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SEMESTER III Unit III- One Act Play The Never - Never Nest - Cedric Mount Scene: The lounge of JACK and JILL’S Villa at New Hampstead. The essential furniture consists of a table on which are writing materials, and two chairs. As the curtain rises the lounge is empty, but JACK and JILL come immediately, followed by AUNT JANE. Jill: And this is the lounge. Aunt Jane: Charming! Charming! Such a cosy little room! And such pretty furniture. Jack (modestly): We like it, you know, handy place to sit in and listen to the radiogram. Aunt Jane: Oh, have you got a radiogram as well as a car and a piano? Jack: Why, of course, Aunt Jane. You simply must have a radio set nowadays. Jill: And it’s so nice for me when Jack’s away at business. I even make him move it into the kitchen, so that I can listen to it while I cook. Jack: Sit down, Aunt Jane, you must be tired— and we’ve shown you everything now. Jill: What do you think of our little nest, Aunt Jane? Aunt Jane: I think it’s wonderful, my dears. The furniture—and the car— and the piano— and the refrigerator and the radio-what’s it— it’s wonderful, really wonderful! Jack: And we owe it all to you.

Aunt Jane: Yes, Jack, that’s what’s worrying me. Jack: Worrying you, Aunt Jane? Aunt Jane: Yes. That cheque I gave you for your wedding present—it was only two hundred pounds, wasn’t it? I— didn’t put two thousand by mistake? Jill: Why no, Aunt Jane. What on earth made you think that? Aunt Jane: Well, that’s all right. But I still don’t altogether understand. This house (relieved) — it’s very lovely—but doesn’t it cost a great deal for rent? Jack: Rent? Oh, no, we don’t pay rent. Aunt Jane: But, Jack, if you don’t pay rent, you’ll get turned out—into the street. And that would never do. You’ve Jill and the baby to think of now, you know. Jack: No, no, Aunt Jane. You misunderstood me. We don’t pay rent because the house is ours. Aunt Jane: YOURS? Jill: Why, yes; you just pay ten pounds and it’s yours. Jack: You see, Aunt Jane, we realized how uneconomic it is to go on paying rent year after year, when you can buy and enjoy a home of your own for ten pounds—and a few quarterly payments, of course. Why be Mr .Tenant when you can be Mr. Owner? Aunt Jane: I see. Yes, there’s something in that. Even so, you must be getting on very well to keep up a place like this. Jill: Oh, he is, Aunt Jane. Why, only last year he had a five shilling rise—didn’t you, Jack? Jack (modestly): Of course that was nothing, really. I’m expecting ten this Christmas. Aunt Jane (suddenly): Jack! I’ve just thought of something. That car—is it yours?

Jill : Of course it’s ours. Aunt Jane: All yours? Jack : Well, no. Not exactly all. Aunt Jane : How much of it? Jill: Oh, I should say the steering wheel—and one of the tyres -- and about two of the cylinders. But don’t you see, that’s the wonderful thing about it. Aunt Jane: I don’t see anything wonderful about it. Jill: But there is, Aunt Jane. You see, although we could never buy a car outright, we can enjoy all the pleasures of motoring for a mere five pounds down. Aunt Jane: And the rest by easy instalments, I suppose. Jill: Exactly. Aunt Jane: Exactly. And what about the radio-what’s it? Jack : Well, that’s the— Aunt Jane : And the piano? Jill : Well, of course— Aunt Jane : And the furniture? Jack : I—I’m afraid so— Jill : Well, no, as a matter of fact, it’s that one. (She points to another.) Aunt Jane : And the rest belongs to Mr. Sage, I suppose? Jill: Er—Yes.

Aunt Jane: Well. I’m not going to sit on Mr. Sage’s part for anyone. (She stands up.) Now, tell me, how much do all these instalments come to? Jack: Well, actually—(He takes out his pocket-book and consults it) actually to seven pounds eight and eight pence a week. Aunt Jane: Good heavens! And how much do you earn? Jack: As a matter of fact—er—that is—six pounds. Aunt Jane: But that’s absurd! How can you pay seven pounds eight and eight pence out of six pounds? Jack: Oh, that’s easy. You see, all you have to do is to borrow the rest of the money for the payments from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation. Jill: They’re only too glad to loan you any amount you like, on note of hand alone. Aunt Jane: And how do you propose to pay that back? Jack: Oh, that’s easy, too. You just pay it back in instalments. Aunt Jane: Instalments! (She claps her hand to her forehead and sinks back weakly into the chair. Then realises that she is sitting on Mr. Sage’s piece and leaps to her feet again with a little shriek.) Jack: Aunt Jane! Is anything the matter? Would you like to lie down? Aunt Jane: Lie down? Do you suppose I’m going to trust myself in a bed that belongs to Mr. Sage, or Marks and Spencer, or somebody? No, I am going home. Jill: Oh, must you really go? Aunt Jane: I think I’d better. Jack: I’ll drive you to the station.

Aunt Jane: What! Travel in a car that has only one tyre and two thin gummies! No thank youI’ll take the bus. Jack: Well, of course, if you feel like that about it.... Aunt Jane: Now, I’m sorry if I sounded rude, but really I’m shocked to find the way (relenting a little) you’re living. I’ve never owed a penny in my life—cash down, that’s my motto and I want you to do the same. (She opens her handbag.) Now look, here’s a little cheque I was meaning to give you, anyway. (She hands it to Jill.) Suppose you take it and pay off just one of your bills— so that you can say one thing at least really belongs to you. Jill: Er—thank you. Aunt Jane. It’s very nice of you. (awkwardly) Aunt Jane: There! Now I must be going. (patting her arm) Jack: I’ll see you to the bus, anyway. Jill: Good-bye, Aunt Jane—and thanks so much for the present. Aunt Jane: Good-bye, my dear. (She and Jack go out. Jill looks at the cheque and (kissing her) exclaims ‘Ten pounds!’ Then she hurries to the table, addresses an envelope, endorses the cheque and slips it inside with a bill which she takes from the bag and seals the envelope. Then she rings the bell. In a moment the NURSE comes in with the baby in her arms.) Jill: Oh, nurse. I want you to run and post this for me. I’ll look after baby while you’re gone. Nurse: Certainly, madam. (She hands the baby to Jill, takes the letter, and goes.) Jack: Well, she’s gone! What a tartar! Still, she did leave us a bit on account- how much was it? Jill: Ten pounds. Jack: Phew! That’s great! We can pay off the next two months on the car with (with a whistle) that.

Jill: I—I’m afraid we can’t— Jack: Why ever not? Jill: You see, I—I’ve already sent it off for something else. Nurse has just gone to post it. Jack: Well that’s all right. Who have you sent it to? Jill: Dr. Martin. Jack: Dr Martin! What on earth possessed you to do that? Jill (nearly in tears): There! Now you’re going to be angry with me. Jack: I’m not angry! But why waste good money on the doctor? Doctors don’t expect to get paid anyway. Jill (sobbing a little): Bu—but you don’t understand — Jack: Understand what? Jill: Why; just one more instalment and BABY’S REALLY OURS! (She is holding out the infant, a little pathetically, as we black out.)

GLOSSARY lounge - sitting room propose - suggest endorse - give your support to Tartar – A savage person; an obstinate, stubborn person. possessed- obsessed

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Cedric Mount is a playwright of considerable distinction. During his brief literary career ( 1932- 1940) he produces some very thought provoking plays, which include “Dirge without Dole”, “ To Cut a Long Story Short”, “ Nature Abhors a Vacuum” and “ Twentieth Century Lullaby”. Mount’s one act plays are satirical, witty and insightful. These one act plays expose the shams of the contemporary society besides delicately admonishing the guilty. Many of his plays were well-received and widely appreciated. One of the most notable qualities of his plays is brevity. His style as a playwright is one of simplicity and elegance. His plays contain short and simple dialogues with the ability to produce the desired effect. The play can be understood as a satire on the fashion of living on instalments which has become very popular in the modern times. This short and simple One-'ct play centers on the popular modern practice of living through hire-purchase scheme. It has only four characters namely, Jack, Jill, aunt Jane and a nurse. The dialogues are very simple but they reflect the psyche of the characters perfectly. The satire is clear when Jill says to Jack, “why just one more instalment and the, baby is really ours”. The playwright wants to show that this new fashion has grabbed us so much that even babies can be owned on instalments. One-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. In recent years the 10-minute play known as "flash drama" has emerged as a popular sub-genre of the one-act play, especially in writing competitions. The origin of the one-act play may be traced to the very beginning of drama. Features of a One Act Play: 1. It is brief. 2. It is confined to a single dramatic situation and it produces a single effect. 3. The number of principal characters is restricted to two or three. 4. The characters are ordinary men and women whom we come across in our lives. 5. The play begins abruptly.

6. It evokes suspense and surprise. 7. It adheres to the three unities of Time, Place and Action. THEME OF THE ONE-ACT PLAY The play points to the fact that the hire-purchase system enables the low-income group to have things, which they cannot buy with their money. On the other hand the system makes people extravagant that they fall into the habit of borrowing which makes them unhappy. SUMMARY Jack and Jill are a young couple. They live in a well-furnished house at New Hampstead. Aunt Jane pays a visit to their house. She is pleased to see their house and beautiful furniture. Jack and Jill have all modern comforts. They have a Radiogram a car, a refrigerator and a piano. Aunt Jane is very much impressed by their standard of living. They call their house a little Nest. Jack tells Aunt Jane that all their comforts are due to her. Aunt Jane does not understand how her nephew owns all these comforts. She had presented the couple a cheque of only two hundred as wedding gift. It surprises Aunt Jane how they could afford to pay the rent for such a beautiful house. Jack tells her that he doesn’t pay the rent. He actually owns the house. Aunt Jane is astonished to hear it. Jack explains to his aunt that they have purchased the house on instalments. He tells her that living in a rented house was expensive. They had to pay only ten pounds in cash and a few quarterly instalments to be able live in the house which would eventually be theirs. Aunt Jane thinks that Jack must be earning a lot to maintain a big house. Jack modestly tells Aunt Jane that he had a five-shilling rise last year. Aunt Jane’s Astonishment: Aunt Jane is eager to know if the car belonged to him. Jack replies that he owned its steering wheel, one tyre and two cylinders. It was also bought on instalments. They could enjoy the pleasures of motoring for a mere five pounds. Jack discloses that every item of comfort in the house had been purchased on instalments. Jack says that in fact he owned only one leg of the furniture. The rest of the money could be paid

in easy instalments. Hearing this Aunt Jane refuses to sit in the sofa. She thinks that the sofa doesn’t belong to Jack. Aunt Jane questions Jack about his earnings. Jack tells Aunt Jane that he earns about twelve pounds a week. His instalments come to nearly fourteen pounds eight pence a week. Aunt Jane is even more shocked to hear it. She asks Jack, how he manages to pay his instalments? Jack replies that he borrowed more money from Thrift Providence Fund to pay his instalments. Aunt Jane’s Anger: Aunt Jane is disgusted when she learns that Jack had bought everything in instalments. She decides to go home. Jack offers to driver her to the station but she refuses to be driven in the car that does not belong to Jack as yet. She advises Jack and Jill to buy things in cash. “Cash Down” has always been her motto. Aunt Jane opens her handbag and gives them a little cheque for ten pounds. She advises them to pay at least one of their bills. In this way at least one item will be really theirs. Jack goes to see her off at bus stand. Jill thanks Aunt Jane for the present. Jill is very happy to see the cheque for ten pounds. She sends the cheque to the doctor. Jack, mean while, comes back. He is very pleased to know about the cheque for ten pounds. He thinks that he can now pay off the two next instalments on the car. Jill tells him that she has already sent it off for something else. Jack gets angry when he hears that the cheque has gone to Dr. Martin. He thinks it to be a waste. Jill tells him that he does not understand the real thing. She tells him that they had to pay one more instalments to have the baby as theirs. Thus the writer has exposed the shams of the contemporary society besides delicately admonishing the guilty. THE TITLE OF THE PLAY - “The Never- Never Nest” has two ‘never’ in it, ensuring that the nest would never be built. The double negative emphasises the impossibility of home. The ‘nest’ in the title, literally refers to the home of birds. Birds make their home by collecting straws & twigs of various trees. The nest acts as their temporary home as they do migration with respect to the changing weather conditions. Also, they are not safe, as different animals might attack their nest anytime. The same is the case with Jack & Jill.

The word ‘nest’ is a suggestion of instability. It suggests a temporary home. The couple can be attacked by the money-lenders anytime if the instalments are not paid on the designated time. QUESTIONS & ANSWERS 1. What all on earth have Jack and Jill purchased in instalment? Jack and Jill have purchased a villa in New Hampstead, a car, furniture, a radiogram, a piano, a refrigerator and a baby from Dr. Martin, all in instalment. 2. What worried Aunt Jane regarding her wedding gift to Jack and Jill? Aunt Jane had presented a cheque of two hundred pounds to Jack and Jill on their wedding but now she is worried about the amount. She was sure it was only two hundred but seeing the glamour at Jack’s house, she began to doubt if she had given them two thousand pounds with which the couple purchased the villa and the rest. 3. Why was Aunt Jane shocked to hear that Jack and Jill didn’t pay rent for their house? In fact Jack and Jill had been living on rent but recently they purchased a house rather than paying rent for the whole life. Not aware of this, Aunt could not understand how they could live without paying rent. 4. What was Jack’s justification for buying a house in instalment? Jack was a practical man with regards to buying a house in easy instalments rather than spending all his earnings for paying rent. He believed that adding a few more pounds to the rent paid every year would enable him buy an own house with a little difficulty in paying the instalments. 5. What was unusual about Jack’s owning his car? After all his payment on instalments he became the owner of only the tyres of the car. 6. How much did Jack pay as weekly instalments? and how did he manage to pay his

instalments from a meagre weekly income? Jack’s weekly instalments amounted to seven pounds eight pence. He had to borrow from a trust called Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation for the rest of the things. 7. In your opinion, are Jack and Jill more practical than Aunt Jane? Give reasons. No. Aunt Jane believes that one should not owe money to anyone in life. She could never think of owning a villa as the one Jack and Jill owned. Jack and Jill’s way of living would have worked really better if they had purchased a smaller villa and fewer furniture and avoided the car, refrigerator and the radiograph. 8. Why did Aunt Jane refuse to sit on the sofa? Aunt Jane refused to sit on the sofa because she believed that the sofa didn’t belong to Jack but to the money lenders. 9. What for did Aunt Jane give a cheque of ten pounds? Aunt Jane thought that Jack and Jill would be able to pay one of their bills and own at least one thing that they have bought in instalments. 10. Justify the title, Never-Never nest. Jack and Jill call their house a little nest. Like the birds which make their nests from wires, fibers, leaves and grass, all collected free of cost, Jack and Jill too had made their nest. If anytime they would be unable to pay the instalments, they might have to leave the house, as the birds leave, leaving everything behind.

THE HOUR OF TRUTH -

Percival Wilde

CHARACTERS ROBERT BALDWIN MARTHA, HIS WIFE JOHN, HIS SON EVIE, HIS DAUGHTER MR. MARSHALL A MAID The Scene: At Baldwin’s [It is a rather hot and sultry Sunday afternoon, and the sun overhead and the baked clay underfoot are merciless. In the distance, lowering clouds give promise of coming relief. And at the parlour window of a trim little cottage, the Baldwin family is anxiously awaiting the return of its head. John, the son, an average young man of twenty-seven, is smoking a pipe as philosophically as if this day were in no whit more momentous than any other. But his mother, trying to compose herself with her knitting, has made little progress in the last half hour; and Evie, his sister, takes no pains to conceal her nervousness. There is a tense pause. It seems as if none of them likes to break the silence. For the tenth time in ten minutes, Evie, goes to the window and looks out along the sultry road.]

MARTHA

: It’s time he was home.

EVIE

: Yes, Mother.

MARTHA

: I do hope he hasn’t forgotten his umbrella; he has such a habit of leaving it behind him...

EVIE

: Yes, Mother.

MARTHA

: It might rain. Don’t you think so, Evie?

[Without waiting for an answer she goes to the window and looks out anxiously.] The sky is so dark. [She starts.] There was a flash of lighting! [JOHN rises slowly, moves to a centre table, and knocks the ashes out of his pipe. His mother turns to him,] John, run into your father’s room and see that the windows are closed. That’s a good boy. JOHN

: Right-o. [He goes.]

EVIE (after a pause): Mother. [There is no answer.] Mother! [MRS. BALDWIN turns slowly.] What does Mr. Gresham want with him? Has he done anything wrong? MARTHA (proudly) : Your father? No, Evie. EVIE

: Then why did Mr. Gresham send for him?

MARTHA

: He wanted to talk to him.

EVIE

: What about? Mr. Gresham has been arrested; they’re going to try him tomorrow. What can he want with Father?

MARTHA

: Your father will have to give evidence. : But he’s going to give evidence against Mr.

EVIE

Gresham. Why should Mr. Gresham want to see him? MARTHA

: I don’t know, Evie. You know, your father doesn’t say much about his business affairs. [She pauses.] I didn’t know there was anything wrong with the bank until I saw it in the papers. Your father wouldn’t tell me to draw my money out — he thought it wasn’t loyal to Mr. Gresham [EVIE nods] I did it of my own accord — against his wishes — when I suspected...

EVIE (after a pause): Do you think that Father had anything to do with — with... [She does not like to say it.] MARTHA

: With the wrecking of the bank? You know him better than that, Evie.

EVIE

:

MARTHA EVIE

But did he know what was going on? You know what the papers are saying — : They haven’t been fair to him, Evie. : Perhaps not. But they said he must have been a fool not to know. They said that only he could have known — he and Mr. Gresham. Why didn’t he stop it?

MARTHA

: He was acting under Mr. Gresham’s orders.

EVIE (contemptuously): Mr. Gresham’s orders! Did he have to follow them? MARTHA (after a pause): Evie, I don’t believe your father ever did a wrong thing in his life — not if he knew it was wrong. He found out by accident — found out what Mr. Gr...