crelnad!
FAUCETT: You'd been on a jag and tho town looked dead, BO you
fonbe!
laid a bet---'Something's got to cone out of the
silence', you said. Like hell it diat Like hellt
STUBB (quietly) It was you aaid that, mate.
FALCEIT (turning on hin aloo) Said what?
STUBB:
About the silence. Doun at Pas.
FANCEIT (staring at him) Me?
STUBB:
That'e right! You'd just been offered a job on
road-haulage and it scared the shit out of yout
So you cane up horet
FALCENT:
Dog was offered the job!
STUBB:
Dog was working in the municipal--
DOG (going for him) Now, then, you rat-l
STUBB (tumping away) In the municipal office- (ppeaking quickly)
Bowage department---checking up on the road monders-
ten dollars a weeki
He etands there panting with the effort
and they all seem to share the
exhaustion.
DOG suddenly dashes to the bottle,
picks it up and takes a long draught.
DOG (gasping) It'e the nemory that goes--they cay it's the
firet thing--there's too much ailencet


STUBB:
You remember all right!
DOG:
I feel cold- (shivering) dead cold!
FAWCETT:
That's what I said juot now! And you said it's as
hot as you'll over get thia latitudo!
DOG (sitting down on the chest arain, hugging himaelf up) Got
the fire laid for tonight?
FANCETT:
We're going, you saidt
STUBBE
We're in a fix if we don*t go down---without gunshoti
FALCETT:
That's righti (to DOG) What do we eat? The beans'1l
be out by tho end of the wook, the moose-meat's nearly
gonei (Bending down and talking to him fiercely)
That's like you, ien't it--letting us starve to
death like the boys at Gillie's Grave, by Manson
Creok--there's the creok juot belowindo you want us
to do the same-?
DOG (bursting out angrily but still shivoring) To hell with your
storiest *Manson Creek- 'Gillis's Grave-
hov long aro you going to cling to that one?
FAKCETT:
It'a your story--the rusty frying pan, the letters
nailed to the table eaten by rate---that'o youre!
DOG:
And you believe itt You put your own lying stories
in my nouth and then Gay they're truel
FALCENT (gasping) I--i
STUBB:
It's true all right-I heard it from a guy at
Çoldwater Creak---stories about death are always truol
DOG (fiercely) I'll cast you two in the truth and leave you
stinking of it-like men in a bogt (He goes very
guiet) They'al never lot us back. Get that in your
muts.
They both stare at him.
STUBB (in a whisper) that's that?
A huch fallo on them. FAWCEIT caste
his eyos round in the silence.
DOG (also whispering) Remeaber what Dave Baid three years ago?
'I'm looking for guya who've given up.' And. he shot
me a wink. "Like you,' he said.


STUBB (trembling) Hey, does that Young Dave wear a fall-out
suit? He seemed to---i
FAWCEIT (shrieking) Shut upl Shut up! (A pause) How*a they
give us superanmuation if we wasn't going back?
DOG (still quietlys gaging at hin) To lead you ono 'Keop
yourselves anuod up there', he says. Remember?
"I'1l teach you how to trap, etretch the pelts.
Taka a gun apiece. A fishing rod. I'll give you
a pack of huskies.' Remembor?
FANCEIT (bowed) No.
DOG:
*All you got to do', he saya, 'is answer the radio
four tines a day, keep the grase round the etation
trinced, patrol ance an hour and--caop your rotten
mouths shutt Remombor?
STUBB (terrified, with a gesture towarde the door) What's under
the concrete?---them towers-?
DOG:
He dian't cay.
STUBB:
What did you kign on for, Dog?
DOG:
We all did.
The huish continues.
FALCETT (suddenly) I'1l go down tanight if it killa me, I'll
make Dave's cabin and kip there the night, I'll go
alone, so help me Godt
DOG:
God'1l help you all right if you can help yourself---
but be caroful of that allence on your way over, that'e
all, Fawcett--aind you don't get wobbly kneest
FANCETT:
You come with me, Stubb-the milence makes me giddy-
I have to start shouting---they*1l pick me up for
crary--let's go down, Btubb!
DOG:
We anly feed each other with areanst - Alone we're
reall Go ahead--go dow---wo'll all go down alonet
STUBB:
Are you bushed? We've got no gunahoti I can't
talk to huskies--by Christ (to FAMCETT) He's loaving
us, Fawcett- He's-
DOG, euddeniy ceeming hie advantage,
seizos his pack and makes as if to
leavo.


STUBB:
He's doing it, Fawcett- Dog, Dog, como back-
ve can't handle the huskies---Dog, Dog!
DOG (stomping) What do you want me for? I'm not gunshot!
STUBB (exhaustad) le just need you.
FAWCENT (surrondering) You're--in with the silence, Dog.
You seen to know about it.
DOG (throwing down his pack with aglad gosture) Al1 right!
FAKCENNT:
Thank Christ!
DOG:
Anyway, raybo he'e dead---noved to another town-
another--civilisation!
STUBB:
Who's thet?
DOG:
Long Martin.
FAWCETT:
The petticont-dealer!
DOG (turning on him fiercely) And you--what'll you live cn?
Going back to lavatory-attendant in Vancouver?
FAWCEIT (stunned) Dog-
DOG (relentlesaly) Maybe the hole you drilled through to the
ladiest lavatory is still theret
FAWCENTT (staring before him) It waB Wales-
DOG:
You didn't atir out of Britich Columbia till you was
turned twenty-three! And Christ knows who gave birth
to yout
STUBB (laughing suddenly) A tap--a Fawcett!
DOG (vith disgist) Grin your bloody head offi
A ahot, close by. Thoy jump.
FAKCETT:
They ahould take that gun out of his handat He'o
triggor-happyt
STUBB (to DOG) And what about you--what'1l you go back to?
DOGt
STUBB (continuing) He comes out to do the big grospecting job-
sailo from Southampton in a de luxe liner. carrying
coal--and thoy give him a job at the Town Hall in
Wimnipegt A job listening to tho assistant sewage-
officer talking big about Eakinos and the king of
Kumasi who painted the walls of hie palace with
human bloodt


DOG (quietly) You look ugly when you say that.
STUBB:
I feel sick, more 1ikelyt
DOG:
That's disgust at yourself!
They glare at each other.
FANCIMT: I just feol dead--the air fools dead, do you kmow
what I mean? I can't swell the pine-fire any more
(he sniffa)-Juast about now you can anell the lake,
ueually-when the wind changes, as the sun etarts
its downward course, as the guy down at Pas used to
say-
The other two contimue to glare at
each other.
DOG (still to STUBB) Why don't you finish it? How he took
STUBB:
I wais leaving it to youl
DOG:
And couldn't do itmgot half-way and couldn't do
STURB (sorry now) Well, you don't have to blame youreelf-
Silence.
FANCETT:
There don't seen a reason for doing anything;
(Pointing at the bottle) Even the ryeit's just
liquidt Eh, Stubb?
DOC (in a dried-up, sucken voice) We'll leave. I'll tear up
the contract with ay own handal
STUBB (in a whisper) Leave, now, Dog?
DCG:
Yes.
FAWCETT:
We won't wait for the mail?
DOG:
STUBB and FANGEIT reach out for their
packs, watching Doa for a move.
STUBB:
What do we do with the rye, Dog?
DOG (in the pame voice as before) Lock it up.
STUBB:
bo lock the cabin?
DOG:
What'a that?
STUBB:
We close the cabin up?


DOG:
No, leave it open for the. boy. (Strangely) He's
young and greeni..
FANCETT (as STUDB takos up his gun) What's the use of gums
without shot?
STUBB (atrapping up hie pack) They're weapons just the name.
DOG watches then 1istlesaly as they
propare thoir packe again.
DOG:
Don't forget the frying pan. We'll need to cook!
STUBB (turning) Vhat's that?
DOG:
The frying pan.
STUBB:
Oht The frying pan, Fawcett!
FANCENT nods and absently takes it
down and begins etrapping it to tho
back of hio pack.
STUBB (hastily) Ee'll hit the other aido of the valley by
nightfall---there's 1ight encugh--I
DOG:
He'll be there--with his polished white collart
Remember thatt
STUBB:
I don't have to soe hint
DOG:
I heard of a man once, he filled in seventy thousand,
nine hundred and forty-two envolopest
FALCEIT (turning) That was Stubbt
STUBB (stopping his proparations) I used to hate that vall-
more than anything--it waB dirty yellow-w-and tho
way Long Martin used to cough---every day, evory
hour of the day- (he initates a terrible dry cough)
the way he used to put his finger round the inside
of his collar on the hot days-I had to get out, Dog!
DOGt
And you'ro going back to that?
STUBB (helnlesaly) I couldn'tt
DOG:
You was talking through your snot about me juat now-
in the sewage department---do you expect no to go
back to that?
There is a shot in the distance.
FAWCETT:
He's further offt


STUBB:
Nayba he'e losti (To DOG) We couzd anewer his
shota vith ours if you hadn*t traded our pelta for
rye this norning!
FANCENIT:
That was yesterday! We've been two daye without
gunshoti
STUBB:
It was this morning--- (But he ientt sure)
DOG (to STUBB) I'll tell you why you won't go to Long Martin-
because you ove hin clase on seven hundred quidt
SYUBB:
What?
FAWCET:
You ove Long Hartin that, Stubb?
STURB (to DOg) Mtr when?
DOG:
The date sakes no differencol A coupla of thousand
trapping daye ago--a couple of eternitiest
STUBB (dazed) Seven hundred-
DOG (to PANCETT) That leaves yous lawatory-men--to go back to
your hole in the well-alonet
FANCETT (as if to cover this up) I never heard about Stubb
owing any seven bundred quiat
DOG:
Not.about Long Hartin waiting down in Pas for him,
saying he won't put hin in gaol, he'll take him into
partnorship again--on half-pay- for fourteen yoars,
until his balls have ahrivelled to the aice of peast
That was Long Martin's own expressiont
STUBBE
What would I need that monay for?
DOGt
To pay your vife far leaving her in the ahit twenty
yéars baok-
A eilence during which FAWCIT gares
at STUBB sympathetically.
STUBB:
The lodger
DOG:
There vas no lodger! There was tr. and Mrs. Stubb-
nobody ovan looked at her in the butcher's evary
morningt
STUBB:
I nover sent her nothing. No noney, only letterat
DOG:
Iou left that to Long Martint That's what you asat
And it piled up until he had you in a corner whare
you couldn't novel


STUBB (vith sudden decisian) I ain't going downt
DOG:
Like hell you ain'tt
They listen agnin. Nothing.
DOG (in a lover voice) Let'a go up, not downt
STUBB (startled) Up?
DOG:
We'll find another cabin further upt Beyond the vire.
FAWCEIT (nervously) It'e an idoat
STUBB:
But-but-
DOG (with a chucklo) Give me that ryo, lavatory-mant
FAVCETT hande him tho bottle and DOG
takes a drink.
FANCEIT (looking at him affectiomately) You know, you're otill
our Dog. You alvays will bo. It'e eomething a
man's born with.
DCG hands the bottle back to hin and
FAHCENT closes it again carofully.
STUBB:
We'11 freeze to death up theret
DOG:
It did me good to trade that gunshoti- I've always
hated guna!
FANCEIT:
You could never shoott
DOG (indignantly) I used to be a aarkaman in tho war-at five
hundred yards I-!
STUBB:
You. wamn't in the wari
FANCET (gazing at the bottle he has fust closed) I never used
to got real drunk-even on a week's jag. I always
had one eye open-
DOG:
Lake hell you aid-one lavatory-eye!
STUBB:
We could go to Dave's-kip thore the night-see
what he says about moving on--try a town ve've
never seen beforet
FAWCETT:
There's lote of towns I wouldn't like to sée againt
DOG:
He, toot Vancouver, Winnipeg--
STUBB:
Eakimo Point, Prince George, Past The whole dam lott


A shot, clote by again. They jump.
They staro at each other in horror.
STUEB:
Suppaso he'a bringing bad T
DOG:
6ssshi
They listen intently.
DOG (in a lowered voice) I don't 1ike the way ho's-moving
round-t
FANCEIT:
What?
DOG:
Suppose it's not one at alli Suppose it's severall
FAMCENT (frishtoned) Hov could that be?
DOG:
Suppose they're signalling-one side of tho valloy
to the other-closing in?
STUEB (uncomfortably) You're bushad!
FAWCETT:
We've got no gunshot!
Thoy listen again.
FANCETT (bursting out) Is there a price on your head or not?
DOG:
What about him? (Pointing at STUBB) He'e vanted for
eeven hndred quiat They'd surround a place for thatt
FAHCETT:
We're wanted for the war maybe-ehirking the ver-s
DOG:
The war vas-hen? (He otons, perplexed)
STUBBI
Long Hartin*s too lary. And ha aight be deadi
I teli you, it didn't aeem 1iko seven hundred-
more 1ik
FANCETTE
How tuch, Stubb?
STURBI
Fiver Fwe pauid!
DOG:
'Five't Five a veak for three yearst
FANCETT: I never was married, ao I can't telli (With his
startied look)
DOG (burying his hoad in hia handa) I don't vant to be with you
two any maret
STUBB:
We can't vait for thia mail all nightt
They liaten again. And again they
rolax a little in the silonce.


FAWCETT (to DOa) The air feels dead up here-there's nothing
moving- (Friehtening himnelr) Maybe wo're
radio-activet It's got in our boneg---driving us maat
STUBBS
Shut up!
noG (his head still buried) *You're as limp as a rag', ahe caid,
*why the hell did I marry you?-at that dance I
thought you had a truncheon in your trousers---end
now lookt* Thatts what ahe said-
The ather two gaze at hin. They sit
down again. Silence.
FANCENT (quietly) te uned to have quite a ritual round hore.
Remonbor what Dog uned to say (to STUBB)7-the stars
have a rhythm, 60 have wo, so has the noon, and it'a
the sano onet
STUDB (garing at DOG) He used to blese the cabin ance a sonth
with Creek vater. Half-an-hour's ailence at nightfall.
Ve had some style in our life thent Look at him novt
DOG (murmring) But you bated me for iti Vall, you've got your
damoaracy nowl (Suadenly) It's funny-I was wider
avake than I've over bean before but-l
STUBBS
What's that?
DOG:
In the Esicino trance--that's rightt- (Radiently)
I caw a now Zand, a land where ahe's beon loading us
all this tima, you can laugh at Gabriel, you can kill
her if you like--you've done it, you've killed my
dreons-but che'a leding us thereI rocember it
now--you can cali her what you liko-you can call
her Davets whore or my little Ashanti boy.e.l
FAWCETT: I ewear you was dead in that trances Dog--e tried
your breath on a piece of glasat
DOG:
I aav the new land--right before ny eyeswe-and the
three guys eitting therewat Gillis'a Grave-
FANCETT (atartled) Gitisets Gravo?
DOG:
That's whore aho lod thent And they just sat down
out of joy and thought they was dead---becmume they
wao alive for the very tirat time They just sat
down and died of joy! And one of the guyo--I'11
never forgeti-he was trailing a frying pan-he ran


maybe ten or fifteen miles along the rin of a hill,
up the trap-line, behind the other guys, I remember
this frying pan clanging against the trees, it clanged
for ten or tifteen milos, along the rim of tho hill-
he must have been strong-he must have hnd some
constitution--it was foar that gave hin the strength
sayba-his oyes was popping out of his headt
FAWCETT:
I never heard of pooplo dying of joy
DOG:
You'd say they diod of cold--they reached the enow-
1inewwthoy had nowl (Ho stope vith a porplexed
exgression) They had no gunshotm
STUBBE
What's that?
FANCENTS
Listen, Dog, I'd like to go downi
DOG:
I'11 nover forget that frying pan clanging along-
In the wooda, at the rin of the hillt And everything
was do clean, so cool, the furthor you went, the
sounds wore ao clear For fifteen milest And
then tho enow-line!
FAWCETT (with his startled look, gazing up) Thie ie the best
hone I ever hadt,
DOGt
Mo, tool
A shot very cloue by. They jump again.
STUBBS
Heyt
DOG:
Sesht
Thay liston intontly.
STUBB (whispering) He's just round the cornert
DOG (also whispering) He can't bet You can't walk through that
bush without rustling a leaft
STUBB:
He must have crept-
They eit quite still, peering at the door.
DOG (euddenly calling out) Young Davot Young Davet Ia that
you out there? (A pause) Come and join ust
Dead ailence.
FANCEIT (in a whisper) Why ahould his name bo Young Dave-
just because hia aad'a-
DOG:
It's what vetve almays called hint


STUBB (in an unimated whispor) Dave never told his aon's namel
(to FAWCENT) I reckon I know why, tool-he's the
son of a whorel
FANCEIT:
Go oni
STUBB:
Any made a mistake one nigh ht she
DOG (sharply) That'a enought We don't have scandal up heret
A twig breaks near by.
SYURBS
Hoy!
They liston, their oyes vide.
FAWCENNT (still whispering) He's epying on ust With ordara to
ahoot if we try to leavel
DOG (calling out agnin, but aore treculoualy) Son of Davet Son of
Davol
There ian't a sound.
FAWCETT: It'e the smudgel 1 threw Bone twiga on the smudge
this morningt (But he is trembling)
STUBB:
That's where the ahot cane from--the last choti
DOG:
I can feel spmething's thorel
FAWCITTS
It's the amudge, I toll you-I can aoe the maoke-
STUBBE
It's socoebody noving
FANCEIT: It's Young Dave taking the mikawhe plays the fool-
(Trenbling violently)
DOG (suddenly, at the top of hie voice) Come out, you son-of--
bitch, cane on out!
His voice eohous away and there in dead
ailence.
STUBB (frantically, to DOG) It's you gat's us lauighed at with
your dreamet
FALCMT: That'a rightt (But still trembling) Remember when
he hid from th cope over at Dave's cabin? Ran out
of the ahop with his beard flying--Dave's face fell
a milel
DOG (shouting) Excopt that you ran with met
FANCET (hio teeth chattering) What?


DOG:
With your cont-taile flying!
FANCETTE 1 ran becaune you rani
DOG:
We all ran togethert
FAWCENT:
And all the cope did was ait there and play cards,
and we stayed in the bushes and Matched tofor
three houra or morel And I think thay--kept--
chuckling! (E16 teath chattar s0 mch that ho can
hardly talk)
STUNBA
That'e right! And Dave said on tho radio, 'that was
you acared of, boya?* afterwards! With that little
twinklot
They linton again but nothing ROVeB.
FANCINT:
Itte the onudge, I toll you-
DOG (calling out again) Got the siail, Davo'o eon?
silence.
Suddenly there is a shot almost whore
they stand.
Thoy are ali shivoring violently.
STUBB (clutching hold of DOG) Somebody'e moving-I (Pointing)
They stand close together, gaping at the
spot the chot cane from.
DOG (vith a peculiar vild tritaph) They've cone--to got ust
They're surrounding us, boyet
STUBBI
The seven hundrod-
FALCENT (with horror) The hole in the wall---l
DOG (ahouting) Get the packs on your backat
They all seranble over each other trying
to get their packs on, picking up their
rifles, kicking the bottles over.
FANCEIT doesn't succeed in gotting his
pack cn bocause of the frying pan he
bas strapped one
DOG:
Hammer a note on the table for Dave--an S.0.S.-
(Diving at one of the atore-chests and pulling out
large hamner and ssome lons nails) A pencil'


quicki An S.0.S.-'re going up the traplino-
furthor up-1
STUBB (tresbling feeling in his pockets for a penail) You're bushodt
There in another shot, imediately by thene
DOGt
Quicki
He drope the hommer and naile and he and
STUBE daah off, with their packs and guna.
We hear DOG shoutt
DOG:
Thay'va oome to get us, Stubbt
FAWCHT iG left alone, hopelessly
trembling as he tries to get the pack
on his back and pick up hin rifle at
the sane tine. The frying pan trasgo.
FANCETT (frantically) stubbt Stubbt STUBBI
STUBB reappears.
STUBB (taking hold of hin) Guickt
FAWOLIT (atill tryine to get the pack up) Stubb, the frying pan-
the frying panst
STUBBS
Come ont
Hlo pulls FAKCETT off, and the last we
ais of the latter is the frying pan-
ho is trailing his pack along by the
strape, with the frying pan clattering
behind,
FAMCETT (as he goes off) The frying pant
We hear it clanging along bohind hime
It dies awy slouly. Silence.
Huakiee bark close by, thon thère in
ailence again.
After a long pouse YOUNG DAVE enters,
a youth of fifteen or sixtoon. He has
a gun alung over his shoulder, a emall
pack and a bolt of amcunition.
He ie gloved and hoavily booted.


91a
He stares round at all the disorder.
Ba takes a thick bundle of letters
out of his pack and puts thom on the
tablo.
Suddenly a bird flies ovars ho runo
to the windon to take ain but is too
late.
Thon he learea end tries to close the
door behind hin. But there io no lock
and it awings on its hingos. He kicks
it closed A socond time but again it
swinge opane
Ho re-enters the cabin, clearly wondering
where to leave the letters, for fear
they will blow away. He sees the
hmeer and long nails. With ane mure,
anort stroke he drivos R nail into the
letters and fixon them on the table.
Re leavos in a hurry. Tho door ewingo
behind bims
There is ailenoe.
The radio blinka s.0,6,
Thore appear to be quite a number of
letters thero. Our attantion io
concontrated on thon as the curtain
fatla. We Can
ma agu
te vala
bbling
CUBTA AIN