chocolate_fiend
12-20-2007, 11:49 PM
The Homecoming
Characters
Robert Duveen - A soldier on leave from the trenches, about twenty-five years old, good looking but emaciated and prematurely lined.
Mr. Arnold Duveen - Robert’s father, a stout, jowly man in his fifties, dandily dressed.
Mrs. Mildred Duveen - A motherly, if slightly superior looking woman of around fifty.
Mary Duveen - Robert’s older sister, a tall, thin, severe looking woman of thirty.
Edward Duveen - A lanky, awkward, pale-faced boy of fifteen.
Isabel Clair - Robert’s fiancée, a pretty, self-assured girl in her early twenties.
Wendell Clair - Isabel’s older brother, an oily looking man in his thirties.
Ethel - The Duveens’ maid.
Act 1
(The year is 1915, the scene is a drawing room. Mr. and Mrs. Duveen and Edward are assembled in a state of anticipation. Mr. Duveen consults a golden pocket watch, Mrs. Duveen embroiders, Edward fidgets nervously, the door opens.)
ETHEL - If you please sir, Master Robert’s home.
(Enter Robert through the door, his military uniform is slightly shabby, there is shadow on his face and he winces slightly with every step.)
MRS DUVEEN - (Rising from chair) Robert darling! (takes his hands, he half smiles)
ROBERT - Mother!
MR DUVEEN - (Striding across the room and clapping Robert on the back) Son! It’s good to have you with us.
EDWARD - (Running forward) Robbie!
MRS DUVEEN - You look pale darling, haven’t they been feeding you enough?
MR DUVEEN - Nonsense Mildred! The British army would hardly let its brave boys starve now, would they? I expect Robert here and the boys work up a fine healthy appetite in that country air. Still – French country air of course, not like our England, eh?
MRS DUVEEN - You really do look terribly drawn; I hope you’re not coming down with a chill.
ROBERT - Of course not mother, I haven’t had much chance to freshen up since the boat from France.
EDWARD - Did you get me some shrapnel, Robbie? Donald Williams’ brother was on leave a week ago and he had an awfully big piece!
(For a moment Robert’s face convulses, then, he reaches a hand into his pocket and pulls out an empty bullet cartridge.)
ROBERT - I’m sorry to disappoint, Eddie. My second lieutenant had a huge piece of shrapnel, you know – straight through his leg.
MRS DUVEEN - Oh how frightful!
MR DUVEEN - Still, all for king and country I say. No shame in a war wound, it does him proud.
ROBERT - (Tightly) Yes, if he could walk on it.
EDWARD - (Turning over the bullet case in his hands) Wait till Johnny Carter sees this! A real bullet from the front line. Straight from a hero’s machine gun!
ROBERT - It’s a German bullet.
EDWARD - Oh. (pauses) I’m sure the British ones are better though, the British are the best at everything! They –
ROBERT - (interrupts) Where’s Mary?
MR DUVEEN - Out at one of her meetings, I expect.
MRS DUVEEN - (disapproving) There’s been no change since you left; I’m afraid, Robert dear. I do wish she’d choose her friends more carefully. Still, she told me that, you know, her lot, are much occupied with the war effort now. That, at least is something.
ROBERT - (slowly) She’s at a meeting for the war effort?
MR DUVEEN - Well I suppose it gives our womenfolk something to do other than rabble-rousing. Women voting? Ha! The ideas Mary gets into her head sometimes. If only she would find a decent chap; bit late now I suppose.
MRS DUVEEN - I think she’ll be back around tea time. Oh Robert, we have a wonderful surprise for you, our very own homecoming dinner party!
ROBERT - (stiffens) A dinner party? This evening?
MRS DUVEEN - Yes of course! And we’ve invited the Clairs.
ROBERT - Isabel’s coming?
MR DUVEEN - Couldn’t keep her away m’boy, once she heard you were coming home. (winks)
MRS DUVEEN - Yes, well. I’ll ring the bell for Ethel and tell her to heat up some water for you.
ROBERT - Thankyou mother. (smiles, although looks strained) Thankyou.
(Exit Robert)
EDWARD - I want to ask him if he’s seen a real plane yet. He –
MRS DUVEEN - Ssh, Edward. Run along now.
MR DUVEEN - Plenty of time for questions later. I expect Robert’s bursting with tales to tell!
(Exit Edward)
MRS DUVEEN - Tell me my dear? Didn’t you think Robert was a little odd?
MR DUVEEN - Odd? No! How d’you mean odd?
MRS DUVEEN - I mean his manner, Arnold. Wasn’t it a little peculiar?
MR DUVEEN - I expect he’s just missing being on the scene. No, Mildred, we shan’t worry. War’s a good thing for young men, keeps them keen. Must be a little dull back here after all that excitement.
(Curtain falls, end of Act 1)
More to come...
Characters
Robert Duveen - A soldier on leave from the trenches, about twenty-five years old, good looking but emaciated and prematurely lined.
Mr. Arnold Duveen - Robert’s father, a stout, jowly man in his fifties, dandily dressed.
Mrs. Mildred Duveen - A motherly, if slightly superior looking woman of around fifty.
Mary Duveen - Robert’s older sister, a tall, thin, severe looking woman of thirty.
Edward Duveen - A lanky, awkward, pale-faced boy of fifteen.
Isabel Clair - Robert’s fiancée, a pretty, self-assured girl in her early twenties.
Wendell Clair - Isabel’s older brother, an oily looking man in his thirties.
Ethel - The Duveens’ maid.
Act 1
(The year is 1915, the scene is a drawing room. Mr. and Mrs. Duveen and Edward are assembled in a state of anticipation. Mr. Duveen consults a golden pocket watch, Mrs. Duveen embroiders, Edward fidgets nervously, the door opens.)
ETHEL - If you please sir, Master Robert’s home.
(Enter Robert through the door, his military uniform is slightly shabby, there is shadow on his face and he winces slightly with every step.)
MRS DUVEEN - (Rising from chair) Robert darling! (takes his hands, he half smiles)
ROBERT - Mother!
MR DUVEEN - (Striding across the room and clapping Robert on the back) Son! It’s good to have you with us.
EDWARD - (Running forward) Robbie!
MRS DUVEEN - You look pale darling, haven’t they been feeding you enough?
MR DUVEEN - Nonsense Mildred! The British army would hardly let its brave boys starve now, would they? I expect Robert here and the boys work up a fine healthy appetite in that country air. Still – French country air of course, not like our England, eh?
MRS DUVEEN - You really do look terribly drawn; I hope you’re not coming down with a chill.
ROBERT - Of course not mother, I haven’t had much chance to freshen up since the boat from France.
EDWARD - Did you get me some shrapnel, Robbie? Donald Williams’ brother was on leave a week ago and he had an awfully big piece!
(For a moment Robert’s face convulses, then, he reaches a hand into his pocket and pulls out an empty bullet cartridge.)
ROBERT - I’m sorry to disappoint, Eddie. My second lieutenant had a huge piece of shrapnel, you know – straight through his leg.
MRS DUVEEN - Oh how frightful!
MR DUVEEN - Still, all for king and country I say. No shame in a war wound, it does him proud.
ROBERT - (Tightly) Yes, if he could walk on it.
EDWARD - (Turning over the bullet case in his hands) Wait till Johnny Carter sees this! A real bullet from the front line. Straight from a hero’s machine gun!
ROBERT - It’s a German bullet.
EDWARD - Oh. (pauses) I’m sure the British ones are better though, the British are the best at everything! They –
ROBERT - (interrupts) Where’s Mary?
MR DUVEEN - Out at one of her meetings, I expect.
MRS DUVEEN - (disapproving) There’s been no change since you left; I’m afraid, Robert dear. I do wish she’d choose her friends more carefully. Still, she told me that, you know, her lot, are much occupied with the war effort now. That, at least is something.
ROBERT - (slowly) She’s at a meeting for the war effort?
MR DUVEEN - Well I suppose it gives our womenfolk something to do other than rabble-rousing. Women voting? Ha! The ideas Mary gets into her head sometimes. If only she would find a decent chap; bit late now I suppose.
MRS DUVEEN - I think she’ll be back around tea time. Oh Robert, we have a wonderful surprise for you, our very own homecoming dinner party!
ROBERT - (stiffens) A dinner party? This evening?
MRS DUVEEN - Yes of course! And we’ve invited the Clairs.
ROBERT - Isabel’s coming?
MR DUVEEN - Couldn’t keep her away m’boy, once she heard you were coming home. (winks)
MRS DUVEEN - Yes, well. I’ll ring the bell for Ethel and tell her to heat up some water for you.
ROBERT - Thankyou mother. (smiles, although looks strained) Thankyou.
(Exit Robert)
EDWARD - I want to ask him if he’s seen a real plane yet. He –
MRS DUVEEN - Ssh, Edward. Run along now.
MR DUVEEN - Plenty of time for questions later. I expect Robert’s bursting with tales to tell!
(Exit Edward)
MRS DUVEEN - Tell me my dear? Didn’t you think Robert was a little odd?
MR DUVEEN - Odd? No! How d’you mean odd?
MRS DUVEEN - I mean his manner, Arnold. Wasn’t it a little peculiar?
MR DUVEEN - I expect he’s just missing being on the scene. No, Mildred, we shan’t worry. War’s a good thing for young men, keeps them keen. Must be a little dull back here after all that excitement.
(Curtain falls, end of Act 1)
More to come...