PHILADELPHIA HERE I COME

Act One
Madge has Gars tea ready and calls him. Gar is singing Philadelphia here
I come and grabs Madge for a waltz. Gar tells Madge that she dances like
an angel and that she would give a man bad thoughts very quick.
Gar asks Madge if she will miss him and after some play acting she says
that she will. Gar seems to be annoyed that he worked ten minutes over
time for his father. From Madges reaction Gars annoyance at his father is
something that she is used to.
Gar continues to sing and his alter ego enters the play. Public says that it
is all over and Private says that it is just beginning. Public and Private
pretend to be in control of a plane flying over Ireland shooting at fishing
boats.
They move to playing football as Gar takes a free for the Ballybeg team.
Public takes a military stance as Private asks him if he is conscious of all
the consequences of his decision.
Public gives a sense of indecision. Private asks Public if he is ready for the
gross materialism and the lust and Public says yes with a smile. Madge
interrupts as she enters with some of Gars clothes. She tells Gar how to
look after them and then asks if S.B has said anything else to him. S.B gets
referred to as he in this instance. Public says no and Private insults him.
Public and Madge discuss S.B and Public is clearly annoyed that S.B has
not spoken to him. Madge tells Public that just because he does not say
much does not mean that he does not love Public. Public refuses to speak
to him first and Private resorts to name calling.
S.B calls Gar and while Private remains calm Public goes to meet him. S.B
asks Gar how many coils of copper wire he brought in and Public cannot
remember. S.B gets annoyed with him and Private also berates Public.
Private eventually tells Public not to worry as it is now S.Bs problem.

Public and Private look at some clothes so they can appear smart on the
plane the following day. Private interviews public for a job with the
president of a chain of hotels. We learn that Gar is twenty five and spent
only one year in college.
The interview continues and Gar tells us that he abandoned college after a
pilgrimage where he decided academics was not for him. He returned then
to work for his father. During this interview Public seems to be ashamed
when trying to explain what his father does. After a change of
conversation Private and Public get excited about packing.
Private imagines playing a concert. Public looks at the case that Madge
brought in and Private shows his disgust at the poor quality. When Public
opens the case private remarks that it smells of cats pee.
Public finds an old newspaper in the case and Private remarks that the
case must not have been opened since his parents honeymoon. As Public
says a prayer Private tries to remember his mother through the stories
that Madge had told him. We learn that S.B was forty and Gars mother
was nineteen. Madge also remarked that she used to cry at night.
Public goes to play Philadelphia here I come and Private calls for
something lively.
While Public sings to a new song Private remarks that the new song was
Katie Doogans tune. Private asks Public a whole series of questions and
when Public has enough he turns off the music and takes a photo of Katie
out of his pocket. Public calls her name as he looks at the photo. Private
calls Katie a bitch but Public says that it was his entire fault.
Private asks Public to remember and we move to a flashback. Public kisses
Katie and Private warns him of where the Canon says that sort of thing will
lead to. Public talks to Katie about the kids they are going to have but
Katie does not think they can live on his wages.
Public continues to say things will be alright but both Private and Katie ask
Public to be serious. Public says that he will get a rise and that he also has

other money. Katie gets excited when she thinks that it is some type of
investment.
Public reveals that the money he gets is very little. Kate urges Gar to go to
her parents and tell them their plans for marriage.
We move to Kates house and as Kate calls for her parents Private tries to
think of what to say to them. Kate tells Gar how much he should tell her
father that he earns. Mr. Doogan enters and Gar struggles to speak.
As Kate goes to find her mother Mr. Doogan tells Gar of his hopes for Kate.
Private is now beside Public on stage showing some panic.
Private calls Kate a bitch and says that she must have known her fathers
plans. Private urges Public to leave before he makes a fool of himself. As
Public makes his excuses to leave Mr. Doogan expresses that his
daughters happiness is the most important thing and that any decision she
makes will be her own.
Kate enters the room to find Gar gone and Mr.Doogan says Gar did not ask
him anything. We come back to the present as Gar puts Kates photo away.
We now learn that Kate is now married. As Private says this left a scar on
the soul, Public starts to sing.
Private continues to make excuses and when he says they are going to
American in the morning it is followed by a question mark.
They discuss his fathers bowel movements. Public is now dressed and
they think about chatting up women.
Madge enters his room and asks him to stop making those movements.
Gar tells her to knock in future but Madge says she bathed him till he was
fourteen. Gar goes out for his tea and Madge tells him that her daughter
had another baby. The baby will be called after Madge.
Private remarks that Public is sad because he loves her more than her own
children and he would love some of her courage. S.B enters and Private

mocks him. As S.B sits down Private is able to tell every move he will make
before he does it.
S.B speaks and Private can tells us what he is going to say before he says
it. As S.B talks about the rat traps Private mocks him.
Private continues to discuss S.B and is angry that S.B will not acknowledge
the trip to America. Also Private suggests he is having second thoughts
about his father and leaving.
Public calls for more bread and Madge comes in. She gives S.B a hard look
and comments on the conversation. S.B gives Gar his wages and tells him
that he need not count it as its all there.
Public asks S.B if he wants more tea and S.B tells him that he never has a
second cup. Madge again enters and comments on the conversation.
Private again mocks S.B telling him not to cry.
Master Boyle enters.
Public and Master Boyle discuss Gar leaving while Private gives out about
Boyle heading to the pub.
We learn that Gar is going out to his Aunt Lizzy. Master Boyle also gives
Gar a book of his poems.
Pg 46 Boyle is discussing America and Private is telling Public to give him a
quid to get rid of him.
Boyle hugs Gar and leaves in a rush. Public begins praying and Private
tells him to get a grip of himself. Private begins to sing.
Private sings as Public remembers Kate. Public is struggling with his
feelings. They both begin to sing.