SCENE 2: The same. The next morning.

AT RISE: The screens have been put away. LACHIE is packing his duffle-bag, which stands C. on his bed. His bagpipe, in its bag, is on bed above duffle-bag. Folded neatly on his pillow are his blues.

The men are sitting, subdued and quiet, on their beds. MARGARET enters D. L.

MARGARET. (Crossing to YANK who sits foot of his bed facing L., with his camera.) The O.C. signed your papers, Yank. (She hands them to him.)

YANK. When can I leave?

MARGARET. Not until this afternoon.

YANK. (Indicating LACHIE's bed.) When does he leave?

MARGARET. In a few minutes. (Starts out again.) Will you collect the breakfast plates? (Exits D. L. YANK puts his papers on his bed table. Picks up TOMMY'S, DIGGER'S, BLOSSOM'S, and KIWI'S plates and bowls during following lines.)

TOMMY. Sister 'as a cold, 'asn't she?

YANK. I didn't notice. (He passes on to DIGGER.)

DIGGER. I could make tastier tea with feathers. (He picks up BLOSSOM. Then KIWI.)

KIWI. After you're gone, I suppose that'll be my job.

YANK. You c-c-can have it. (He takes KIWI's plate and bowl and then goes to collect LACHIE'S dish. LACHIE does not look up at him. BLOSSOM lies down on his bed and goes to sleep.) I came to g-g-g-get your plate. (LACHIE stuffs a towel into his duffle.) You've let your breakfast get cold. (LACHIE does not answer.) Don't you want it? (When LACHIE fails to answer, YANK Picks up plate and bowl. He has plates stacked on top of the stack of bowls, LACHIE'S plate, with the food untouched, on top.) Sister s-s-says you'll be leaving in a few minutes.

LACHIE. Aye.

YANK. Need any help?

LACHIE. I want nae help.

YANK. I was leaving myself this afternoon, but if you stayed, Lachie, I'd spend my two weeks' leave here with you. If you'd like. (There is no answer.) Well, I'm d-d-damned sorry to see you go. (Still no answer.) I hope things won't b-be too bad. (He holds out his hand.) I'd like to say good-bye now. (He waits.)

LACHIE. Ye've said it. (YANK turns away. He carries dishes L. and meets MARGARET at L. C. She looks at food in dish on top. YANK nods and carries dishes on out into cook-shed, leaving door D. L. open. MARGARET crosses to LACHIE and stops at foot of his bed L.)

MARGARET. Here are your papers, Lachie. (When he doesn't take them from her, she places them on bed. Upstage.) They'll send word over as soon as your transport is here.

LACHIE. (Without looking at her.) I'll hae ma' kit ready in a moment.

YANK. (Re-enters with dish towel.) How about a little help with these? (He exits.)

KIWI. (Rises and crosses D. L. TO TOMMY.) How about a little help? (Exits.)

TOMMY. (Rises, crosses to door, to DIGGER.) 'Ow about a little 'elp? (He exits, as does DIGGER, who closes door.)

MARGARET. May I stay and talk to you?

LACHIE. There's naught tae say.

MARGARET. (Sits on YANK's bed.) Oh, my poor stubborn darling ---please hear me. I'll never have another chance to talk to you.

LACHIE. There's naught tae say.

MARGARET. We wanted to save you all the unhappiness we could. Was that betrayal, Lachie?

LACHIE. Did ye forgit I was a soldier? Didn't ye know I'd faced dying befur?

MARGARET. I can't let you walk out of here despising us.

LACHIE. (Ties bag up and lays it down across his bed.) Ye can nae prevent me.

MARGARET. Do you think the way we feel about you less honest ---less genuine---because we knew to begin with?

LACHIE. Dare ye answer that truthfully? (He looks at her for the first time. His eyes are angry---and hurt,)

MARGARET. Of course we were more considerate because we knew. What kind of people would we be if we'd been indifferent?

LACHIE. The kind of people I shuid hae known ye wuid be. Ye're easy tae find the world over. The kind that will beat a mon, rob him, hound him, slander and betray him---and think it fair game unless he's dying. And then ye're frightened. Yur conscience drives ye tae guidness. Weel, I find yur sudden virtue nae worthy of an animal. I dirma thank ye fur wot ye did tae me. (He comes down to foot of his bed where he stands almost at attention.)

MARGARET. We're your friends, Lachie, no matter how you acquired us. The only ones you have in the world. Don't value us lightly. Stay with us.

LACHIE. Ye made me think fur a little while I'd misjudged ma' fellowman. Ye gae me a fool's religion tae die on. If ye only knew the bitterness I moost thank ye fur.

MARGARET. Do you believe that the only reason we were kind to you was because we knew?

LACHIE. Do ye dare deny that it didna help---(Strides D. L. turns back to her.)---that it didna goad ye on?

MARGARET. No---I can't deny that.

LACHIE. (Crosses U. between TOMMY's and YANK's beds.) And was it easy tae like me?

MARGARET. No---it wasn't!

LACHIE. (Shouts almost.) And shuid I be proud that ye liked me only because I was tae die?

MARGARET. If that were the only reason---no.

LACHIE. (Crossing D. L.) I'll write a book, says I. I'll preach the wurd of God. I'll gae ma' home tae ma' brothers, I says. Oh, how ye moost hae wanted tae laugh! (Turns and crosses u. to window L.)

MARGARET. (Rises.) Lachie---Lachie---please listen to me. Forget everything but this: for a little while you learned the meaning of friendship. Didn't you say that you'd shared a moment with kings?

LACHIE. If I moost die tae learn tae love ma' fellowman---then I'll dew wi'out him. It's too high a price tae pay. (Crosses back to R. of his bed.)

MARGARET. Oh, darling---what difference does it make why people are good?

LACHIE. I've done wi' ma' packing. (Faces front.)

MARGARET. (Crosses D. to him.) Would you hate it if I kissed you good-bye? You did ask me to be your wife, you know.

LACHIE. (Crosses window D. R.) Let me be, please.

MARGARET. (Crossing after him to foot of KIWI'S bed.) Do you think I said I'd marry you only because I pitied you?

LACHIE. (Without turning.) And didn't ye pity me?

MARGARET. With all my heart. Surely there's pity in every woman's love.

LACHIE. I've na words for ye.

MARGARET. (After a long pause.) I'll have Yank help you out with your kit. (Crosses to door L., opens it, and calls.) Yank! (Crosses back toward LACHIE.) Would it mean anything to you if I married you now---before you left? Naught! (YANK enters D. L., followed by DIGGER. BLOSSOM sits up.)

MARGARET. (As she leaves D. L.) Yank, as soon as I've seen about the transport I'll want you to help him with his kit. (Exits. YANK crosses to LACHIE'S duffle-bay.)

LACHIE. (Crosses to his bed.) I want na help! (YANK sits on his bed finishing putting a roll of film into camera. LACHIE sits at foot of his bed. BLOSSOM sits up and looking at LACHIE's dufflebag, recognizes signs of departure.)

YANK. I'd better g-get the damned roll of film in.

DIGGER. (Has crossed U. between his bed and TOMMY'S.) You won't have time to use it anyhow. (Tommy and KIWI enter---TOMMY goes to his bed, KIWI stays at DIGGER'S.)

YANK. Thought I'd like s-s-some pictures of this gang myself---before I leave.

DIGGER. Leave me out. I don't feet like pictures.

(BLOSSOM crosses D. to where LACHIE sits at foot of his bed. He takes the string of beads from his neck and holds them out to LACHIE.)

BLOSSOM. Blos-som. (LACHIE ignores him. BLOSSOM waits, then extends his gift again.) Bak-sheesh. (A pause. He takes LACHIE'S R. hand and puts beads in it. LACHIE rises and throws them against BLOSSOM. BLOSSOM staggers back in hurt surprise.)

LACHIE. Leave me be! (The boys all rise. YANK springs forward and pulls LACHIE around to face him.)

YANK. (Blazing mad.) I want to tell you something before you go. There's just something mean in you that only a bullet can cure. You've been sore your whole life because things didn't come easy for you so you took your spite out on every person you ever met. You don't want our friendship? Well---you didn't pay for it. You didn't earn it. You got it for nothing. So what are you kicking about? And now the pay-off! You're sore because you didn't know when you were going to die! Does anyone else know when he's going to die? No. But you had to know. You're the kind of hero that likes to bet on a sure thing. You don't know what courage is. You've been afraid to live since the day you were born. What do you think life is, Buster, a certified check?

LACHIE. Ye tricked and cheated me! I risked yur friendship, but ye didn't gie me friendship---ye gae me pity.

YANK. Did Blossom pity you? (A pause.) He didn't know you were going to die. He liked you. He wanted to give you something. And what do you do? You throw his friendship back in his face. It's a good thing you're going to die. A guy like you causes a lot of unhappiness in the world. I wouldn't save you if I could. That's the way I feel. (He storms back to his bed and sits struggling with camera. LACHIE turns toward BLOSSOM---then sits at foot of his bed, thinking over what YANK said.)

DIGGER. Ya were rather hard on him, weren't ya? (MARGARET enters D. L., crosses to YANK quickly.)

MARGARET. Yank---what Were you shouting about?

YANK. That sorehead hit Blossom.

MARGARET. Why?

YANK. Because Blossom wanted to give him some beads when he saw he was going away.

MARGARET. Never mind. (She crosses to LACHIE.) Lachie, your transport is here. Are you ready? (He sits without answering.) Are you ready to go?

LACHIE. Aye.

MARGARET. (Crosses D. L. on her way out.) Yank---will you carry his kit for him?

YANK. No. he doesn't want any help. Let him manage alone.

MARGARET. (Stops, crosses back to L. of YANK.) It's your last chance to help him.

YANK. He doesn't have to go. He knows he's wrong but he's so d-d-damned stubborn he'll die alone rather than admit it. N-n-no.

MARGARET. (Turns to DIGGER.) Digger? (DIGGER doesn't move.) Then I'll get the Basuto. (Crosses to BLOSSOM R., So that she is R. of LACHIE.)

LACHIE. (Rises). I need nae help. I'll gae alone. (LACHIE pulls his duffle-bag to floor, picks up his bagpipe and starts L., dragging duffle-bag. He moves slowly, with his head down.)

MARGARET. Lachlen! (He stops short. There is a pause.) Goodbye. (He continues toward door.)

YANK. (Leaps to his feet and speaks loudly and quickly as soon as LACHIE has passed him.) Now that he's out of the way, let's get some pictures! Come on, Kiwi! Tommy! Digger! Blossom! (He forces camera into MARGARET's hands.) Here, Sister, take our pictures. (He pushes the men together.) Come on---get together! (They group themselves. TOMMY on bed---R. to L. in front KIWI, BLOSSOM, DIGGER and YANK. LACHIE, at door, looks back at them and clears his throat.)

LACHIE. I'd be willing tae consider remaining if ye'd admit ye'd wronged me.

YANK. (TO LACHIE.) L-look---if you think we're going to beg you to stay---you're wasting your time. (Back to MARGARET.) Get the picture, Sister.

LACHIE. I'll nae gi' ye anoother chance.

YANK. (Ignores him.) We're ready if you are, Sister. Go ahead.

LACHIE. (Throws kit down and puts bagpipe back on foot of DIGGER's bed. Rushes across to MARGARET.) Ye can nae use that film wi'out ma' permission!

YANK. (Crossing after him.) Look---we're not asking you for anything. Forgiveness or films.

LACHIE. Ye may recall, the roll ye're using is ma' private property. I paid ye money fur it.

YANK. (Yells at him.) I'll give you your money back.

LACHIE. (Yells back.) I've ma' rights. I'll nae take it.

YANK. Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus

KIWI. Easy, Yank.

MARGARET. Oh, don't be spiteful, Lachie, please.

YANK. (Crosses, takes camera from MARGARET---starts to open it ---struggling.) Aw, let him take it. The hell with him. (Turns on LACHIE.) But I wish I could understand what makes a man want to die despised and friendless.

LACHIE. (Looks at YANK and at MARGARET and sees no sign of surrender in their eyes. He looks at the other men. He sinks down on the end of his bed, with a smothered sob.) I dinna want tae die alone.

MARGARET. (Crosses to L. of LACHIE and puts her hand on his shoulder---kneels by him.) Lachlen---why don't you say what you want to say?

LACHIE. (Rises slowly, and crosses D. R. Starts the speech with his back to them.) It's nae easy fur me tae sae it. All my life hated what I cuid nae have. It saved ma' pride. Boot now I've nae the time tae squander on ma' pride. I want tae stay. If I moost beg ye tae take me back---then I beg ye. Cuid I hae ma' bed?

YANK. Why don't you get back into your blues, Buster?

MARGARET. Change in my office. (Slowly LACHIE crosses up c. to head of his bed. He picks up his blues, and exits into MARGARET's office. No one moves until he is out. Then YANK sits on KIWI'S bed.)

YANK. I wish I had a mother. I feet just like kicking her in the teeth. (KIWI sits on upper end of YANK's bed. TOMMY goes to window U. L.)

DIGGER. (Pointing to LACHIE'S bagpipes which are still on foot of DIGGER's bed.) Do you suppose he'd feel better if he could play his bagpipe?

TOMMY. (Coming down.) I don't think he could. I don't think 'e 'as any wind left in 'im. (He sits on lower end of DIGGER's bed.)

DIGGER. He looked a bit pate.

KIWI. Sister, maybe you'd better go in and see him.

MARGARET. (C.) No. I think not. (She crosses D. C. a bit.) He's swallowed his pride. It will take him a moment or two to digest it.

YANK. (Rises.) Why don't we finish taking the pictures?

MARGARET. (Crossing D. R.) Yes, let's get that over with.

YANK. (Handing camera 10 MARGARET.) Before we g-grow long g-gray beards.

(The boys get back into position---KIWI, BLOSSOM, YANK, DIGGER, TOMMY on bed-for the picture. MARGARET picks Up BLOSSOM's beads and drops them On LACHIE'S bed.)

MARGARET. (Looking into camera.) Stay close together.

TOMMY. Are we very 'andsome-looking, Sister?

MARGARET. (Looking into finder of camera.) I can't see you. (She blinks her eyes and looks up at them.) Not very handsome---but very wonderful. (She looks down into camera.)

KIWI. Then take what you see. My legs are getting tired.

MARGARET. One . . . two . . . (Before she can say " three," LACHIE enters U. C. He has put on his kilt and stands looking at the men---ill at ease. They wait for him to speak.)

LACHIE. Wuid ye be sae guid as tae let me hav ma' photo taken wi' ye? (No one speaks.) It is ma' film. (He adds hastily coming down.) Tho' ye needn't consider that.

YANK. (Pointing to place beside himself.) Your place is here.

(LACHIE puts on his side-cap, then sees beads on his bed. LACHIE picks tip beads. BLOSSOM smiles. LACHIE crosses to the men and takes his place in center.)

MARGARET. Ready . . . (As she looks in camera, YANK puts his arm around LACHIE. LACHIE notices it, turns his head to YANK. None of the others are smiling, but slowly, effortlessly, LACHIE smiles. It is a smile he has saved all his life. YANK smiles back at LACHIE. Then LACHIE turns back to camera, and, with a contented sigh, crosses his arm in front of him for the picture.) One-two--three. That's it. (TOMMY'S head disappears as he starts to kneel down. LACHIE turns to smile at YANK again, and just as his head has completed the turn, he leaps into the air And holds his kilt down behind him with his two hands.)

LACHIE. Help! Don't ye dew that!

(He whirls to face TOMMY. The men break away and we see TOMMY kneeling on the bed.)

TOMMY. (Laughing.) I found out! I peeked! I found out!

Synopsis