Remember Ronald Ryan (11 page)

RYAN'S FATHER
: Don't judge me, Ronald. There's not much time. Let me look at you.

RYAN
: Do you love me?

RYAN'S FATHER
: Why did I have you? Why were you born? Have you got a quid?

RYAN
: Piss off.

His
FATHER
exits.

Parasite! You weren't staunch either. God. It's hard to love people!

Three cells up from
RYAN
in H Division lies his fellow escapee
PETER
WALKER
, who has not seen
RYAN
since their arrival back at Pentridge after the flight. Over a year since
RYAN
and
WALKER
have looked at one another or spoken a word.
WALKER
frets for his mate's life.

WALKER
: [
alone at the opposite end of the stage
] A whole year since I've seen you. A year! Just a few seconds and I could've said goodbye. That's all I wanted. We weren't mates, we were thrown together in a sort of storm. I feel so sorry for you. You aren't the worst man. Probably no-one is. How can there be a worst man?

But you never stood over anyone. You never got rough. You hated all that. When we got back I knew the screws would cut you up. They had to because of Hodson. You were staunch. If the government can hang us and get away with it. Who's sane and who's insane? You've made your peace. I know you have. The priest didn't do much. You did it yourself. It's your bad luck. Bolte's good luck. He'll win the vote because of you. The only one to have a go at him was Brian Dixon. A courageous footballer who got sent to Coventry for it. What a great crew they are. Who can you look up to?

He bows his head and weeps alone in his cell.

Tomorrow, Ronnie boy, tomorrow you're on your Pat Malone! Every single crim is getting moved out of D Division. You'll be the only one in it. They like to stick it into you, don't they? But they can't do much. Anyway, you said you couldn't do any more can.

You're better off in heaven. Wish I was with you. I'm so sorry for you. Twenty years since the last hanging in Victoria. Why have they got it in for you? Why? Why you? Do you know? Why not me too!

Lights go gradually down inside Walker's cell.

GUARD
: Your old mum, Ron. Hello, darling… let me take your coat.

CECELIA
RYAN
enters the condemned cell.

RYAN
: Mum. How is this possible?

CECELIA
: We're all part of each other. You said that. You believe that.

The old woman stands next to
RYAN
in the condemned cell.

RYAN
: Mum, look at you.

CECELIA
: How can I? It's very hard to see yourself. Look at you! You look terrible!

RYAN
: You're all done-up. You look lovely. Unreal! Sweet ghost!

CECELIA
: I wanted to look lovely for you. All done-up! You're a good boy, really. I've been trying hard for you. They want to do it. They are determined about it, Ronnie darling. I've been at the convent and no-one will see me.

RYAN
: Who shouted you all the razzamatazz?

CECELIA
: The Sisters at the convent. Not stingy, are they? They know how to lash out. It was special, they said.

RYAN
: Your hair's so nice. I've always wanted to…

CECELIA
: What have you always wanted to do? Tell me, darling.

RYAN
: Smell your hair. Just smell your scalp. My mother's head.

CECELIA
: I never brought you anything. I am forgetful!

RYAN
: Bit of bad luck, isn't it? That's all.

CECELIA
: Probably not, in the end. Just how it goes. It was nice going down Collins Street. The atmosphere here is similar to the tram. It's the best thing that could happen. You'll be no more trouble to Mr Grindlay. He likes you, you know, Ron. I'd better go. The Premier wouldn't see me. God will.

RYAN
laughs.
CECELIA
is gone out of light. Light comes up on
GUARD
HODSON
, sitting on the bunk.

How are you, George?

HODSON
: Dead.

Light out on
HODSON
.

The condemned cell. Some
GUARDS
listening to late-night music.
KEN
LEONARD
, a deathwatch officer, enters with a tray of breakfast.

LEONARD
: Ryan… Ryan… look what you get.

RYAN
: Bit of a waste.

The
FIRST
GUARD
offers a glass of whiskey.

I don't mind if I do. Cheers.

LEONARD
: [
offering a pair of fresh white underpants
] Put 'em on, Ryan. So you don't disgrace yourself.

RYAN
puts on the underpants.

RYAN
: [
to
LEONARD
] You can't keep secrets in here.

LEONARD
: How do you mean?

RYAN
: I was sorry to hear about your mother, Ken.

LEONARD
: This is hardly the right time to talk about that, Ron.

RYAN
: Listen, I know I am going in the lime pit.

RYAN
puts out his smoke and returns to the condemned cell.

Execution scene. Governor Grindlay's office.

GOVERNOR FRASER
: It's five to eight, Mr Grindlay, sir. Five to.

GRINDLAY
: I know, Mr Fraser. I know the time. Five to. Show the press in. Fourteen reporters. Make them hand in their invites. No smoking, no tape recorders. That wouldn't be cricket. Tell them to stand to attention.

Conservatively dressed
REPORTERS
enter, in sixties' gear and with notebooks. They stand to watch.
FATHER JOHN BROSNAN
sits with
RYAN
in the condemned cell.

FATHER
JOHN
: How do you feel, Ron?

RYAN
: Not bad for a young bloke. What are you up to?

GOVERNOR FRASER
: I think the Sheriff goes into the condemned cell before me, then I go after you; is that correct, Mr Grindlay? Him, then you, then me, with Ron in the middle? Is that the right etiquette? It's been a long while.

FATHER JOHN
: Would you like me to say a Mass for you, Ron?

RYAN
: Go for your life.

RYAN
composes himself as
FATHER JOHN
whispers the Mass, the Latin Mass for the soul of
RYAN
.

GOVERNOR FRASER
: Here's the hangman. Mr Hangman, this is Mr Ian Grindlay, the Governor of Pentridge Prison.

GRINDLAY
: How do you do?

HANGMAN
: Not bad.

The
HANGMAN
wears motorcycle goggles, tweed coat and rubber boots.

FATHER
JOHN
: Ian Grindlay wants a word with you, Ron.

GRINDLAY
: I am so sorry, Ron. So sorry about all of this.

RYAN
: [
shaking hands
] I am sorry for you, Mr Grindlay. That it had to be. You were good to me. I liked you. I've been praying pretty hard for you, too. Been a lot of prayers lately, all round lately.

GRINDLAY
: It seems such a pity to carry a man to the gallows.

FATHER
JOHN
: Oh, don't worry about that. We're being carried by a man of unbelievable strength.

The
HANGMAN
bounds around setting the execution scene. He sets the noose in place. The trap he checks with the lever. He consults the book of weights and measures. He adjusts his motorcycle goggles. The
SHERIFF
,
HANGMAN
,
GOVERNOR
GRINDLAY
,
GOVERNOR FRASER
and
RONALD
RYAN
are moving slowly to the gallows.
FATHER
JOHN
looks away, refusing to watch. A sheet is drawn over the scaffold, only
RYAN
's head and shoulders are visible now. Four
JOURNALISTS
scribble their descriptions. As
RYAN
steps up to the rope, he smiles down at
FATHER JOHN
. The
HANGMAN
binds
RYAN
's legs with a strap and handcuffs, his hands behind his back. It is five steps that
RYAN
takes to the noose.

RYAN
: [
to
F
ATHER
JOHN
] Thank you so much. No matter how long you live, always remember you were ordained for me. [
To
HANGMAN
] God bless you. Make it quick.

The
HANGMAN
roughly tugs the noose around
RYAN
's neck. In doing so,
RYAN
's neck is tugged roughly, rendering him slightly off balance.
RYAN
has to hobble to the noose. Eight loud and sombre bells ring out slowly, taking an age to reverberate. The trapdoor opens efficiently.
RYAN
sails through it in a second.
FATHER
JOHN
is immediately under the corpse, administering extreme unction, rubbing the salve into
RYAN
's wrists after a
GUARD
has uncuffed them for the last rites to be read. The body is carted out on a stretcher.

FATHER
JOHN
:
Postea dicit:

V. Adjiutorium nostrum in mormine Domini

R. Qui fecit caelum et terram

V. Dorminus vobiscum

R. Et cum spiritu tuo.

Oremus.

Introeat, Domine Iesu Christe, domum hanc sub nostrae humilitatis ingressue, aeterna felcitas, divina prosperitan, serena laetitia, caritas fuctuosa, sanitas sempiterna: effugiat ex hoc loco accessus daemonem: adsint Angeli pacis, domumque hanc deserat omnis maligna discordia. Magnifica, Domine, super nos nomen sanctum tuum; et bene et dic nostrae conversationi: sancitifica nostrae humilitatis ingressum, qui sanctus et qui pius es, et permanes cum Patre et Spiritu Sancto in saecula saeculorum.

R. Amen

Oremus, et deprecemur Dominum nostrum Iesum Christum, ut benedicendo bene et dicat hoc tabernacalum, et omnes habitantes in eo, et det eis Angelum bonum custodem, et faciat eos sibi servire ad considerandum mirabilia de lege sua: avertat ab eis amnes contrarias potestates: eripiat eos ab omni formidine, et ab omni perturbatione, ac sans in hoc tabernaculo custodire disnetur: Qui vivit et regnat in saecula saeculorum.

R. Amen.

Oremus.

Exaudi nos, Domine, sancte Pater, omnipotens, aeterne Deus: et mittere digneris sanctum Angelum tuum de caelis, qui custodiat, foveat, protegat, visitet atque defendat amnes habitantes in hoc habitaculo. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.

R. Amen.

We have viewed this above a large dark green canvas. Blackout.

Weak light up on the scene of the gallows at D Division. Two Pentridge
GUARDS
mopping up blood and urine into a gully trap.

FIRST
GUARD
: You can see the sense in it, can't you?

SECOND
GUARD
: How do you mean?

FIRST
GUARD
: Stringing him up over the gully trap.

SECOND
GUARD
: Oh, yeah. Easier to hose the shit and piss out.

FIRST
GUARD
: And blood. Don't forget the blood.

SECOND
GUARD
: Oh, yeah. Blood. Was there any blood?

FIRST
GUARD
: What do you think that is? Red paint?

SECOND
GUARD
: Oh, now I see blood! I see it now, alright.

FIRST
GUARD
: It just makes sense to hang them over a gully trap, that's all I'm saying.

SECOND
GUARD
: Wouldn't they always think of that?

FIRST
GUARD
: All over in a second. All that fuss.

SECOND
GUARD
: For a petty crim like him?

FIRST
GUARD
: Nothing much to remember, is there?

SECOND
GUARD
: About what?

FIRST
GUARD
: About a man.

SECOND
GUARD
: A man like him, you mean?

FIRST
GUARD
: Yeah. Nothing much to remember about someone like him.

SECOND
GUARD
: He's different.

FIRST
GUARD
: Is he?

SECOND
GUARD
: People will remember him.

FIRST
GUARD
: What makes you say that?

SECOND
GUARD
: Remember what they did to him.

FIRST
GUARD
: Hanged him like a dog. Is that what they'll remember about him?

SECOND
GUARD
: He had a history. He lived. He was a man. Married man.

FIRST
GUARD
: That's his history, isn't it? He had three kids, didn't he?

SECOND
GUARD
: Girls. Three young girls. Three sisters and a sick old mum.

FIRST
GUARD
: What if he shot Hodson?

SECOND
GUARD
: There was something about him. That's all I'm saying.