Scene

 

Pg:100-107 (Chris)
During this point of the story, Mary just had the maid, Cathleen, go on a run to get more prescription morphine for her. She takes it, then goes on a rant about why she has to take it for her pains. She goes on a long tangent on how she used to strive to play the piano and how her life used to be great without Tyrone after just reminiscing about how he used to make her feel special. “I haven’t touched a piano in so many years. I couldn’t play with such crippled fingers… See, Cathleen, how ugly they are!... you were much happier before you knew he existed, in the convent when you used to pray to the Blessed Virgin.”  Through her words we finally see her talking about her true despair and how badly it is destroying her psychologically. She is completely dependent on Morphine but is too ashamed to admit it to anyone except Cathleen. Her embarrassment has her get Cathleen to get the morphine so Mary can keep the little pride she has left in her family.

Pg: 116- 121 (Gillian)
In this scene, the boys are back from town and Mary is talking about her wedding dress.

She tells them, "I used to take it out from time to time when I was lonely, but it always made me cry, so finally a long while ago-", she pauses and changes topic. From the previous acts we know that Mary is unhappy about her marriage, this confirms it. Desperately Tyrone attempts to change the subject by asking "Isn't it dinner time, dear? You're forever scolding me for being late, but now I'm on time for once, it's dinner that's late." Mary does not hear this and Tyrone continues, finally noticing his watered down whiskey. He questions Mary and this is where we see the lack of trust there is in the family whether it's due to an addiction or illness. With angry disgust he says "I hope to God you haven't taken to drink on top of-" and is cut off by Edmund. Mary attempts to defend herself by saying she gave some to the kitchen workers. Their conversation continues to the point where Mary blames Edmund for the rheumatism in her hands. At this point, everyone is tired of her delusions and rants, Tyrone goes to fetch whiskey and once again the audience sees his way of relief. Edmund asks her miserably "You're not so far gone yet you've forgotten everything. You haven't asked me what I found out this afternoon. Don't you care a damn?" Towards the end of this scene the family is holding on to their last strings of hope for Mary to get better.

Pg 26-30 (Thando)
A lot happens in this scene. Mary excuses her son’s behavior by saying, “You mustn't mind Edmund, James. Remember, he isn’t well. A summer cold makes anyone irritable.” Then Jamie tries to tell her it’s more than she thinks, and that upsets the father because he does not want to make her condition any worse. While Mary is still there, James stays calm, but once she leaves, James yells at his son for what he says. He defends himself by saying it is better not to hide the truth so that she is not shocked when they have to actually face the truth. He is being more realistic and open about his brother’s illness, while the rest of the family is having a difficult time accepting the truth of the matter.