Ned
Have you heard the cliff is down
Up by Grimes's hut?
Auntie
Where is he?
Mrs. Sedley
Thank God you've come!
Ned
You won't blow away.
Mrs. Sedley
The carter's over half an hour late!
Balstrode
He'll be later still: the road's under flood.
Mrs. Sedley
I can't stay longer. I refuse.
Ned
You'll have to stay if you want your pills.
Mrs. Sedley
With drunken females and in brawls!
Ned
They're Auntie's nieces, that's what they are,
And better than you for kissing, ma.
Mind that door!
All
Mind that door!
(The door opens again. Peter Grimes has come in. Unlike the rest he wears no oilskins.
His hair looks wild. He advances into the room, shaking off the raindrops from his hair.
Mrs. Sedley faints. Ned Keene catches her as she falls.)
Ned
Get the brandy, aunt.
Auntie
Who'll pay?
Ned
Her. I'll charge her for it.
(As Peter moves forward the others shrink back.)
Chorus
Talk of the devil and there he is
A devil he is, and a devil he is.
Grimes is waiting his apprentice.
Ned
This widow's as strong as any two
Fishermen I have met.
Everybody's very quiet!
(No-one answers. Silence is broken by Peter, as if thinking aloud.)
Have you heard the cliff is down
Up by Grimes's hut?
Auntie
Where is he?
Mrs. Sedley
Thank God you've come!
Ned
You won't blow away.
Mrs. Sedley
The carter's over half an hour late!
Balstrode
He'll be later still: the road's under flood.
Mrs. Sedley
I can't stay longer. I refuse.
Ned
You'll have to stay if you want your pills.
Mrs. Sedley
With drunken females and in brawls!
Ned
They're Auntie's nieces, that's what they are,
And better than you for kissing, ma.
Mind that door!
All
Mind that door!
(The door opens again. Peter Grimes has come in. Unlike the rest he wears no oilskins.
His hair looks wild. He advances into the room, shaking off the raindrops from his hair.
Mrs. Sedley faints. Ned Keene catches her as she falls.)
Ned
Get the brandy, aunt.
Auntie
Who'll pay?
Ned
Her. I'll charge her for it.
(As Peter moves forward the others shrink back.)
Chorus
Talk of the devil and there he is
A devil he is, and a devil he is.
Grimes is waiting his apprentice.
Ned
This widow's as strong as any two
Fishermen I have met.
Everybody's very quiet!
(No-one answers. Silence is broken by Peter, as if thinking aloud.)