Scene 4

March 25^th, 1881

The scene is The Greenman Inn in Josesfield Sussex.

The scene is a bar, with three stools in front. Various bottles are on shelves behind. There is a full pitcher of beer on the bar. The Ghost sisters are standing behind the bar, three on either side of the inn keeper.

Characters for this scene:

Henry Nailard, aged 35, - grandson of Mary - typical farmer in looks and dress, big build, ruddy complexion.

Henry W. Nailard, aged 38, second cousin of other Henry, also with rough clothes and appearance.

Albert T Nailard, Aged 52, staying at the Inn, job is listed as Miller’s Clerk, somewhat slimmer and smart than his cousins. We are not quite sure of how he is related.

Thomas Hillman, Inn Keeper, aged 32. Smartly dressed, with shinny smoothed down hair.

Thomas Hillman, Innkeeper: Good day, gentlemen. Nice to see you here. What can I get you?

Henry: I’ll have an ale, thank you Thomas. And we’re not together. It is just a coincidence that we arrived here at the same time.

(he sits down at the far right bar stool)

Henry W: I’ll have an ale too, inn keeper. And I am expecting someone to join me. I understand he has a room here, Mr. Albert Nailard.

(he sits down on the far left bar stool)

(Thomas takes two pint mugs from underneath the bar, and pours beer into them from the jug he has on the bar. He pushes them across to each of them.)

Thomas: Yes, indeed. Here you are gentlemen. That will be 3 pence each. Yes, Mr. Nailard has been staying here for some months now. Is he a relation then?

(They each dig a threp'ny bit out of the trouser pockets and put it on the bar.)

Henry: Not of mine.

Henry W: Well, I don’t rightly know, that’s why I wanted to talk to him. Maybe we have some kin in common way back when. With a name like ours, you don’t get many takers who aren’t related in some way or other.

(They start to drink their beer, noticeably not saying Cheers.

New man comes in from of stage left.)

Albert: Which of you gentlemen is Henry Nailard?

Both together: I am

Albert: (laughing ) Well, which Henry Nailard wants to get to know Albert Nailard - that’s me?

Henry W: I am the one who left the note for you. I wondered if you were our kin. There was an Albert Nailard who lived around here twenty years ago - and then he just disappeared. I suppose it might be you - you’re about the right age. But I never had anything to do with that Albert Nailard, and nobody ever said he was kin. Let me buy you a pint. What will you have?

(Albert sits on the middle stool. )

Albert: Same as you will be fine, thank you kindly.

(Thomas pulls up another mug pours him a pint and puts it in front of him. Henry H reaches in his pocket again for the right coin.)

Albert: Cheers. (raising his glass)

Both Henrys: Cheers. (raising their glasses)

They all sip their beer in silence for a minute.

Albert: Well if you are both called Henry Nailard, I assume that you, too, must be cousins, if you aren’t in fact brothers.

Henry: Yes, second cousins, but the families have never been close.

Henry W: So what are you doing in this area anyway?

Albert: I work as a clerk for the Miller.

Henry: And were you raised around here? You seem to want to keep things pretty quiet.

Albert: Yes, I was. And originally I worked as a coach builder. When I lived here before it was with the Ansells, you might know them.

Henry: Know them, yes. I used to work for them before I inherited the farm. But you didn’t live there then.

Albert: No, I spent time away learning my trade, and when I did, then I came back. Well, I married one of their daughters, so that is why we lived there, but we didn’t get on - so after awhile I split, and I have only come back now that I am getting older to see if I want to settle down here for my last days.

Henry W: So is she gone then, your wife? And did you never have children?

Albert: Well, I thank you, Henry for the drink, but my private life is just what I would like to keep it, private, so I will shake your hand, and say good bye. Nice meeting you, other cousin Henry. I hope you see it in your heart to make friends one day.

(Albert leaves the bar and goes off stage right, presumably to his room at the inn.)

Thomas: Will you have another, gentlemen?

Albert: No, thanks I have to be someplace.

Albert W: No, I need to be off too. See you again Thomas, and thank you.

(Albert and Albert W. go off stage left, being careful not to look as if they are together as they go out the door.)

Curtain closes.