Anna Christie

“ ANNA--I know you don't; but you keep on talking yust the same.
CHRIS--Ay don't talk no more den, Anna.
ANNA--Then promise me you'll cut out saying nasty things about Mat Burke every chance you get.
CHRIS-- [Evasive and suspicious.] Vhy? You like dat fallar--very much, Anna?
ANNA--Yes, I certainly do! He's a regular man, no matter what faults he's got. One of his fingers is worth all the hundreds of men I met out there--inland.
CHRIS-- [His face darkening.] Maybe you tank you love him, den? ”

“ Glory be to God, it's bold talk you have for a stumpy runt of a man!
CHRIS— [Threateningly.] Vell—you see!
BURKE— [With grinning defiance.] I'll see, surely! I'll see myself and Anna married this day, I'm telling you! [Then with contemptuous exasperation.] It's quare fool's blather you have about the sea done this and the sea done that. You'd ought to be shamed to be saying the like, and you an old sailor yourself. I'm after hearing a lot of it from you and a lot more that Anna's told me you do be saying to her, and I'm thinking it's a poor weak thing you are, and not a man at all! ”

“ Ay tank Ay'm damn fool for bring you on voyage, Anna.
ANNA— [Impressed by his tone.] You talk—nutty to-night yourself. You act's if you was scared something was going to happen.
CHRIS—Only God know dat, Anna.
ANNA— [Half-mockingly.] Then it'll be Gawd's will, like the preachers say-what does happen.
CHRIS— [Starts to his feet with fierce protest.] No! Dat ole davil, sea, she ain't God! [In the pause of silence that comes after his defiance a hail in a man's husky, exhausted voice comes faintly out of the fog to port.] "Ahoy!" ”

“ ANNA—Funny I don't know nothing about sea talk—but those cousins was always talking crops and that stuff. Gee, wasn't I sick of it—and of them!
CHRIS—You don't like live on farm, Anna?
ANNA—I've told you a hundred times I hated it. [Decidedly.] I'd rather have one drop of ocean than all the farms in the world! Honest! And you wouldn't like a farm, neither. Here's where you belong. [She makes a sweeping gesture seaward.] But not on a coal barge. You belong on a real ship, sailing all over the world.
CHRIS— [Moodily.] Ay've done dat many year, Anna, when Ay vas damn fool. ”

“ CHRIS--No, you stay here! [Goes over and pats her on the shoulder, the tears running down his face.] Ain't your fault, Anna, Ay know dat. [She looks up at him, softened. He bursts into rage.] It's dat ole davil, sea, do this to me! [He shakes his fist at the door.] It's her dirty tricks! It vas all right on barge with yust you and me. Den she bring dat Irish fallar in fog, she make you like him, she make you fight with me all time! If dat Irish fallar don't never come, you don't never tal me dem tangs, Ay don't never know, and every tang's all right. ”

“ As the curtain rises, ANNA is discovered standing near the coil of rope on which the lantern is placed. She looks healthy, transformed, the natural color has come back to her face. She has on a black, oilskin coat, but wears no hat. She is staring out into the fog astern with an expression of awed wonder. The cabin door is pushed open and CHRIS appears. He is dressed in yellow oilskins--coat, pants, sou'wester--and wears high sea-boots. ”

“ You're not the old Square-head's woman, I suppose you'll be telling me next—living in his cabin with him, no less! [Seeing the cold, hostile expression on ANNA's face, he suddenly changes his tone to one of boisterous joviality.] But I do be thinking, iver since the first look my eyes took at you, that it's a fool you are to be wasting yourself—a fine, handsome girl—on a stumpy runt of a man like that old Swede. There's too many strapping great lads on the sea would give their heart's blood for one kiss of you! ”

“ ANNA--What difference does it make to you?
BURKE--I'm asking you!
ANNA-- [In the same tone.] My bag's packed and I got my ticket. I'll go to New York to-morrow.
BURKE-- [Helplessly.] You mean--you'll be doing the same again?
ANNA-- [Stonily.] Yes.
BURKE-- [In anguish.] You'll not! Don't torment me with that talk! 'Tis a she-divil you are sent to drive me mad entirely!
ANNA-- [Her voice breaking.] Oh, for Gawd's sake, Mat, leave me alone! Go away! Don't you see I'm licked? Why d'you want to keep on kicking me? ”

“ CHRIS-- [Subdued--his face melancholy.] Skoal. [He drinks.]
BURKE-- [To Anna, with a wink.] You'll not be lonesome long. I'll see to that, with the help of God. 'Tis himself here will be having a grandchild to ride on his foot, I'm telling you!
ANNA-- [Turning away in embarrassment.] Quit the kidding, now. [She picks up her bag and goes into the room on left. As soon as she is gone BURKE relapses into an attitude of gloomy thought. CHRIS stares at his beer absent-mindedly. Finally BURKE turns on him.]
BURKE--Is it any religion at all you have, you and your Anna? ”

“ ANNA--Sure. [Cynically.] Not that I think he'd care a darn.
MARTHY--Yuh're all wrong about him, kid, [Earnestly.] I know Old Chris well for a long time. He's talked to me 'bout you lots o' times. He thinks the world o' you, honest he does.
ANNA--Aw, quit the kiddin'!
MARTHY--Honest! Only, he's a simple old guy, see? He's got nutty notions. But he means well, honest. Listen to me, kid-- [She is interrupted by the opening and shutting of the street door in the bar and by hearing CHRIS' voice.] Ssshh!
ANNA--What's up?
CHRIS-- [Who has entered the bar. He seems considerably sobered up.] ”

“ The hell I am!
ANNA— [Coldly.] Well, be stubborn then for all I care. And I must say I don't care for your language. The men I know don't pull that rough stuff when ladies are around.
BURKE— [Getting unsteadily to his feet again—in a rage.] Ladies! Ho-ho! Divil mend you! Let you not be making game of me. What would ladies be doing on this bloody hulk? [As ANNA attempts to go to the cabin, he lurches into her path.] ”

“ Vell, yust let him! Ay'm ole bird maybe, but Ay bet Ay show him trick or two.
ANNA— [Suddenly changing her tone—persuasively.] Aw come on, be good. What's eating you, anyway? Don't you want no one to be nice to me except yourself?
CHRIS— [Placated—coming to her—eagerly.] Yes, Ay do, Anna—only not fallar on sea. But Ay like for you marry steady fallar got good yob on land. You have little home in country all your own—
ANNA— [Rising to her feet—brusquely.] Oh, cut it out! [Scornfully.] Little home in the country! ”

“ I'll be roaring it out like a fog horn over the sea! You're the girl of the world and we'll be marrying soon and I don't care who knows it!
ANNA— [As she guides him through the cabin door.] Ssshh! Never mind that talk. You go to sleep. [They go out of sight in the cabin. CHRIS, who has been listening to BURKE's last words with open-mouthed amazement stands looking after them helplessly.]
CHRIS— [Turns suddenly and shakes his fist out at the sea—with bitter hatred.] Dat's your dirty trick, damn ole davil, you! [Then in a frenzy of rage.] But, py God, you don't do dat! Not while Ay'm living! ”

“ You look little tired, dat's all!
ANNA— [Wearily.] I am. Tired to death. I need a long rest and I don't see much chance of getting it.
CHRIS—What you mean, Anna?
ANNA—Well, when I made up my mind to come to see you, I thought you was a yanitor—that you'd have a place where, maybe, if you didn't mind having me, I could visit a while and rest up—till I felt able to get back on the job again.
CHRIS— [Eagerly.] But Ay gat place, Anna—nice place. You rest all you want, py yiminy! You don't never have to vork as nurse gel no more. You stay with me, py golly! ”

“ You vas going out of head, Ay tank, Anna.
ANNA-- [Violently.] Well, living with you is enough to drive anyone off their nut. Your bunk about the farm being so fine! Didn't I write you year after year how rotten it was and what a dirty slave them cousins made of me? What'd you care? Nothing! Not even enough to come out and see me! That crazy bull about wanting to keep me away from the sea don't go down with me! You yust didn't want to be bothered with me! You're like all the rest of 'em! ”

“ And Ay tank now it ain't no use fight with sea. No man dat live going to beat her, py yingo!
ANNA-- [With a laugh of helpless bitterness.] So that's how you've fixed me, is it?
CHRIS--Yes, Ay tank if dat ole davil gat me back she leave you alone den.
ANNA-- [Bitterly.] But, for Gawd's sake, don't you see, you're doing the same thing you've always done? Don't you see--? [But she sees the look of obsessed stubbornness on her father's face and gives it up helplessly.] But what's the use of talking. You ain't right, that's what. I'll never blame you for nothing no more. ”

“ Why hello, Old Chris. [Then before he can speak, she shuffles hurriedly past him into the bar, beckoning him to follow her.] Come here. I wanta tell yuh somethin'. [He goes out to her. She speaks hurriedly in a low voice.] Listen! I'm goin' to beat it down to the barge--pack up me duds and blow. That's her in there-- your Anna--just come--waitin' for yuh. Treat her right, see? She's been sick. Well, s'long! [She goes into the back room--to ANNA.] S'long, kid. I gotta beat it now. See yuh later.
ANNA-- [Nervously.] So long. [MARTHY goes quickly out of the family entrance.] ”

“ Own up like a man when you're bate fair and square. And here's my hand to you— [Holds out his hand.] And let you take it and we'll shake and forget what's over and done, and be friends from this out.
CHRIS— [With implacable hatred.] Ay don't shake hands vith you fallar—not vhile Ay live!
BURKE— [Offended.] The back of my hand to you then, if that suits you better. [Growling.] 'Tis a rotten bad loser you are, divil mend you!
CHRIS—Ay don't lose— [Trying to be scornful and self-convincing.] Anna say she like you little bit but you don't hear her say she marry you, Ay bet. ”

“ It's a hard and lonesome life, the sea is. The only women you'd meet in the ports of the world who'd be willing to speak you a kind word isn't woman at all. You know the kind I mane, and they're a poor, wicked lot, God forgive them. They're looking to steal the money from you only.
ANNA-- [Her face averted--rising to her feet--agitatedly.] I think--I guess I'd better see what's doing inside.
BURKE-- [Afraid he has offended her--beseechingly.] Don't go, I'm saying! Is it I've given you offence with my talk of the like of them? ”

“ I'm thinking 'tis out of your wits you've got with fright of the sea. You'd be wishing Anna married to a farmer, she told me. That'd be a swate match, surely! Would you have a fine girl the like of Anna lying down at nights with a muddy scut stinking of pigs and dung? Or would you have her tied for life to the like of them skinny, shrivelled swabs does be working in cities? ”

“ Go on! [She passes him and sinks down in the rocking-chair.]
BURKE— [Following her—mournfully.] 'Tis right you'd be asking why did I come. [Then angrily.] 'Tis because 'tis a great weak fool of the world I am, and me tormented with the wickedness you'd told of yourself, and drinking oceans of booze that'd make me forget. Forget? Divil a word I'd forget, and your face grinning always in front of my eyes, awake or asleep, 'til I do be thinking a madhouse is the proper place for me.
ANNA— [Glancing at his hands and—face—scornfully] You look like you ought to be put away some place. ”

“ Vell—Ay don't vant for Anna gat married. Listen, you fallar. Ay'm a ole man. Ay don't see Anna for fifteen year. She vas all Ay gat in vorld. And now ven she come on first trip—you tank Ay vant her leave me 'lone again?
BURKE— [Heartily.] Let you not be thinking I have no heart at all for the way you'd be feeling.
CHRIS— [Astonished and encouraged—trying to plead persuasively.] Den you do right tang, eh? You ship avay again, leave Anna alone. [Cajolingly.] Big fallar like you dat's on sea, he don't need vife. He gat new gel in every port, you know dat. ”

“ Ven she vas little gel, Ay vas bo'sun on vindjammer. Ay never gat home only few time dem year. Ay'm fool sailor fallar. My voman--Anna's mother--she gat tired vait all time Sveden for me ven Ay don't never come. She come dis country, bring Anna, dey go out Minnesota, live with her cousins on farm. Den ven her mo'der die ven Ay vas on voyage, Ay tank it's better dem cousins keep Anna. Ay tank it's better Anna live on farm, den she don't know dat ole davil, sea, she don't know fader like me. ”

“ Ay calabrate 'cause Anna's coming home. You know, Marthy, Ay never write for her to come, 'cause Ay tank Ay'm no good for her. But all time Ay hope like hell some day she vant for see me and den she come. And dat's vay it happen now, py yiminy! [His face beaming.] What you tank she look like, Marthy? Ay bet you she's fine, good, strong gel, pooty like hell! Living on farm made her like dat. And Ay bet you some day she marry good, steady land fallar here in East, have home all her own, have kits—and dan Ay'm ole grandfader, py golly! And Ay go visit dem every time Ay gat in port near! ”

“ Oh, den it come from my daughter, Anna. She live dere. [He turns the letter over in his hands uncertainly.] Ay don't gat letter from Anna--must be a year.
LARRY-- [Jokingly.] That's a fine fairy tale to be tellin'--your daughter! Sure I'll bet it's some bum.
CHRIS-- [Soberly.] No. Dis come from Anna. [Engrossed by the letter in his hand--uncertainly.] By golly, Ay tank Ay'm too drunk for read dis letter from Anna. Ay tank Ay sat down for a minute. You bring drinks in back room, Larry. [He goes into the room on right.]
MARTHY-- [Angrily.] Where's my lager an' ale, yuh big stiff? ”