ACT 3
Scene 1 Front of
Stage
Munro: [At desk left] If an Englishman’s home is his castle, then there’s nothing like a twenty foot wall to bring back a sense of security. For those who remained in Hallsands, life returned to a kind of normality. Ten years passed before another, rather greater disaster carried several more from the shingle of these shores, to the trenches of Northern France, including Colonel Mildmay, and young Freddie Wills.
A large crucifix and several photographs of a young man in World
War 1 army uniform, stand on a dresser facing the front. Tom is standing gazing towards front of
stage. Edith is sewing a man’s shirt,
surrounded by half-completed parcels.
Lights come up to the distant sound of naval guns.
Tom: Firing out in the Bay again…I wonder sometimes – is there anything out there, or are they just shooting at shadows.
Edith: I were thinkin’ wi’ all these yer parcels we ant been able to send Freddie, I might be able to make one big one for Christmas…if ‘e’s back by then.
Tom looks at her, says nothing and goes to sit down. She continues sewing without looking at him.
Tom: I had a dream last night – must’ve been the rain on the window. I dreamt we had another storm, like all them years ago, n’ my father’s houses were the first in line. I was standing in front of them, wondering what to do, then I took hold of a pickaxe and struck the first blow. One of the houses began to crumble…then another…then all five, and I was standing there watching, satisfied…
Edith: Tom that’s sinful!
Tom: It was only a dream.
Edith: But twere in your heart. ‘Ee should learn to forgive them as trespassed against ‘ee, or the Lord’ll punish ‘ee.
Tom: Is that what they tell you at Chapel?
Edith: That n’ more besides.
Tom: What besides?
Edith: Like, not to give up hope.
Tom: You expecting anyone?
Edith: No.
Exit Tom. From OFFSTAGE:
Munro: Tom Wills!
Tom: [Slightly taken aback] Mr Munro!
Munro: May I?
Tom: Come in.
Munro: Hello Mrs Wills. Do you remember me?
Edith: Ay, would ‘ee like a beer or summat?
Munro: I wouldna say no.
Edith exits to rear.
Munro: [Noticing the shirt and parcels] Your lad, Freddie was it?
Tom: Yes.
Munro: Is he serving…
Tom: Yes, in France…last we heard…
Munro: How long ago was that?
Edith returns with two beers, Tom gestures to Munro to end the discussion. Edith returns to her sewing.
Munro: Your health – both of you. I must say you’re both looking well. And how is the fishing these days?
Tom: There’s a good price for whatever we catch, but not so many left to catch them. And then there’s the U boats out in the Bay…or so we’re told. So what brings you back to Hallsands?
Munro: Do you know a Mr Barber?
Tom: Lives at the far end of the village?
Munro: Ay, that’s him.
Tom: Yes…he was a friend of my father’s. Why do you ask?
Munro: He has for some time now been corresponding with the Board of Trade, about the need for a new sea wall. Do you know anything of this?
Tom: There’s been some talk. The wall doesn’t stretch up that end of the village.
Munro: So I gather. There is also a suggestion that the wall itself is in need of some reinforcement. Has your house suffered any damage recently?
Tom: Ours hasn’t. There’ve been some broken windows and that, down the bottom end. The walls themselves seem all right…
Munro: Is the beach falling?
Tom: It has been.
Munro: And is it still falling?
Tom: I wouldn’t like to say. I’m probably not the best one to ask – why don’t you ask Mr Barber…
Munro: I have just called at his door, and he is away from home at present.
Tom: The folk in the other houses up that end might be able to tell you more.
Munro: Yes, thank you, I shall make a few enquiries up there. [Takes another sip of beer and puts it down] Thank you for your hospitality Mrs Wills. I am sorry I cannot stay to finish this.
Edith: ‘Tis all right Sir.
Munro: [Standing] Well, I hope you continue to prosper in these dark times. [Moves to exit, then turns]. Oh, and if I leave you the address of my office, will you let me know if anything of note occurs?
Tom: Ay, I shall try to remember.
Munro: [Leaving a card on a table] Thank you. Good day to you both.
Exits
Scene 3 Front
of Stage
Munro is sitting at desk left, Official is
writing at desk right.
Munro: [Reads] “The eastern end of the village is now completely cut off from the West. There is no path whatever, and access when the tide is up is only possible by a ladder of about 20 or 30 staves. To connect this part of the village would require a sea wall of about a hundred feet and a tremendous amount of filling behind.”
Official: [Reads] “Mr Barber is an old man. He has known Hallsands intimately for 62 years and does not like being told what to do. If there was anything in this, surely we should hear from the District Council or Colonel Mildmay who knows all about it.”
Scene 4 Tom
and Edith’s Front Room January
1917
The parcels have been rearranged and more added. A sail lies in one corner of the room. Tom is reading under the lamp. Edith enters from rear holding up some
woollen socks.
Edith Look wha’ Mrs Lobb gived me today. I said they’m good for Freddie [He looks at her gravely and her voice falters] when him comes back…
Edith goes to sit down.
Tom returns to his reading for a few moments, then looks up at her
Tom When’ll tea be ready?
Edith: Nearly ready now. [Stands] Is your boat in?
Tom: Ay, all the boats are well in. [Stands and walks towards the front] It’s gonna be a bad one tonight.
Edith exits to rear. Tom sits down again. She
returns, carrying their dinners.
Edith: Well go ‘ee n’ wash your hands!
Tom raises his eyes, playfully, then exits to the rear. As Edith is laying the table, the storm
intensifies, the lights go out, furniture overturns and there is a crash of
collapsing walls. Edith screams and
falls face down onto a piece of furniture, facing the rear, stretching out her
hand. The next few seconds are
illuminated by brief sporadic flashes of white light.
Edith: Help me!
Tom enters and falls, facing Edith, his hand
stretching towards hers.
Edith: Tom!
Tom: I’m here! Hold on!
Eventually he reaches her and pulls her towards the back of
the stage – we are to imagine the front of the house only has collapsed and the
waves are entering from the front. Tom
struggles to pull the sail towards her, then wraps it around her, pulls some of
the scattered furniture in front of her as a barrier, then gets under the sail
with her.
Music fades up as the sound of the storm recedes. The two of them sit motionless until a pale
blue light indicates the arrival of dawn.
The parcels have split open and their contents, together with
the crucifix and remaining furniture are scattered all over the floor. Edith pulls the sail aside and tentatively
stands up. Tom remains under the sail,
shivering. She picks up one of Freddie’s
clothes.
Edith: Er’s not coming back, is ‘e?
Tom shakes his head, clearly in a state of shock. Edith begins mechanically tidying up clothes and furniture, then sees the crucifix, picks it up and as darkness returns to the rest of the stage, under a moving spotlight she walks holding the crucifix towards the front. The curtain draws behind her.
Scene 5 Front
of Stage
Munro is sitting at desk left, Official at desk right. Between them stand Hansford Worth and Edith, still holding the crucifix. This next scene takes place in darkness except for spotlights which illuminate only the character who is speaking.
Munro: So, tell us in your own words, what happened?
Edith: [Looking upwards, speaking as though in a trance] Us felt like bein’ in the sea. The waves, they were bouncing over us, n’ the floors were slippin’ away. The fire went out when the sea came down the chimney, so Tom couldn’t see…but it didn’t matter, ‘cos er were guided… by the ‘and of the Lord. I went back there foo weeks after, n’ most of the house were gone, ‘xcept that one safe place, where us’m both saved…An’ standing there, lookin’ to the sea, I thought, this is how it’ll always be…a very… sacred memory.
Munro: [Reads] “Coming around the bend of the road in full view of the village a pitiful site confronted me. The scene of destruction can hardly be described. The sea and wind, in playfulness or spite, had wiped out the houses of a happy people in a few hours.”
Worth: To Colonel Mildmay, British Expeditionary Force Headquarters, Seven Corps, France. Please include the following report in your correspondence with the Board of Trade.
Official: In reply, I am to state that having regard to the terms on which the compensation was paid and accepted in 1904, my Lords, Commissioners of the Treasury cannot regard themselves as in any way liable to make good the losses stated to have been sustained.
Worth: I am not alone in hating injustice. I know the feeling in Devonshire where the facts are known. I have, I believe kept within the limits of courtesy…
Official: A most egregious piece of special pleading!
Munro: There are twenty homeless families. The women and children were taken care of in the hotel on the hill. The men had to make what arrangements they could.
Worth: The national conscience will hardly consent to this exploiting of a community unable to resist as effectively as those in stronger financial positions.
Official: This letter does not appear to produce any new information. I think no action is necessary.
Munro: The Westcountry deputation to Sir Albert Stanley, President of the Board of Trade, were pleased with the results of their conference yesterday. Sir Albert, who has taken a more sympathetic view than the officials, cut short the discussion by intimating that he would arrange…[with gentle irony] for an inquiry to be held at Hallsands.
Scene 6 Coastguard
Station September 1917
Tables are arranged in an open horseshoe. The Inspector, who is wearing pince-nez,
sits in the centre. On one side sit
Jim, Tom and Hansford Worth. On the
other side are Munro who is sitting, and the Official who is standing,
addressing the Inspector.
Inspector: Is there no one present representing Sir John Jackson Limited?
Official: No Sir. The Company was invited to attend, but we have received no response.
Inspector: Very well. Would you care to begin?
Official: Thank you Sir. It is now just over twenty years since the Board issued the licence to dredge on this coast. Great care was taken in drafting it, including a clause stating, and I quote: [lifts a document and reads] “should the Board be of the opinion that any such operations may in any way damage the foreshore defences of the adjacent district, they may forthwith cancel this licence.”
Inspector: Forgive me. Why did the Board feel it necessary to include such a clause?
Official: To protect the interests of property owners along the shore.
Inspector: To protect them from what?
Official: Erm…from the risk of any damage resulting from the dredging…
Inspector: So the Board was aware, at the time it issued the licence, that such a risk existed?
Official: There was no way of knowing at that time what consequences might follow.
[The Inspector stares at the Official over his pince-nez for a few moments]
The possibility was a purely hypothetical one.
Inspector: [Unconvinced] I see.
Official: Some four years later, our professional officer advised us that damage was occurring but – and I would emphasise this point – due at least in part to natural causes.
Inspector: What manner of ‘natural causes’?
Official: Erosion of the beach during storms of exceptional severity.
[The Inspector again looks unconvinced]
Sir, I would refer you to the agreement signed by all owners of property in Hallsands in 1904, accepting a full and final settlement of all claims. If other parties [looks at Worth, who is visibly annoyed] advised the villagers to waste that compensation, on a sea wall which has failed, then I suggest they should seek redress from those who misadvised them. At a time when the very existence of our nation is under threat, the burden cannot be allowed to fall on the public purse. [Sits]
Inspector: Thank you. Mr Worth, I can see you wish to respond…
Worth: [Standing] Thank you Sir. I shall avoid responding to attacks of a personal nature and instead, confine myself to the facts. Sir, as you will see from my report, this coast should be viewed as a closed environment, one where the forces of nature exist in a delicate balance…
Inspector: Yes I have read your report, Mr Worth. How would you respond to the Board’s contention that natural forces were partly to blame?
Worth: Sir, the Board is like a man who drops a lighted match in a munitions factory, then seeks to blame the resultant disaster on the unfortunate local concentration of high explosives!
Laughter from the villagers and Munro
Inspector: And what of the charge that you and your colleagues are responsible for wasting public money on sea walls which have failed?
Worth: The sea walls have not failed! They stand unharmed in the same positions where they were first erected.
The Inspector gives him the same penetrating
stare.
Inspector: And why were they first erected?
Worth: To form a barrier between the village and the sea…
Inspector: For which purpose, they have failed, have they not?
Worth hesitates, then as he is about to respond, blackout.
Scene 7 Front
of Stage
Munro: [At desk left, reads] “The Inspector replied that all he could do was to report to the Board of Trade, and it was then for that authority to decide on the course they would take.”
Official: [At desk right] We have received the Inspector’s report. He recommends [reads] “compensation for twenty houses… plus the ‘reading room’…” [Writes] I don’t see why we should pay for this!
Treasury officials have privately intimated to us that in future they will object to the employment of this particular inspector, whose sole concern appears to be proposals involving the Exchequer in large expenditure. If we offer at once, we shall only be pressed for more – the Hallsands fishermen, as history shows, are past masters at squeezing. One sympathises with them in the disaster which has overtaken them, but a year or more has now elapsed and it is probable that by now they have managed to get homes and a livelihood.
Scene 8 A
barn near Hallsands 1918
Edith and Tom are living surrounded by makeshift furniture
including bundles of straw. It is very
cold – a small paraffin heater is the only source of warmth – and both are
wearing ragged heavy clothing. Jim
Trout enters left and Edith goes to greet him.
Tom is sitting on the right in an old armchair, covered with a blanket,
shivering and staring into space.
Jim: Hello Edie [They embrace]
Edith: Good to see yee Jim.
Jim: I thought our room was cold!
Edith: It’s freezin’ both of us ‘ere but I s’pose we gotta be grateful for it. Are the Steers still livin’ in their old house?
Jim: Ay, n’ there’s three other families still livin’ in the ruins. [Indicating Tom] How is ‘e?
Edith: I’m worried about ‘im Jim. ‘Im ‘ll sit there, sayin’ nort for hours, n’ then I’ll see tears in ‘is eyes, n’ er’ll talk to isself, n’ start laughin’ for no reason.
Jim: ‘As the doctor seed ‘im?
Edith: Er says ‘e can see nort wrong wi’ ‘im. I wanted ‘im to see the praicher, but ‘e weren’t ‘avin’ none of it.
Jim: ‘Ow long’s er been like this?
Edith: It were grajul at first. When ‘is Da’ passed away, er didn’t say much, er just started workin’ more, on the boats, on the farm – anywhere ‘e could get work. Er were ‘ardly ‘ever at ‘ome. Er said ‘e were tryin’ to save up… course these past weeks ‘e ant been able to work at all.
Jim: Can I do ort to ‘elp ee?
Edith: We’re all right for now, thanks Jim. Is there any news – ‘bout the money?
[He shakes his head]
When d’you think us’ll hear summat?
Jim: I don’t know Edie, I don’t know ort any more.
Edith: Have you speaked to your friend, bout that ‘situation’?
Jim: Yes, that’s wha’ I come to tell ‘ee. The mistress wants ‘ee to go for… like a hintervoo tomorrow mornin’, at ten o’ clock.
Edith: Thank ‘ee Jim. Us ‘ve never needed it more’n now.
Jim: Can I speak to ‘im?
Edith: ‘Ee can try.
Jim walks over to Tom, followed by Edith
Jim: How d’ee go Tom?
Tom: [Glances at Jim, then looks away] I know thee well. Thy name is fish-face! [laughs uncontrollably]
Jim: You ant been seein’ too many fish lately, then?
[Tom remains impassive]
Us’ll be seein’ you out on the boat ‘fore too long, ‘eh?
[Tom is rocking gently backwards and forwards, nodding slightly]
You’m not yourself boy.
Tom: [Shakes his head] No? And if I be not, then who am I? [laughs, then changes expression] Leave me now.
Jim and Edith exchanged glances, then Jim walks
towards the door.
Jim: I see what ‘ee mean. You know, if you need ort…
Edith: Thanks Jim.
They kiss and Jim exits. Edith returns towards Tom.
Tom: I saw me Da’ before…
Edith: Tom, your Da’ is dead.
Tom: He were sitting in the ruins, and he were saying to me – when the walls are gone, there’ll just be the rocks, and you ‘n me, n’ we’ll all be part of the same…
Unable to find the word, he gestures
expansively.
Edith: Tom, I don’t know what ol’ rubbish ‘ee be talkin’ ‘bout!
Tom: Sometimes I feel like I’m flying…and then, I’m sinking…
Edith: [Taking hold of his shoulders] Tom, listen to me Tom. [She sits on the arm of the chair, and puts her arm around him]
You remember that night o’ the storm, when ‘ee saved me from the sea, and the good Lord, ‘E saved both of us? Well that night, for the first time, I noo why ‘E’d put me ‘ere – wha’ ‘e ‘spected of me. Tom – you’re not goin’ to sink Tom, ‘cos I’m not goin’ to let ‘ee… ‘ee hear that? I’m not gonna let ‘ee sink…I’m not gonna let ee…
Lights fade.
Scene 9 Front
of Stage
Munro: [Standing] A year and a half after the collapse, the Board of Trade made a final take-it-or-leave-it offer of six thousand pounds which, I needno’ say, was nowhere near enough. Most of the villagers took a small payment and left. For the loss of five cottages, the estate of the late George Wills was paid the sum of three hundred and forty pounds – none of which went to Tom Wills, of course. A committee was established to use what was left of the money to re-house those who’d remained. After five years of pleading for more assistance, they gave up, and decided to borrow the money to build just ten new houses further inland. When the site was ready, n’ the lucky families were chosen as the first tenants, I returned to Hallsands for the last time.
Scene 10 The
Barn April
1923
The barn where Tom and Edith still live has been made a
little more comfortable. The crucifix
stands in the same place. A lunch box
sits on a table. Edith is dressed in
the uniform of a domestic servant. A man’s
suit and shirt is hanging from a hook at the rear. Tom is sitting, Edith standing.
Edith: [Indicates the clothes] I’ve ironed your Zindy-go-to-maytin. Your lunch is in that box over there.
Tom: [Stretching out his hand] Come here. [She walks towards him, and he pulls her onto his lap. She squeals as he kisses her]. What would I do without you?
Edith: ‘Ee’ll make me late for work! I don’t wanna upset the ol’ trout again!
Tom: ‘The ol’ trout, eh?’ I don’t think Jim’d want her as part of his family!
She
laughs
Edith: Will you’m be goin’ out on the boat after?
Tom: If I’m back in time. I want to go to Stokenham church, when this is all over…
Edith: [Shocked] Why you’m wantin’ to go there?
Tom: [Teasing] Don’t worry, I’m not turning ‘church’! No, I thought I’d put some flowers on the war memorial, and I s’pose I’d better visit my Da’s grave, before I’m old enough to join him.
She looks at him with pleasant surprise. There is a knock at the door.
Edith: It’s open!
Munro enters, slightly shocked to see their
intimacy
Munro: Oh, sorry if I’m disturbing you!
Edith: Mr Munro! Come on in! [She jumps up] I’m just off to work, when Tom lets me go. You ‘ere for they celebrations?
Munro: I certainly am.
Edith: Us’ve been lookin’ forward to ‘em all week. I said to Tom, when we get our noo ‘ouse, we’ll ‘ave a big party an’ ‘vite everyone we know. [Looks at Tom, playfully] Er’s not too keen though. Will you try n’ persuade ‘im?
Munro: For you, Mrs Wills, I shall certainly try.
She skips over and kisses him
Edith: Now, I must be leavin’ ‘ee.
Exits
Munro: It’s good to see your wife in such high spirits.
Tom: Ay, she’s been like that ever since we got on the list.
Munro: Do I detect a more measured tone from yourself?
Tom: Yes, I’ve been ‘measuring’ the rent we’ll be having to pay – six shillings a week!
Munro: Good Lord – that’s more than I pay in Exeter!
Tom: It’s more than anyone pays…but I suppose we’ll manage …somehow.
Munro: So, do you think there’s anything worth celebrating this morning?
Tom: On balance? [Stands] I’d have to say: yes. The end is in sight, and most of us will live to see the day! There’s many ‘ve doubted that along the way.
Munro: And were you one of them?
Tom: At times, yes. I won’t deny it.
Munro: Hardly surprising after six years in this barn. You know, every time I come to Hallsands, I find myself wondering where you people find your strength.
Tom: I can’t speak for anyone else, but you’ve just seen where I find a lot of mine [gestures towards the door].
Munro: Your good lady?
[Tom nods]
And where does she find hers?
Tom: Guess. [Looks at the crucifix, followed by Munro] I’ve never had much faith in the God of the church, myself…[smiles], nor the God of the chapel!
Munro: Ay, we mustna confuse those two round here!
They smile at each other.
Tom: You know, Edie’s not the only one who’s convinced some kind of miracle happened that night of the storm…and I suppose, in a way…it did.
Munro: Ay, the simple fact that you all escaped alive…
[Tom gestures as if he is going to contradict Munro, then changes his mind as Munro pulls out his notepad.]
So Tom, how do you feel about the great and the good descending on Hallsands, claiming the credit?
Tom: [Laughs] You don’t change, do you? And there’s many round here’d say they know what you mean. But…I don’t know: Colonel Mildmay? Mr Worth? At least they tried. We have a little surprise in store for them, by the way.
Munro: Aye?
Tom: Which reminds me [Picks up a large book] There is one they may have forgotten, though I shall not. [Hands it to Munro]. For you…
Munro: The complete works of Shakespeare – this is very generous of you Tom. Are you sure?
Tom: Yes, I don’t read so much these days. I salvaged this from the reading room, so you may take it as a present from all of us.
Munro: Well thank you. Thank you very much.
Tom: And now, I must change into my ‘Zindy-go-to-maytin’ as we call it in these parts.
Munro: Well, if I don’t get chance to speak to you afterwards, whichever one is watching over you Tom, God be with you.
They embrace, and Munro exits.
Scene 11 Front
of Stage
Background noise of waves and gulls. Munro enters left, carrying the book. Worth enters right carrying a lobster in a basket which he lifts with a smile on seeing Munro.
Worth: You were right.
Munro: So – Fordworth Cottages they are to be named. [pulling out his notepad, smiling at Worth] Our heroes will not be forgotten.
Worth: Let’s hope these structures will prove a little more durable.
Munro: Why, should they not?
Worth: Yes, I suppose these at least, should outlive both of us.
Munro: And the others, the ones on the clifftop?
Worth: I should not like to speculate.
[Pause as they look at each other]
Munro: Before the ceremony, you were about to tell me something of which you alone were aware.
Worth: [Looks at Munro, hesitates, then walks to the front of the stage, addressing the audience] My discovery. Yes. I am sorry to tell you, the level of the beach, in relation to the sea, is still falling. I doubt we have seen the last building to fall along this coast.
Munro: [Writing on his notepad] I see. So how long would you expect the road…or the Chapel… to remain standing?
Worth: As I said, I should not care to speculate.
Munro: But if I were to ask you for your professional, engineering opinion?
Worth: One thing I have learned from Hallsands, when I look at a problem like this [gestures towards front of house] I see there is no engineering solution. No, if I record my findings for the Devonshire Association, the best we may hope is for wiser counsels to learn from our mistakes. But that, my friend, is as much a challenge for you.
Munro: For me?
Worth For you, and your profession.
Munro: You flatter me. My job is to record what I see, and to write what I am paid to write.
Worth: [Takes the book from Munro, looks at the first page and hands it back to him] I’m not the only one to see through your false modesty, hey?
[They smile at each other]
The beach is still falling – you may quote me on that. And now I must return to my work, and leave you to yours.
[They shake hands]
Good luck to you.
Munro: I gave much thought to what he said, but then as the Editor said: ‘if I want to carry my public with me on the path to liberty and progress, I must not frighten them away’. It is time, I think, to bring this story to its conclusion:
[He crosses out a word, writes another, then lifts the paper and reads, as if he is finalising a draft]
“The fishermen of Hallsands are at last within sight of restored domestic comfort, for the efforts of the Devon Sea Fisheries Committee have resulted in the acquisition of funds sufficient to erect ten cottages which (although 22 homes were destroyed) will go a long way towards solving the men’s problems…”
“Mr R H Worth defined the work of the committee as a fight against injustice…”
[Background noise of waves crashing begins quietly and gradually increases]
“They greatly regretted that Lord Mildmay, through ill-health was unable to be with them, but the Committee had received a letter in which his Lordship wrote: ‘may all go well with Hallsands in the future’. Lady Mildmay had written: ‘I am so delighted that the fruits of all your labours have resulted so… successfully.’”
THE END
© Steve Melia 2003