But she’ll no gae tae the pit-heid if A can stop her. We’ll hae tae keep her mind aff it. Can ye mind o’ onything else we micht want? POLLY Naw naethin’. ELLEN We micht need linen fur tyin’ up MARY A’ll get it. [Mary goes to the bedroom again. POLLY She’s gettin’ restless. ELLEN Aye. POLLY Naw, ye’ll no’. The doctors were there afore A come away, and ambulance men tae wi’ aw they’ll need. But we’ll huv tae keep her here whether she likes it or no’. ELLEN Aye. (She looks towards the street-door. Polly catches her meaning.) Wull ye? A don’t move sae easy as A used. POLLY The door? ELLEN Aye. POLLY Aye. That’s richt. (She goes to the street-door.) Better let her think we’re ill usin’ her than let her oot tae see them sichts. [She turns the key and gives it to Ellen as she resumes her seat. ELLEN Thenk ye, Polly. (She pockets the key) Help me tae mak’ talk noo and keep her mind aff it. MARY (enters with a bottle) There’s the brandy. ELLEN That’s richt. (A slight pause; the older women try to make conversation. First Polly bobs forward as if about to speak, but leans back without saying anything; Ellen does the same. Mary moves to the door as Ellen, glancing round for a subject, lets her eye fall on the brandy bottle and fires off her remark in time to arrest Mary’s progress towards the door.) A thocht there wis mair nor that in the bottle, aw the same. POLLY It’s a handy thing tae huv aboot the hoose. ELLEN Aye. Rare stuff fur the jaw-ache. POLLY It is that. Goes weel wi’ a cup o’ tea, tae, on a cauld mornin’. MARY Is there onything else? ELLEN Eh? Naw, A don’t think there is, Mary. Let me think. Naw. That’s aw A can mind. MARY A’ll awa’, thin. ELLEN Naw, ye’ll no’. MARY Why no’? ELLEN Because ye’ll no’. Ye’ll stay whaur ye are. MARY Let me go. A must go. A cannae stay here. POLLY Dae whit yer auntie tells ye, lassie. Young folks is that smert nooadays, there’s nae use tellin’ them onythin’. MARY