The Four-Leaved Clover

Cue-sheet for Desc

(1, 0) 1 SCENE.─Kitchen in a farmhouse on a mountain in South Wales.
(1, 0) 2 The fireplace faces the audience, with a settle on one side and an oak arm-chair on the other.
(1, 0) 3 Door leading outside on the left wall at the back, window in same wall nearer.
(1, 0) 4 The dresser is against the right wall at the back, and a door leading to the back kitchen on the same wall nearer.
(1, 0) 5 Table in the middle, with oak chairs.
(1, 0) 6 The furniture is old and polished.
(1, 0) 7 The walls have pictures of ministers on them and one or two samplers.
(1, 0) 8 Guns and hams hanging up.
(1, 0) 9 ~
(1, 0) 10 IANTO, a young farmer, is sitting smoking in the armchair.
(1, 0) 11 ~
(1, 0) 12 CATRIN, his wife, young and pretty, in a check apron and a little red shawl, is darning on the settle.
(Catrin) There's a bad boy you are, lanto Griffith.
 
(Catrin) It's time for supper.
(1, 0) 190 She jumps from the chair, and runs to lay supper.
(1, 0) 191 Sets table with dishes, etc.
(1, 0) 192 Brings oatcakes, cheese, and a jug of milk.
(1, 0) 193 When they are seated, one at each end, and are about to begin, there is a loud knocking at the door.
(Catrin) Who's there, I wonder?
 
(Catrin) It's loud enough for Sir Watkin himself.
(1, 0) 196 The door is flung open, and a little man stands on the threshold.
(1, 0) 197 He is old and withered, his boots are very muddy, he carries a fiddle.
(1, 0) 198 He looks at them calmly without saying a word for a time.
(Old Man) Good evening to all here.
 
(Ianto) Yes, yes, cariad.
(1, 0) 215 OLD MAN looks at him grinning, and winks.
(1, 0) 216 Takes ancther step into the room, when he is stopped by CATRIN, who shrieks, and points to his feet.
(Catrin) Diws anwyl!
 
(Catrin) For shame!
(1, 0) 222 OLD MAN goes back and wipes his feet.
(Ianto) Where've you been to get all that on your boots?
 
(Old Man) It's soft on the top now, and the smell of water everywhere, and the sound of it, too, among the rushes.
(1, 0) 227 Lifts his foot and looks at it, then from IANTO to CATRIN.
(Ianto) That'll do, man.
 
(Ianto) Sit you down and eat your supper.
(1, 0) 230 OLD MAN sits down, putting his fiddle on a chair.
(1, 0) 231 CATRIN fetches extra plates, etc., from the dresser.
(1, 0) 232 They begin the supper.
(1, 0) 233 OLD MAN
(Old Man) How can you tell that, Catrin Griffith, when you do not know who I am?
 
(Ianto) Sit you down and eat your supper.
(1, 0) 235 Oat-cake is good, Catrin Griffith, but oat-cake without butter is like goodness without kindness.
(1, 0) 236 CATRIN
(Old Man) How can you tell that, Catrin Griffith, when you do not know who I am?
 
(Ianto) Sit you down and eat your supper.
(1, 0) 238 Oat-cake without butter is good enough for you, whatever.
(Old Man) How can you tell that, Catrin Griffith, when you do not know who I am?
 
(Old Man) Well, well, say no more.
(1, 0) 249 They go on eating, OLD MAN helping himself freely.
(Catrin) Over three mountains you said?
 
(Old Man) No, not Llanilid.
(1, 0) 259 CATRIN is baffled.
(Ianto) Never you mind, old man, if you're not willing to tell.
 
(Old Man) I'll take a bit to put in my pocket, and thank you.
(1, 0) 282 Puts the whole piece in his pocket.
(Ianto) Where are you going to sleep to-night, man?
 
(Old Man) For the moon to come over the edge of the mountain.
(1, 0) 291 CATRIN stares.
(1, 0) 292 OLD MAN feels in lus pocket.
(Old Man) Drato!
 
(Ianto) Here you are, man.
(1, 0) 297 Holds out lis own pouch, OLD MAN fills his pipe.
(Old Man) Is there a match with you?
 
(Old Man) Is there a match with you?
(1, 0) 299 Both men light their pipes, and puff out smoke in contentment.
(Ianto) It's a good thing to be smoking by your own kitchen fire and the hay all in.
 
(Catrin) Go you and sit down by the fire, for me to be clearing the supper.
(1, 0) 316 IANTO and OLD MAN go and sit on the settle and armchair by the fire and smoke.
(1, 0) 317 CATRIN begins clearing the supper things, carrying them out to the inner room.
(1, 0) 318 OLD MAN knocks out his pipe.
(Ianto) Now's the time to sing a song, if you're willing.
 
(Ianto) Now's the time to sing a song, if you're willing.
(1, 0) 320 The OLD MAN stands up and sings two verses of "All Through the Night," IANTO and CATRIN listening.
(Ianto) Very good, very good, indeed.
 
(Old Man) Twopence a week she gives him for tobacco, and him getting £3 at the works.
(1, 0) 440 IANTO bursts out laughing.
(Old Man) Wait you a minute!
 
(Old Man) Yes, yes.
(1, 0) 463 Pause.
(1, 0) 464 Then he knocks out lis pipe and stands up.
(Old Man) Well, it's time for me to be going─but here's something for you first.
 
(Old Man) Well, it's time for me to be going─but here's something for you first.
(1, 0) 466 Takes a withered clover leaf from his coat and gives it to IANTO, who examines it curiously.
(Ianto) A four-leaved clover!
 
(Old Man) Where's the harm in putting it in your coat?
(1, 0) 478 CATRIN comes in and looks disapprovingly at ihe OLD Man.
(1, 0) 479 IANTO puts the clover leaf in the button-hole of his coat.
(Catrin) Oh!
 
(Old Man)
(1, 0) 493 There is a long pause.
(1, 0) 494 IANTO leans against the table and stares at CATRIN as if he had never seen her before.
(Catrin) {Briskly.}
 
(Ianto) I've been blind, that's all.
(1, 0) 507 CATRIN stands twisting the fringe on her shawl and glancing uneasily at IANTO.
(1, 0) 508 Long pause.
(Catrin) {Briskly.}
 
(Catrin) Are you sorry you married me?
(1, 0) 544 They stand and gaze at one another.
(1, 0) 545 IANTO'S expression is full of horror.
(1, 0) 546 Then he frantically tears the clover from his coat and throws it on the fire, and stands breathing hard as if he had just escaped from a great danger.
(1, 0) 547 Pause.
(Ianto) {Passing his hand over his eyes.}
 
(Catrin) Oh, cruel, cruel things.
(1, 0) 552 Sits down by the table and puts her head down on her arms.
(Ianto) About what?
 
(Catrin) Saying you were that I was a mean stingy girl, who loved money better than everything in the world, and that I'd grow into an old screw who'd sit in the rain all day to sell six-penn'orth of sour apples.
(1, 0) 558 Puts her head down again.
(Ianto) Caton pawb!
 
(Ianto) Catrin!─Catrin!
(1, 0) 562 No answer.
(1, 0) 563 IANTO pulls her up from the chair and puts his arms round her.
(1, 0) 564 She turns her head away.
(Ianto) Don't you remember that old nonsense, cariad.
 
(Ianto) Prettier than twenty Myfanwys.
(1, 0) 579 Short pause.
(Catrin) What about the coffer, Ianto?
 
(Ianto) Mother ─well, after all, cariad, it's you're mistress of Dorwen now─not mother.
(1, 0) 588 CATRIN goes to the dresser, takes a candlestick, and lights it.
(1, 0) 589 IANTO locks and bolts the door.
(Catrin) What was it you threw into the fire now just?
 
(Ianto) Well, indeed, Catrin, I think he was the diawl himself.
(1, 0) 597 CURTAIN