Journey's End

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 54, 5 March 1930, Page 20

Journey's End

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CHARACTERS: Stanhope:- Commanding an InfantryCompany Osborne Trotter Hibbert (• Officers of the Company. and ] Raleigh J . , 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 cast:— Stanhope • « - Mr. Laurence Olivier Osborne • • • 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-Ma jor • 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 JanuaryOctober, 1929. Fifteenth impression November. 1929. Copyright in U.S.A., 1920, by R. C. Sheriff and all rights of reproduction reserved author. Application for performances : be made to Messrs. Curtis Brown, Ltd., i 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 thr Indies, and a few tattered magazine -;,l;tures 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 111. . * •; Scene L: 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." i Stanhope has been drinking hard. Raleigh, a new officer of eighteen, arrives. It U his first experience of the front line. Kaleigh tells Osborne how much he admires Stanhope, who wasone.of the senior boys at his school, and" that he : (Raleigh) had. asked to be attached, to Stanhope's battalion. Raleigh also mentions that Stanhope is friendly with uis sister. Stanhope enters, and is not at '■ all;pleased to meet Raleigh. After a.meat |; Trotter, another Officer; and Raleigh go , out" on duty, and Stanhope and Osborne ;■' talk. Stanhope tells Osborne about hia •friendship with Raleigh and his sister, and how' the -strain of war has so .affected him (Stanhope) that he is . obliged to drink whisky in order to be able to' face his duty. Act 11. is the same scene. • Stanhope says that.. a German attack 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, 1 and announces that the company' must its ground to the last. The colonel • comes in and says that the brigadier ], wants the enemy's trenches raided- at f ] once. Hibber-t -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. It is decided •.. that Osborneand Releigh lead the raiding !' party. : . ■ '

ACT 111. :■ Scene I. - The following, day, towards sunset. The earth wall of the trench outside glows with a light that slowly fades with the sinking sun. ";•:". Stanhope is alone, wandering to and fro across the" dug-out. He looks up the steps for a moment, crosses to the table, and glances down at the map.- He looks anxiously at his watch, and, going to the servant's dug-out, calls: , Stanhope: Mason! ' > Mason (outside): Yessir!. " '. Stanhope: Are you making the coffee ? Mason: Yessir!. Stanhope: Make it hot and strong. Ready in five minutes. I'll call when it's wanted. •, - ■ -■ .Mason: Very good, sir. . (Again Stanhope wanders restlessly to and fro. The Colonel comes down the steps.) Colonel: Everything ready ? Stanhope: Yee, sir. (There is silence.) You've no news, then ? Colonel: I'm afraid not. It's got to be done. Stanhope (after a pause): I see. Colonel: The brigadier says the Boche did the same tiling just south of here the other day. Stanhope: I know; but didn't .you suggest we altered our plans and make a surprise raid farther up the line after dark? Colonel: -.Yes. I suggested that. Stanhope: What did he say? Colonel: He said the present arrangements have got to stand. Stanhope: But surely he must realise ? Colonel (impatiently breaking in): Look here, Stanhope, I've done all I oau, but my report's got to be at head-i.

quarters by seven this evening. If we wait till it's dark we shall be too late. Stanhope: Why seven? Colonel: They've got some conference to arrange the placing of reserves. Stanhope:- They: can't have it later because of dinner, I suppose. Colonel: Lots of raids have taken place along the line to-day. With the attack to-morrow morning, headquarters naturally want all the information they can get as .early as possible.'. • , Stanhope: Meanwhile the Boche are sitting over there with a dozen machineguns trained on that- hole—waiting for our fellows to come. — - Colonel: Well, I can't'disobey orders. Stanhope: Why. didn't. the, trenchmortars blow a dozen-holes in different places—so the Foche wouldn't know which we were goiflg.to use? Colonel: It took .three hours to blow that one. How could they blow a dozen in the time ? It's' no' good worrying about that now. .It's .too late. Where's Osborne and Raleigh?.. Stanhope": They're up in the sap; having a last look round. What d'you make the time, sir? ' ; Colonel: Exactly nineteen' minutes to. Stanhope: I'm thirty seconds, behind you. Colonel: Funny. We checked this morning. - Stanhope: Still, it's near enough. We shan't go till the smoke blows across. Colonel: The smoke ought to blow across nicely. The wind's- just right. I called on the trench-mortars on the way ; up.. Everything's ready. They'll drop the bombs thirty yards' to the right. Stanhope: Are you going to stay here?- - Colonel: I'll watch from the trench just above, I think. Bring the prisoners straight back here. We'll question them right away. ' ; Stanhope: Why not take them straight down to your headquarters? Colonel: Well, the Boche are bound to shell pretty heavily. I don't want the risk of the prisoners being knocked out before we've talked to them.

0 Stanhope: All right. I'll have them )f brought back here. ' (There is>a pause. The Colonel sucks hard at his pipe. Stanhope roves restlessly about, smoking a cigarette.) ;s Colonel: It's no good getting depressed. After all, it's only sixty yards. The h Boche'll be firing into a blank fog. | e Osborne's a cool, level-headed chap, and it Raleigh's the very man to dash in. h You've picked good men to follow them? 1] Stanhope: The best. All youngsters. d Strong, keen chaps. n Colonel: Good. (Another pause.) You IS know quite well I'd give anything to , r cancel the beastly affair. Stanhope: I know you would, sir. n Colonel: Have these red rags on the wire upset the men at all? -. Stanhope: It's hard to tell. They naturally' take it as a joke. They say j. the rags are just what they want to s show them the way through the gap. (1 Colonel: That's the spirit, Stanhope. f (Osborne and Ealeigh come down the steps.) f Well, Osborne. Everything ready? r ( Osborne: Yes, I think we're all ready, a sir. I make it just a quarter' to. t Colonel: That's right. e Osborne: The men are going to stand by at three minutes to. Colonel: The smoke bombs drop exactly on the hour. You'll give the word to go when the smoke's thick enough? Osborne: 'That's right, sir. Stanhope (at the servant's dug-out): Mason! . Mason: Coming, sir. Stanhope: Were the men having their rum, Uncle? : .Osborne: es..Just as we left. It gives : » it a quarter of an hour to soak. in. " . Colonel: That's right. Are they cheer- ■' M? ,','.' '. Osborne: Yes, quite. , # (Mason brings in two cups of coffee 1? and.puts :them on. table.) 1 Stanhope: Would you like to go up j and speak to them, sir? - Colonel: Well, don't you think they'd * rather be left alone? t ,: Stanhope: I.think they would appreci- > att a word or two * Colonel: All right. If you think they would. 5 .- Osborne: They're allin the centre dug- \ out, sir. ; Colonel: Eight. You coming, Stan--1 hope? -:■'■■ > Stanhope: Yes. I'll come, sir. . .The colonel lingers a moment. There , is an awkward pause. Then the colonel I clears his throat and speaks. I Colonel: Well, good luck, Osborne. I'm : certain you'll put up a good show. ; Osborne (taking the colonel's hand): . Thank ypii,'>i<\ I , Colonel: And, Raleigh, just go in like :. blazes. Grab hold of the first Boche you J see and bundle him across here. One'll r do, but bring more if you see any handy. Raleigh (taking, the colonel's offered' hand). Right, sir. Colonel: And if you succeed, I'll recommend you both for the "M.C. (Osborne and Raleigh murmur their thanks.. ' , . Remember, a great deal may depend on bringing in a German. It may mean the winning of. the. whole war. You never ' know. (Another pause.) Weil, good .luck to you both. (Again Osborne and Raleigh murmum their thanks. The colonel and Stanhope go towards the door.. (Over his shoulder): Don't forget to empty ,your pockets of papers and things. 1 Raleigh: Oh, no. (He goes into his dug-out, taking letters and papers from his pockets.) Stanhope is about to follow the colonel up the steps when Osborne calls him back, Osborne: Er—Stanhope— just a moment. • Stanhope (returning): Hullo! -Osborne: I say, don't think I'm being morbid, or anything like that, but would you mind taking these? Stanhope: Sure. Until you come back old, man. Osborne: It's only just in case (He takes a letter and his watch" from his tunic pocket and puts it on the table. Then he pulls off his ring.) If anything should happen, would you send these along to my wife? (He pauses and gives an awkward little laugh.) Stanhope (putting the articles together on the table): You're coming back, old man. Damn it! what on earth should I do without you? Osborne (laughing): Goodness knows! Stanhope: Must have somebody to tuck me.up in bed. (There is a pause.) Well, I'll see you up in the sap, before you go. Just have a spot of rum in that coffee. J Osborne: Righto. ■■■■<■■■■

(Stanhope goes to the steps and lingers for a moment.) Stanhope:. Cheero! . , (For a second their eyes meet; they laugh. Stanhope goes slowly up the steps.) There is silence in the dug-out. Osborne has been filling his pipe, and , stands lighting "if as Raleigh returns. Osborne: Just time, for a small pipe.' Raleigh: Good. I'll have a cigarette, I think. (He feels in his pocket.) Osborne: Here you'are.' (He offers his case to Raleigh.) t Raleigh: I say, I'm always snloking ! yours. • ■ ' ' " ' ' ■ Osborne:' That's all right. (Pause.) , What about this coffee? Raleigh: Sure. . (They sit at the table.) i Osborne: Are. you going to have . a drop of ruin in it?: . Raleigh: Don't you think it might make us a —a bit muzzy? Osborne: I'm, just having the coffee as it„is. . . Raleigh: I think I will, too. j Osborne: We'l,l have■the rum after-wards-r-to celebrate., , , Raleigh: That's a much better idea. (They- stir 'their coffee in silence. Osborne's eyes 'meet Raleigh's. He smiles'.),' [ Osboivne: How d'you.feel? "' Raleith: 'All'right." . Osborne: I've'"got a sort of empty feeling inside.',-'"' Raleigh: That's just what I've got! Osborne: Wind up! Raleigh':.l keep wanting to yawn. '" Osborne: That's it.' Wind up. I keep wanting to' yawn too. . It'll pass off directly we start. ' • Raleigh (taking a deep breath): I wish", we could go now. ■Osborne (looking at his watch on the table): We've got eight minutes yet. Raleigh: Oh, Lord! Osborne: Let's just have a last look a c the map. (He picks up the map t„nd spreads it out.) Directly the smoke's

thick enough, I'll give the word. You run straight for this point hereRaleigh: When I get to the. Bocha.wire I He down and wait for you., Osborne: Don't "forget to throw your bombs. Raleigh (patting his pocket): No. I've got them here. Osborne:-When I shout "Righto!"—in you go with your eight men. I shall lie on the Boche parapet, and blow my whistle now and then to show you where I'am. Pounce on the first Boche you see and bundle him out to me. {Raleigh: Righto. > Osborne: Then we come back like blazes. .

Raleigh: The whole thing'll. be "over quite quickly? Osborne: I reckon with luck we shall be back in'three minutes." Raleigh:.As quick as that? Osborne: I think so. (He folds up the map.) And now let's forget all about it for—(he looks at his watch) —for six minutes. Raleigh: Oh, Lord, I can't! Osborne: You must. Raleigh: How topping if we both get the M.C.! Osborne: Yes.. (Pause.) Your coffee sweet enough? Raleigh: Yes, thanks. It's,jolly good coffee. (Pause.) I wonder ; what the Boche are doing over there now? Osborne: I don't know. D'you , like coffee better than tea? Raleigh: Ido for breakfast. (Pause.) Do these smoke bombs make much row when they burst ? Osborne: Not much. (Pause.) Personally,s I like cocoa for breakfast. ' Raleigh (laughing): I'm sorry.. Osborne: Why sorry ? Why shouldn't. I have cocoa for breakfast? Raleigh: I.don't mean that. I—mean —I'm sorry to keep talking about tho raid. It's so difficult to—to talk about anything else.- I was just wondering— will the Boche retaliate in any way after the raid?

Osborne: Bound to I—a1—a bit. P.aleigh: Shelling? , Osborne:' " . "'The time has come,' the Walrus said, 'To talk of many things: Of shoes—andships—and sealing- wax— Of cabbages—and kings.'" Raleigh: , . "'And why the sea-is boiling hot—• And whether, pigs have wings." ;.. Osborne: Now we're off! Quick, let's talk about pigs!. Black pigs or white ■ pigs? • - v Raleigh: Black pigs. In the New Forest you find them, quite wild.. Osborne: -You know-the New Forest? ■ • Raleigh: Rather!' -My home's down there. A little place called Allum Green, just outside Lyhdhurst.. Osborne: Iknow Lyndhurstwell. . Raleigh: It's rather nice down thete. Osborne: I like it more than any -place I know. ■'/.' • •' ' Raleigh: I think I do, too. Of course, it's different'when you'Ve always lived in a place. . • . z ■<■"> < ■■• ■■' _ Osborne: You like it in a different way. , ..-:•.* .-.:•"''• JRaleigh: Yes.; Just behind our house there's a stream:called; Highland;;it runs, for miles—right .through .the middle of the forest. Dennjsand I followed it once as far as we could. Osborne * I used to walk a lot round. Lyhdhurst..' ',' Raleigh: I wish we'd known each other then; You could have come with Dennis and me.;.%', : ,-. ..". . , Osborne: I.wish I had. I used to wai'< alone.' Raleigh: You must come and stay with us one day.' Osborne: I should like to—awfully. Raleigh :T can shoW' you places in the forest that nobody knows about except Dennis and me. It gets thicker xni darker and cooler, - and you stir up all kinds of funny wild animals. r -> (To be continued daily.) I