Major Barbara, George Bernard Shaw [bookstand for reading txt] 📗

and poisoned with lyddite! Mrs. Baines shrinks; but he goes on remorselessly. The oceans of blood, not one drop of which is shed in a really just cause! the ravaged crops! the peaceful peasants forced, women and men, to till their fields under the fire of opposing armies on pain of starvation! the bad blood of the fierce little cowards at home who egg on others to fight for the gratification of their national vanity! All this makes money for me: I am never richer, never busier than when the papers are full of it. Well, it is your work to preach peace on earth and goodwill to men. Mrs. Baines’s face lights up again. Every convert you make is a vote against war. Her lips move in prayer. Yet I give you this money to help you to hasten my own commercial ruin. He gives her the cheque. Cusins Mounting the form in an ecstasy of mischief. The millennium will be inaugurated by the unselfishness of Undershaft and Bodger. Oh be joyful! He takes the drumsticks from his pockets and flourishes them. Mrs. Baines Taking the cheque. The longer I live the more proof I see that there is an Infinite Goodness that turns everything to the work of salvation sooner or later. Who would have thought that any good could have come out of war and drink? And yet their profits are brought today to the feet of salvation to do its blessed work. She is affected to tears. Jenny Running to Mrs. Baines and throwing her arms round her. Oh dear! how blessed, how glorious it all is! Cusins In a convulsion of irony. Let us seize this unspeakable moment. Let us march to the great meeting at once. Excuse me just an instant. He rushes into the shelter. Jenny takes her tambourine from the drum head. Mrs. Baines Mr. Undershaft: have you ever seen a thousand people fall on their knees with one impulse and pray? Come with us to the meeting. Barbara shall tell them that the Army is saved, and saved through you. Cusins Returning impetuously from the shelter with a flag and a trombone, and coming between Mrs. Baines and Undershaft. You shall carry the flag down the first street, Mrs. Baines He gives her the flag. Mr. Undershaft is a gifted trombonist: he shall intone an Olympian diapason to the West Ham Salvation March. Aside to Undershaft, as he forces the trombone on him. Blow, Machiavelli, blow. Undershaft Aside to him, as he takes the trombone. The trumpet in Zion! Cusins rushes to the drum, which he takes up and puts on. Undershaft continues, aloud. I will do my best. I could vamp a bass if I knew the tune. Cusins It is a wedding chorus from one of Donizetti’s operas; but we have converted it. We convert everything to good here, including Bodger. You remember the chorus. “For thee immense rejoicing⁠—immenso giubilo⁠—immenso giubilo.” With drum obbligato. Rum tum ti tum tum, tum tum ti ta⁠— Barbara Dolly: you are breaking my heart. Cusins What is a broken heart more or less here? Dionysos Undershaft has descended. I am possessed. Mrs. Baines Come, Barbara: I must have my dear Major to carry the flag with me. Jenny Yes, yes, Major darling. Cusins Snatches the tambourine out of Jenny’s hand and mutely offers it to Barbara. Barbara Coming forward a little as she puts the offer behind her with a shudder, whilst Cusins recklessly tosses the tambourine back to Jenny and goes to the gate. I can’t come. Jenny Not come! Mrs. Baines With tears in her eyes. Barbara: do you think I am wrong to take the money? Barbara Impulsively going to her and kissing her. No, no: God help you, dear, you must: you are saving the Army. Go; and may you have a great meeting! Jenny But arn’t you coming? Barbara No. She begins taking off the silver brooch from her collar. Mrs. Baines Barbara: what are you doing? Jenny Why are you taking your badge off? You can’t be going to leave us, Major. Barbara Quietly. Father: come here. Undershaft Coming to her. My dear! Seeing that she is going to pin the badge on his collar, he retreats to the penthouse in some alarm. Barbara Following him. Don’t be frightened. She pins the badge on and steps back towards the table, showing him to the others. There! It’s not much for 5,000 pounds is it? Mrs. Baines Barbara: if you won’t come and pray with us, promise me you will pray for us. Barbara I can’t pray now. Perhaps I shall never pray again. Mrs. Baines Barbara! Jenny Major! Barbara Almost delirious. I can’t bear any more. Quick march! Cusins Calling to the procession in the street outside. Off we go. Play up, there! Immenso giubilo. He gives the time with his drum; and the band strikes up the march, which rapidly becomes more distant as the procession moves briskly away. Mrs. Baines I must go, dear. You’re overworked: you will be all right tomorrow. We’ll never lose you. Now Jenny: step out with the old flag. Blood and Fire! She marches out through the gate with her flag. Jenny Glory Hallelujah! Flourishing her tambourine and marching. Undershaft To Cusins, as he marches out past him easing the slide of his trombone. “My ducats and my daughter!” Cusins Following him out. Money and gunpowder! Barbara Drunkenness and Murder! My God: why hast thou forsaken me? She sinks on the form with her face buried in her hands. The march passes away into silence. Bill Walker steals across to her. Bill Taunting. Wot prawce Selvytion nah? Shirley Don’t you hit her when she’s down. Bill She ’it me wen aw wiz dahn. Waw shouldn’t I git a bit o’ me own back? Barbara Raising her head. I didn’t take your money, Bill. She crosses the yard to the gate and turns her back on the two men