(As he is doing this,AutomatonentersD.inF.,comes down and has a spasm with his hands, knocking offJobbins’hat.Jobbinswith a loud yell rushes outD.inF.Automatonknocks furniture about, etc., and goes into china cupboard. (He may throw a chair out of window first.)Stellacomes inL.to see his finalexit. She then goes up, looks into china cupboard after him—then comes downstage, calling in fright:)
(As he is doing this,AutomatonentersD.inF.,comes down and has a spasm with his hands, knocking offJobbins’hat.Jobbinswith a loud yell rushes outD.inF.Automatonknocks furniture about, etc., and goes into china cupboard. (He may throw a chair out of window first.)Stellacomes inL.to see his finalexit. She then goes up, looks into china cupboard after him—then comes downstage, calling in fright:)
Stella.Help! Help! Help!
(JackandJobbinsbringWalteron between themD.inF.,and bring him downC.,andMrs. AndersonentersL.)
Walter.Let me go, let me go, I say!
Stella.Jack, you’ve got the wrong man!
(They release him.)
Mrs. Anderson.There’s a telegrapheram, sir; is it for you or your twin?
Jack(snatches it and reads). From Mrs. Everest—“Potterfield fell out of his dogcart and broke his leg. The wedding is postponed.”
Stella.Postponed!
Jack.Congratulate you, old chap (shaking hands). Your fortune’s safe.
(Noise off and lights down as:)
Walter.Hush, hush! all of you. It’s coming out to die!
(Stellahides on floor front of sofaL.Mrs. Andersonhides on knees front of tableR.Jobbinsstands by clock against wall upL.Jacksets cupboard door open with chair against it and then goes and stands in recess toR.,side of same, andWaltergoes off to hide behind the curtain of recessL.,side where there is a secret exit, so that he at once comes on asAutomatonfrom the china cupboard.)(A man’s hand holds out the curtain behind whichWalteris supposed to be hiding. Dying scene forAutomaton.Jerky business, frightensJobbinswho crouches back from it, then goesC.,stoops and grows faint, has a spasm of strength and hurries to tableR.,frighteningMrs. Anderson,who gets under table. It then leans dying against table, then has afresh spasm, hurrying across toStella,who lies away from it on floor to avoid it.)(Then up to cupboard door, whichJackset open with a chair.Automatondies with back to inside of door, pushing the chair clear of it in his spasm, business, finally shutting himself in as he collapses by letting the door close after him.)
(Stellahides on floor front of sofaL.Mrs. Andersonhides on knees front of tableR.Jobbinsstands by clock against wall upL.Jacksets cupboard door open with chair against it and then goes and stands in recess toR.,side of same, andWaltergoes off to hide behind the curtain of recessL.,side where there is a secret exit, so that he at once comes on asAutomatonfrom the china cupboard.)
(A man’s hand holds out the curtain behind whichWalteris supposed to be hiding. Dying scene forAutomaton.Jerky business, frightensJobbinswho crouches back from it, then goesC.,stoops and grows faint, has a spasm of strength and hurries to tableR.,frighteningMrs. Anderson,who gets under table. It then leans dying against table, then has afresh spasm, hurrying across toStella,who lies away from it on floor to avoid it.)
(Then up to cupboard door, whichJackset open with a chair.Automatondies with back to inside of door, pushing the chair clear of it in his spasm, business, finally shutting himself in as he collapses by letting the door close after him.)
(Red limes changing to green through above, and dark floats.)
(Lights up—all rise.)
Stella(cries). Walter! (Music of“Caressante.”)
(Waltercomes out from behind curtainL.and down toStellaC.,takes her in his arms.)
Walter.It’s Walter this time, and if you want proof, open the cupboard and you’ll find all that remains of
THE ELECTRIC MAN.
Curtain.
Charles Hannan’s one act plays, “The Setting of the Sun,” “The New Groom,” “Richard Wye,” “The Gipsy,” “A Fragment,” “The Clock,” “The Lily of the Field,” may also be obtained from Messrs.Samuel French, Ltd.
Charles Hannan’s one act plays, “The Setting of the Sun,” “The New Groom,” “Richard Wye,” “The Gipsy,” “A Fragment,” “The Clock,” “The Lily of the Field,” may also be obtained from Messrs.Samuel French, Ltd.
BUTLER & TANNERTHE SELWOOD PRINTINGWORKS ·· FROME ··
BUTLER & TANNERTHE SELWOOD PRINTINGWORKS ·· FROME ··
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected.