Na Báid : Story
It’s 1992 and Ireland has just joined the European Union. As part of that agreement, the fisheries of much of the west coast are shut down to protect stocks of species which are now under threat of imminent extinction. In many small communities, the government has established buyout programs for captains to sell their boats and leave the profession. Many of these families have been fishing these waters for hundreds of years. There are few other opportunities for these men, their families or their communities.
Overture
Curtain down. Our Chorus sits on a stool next to a bodhrán player and begins singing the Overture.
As the aria progresses he is joined by the other folk musicians.
As the aria progresses he is joined by the other folk musicians.
Overture (I've Got A Story For You)?
I’ve got a story for you.
You may not believe every word is true,
Concerning the people I knew
But that was then.
I’ve got a story for you.
You may not believe every word is true,
Concerning the people I knew
When they all bent down.
Turn round.
Turn the wheel around.
You’ll never guess
Til you know.
Turn round.
Turn the wheel around.
You’ll never hear
You’ll never know
You’ll never stretch
So long ago.
I’ve got a story for you.
You may not believe every word is true,
Concerning the people I knew
But that was then.
Turn round.
Turn the wheel around.
You’ll never guess
Til you know.
Turn round.
Turn the wheel around.
You’ll never hear
You’ll never know
You’ll never stretch
So long ago.
I’ve got a story for you.
You may not believe every word is true,
Concerning the people I knew
But they all get it.
Scene 1: Morning Before The Auction
Curtain up. The edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean at sunrise. In the distance is a village. We see Ciarán sitting alone at an overlook. He can see the sea in one direction and down to the village in the other.
Ciarán sings about the the change that seemed so slow to approach but now is about to overwhelm his village and their entire way of life.
Tsunami?
The tide rolls out
The tide rolls in
And the second day since God began
It’s been
And from the stars
The sounds that go on forever
Always there.
Not today.
Transition I (Sea Shanty)?
Take the rope
That fills the boat
And holler up,
Then down ya go.
You never tire.
Your body fails.
You never find home.
Scene 2: The Auction
Day. The boatyard in a small village on the west coast of Ireland. There is a podium. At stage front left is our Chorus. The choir is behind him dressed as villagers. There is a fishing boat off to the far side of the podium
The Auctioneer is at a podium. A man goes up to the block, bids are made, the gavel falls, lives are changed forever. Next up. Repeat. Our Chorus describes the auction from the front of the stage.
Something (By The Numbers)?
I am the man in the endless line
Taking a place in the endless crime
You must always be there in time
You are always a step behind
I was always afraid to say
Locked off feelings in every day
I never thought I’d be in this quay
More determined
In every way
Auctioneer:
People!
Bring the
People!
People!
Slap the gavel,
People!
Let go!
Móirín:
Could it ever hurt you to be happy?
Did ever help to be high?
Did ever help you to be drinking?
Could it ever hurt you to be home safe and dry?
Did ever hurt you to be thinking?
Did ever even stop to wonder why?
Could it ever hurt you to be home safe and dry?
Ciarán:
Baby I was never good at planning
Thinking I would never make it home safe and dry.
At the back of the crowd are Ciarán’s three sons. They have just met with a counselor to discuss re-education and re-location options. The father cannot stop thinking about what the loss of their boat means to the family. But each son can’t help pondering what it means to them (and their wives and girlfriends.)
The auctioneer announces that the auction is done for today and will be concluded tomorrow. Everyone leaves except for Pól who stays behind. Although he says he is committed to staying put, he can’t help thinking about what a new life might be like in Australia.
Australia?
Pól:
There’s a bell
Turning around
In wind
Terrible is the sound.
Máiréad:
I considered my life
Would never change once
Your boots were at my door.
Why is this happening?
Cathain a tharla sé seo?
Transition II (Trasna Na Dtonnta)?
Curfá:
Trasna na dtonnta, dul siar, dul siar,
Slán leis an uaigneas ‘is slán leis an gcian;
Geal é mo chroí, agus geal í an ghrian,
Geal a bheith ag filleadh go hÉirinn!
Chonaic mo dhóthain de Thíortha i gcéin,
Ór agus airgead, saibhreas an tsaoil,
Éiríonn an croí ‘nam le breacadh gach lae
‘S mé druidim le dúthaigh mo mhuintir!
Curfá
Ar mo thriall siar ó éirigh mo chroí
An aimsir go hálainn is tonnta deas réidh
Stiúradh go díreach go dúthaigh mo chliabh
‘S bheidh mé in Éirinn amárach!
Curfá
Muintir an Iarthair ‘siad cairde mo chroí,
Fáilte ‘is féile bheidh romham ar gach taobh.
Ar fhágaint an tsaoil seo, sé ghuidhim ar an Rí
Gur leosan a shinfear i gcill mé.
Chorus:
Over the waves, going west, going west!
Goodbye to loneliness and to the distant remoteness;
Bright is my heart and bright is the sun,
Happy to be returning to Ireland!
I saw my fill of countries abroad,
Gold and silver, the wealth of the world,
My heart rises in me with the break of each day,
As I draw closer to the land of my people!
Chorus
On my journey oh! my heart rises!
The weather is beautiful and the waves are settled
Steering directly to land of my bosom
And I’ll be in Ireland tomorrow!
Chorus
People of the West, they’re the friends of my heart,
Welcome and celebration awaits me on every side.
Leaving this life I pray to the Lord
That it’s with them I’ll be stretched in the graveyard!
Scene 3: Evening At The Bar
Int. A typical rural Irish pub.
Everyone meets at the bar to cry in their beer. Our Chorus describes the buy out deal the villagers have been offered.
Starting Over?
Swinging out on the sundial
Giving up
But then meanwhile
I would take you away
(Far away)
Setting out on a mean tide
Looking back at the cliff so high
I’d take you away
(We’ll be starting over.)
Over the hills
Right through those trees
There’s a curving path
Down to that sea
They had planned a life
For everyone
But you can’t extract new meanings
From that sun.
The auctioneer gets up to bemoan the fact that everyone is taking their ‘sentence’ so eagerly. He reminds them of a ‘rising’ in 1791 at the nearby river and taunts them for not being as brave as those men.
To The Bank?
I
All hearts were aflame
Seventeen Ninety One!
The gleaming of blades
At the rising of the sun.
They went off to play
At the river Gleann Dunne.
The roll of the drums and they sang
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d hold their course
In the wind and the rain.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d own their names when day was done.
II
They pulled out their claims
And they followed their sons.
They marched down the lane
At the beating of the sun.
They’d hold up the place
Til their case had been won.
There fortune did burn
Like a flame.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d hold their course
In the wind and the rain.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
The river flowed
And gaily stepped the great parade
To the bank.
Confrontation (Interlude)
III
They pulled out their claims
And they followed their (son)
They burned down the rails
At the dying of the sun
They hauled down the bars
And they pulled out their claims
They thought they would do as you say
They pulled out their claims
And they swallowed their tongues
They ran out of range
At the setting of the sun
The roar of the guns
As they sang.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d hold their course
In the wind and the rain.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
The river flowed
And gaily stepped the grand parade
To the bank.
Ciaràn mocks him. How can he be running the auction while suggesting resistance? He calls him a hypocrite and makes a bad pun that if they fought back at the town bank it would end about as well as the fight at the river bank 200 years ago. An argument ensues with everyone angrily exiting the bar.
You’ll Never See The Like Of Me Again
You'll Never See The Like Of Me Again?
Open your eyes
You’ll see a fading memory.
Don’t you see it?
Open your eyes.
You’ll see the moving shadows
That covered over me.
Steady as she goes.
You never see the fading light
Moving far in the light
It never
You never get to see again?
Open your eyes
You’ll never see
The like of me
Again and yet
The tide returns
And never ends.
Such a surprise?
Did it ever
Just don’t look back
And don’t look in
The thread afraid
Worn in both ends.
But Tomás remains in his chair after everyone else has left. The reality of the situation is only now sinking in for him. He thinks about where he will go if there really is no more fishing in the area.
Canada?
I
Canada.
Oh Canada.
Long may you wave.
Far away
And far to sea.
I dreamed I wept
And you were there.
II
Canada.
MyCanada?
Long may you wave.
Far away,
And far from me.
I dream at night
That you could see.
Far away,
Far away,
How far away,
From me?
Far away,
And far to sea?
How far away,
The sea.
Scene 4: Next Morning
The kitchen of Ciarán’s house; a modest, typical Irish bungalow.
Móirín makes breakfast for Ciarán. In this duet, he tells her that he feels like he’s let his family down–especially her. She replies that he never really considered her feelings–always making decisions for the both of them.
I Dreamed Of You Tonight?
I
I dreamed of you tonight
It wasn’t that hard
With everything in sight
Whatever it was I was living for
Never did know what I’d be in store.
II
I can’t say that I felt the same
Never fully letting go of all the blame
You never had a <> left behind
Ever since I held my ground
I rained down on
Dizzy memories
Landing deeply
Did you know that?
I would’ve gone anywhere with you.
Over the ocean blue
I’d see you through
And I never meant any harm to you
(That’s right)
Over the ocean blue
Over the ocean blue
Over the ocean blue
Over the ocean blue
There is a pounding on the door. Ciarán is approached by the crowd and is informed by one of the townspeople that they are all going to the bank to stop the auction. He argues that it’s pointless, but reluctantly gives in and agrees to join them in a march on the auctioneers.
Scene 5: To The Bank
Ext. Day. The road from Ciarán’s house down to the village.
The protesters march to the bank to demand an end to the auction and a renegotiation of their terms.
To The Bank?
I
All hearts were aflame
Seventeen Ninety One!
The gleaming of blades
At the rising of the sun.
They went off to play
At the river Gleann Dunne.
The roll of the drums and they sang
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d hold their course
In the wind and the rain.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d own their names when day was done.
II
They pulled out their claims
And they followed their sons.
They marched down the lane
At the beating of the sun.
They’d hold up the place
Til their case had been won.
There fortune did burn
Like a flame.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d hold their course
In the wind and the rain.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
The river flowed
And gaily stepped the great parade
To the bank.
Confrontation (Interlude)
III
They pulled out their claims
And they followed their (son)
They burned down the rails
At the dying of the sun
They hauled down the bars
And they pulled out their claims
They thought they would do as you say
They pulled out their claims
And they swallowed their tongues
They ran out of range
At the setting of the sun
The roar of the guns
As they sang.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
They’d hold their course
In the wind and the rain.
“To the bank!”
“To the bank!”
The river flowed
And gaily stepped the grand parade
To the bank.
The crowd all march away off stage towards the town. Cian lags behind and wonders what his life will be in a new home in the United States where his cousin (our Chorus) already lives. Since the Chorus cannot interact with the characters, they talk over one another. Cian is not only the youngest of the three boys, he is also the most enthusiastic to leave. Unlike his brothers, he thinks of this situation as an opportunity to escape, although he can’t say so openly.
America?
Tell me,
Maybe…
Where a man might want to go?
Tell me,
Baby…
If you think you really know.
Headlines
Call out
To a place I’ve never known.
Don’t know what I can read
Looking down to see your face.
I saw a place
On a map
I was young.
Calling out to everyone to go.
You know?
You know.
Hand to heart.
“America The Brave”.
All we learned was
“God be saved”.
Móirín walks up to Cian and asks him why he’s not marching with the rest of the people. For the first time, he shares his internal conflict with her.
Beautiful Boy?
Oh where are you going my beautiful boy?
Is it long we’ll see you ever again?
I’m going to my folks I told you my friend,
When the next wave goes away.
Oh no buddy Dear,
I don’t know why.
Is it tears I see
That build in your eye?
Turn back from my going
Until they run dry.
We have all the oceans we need.
See it.
See it.
Wave to the people
So far in the distance.
See it.
See it.
Wave at the people
So far.
Please tell me my Dear,
My beautiful boy,
With your shiny blue eyes
Only time in your pockets.
With all of your world
Deep in my skin.
Only now
I feel
Goodbye.
At that moment, one of the townspeople rushes back to tell Móirín that her husband has collapsed and is being rushed to the hospital.
Scene 6: The Hospital
A hospital emergency room. Ciarán is waiting to be treated, watching news footage of the protest march.
Ciarán is in a hospital bed watching a television news report of the march to the bank–which failed to achieve anything. He sees himself on the TV.
Falling Leaves?
Thinking back on the falling leaves
The oak, the elm
And the running streams
And all the things that you ever had
That now had now turned to dust.
Everything that I ever saw
Went all along with the floating logs
And everywhere that I could see
Was all my fault.
I’ve seen myself on a TV screen
And crowded out
By the glowing beams
And everywhere that I have been was
At such a cost.
I’ve seen myself as a man of dreams
Shot my hand
In a very few schemes
I even laughed
When I saw my end
But that’s not
Who I am.
Scene 7: Home (Morning)
At home in Ciarán’s bedroom.
Móirín is calling in the dogs from the field. Ciarán is thinking about how difficult he’s been to live with just as she comes in to check on him. She tells him to stop the fight and to tell the villagers to accept their fate. She insists that everyone will listen to him. If he does not, she threatens to leave. In her view, the protest no longer brings the town together–instead it is tearing apart all the families. He agrees, wondering how easy it was to give in today when it would have been so impossible just a few hours ago.
I Will Try You?
Ciarán
I will try.
I will try.
I will try (you).
Móirín
In every single dream
And every thing we’ve lost
This is no fairy tale
This is one time it costs
I begged myself
That I would never
Promise them.
But every time I do then
here you come again.
Móirín
With everything you left me
And with everything bought
You never thought to spend me in your arms.
I never meant to tempt you
And with all your friends
But now you know just what you’ve lost.
I know the time depressed you
When you were under my skin
But now you know we’re done
And I’ll really walk.
Ciarán
Take my hand
Let’s walk for a moment
Down to the edge sea.
We’ll go talk like old
In the moment.
Listen.
Ciarán and Móirín
You can say you see in the open.
You can say you’re free.
I believe you’ll dive
Down to the headland
Down to the memory
Down to the edge of the sea.
Pól walks in. Ciarán tells him what he’s decided. Pól now realizes that he–and his brothers–will have no choice but to leave. How to break it to Máiréad. How to break it to his brothers.
Transition VII (Walking In The Mountains)?
Là dhomh ‘s mi ‘m beinn a’ cheathaich
Sèist:
Far al a leò ro ho bhi ò
Hoireann is ò ho rò bhi o ho
Hi rì ho ro ho bha ò hug ò ro
‘S ann agam ‘s a bha ‘n sealladh
Gun deach bàta Chloinn Nìll seachad
Mach bho dhùthaich MhicGill-Eathain
Steach gu Cìosamul an aighir
Far am faight’ a’ chuirm ri gabhail
Fìon ‘ga òl oidhche gu latha
Pìobaireachd nam feadan àrd’ laghach
Clàrsach bhinn ga gleusadh mar ris
Sìoda donn ga chur air na mnathan
Gill’Eòghanain mòr an gaisgeach
Ruairi òg an t-oighre maiseach
One day when I was on the misty mountain
Chorus (after each verse):
Far al a leò ro ho bhi ò
Hoireann is ò ho rò bhi o ho
Hi rì ho ro ho bha ò hug ò ro
I saw a wonderful sight
The Clan MacNeill’s ship passed by
Away from MacLean country
Towards joyful Kisimul
Where the feasting takes place
Drinking wine from night to day
The piping of the tall, lovely drones
The sweet harp being tuned alongside
Russet silk being worn by the ladies
Gilleonan, the great hero
Young Rory, the handsome heir
Scene 8: Tower Hill
Sunset. Pól sits by the Martello Tower on the coast.
Pól waits by the Martello Tower where he first met Máiréad and he thinks about how to tell her he’s decided to leave.
Martello Towers?
MÁIRÉAD: Looking at flowers
Outside the village tower
I knew.
(I knew?)
Feeling for the sun
When I knew you were the one
I knew.
(I knew?)
I was thinking of that time
When we first would make that climb
I knew.
(I knew?)
I remember that your hand;
Almost more than I could stand
And I knew.
(I knew?)
Growing, growing, growing
Never knowing where we’ll go.
But we knew.
(I knew?)
PÓL: I know you think you love me.
It’s something we all do.
And I know you’re thinking of me
And that’s lonely too.
And maybe you think you are.
And maybe you think you’re not.
But I never thought this would get to you
No I never thought this would get to you
I just never thought I could get to you
Til now.
Máiréad is there as well. They are so wrapped up in their own thoughts they don’t even notice each other. Pól comes upon her and realizes that she has already guessed what he’s decided. They argue and he storms off.
Tower Hill?
I wish were on Tower Hill
In the place where I was born.
I would wash my hair on sunny days
By the stream down at Glean Duine.
Now you take my hand and press my lips
And you say hey there we’re gone
Did you ever ask how this would fit
Did you ever think you’re wrong?
Forward.
Forward.
Forward to a different to a distant place.
Forward.
Forward.
Never see that first mistake.
Falling,
Falling,
Falling down.
Forward.
Forward.
Forward to a different to a different place.
Forward.
Forward.
Never see that first mistake.
Falling,
Falling,
Falling down.
Reckless feelings
Always let me down.
I wish were on Tower Hill
In the place where I was born.
I would wash my hair on sunny days
By the stream down at Glean Duine.
You can’t escape the violence
Or the first effect
That you feel right now
I can’t expect the one attempt
To elude your face
And a place I vow.
I wish I were on Tower Hill
In the place where I came
From.
Transition VIII (I've Got A Story For You)?
Chorus:
I’ve got a story for you.
You may not believe every word is true.
Concerning the people I knew.
When we all bent down low.
Ciarán:
Never before felt cut to the quick now.
How ever we thought we’d go to the trick.
When ever did we forget how to say that
All:
I love you. Oh…
Scene 9: Finale
A starry night. The boys are sitting at tables outside the door to the bar.
Together, the boys realise that if they back their father, the rest of the town will also join in and the unrest will end. Their mood gradually changes from one of anger and depression to muted optimism–each trying to buck up the others’ spirits. They head outside and enthusiastically describe the places they’ve each decided to go to.
You Can Dream?
I
Let me tell ya boys.
‘Cause I won’t be around.
Let me tell ya boys
That I won’t be around.
There’s a ship that I’ll be on
But it’s not out on the sea.
It’s a plane up in the sky
And I guess that’s where I will be.
There’s a heaving sail
And a burning foam
In a rolling gale
That never seems to slow.
It’s a passing tale
Over empty shoals
Don’t you know.
(Don’t you know?)
(Don’t you know?)
Let me tell ya boys.
‘Cause I won’t be around.
What I thought of all you feckin’ gealt…
And everyone else in this damned town.
Well I thank my stars
For all the time I claimed
You could put ’em all to shame
(It’ll never be the same.)
I died that night.
When they sold that boat.
Come along.
Come along.
Chorus
You can dream with me!
You can dream with me!
As we shove off to the shining sea
You can dream with me!
You can dream with me!
And everything that we’re going to be.
II
Let me tell ya boys
That I won’t be around.
Let me tell ya boys
That I won’t be around.
There’s a ship that I’ll be on.
But it’s not on the sea.
There’s a plane up in the sky.
And I guess that’s where I will be.
Let me tell ya boys.
‘Cause I won’t be around.
What I thought of all you feckin’ gealt…
And everyone else in this damned town.
Well what I think my brother’s trying to say
To all you noble clowns.
You could could put ’em all to shame
It never……?????
I died the night
As I sang these notes.
Come along!
(I never felt so alone).
Chorus
You can dream with me!
You can dream with me!
As we shove off to the shining sea
You can dream with me!
You can dream with me!
And everything that we’re going to be.
Bridge
Canada!
Australia!
America ya know.
Hey! It’ll be so cool.
(Why can’t I go with you?)
Canada!
Australia!
America ya know.
Hey! It’ll be so cool.
Bridge
Canada!
Australia!
America?
(I know)
Hey! It’ll be so cool.
(Why can’t I go with you?)
Canada!
Australia!
America ya know.
Hey! It’ll be so cool.
(Why can’t I go with you?)
Shanty
Take the rope
That fills the boat
And holler up
Then down ya go.
You never tire,
Your body fails,
You’ll never find home.
Shanty
Ever strong
And ever cold
And ever
And never hold
The man
Who never found
Home.
That fills the boat
And holler up
Then down ya go.
You never tire,
Your body fails,
You’ll never find home.
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