Exiles

By James Joyce.

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Dramatis Personae

Richard Rowan, a writer
Bertha
Archie, their son, aged eight years
Robert Hand, journalist
Beatrice Justice, his cousin, music teacher
Brigid, an old servant of the Rowan family
A Fishwoman

At Merrion and Ranelagh, suburbs of Dublin.

Summer of the year 1912.

Exiles

A Play in Three Acts

First Act

The drawingroom in Richard Rowan’s house at Merrion, a suburb of Dublin. On the right, forward, a fireplace, before which stands a low screen. Over the mantelpiece a giltframed glass. Further back in the right wall, folding doors leading to the parlour and kitchen. In the wall at the back to the right a small door leading to a study. Left of this a sideboard. On the wall above the sideboard a framed crayon drawing of a young man. More to the left double doors with glass panels leading out to the garden. In the wall at the left a window looking out on the road. Forward in the same wall a door leading to the hall and the upper part of the house. Between the window and door a lady’s davenport stands against the wall. Near it a wicker chair. In the centre of the room a round table. Chairs, upholstered in faded green plush, stand round the table. To the right, forward, a smaller table with a smoking service on it. Near it an easychair and a lounge. Coconut mats lie before the fireplace, beside the lounge and before the doors. The floor is of stained planking. The double doors at the back and the folding doors at the right have lace curtains, which are drawn halfway. The lower sash of the window is lifted and the window is hung with heavy green plush curtains. The blind is pulled down to the edge of the lifted lower sash. It is a warm afternoon in June and the room is filled with soft sunlight which is waning.

	Brigid and Beatrice Justice come in by the door on the left. Brigid is an elderly woman, lowsized, with irongrey hair. Beatrice Justice is a slender dark young woman of 27 years. She wears a wellmade navyblue costume and an elegant simply trimmed black straw hat, and carries a small portfolioshaped handbag.
Brigid	The mistress and Master Archie is at the bath. They never expected you. Did you send word you were back, Miss Justice?
Beatrice	No. I arrived just now.
Brigid	Points to the easychair. Sit down and I’ll tell the master you are here. Were you long in the train?
Beatrice	Sitting down. Since morning.
Brigid	Master Archie got your postcard with the views of Youghal. You’re tired out, I’m sure.
Beatrice	O, no. She coughs rather nervously. Did he practise the piano while I was away?
Brigid	Laughs heartily. Practice, how are you! Is it Master Archie? He is mad after the milkman’s horse now. Had you nice weather down there, Miss Justice?
Beatrice	Rather wet, I think.
Brigid	Sympathetically. Look at that now. And there is rain overhead too. Moving towards the study. I’ll tell him you are here.
Beatrice	Is Mr. Rowan in?
Brigid	Points. He is in his study. He is wearing himself out about something he is writing. Up half the night he does be. Going. I’ll call him.
Beatrice	Don’t disturb him, Brigid. I can wait here till they come back if they are not long.
Brigid	And I saw something in the letterbox when I was letting you in. She crosses to the study door, opens it slightly and calls. Master Richard, Miss Justice is here for Master Archie’s lesson.
	Richard Rowan comes in from the study and advances towards Beatrice, holding out his hand. He is a tall athletic young man of a rather lazy carriage. He has light brown hair and a moustache and wears glasses. He is dressed in loose lightgrey tweed.
Richard	Welcome.
Beatrice	Rises and shakes hands, blushing slightly. Good afternoon, Mr. Rowan. I did not want Brigid to disturb you.
Richard	Disturb me? My goodness!
Brigid	There is something in the letterbox, sir.
Richard	Takes a small bunch of keys from his pocket and hands them to her. Here.
	Brigid goes out by the door at the left and is heard opening and closing the box. A short pause. She enters with two newspapers in her hands.
Richard	Letters?
Brigid	No, sir. Only them Italian newspapers.
Richard	Leave them on my desk, will you?
	Brigid hands him back the keys, leaves the newspapers in the study, comes out again and goes out by the folding doors on the right.