Faoi Dheireadh Thiar (tuilleadh)
At Long Last (continued)

• TAIMÍN: (go hardghlórach): Fón, fón, fón. Haigh, fón!
  COILMÍN: Suigh síos, nach gcloisfidh siad fhéin é.
  TAIMÍN: Ar ndóigh ar fhaitios nach gcloisfeadh. Fón Nurse. Fón. Fón! (Tagann JACKIE isteach.) Fón fón, fón!
  JACKIE: Ceart go leor, a Taimin. Tá mé dhá fhreagairt anois. [dhá is Connemara dialect]
  COILMÍN: Ach cén sort dáir a bhuaileas chor ar bith thú nuair a thosaíos an fón sin?
  JACKIE: Áras na nAosach, hello. INo. Jackie… Bhuel tá an Matrun cruógach faoi lathair. An féidir liom teachtaireacht a thógail? … Cé atá ag caint? . . . Fan nóiméad amháin mar sin is gheobhaidh mé dhuit í. ‘Mhairin?
  MÁIRÍN: (ón taobh amuigh): Céard?
  JACKIE: Tá tú ag teastail ar an bhfon. Coinnigh an line nóiméad amháin le do thoil.
  (Cuireann MAIRIN a cloigeann isteach ar stáitse.)
  MÁIRÍN: Tóg teachtaireacht, a Jackie, is cuirfidh mé glaoch ar ais nuair atá siad curtha a chodladh.
  
  JACKIE: (ag clúdach an fhóin): Social worker atá ann. Dúirt sí go raibh sé práinneach.
  MÁIRÍN: Oh Lord, cuir thusa Bríd isteach sa leaba mar sin. Tá sí ina sui ar an gcommode.
  JACKIE: O.K.
  MÁIRÍN: Hello? Oh hello Nancy. Happy Christmas, a leana… Is fíor dhuit, ach an oiread le mo jab fhéin. Is deacair do social worker sásamh a bhaint as an Nollaig … Emergency? Dia linn. Céard atá ag cur as dhuit?
  [d.l. 16]
  

  TAIMÏN: (Loudly) Phone, phone, phone. Hi, phone.

  COILMÍN: Sit down, they won’t hear it themselves
  TAIMÍN: Of course for fear they would not hear. Phone Nurse. Phone. Phone! (JACKIE comes in) Phone phone, phone!
  JACKIE: All right, Taimín. I am answering now.
  COILMÍN: But what sort of frenzy hits you at all when that phone starts up?
  JACKIE: House of the Aged, hello. No. Jackie… Well, the matron is busy at present. Can I take a message? … Who is speaking? … So wait a minute and I’ll get her for you. Maureen?
  MÁIRÍN: (from outside): What?
  JACKIE: You are wanted on the phone. Please hold the line for a minute.
  (MAIRIN puts her head in on stage.)
  MÁIRÍN: Take a message, Jackie, and I’ll call back when they’ve been put to bed.
  
  JACKIE: (covering the phone) It is a social worker. She said it was urgent.
  MÁIRÍN: Oh Lord, you put Bríd to bed then. She is sitting on the commode.
  JACKIE: O.K.
  MÁIRÍN: Hello? Oh hello Nancy. Happy Christmas, child[???]… It is true for you, but as much for my own job. It is hard for a social worker to enjoy Christmas… Emergency? God with us. What is bothering you?

  freagairt	Answering, answer	f
  Áras	Habitation, abode; House, building; vessel	m
  cruógach	Pressing, urgent; busy
  práinneach	Urgent, exigent; pressing, pressed
  leanbh	child	m
  sásamh	Satisfaction; Gratification, pleasure	m
  cuir as	Put out of; deprive; …; disconcert, bother

• TAIMÍN: (ag cuartú lena mhaide): Cén taobh a bhfuil an toilet?
  MÁIRÍN: Oh Lord… Fan nóiméad, a Nancy, tá
  emergency beag anseo. Tabhair ag an toilet é, a Choilmin, maith an fear.
  COILMÍN: Ná bí ag oscailt do phlapa no go mbeidh tú istigh sa toilet. Gabh i leith uait.
  MÁIRÍN: Sorry Nancy, cén taobh arb as don bhean seo? Cé.., Meaig Loideáin? … Is nach bhfuil aithne mhaith agam uirthi. Duirt mé leo go dtógfainn isteach sa mbliain nua i… O, muise, maistín agus deargmhaístin, a Nancy .. . Céard? .. . Níl sí leath chomh dona leis an leiciméara de mhac atá aici … Darach, is é, ní raibh aici ach an t-aon mhac… O, an sclaibéara, bionn drochbhéal air nuair atá deoch ólta aige … Chuirfinn geall go raibh .. Sin eile a bhfuil sé a dhéanamh, ag sloigeadh pórtair is isteach is amach ag Teachtai Dála. Óra, bhí sé ag an teach agam fhéin ag tomhais dornai liom… Bhuel, sin i an fhirinne. Tá a hainm thíos le fada ach ní raibh aon leaba againn nó gur cailleadh duine de na seandaoine an tseachtain seo caite… Céard? . Bí cinnte nár imigh a leathoiread i ngan fhios dhó. (Tagann SALLY isteach ón gcistin, gan a fhios aici ca bhfuil sí.)
  SALLY: Taxi? Taxi? Can you call a taxi please?
  MÁIRÍN: Gabh mo leithscéal soicind amháin, a Nancy. Suigh síos ansin, Sally, maith an cailin. I’ll put
  you to bed in a few moments.
  [d.l. 17]

  TAIMÍN: (searching with his stick) Which side is the toilet?
  MÁIRÍN: Oh Lord… Wait a minute, Nancy, there’s a little emergency here. Bring him to the toilet, Colmin, good man.
  COILMÍN: Don’t open your flap until you are in the toilet. You come with me

  MÁIRÍN: Sorry Nancy, which side is this woman from? Who… Meg Loideáin? Don’t I know her well. I told them I would take her in the new year… O, indeed, rude and utterly rude, Nancy … What? She is not half as bad as the idler of her son … Oak, he is, she had only one son… Oh, the loudmouth, he’s bad-mouthed when he’s drunk … I would bet it was ˙… That’s another thing he does, gulping porter in and out at the house of the member of Dáil/parliament… O, he was at my house measuring fists with me… Well, that’s the truth… Her name has been down for a long time but we didn’t have a bed until one of the old people passed away last week… What? … Be sure that half of it doesn’t go unknown. (SALLY comes in from the kitchen, not knowing where she is.)
  SALLY: Taxi? Taxi? Can you call a taxi please?
  MÁIRÍN: Excuse me one second, Nancy. Sit down there, Sally, good girl. I’ll put you to bed in a few moments.

  cuartú = cuardach	search, searching	a, m
  maistín	mastiff; Rude, unmannerly, person; ill-bred person, cur, tyke	m
  leiciméir	Idler, shirker; pretended fool	m gs leiciméara
  dair	oak	gs npl darach
  sclaibéir = clabaire	Open-mouthed person; Garrulous person; Clapper.
  sloig = slog	Swallow	v
  pórtar	porter (beer)	m gs pórtair
  tomhais	Measure; weigh, gauge, estimate	v

• 
  SALLY: No, no. I’m meeting all my friends at the theatre tonight. I need a taxi right now. (Os ard.) 1 Taxi! Taxi!
  MÁIRÍN: Ssh! Ná cuir a bhfuil sa teach in adharc an chochaill. I’ll call a taxi for you
  
  SALLY: Thank vou.
  MÁIRÍN: Where are you staying.
  
  SALLY: Right here at the Hilton Hotel.
  MÁIRÍN: Hello? Can you send a taxi to the Hilton Hotel please. O.K…. Now, Sally. (Tá JACKIE ar a bealach ar ais le cathaoir rothaí.) Cuir a chodladh í seo, maith an cailin … Tá sí a cheapadh gur sa Hilton Hotel atá sí.
  
  SALLY: I’m waiting for a taxi
  JACKIE: Right here, Sally, let me bring you to the foyer.
  SALLY: Oh thank you. (Ag sui isteach sa gcathair rothaí.) I’m off to the Royal Court Theatre.
  JACKIE: Good for you, Sally. We’re on our way to blanket street.
  MÁIRÍN: Tá chuile dhuine cineál sifileáilte anocht, a Nancy … Níl anseo ach beirt againn mar go bhfuil go leor den staff ar saoire … Meas tú an feidir léi fanacht go dti théis na Nollag? …. Is an bhfuil sí chomh dona sin? Muise, má tá nior mhaith liom aon éagóir a dhéanamh uirthi… OK. mar sin. … Beidh, a Nancy, déileáilfidh muid ar chaoi eicint léi… San ambulance ab ea? … Beidh leaba faoi réir anseo agam di
  Tá tú ceart go leor, a Nancy. Níor mhaith liom anshó a fhágáil ar dhuine ar bith Oiche Nollag bheannaithe. OK. Slán, a Nancy [d.l. 18]
  
  

  SALLY: No, no. I’m meeting all my friends at the theater tonight. I need a taxi right now. (Loud) 1 Taxi! Taxi!
  MÁIRÍN: Sssh! Don’t put everyone in the house in a fix. I’ll call a taxi for you
  
  SALLY: Thank you.
  MÁIRÍN: Where are you staying.
  
  SALLY: Right here at the Hilton Hotel.
  MÁIRÍN: Hello? Can you send a taxi to the Hilton Hotel please. O.K…. Now, Sally. (JACKIE is on her way back with a wheelchair.) Put her to sleep, good girl… She thinks she is in the Hilton Hotel.
  
  SALLY: I’m waiting for a taxi
  JACKIE: Right here, Sally, let me bring you to the foyer.
  SALLY: Oh thank you. (Sitting in the wheelchair.) I’m off to the Royal Court Theatre.
  JACKIE: Good for you, Sally. We’re on our way to blanket street.
  MÁIRÍN: Everyone is kind of silly tonight, Nancy… There are only two of us here as many of the staff are on holiday … Do you think she can wait until after Christmas? … Is she as bad as that?… Indeed, if I don’t want to do her any wrong … OK, therefore … Yes, Nancy, we will deal with her in some way… Was it in the ambulance? … I will have a bed ready for her here … You are right, Nancy. I don’t want to leave anyone uncomfortable. Blessed Christmas Eve. OK. Bye, Nancy.
  

  adharc	horn; peak	f
  cochall	Hood, hooded garment; Cowl, mantle	gs npl cochaill
  sifil	Silly talker, chatterer	f
  réir	Will, wish; command	f
  faoi réir	free, available; ready
  anó	discomfort; distress, misery	m
  éagóir	Injustice, wrong; unfairness, inequity	f

• MAIRIN: Oh Lord, ar fhaitíos nach raibh a ndóthain le
  déanamh againn. (COILMÍN ar a bhealach ar ais.) ‘Bhfuil Taimin imithe a chodladh?
  COILMIN: Níl, tá sé ina shui ar an toilet. Cheapfainn gur number two atá aige.
  MAIRIN: Shilfeá go bhfanfá leis nó go mbeadh sé réidh
  COILMIN: Óra, b’fhéidir go mbeadh sé sin uair an chloig ar gor.
  MAIRIN: Ní bheidh sé, an créatur. Síos leat anois agus fan leis ar scáth cupla nóiméad ó tharla nach bhfuil sé in ann a bhealach a dhéanamh.
  (Ag fáil éadach leapan ón oifig.)
  CoILMiN: Ar ndóigh ní in ann brú leis atá mise. Cé atá ag teacht, ru?
  MAIRIN: Á, nach beag a chorraios i ngan fhios dhuit, bail ó Dhia ort.
  COILMIN: Shílfeá gur gann a chuaigh lá orthu le bráite a athrú, más fear nó bean atá ag teacht.
  MAIRIN: Ná heitigh anois mé más é do thoil é. Tabhair aire do Taimin go foilleach. Ní iarrfainn ort é marach go bhfuil an bheirt againn anchruógach
  COILMIN: Ni bheidh mise i bhfad ag fosaíocht air mara gcuirfidh sé uaidh scioptha é, bíodh a fhios aige. (Ag imeacht. Tagann JACKIE ar ais.)
  MAIRIN: Maith an fear, a Choilmin. Jackie, caithfidh muid an leaba seo a chóiriú, tá cineál emergency againn.
  JACKIE: Oh no, Oiche Nollag!
  MAIRIN: Meaig Loidedin
  
  [d.l. 19]

  MAIRIN: Oh Lord, we didn’t have enough to do. (COLMÍN on his way back.) Has Taimin gone to sleep?
  COILMIN: No, he is sitting on the toilet. I would think he is doing a number two.
  MAIRIN: You’d think you’d stay with him until he’d be finished.
  COILMIN: O, that might be an hour hatching.
  MAIRIN: He will not, poor thing. Down with now and wait with him in the shade for a few minutes since it happened that he can’t make his way.
  (Getting bed clothes from the office.)
  CoILMiN: Of course I can’t press him. Who’s coming, ru?
  MAIRIN: Oh, isn´t it little thing you don’t know, God bless you.
  COILMIN: You would think that it would scarcely take them a day to change their hunting-ground, if a man or a woman is coming.
  MAIRIN: Don’t refuse me now if you please. Take care of Taimin for now. I wouldn’t ask you if we both were not very busy.
  COILMIN: I won’t be attending on him long if he doesn’t put it away quickly, he knows.
  (Leaves. Jackie comes back)
  MAIRIN: Good man, Coilmin. Jackie, we have to make this bed, we have a sort of emergency
  JACKIE: Oh no, Christmas Eve!
  MAIRIN: Meg Loidedin
  

  faitíos	Fear, apprehension	m
  dóthain	Enough, sufficiency	f
  clog	bell, clock	m
  gor	Heat (of incubation); broodiness (as of hen); Heat, inflammation; pus, matter; Blister (on skin)	m
  scáth	Shade, shadow; fear, dread
  ru		[no idea what this is]
  gann	Scarce; sparse, thin; meagre, scanty
  bráite	Fishing-ground; Hunting-ground.	m
  eitigh	refuse	v
  foilleacht	Trace, track	m
  marach	Defect, shortcoming	m
  murach	if not, only
  cruógach	Pressing, urgent; busy
  fosaíocht	State of rest; steadiness, stability; control, restrain; (Act of) herding, attending	f
  mura	if not, only
  sciobtha	Fast, rapid, prompt
  cuir ó	Put from, prevent, deprive of; Put away; give over
  cóiriú	Arrangement, dressing	m

• JACKIE: Ach ní raibh sí sin le theacht isteach go dtí tús mi Eanáir. (Ag cóiriúa leapan.)
  MAIRIN: Nior mhaith liom an social worker a eiteachtáil.
  
  JACKIE: Ach ba cheart dhuit a rá léi go bhfuil an staff ar saoire.
  MAIRIN: Is é an dá mhar a chéile dhom é. Tá mé i ladhair an chasúir acu.
  
  JACKIE: Cén chaoi?
  MAIRIN: Ar ndóigh tá mé i mo chónaí ar an mbaile céanna leo.
  
  JACKIE: So what?
  MAIRIN: Ní hí Meaig is measa ach an good-for-nothing de mhac atá aici, ag béiciúich orm os comhair chuile dhuine nuair atá a dhothain ólta aige, ag rá go bhfuil mé ag déanamh éagóir ar a mhathair.
  
  JACKIE: Silly bully-boy tactics. Chuirfinnse na Gardaí ina dhiaidh.
  MAIRIN: Seo é an chaoi is éasca le déileáil leis.
  
  JACKIE: Easca? Is ar éigin atá muid in ann déileáil leis an méid atá againn.
  MAIRIN: Dúirt an social worker go raibh an tseanbhean i ndroch-chaoi, is ní ligfeadh mo chroí dhom gan a theacht i gcabhair uirthi
  (Tosaíonn fón póca Jackie ag glaoch. Féachann sí ar an uimhir agus casann sí as an fón gan é fhreagairt.)
  
  JACKIE: Sorry, a Mháirin, níl mé ag íarraidh a bheith ag tabhairt amach dhuit ach cuireann an cineál sin daoine mo chuid fola ag fiuchadh,
  MAIRIN: Tiff?
  
  [d.l. 20]

  JACKIE: But she was not to come in until the beginning of January. (Making the bed.)
  MAIRIN: I don’t like to refuse the social worker.
  
  JACKIE: But you should tell her that the staff is on holiday.
  MAIRIN: It’s the same thing for me. They have me in a fix.
  JACKIE: How?
  MAIRIN: Of course I live in the same town as them.
  
  JACKIE: So what?
  MAIRIN: Meg is not the worst but the good-for-nothing of a son she has, yelling at me in front of everyone when he’s had enough to drink, saying that I am doing wrong to his mother.
  
  JACKIE: Those are bully-boy tactics. I would send the police after him.
  MAIRIN: This is the easiest way of dealing with it.
  
  JACKIE: Easy? We are barely able to deal with what we have.
  MAIRIN: The social worker said that the old woman iss in a bad way, and my heart would not let me not come help her
  
  (Jackie’s cell phone starts ringing. She looks at the number and turns it off without answering it.)
  JACKIE: Sorry I don’t want to give you away but that sort of people make my blood boil,
  MAIRIN: Tiff?

  eiteach	refusal	m
  béic	yell, shout	f,v vn béiceadh
  éagóir	Injustice, wrong; unfairness, inequity	f
  déileáil	Dealing, deal	f, v
  ar éigean	hardly, barely, with difficulty
  fiuchadh	Boiling, boil	m

• 
  JACKIE: Ó muise, scéal fada. Inseoidh mé aríst dhuit é.
  (TAIMÍN is COILMÍN ag teacht ar ais.)
  COILMIN: Up our that, isteach anseo. (Ní theastaionn ó JACKIE go bhfeicfeadh an bheirt brónach í. Tugann sí comhartha do Mháirín agus imíonn sí.)
  COILMÍN: Anois, a chomrádaí, tá tú ar thalamh slán. Ach cé dhó a bhfuil sibh ag cóiriú na leapan? (Ag sui.)
  MAIRiN: Bean a fhágfas smideanna beaga agat, feicfidh tú fhéin.
  COILMIN: Coinneoidh muide coc léi nó is crua an cás é.
  TAIMIN: Duine orainn agus gan duine ar bith dhinn mas é toil Dé é.
  MAIRIN: Áiméan muis.
  GLÓR: Nurse? Nurse? (Ón taobh deas. COILMIN ag tógáil an pháipéir agus TAIMIN ag tóraiocht áit sui. Buailtear in aghaidh chosa Choilmin é.)
  COILMIN: Breathnaigh romhat. Cén sort mútáil an deabhail atá ort?
  MAIRiN: Crap thusa isteach do chuid spreangaidí as an mbealach. Anonn anseo, Taimin.
  TAIMIN: ‘Dtáinig fear an phosta?
  MAIRiN: Eh… Níor tháinig sé fós. Suigh síos anois is déan suaimhneas, maith an fear.
  TAIMIN: An mbeidh an sagart ag teacht isteach inniu?
  MAIRiN: Cén ghraithe[ghráithe???] atá don sagart anois agat?
  TAIMIN: Faoistin na Nollag ar ndóigh
  MAIRiN: Faoistin aríst, ach bhí tú ag faoistin inné.
  TAIMIN: An raibh?
  MAIRiN: Bhí agus arú inné agus an lá roimhe sin chomh
  maith, mara bhfuil mé as meabhair.
  [d.l. 21]
  

  JACKIE: Oh indeed, long story. I will tell you again.
  (TAIMÍN and COLMÍN coming back.)
  COILMÍN: Up our that, into here (JACKIE does not want the two to see her sad. She gives Máirin a sign and leaves.)

  COILMÍN: Now, comrade, you are on safe ground. But who are you making the bed for? (Sitting.)
  MÁIRÍN: A woman who will leave you small breaths[??], you will see yourself.
  
  COILMÍN: We will keep her coke or the case is hard
  
  TAIMÍN: One of us and none of us if it pleases God.
  MÁIRÍN: Amen ineed.
  VOICE: Nurse? Nurse? (From the right side. COILMIN taking the paper and TAIMIN looking for a place to sit. He struck against Colmin’s leg.)
  COILMÍN: Look ahead. What sort of devil’s fumbling are you?
  MÁIRÍN: Pull in your limbs out of the way. Over here, Taimín.
  TAIMÍN: Did the postman come?
  MÁIRÍN: Eh… He hasn’t come yet. Sit down now and relax, good man.
  TAIMÍN: Will the priest be coming in today?
  MÁIRÍN: What business do you have for the priest now?
  TAIMÍN: Christmas confession of course.
  MÁIRÍN: Confession again, but you were confessing yesterday.
  TAIMÍN: I was?
  MÁIRÍN: It was also the day before yesterday and the day before that, if I am not out of my mind.

  comrádaí	Comrade; Mate, consort	m
  smid	Breath, puff; Syllable, word	smideanna
  coc	Cock (of hat); Pompon, tuft; down of bog-cotton; Cocky gesture; Impertinent, smart, talk	m
  cóc	coke	m
  mútáil	(Act of) fumbling, pottering	f
  crap	Contract, shrink; draw in or up.
  spreangaide	Long thin limb	f
  anonn	Over, to the other side
  suaimhneas	Peace, tranquillity; quietness, rest	m
  Faoistin	confession	f
  arú inné	the day before yesterday

• 
  COILMÏN: Óra, nach bhfuil seabhrán curtha i gcluasa an tsagairt le coicís aige.
  MAIRiN: ’Raibh tusa ag faoistin a Choilmin?
  COILMÏN: Cén ghraithe an deabhail a bhí ag faoistin agam? Tá tú as peaca gnaíúil a dhéanamh ó thiocfas tú isteach anseo.
  MAIRiN: (ag gáire): Ach ar ndóigh d’fhéadfá gach, ndearna tú de pheacaí i gcaitheamh do shaoil a chur i bhfaoistin.
  COILMÏN: Ní dhearna mé mo leathdhóthain. Nach deabhlai tráthúil gurb iad na rudaí is mó sa saol a thugann sásamh do dhuine a mbíonn siad ag glaoch peacaí orthu.
  MAIRiN: Á, níl baol ar bith nach mbeidh freagra ar chuile rud agatsa.
  COILMÏN: M’anam gur fíor dhom é.
  MAIRiN: Tá sé in am agaibh a bheith ag gliondáil libh a chodladh anois.
  COILMÏN: Hea?
  MAIRiN: Tá chuile dhuine ag dul a chodladh luath anocht mar gheall gurb í Oiche Nollag í.
  COILMÏN: Is an mbeidh biongó ar bith inniu again?
  MAIRiN: Tá fear an bhiongó ar saoire go dtí théis na Nollag.
  COILMÏN: Nár thé an cholera [subj] thairis marab é a thráth é.
  MAIRiN: Sin é anois a bhuíochas théis chomh maith is a bhí sé dhaoibh ar feadh na bliana.
  COILMÏN: Ach cén chaoi a geaithfidh muid an t-am?
  MAIRiN: Is maith an chiall ag na créatúir nach bhfuil in ann an leaba a fhágáil é.
  [d.l. 22]

  COILMÏN: O, who has not put a buzz in the priest’s ears for two weeks.
  MAIRiN: Were you at confession, Colmin?
  COILMÏN: What business of the devil did I have at confession? You have committed a beautful sin since you came in here.
  MAIRiN: (laughing) But of course you could confess all the sins you have done throughout your life.
  COILMÏN: I didn’t do half enough. Isn’t it devilishly apt that the things in life that give a person the most satisfaction are what they call sins.
  MAIRiN: Ah, there is no danger that you will not have an answer to everything.
  COILMÏN: My soul is true to me.
  MAIRiN: It’s time for you to go to sleep now. [gliondáil ???]
  COILMÏN: Yes?
  MAIRiN: Everyone is going to bed early tonight because it is Christmas Eve.
  COILMÏN: Will we have any bingo today?
  MAIRiN: The bingo man is on holiday until after Christmas.
  COILMÏN: May the cholera go away if it was not it’s time.
  MAIRiN: That’s it now thanks after being as good as he has been to you all year.
  COILMÏN: But how will we spend the time?
  MAIRiN: The poor things who cannot leave the bed have good sense.

  seabhrán	Buzzing noise in head; dizziness; Buzz, hum; whirr, whizz.	m
  gnaíúil	Beautiful, comely; Decent, generous
  diabhlaí	Diabolic, devilish
  tráthúil	Timely, opportune; Apt, felicitous; witty
  gliondáil = glinne	Winding frame, winder
  gliondar	Gladness, joyousness, mirthfulness
  tráth	Hour; time, occasion; day, period
  thairis	over it
  ciall	sense, sanity	f

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