Journeys End

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 53, 4 March 1930, Page 18

Journeys End

CHARACTERS: Stanhope: Commanding •an Infantry Company Osborne "| Trotter Hibbert Officers of the Company and Raleigh The Colonel The Company Sergeant-Major Mason: The Officers' Cook Hardy : An Officer of another Regiment A Young German Soldier Two Private Soldiers of the Company A PLAY IN THREE ACTS. First produced by the Incorporated Stage Society at the Apollo Theatre, December 9, 1928, with the following Stanhope - • • Mr. Laurence Olivier Oiborne • - - Mr. George Zucco Trotter - • - Mr. Melville Cooper Hibbert -■ • • Mr. Robert Speaight Raleigh - - - Mr. Maurice Evans The Colonel - - Mr. H. G. Stoker The Company Ser-geant-Major • Mr. Percy Walsh Mason - - - Mr. Alexander Field Hardy . - - - Mr. David Home A young German soldier - • - Mr. Geoffrey Wincott The play produced by Mr. James Whale. Subsequently presented by Mr. Maurice Browne at the Savoy Theatre, January 21, 1929. First published January, 1929. Thirteen further impressions January. October, 1929. Fifteenth impression November, 1929. Copyright in U.S.A., 1920, by R. C. Sheriff and all rights of reproduction reserved by author. Application for performances to be made to Messrs. Curtis Brown, Ltd., of 6, Henrietta Street, London, W.C.2. THE SCENE: A dugout in the British trenches before- St. Quentin. A few rough steps lead into the trench above, through a low doorway. A table occupies a good space of the dugout floor. A wooden frame, covered with wire netting, stands against the left wall and serves the double purpose of a bed and a seat for the table. A wooden bench against the back wall makes another seat, and two boxes serve for the other sides. Another wire-covered bed is fixed in the right corner beyond the doorway. Gloomy tunnels lead out of the dugout to left and right. Except for the table, beds and seats, there is no furniture save the bottles holding the candles, and a few tattered magazine pictures pinned to the wall of girls in flimsy costumes. The earth walls deaden the sounds of war, making them faint and far away, although the front line is only 50 yards ahead. The flames of the candles that burn day and night are steady in the still, damp air. Act 11. Scene I.: Tuesday morning. Scene II.: Tuesday afternoon. Act 111. Scene I.: Wednesday afternoon. Scene II.: Wednesday night. Scene III.: Thursday, towards dawn. SYNOPSIS OF INSTALMENTS. When the play opens Hardy and Osborne, two officers, discuss Stanhope, whom Osborne describes as "a long way the best company commander we've got." Stanhope has been drinking hard. Raleigh, a new officer of eighteen, arrives. It is his first experience of the front line. Raleigh tells Osborne how much he admires Stanhope, who was one of the senior boys at his school, and that he (Raleigh) had asked to be attached to Stanhope's battalion. Raleigh also mentions tnat Stanhope is friendly with nis sister. Stanhope enters, and is not at all pleased to meet Raleigh. After a meal Trotter, another officer, and Raleigh go out on duty, and Stanhope and Osborne talk. Stanhope tells Osborne about his friendship 1 with Raleigh and his sister, and how the strain of war has so affected him (Stanhope) that he *s obliged to drink whisky in order to be able to face his duty. Act 11. is the same scene. The officers are at breakfast, and Trotter talks of his garden in England. ! Stanhope announces that a German ati tack is expected in two days. Stanhope, ' fearful lest Raleigh should tell the truth about him, insists on Raleigh leaving for censorship a letter he has written home, and there is a painful scene between the two • men. Stanhope discusses with the sergeant-major the coming German attack, and announces that the company must hold its'ground to. the last. The colonel comes. in and says, that the brigadier wants the enemy's trenches raided at once. Hibbert is . determined to "go sick," and Stanhope threatens to shoot him if he does not "stick it," but declares that he is a coward himself. ACT ll.— (Continued.) Stanhope takes a drink and sits down at the table to write. Mason comes in. Mason: Will you have a nice cup of tea, sir? Stanhope: Can you guarantee it's nice ? Mason: Well, sir—it's a bit oniony, but that's only because of. the saucepan. Stanhope: In other words, it's onion soup with tea-leaves in it? Mason: Not till dinner-time, sir. Stanhope: All right, Mason. Bring two cups of onion tea. One for Mr. Hibbert. Mason: Very good, sir. (Going towards the door, he meets Osborne coining in.) - Willyouhave a nice cup of tea, sir? Osborne: Please, Mason—and plenty of bread and butter and strawberry jam. Mason:' Very good, sir. ; • , Stanhope: Well, Uncle—how are things going on up there? Osborne: Two lonely rifle grenades came over just now. Stanhope: I heard them. Where did they pitch? • ' Osborne: Just over the front line on the left. Otherwise nothing doing. ... (Pause.) Stanhope: The colonel's been talking to me. k Osborne: About the attack? Stanhope: Partly. We've got to make a raid, Uncle. Osborne: Oh? When? Stanhope: To-morrow afternoon. Under a smoke screen. Two officers and ! ten men.

<3y Q.C.ShM''ff

Osborne: Who's going? Stanhope: You and Raleigh. (Pause.) Osborne: Oh. (There is another pause.) Why Raleigh? Stanhope: The colonel picked you to direct and Raleigh to dash in. Osbdrne: I see. Stanhope: The brigade wants to know who's opposite here. . Osborne: To-morrow? What time? Stanhope: I suggest about five o'clock. A little before- dusk Osborne: I see". ■ Stanhope: I'm damn sorry. Osborne: That's all right, old chap. Stanhope: I' dining with the colonel to arrange everything. Then I'll come back and go through it with you. Osborne: Where do we raid from? Stanhope: Out of the sap on our left. Straight across. Osborne: Where's the map? Stanhope: Here we are. Look. Straight across to this sentry post of the Boche. Sixty yards. To-night we'll lay out a guiding tape as far as possible. After dark the toch-emmas are going to break the Boche wire and we'll cut a passage in ours. Osborne: Will you fix up the men who are to go? Stanhope: Are you keen on any special men? . - Osborne: Can I take a corporal? Stanhope: Sure. Osborne: May I have young Crooks? Stanhope: Righto. ' Osborne: You'll ask for volunteers, I suppose. Stanhope: Yes. I'll see the sergeantmajor and get him to go round for names. (He.crosses to the doorway as Mason comes .in with the tea.) Mason: Your tea, sir! Stanhope: Keep it hot, Mason. Mason:.Will y° u take this CU P> Mr * Osborne? . Stanhope: Take the other m to Mr. Hibbert, in.there. Mason:. Very good, sir. (He goes- in to Hibbert's dug-out.) Stanhope: Shan't be long, Uncle. (He goes up the steps.) Osborne: Righto. (Mason returns.) Mason: Will you have cut bread and butter—or shall I bring the loaf, sir? -< Osborne: Cut it, Mason, please. Mason: 'just bring in the jam separately.?. ~ Osborne.: Yes. Mason:. Very good, sir. (Mason goes out.) Osborne takes a small leather-bound book from his pocket, opens it at a marker, and begins to read. Trotter appears from the sleeping dug-out looking very sleepy. Trotter: Tea ready? Osborne: Yes. , Trotter: Why's Hibbert got his tea in there ? Osborne: I don't know. Trotter (rubbing his eyes): Oh, Lord, I do feel frowsy. 'Ad a fine sleep, though. (Mason brings more tea and a pot ot jam.) . , Mason: Bread just coming, sir. 'Ere s the strawberry jam, sir. Trotter (reciting): Tell me, mother, what is that That looks like strawberry jam V .'Hush, hush, my dear; 'tis only Pa Run over by a tram ' " Osborne: The colonel came here while you were asleep. / Trotter: Oh? Osborne: We've got to make a raid to-morrow afternoon. Trotter: Oh, Lord! What —all of us? Osborne: Two officers and ten men. Trotter: Who's got to do it? Osborne: Raleigh and I. Trotter: Raleigh! Osborne: Yes. Trotter: But 'e's only just come! Osborne: Apparently that's the rea- • son. Trotter: And you're going too? Osborne: Yes. Trotter: Let's 'ear all aboxit it. Osborne: I know nothing yet. Except that it's got to be done. Trotter: What a damn nuisance! Osborne: It is, rather. Trotter: I reckon the Boclie are all ready waiting for it. Did you 'ear about the raid just south of 'ere the other night ? Osborne: Nothing much. Trotter: The trench-mortars go and knock an 'ole in the Boche wire to let our fellers through—and in the night the Boche went out and tied bits o' red rag on each side of the 'ole! Osborne: I heard about that. Trotter: And even then our fellers 'ad to make the raid. It was murder. Doesn : t this tea taste of onions ? Osborne: It does a bit. Trotter: Pity Mason don't clean 'i 6 pots better. (Mason brings some bread on a plate.) This tea tastes of onions. Mason: I'm sorry, sir. Onions do 'ave such a way of cropping up again. Trotter: Yes, but we 'aven't 'ad onions for days! _ Mason: I know, sir. That s what makes it so funny. Trotter : • Well, you better do something about it. Mason: I'll look into it, sir. (He goes out. Osborne and Trotter prepare themselves slices of bread and jam.) Trotter: Joking apart. It's damn ridiculous making a raid when the Boche are expecting it. Osborne: We're not doing it for fun. Trotter: I know. Osborne: You might avoid talking to Raleigh about it. Trotter: Why? How do you mean? Osborne: There's no need to tell him it's murder Trotter: Oh, Lord! no. (He pauses.) I'm sorry 'e's got to go. 'E's a nice young feller (Osborne turns to his book. There is silence.) What are you reading? Osborne (wearily): Oh, just a book. Trotter: What's the title ? Osborne (showing him the cover): Ever read it? Trotter (leaning over and reading the cover): "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland"—why, that's a kid's book! Osborne: Yes. Trotter: You aren't reading it? Osborne: Yes. Trotter:. What —a kid's- book? Osborne: Haven't you read it? Trotter: Haven't you read it?

Osborne: You ought to. (Reads)*' How doth the little crocodile Improve his shining tail, And pour the waters of the Nile On every golden scale? How cheerfully he seems to grin And neatly spread liis claws, And welcomes little fishes in With gently smiling jaws!

Trotter (after a moment's thought): I don't see 110 point in that. Osborne (wearily): Exactly. That's just- the point. Trotter (looking curiously at Osborne): You are a funny chap! (Stanhope returns.) Stanhope: The sergeant-major's getting volunteers. • Osborne: Good! Trotter: Sorry to 'ear about the raid, skipper. Stanhope (shortly): So am I. What do you make the time? Trotter: Just on four. (Mason brings in more tea.) Stanhope (taking the mug of tea): Was Hibbert asleep when you came out of there? Trotter: No. 'E was just lying on 'is bed, smoking. Stanhope (going to the sleeping dugout) : Hibbert! Hibbert (coming out): I'm ready Stanhope. Stanhope: Had some tea? Hibbert: Yes, thanks. Trotter: I reckon Raleigh'll be glad to be relieved. Rotten being on dooty for the first time alone. Osborne: I don't think he minds. Stanhope: I shall be up there some time, uncle. Osborne: I say, why don't you have a rest—you've been on the go all day. Stanhope: There's too much to do. This raid's going to upset the arrangements of the wiring party to-night. Can't have men out there while the toch-emmas are blowing holes in the Boche wire. (He drinks up his tea). Ready, Hibbert? Come on, my lad. (Stanhope and Hibbert leave the dugout together. Trotter looks after them curiously, and turns to Osborne.) * Trotter: Can't understand that little feller, can you? Osborne: Who? Trotter: Why, 'Ibbert. D'ycu see 'is eyes? All red. 'E told me in there 'e'd got 'ay fever. Osborne: Rotten thing, hay fever. Trotter: If you ask me, 'e's been crying (Osborne is writing at the table.) Osborne: Maybe. Trotter: Funny little bloke, isn't 'e? . Osborne: Yes. I say—d'you mind? I just want to get a letter off. TrottSr: Oh, sorry. They 'aven't collected the letter yet, then? Osborne: Not yet. Trotter: I'll get one off to my old lady. (He goes towards his dug-out.) She's wrote and asked if I'viT got fleas. Osborne: Have you? Trotter (gently rotating his shoulders) : I wish it was fleas. i

(Trotter goes into his dug-out; Osborne continues his letter.) Raleigh comes down the steps from tne trench. , , . Raleigh (excitedly): I say, Stanhope s told me about the raid. Osborne: Has he ? _ Raleigh: Just you and me, isn t it and ten men ? Osborne: Yes, to-morrow. Just before dusk. Under a smoke cloud.

* Raleigh: I say—it's most frightfully exciting! Osborne: We shall know more about it after Stanhope sees the colonel to-night. Raleigh: Were you and I picked — specially ? Osborne: Yes. Raleigh: I —say! (The curtain falls.) (To be continued daily.)