10. Act I Scene 8
The POULTRY-YARD
asleep. The CAT
awake. Three SCREECH-OWLS,
later the MOLE
and the VOICE
of the CUCKOO.
FIRST VOICE Two green eyes?
THE CAT [
Sitting up on the wall, and looking at the other phosphorescent eyes.] Six golden eyes?
FIRST VOICE On the wall?
THE CAT On the rick?--[
He calls.] Owls!
THE OWLS Cat!
THE BLACKBIRD [
Waking up.] What's this?
THE SCREECH-OWL [
To the CAT.] Great plot against him!
THE CAT To-night?
THE THREE OWLS To-night, too-whit!
THE CAT Pfitt!--Where?
THE OWLS The hollies, too-whoo!
THE CAT What o'clock?
THE OWLS Eight, too-whit! too-whoo!
FIRST OWL Bats weaving soft black snares of flight--
THE CAT Are they with us?
THE THREE OWLS They are!
FIRST OWL Mole, burrowing from nether to upper night--
THE CAT Is she with us?
THE THREE OWLS She is!
THE CAT [
Talking toward the house-door.] You, strike your eight strokes bravely, Cuckoo of the little clock!
THE SCREECH-OWL Is he with us?
THE CAT He is!--And I am pleased to tell you, silent night-watchers that some of the day-birds are likewise with us.
THE TURKEY [
Coming forward surrounded by a number of the barnyard constituents, obsequiously.] So it is settled for this evening, dear Round Eyes? You will be there?
THE OWLS We will be there! All the Round Eyes of the neighbourhood will be there!
THE BLACKBIRD That's a show I'd like to see!
PATOU [
In his sleep.] Grrrrrrr--
THE CAT [
To the startled NIGHT-BIRDS.] The dog is dreaming.--He growls in his sleep.
CHANTECLER [
Inside the hen-house.] Coa--
THE OWLS [
Frightened.] Himself!
THE TURKEY Fly!
FIRST OWL No need. The night is dark. We can vanish by merely closing our eyes. [
They shut their luminous eyes. Darkness. CHANTECLER
appears at the top of the ladder.]
CHANTECLER [
To the BLACKBIRD.] Did you hear anything, Blackbird?
THE BLACKBIRD I did, indeed, old chap.
THE OWLS [
Frightened.] What's this?
THE BLACKBIRD A black conspiracy--
CHANTECLER Ah?
THE BLACKBIRD [
With melodramatic emphasis.] Against you!--Tremble!
CHANTECLER [
Going in again, unalarmed.] Joker!
THE OWLS He has gone in.
THE BLACKBIRD I have betrayed no one!
AN OWL The Blackbird then is with us?
THE BLACKBIRD No--but may I come and look on?
AN OWL A Night-bird never eats a black bird. You can come.
THE BLACKBIRD The password?
THE OWL Terror and Talons!
THE PHEASANT-HEN [
Putting her head out of the dog-kennel.] I can't breathe in that stifling, low-roofed little house, and--[
Catching sight of the NIGHT-BIRDS.] Oh!--[
She darts aside, behind the kennel, and watches.]
THE OWLS Hush! [
They close their eyes. THE CAT
does the same. After a time, hearing no further sound, they open them again.] It was nothing. Let us be off.
THE GROUP OF THE DISAFFECTED [
With fawning obsequiousness to the NIGHT-BIRDS.] Success to you, Owls,--success!
THE OWL Thanks! But how is it that you are with us?
THE CAT Ah, night brings out what daylight will not own to! I do not like the Cock because the Dog does.--There you have it!
THE TURKEY I do not like him, for the reason that having known him as a Chick I cannot admit him as a Cock!
A DUCK I do not like the Cock because, not being web-footed, he marks his passage by a track of stars!
A CHICKEN I do not like the Cock because I'm such a homely bird!
ANOTHER CHICKEN I do not like the Cock because he has his picture painted in purple on all the plates!
ANOTHER CHICKEN I do not like the Cock because on all the steeples he has his statue in gilt-bronze!
AN OWL [
To a big overgrown CHICKEN.] Well, well!--And you, Capon?
THE CAPON [
Dryly.] I do not like the Cock!
THE CUCKOO [
Beginning to strike eight inside the house.] Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL The hour!
CUCKOO Cuckoo!
SECOND OWL Let us go!
THE CUCKOO Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL The moon!
THE CUCKOO Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL Silently cleave the blue air--
THE CUCKOO Cuckoo!
THE MOLE [
Suddenly pushing up through the ground.]--the dark earth!
FIRST OWL There comes the Mole!
THE CUCKOO Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL [
To the MOLE.] And you, why do you hate him?
THE MOLE I hate him because I have never seen him!
THE CUCKOO Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL And you, Cuckoo, do you know why you hate him?
THE CUCKOO [
On the last stroke.] Because he does not have to be wound up! Cuckoo!
FIRST OWL And we do not love--
SECOND OWL [
Hurriedly.] We are keeping the others waiting--
ALL --the Cock, because--[
They fly off. Silence.]
THE PHEASANT-HEN [
Coming slowly from behind the kennel.] I am beginning to love him!
CURTAIN