Act 2
Scene 22
“Now he’s gone off to rest, leaving me along with Equus.”
Long soliloquy by Dysart, which is interrupted by the nurse informing him of a clash between Alan and his mother. We see Dora in rage – quite different from the gentle, calm woman we have been presented so far. This is clearly another side of the character that Shaffer reveals here.
Scene 23
Dysart and Dora Strang have a conversation following her confrontation with her son. She speaks “savagely”, exploding into a long soliloquy, revealing her true feelings about her son and the crime he has committed.
Scene 24
A conversation between Dysart and Alan, each which he denies having told any truth when under hypnosis and attacks Dysart for playing “bloody tricks” (p. 79) on him.
“It’ll be the drug next.”, “So you can give me truth drugs.” → he is defiant, but essentially asking for help with the last statement.
Scene 25
“He wants a way to speak. To finally tell me what happened in the stable. Tape’s too isolated, and hypnosis is a trick.”
Dysart considers giving Alan “The old placebo”, “Full of alleged Truth Drug”.
“Can you think of anything worse one can do to anybody than take away their worship.” → on his own he ponders if what he does is right, revealing that he himself admires Alan for having something to worship – unlike Dysart himself.
“Many men have less vital with their wives.” → self-reference, sexual.
“...that boy has known a passion more ferocious than I have felt in any second of my life. And let me tell you something: I envy it.” (82)
“That’s what his stare has been saying to me all this time. ‘At least I galloped! When did you?’ ”
Scene 26
Dysart decides to give the “truth pill” to Alan in the middle of the night.
Scene 27
Dysart: Because you’re unhappy.
Alan: So are you.
Scenes 27-29: Alan “confesses” under the truth pill. Cinema episode – Alan goes with Jill, and is seen by his father, who is also there.
Scene 30
Frank is defiant about having gone to the cinema to the “skinflick” and makes up an excuse.
Scene 31
Jill takes Alan to the stables, Alan is incredulous.
Scene 32
“Chorus makes a warning hum.” Alan is reluctant to go in, but does eventually.
Scene 33
Jill wants to make love, but Alan can’t (but initially lies about it to Dysart). Alan is tense, Jill leaves.
Scene 34
Alan blinds the horses.
Scene 35
Closing soliloquy of Dysart, promising to heal Alan, to make him “Normal”... but “And now for me it never stops: that voice of Equus of the cave”