Seán Walsh: Wee Girl Fretting
Biog: My scripts have been broadcast on RTÉ, Radio One, BBC 4 and, in translation, on European networks; televised on RTÉ One, BBC One and Channel 4; staged at the Peacock by the Abbey National Theatre, at the Project, the Eblana, the Liverpool Playhouse and on the London Fringe… Credits include The Night of the Rouser. Earwig. The Dreamers. Fugitive. Veil. Penny for Your Travels. Far Side of the Moon. Three for Calvary. Jenny One, Two, Three… The Circus. Centre Circle. Where Do We Go from Here, My Lovely? Pilate Under Pressure. Conclave. Assault on a Citadel. I’ve conducted many workshops on Creative/Script Writing in Dublin and at various centres around Ireland. Favourite authors: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul. Belloc. GKC. A D Sertillanges. John Henry Newman. Waugh. Greene. Hemingway. O’Neill. Hans Kung.
WEE GIRL FRETTING
– Oh, Daddy –
– There, there, alana –
– Daddy, Daddy –
– Schhh now, schhh…
– If, if Mummy can’t get in –
– Nice and warm, aren’t you? –
– When we, we’re asleep –
– Well, I won’t lock the back door, Jenny –
– Promise. Promise, Daddy –
– Your Mummy? That loves you?
And you love her. Never!
No way would I do such a thing!
– Oh, Daddy! Daddy, I love you!
– And I love you, sweetheart.
Come on now. Big long sleep…
– Once, Daddy, once when I got home
from school I, I was locked out –
– Oh, no! Dear, dear, dear…
– And I didn’t know what, what to do –
– Well, it won’t ever happen again, Jenny –
– On your word of honour?
– Honest to God! Not you,
not your Mummy – no one
will ever be locked out, ever again!
– Good boy, Daddy –
– Wee wet blue eyes…
‘Got enough tissues?
– Ah, ha –
– Come on, then. Tuck in, nice and warm –
– You, you won’t go out – ?
– No, I’ll just be downstairs –
– ‘Won’t close my –
– No, I won’t close your door, Jenny –
– And will you come to bed? –
– Yes, I’ll be going to bed, too. Very soon.
Now, I’ll just lower your light, just a little, okay?
– Okay… Oh, and Daddy, Daddy!?
– Hmmmm?
– You will call me – ?
– Don’t I always?..
‘See you in the morning, sunshine.
– See you… in the… morning…
Sleep tight, sweetheart.
– My Daddy, aren’t you?
– That’s for sure. And always will be –
– No matter what?
– No matter what…
I listen on the landing:
a wee cry… soft, sad whimper.
‘Wait for her to turn,
drift into Dreamland,
sucking her thumb, inevitably…
– from Jenny One Two Three
by Sean Walsh.
Amazon paperbook and kindle
Canada Calling
This from a friend who lives in Canada
when I posted about Pilate Under Pressure…
He describes himself as self educated,
works with his hands, and has not only read P U P
but also my other dramas set against the backdrop
of the first Good Friday:
Three for Calvary… Veil… Conclave etc.
“What I think you express so eloquently are human experiences that moderns abhor and friends strive to counsel others out of…
The result is that our understanding of life, in my view, is impoverished. In our North American culture it is enough to say, “Sorry, Jesus!” and carry on.
Am I wrong that quieting our hearts and entering into a realization of how our actions have grieved our Master deeply, is essential in finding true peace with God?
Your writings – to today’s audience – may seem very heavy. Not so in times past. Calvary was inestimably costly. ‘And terribly gritty.
Your writings, perhaps to a small audience due to present times, take us there…Thank you.”
– Dave Armishaw.