Act 2 Scene 1

POLLY: Mackie! Are you there, Mackie? (He jumps up, startled) Don't be afraid, it's only me.

MACHEATH: What is it, Polly? Why do you look like that?

POLLY: I've just been to see Brown, my father was there, too - they've arranged to have you caught. My father threatened something terrible, and Brown tried to protect you, but then he gave in, and now he thinks you ought to disappear for a little while, Mackie. You've got to start packing right away.

MACHEATH: Packing? Ridiculous. Come here, Polly. Let's you and me do something that's got nothing to do with packing.

POLLY: Not now, Mack. I'm so nervous. All their talk was about hanging.

MACHEATH: I don't like it when you frown. There's nothing in the records against me...

POLLY: Maybe not yesterday. But today suddenly there's an awful lot. It says here you - I've brought the list with me. It's such a long list, I don't think I'll ever get through it, it's got no end. You went and killed two shopkeepers; there's over thirty burglaries, twenty-three street robberies, there's arson, attempted murders, perjuries, forgeries — all in six months. You're a terrible man.

MACHEATH: What about Brown? What did he say? (He rises, takes list of charges from PoLLY and glances at it

POLLY: He followed me in the hall, and said he couldn't do anything for you. Oh Mackie! (She throws her arms around his neck)

MACHEATH (Suddenly sober and alert): Well, if I must make a run for it, you'll have to take over the business

POLLY: Oh, don't talk about business now, I can't bear it, kiss your poor Polly, and swear you will never, never —

MACHEATH (Pulling stool, on top of which is piled some ledgers, to bed; he sits): Now these are the main books. Listen carefully, here is a list of the men: Crookfinger Jake - (POLLy tries to climb into his lap but he puts her down beside him and hands her another book) No, don't sit on my lap now, I'm not in the mood. Walt Dreary, unreliable rat; three weeks' grace, then out. You simply give his name to Brown.

POLLY (Sobbing, but copying his words down into her ledger): I simply give his name to Brown.

MACHEATH: Readymoney Matt, makes good money, but fresh. Steals the bedclothes from under the best society ladies. Give him a raise.

POLLY: Give him a raise.

MACHEATH: Bob the Saw, very petty pickpocket, not a sign of talent.

POLLY: Not a sign of talent.

MACHEATH: Aside from them, keep everything as it was, get up early, wash your face, fix yourself up, and so on.

POLLY: Wash, fix myself up, and so on. Oh, you're right; I must get myself in hand, and take hold of the business. What's yours is mine, too, isn't it Mack, now? What about your room? I'll give it up, why pay the rent?

MACHEATH: No, I'll still need it.

POLLY: But why, when it costs money?

MACHEATH: You seem to think I'm not coming back.

POLLY: But you can always rent it again! Oh, Mackie, I can't bear any more. I keep looking at your mouth, and I don't even know what you're saying. Will you be true to me, Mack?

MACHEATH: Certainly I'll be true to you. You think I don't love you? I just see farther than you, that's all.

POLLY: I'm so grateful to you for everything, Mackie. You'll be thinking: of me, won't you, when they're after you with the blood-.hounds -?

MACHEATH (As he hears "bloodhounds," he stiffens): All the proceeds you will send to Jack Poole's Bank in Manchester.

POLLY (Concentrating): Jack Poole's Bank in Manchester.

MACHEATH: Confidentially, I'm thinking of going into banking, exclusively. It's safer and the takes are bigger. Now, in three weeks all the money is to be out of this business. Then you are to give the list of the entire staff over to the police. In four weeks this whole nest of rats will be in jail.

POLLY: Mackie! Can you look them in the face, when you're about to inform on them, and they're as good as hanged? Can you shake hands with them?

MACHEATH: Who do you mean? Bob the Saw, Readymoney Matt, Crookfinger Jake? That scum? (The four enter, MACHEATH turns to them Gentlemen, I'm glad to see you.

MATT: Captain, I've just got hold of the plans for the Coronation: It looks like we've got some hard days' work ahead. The Archbishop of Canterbury arrives any minute.

MACHEATH: When?

MATT: At five-thirty. We'd better start right now, Captain.

MACHEATH: Yes, you better be moving.

BOB: What do you mean, 'you'?

MACHEATH: Well, as for myself, I'm afraid I must be off on a little trip.

JAKE: What, just before the Coronation? Why the Coronation without you will be like — a funeral without a corpse!

MACHEATH: Cut that! As a consequence, I'm giving over the manage-ment of the business for the time being to my wife. (Pushing her forward) Polly!

MATT: I don't have a thing to say. But a woman at a time like this? I don't know!... It's nothing personal against you, ma'am.

MACHEATH: How about that, Polly?

POLLY: Why you little pig-runt, you start us off fine. You'd better have nothing personal against me, or these lads here would rip the pants off you and slap the livin' --

MACHEATH: Polly!

ALL: Yay, hurray, Polly!

MACHEATH: Oh, Matt, come here. Last week you were bragging about trying to set fire to Westminster Abbey — you make a mistake like that again and you're finished. Now, who did that one?

MATT: I did!

MACHEATH (To the Gang): Who did it?

ALL (Except MATT: You did, Mr. Macheath!

MACHEATH: Well?

MATT (Sullen): All right, you did. Some chance for advancement around here.

MACHEATH: You'll get advancement, you try to get in my way. Now get to work!

POLLY: Every Friday it is, men. (BoB leaves)