CLIPTON.He keeps me awake.I don't know who he is.[With contempt]One of this star class,I expect.Oughtn't to be here with us.
THE GOVERNOR.[Quietly]Quite right,Clipton.He'll be moved when there's a cell vacant.
CLIPTON.He knocks about like a wild beast in the early morning.
I'm not used to it--stops me getting my sleep out.In the evening too.It's not fair,Mr.Governor,as you're speaking to me.
Sleep's the comfort I've got here;I'm entitled to take it out full.
WOODER comes out of the cell,and instantly,as though extinguished,CLIPTON moves with stealthy suddenness back into his cell.
WOODER.All right,sir.
THE GOVERNOR nods.The door is closed and locked.
THE GOVERNOR.Which is the man who banged on his door this morning?
WOODER.[Going towards O'CLEARY'S cell]This one,sir;O'Cleary.
He lifts the disc and glances through the peephole.
THE GOVERNOR.Open.
WOODER throws open the door.O'CLEARY,who is seated at a little table by the door as if listening,springs up and stands at attention jest inside the doorway.He is a broad-faced,middle-aged man,with a wide,thin,flexible mouth,and little holes under his high cheek-bones.
THE GOVERNOR.Where's the joke,O'Cleary?
O'CLEARY.The joke,your honour?I've not seen one for a long time.
THE GOVERNOR.Banging on your door?
O'CLEARY.Oh!that!
THE GOVERNOR.It's womanish.
O'CLEARY.An'it's that I'm becoming this two months past.
THE GOVERNOR.Anything to complain of?
O'CLEARY.NO,Sirr.
THE GOVERNOR.You're an old hand;you ought to know better.
O'CLEARY.Yes,I've been through it all.
THE GOVERNOR.You've got a youngster next door;you'll upset him.
O'CLEARY.It cam'over me,your honour.I can't always be the same steady man.
THE GOVERNOR.Work all right?
O'CLEARY.[Taking up a rush mat he is ******]Oh!I can do it on me head.It's the miserablest stuff--don't take the brains of a mouse.
[Working his mouth]It's here I feel it--the want of a little noise --a terrible little wud ease me.
THE GOVERNOR.You know as well as I do that if you were out in the shops you wouldn't be allowed to talk.
O'CLEARY.[With a look of profound meaning]Not with my mouth.
THE GOVERNOR.Well,then?
O'CLEARY.But it's the great conversation I'd have.
THE GOVERNOR.[With a smile]Well,no more conversation on your door.
O'CLEARY.No,sirr,I wud not have the little wit to repeat meself.
THE GOVERNOR.[Turning]Good-night.
O'CLEARY.Good-night,your honour.
He turns into his cell.The GOVERNOR shuts the door.
THE GOVERNOR.[Looking at the record card]Can't help liking the poor blackguard.
WOODER.He's an amiable man,sir.
THE GOVERNOR.[Pointing down the corridor]Ask the doctor to come here,Mr.Wooder.
WOODER salutes and goes away down the corridor.
The GOVERNOR goes to the door of FALDER'S cell.He raises his uninjured hand to uncover the peep-hole;but,without uncovering it,shakes his head and drops his hand;then,after scrutinising the record board,he opens the cell door.FALDER,who is standing against it,lurches forward.
THE GOVERNOR.[Beckoning him out]Now tell me:can't you settle down,Falder?
FALDER.[In a breathless voice]Yes,sir.
THE GOVERNOR.You know what I mean?It's no good running your head against a stone wall,is it?
FALDER.No,sir.
THE GOVERNOR.Well,come.
FALDER.I try,sir.
THE GOVERNOR.Can't you sleep?
FALDER.Very little.Between two o'clock and getting up's the worst time.
THE GOVERNOR.How's that?
FALDER.[His lips twitch with a sort of smile]I don't know,sir.Iwas always nervous.[Suddenly voluble]Everything seems to get such a size then.I feel I'll never get out as long as I live.
THE GOVERNOR.That's morbid,my lad.Pull yourself together.
FALDER.[With an equally sudden dogged resentment]Yes--I've got to.
THE GOVERNOR.Think of all these other fellows?
FALDER.They're used to it.
THE GOVERNOR.They all had to go through it once for the first time,just as you're doing now.
FALDER.Yes,sir,I shall get to be like them in time,I suppose.
THE GOVERNOR.[Rather taken aback]H'm!Well!That rests with you.Now come.Set your mind to it,like a good fellow.You're still quite young.A man can make himself what he likes.
FALDER.[Wistfully]Yes,sir.
THE GOVERNOR.Take a good hold of yourself.Do you read?
FALDER.I don't take the words in.[Hanging his head]I know it's no good;but I can't help thinking of what's going on outside.In my cell I can't see out at all.It's thick glass,sir.
THE GOVERNOR.You've had a visitor.Bad news?
FALDER.Yes.
THE GOVERNOR.You mustn't think about it.
FALDER.[Looking back at his cell]How can I help it,sir?
He suddenly becomes motionless as WOODER and the DOCTORapproach.The GOVERNOR motions to him to go back into his cell.
FALDER.[Quick and low]I'm quite right in my head,sir.[He goes back into his cell.
THE GOVERNOR.[To the DOCTOR]Just go in and see him,Clements.
The DOCTOR goes into the cell.The GOVERNOR pushes the door to,nearly closing it,and walks towards the window.
WOODER.[Following]Sorry you should be troubled like this,sir.
Very contented lot of men,on the whole.
THE GOVERNOR.[Shortly]You think so?