The Twenty Club

By Stewart Roche

26-02-2021 [email protected]

Part 1

Lights up on a very basic living room of a very basic flat. There are few furnishings and little to suggest anything about the kind of personalities that live there. There are two items of note- a radio in the corner (which is already on and playing music from the 1940s) and some sort of listening device with a crude looking set of headphones. Norah (20s) sits in a chair with the headphones on and waits. After a moment Ellen (late 30s) enters. It is 1942.

Ellen: Anything?

Norah: No. Did you forget my cup of tea?

Ellen: Joan is making it. She’ll be up in a minute.

Norah: Where is she?

Ellen: In the garden.

Norah: What were the odds of us getting the only non-smoking flat in all of Haddington Road do you think?

Ellen: You should both give up anyway. Smoking is bad for you.

Norah: Says who?

Ellen: Doctors.

Norah: Would you go on. My doctor smokes. As does my dentist.

Ellen: They do not.

Norah: They practically eat the things. Particularly the dentist.

Ellen laughs wryly.

Norah: All this chat about smoking makes me want one now.

Ellen: Go on. I’ll keep an eye on things.

Norah leaps up, grabs her bag and exits. Ellen walks over to the radio and lowers the volume. She then moves over to the listening device, picks up the headphones and starts to flick through a notebook that is on the table. Joan (30s) comes in and watches Ellen. She has two cups of tea in her hands.

Joan: I’m glad we’re not the ones who have to decipher-

Ellen notices Joan and takes off one of the headphones.

Ellen: Sorry I couldn’t hear you.

Joan: I said I’m glad we’re not the ones who have to decipher those messages.

Ellen: Mhmm.

Joan: Although I suppose it’s slightly easier if you know what you’re looking for.

Ellen: From what I’ve heard there isn’t anything easy about any of this.

Joan: I said slightly easier. I didn’t say easy.

Ellen goes back to the notebook.

Joan: Who does? Decipher them I mean?

Ellen: Some fella called Hayes. I’ve never met him, I’ve just heard his name mentioned.

Joan: What’s his rank?

Ellen: He doesn’t have one. He’s not army.

Joan: Not army?

Ellen: No. He works in some museum. Or library, I’m not sure which.

Joan: Huh.

Ellen: Apparently he finishes up work, cycles over to the barracks and spends hours on it.

Joan: I wonder what he tells his family.

Ellen: Probably similar to what we tell ours.

Norah comes back in holding a cup of tea.

Ellen: Jesus you reek of smoke Norah.

Norah: I decided to have a second one, save me a trip.

Joan: Clever girl. Here.

Joan hands Norah the cup of tea.

Norah: Thanks.

Joan: (to Ellen) And I didn’t bring you one because you don’t drink tea.

Ellen: Correct.

Norah: Because you’re strange.

Ellen: No it’s because tea tastes like drain water. Coffee however-

Joan: Is incredibly difficult to get your hands on.

Ellen: Also correct, sadly. Although, if the rumours are to be believed, tea will soon be similarly tricky to get your hands on.

Joan: My bright young colleague here has that under control.

She gestures to Norah who mock bows.

Ellen: And how’s that?

Norah: I buy it off the Gombeen man.

Ellen: The what now?

Norah: The Gombeen man. (Blank look from Ellen), You know, the black market? Wednesday evenings behind the Pepper Cannister church, a fella comes around and has all sorts of things for sale. Honestly, if you’re ever stuck for anything just let me know. It’ll cost you now, but worth remembering.

Ellen: I’ll keep it in mind.

Norah reaches into her bag and takes out a small bottle. She hands it to Ellen.

Norah: Captain Farrell said we need to get some practice in.

Ellen: I’m not sure he had this in mind.

Norah: Go on.

Joan: She’s right. He did.

Ellen: We are supposed to be working.

Norah: Ellen. The people on the other end of that- (she indicates the listening device) aren’t going to invent some new code if you take a sip.

Joan: And you can be damned sure they’re drinking like fishes. Honestly, half the German war budget is getting spent on Irish whiskey for the legation in Ballsbridge.

Ellen: A small one then.

Norah pours a drink and hands it to Ellen.

Ellen: That's a small one?

Norah: It’s Thursday. Let your hair down a little.

Ellen: You won’t be saying that tomorrow when you’re halfway around that obstacle course, spewing your guts.

Joan: With that gom Reilly screaming in your lug hole about what a disgrace you are. (putting on a voice) ‘Why don’t you piss off back to the farm girl, look after your sheep and hens.’

Norah: Farm? I worked in a pub all my life. He’s some knucklehead that fella.

Ellen: He’s good at his job, that's all that matters in this instance.

Norah: If his job is to pee me off, then yeah, he’s the tops.

Ellen: Just wait and see.

Norah: Why are we even still doing that obstacle course? Basic training finished six weeks ago, but still we sprint around, climbing up and down walls, underneath barbed wire-

Ellen: Have to keep us match-fit don’t they? While we wait for the greenlight.

Joan: And wait. And wait…

Norah: What do they think, we’re going to have abseil down the front of the Shelbourne if the krauts blow our cover and we find ourselves in a pickle?

Joan: Pour me one of those.

Norah: Now you’re talking.

Norah pours Joan a drink. Then pours one for herself.

Joan: Cheers.

They clink glasses and drink.

Ellen: Mother of god.

Joan: That is something.

Ellen: It really is.

Joan: A couple of questions. One- what is it and two- where did you get it?

Ellen: And three- how much do you have to drink before you go blind?

Norah: One- I’ve no idea. Two- from some guy outside Smyths. And three- probably one more glass.

Joan: Some guy outside Smyths?

Norah: That’s right.

Joan: Did you not think of going into back into Smyths, buying a bottle of something decent in there?

Norah: This was half the price.

Joan: I’m not surprised.

They smile. Norah tops up their glasses. Listens to the radio and recognises a song. She goes over and turns it up a bit.

Norah: (gesturing to the listening device) Can you still hear the-

Ellen: Yeah.

Joan: What do you tell your family by the way?

Ellen: What’s that?

Joan: Earlier, when you were talking about that chap Hayes. You said he probably told his-

Ellen: Oh. Extra training in work. Typing that kind of thing. You?

Joan: The same. I’m sure they’re wondering why I haven’t been promoted yet. Actually, I may invent something the next time I’m talking to them. That might placate them.

Norah: If you play your cards right you might even get a present out of them.

Joan: Money hopefully.

Norah: If you do you can buy a few more bottles of this.

Joan: I’ll bring us for afternoon tea instead.

Norah: Fancy.

Joan: Might be the only way Ellen gets a cup of coffee.

Norah laughs

Ellen: When was the last time you were home?

Joan: 3 months ago. You?

Ellen: I think the same.

Joan: (to Norah) What do you tell your parents, sorry what do you tell your father? About never going home at the weekend?

Norah: Night shifts in the hospital.

Joan: The hospital?

Norah: Yeah. I’m a nurse didn’t you know.

Joan: I certainly didn’t.

Norah: There you go.

Joan: Any ailments I’ll know who to go to.

Norah: You’d be dead with 48 hours of my diagnosis.

Joan: Oh well.

Norah: Not that I’d be able to get home anyway. I heard the other day that it took the train 13 hours to get from Dublin to Kilkenny.

Joan: 13 hours?

Norah: Yep.

Joan: Are they getting the passengers to get out and push the thing?

Ellen: There’s hardly any coal left in the country. The trains are running off timber and straw.

Joan: It’d be quicker to walk.

Norah: When did you ever walk anywhere?

Joan: I walk everywhere I’ll have you know.

Norah: Jaunts around Wicklow is it?

Joan: Sometimes.

Norah: Not in those shoes.

Joan: Obviously.

Ellen: Ssshhh!

They all stop. Ellen listens intently and then gestures for Joan, who takes the headphones and starts to write something down in the notebook. As soon as she does Norah moves quickly to the radio and turns the volume all the way down. No one makes a sound for a few moments. Finally Joan indicates that she’s done.

Joan: Norah, in my bag, there’s a black notebook. Could you pass it to me please?

Norah does so. Joan flicks through it and then looks at what she’s written down. She passes it to Ellen.

Norah: Well?

Ellen: ‘Congratulations on the birth of a healthy son.’

Norah: Any idea what that means?

Ellen: Joan?

Joan: They gave me some phrases to watch out for, hold on, I think I have…Their radio transmitter is in working order. Weather reports to follow.

They all smile.

Joan: Well now, that is exciting.

Ellen: I’ll go and phone the Captain. Joan can you keep listening please?

Joan: Of course.

Joan moves over and takes the headphones from Ellen. Ellen leaves the room.

Joan: If you want you can turn that radio back up.

Norah: Oh. Right.

Norah walks over and turns the radio up. Pause.

Norah: Why do you think they’re sending weather reports back? I though they stopped doing that 2 years ago.

Joan: I don’t know.

Norah: Is it significant?

Joan: Probably.

Pause. Norah ponders something.

Norah: Do you think this makes it less or more likely that we’ll be in the Gresham on Saturday night?

Joan: More likely. 100%

Norah: Dinner with the Germans. That’s something to look forward to.

Joan: Just think- you’ll get to eat something other than ham. When was the last time you could say that?

Norah seems unconvinced.

Joan: And we won’t actually be having dinner with them. It’s more what happens afterwards.

Norah: Ah here. So that's what this is, is it? We’re bait? Flash a bit skirt, flutter our eyelashes-

Joan: No, no, not like that. They just want us to observe the German legation, who are always there on a Saturday night and if we can, get to know them.

Norah: Get to know them. Is that some sort of code?

Joan: They’re not asking us to do anything we’re uncomfortable with. They’re just asking us to use our natural talents to loosen the German’s lips.

Norah: That’s definitely a code.

Ellen returns. She takes the headphones from Joan and puts them on.

Ellen: What’s a code?

Norah: Using our natural talents to loosen the German’s lips.

Joan: It isn’t.

Ellen: It really isn’t.

Joan: They’re perfect gentlemen. Well, most of them are.

Norah: Try telling that to the French.

Joan: I very much doubt that any of Germans we’ve met so far have combat experience.

Ellen: Actually I wouldn’t assume that. I wouldn’t assume that at all.

Norah: (to Joan) See?

Joan: Really?

Ellen: The one you were talking to in the Horse Show Bar last week-

Norah: The one with the nasty scar below his eye?

Ellen: Yeah him. What was his name again?

Joan: Schultz.

Norah: Schultz. Jaysus.

Ellen: That’s it. Schultz has definitely killed people.

Joan: No he hasn’t.

Ellen: Oh I’m pretty sure he has.

Joan: How do you know?

Ellen: A feeling.

Joan: Jesus. That’s it?

Norah: I believe her.

Joan: A feeling? Would you stop.

Norah: How did he get his scar so?

Joan: A boating accident.

Norah: A boating accident? Aul Schultz didn’t look like he’d seen water in about 15 years. Certainly not in a bath anyway.

Joan: I’ll have you know he was quite charming.

Norah: I’d say he was. Quite charming when he was machine gunning Brits out of it at Dunkirk.

Joan: Eh, excuse me- the miracle of Dunkirk if you please.

Norah: Miracle me eye. The Germans let them escape.

Ellen: I’m not sure about that. And even if they did they may end up regretting it.

Joan: She’s right. As much as it pains me to say it, the Brits are nothing if not resilient.

Norah: So they keep telling everybody.

A song Norah likes comes on the radio.

Norah: I love this song! Right, we’re dancing.

Ellen: I don’t really-

Norah: Get up! Come on. You too Joan.

Joan: Not in these shoes. And someone has to stay on this- (indicates the listening device)

Norah: You’re no fun.

Norah grabs Ellen and they dance. Joan takes over on the listening device. They dance for a bit. After a while it fizzles out.

Norah: I meant to say to you- I was chatting to a young Sergeant the other day-

Joan: Just chatting was it?

Norah: Absolutely.

Joan: I’d say that's all it was.

Norah: Joan, I’m shocked at this accusation.

Joan: A handsome young Sergeant no doubt?

Norah: He was handsome enough now, all things considered.

Joan: I’m sure we were ordered to stay well clear of the soldiers at the barracks, weren’t we Ellen?

Ellen: Yes we were.

Norah: Yeah well, the nuns back home ordered us to stay clear of the lads in Saint Malachy’s and that didn’t go so well for them.

Joan: Ellen, as de facto leader of this unit I think you are compelled to report this serious breach.

Ellen: Who made me de facto leader of this unit?

Joan: I did. Just now.

Norah and Joan both laugh.

Norah: Can I tell my story?

Ellen: Is it funny?

Joan: Yes Norah, is it funny?

Norah: That depends.

Joan: On?

Norah: On what you think about the Russians.

Ellen: Oh.

Joan: Go on.

Norah: My new friend, let’s call him Jack, so Jack tells me that the Germans are absolutely battering the Russians. And I mean battering them. They’re cutting through them so quickly the biggest problem they have is keeping the tanks in fuel. They reckon it’s only a matter of time before Stalin surrenders. And once they capture Russia they’ll be able to turn their attention back to Britain.

Ellen: Why wasn’t any of this in the newsreels?

Norah: Because, and this is the really interesting thing, Dev has them all cut especially for Ireland.

Joan: Seriously?

Norah: Yep. The newsreels come in from overseas and Dev gets the censors to pour over them and take out any reference to one side winning.

Joan: Why?

Norah: Because Dev wants to keep the temperature in Ireland down. Didn’t you ever wonder why if there was a world war going on, our news consisted mainly of how to make coracles and the pigeon derby?

Ellen: And how did your friend Jack come by this information?

Norah: His pal is assigned to the censors.

Ellen: Where did you meet this Sergeant?

Norah: I told you, at the barracks.

Ellen: And was this was the first time you’d ever spoken to him?

Norah: Yes, why?

Ellen: Had you ever seen him before?

Norah: I’m not sure. Why?

Ellen’s mood has changed.

Ellen: If you do see this Jack again I’d tell him to keep his trap shut from now on. I can’t imagine Dev would look too fondly on this getting leaked.

Norah: He did swear me to secrecy.

Ellen: And how did that go?

Norah tops up her drink. She swirls it about, ponders something before deciding what to say next.

Norah: It does make you wonder though, doesn’t it?

Ellen: About what?

Norah: About whether or not we should be spying on the Germans. Particularly if they’re about to win the war.

Joan: Official guidelines state we refrain from using the word ‘war’ Norah. The word we should use is ‘emergency’.

Norah: Yeah, yeah.

Ellen: They haven’t won it yet.

Norah: As I said, only a matter of time

Ellen: And we’re not spying exclusively on the Germans.

Norah: Really? It certainly feels that way.

Ellen: It’s just that unlike them, the British don’t actually have any agents at large in our country at the moment.

Norah: I find that difficult to believe.

Ellen: I’m relaying what Captain Farrell told me.

Norah: Mmm.

Ellen: Anyway, it’s because of the British that we exist.

Norah: That’s a first.

Joan: We?

Ellen: Us. This unit. Where do you think Farrell got the idea?

Joan: I just presumed he was ahead of his time.

Ellen: I’m sure he is but British Intelligence has been using female agents for years now. And I imagine that has come up in the regular conversations he has with M15.

Joan: Farrell has regular conversations with M15?

Ellen: Yep.

Norah: Hold on- our Captain has regular conversations with British Intelligence? Just how neutral are we?

Ellen: Do you want the official line or the reality on the ground?

Norah: Whatever’s closest to the truth.

Ellen: I suppose you could say our neutrality is fluid.

Norah: Fluid?

Ellen: Yes.

Norah: But it flows towards the Brits?

Ellen: I think that’s a fair assessment.

Norah: The Brits, who we just recently managed to send packing from Ireland?

Ellen: That's them.

Norah: I see.

Ellen: You did ask for whatever was closest to the truth.

Norah: I’m not sure how I feel about that. Joan?

Joan: Well, this is eh…

Norah: It’s only twenty years ago that we were knocking seven shades of-

Ellen: And you were about 9 at the time.

Norah: But my Uncles weren’t. One of whom still can’t walk properly. (To Joan) What about you? Any family involved back then?

Joan: Yes I believe so. A cousin. I think.

Norah: See? Even in posh Wicklow there are wounds that still haven’t healed-

Ellen: Things have changed.

Norah: Have they though?

Ellen: The world certainly has. As has our place in it.

Norah: That seems a bit-

Ellen: A bit what?

Norah: Simplistic.

Ellen: Have you any idea what the Germans are doing in Europe? I mean really doing? To the people they’ve conquered?

Norah: No.

Ellen: Perhaps you could ask you Sergeant’s pal at the censors to fill you in. (Beat) Honestly, the things I’ve heard, the things they’ve done to the Poles, the French…your moral objections to working with the British might fade once you get a fuller picture-

Norah: How will we know if these stories are true? Well? How will we know they’re not exactly the same as the Belgian babies in 1914?

Ellen: The Belgian babies?

Norah: Yes. British propaganda. (Puts on posh English voice) ‘The dreaded Hun is murdering nuns, crucifying soldiers and bayoneting babies all over Belgium. Join up now and let’s stop these monsters before it’s too late.’

Joan: Oh yes, I remember reading about that.

Norah: And it was all a load of rubbish.

Ellen: You can decide for yourself. I know what I think. (Pause.)

Joan: I’m going for a cigarette. (to Norah) Will you care to join me?

Norah: (looks over at Ellen, makes a decision.) No, no I’m fine.

Joan exits.

Ellen: (indicating her glass) Can I get a top up?

Norah: Of course.

She tops up Ellen’s glass. They drink.

Ellen: Thanks. (Beat.)

Norah: Look, about all the neutrality business. I wasn’t really-

Ellen: It's fine. They are your opinions and you’re entitled to them.

Norah: I know that.

Ellen: But just so we’re crystal clear- it doesn’t really matter what you think.

Norah: What?

Ellen: It doesn’t really matter what you think. It doesn’t really matter what any of us think.

Norah: I believe it does.

Ellen: We signed up for this and we’re going to carry out whatever we’re asked to. Regardless of our personal feelings.

Norah: Yes but-

Ellen: There’s no buts Norah. This is the job. Farrell gives us our orders and we are going to carry them out to the letter.

Norah: I’m aware of that.

Ellen: Are you though? Truthfully? Because you see, we don’t think, we don’t wonder, we don’t moralise, we…act. If he tells us we have to shoot the German minister in a bedroom in the Gresham then that's what we’ll do. And we will do it without a moment’s hesitation. And why do you think we’ll be able to do it?

Norah: I don’t know.

Ellen: Because they’ll underestimate us. Dev and his ilk, the Germans, like they underestimate all women. The British realized that and so does Farrell. That’s why he set this unit up. And that's why he can’t tell anybody about it.

They drink.

Ellen: How did you explain your presence at the barracks to this Sergeant Jack?

Norah: What? Oh. I told him I was Farrell’s secretary.

Ellen: And what happens if this Sergeant has to deliver a message to Farrell’s office and sees a different secretary there?

Norah: If I see him again I’ll tell him it was my day off.

Ellen: Your day off?

Norah: Yes. What’s wrong with that?

Ellen: It’s not exactly watertight now is it?

Norah: I’ll come up with something better in the meantime.

Ellen: We have to be ultra-careful Norah. Ridiculously careful.

Norah: I know.

Ellen: Really?

Norah: Yes.

Ellen: Then start acting like it.

Norah: I will.

Ellen: Because we don’t exist. Anywhere. Do you understand?

Norah: Yes.

Ellen: Nobody can find out about us. Nobody.

They drink in silence.

Norah: I’m sorry.

Ellen: You should be. (Beat.) Particularly for this dreadful hooch. Seriously girl. Never again.

Norah: It’s pretty bad isn’t it?

Ellen: It really is. (Beat) Sorry for taking the head off you.

Norah: It’s alright. (Beat) Do you think they’re going to ask us to shoot the German minister?

Ellen: I hope not. He’s actually very nice.

She smiles at Norah, which lets her off the hook. Norah understands this and appreciates it. Joan returns.

Joan: I’ve been meaning to ask you both something-

Ellen raises her hand and listens intently. As before she calls Joan over and as before Joan writes in the notebook. When she’s finished a look of consternation comes over her face.

Norah: Was it the weather report?

Joan: It’s difficult to translate, it’s florid, old-fashioned German. It might be from a book...‘Immer noch besser, als ich kröch um den Thron herum.’

Norah: (to Joan) How did you get so good at German?

Joan: The traditional way- school.

Norah: They certainly didn’t teach it in my one.

Ellen: She won a medal and everything.

Norah: A medal?

Joan: Yes. I also won a trip to Berlin but my parents nixed that because it was too dangerous. Ironic when you think about it. (She returns to the notebook) It’s not a weather report…I’m going to call this in. The irregularity is…troubling.

Ellen: Do.

Joan gets up and brings the notebook with her. Norah looks at Ellen. A long pause.

Norah: Is everything all right?

Ellen: I don’t know. It’s unusual for them to say a weather report will follow and then do something completely different.

Norah: Has it ever happened before?

Ellen: Sorry?

Norah: I just wondered if it happened before? Before I arrived here.

Ellen: No, it’s never happened before.

Norah: Oh.

Ellen: As Joan said, it’s the irregularity that's troubling. It might be a tactic, they might just be fishing. Or it might signify something more dramatic.

They wait. After a moment Joan returns.

Norah: Well?

Joan: (to Ellen) He wants to speak to you.

Ellen gets up and leaves.

Joan: Whatever that message was, it elicited great excitement from Captain Farrell.

Norah: Not something he’s known for. Great excitement.

Joan: Indeed.

Norah: So what do we do now?

Joan: We wait. (Pause) Did she read you the riot act?

Norah: What? Oh, no, not really. Well, maybe a little.

Joan: What got her goat up? Talking to handsome soldiers?

Norah: Mainly.

Joan: She might be a little bit jealous.

Norah: I doubt it.

Joan: Oh you’d be surprised. I think we’re all a little bit jealous of you Norah.

Norah is unsure what to make of that.

Joan: You mentioned an uncle earlier. Who had trouble walking.

Norah: Yes.

Joan: I presume it was the Tans, was it?

Norah: Yes.

Joan: I feel like we should spit but I don’t want to do it on the carpet.

Norah: I know what you mean.

Joan: What happened to him? Your uncle?

Norah: Same thing to happened to a lot of people back then. The IRA attacked a police barracks in the area, the tans rounded up anyone unfortunate enough to be on a list and brought them in for questioning. My uncle was one of them.

Joan: I see.

Norah: When they were questioning him, one of them smashed his leg with a rifle butt. Broke it in four places. Left him in the cell for hours without a doctor.

Joan: Christ.

Norah: When he did talk about it, which wasn’t very often, he always brought up the fact that the bastard who did it to him was Scottish. I think he hoped there’d be some sort of Celtic affinity there but...(Beat) He didn’t even get the worst of it. One lad was…I tell you what though, it was the best recruitment drive the IRA ever had in our neck of the woods. Supposedly they were queueing up to join after that. (Beat.) I know the world has changed as has our place in it. But it just seems a bit odd to me that twenty years ago we were killing each other and now we’re supposed to be the best of friends.

Joan: Seems very odd indeed.

Pause. Joan approaches Norah and offers her glass which they then clink. They both drink. Joan sits back down at the listening device. After a moment-

Joan: Do you know who Iseult Gonne is?

Norah: Why do you ask?

Joan: Along with being my neighbor in Wicklow, she’s Maud Gonne’s daughter. You know, Major MacBride, Yeats fawning all over-

Norah: I know who Maud Gonne is.

Joan: Iseult is married, well I think she’s still married to a chap called Francis Stuart. You probably know him from his radio broadcasts in Berlin.

Norah: I’ve heard he’s a traitor. Not as bad as Lord Haw Haw but not far off.

Joan: That depends really.

Norah: On?

Joan: On who you ask. If you were to ask say, Captain Farrell, I’m sure he would denounce Stuart as a traitor and have him interned at the Curragh as soon as he returns home from Deutschland. But if you were to ask say, Stephen Hayes acting chief of the IRA, he would probably describe Stuart as a visionary.

Norah: The IRA are a busted flush. Everybody knows it.

Joan: Don’t believe everything you read in the papers.

Norah: I don’t believe anything I read in the papers.

Joan: Good for you.

Norah: What are you driving at?

Joan: It’s worth remembering that you’re not the only one who thinks the way you do about Britain. Not the only one at all.

Norah: (Weighing Joan up) Good to know.

Long pause.

Joan: Do you think you’d be capable of killing someone?

Norah: I beg your pardon?

Norah: Do you think you’d be capable of killing someone? If you had to?

Pause.

Norah: I don’t know.

Joan: Me neither.

Norah: I think it would be easy to say that I could while I’m sitting in this room, sipping this rotgut and talking to you. But I don’t think anyone can know for certain what they’d do until they come face to face with the situation. And even then I’d say you’d be surprised. The person you imagine would be the least capable of it could wreak havoc.

Joan: I see.

Norah: I do recall you being pretty handy with that knife in basic training though.

Joan: That was just stabbing dummies.

Norah: Yes but I saw the look in your eyes.

Joan: Really?

Norah: Really. It wasn’t pleasant. But it was perfect for this. I think it might shock you, what you’re capable of Joan. If you were backed into a corner.

Joan: (weighing Norah up) Also good to know.

Norah: Hopefully we’ll never have to find out.

Joan: Absolutely.

Joan raises her glass. They stare at each other. Norah eventually raises hers. They drink. Lights dim.

Part 2

Time passes. Joan and Norah exit as Ellen returns. She is dressed more smartly than before. She tidies away the listening device. She takes out a bottle and pours herself a drink. It’s far superior to the stuff they were reduced to earlier. After a moment Norah and Joan enter. They are similarly attired and in high spirits.

Lights up.

Joan: Pour us one of those will you Ellen?

Ellen pours them both a drink. Norah takes hers reluctantly.

Norah: Oh I don’t know if I need this.

Joan: How much champagne did you drink?

Norah: All of it. I drank all the champagne.

Ellen: It certainly looked like it.

Joan: It’s what it’s there for.

Norah: True.

Ellen: Especially if someone else is paying.

Joan: I’ll say one thing for the Nazis- they may have raped and pillaged their way across the globe but they are extremely generous when it comes to getting the rounds in.

Norah: They wouldn’t let me put my hand in my purse once.

Joan: Nor me.

Norah: (to Ellen) What about you?

Joan: Ellen insisted on paying for her own drinks. Didn’t you?

Ellen: Yes.

Joan: Caused quite a stir.

Ellen: German chivalry struggled to get its head around the idea of a woman paying her own way.

Beat. They drink.

Norah: What about that menu? I was eating things off that I’d never even heard of. Halibut. Halibut lads!

Joan: You were inordinately excited about the prospect of Halibut, it must be said.

Norah: The only fish I’d ever eaten before tonight was plaice.

Joan: In fairness the Gresham does a reputation for having the finest fish in Dublin.

Norah: Oh no. Not according to my fella.

Joan: Really?

Norah: Really. He was raving about some place in Howth. They head out there every Friday for lunch.

Joan: I see.

Norah: He said it was pricey but worth the trip. Actually, that reminds me- (She reaches into her purse and takes out some notes) what should I do with this? Seeing as though I didn’t get a chance to spend it.

Ellen: I’m not sure. Keep it for when we meet them again.

Norah: Which in my case is tomorrow.

Ellen: What?

Norah: Dieter asked to meet me for a cup of coffee.

Joan: Dieter?

Norah: Yep.

Ellen: Tomorrow?

Norah: Yes. In Bewleys.

Joan: Which one?

Norah: Westmoreland Street.

Joan: Westmoreland Street was always my favourite.

Norah: It’s much quieter.

Joan: Plenty of little nooks and crannies in there too. A girl could get up to all sorts of mischief-

Ellen: Hold on. Before you two start planning the engagement party, this is all going to have to be approved by Farrell.

Norah: What, a cup of coffee?

Ellen: Yes, if it’s a cup of coffee with a member of the German legation. I thought you knew this.

Norah: Should I have said no? I thought we were supposed to, what was it again- use our natural talent’s to loosen the German’s lips.

Ellen: We are supposed to-

Norah: Well that’s what I’ve done. I’ve already found out about their weekly jaunt to Howth. Who knows what else I’ll get out of him?

Ellen: Yes but-

Norah: But what?

Ellen: Couldn’t you have played hard to get or something? Or at the very least stalled him?

Norah: Why?

Ellen: Because this is going to be tricky to get organized in less than a day.

Joan: Come on. Farrell is a resourceful man. I’m sure he’ll think of something.

Ellen: We’re not the only unit he has to concern himself with.

Norah: No but I’m guessing we’re the only unit that's in direct contact with the Germans on a weekly basis. So we should be treated accordingly. Even if we don’t exist.

Joan: She’s right.

Ellen mulls this over.

Ellen: I need to call this in. Get the wheels in motion. They’re going to love us for doing this at- (she checks her watch) quarter to one on a Sunday morning.

Joan: I’ll do it.

Ellen: You?

Joan: Yes.

Ellen: Why?

Joan: Because I think this needs to be sold to them in a positive fashion.

Ellen: And?

Joan: And I’m not sure positivity is your…natural inclination. Of late.

Ellen: Thanks for qualifying that.

Joan: The qualification was the most important part of the statement.

Ellen ponders.

Ellen: Fine. Call it in.

Joan: (to Norah) What time are you meeting him at? Tomorrow?

Norah: Half two.

Joan: Where?

Norah: Outside Trinity and then we’re going to stroll over.

Joan: Good. Back in a mo.

Joan makes to leave. As she does so she gets close to Ellen.

Joan: You’re too harsh on her.

Ellen: Don’t worry, I’ll be just as harsh on you as soon as the need arises.

Joan is about to say something but thinks the better of it. She leaves. Ellen pours herself another drink. Offers one to Norah.

Norah: No thank you.

Pause.

Norah: Do you know who you remind me of? (Ellen shakes her head.) My Auntie Marian. Nothing I ever did was good enough for her.

Ellen: That’s not why-

Norah: It’s funny, when you’re a child, you expect your family to love you unconditionally. And most of them did. At gatherings I’d do a little party piece, sing a song and they’d all be beaming. ‘You’re a great girl Norah.’ All of them except Auntie Marian. She’d just stand there with a puss on her. She just didn’t buy me. She didn’t buy me at all. Just like you.

Ellen: That’s not true.

Norah: Then why do you act like I disappoint you all the time?

Beat.

Ellen: Because I think you’re impetuous. Rash.

Norah: I know what impetuous means.

Ellen: And do you think that’s a fair assessment? Of you?

Beat.

Norah: Probably. But it’s not something I’m ashamed of.

Ellen: I’m not asking you to be ashamed of it.

Norah: Sometimes you need to be bold Ellen. Sometimes you need to act.

Ellen: It’s a wonderful quality to have. It really is. But not in this world, not right now. In this world, it’s dangerous. For more than just you.

Norah: What was I supposed to do? Say excuse me Dieter, I’d love to go for a coffee with you but I just need to check in with my boss to see if tomorrow is ok.

Ellen: I’m not your boss.

Norah: You certainly act like it.

Ellen: Well I’ll stop. You and Joan can make your own decisions from now on. How about that?

Norah: Don’t be childish, it doesn’t suit you.

Norah decides on a fresh drink. Neither of them are sure of what to say next. After a moment-

Ellen: You don’t disappoint me all the time.

Norah: I’m not sure I believe you.

Ellen: You don’t disappoint me. Honestly.

Norah: Mhm.

Ellen: I’m just…

Norah: You’re just what?

Ellen: Worried. That something is going to happen to you. That something is going to happen to us.

Norah: The worst thing that’s going to happen to us is we get alcohol poisoning while being courted by these Germans.

Ellen: Right.

Norah: Nothing is going to happen to us Ellen.

Ellen stares into her drink. Norah looks at her for a minute, then realises something else is up.

Norah: Is everything all right?

Ellen: What?

Norah: With you. Is everything all right?

Ellen: I just explained to you-

Norah: No. It’s something else.

Ellen: There’s nothing else…

Norah: There is. I can tell.

Ellen: I ehm…

Norah: What is it?

Ellen: It’s my brother you see, he eh, he joined. He joined the British Army.

Norah: What? Seriously?

Ellen: Yes.

Norah: When?

Ellen: About 6 months ago.

Norah: Oh. (Beat) Where is he?

Ellen: Somewhere in North Africa. He used to write fairly regularly but he eh…he hasn’t for a while.

Norah: Oh god. You don’t think he’s…

Ellen: No. He’s fine. I can tell. He’s ehm…

Norah: Have you spoken to anyone else about this?

Ellen: Just Farrell.

Norah: What did he say?

Ellen: Not much really. I mean he already knew so…I think he needs to decide.

Norah: Decide what?

Ellen: As to whether or not this compromises me. Compromises the unit.

Joan returns. She has an excited air about her. She goes over and pours herself a drink. Pause as the other two wait for her to say something.

Ellen: What did they say?

Joan: They ehm, they…

Norah: Well?

Joan: I’m afraid you won’t be able to meet Dieter tomorrow Norah.

Ellen: I knew it.

Norah: Jesus, if I thought this was going to cause so much trouble I would have just stayed here tonight.

Ellen: I told you, there isn’t enough time to-

Joan: No you don’t understand. (to Norah) Your meeting with Dieter isn’t going to happen because you’re not going to be in Dublin tomorrow. None of us are.

Norah: What are you talking about?

Joan: I just spoke to Farrell. I assumed he’d be off duty but he was actually just about to ring us.

Ellen: And?

Joan: We have to pack. Right now. There’s a car coming to collect us.

Ellen: Why? Is our cover blown?

Joan: No, nothing like that.

Ellen: What is it then?

Joan: We’ve been greenlit.

Norah: We’ve been greenlit?

Joan: Yes.

Norah: Really?

Joan: Yes.

Norah: Jesus.

Ellen: Did he go into specifics?

Joan: He’s going to brief us when we get to the barracks. But it’s abroad, I know that much.

Norah: How?

Joan: He asked me if we’d like to get some sun.

Norah: Sun? Seriously?

Joan: Yes.

Norah beams. Ellen seems distracted.

Norah: Ellen.

Ellen: What?

Norah: A mission abroad.

Ellen: Yes.

Norah: Have you ever heard of anything so exciting?

Ellen: No.

Norah: Where do you think it could be?

Ellen: Ehm-

Norah: Africa? Italy? Spain?

Ellen: I’m really not sure.

Beat.

Norah: Wherever it is, it’s going to be dangerous right?

Ellen: I’d imagine so.

Norah: Good. The more dangerous the better. (Beat) I wish there someone I could tell.

Ellen: (Smiling) I know what you mean.

Norah: Joan.

She moves towards Joan, and barely able to contain her excitement, she hugs her.

Joan: We should start packing. That car will be here any minute.

Ellen: I can’t even remember the last time I was in a car, can you?

Joan shakes her head and smiles at Norah. They start to grab a few bits and pieces to pack away. Joan and Ellen leave, leaving Norah on her own for a moment. She stops what she’s doing and takes everything in.

Joan (off stage) Come on Norah, we don’t want to be late. Again.

Ellen: (off stage) And you’ve got by far and away the most to pack.

Joan (off stage) You really do.

Ellen: (off stage) We were told we’d here for a couple of weeks. You look like you brought enough stuff to keep you going till Christmas.

Joan: (off stage) Christmas 1943.

Ellen: (off stage) Exactly.

Norah: All right, all right. I’m coming.

Norah looks around one final time and exits. Lights dim.

Part 3

Lights up. The room is now one you’d find above a pub. It’s a sort of cranny, the kind of space you’d end up in if you got lost on the way to the toilets. We hear the sound of people below having a good time. Music plays and there is a party atmosphere. The atmosphere is carried into the room by Joan, who is laughing at a joke or a story she has just heard. She turns around and notices Ellen sitting at a table, sipping a drink. They are both dressed for the occasion.

It is May 1947.

Joan: Ellen! I nearly sat on you.

Ellen: That would have been awkward.

Joan: Oh I don’t know. (Joan sips her drink, winces slightly.) What are you doing up here on your own?

Ellen: I was looking for the toilets, then got lost and thought I’d take a break.

Joan: A break from the party?

Ellen: Just for a moment.

Joan: More like a break from Lieutenant Colonel Francis.

Ellen: Was it that obvious?

Joan: Only to those who’ve experienced his ehm…attention.

Ellen: I know he’s a big-wig but I just can’t…

Joan: Say no more darling, we’ve all been there. Well, most of us have. I don’t think he’s made a pass at his new secretary yet, but she’s only been with us for 3 weeks. What’s her name again?

Ellen: Gobnait.

Joan spits out some of her drink and laughs.

Joan: Good grief. Gobnait? Really?

Ellen: Yes.

Joan: She looks like a Gobnait actually.

Ellen: No she doesn’t.

Joan: Yes she does. Which is unfortunate.

Ellen: Might save her from Lieutenant Colonel Francis.

Joan: Very true. Every cloud eh?

Joan looks at Ellen.

Joan: Would you mind if I joined you?

Ellen: Not at all.

Joan: Tell you what, I’m going to get us some fresh drinks. What are you on?

Ellen: You’ll be ages, the queue was-

Joan: I caught the barman’s eye. I’ll be back in no time. So what are you having?

Ellen: Vodka tonic.

Joan: I think I’ll have the same. I have no idea what this is, perhaps whiskey.

Joan drains her drink and moves off, taking her bag with her. Ellen stares after her, finishes her own drink and ponders something. She opens her purse, checks for something and closes it again. She stares off into the distance. After a moment she hears Joan returning and snaps out of her reverie. Joan places the drinks on the table. She sits at a distance from Ellen. They both have a clear view of each other.

Ellen: Still sit with your back to the wall? Keep an eye on the exit?

Joan: Old habits die hard I suppose. You do the same.

Ellen: What?

Joan: Sit with your back to the wall.

Ellen: Mhmm.

Joan: God, how long ago does that seem? Since we were in the Curragh?

Ellen: Ages.

Joan: Ages indeed. I’ve forgotten most of the things they taught us. What about you?

Ellen: I haven’t forgotten any of it.

This registers with Joan but she tries hard not to show it. A pause.

Joan: These are from Dan by the way.

Ellen: ‘Dan’ is it?

Joan: Sorry. Captain Farrell. Now his attention I wouldn’t mind. At all.

Ellen: Would you stop. If you looked at him for longer than a few seconds he’d run to the Church to get his confession heard.

Joan: Oh I know, I know. Pity, that’s all.

They drink.

Joan: Damn, we should have made a toast. Is it too late? Is it bad luck to make a toast after you’ve already had a sip? I can never remember.

Ellen: I’m sure it’s fine.

Joan: Why don’t you make it?

Ellen: Make what?

Joan: The toast.

Ellen: Me?

Joan: (Laughing.) Yes you.

Ellen thinks for a moment.

Ellen: To absent friends. Gone but not forgotten.

They raise their glasses and drink.

Joan: Jesus, that was a bit maudlin Ellen.

Ellen: (Mock serious.) Don’t take the lord’s name in vain Joan.

Joan: I think we’re alright up here.

Ellen: You never know.

Joan: What, you think the place is bugged?

Ellen: It might be.

Joan: I very much doubt it, considering anybody in the country with the expertise to do so is downstairs, getting drunk.

They sip their drinks.

Ellen: When are you flying out?

Joan: What?

Ellen: To Berlin. When are you flying out?

Joan: Oh. The day after tomorrow.

Ellen: I see. That soon?

Joan: I’m still packing. Honestly, it’s a bloody nightmare. You would never believe how much junk you can fit into a one bedroom flat.

Ellen: I can imagine.

Joan: I didn’t know you’d heard. About me being assigned to Berlin.

Ellen: Everyone in the office knows.

Joan: Really?

Ellen: You know what people are like in there. Any piece of gossip spreads like wildfire. Particularly if it concerns one of Captain Farrell’s girls. Sorry, Dan’s girls.

Joan: Now now, play nice.

Ellen: I am.

Joan: Particularly as you’re one of Dan’s girls too.

Ellen: I don’t need to be reminded of that.

Joan: Sometimes I think you do.

Pause.

Joan: I was going to come and tell you in person. About Berlin. But it’s all moved so fast I haven’t really had the time to and-

Ellen: Why would you have wanted to tell me in person?

There is a huge cheer down below.

Joan: That’ll be O’Sullivan arriving. There’ll be a sing song within the hour.

Pause.

Joan: I wanted to come and tell you in person because we’ve been colleagues for the absolutely ages. And it felt rude not to.

Ellen doesn’t respond immediately.

Ellen: Have they told you what you’re doing in Berlin? I’m sorry, what section are you being sent to?

Joan: The Brits. Sorry, the British.

Ellen: I’m sure Dev wouldn’t mind.

Joan: He’s the one who’s listening in, is he?

Ellen: Probably.

Joan: Obviously I would have preferred the American zone but you take the hand you’re dealt.

Ellen: You might get a transfer at some stage.

Joan: Here’s hoping.

Beat.

Ellen: And have they told you what you’re doing? In Berlin?

Joan: Why are you so interested in what I’m doing in Berlin, Ellen?

Ellen: Just making small talk.

Joan: Not exactly something you’re renown for.

Ellen: Isn’t that what friends do?

Joan: Make small talk? There’s a little bit more to being friends than that.

Beat.

Joan: They’re sending Gortz and Schultz back to Germany in the next few weeks. They want the personnel accompanying them to be familiar with their cases. I fit the bill so I was chosen.

Ellen: And being fluent in German probably helped.

Joan: The other chap on the shortlist actually has better German than me but I think he made a balls of the interview.

Ellen: I thought Schultz was married to an Irish woman?

Joan: Yes. Una. With their lamp making business. Very convenient. Sadly for them, their little ruse has been seen through and it’s been decided that Schultz needs to answer a few questions back in Deutschland.

They drink.

Joan: Honestly, all these Nazis, they’re scared shitless they’re going to be handed over to the Russians.

Ellen: With good reason.

Joan: Remember how cocky they were, when they were picked up and brought in for interrogation? How it was in Ireland’s best interests to join them, how it was only a matter of time before the whole world spoke Kraut? Quite a contrast to now, when they beg to be to handed over the Americans or the Brits, to avoid a one-way ticket to Moscow and a little chat with Uncle Joe.

Ellen: At one stage it did look like the whole world was going to speak Kraut. Europe anyway.

Joan: Yes well, our American friends put paid to that.

Ellen: And the aforementioned Russians.

Joan: True.

Beat.

Ellen: You’d have had a leg up.

Joan: What?

Ellen: If all of Europe had to speak Kraut. You’d have had a leg up. Been ahead of the game.

Beat.

Ellen: As per usual.

Joan doesn’t respond. She drains her drink. We hear the sound of a champagne cork being popped from downstairs.

Joan: I think I fancy a glass of that. What about you?

Ellen: I’m not sure-

Joan: Come on Ellen. Live a little.

Ellen: Fine. A small one.

Joan heads downstairs. Like the first time, she takes her bag with her. When Ellen is sure Joan is downstairs she gets up and checks the other exit. She then sits back down and waits. Joan arrives back with two glasses of champagne, which she sets down on the table. She sits in the same place as before.

Joan: I’m not entirely convinced about the vintage but it should do the job. Sorry, I did specify a small one for you but there are some very heavy hands downstairs tonight.

Ellen: Thank you.

Joan: These were on O’Sullivan. Who sends his regards.

Ellen: Why did you bring your bag?

Joan: I beg your pardon?

Ellen: When you went downstairs, you brought your bag with you. Just curious as to why?

Joan: I don’t know. Force of habit.

Ellen: I see.

Joan: Why are you asking?

Ellen: Just seemed odd, that's all.

Joan: It isn’t.

Ellen: Don’t you trust me Joan?

Joan: I trust you as much as I trust anybody.

Ellen: Good answer.

Joan: Thank you.

Ellen: The Brits are going to love you.

Joan: I certainly hope so.

Ellen: Though probably not as much as the Germans did.

Pause. Joan stares at Ellen, who holds her gaze.

Joan: And what do you mean by that?

Ellen: Nothing. Nothing at all.

A stand-off. Ellen moves her purse closer to her lap. Joan does exactly the same thing with her bag. Joan stares at Ellen.

Joan: What do you mean by that?

Ellen: It’s just, any time we’d meet the German legation about town they’d make a beeline for you.

Joan: It might have had something to do with the fact I spoke their language.

Ellen: Gortz in particular. He’d light up at the mere mention of your name.

Joan: Oh come on.

Ellen: It’s true. All those nights after dinner in the Gresham. We’d always spot you in some dark little nook, chatting away with Herr Gortz. (Pointed.) Auf Deutsch.

Joan: Which is exactly what I was detailed to do.

Ellen: Just following orders was it?

Joan: Yes.

Beat.

Joan: And if memory serves me correctly, I recall you engaged in some pretty intense conversations with Gortz as well. (Pointed.) As Gaeilge.

Ellen: And?

Joan: Like most men Gortz had a weakness for pretty girls. It’s on the first page of his file for god’s sake. This idea that Gortz only had eyes for me is preposterous.

We now hear Louis Jordan’s song ‘Knock me a kiss’. It’s the song Norah sang along to in Part 1. To Joan’s surprise Ellen sings along with some gusto.

And no mistake. But, baby, if you insist, I'll cut out cake Just for your sake. Baby, come on, Knock me a kiss.

I like pie. I hope to die. Just get a load of this, When you get high, Doggone the pie. Baby, come on,

Knock me a kiss.

When you press your lips to mine, 'Twas then I understood. They taste like candy, brandy and wine, Peaches, bananas, and everything good.

I love jam, And no flim-flam, Scratch that off my list. This ain't no jam, The jam can scram. Baby, come on, Knock me a kiss.

When you press your sweet little lips to mine, Then I understood, oh babe. They taste like candy, brandy and wine, Peaches, bananas, and everything good.

I love jam, And no flim-flam. Scratch that off my list. This ain't no jam, The jam can scram. Baby, come on, Knock me a kiss. Knock me a kiss

Silence.

Joan: I didn’t know you were such a good singer.

Ellen: That was her favourite song. Did you know that?

Joan: Whose favourite song?

Ellen: Norah’s.

Joan: Oh. No I didn’t know that.

Ellen reaches for her purse. Very slowly, Joan does the same thing with her bag. Ellen takes out a small mirror and some lipstick, which she starts to put on. Joan stares at Ellen, who casually finishes applying her lipstick.

Ellen: She adored Louis Jordan. Funny that isn’t it? A wet behind the ears Kilkenny girl going crazy for that type of music.

Joan: Mhmm.

Ellen: Certainly better than the rubbish she was brought up listening to. (Laughs.) Sorry Dev.

Beat.

Ellen: Do you ever think about her?

Joan: Norah? Occasionally. You?

Ellen: I think about her all the time.

Joan: You were always closer to her than I was. Despite how hard you were on her.

Ellen: That’s true. (Beat.) I specifically think about her on that day. In that park in Lisbon. You remember that day, don’t you Joan?

Joan: Of course I do.

Ellen: And do you think about what went wrong?

Pause.

Joan: Look, that whole day was a bloody mess. You know as well as I do that-

Ellen: It shouldn’t have been a mess though. It should have been straightforward. A tip off from British Intelligence about a meeting between an SS officer and an unidentified mole from the Irish Legation to Portugal. We stake out the meeting, confirm the identity of the mole, get the pianist to send our report back to Dublin over the radio transmitter and boom- home the next day on the plane.

Joan: If the last few years have taught us anything it’s that-

Ellen: Captain Farrell was meticulous in his planning, as per usual. Every eventuality, every potential danger was laid out-

Joan: You cannot plan for every eventuality.

Ellen: It was ingenious when you think about it. Red Cross mission into Portugal, the three of us, Norah, you and me, posing as nurses. Whoever would have suspected us of being spies? No, it was brilliant. I think that’s what hurts him the most, Farrell. The fact that it was such good cover. That shouldn’t have been blown. It couldn’t have been blown.

Joan: And yet it was.

Ellen: And yet it was.

Suddenly downstairs there is the sound of a balloon popping. Both women react with great speed- Ellen puts her hand into her purse and Joan puts hers into her bag, which they subsequently point at each other.

Joan: I see you kept yours too.

Ellen: Mhmm.

Joan: Well, it’s been fun chatting with you but I think it’s probably time for me to return to the party. There are some other people I have to say goodbye to.

Ellen: You haven’t said goodbye to me yet.

Joan: Goodbye Ellen.

Joan makes to leave but Ellen takes a step which stops her.

Ellen: Norah’s father wanted to see her body. In the mortuary. Understandable I suppose. You know what we had to tell him? That she’d been hit by a tram walking home from work so it was best he didn’t see her like that. The coffin at her funeral was empty. Of course it was, you know that, you know we never found her body. Never will find her body-

Joan: Ellen-

Ellen: Sorry no- the coffin wasn’t empty as such, they ehm, they filled it with rocks, to give it weight, to give it heft. So when it was being carried out of the church by her brothers it was believable. The lie was believable.

Joan: We all knew the risks. We volunteered for Christ sake.

Ellen: Oh I know. Remember how proud we were when we found out we’d been given the greenlight? First time G-2 had used women as active agents on a mission. And we weren’t going to be honey traps, we weren’t going to flutter our eye lashes or show a bit of leg. No, proper agents, up against German Intelligence, the Abwehr. We could have taken on anybody in that moment. Do you remember?

Joan: I remember us being terribly naïve if that's what you mean.

Ellen: Don’t you dare diminish that memory.

Beat.

Ellen: As this is almost certainly the last time we’re going to see other in Dublin I would like to ask you a question.

Joan: Fire away.

Ellen: Unfortunate choice of words.

Joan: You weren’t much use with that thing from what I recall.

Ellen: I was better than you.

Joan: Let’s hope we don’t have to find out.

Beat.

Ellen: How do you think our cover was blown?

Joan: I have no idea.

Ellen: We stayed in our apartment until the agreed time. We sat at the café in the park as instructed. We waited for the mole to show up with his SS friend. We kept our distance. We followed Farrell’s instructions to the letter. But, there was no meeting and then out of nowhere German Intelligence swarmed the place.

Joan: I know all this.

Ellen: Honestly, it was like the Abwehr having an outdoor workshop that morning.

Joan: And?

Ellen: So what went wrong?

Joan: I don’t know.

Ellen: I’m still not sure how the two of us managed to get out.

Joan: Nor am I.

Ellen: And we know Norah didn’t. But the thing that’s always bothered me is- how did they know we were going to be there? The Germans.

Beat.

Joan: It could have been an anonymous tip, one of us got the accent wrong, we were recognised-

Ellen: Recognised? By who?

Joan: There were hardly any Portuguese living in Lisbon at that stage. The place was crawling with double agents, triple agents. It’s not impossible that an IRA operative was-

Ellen: An IRA operative? Really?

Joan: Yes. Germany, Spain, Portugal, all crawling with them during the war. Why do you think so many of them were locked up when they returned to Ireland? Ireland’s neutrality was constantly under threat for 6 years. Our security was in grave danger-

Ellen: So we were what? Desperately unlucky to be recognized? On our first ever field trip? It was just one of those things?

Joan: It might have been.

Ellen: Nonsense.

Joan: I didn’t say it was definitive, I said it was possible.

Ellen: I don’t know Joan, that sounded a bit…

Joan: A bit what?

Ellen: Rehearsed.

Pause.

Ellen: When I said we followed the Captain’s instructions to the letter I wasn’t exactly correct now was I?

Joan: What?

Ellen: There was one minor hiccup wasn’t there?

Joan: I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.

Ellen: It’s funny, I’d totally forgotten about it myself until recently. I don’t get out as much as I’d like anymore but I was brought out for dinner last week. Very earnest, rather dull young fellow, probably won’t see him again. But he took me to a new place just off Grafton St. Specializes in seafood. Not quite as impressive as the Gresham but still. And you’ll never guess what was on the menu?

Joan doesn’t respond.

Ellen: Octopus. Or, as the Portuguese call it- Polvo. Polvo. I hadn’t heard that word in years. I’d completely forgotten you see. You had octopus the night before the mission, do you remember? In that restaurant near the apartment.

Joan: And?

Ellen: The next day your stomach wasn’t great but you soldiered on. Remember? You soldiered on but you had to stop off once. And that was the only time we strayed from our instructions.

Beat. After a moment Joan allows herself a smile.

Joan: That’s it? That's your proof? I stopped off to go to the toilet and what? Left a message for the Nazis, is that it?

Ellen: There were dead drop sites in every city in Europe during the war-

Joan: Jesus Ellen-

Ellen: From the moment we arrived in Lisbon to the moment we reached that park, it was the only time one of us was separated from the rest.

Joan: (Laughing.) Did I write it in invisible ink? Or was it lemon juice?

Ellen: You tell me.

Beat.

Joan: Why? Why would I have compromised the mission Ellen?

Ellen: I think you backed the wrong horse.

Joan: Backed the wrong horse?

Ellen: The Germans were at the gates of Stalingrad at that stage. I don’t think there was a person in Europe who thought they would lose the war.

Joan: Apart from Churchill.

Ellen: It seemed vital that the identity of the mole was kept hidden from us. Think about how important he was to them- working in an embassy with access to all sorts of top level information, knowledge

as to which way the Irish Government was leaning. Invaluable really, given our strategic importance. As you said, our neutrality was constantly under threat. Perhaps you thought Ireland needed a push-

Joan: You think I’d sacrifice my friend to give Ireland a ‘push’?

Ellen: You were probably given assurances they’d just rough us up a bit, send us back to Dublin after a few weeks. I don’t think you believed they’d kill any of us.

Joan: And maybe they wouldn’t have if Norah hadn’t started shooting.

Ellen: (losing her temper) And maybe Norah wouldn’t have started shooting if half of fucking Berlin hadn’t shown up in that park.

Pause. Ellen gathers herself.

Ellen: She disappeared and it’s your fault.

Joan: I think I’ve heard more than enough of this.

Ellen: It’s your fault Joan.

Joan: My fault? When we returned from Lisbon we were interrogated by our own people for what felt like days-

Ellen: Oh I remember-

Joan: And when they were finished with us, you signed your name on the bottom of that report, just like I did Ellen. If you had any doubts as to how things transpired then that might have been the time to bring them up.

Beat. Ellen takes this in.

Joan: And there was no mole. Did you know that?

Ellen: I heard.

Joan: The tip off was a dud. The whole thing, Norah, it was all was for nothing. Nothing.

Pause. Joan ponders her next move carefully.

Joan: Now. I’m going to slowly walk towards the stairs. Because I think this conversation is well and truly over.

Joan begins to walk slowly towards the stairs. Ellen allows her.

Ellen: For a while I thought it might have been Norah who blew our cover. That Norah was the double agent. But then I realized there was no way she could have faked it. Faked all that blood. (Beat.)

Joan: Who’s to say it wasn’t you Ellen? Well?

Ellen: I know you were responsible Joan. I feel it, in my bones.

Joan: Christ.

Ellen: I’ll find proof. And when I do I’ll make sure your new British friends are the first to hear about it.

Joan: They’re hanging Nazis in Nuremburg for war crimes. Do you think anyone really cares about a surveillance mission that went belly up in Lisbon?

Ellen: I care.

Joan: Goodbye Ellen.

Ellen: Goodbye Joan. Tell Captain Farrell I’ll see him in a minute.

Joan smiles at Ellen and leaves. We hear a cheer from downstairs. Ellen stares ahead, looks into purse. She takes a moment, takes a breath, then gathers her things and heads for the stairs.

The end.