An Triail - Summary in English

This is a summary of An Triail scene by scene in English.I did not write this, i found it on the internet so I cannot take any credit for it but I thought it would be helpful.

An Triail -  summary

Act 1

Scene 1

Major Characters: Maire is the only major character in this scene, although the Prosecutor does a lot to set up the entire situation

Setting	Action
Curtain still down	A bit of the song "Siúil, a Ghrá" is heard, then newspaper boys dash in, in front of the curtain, yelling "Evening Paper! Terrible Tragedy!" We hear the voice of the protagonist, Máire, saying that she killed he own child before she was a girl. Girls grow up to be women, but her daughter is free, and will not grow up to be the "yielding silly girl" to any man. The prosecutor steps out before the curtain, chases away the newspaper boys, and addresses the audience as if they were the jury. He asks people to ignore anything they have heard about the case, to think only about the testimony they hear. He characterizes the crime as "an ugly, barbarous act" that demands judgment and venegance from God and from the people. And he emphasize that even though she is a young girl, there is no room for pity in the jury's judgment of the prisoner
Curtain rises, we see the courtroom	Máire is called and comes to stand in the witness box. The clerk asks, "Guilty or Not Guilty?" At that question, Máire comes forward and addresses the audience directly (so that we step out of the courtroom setting, so to speak). Máire says that "they" think that they will find everything out, but there are things they will never know . . . a certain name that was never mentioned . . . the night that started it all, at the dance at the school house . . . the song that she sang . . . We move to the next scene, which takes place in the school house, on that fateful night that started it all.

Scene 2

Major Characters: Máire and Pádraig are key players in this scene -- but Máire's mother, even though we don't meet her, can definitely be felt as a character in this scene. Liam is also important, given his testimony in the trial

Setting	Action
At the school house, where the dance is being held	Young boys and girls abound, with Colm as "dance master" for the evening. Máire sits by herself. Colm asks Máire for a song, and she sings "Siúil, a Ghrá". As she is singing, Pádraig, a new schoolmaster, comes in and stops to listen. Then Colm calls for a dance. Máire doesn't have a partner, so Colm introduces her to Pádraig -- whom she had noticed playing the harmonium at Mass. Pádraig gets orange juice for both of them, and they chat, through which we learn that Máire is very shy and rarely goes to dances. Her mother wants her to be a nun, she is recently out of school, and she was only allowed to go to the dance because it was in the school house, the priest was there, and her older brother Liam brought her.
Same physical setting, but it becomes the courtroom	Pádraig and Máire go off to join the other dancers, and Liam's date, Beití, calls to Liam. As Liam turns to join the dance, his name is called by the clerk of the court. The stage darkens and only Liam is in the spotlight, where he is questioned by the attorneys. It is established that Liam is the oldest brother of "the prisoner", but he wastes no time at all in making it clear that he had no responsibility for his sister -- "I'm not her keeper!". He was with someone else, he has no idea how she got home or what might have happened, and he only took her because their mother hounded him to do it.
Back to the dance	Beití calls Liam again, and this time they go off, and we hear general goodbyes as people leave the dance

Scene 3

Major Characters: Máire and Pádraig have the scene to themselves.

Setting

Action

All the action takes place on a bridge, over a stream, as Pádraig walks Máire home.

They stop at the bridge, and Pádraig is somewhat winded from the walk. (Clues in the script suggest he is at least 10 years older than Máire, but he could be more). Pádraig spouts poetry to describe the beauty of the evening, and Máire is much impressed by his talk. Then Pádraig begins to sweet talk Máire. Among the things that come out: Máire is to sweet and lovely a girl to be locked up in a convent. Pádraig planned on becoming a priest, but was thrown out for smoking a cigarette where/when he shouldn't have been, so he went into teaching. He is married, but his wife has always been ill, apparently has a terminal disease at this point, and "has never been able to be a true wife to me". Máire quite suddenly decides she had best hurry home, as her mother will be waiting up and watching for her. Pádraig's last words in the scene: Don't say anything about this to your mother.

Scene 4

“The Mother's Testimony", a very short scene. Major Characters: Máire's Mother is interviewed by Aturnae 2.

Setting

Action

Similar to the scene-within-a-scene trick pulled with Liam earlier, we start with one setting but imply another. The mother comes in, kneels, and starts praying. The spotlight shines on her, and her testimony begins.

Much as did Liam, the first thing Máire's mother does is to deny responsibility, using almost exactly the same words, in fact. Her mother talks at length about how her husband died a few months before her youngest was born, and how she slaved with no one to help her. What did she get in return? Shame, and the mockery of her neighbors. The attorney probes about her concern for others' opinions, and whether she supported her daughter when she was in trouble. The mother retorts that Máire brought it on herself. The attorney then brings up the suggestion that the mother probably tried to induce a miscarriage. She replies that it isn't a sin to put an end to "something unclean, cursed by God and Man". She leaves weeping -- and perhaps feeling that she, herself, is the victim in this whole situation.

Scene 5

Major Characters: Máire and again have the scene to themselves, in the school house

Setting

Action

All action takes place in the school house, at night.

Pádraig is waiting impatiently, pacing, grumbling, looking at his watch. Máire runs in, breathless. She had to wait until her mother went to sleep before she could slip away, coming the back way, as Pádraig told her to do. Pádraig is annoyed that she is late. Pádraig bemoans his fate a good deal. His position forces him to love Máire in secrecy. Máire asks about Pádraig's wife, and feels that they are doing her an injustice. Pádraig is not very sympathetic about his wife, whom we describes as "grumbling, complaining". He clearly feels that he is the unfortunate one in this triangle. Pádraig passionately declares that it is only his love for Máire that keeps him going, that the thanks God for her every morning. He also reveals that his wife could live for years, long years of "purgatory". Pádraig asks Máire to declare her love for him. Then he strongly reminds her never to mention him to anyone, nor to write to him. She says that they wouldn't get his name even if they tore her heart out and crushed it into tiny pieces. Máire is still feeling guilty, but Pádraig assures her that their love is no sin, is a blessed thing even. He takes a ring off his finger and puts it on hers, declaring that as far as he is concerned, she is his wife now.

Scene 6

A very short scene in which Máire goes to confession.

Setting

Action

The confessional

Máire starts her confession with the usual formula. As she is about to enumerate her sins, the priest interrupts her. He says that she must break with her lover, forever, never to speak to him again. Máire says she can't do that. The priest reminds her that of Our Savior's admonition "if your right hand offend you, cut if off." It is better to be without a hand than to commit a sin. Máire won't break with her lover, so the priest says he cannot give her absolution. We go to black, as Máire collapses to the ground

Scene 7

In one of the longer scenes we've had so far, we get to see the whole family interacting: Máire, her Mother, and her brothers Liam and Seán.

Setting	Action
Máire's home	The family is saying the rosary together. When they get to "conceived without sin", Máire leaps up, crying, and runs from the room. Her mother pursues, but doesn't catch her. But by the time she has come back, Seán is studying his books, and Liam is intercepted trying to sneak out. Mother and Liam have an argument about Liam's attentions to Beití de Búrca. This includes a speech about how the burden of being both father and mother to the family has been placed on her, and she would do her duty -- get Máire into the convent, Seán into the priesthood, and Liam running the farm and taking care of his mother in her old age. When she leaves to find Máire again, Liam and Seán talk about Liam sneaking out the window to meet Beití, after Mother goes to sleep. Seán will unlock the door so he can get back in -- but Liam says it is pointless to pursue Beití as long as he is under his mother's control, and Seán agrees that she is unreasonable. Mother returns, not finding Máire, and leaves again. Seán says that Mother is too hard on Máire, harder than she is on the brothers. Liam mentions that Máire doesn't take Holy Communion anymore, and that he has heard her sneaking out of the window, as well. Seán adds that she is often sick in the morning, but that Máire made him promise not to tell. Alas, Mother heard that last bit, and drags the information out of Seán just as Máire comes in. She won't say where she has been, although she lets slip that there was not one there to meet her. Everyone leaves, except Seán, who is turning out the lights, etc.
Same physical setting, but it becomes the courtroom (as we have seen elsewhere in the play)	The clerk calls Seán's name, and he is questioned about ratting on his sister. Attorney 2, in particular, suggests that the prospective priest -- who says that he was going to be a priest at that time -- showed little charity or love to his sister. Seán's defense: his mother would hound him until he told what he knew, there was nothing he could do, because she would find out sooner or later.
Back in the home	Mother comes in with a bowl of something for Máire to drink and says that it will "fix" her, basically, and that she'll take it every day until things are right. Máire throws the bowl away, and mother demands to know who has shamed them, and whether they are getting married. "You have to be married, you could go to live in England . . .". As the sons drag Mother off, she is hurling curses at the unknown lover, and at her daughter. Left alone, Máire reveals that Pádraig was not at the meeting place, the school was dark. But she'll never throw away the little she has received from him, and never mention his name or write to him. Máire realizes she faces her future alone. The scene closes with "Siúil, a ghrá" in the background.

Scene 8

Major Characters: A courtroom scene, where Attorneys 1 & 2 question Bean Uí Chinsealigh (abbreviated Bean C below)

Setting

Action

As people are walking back and forth in the street, the light picks out Bean Uí Chinsealigh, and we are in court, once again.

Attorney 1 establishes that Bean C had advertised for an assistant or helper, to help in the household ("a domestic"), and one girl came and worked, staying in Bean C's house, until it was discovered that she was pregnant (the witness objects to such a vulgar subject even being discussed). At that point, Bean C found the girl a "place of refuge". Attorney 2 takes over, and determines that Bean C had five kids, and didn't mention it in the ad; Máire was the only one who responded to the ad, without any references; and that the ad promised frequent time off, and four pounds a week. He asks what she paid Máire, and gets the answer that she said she would raise Máire's salary later if she proved satisfactory. The Attorney clearly establishes that Máire was quite satisfactory, and after repeated questioning, Bean C admits that she paid 2 pounds 10 shillings a week -- because she wasn't trained and didn't have references, she could have been a criminal!. After three months of good service from Máire, Bean C "gave her the road". She says that she couldn't keep her, what would the neighbors and other people way. She couldn't have her children in contact with the likes of Máire. The Attorney points out that she was happy to hire Máire when she might have been a criminal, but not when she was pregnant. Attorney 1 establishes that Bean C gave Máire a week's notice, and talked to a friend to get Máire a place in the "home".

Scene 9

Major Characters: We met Bean Uí Chinsealigh in the previous scene. She had hired Máire to work in her home, helping with all the domestic duties and the five children. At the end of Bean C's testimony, she reaffirmed that she talked to a friend and got Máire a place in a "home" for girls like her, presumably. In this scene, we see how that came about, as most of it is a conversation between Máire and a Social Worker (SW below).

Setting

Action

The scene takes place in the house of Bean C.

In the first part of this scene, Bean C's friend the Social Worker (SW) comes for tea. Bean C reveals that she is worried about Máire, that she can't keep her, in her condition. The SW asks to talk with Máire. Máire and the SW talk alone. Máire is a bit alarmed by the questions about her background, and gives a false name, as well as avoiding some questions. SW tells her she has to leave, and Máire jumps up to leave on the spot -- but with more questions, reveals that she has no friends to go to, and says she would rather drown in the river than go back to her family. The SW promises to find her a place in a home for girls like her, and then, after it is all over, she can forget all about it and start a new life. Maíre leaves, and we find ourselves in court, where the SW is called to the witness box. Attorney 1 establishes that Máire was stubborn and wouldn't give any information about her family, so the best the SW could do was to send her to the home. Attorney 2 tries to shake the SW's testimony that this home for girls was the best place that she could send Máire, but the SW sticks to her position.

Scene 10

Major Characters: Máire has moved to the "home" that the social worker found her, in the previous two scenes. She's working in the laundry, and much of this scene consists of chat with her co-workers, Dailí, Pailí, and Mailí, as well as Nábla. We also have a brief appearance by Seáinín an Mhótair, and the Social Worker from the previous couple of scenes puts in an appearance. This scene concludes Act I.

Setting

Action

The laundry at the "home", where the young women who are 'sheltered' there work.

The scene opens with lots of "girls" working at ironing, folding, and so on -- Máire is sewing. The conversation from her co-workers starts with how hot it is, and the general style is sarcastic wit. A flurry of excitement strikes the girls when Seánín shows up -- a little old guy that doesn't interest them personally, but who carries news of the outside world, and they are clearly desperate for that. But he has no news. Seánín notices the new girl, Máire, and suggests that she avoid company with the other women there, the ones teasing him. Seánín just wants to pick up the laundry bundles and get going, but they tease and cajole him, trying to make him stay a little longer. After he goes, they turn to Máire and start talking. Mailí announces that she'll be leaving soon, having found a foster home for her child. Máire doesn't know about these, but the girls explain that a foster home is the key to getting out -- a good religious couple willing to raise someone else's child. They also explain that the birth mother is not allowed to know anything about the people who adopt the child. Máire can't conceive of giving up her child and never knowing how things turned out, and her questions cause some friction. But as they realize that she is just terribly naive, they take some pity on her, and one -- who says she is getting an apartment and working in a factory -- says that Máire can visit her when she gets out. The bell rings for tea, and they discover that the Social Worker (SW) -- whom the girls despise -- is coming. Many of them flee, and the SW dismisses the rest to tea, except Máire. She tells Máire that she can go back to the housekeeping job, because the SW has found a foster home for Máire's daughter. The doctor has examined the baby, the documents are ready, all she has to do is sign and she is free to go. Máire is incensed, and a big argument ensues. Máire refuses to sign, and figures to get an apartment and a factory job. The SW tries to reason with her, suggesting the child will have a better life, and that a single woman has a difficult time (even without child), but Máire says that she would not marry a man who would not take her daughter as well.

Act 2

Scene 1

Major Characters: The Manager of the factory where Máire finds work is the main character, giving testimony in court under questionsing from Attorney 2.

Setting

Action

In Court

Attorney 2 questions the Manager about the work Máire did, and what she received for it. The Manager is a well-meaning kindly man, who does his best for his workers (and pays them above average). Questions reveal that Máire's job was to clean the bathrooms, washing the floors and rinsing the basins every day. She worked ten hours a week for three pounds' salary. Attorney 2 suggests that that wasn't much pay for a woman with a child, but the manager is doing his best. The manager also reveals that she portrayed herself as a widow, and used the name Bean Uí Laoire. Both the manager and other workers donated money to help her out. The Attorney suggests that she was fired, but the manager says that Máire just stopped coming to work. He sent the matron to check on her, but there was no house at the address given. Gossip in the court reveals that the house had collapsed.

 

Scene 2

Major Characters: Attorney 2 questions the Landlady where Máire had been staying. Besides a lot of general bystanders, Seáinín and Mailí reappear, from the earlier scene in the "home".
(The scene opens with the paper boys calling that houses are falling down in Dublin.)

Setting	Action
Attorney 2 questions the Landlady.	The Landlady quickly establishes that she didn't believe that Máire was a widow, and that she knew she had an illegitimate child. The Landlady used to take care of Máire's daughter, for a little extra money. The Attorney makes the point that Máire didn't have much money on which to raise a child.
Flashback to the house collapsing.	The Landlady is giving her account to a reporter. She noticed the wall buckle, and the ceiling starting to fall in, so she grabbed her kids and rushed them out of the house. Neighbors call the police and the fire brigade. Máire returns and finds that the Landlady forgot about Máire's daughter. She rushes into the building and brings her child our, safe. Seáinín an Mhótair comes along and asks what happened. The neighbors explain that the Landlady and her kids have gone to someone else's house -- but no one bothers about Máire, because she's a liar, unfriendly, has an illegitimate child, and so on. Seáinín goes over to Máire and recognizes her. He's very upset about the unChristian behavior of the neighbors. (It turns out that a heavy beam fell in the right place and saved the child.) Mailí comes along, so Seáinín takes Máire and her daughter to Mailís place.

 

Scene 3

Major Characters: Mailí is questioned by both Attorneys on the street.

Setting

Action

A street corner where Mailí is plying her trade

The Attorneys reluctantly approach Mailí on the street to ask her some questions. They ask about her taking Máire into her own home. Mailí speaks bitterly about how the "reputable" women of the community would have nothing to do with Máire and her child. Questioned about the size of her home, Mailí replies that at least it isn't falling down, nor is it "an inhospitable house", like those of the "reputable" women. Asked about Máire's financial situation, Mailí tells them that Máire lost most of what little she had, clothes for her and her daughter, when the house collapsed. She also says that Máire won't go back to work, that after the house incident she just can't bear to have her child out of her sight. When Attorney 1 asks Mailí if her house is suitable for such a girl and her child, she tells them both to go to Hell.

Scene 4

Major Characters: Mailí and Máire talk about her situation.

Setting

Action

In Mailí's house

Mailí tries to get Máire to pull herself together, and suggests that the father of her child should help, but. Máire is quite defensive. Mailí then asks about going back to work, but Máire can't separate herself from her child. Mailí says that Máire can't keep an eye on her forever, but Máire wants to stay close to her a little longer. Finally, Mailí says that the landlady would allow Máire to stay free, and the lodgers would chip in a little bit, if Máire did some cleaning around the place. Máire is delighted with the prospect.

Scene 5

Major Characters: Colm testifies in court, then bumps into Máire on the street.

Setting	Action
In Court	Attorney 1 brings up the night of that fateful dance at the school house. Colm immediately says that it wasn't his fault, he just introduced them.
The court players disappear, and Máire walks across the stage.	Colm recognizes Máire and calls to her. He invites her into a café for a cup of coffee.

Scene 6

Major Characters: Máire and Colm have coffee together, but it breaks off abruptly. Máire is at home when Mailí brings home two lads -- who turn out to be Colm and Pádraig.

Setting	Action
In the café	Small talk: Colm wondered what happened to Máire, saw her brother Seán and thinks he looks good as a priest. He reports that Liam is getting married, which she didn't know. Colm tries to invite her out, on a kind of date, but she puts him off, rather clearly. Colm is surprised to hear she doesn't have a boyfriend, and brings up Pádraig. On questioning, Colm tells her that Pádraig's wife died about a year ago, a month after Máire left. He reports that Pádraig was back in play, so to speak, pursuing, and being pursued by, the ladies. At that news, Máire leaps up, not having tasted her coffee, and dahses home.
Colm pays the tab and leaves, the waitress cleans the table, and Máire re-appears at the table -- presumably now a table in a room in Mailí's house	Máire is writing a letter to Pádraig. She is writing that she knows he will come to her, now that he is free . . . and we hear his voice outside. Mailí comes in to say she met a couple of fellows in the street, and she wants Máire to come down and chat with them. Pádraig comes in, somewhat drunk, and recognizes Máire. She mentions her daughter, Pádraigín, and tells him she's his daughter. Máire is very excited, telling him what a wonderful daughter they have, and she wants to wake her and bring her in, but Pádraig doesn't want to see her. Pádraig tells Máire that he re-married six months ago, the young schoolmistress who was after him. Máire realizes that he came to the house not for her, but for Mailí. She suggests that Pádraig probably seduced this woman as well, and had to marry her. Pádraig denies this -- and calls Máire a harlot! Colm and Mailí come in, in good spirits, and with a bottle. Colm praises Pádraig, for burying one woman and marrying another in the same year. He raises a toast to every fool of a woman who swallows his flattering words. Colm sees Máire and wants her to have a drink before he realizes who she is. Pádraig is finally embarrassed, and charges out of the house, with Mailí calling after the lads to stay.

Scene 7

Major Characters: Mailí testifies again, very briefly, this time in court.

Setting

Action

In court

Mailí tells the court that she smelled gas in her own room at the top of the stairs. She rushed down to see that cushions and rags were stuffed around the door. When she opened the door, she could barely breathe. She pressed a kerchief to her face, and went in to find the oven open, the gas flowing, the infant's head inside the oven, and Máire pressed against the child's legs. It was too late, there were both dead. Mailí concludes that Máire couldn't let her child go into eternal darkness without her mother at her side. We hear the voice of Máire, saying the same thing it did to open the play, that her daughter now would never grow up to be a woman, and thus was free.

Scene 8

Major Characters: All the major characters of the play stop by the grave for a final comment. Each one speaks his/her piece and leaves.

Setting

Action

At the graveyard

Attorney 2 observes that the coroner's jury ruled the case a murder/suicide. He suggests that they only had the testimony before them, and asks the rest of the cast, who know more about Máire, who should be blamed for the deaths. Her Mother says not to look at her, that she raised her as a good Christian. Seán says that Máire brought them shame and forced him to leave the priesthood. Liam says that Beití broke off their engagement, because she couldn't stand the notoriety (of the suicide, etc.). The Manager of the factory just observes that he had her clean the bathrooms, because someone had to do it. The woman who employed her as a domestic (Bean Uasal) says the couldn't keep her, because what would the neighbors say? The Social Worker says she did her best, but that Máire was stubborn and wouldn't give up her child. Seáinín says that she broke the rules, and that whoever breaks the rules loses the match. A few random bystanders observe what a lonely grave it is, with both mother and child in the same coffin, calling for God to have mercy on her soul. Mailí says that Máire was faithful, she never said who the father was, taking the secret to her grave. Whoever he was, he should repent of what he has done. She asks for God's mercy on Máire and every sinner like her, and finally, for mercy on both Máire and her daughter. Mailí leaves, and we hear Máire's voice, singing "Siúil, a ghrá". Pádraig comes and stands silently by the grave. Then he pulls the collar of his coat up around his neck, like he's cold, and leaves.