ACT TWO: MUSIC IN THE SUN
It is many hours later. The room is darker, seemingly lit only by a few lamps, candles and the glow from the stove. The wind is howling outside as a storm lashes the coast. The card game is in progress. RICHARD sits in his armchair which has been pulled nearer to the centre of the room, closer to the table. He has a big box of chocolates nearby and munches one from time to time. To his left sits IVAN, who is at the edge of the table where he can play but also turn easily away from the others to consult strategy with RICHARD. SHARKY sits to IVANâs left and NICKY sits to SHARKYâs left. LOCKHART sits at the far end of the table. They are coming to the end of a round of heavy betting. The biggest piles of money are in front of IVAN and LOCKHART. A lot of drink has been consumed; bottles, cans and empty plates are strewn around. IVANâs intoxication is constant, he coasts along, veering neither up into euphoria nor down into depression. It is his efficient life-state, removed, yet heavily present. NICKY, on the other hand, is a euphoric drunk. His genuine love for friends and comrades is freed. While he plays cards he wears wraparound mirror shades like a poker pro. When not playing he sits them on his head. RICHARD, as we have seen, can lurch from sentimentality to vicious insults within seconds. But while all inhibitions may be gone, he remains alert, quick-witted and deeply interested in what goes on around him. LOCKHART is a philosophical drunk, yet prone to deeper maudlin feelings. SHARKY has thus far managed to remain soberâŠ
IVAN. NickyâŠ
NICKY. Iâm thinking. Iâm thinking.
RICHARD. I know. I can hear your brain crunching in your head from over here.
NICKY. Yeah, well, donât be rushing me. What is it again?
RICHARD. Mr Lockhart raised it twenty. Weâre in. Sharkyâs bailed.
IVAN. You have to put in forty.
NICKY (takes a long sharp inhalation and thinks). Yeah, well, youâre bluffing âcause I saw Richard telling youâŠ
RICHARD. Would you go on out of that!
NICKY. Mr Lockhart is being cautious, he raised it twenty, but heâs on a roll anyway so heâs battering us from a position of strength. (To IVAN.) You have nothing.
IVAN (ironically). Thatâs right.
NICKY. You have nothing! So stop with the⊠If you didnât have that pile in front of you, Iâd have your guts for garters.
RICHARD. Why, what have we got?
NICKY. Youâve about two hundred and fifty fucking euros in front of you there, Dick.
RICHARD. Yo ho! Santyâs come early!
IVAN (playing down their success). Weâre doing alright. Weâre doing nicely.
NICKY. And half of that is mine. (With sudden confidence.) You have fuck-all there, Ivan.
IVAN. Well, why donât you make sure?
NICKY. Mr Lockhart has two pair or something.
RICHARD. Well, come on then!
NICKY. I am! (Seeing and raising.) Hereâs your forty. And twenty now to show yous a statement of intent.
RICHARD. Oh hoâŠ
NICKY. Now, that shook yous.
IVAN. Mr Lockhart?
LOCKHART. Iâll stick around.
He sees NICKYâs twenty.
IVAN. And weâll have a look.
He sees it too. Pause. NICKYâs courage seems to wane.
NICKY (to IVAN). What do you have?
IVAN (to NICKY). What do you have?
RICHARD. What do we have?
IVAN (to NICKY). What do you have?
NICKY (to LOCKHART). What do you have?
LOCKHART. Threes.
NICKY. Threes of what?
LOCKHART (shows his hand). Three nines.
NICKY. Three nines! You stuck it out with three nines?!
LOCKHART. I enjoy playing. Isnât it worth a go?
NICKY bursts out laughing.
RICHARD. What have you got, Nicky?
NICKY. Christmas present. Full house. (Shows his hand.) Fives and kings.
IVAN (showing his hand). Kings and sevens.
NICKY. Bollocks!
RICHARD whoops.
Ah, thatâs fuckingâŠ
LOCKHART. Hard luck, NickyâŠ
NICKY (to LOCKHART). What were you doing driving the pot up the wazoo with three nines?! These lads are cleaning me out here!
RICHARD. Ah, NickyâŠ
NICKY. Look at me! Iâm like Sharky here. Iâve about thirty-five euros to me name. This is to do me all through January.
NICKY gets up and walks over to the stove, restlessly.
IVAN (counting his winnings). Well, Sharky had the right idea. He bailed. He knew.
RICHARD. He has no money!
IVAN. Do you want a stout, Rich?
RICHARD. Sure! Hey! You know what I have in there of course, beside the boiler? Thereâs a drop of Brigid Blakeâs famous Antrim poitĂn in there.
IVAN. Oh ho!
RICHARD. Do you ever take a drop, Mr Lockhart?
IVAN heads towards the kitchen.
LOCKHART. I will! Why not? Sure I might as well be shit-faced as the way I am!
IVAN (on his way into the kitchen). Yo ho!
RICHARD. Good man!
NICKY. Yeah, well, leave me out of it⊠Grab us a Miller there, Ivan, would you?
IVAN (off). Yeah!
NICKY. Ah, well⊠itâs only a game. Itâs only money, that right, Rich?
RICHARD. Yeah⊠Your money!
NICKY sighs heavily, looking to LOCKHART in a silent appeal for understanding.
NICKY. So, Sharky! Youâre back! (Drunkenly placing a hand on SHARKYâs shoulder.) Weâve missed you! Dâyou know that?
He turns to LOCKHART, pointing at SHARKY meaninglessly then turns back to SHARKY.
RICHARD (insincerely). Yeah⊠weâve all missed youâŠ
NICKY. So tell us! Whereâs this you were working?
SHARKY. Ah, down in Lahinch, County Clare.
NICKY. On the trawlers?
SHARKY. No.
NICKY (surprised). No?
SHARKY. No, I was eh⊠(Glancing at LOCKHART, who is smiling at him broadly.) I was doing a bit of driving for a fella down there.
NICKY. Lahinch? Was I reading somewhere or where was it? That Lahinch is the gay pick-up capital of Europe?
SHARKY. What?
NICKY. So I believeâŠ
IVAN returns with a whiskey bottle full of clear liquid.
SHARKY. NoâŠ
RICHARD. Ah, Nicky, Lahinch is only a small town, how could it possibly be the gay capital of Europe?
NICKY. Well, I donât know...