Juno and the Paycock

It has been two days since Act I. The setting is still the same, but more furniture and knickknacks are present. It is early evening. Jack is half-asleep on the couch, and Joxer is outside his door, singing. Jack lets Joxer in and talks of all the documents he has to sign regarding the will. They also talk about Father Farrell again. This time, Jack mentions how Father Farrell and all priests are for Ireland’s freedom.

Jack mentions that Charlie is on his way, and Joxer remarks how Charlie is Mary’s new love interest, Mary having broken things off with Jerry. Jack tells Joxer that Charlie plans to give up teaching to become a solicitor and how both suitors are a pain. Joxer leaves and Johnny enters moodily. Mary and Juno return with a gramophone, which Jack wanted. Charlie enters, and Jack tries to engage Charlie in a philosophical and religious discussion. Charlie confesses that he is a Theosophist, and his beliefs are influenced by Eastern traditions.

The topic veers into ghosts and killing people. Johnny reacts with great emotion to the conversation. He leaves and suddenly screams. He rushes out, claiming to have seen the image of the murdered son of Mrs. Tancred, Robbie, kneeling before the Virgin Mary statue in the other room. Everyone thinks it’s just a shadow or his imagination, but Johnny wants someone to check. Charlie volunteers, when no one else will, to go in and confirm everything is fine.

The Boyles’s neighbor, Mrs. Madigan, arrives along with Joxer once again. Mrs. Madigan tells Charlie that she always knew Mary would make something of her life and what a match she has made in him. Mrs. Madigan inquires about Johnny’s well-being, and the Boyles coax her into having a drink and singing a song. Jack then gets Joxer to sing. Johnny asks Jack to put on the gramophone and stop Joxer’s singing. The festivities halt when Mrs. Tancred and several neighbors somberly arrive. Mrs. Tancred’s son’s body is set to pass the house and arrive at the Church later that evening. Mrs. Tancred is unable to take any tea and laments the death of her only child and how it happened. After Mrs. Tancred and her neighbor friends leave, Juno tells everyone that Robbie’s body was found “riddled with bullets” and that he was a Die-hard, an Irishman interested in only full independence from Britain, which differs from a Free Stater, one willing to accept partial independence. Juno reminisces about Robbie and Johnny’s friendship. Johnny pipes up that they were never friends.

Juno lists the young boys affected by the fighting, and Jack responds that death is a part of a soldier’s life. Johnny wants to talk about something else, and Mrs. Madigan mentions Jack singing a song. Mary and Charlie decide to leave at this point. Jack recites a poem he has written; it ends with “But never refused a copper to comfort a pal in need. Eeeeeh” (449). Mrs. Madigan and Joxer praise the poem, but Johnny just wants to put on the gramophone. Jack obligingly puts on a record when “Needle” Nugent, the local tailor, enters, complaining about the noise. He says that Mrs. Tancred’s son is about to pass through the house on the way to the funeral. Mr. Nugent exits, and they all go to the window, except Johnny, to watch the funeral procession and recite what they see. They all decide to go to the street to get a better view. A Young Man enters and tells Johnny to meet him that night at 8:00 because he believes Johnny knows something about Robbie’s death. Johnny claims to know nothing and wonders how much more he can give to his country. The Young Man remarks, “No man can do enough for Ireland” (450). The curtain closes with the outside crowd praying the Hail Mary in remembrance of Robbie.