Our plan, you see. That’s what’s going to happen next.
He assumes the position of Fats Domino, as if at the piano, a little crouched, his body swung sideways, looking out, smiling broadly, head tilted back, and pretending to play the notes. He sings the first verse of ‘Blueberry Hill’:
‘I found my freedom …’ (etc.)
Now the piano starts to come in faintly, then clearer, then louder. PJ starts to dance a seventies dance with some aplomb.
He sings the second verse.
Then full band, tremendously. PJ really quite a good dancer.
The third and fourth verses.
Music fades, PJ and Christy look at each other, laughing, really laughing.
Almost hysterical with laughter, they hold on to each other. Suddenly no sound, just them together in a fast embrace.
Dark.
End.
About the Author
Sebastian Barry was born in 1955 and educated at Catholic University School and Trinity College, Dublin. For his plays he has won a number of awards, including a Critics’ Circle Award and Lloyd’s Private Banking Playwright of the Year. For his novels he has been awarded the Costa Book of the Year Award (twice), the Walter Scott Prize (twice), the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and has been twice shortlisted for the Booker Prize. He has honorary doctorates from the Open University, NUI Galway, and the University of East Anglia.
By the Same Author
also by Sebastian Barry from Faber
plays
BOSS GRADY’S BOYS
PRAYERS OF SHERKIN
WHITE WOMAN STREET
THE ONLY TRUE HISTORY OF LIZZIE FINN
THE STEWARD OF CHRISTENDOM
OUR LADY OF SLIGO
HINTERLAND
FRED AND JANE
WHISTLING PSYCHE
THE PRIDE OF PARNELL STREET
DALLAS SWEETMAN
TALES OF BALLYCUMBER
ANDERSEN’S ENGLISH
THE WHEREABOUTS OF ENEAS MCNULTY
ANNIE DUNNE
A LONG LONG WAY
THE SECRET SCRIPTURE
ON CANAAN’S SIDE
THE TEMPORARY GENTLEMAN
DAYS WITHOUT END
poetry
THE WATER-COLOURIST
FANNY HAWKE GOES TO THE MAINLAND FOREVER
Copyright
First published in 2017
by Faber and Faber Ltd
Bloomsbury House
74–77 Great Russell Street
London WC1B 3DA
This ebook edition first published in 2017
All rights reserved
Copyright © Sebastian Barry, 2017
The right of Sebastian Barry to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
All rights whatsoever in this work, amateur or professional, are strictly reserved. Applications for permission for any use whatsoever, including performance rights, must be made in advance, prior to any such proposed use, to 42management, First Floor, 8 Flitcroft Street, London WC2H 8DL
No performance may be given unless a licence has first been obtained
This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights, and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly
ISBN 978–0–571–34293–8