Priestley: Plays One: 1 by Priestley J.B

Author:Priestley, J.B. [Priestley, J.B.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oberon Books
Published: 2003-06-01T16:00:00+00:00

ACT THREE

Scene: as before. About quarter of an hour later. RUBY is tidying up the room, and also eating a large piece of pasty. She continues with her work several moments after rise of curtain, then NANCY makes cautious appearance at conservatory, sees that nobody but RUBY is there, then turns to beckon in GERALD, and they both come into the room .

NANCY: What’s been happening, Ruby?

RUBY: What ’asn’t been ’appening! Eee – we’ve had some trade on what wi’ one thing an’ another.

NANCY: ( Mischievous rather than reproachful .) You see what you’ve done, Gerald.

RUBY: What! He didn’t start it, did he? ’Cos if he did, he’s got summat to answer for.

NANCY: Did – anybody ask where I was, Ruby?

RUBY: No, an’ I’ll bet you could stop out all night and they’d neither know nor care.

GERALD: But what has been happening, Ruby?

RUBY: ( Confidentially .) Place ’as been like a mad-’ouse this last half-hour. To start with, mayor o’ Cleckleywyke’s been and gone –

NANCY: The mayor?

GERALD: ( Amused .) Why did they want to bring the mayor into it?

RUBY: Nobody brought him. He come of his own accord – with a case o’ fish things an’ wearing t’chain – like a chap in a pantymime. He soon took his ’ook. But reporters didn’t –

GERALD: Reporters, eh?

RUBY: Ay, an’ there were plenty of ’em an’ all an’ they didn’t want to go, neither, not like t’mayor. So Mr Helliwell an’ Mr Parker took ’em into t’kitchen an’ give ’em bottled ale an’ for all I know they may be there yet. Mrs Helliwell’s up in t’bedroom – feeling poorly – an’ Mrs Soppitt’s with her. Mr Soppitt an’ Mrs Parker’s somewhere out in garden –

NANCY: I told you there was somebody there.

RUBY: Ah, but let me finish. Now there’s a woman wi’ dyed ’air washing herself in t’bathroom upstairs – an’ nobody knows what she wants – beyond a good wash. Down in t’dining-room there’s a photographer who’s right tidily tryin’ to argue with gert big parson – an’ I’ll bet he’s makin’ a rare mess – an’ that’ll be to do next.

(Exit RUBY .)

GERALD: Sounds all very confused to me.

NANCY: Yes, and I’d better slip upstairs while nobody’s about. Oh – Gerald.

GERALD: Nancy!

NANCY: Do you still love me?

GERALD: Yes, Nancy – still – even after a whole hour.

(They kiss. Enter SOPPITT and ANNIE PARKER from conservatory .)

SOPPITT: Here, I say! You two seem very friendly!

ANNIE: I believe you were the girl he was seen with.

SOPPITT: Were you?

NANCY: Yes. We’re practically engaged, you know. Only – I was frightened of saying anything yet to Uncle Joe.

SOPPITT: Well, don’t start tonight –

ANNIE: Why shouldn’t she? He won’t be quite so pleased with himself tonight as usual – just as I know another who won’t.

NANCY: Good night.

ANNIE: Good night. Why don’t you go outside and say good night properly? You’re only young once.

(NANCY and GERALD exit to conservatory .)

Yes, you’re only young once, Herbert. D’you remember that time, just after you’d first come to Cleckleywyke, when we all went on that choir trip to Barnard Castle?

SOPPITT: I do, Annie.

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