Our Country’s Good

by

Timberlake Wertenbaker

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A convict in the penal colony. Duckling is romantically involved with Harry Brewer and even lives with him in his tent, though she resents him because of how controlling he is. Indeed, he doesn’t even let her fraternize with the other convicts or guards, thinking she’ll have sex with them. What’s more, Duckling resents Harry because he played a part in the hanging of Handy Baker, her other lover. Throughout the play, she is terse and cold to Harry, though she often becomes momentarily affectionate toward him and reminds him how much he likes having sex with her. In an attempt to make her happy, Harry encourages her to join Ralph’s play—something that pleases her. Not long thereafter, though, Harry falls ill, and though she pleads with him to stay alive by telling him that she loves him, he dies. Nevertheless, Duckling goes through with her role in the play, refusing to step down because of her grief.

Duckling Smith Quotes in Our Country’s Good

The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by Duckling Smith or refer to Duckling Smith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Punishment and Rehabilitation Theme Icon
).
Act One, Scene Four Quotes

Duckling’s gone silent on me again. I know it’s because of Handy Baker. I saw him as well as I see you. Duckling wants me, he said, even if you’ve hanged me. At least your poker’s danced its last shindy, I said. At least it’s young and straight, he said, she likes that. I went for him but he was gone. But he’s going to come back, I know it. I didn’t want to hang him, Ralph, I didn’t.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith, Handy Baker
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis:

Do you know I saved her life? She was sentenced to be hanged at Newgate for stealing two candlesticks but I got her name put on the transport lists. But when I remind her of that she says she wouldn’t have cared.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Seven Quotes

HARRY. […] I’m sorry, Duckling, please. Why can’t you? —can’t you just be with me? Don’t be angry. I’ll do anything for you, you know that. What do you want, Duckling?

DUCKLING. I don’t want to be watched all the time. I wake up in the middle of the night and you’re watching me. What do you think I’m going to do in my sleep, Harry? Watching, watching, watching. JUST STOP WATCHING ME.

HARRY. You want to leave me. All right, go and live in the women’s camp, sell yourself to a convict for a biscuit. Leave if you want to. You’re filthy, filthy, opening your legs to the first marine —

DUCKLING. Why are you so angry with your Duckling, Harry? Don’t you like it when I open my legs wide to you?

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker), Handy Baker
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:

DUCKLING. I need freedom sometimes, Harry.

HARRY. You have to earn your freedom with good behaviour.

DUCKLING. Why didn’t you let them hang me and take my corpse with you, Harry? You could have kept that in chains. I wish I was dead. At least when you’re dead, you’re free.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker)
Page Number: 37
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene One Quotes

MARY. Liz, we’ve come to rehearse the play.

WISEHAMMER. Rehearse the play?

DUCKLING. The Lieutenant has gone to talk to the Governor. Harry said we could come see you.

MARY. The Lieutenant has asked me to stand in his place so we don’t lose time. We’ll start with the first scene between Melinda and Brazen.

WISEHAMMER. How can I play Captain Brazen in chains?

MARY. This is the theatre. We will believe you.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker), John Wisehammer (speaker), Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Midshipman Harry Brewer, Liz Morden, Henry Kable
Page Number: 69
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Eight Quotes

If you live, I will never again punish you with my silence. If you live, I will never again turn away from you. If you live, I will never again imagine another man when you make love to me. If you live, I will never tell you I want to leave you. If you live, I will speak to you. If you live, I will be tender with you. If you live, I will look after you. If you live, I will stay with you. If you live, I will be wet and open to your touch. If you live, I will answer all your questions. If you live, I will look at you. If you live, I will love you.

Related Characters: Duckling Smith (speaker), Midshipman Harry Brewer
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis:
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Duckling Smith Quotes in Our Country’s Good

The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by Duckling Smith or refer to Duckling Smith. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Punishment and Rehabilitation Theme Icon
).
Act One, Scene Four Quotes

Duckling’s gone silent on me again. I know it’s because of Handy Baker. I saw him as well as I see you. Duckling wants me, he said, even if you’ve hanged me. At least your poker’s danced its last shindy, I said. At least it’s young and straight, he said, she likes that. I went for him but he was gone. But he’s going to come back, I know it. I didn’t want to hang him, Ralph, I didn’t.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith, Handy Baker
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis:

Do you know I saved her life? She was sentenced to be hanged at Newgate for stealing two candlesticks but I got her name put on the transport lists. But when I remind her of that she says she wouldn’t have cared.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Seven Quotes

HARRY. […] I’m sorry, Duckling, please. Why can’t you? —can’t you just be with me? Don’t be angry. I’ll do anything for you, you know that. What do you want, Duckling?

DUCKLING. I don’t want to be watched all the time. I wake up in the middle of the night and you’re watching me. What do you think I’m going to do in my sleep, Harry? Watching, watching, watching. JUST STOP WATCHING ME.

HARRY. You want to leave me. All right, go and live in the women’s camp, sell yourself to a convict for a biscuit. Leave if you want to. You’re filthy, filthy, opening your legs to the first marine —

DUCKLING. Why are you so angry with your Duckling, Harry? Don’t you like it when I open my legs wide to you?

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker), Handy Baker
Page Number: 36
Explanation and Analysis:

DUCKLING. I need freedom sometimes, Harry.

HARRY. You have to earn your freedom with good behaviour.

DUCKLING. Why didn’t you let them hang me and take my corpse with you, Harry? You could have kept that in chains. I wish I was dead. At least when you’re dead, you’re free.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker)
Page Number: 37
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene One Quotes

MARY. Liz, we’ve come to rehearse the play.

WISEHAMMER. Rehearse the play?

DUCKLING. The Lieutenant has gone to talk to the Governor. Harry said we could come see you.

MARY. The Lieutenant has asked me to stand in his place so we don’t lose time. We’ll start with the first scene between Melinda and Brazen.

WISEHAMMER. How can I play Captain Brazen in chains?

MARY. This is the theatre. We will believe you.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker), John Wisehammer (speaker), Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Midshipman Harry Brewer, Liz Morden, Henry Kable
Page Number: 69
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Eight Quotes

If you live, I will never again punish you with my silence. If you live, I will never again turn away from you. If you live, I will never again imagine another man when you make love to me. If you live, I will never tell you I want to leave you. If you live, I will speak to you. If you live, I will be tender with you. If you live, I will look after you. If you live, I will stay with you. If you live, I will be wet and open to your touch. If you live, I will answer all your questions. If you live, I will look at you. If you live, I will love you.

Related Characters: Duckling Smith (speaker), Midshipman Harry Brewer
Page Number: 93
Explanation and Analysis: