In this scene from FAMILY BUTCHERS by Edna O’Brien, Jamie, the patriarch of the family, discusses with his slow-witted, young friend the riches they will potentially make in the timber industry. Jamie’s daughter, Emer, who’s trying to sneak out of the house, is brought into the conversation. Jamie’s agenda for roping her into the excitement becomes apparent.

GURNET
Is the missus put out?

JAMIE
Oh the much vexed question of stimulants. (half sings, half speaks) “And if not mine dear girl, oh snowy-breasted pearl, may I never from the Fair of life return.

GURNET
You're a poet, Boss.

JAMIE
I am that... That I am. Do you ever have visions, Gurnet?

GURNET
Is it the little men in Green...the fairies.

JAMIE
Blast, fairies no, women.

GURNET
There's a new maid at the bank...I think she and me will click.

EMER is coming down the stairs in her stockinged feet with her travel bag.

JAMIE
Click! Have you brought her down the Dock Road yet?

GURNET
That's a lonesome road.

JAMIE
You ape you...get her there at twilight.

EMER steps into one shoe and is stepping into the other when JAMIE sees her and beams.

JAMIE
Emer...darling...come and sit... You're queen here.

GURNET
Def. Queen of the land.

JAMIE
I've hit on something that could be the making of all of us... You, me, Gurnet, your mother even... a goldmine right before our bloody eyes... trees, piles of them... timber shortage all over the world, Norway, Sweden running low... Ireland abounding...

GURNET
There's a factory to be opened in Killaloe...a chipboard factory.

EMER
You can't.

JAMIE
It's sad to lose trees. Trees are a fine thing... A thing of beauty. (Reciting)

"A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair...

(he nudges Emer playfully) You didn't think I knew that poem did you. Sure I used to sit you on my knee and teach you the rudiments, teach you Irish and English and geography and sums and the legends.

He is in a happy expansive mood as he contemplates the fortune he is about to make.

GURNET
(to Emer) Your hair is on fire.

EMER
Does Mam know?

JAMIE
Sure your mother has no say here. She came from a hovel, a few hawthorn bushes was all she ever saw. It wasn't until she met me that she knew what grandeur was. This is between you and me and Gurnet. (to Gurnet) Emer is the best of them all.

GURNET
She's better looking than Movita. Am I right?

EMER
So what trees are you going to take down?

JAMIE
Tons. We'll invest in a saw... We don't need men... We're men, isn't that right Gurnet? (to Emer) Your brother isn't a man at all, they're up there now and he's probably curling her hair with tongs. He's only a sissy.

GURNET explodes with laughter.

GURNET
I wouldn't like to see him herding cattle.

JAMIE
Now let's see! In the lower avenue, as you come in the gate, there's a big beech (he stands up and measures the girth of the beech). and then another, and another, and then there's a few little scutty trees, and then there's that ash tree, how many is that, ten trees and we're not even as far as the fort, I declare to Christ there's a few hundred quid there.

GURNET
We'll be feckin' rollin' in it boss. They'll be cryin' out for timber in the new factory.

EMER
You'd hate to see the avenue bare.

JAMIE
You'd hate to see your mother and father on the roadside.

GURNET
(Daftly) Ride `em cowboy.

JAMIE
(To Emer) We'll go over to the bank at 10.00 in the morning, I'll ask to see the manager, Mr Dineen... It won't be "He's busy, or wait an hour", I'll be marched into his office because you'll be with me. When he sees you, when he sees how elegant you are, o he'll be all jam. Probably offer us coffee and biscuits; then he'll start blowin', telling you that he sings operetta, some farting singing that they do in the Town Hall at Christmas. You'll see, it'll be a different story as soon as he sets eyes on you.

GURNET
I'll give my notice to the feckin foreman.

JAMIE
I was damn near having to let this place go.

EMER
How much do you want?

JAMIE
A couple of thousand.

Pause

EMER
(Quiet) I’ll have to borrow it.

JAMIE
(Encouragingly) Once I start to sell the timber I'm solvent. I'll stock the place. I'll work my guts out.

GURNET
Top of the world, Boss.