Plot Summary (English)

Act 1

Scene 1 – "Terrible Tragedy"

The play kicks off with the sound of a train coming into the station and newspaper boys shouting, "Terrible Tragedy!" So, you already know something big has gone down. Enter Máire, our main character, who straight-up confesses that she killed her own child. Yeah, we're starting with a bang! She talks about how her daughter will never grow up to be a "silly girl" like her. Next, we meet the Prosecutor, who's basically there to make sure the audience (that's you) knows this crime is a big deal—no room for pity here, folks!

Then the curtain rises, and we're in the courtroom. It's all about Máire now. The court clerk asks, "Guilty or not guilty?" but instead of answering, Máire starts spilling her story to the audience. She teases that there are things people will never find out, and that everything began on a fateful night at a dance. Cue the flashback!

Scene 2 – "The Dance That Started It All"

We're now at the local dance in a school house. Colm, the "dance master," asks Máire to sing, and she belts out "Siúil, a Ghrá". In walks Pádraig, a new schoolteacher, who listens to her singing and is hooked. Colm introduces the two, and before you know it, Pádraig's getting orange juice for them both. (Who knew OJ was the key to romance?)

Through their chat, we find out that Máire is shy and rarely goes to dances—her mammy wants her to become a nun. But Máire, oh Máire, has other plans now that she's met Pádraig! Just as things are heating up, we jump back to the courtroom, where Máire's brother Liam is being interrogated. He makes it clear he's not responsible for his sister—classic "not my problem" attitude. He only took her to the dance because their mother nagged him into it.

Scene 3 – "Pádraig the Poet (Sort Of)"

Next, we find Pádraig walking Máire home. He's a bit winded, showing his age (he's at least 10 years older than Máire). Pádraig, ever the charmer, starts spouting poetry about the beauty of the evening. Máire, of course, is impressed. Then he pulls the classic line: "You're too lovely to be stuck in a convent!" He tells her how he planned to become a priest but got kicked out for smoking (rebel alert!) and that his poor wife is sick and can never be a "true wife" to him. Uh-oh… you can see where this is heading. Máire, sensing the danger, quickly heads home. But before she goes, Pádraig warns her: "Don't tell your mam!"—because that always works, right?

Scene 4 – "Mam's Testimony"

This scene is short but powerful. Máire's Mam takes the stand, and just like Liam, she denies responsibility for anything that's happened. She talks about how she slaved away after her husband died, with no help, and what did she get in return? Shame and gossip from the neighbours. Ouch! When the attorney accuses her of trying to induce a miscarriage, Mam snaps back that it's not a sin to "put an end to something unclean." So yeah, she's not winning any "Mother of the Year" awards here.

Scene 5 – "A Secret Meeting"

Back at the schoolhouse, Máire sneaks out to meet Pádraig again. She had to wait for her mother to fall asleep before slipping away. Pádraig, ever the gentleman (not), is annoyed that she's late. He complains about how they have to hide their love, while Máire starts feeling guilty about his poor wife. Pádraig, though, plays the victim, saying he's the real one suffering here, trapped in a loveless marriage. He goes all out, saying that his love for Máire is the only thing keeping him going—so romantic, right? He even gives her a ring, declaring that, in his mind, she's his wife now. (Alarm bells, anyone?)

Scene 6 – "Confession (But No Forgiveness)"

Off to confession we go. Máire is ready to confess her sins, but the priest interrupts her. He tells her to cut ties with her lover, and if she doesn't, she'll be committing a grave sin. Máire says she can't let him go. The priest, clearly done with this drama, refuses to give her absolution, leaving her collapsing in tears. Things are getting heavy!

Scene 7 – "Family Secrets"

We finally get to meet Máire's whole family: Mam, Liam, and Seán. The scene opens with them saying the rosary, but things quickly go south. When they get to the part about being "conceived without sin," Máire jumps up, crying, and bolts from the room. Mam's furious, but when she leaves to look for Máire, Liam and Seán have a sneaky chat. Liam's been trying to get out to meet his girlfriend Beití (clearly rebelling against Mam's control), and Seán confesses that Máire hasn't been taking Communion lately and has been sneaking out. Even worse, Seán mentions that she's often sick in the morning (uh-oh), and he swore not to tell anyone. Of course, Mam overhears, and now she knows something is up.

Scene 8 – "Enter Bean Uí Chinsealigh"

The final scene of Act 1 is set in the courtroom again, where Bean Uí Chinsealigh testifies. She had hired Máire as a housemaid but fired her after finding out she was pregnant. Bean Uí Chinsealigh goes on and on about how she just couldn't have someone like Máire around her own children. The attorney, of course, points out the hypocrisy: "You were fine hiring her when she could've been a criminal, but now that she's pregnant, it's too much?" In the end, Bean Uí Chinsealigh had no pity for Máire and sent her packing.

Act 2

Scene 1 – "The Manager's Testimony"

We're back in court, and the Manager of the factory where Máire worked is on the stand. He's a kind man, but life isn't easy for anyone. Attorney 2 questions him, and we find out that Máire's job was pretty grim—she was cleaning bathrooms, scrubbing floors, and rinsing sinks every day. She worked ten hours a week for a measly three pounds—not exactly a living wage, especially with a child to care for.

The Manager reveals that Máire was pretending to be a widow and going by the name Bean Uí Laoire (fancy, right?). The factory workers even chipped in to help her out, showing that there's still some kindness in this cold world. But, one day, Máire just stopped showing up for work. The matron was sent to check on her, but the house had collapsed. Yikes!

Scene 2 – "The Landlady and the Collapse"

Next up, we meet the Landlady who rented a room to Máire. Attorney 2 wastes no time getting to the point: the Landlady never believed Máire's widow story and knew about her illegitimate child the whole time. Still, she used to take care of Máire's daughter for a bit of extra cash (because why not make some money out of it?).

Then, we flashback to the house collapsing. The Landlady tells us that when she saw the walls buckle and the ceiling start to fall, she grabbed her kids and ran—except, oops! She forgot about Máire's daughter. Máire comes back, sees the wreckage, and heroically rushes in to save her child, despite the chaos.

Who shows up next? Seáinín an Mhótair—good ol' Seáinín, who always brings a bit of heart to the story. He's furious with the neighbours for treating Máire so poorly, calling them out for being un-Christian. Meanwhile, Mailí arrives and helps Máire and her daughter find a place to stay. Finally, a bit of support for poor Máire!

Scene 3 – "Mailí's Bitter Truth"

The Attorneys track down Mailí on the street. They start questioning her about taking Máire into her home. Mailí, never one to hold back, lays it all out: the so-called "respectable" women of the community wouldn't give Máire the time of day, but her house—while not fancy—is at least welcoming. Shade thrown!

Mailí also explains that Máire lost most of her belongings when the house collapsed and can't bring herself to leave her child alone anymore. The attorney suggests Mailí's house isn't suitable for Máire and her daughter, but Mailí isn't having it. She sends them both to hell, and honestly? We're with her on this one.

Scene 4 – "A Glimmer of Hope"

In Mailí's house, she tries to talk some sense into Máire, suggesting that maybe the father should be stepping up and helping out. But Máire gets defensive. When Mailí suggests going back to work, Máire refuses—she's too protective of her daughter to leave her behind. In the end, Mailí gives her a small lifeline: the Landlady will let them stay for free if Máire does a bit of cleaning around the place. Máire, finally, feels a little hope.

Scene 5 – "Old Friends, New Heartbreak"

We jump back to the courtroom with Colm testifying about the night of the fateful dance. Colm's quick to defend himself, insisting he wasn't to blame for what followed. Then, we're back on the street where Colm spots Máire and invites her for coffee. Small talk ensues—Colm mentions that Seán is looking sharp as a priest, and that Liam is getting married (news to Máire).

Colm starts getting a bit flirty, but Máire isn't interested. Then, Colm drops a bombshell: Pádraig's wife died a month after Máire left. Hearing that, Máire dashes home in a flurry of emotion, her coffee untouched.

Scene 6 – "The Final Betrayal"

Máire, back home, writes a letter to Pádraig. She believes that now that he's free, he'll come back to her and their daughter. But surprise, surprise—Pádraig shows up drunk at Mailí's house, and it's not to see Máire. It's for Mailí. Ouch.

Máire tells Pádraig about their daughter, Pádraigín, and she's filled with hope, thinking this might bring them together. But Pádraig doesn't want to see the child. Worse, he drops the bombshell that he's remarried, to the young schoolmistress who was chasing him all along. Máire is shattered. She realises Pádraig only came to Mailí's house for, well, Mailí, and accuses him of seducing yet another woman.

In a moment of cruelty, Pádraig calls Máire a harlot (as if he hasn't been stringing her along this whole time!). Colm and Mailí come back in, laughing and celebrating with a bottle. Colm toasts Pádraig for managing to bury one wife and marry another all in the same year—classic lad behaviour, right? Pádraig, humiliated, storms out.

Scene 7 – "Tragic End"

In court again, Mailí gives chilling testimony. She smelled gas in Máire's room, rushed down, and found cushions and rags stuffed around the door. When she finally got inside, she discovered that Máire had placed her infant daughter's head in the oven, with the gas running, and she herself lay pressed against her child. Both were already dead.

Mailí concludes that Máire couldn't let her child face eternal darkness without her by her side. It's a heart-wrenching moment, as we hear Máire's voice once again, saying that now her daughter will never grow up and be trapped like she was.

Scene 8 – "Final Judgments"

The play ends at the graveyard, where all the major characters return to give their final thoughts. The Attorney asks who should really be blamed for these tragic deaths. Máire's mother denies responsibility, claiming she raised Máire to be a good Christian. Seán says Máire brought shame on the family, while Liam blames her for ruining his engagement with Beití.

The factory manager simply notes that someone had to clean the bathrooms, and Bean Uí Chinsealigh says she couldn't keep her because of what the neighbours would say. The Social Worker insists she tried her best, but Máire was stubborn and wouldn't give up her child. Seáinín sums it up in his own way: those who break society's rules always lose in the end.

Finally, Mailí speaks the last heartfelt words, saying that Máire stayed loyal to the end, never revealing who the father was. She prays for God's mercy on Máire and her daughter, as well as every sinner like them. The scene closes with Máire's voice singing "Siúil, a Ghrá" one last time, while Pádraig silently visits the grave before pulling up his collar and walking away.