Trials of Oscar Wilde by Merlin Holland & John O'Connor

Author:Merlin Holland & John O'Connor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

ACT II

Scene 1 – Outside St James’s Theatre

Music. We see a playbill for The Importance of Being Earnest as in Act I, but the name of the author has been crossed out so that the words ‘by OSCAR WILDE ’ are no longer visible. A bill sticker comes along and pastes over the poster the word ‘CLOSED’.

Scene 2 – Marquess of Queensberry and Journalist

JOURNALIST. Lord Queensberry, do you have a few words for the New York Herald.

QUEENSBERRY. Well, obviously I am delighted that the plea of justification has been proved. Immediately after the verdict, I instructed my solicitors to send our witness statements to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

JOURNALIST. Is that why Mr Wilde was arrested so quickly the same day?

QUEENSBERRY. Indeed it was. I thought he might flee the country like a coward. All the better for the country, I thought, but if he’d taken my son with him I would have shot him like a dog!

JOURNALIST. I understand you’ve had many messages of support from distinguished people.

QUEENSBERRY. Well, you know, I have not much to do with distinguished people, but I had a very nice letter from Lord Claud Hamilton who serves as aide-de-camp to Her Majesty the Queen. And a kind telegram from Mr Charles Brookfield, the actor, who is playing Phipps in that dreadful play An Ideal Husband. ‘Hearty congratulations’ he says. Various clubs have telegraphed also. Here’s one. (he takes out a telegram) ‘Every man in the City is with you. Kill the bugger!’

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