(There is a knocking at the other door. Peter turns towards it, then retreats. Meanwhile the
boy climbs out. When Peter is between the two doors the boy screams and falls out of sight.
Peter runs to the cliff door, feels for his grip and then swings quickly after him. -
The cliff-side door is open. The street door still resounds with the Rector's knock. Then
it opens and the Rector puts his head round the door.)
Rector
Peter Grimes! Nobody here?
Swallow
What about the other door?
(They go and look out. Silence for a moment.)
Rector
Was this a recent landslide?
Swallow
Yes.
Rector
It makes almost a precipice.
How deep?
Swallow
Say forty feet.
Rector
Dangerous to leave the door open.
Ned
He used to keep his boat down there.
Maybe they've both gone fishing.
Rector
Yet
His hut is reasonably kept.
Here's order. Here's skill.
(Swallow draws the moral.)
Swallow
The whole affair gives Borough talk its - shall
I say quietus? Here we come pell-mell,
Expecting to find out - we know not what.
But all we find is a neat and empty hut.
Gentlemen, take this to your wives:
Less interference in our private lives.
Rector
Ther's no point certainly in staying here,
And will the last to go please to close the door.
(They go out - all save Balstrode who hesitates, looks round the hut, sees the boy's
Sunday clothes lying around, examines them, then goes to the path door to shut it. He
goes up to the cliff-side door, looks out, and hurriedly climbs down the way Peter and
the boy went. - Curtain.)
boy climbs out. When Peter is between the two doors the boy screams and falls out of sight.
Peter runs to the cliff door, feels for his grip and then swings quickly after him. -
The cliff-side door is open. The street door still resounds with the Rector's knock. Then
it opens and the Rector puts his head round the door.)
Rector
Peter Grimes! Nobody here?
Swallow
What about the other door?
(They go and look out. Silence for a moment.)
Rector
Was this a recent landslide?
Swallow
Yes.
Rector
It makes almost a precipice.
How deep?
Swallow
Say forty feet.
Rector
Dangerous to leave the door open.
Ned
He used to keep his boat down there.
Maybe they've both gone fishing.
Rector
Yet
His hut is reasonably kept.
Here's order. Here's skill.
(Swallow draws the moral.)
Swallow
The whole affair gives Borough talk its - shall
I say quietus? Here we come pell-mell,
Expecting to find out - we know not what.
But all we find is a neat and empty hut.
Gentlemen, take this to your wives:
Less interference in our private lives.
Rector
Ther's no point certainly in staying here,
And will the last to go please to close the door.
(They go out - all save Balstrode who hesitates, looks round the hut, sees the boy's
Sunday clothes lying around, examines them, then goes to the path door to shut it. He
goes up to the cliff-side door, looks out, and hurriedly climbs down the way Peter and
the boy went. - Curtain.)