"Journey's End"

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 56, 7 March 1930, Page 14

"Journey's End"

CHARACTERS: Stanhope: Commanding an Infantry Company Osborne 1 Trotter Hibbert i- 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, 1925, with tho following cast:-— , ■; Stanhope-.-<- • Mr. Laurence Olivier Ojborne • • • Mr. George Zucco ' Trotter • • • Mr. Melville Cooper i Hibbert - • - Mr. Robert Speaight i Raleigh * - • - Mr. Maurice Evans i The Colonel -"• Mr. H. G: Stoker. : The Company Ser-geant-Major • Mr. Percy Walsh j 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, 1020. Thirteen further impressions JanuaryOctober, 1929. Fifteenth impression November. 1929. Copyright in U.S.A., 1920, by R. C. Sheriff nnd all rights of reproduction reserved by author. Application for performances to be made to Messrs. Curtis Brown, Ltd., of G, Henrietta Street, London, VV.C.2. t. 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 am 1 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 111. Scene 1..: Wednesday afternoon. Scene II.: Wednesday night. Scene III.: Thursday, towards dawn. . ACT 3.—(Continued.) . Scene 2. Late evening on the same day. The dugout is lit quite festively bj an unusual number of candles. . Two champagne bottles stand prominent on the table. Dinner is over. Stanhope, with a cigar between Ms teeth, lounges across the table, , one elbow among the plates and mugs: Hia> hair is ruffled; there is a bright'-red flush on his cheeks. He has just made a remark which has sent Hibbert and Trotter into uproarious laughter; he listens with a smile. Trotter is sitting on the box to the right of the table, leaning.back 'against the wall. A cigar is embedded in- his podgy fingers; his face is a shiny scarlet, with deep red patches below the ears. The ..three bottom buttons of his tunic are undone, arid now and then his hand steals gently over his distended stomach. Hibbert sits on the bed. to the left, his thin white lingers nervously twitching the ask from his cigar. His pale face is shiny with sweat from the heat of the candles; his laugh is high-pitched and excited. Trotter speaks in a husky voice as the laughter dies away. Trotter: And what did she say to that? . Stanhope: She said, "Not in these trousers" —in French. ,' . (Trotter and Hibbert burst into laughter again.) Trotter (coughing and wheezing): Oh —dear-o-dear! Stanhope: I simply drew myself up and said, "Very well, mam'sel, have it your own way." Trotter: And she did? v ; . ; Stanhope: No. She didn't. (Again the others laugh. Trotter wipes a tear from his eye.) Trotter: Oh, skipper, you are a scream —and, no mistake! Hibbert: I.never forgot picking up a couple of tarts one night and taking 'em out to dinner. Trotter (winking at Stanhope): 'E's Off again. Hibbort: We drank enough bubbly to sink a battleship- — Stanhope: To float a battleship. ■ Hibbert: Well—to' float a battleship. Then I took 'em for a joyride out to Maidenhead —did sixty all the way. We danced a bit at Skindles, and drank a lot of port and muck. Then damned if I didn't loso the way coming backgot landed miles from anywhere. And those tarts began cursing me like hell —said I'd dono it on purpose. I said if they didn't damn well shut tip I'd olnick 'cm both .nit in tho road and leave 'em'. ' '• ■. ! .. ; • Staiihope (ironically): Hurrah! That's the idea! 'Treat 'cm rough. , ' • liibnort 1 (giggling) s'That shut'■'cm. up all α-ight! Then T started,doing about sixty down nil sorts of roads—l wen* round a corner on two wheels with tlioae girls' .hair on end—didn't have any more trouble from them! (Ho chuckles

K.CShpri'/ff

at the memory, and takes an unsteady gulp of champagne.) Stanhope: You're the sort of man who makes girls hard to please. Trotter (heavily): Well, I never 'ad no motor car; my old lady and me used to walk; legs is good enough for me. Stanhope: You satisfied'with legs ? ' Trotter: I am—yes! Stanhope: Much cheaper. 1 Hibbert (laughing delightedly): That's damn good! Stanhope (raising his mug): Well, here's a toast to legs—God bless 'em! Hibbert (raising his mug): Good old legs! Trotter (raising his mug): Shanks' mare. Stanhope: Shanks' what? Trotter: Shanks' mare, they call 'em. Stanhope: Call what Trotter: Why—legs. Hibbert (almost screaming with delight): Oh, Trotter! you're a dream! , Trotter (turning a baleful eye on Hibbert): You've 'ad too much champagne, you 'ave. (Hibbert takes a leather case from his pocket and produces some picture postcards.) Hibbert: I say, I've never shown you these, have-, I ? (He hands them, one by one to Stanhope, smiling'up into Stanhope's face for approval.)- - • • - Stanhope: Where did you get these from? • Hibbert: In Bethune. (He hands up a card.) She's all right).isn't: she? Stanhope: Too fat.— < Hibbert (looking over Stanhope's shoulder): Oh, I don't know. Stanhope: Much too fat'. (He hands the card to Trotter.) What do you think, Trotter? . (Trotter takes a pair of pince-nez from his pocket, balances them on his fat nose, and looks at the picture.) Hibbert: All right, isn't she? Trotter: Well, I don't know. If you ask me, I'd rather 'ave a decent picture of Margate Pier. Hibbert (impatiently): Oh, you dont, understand art. (He hands another card to Stanhope.) There's a nice pair of legs for you. Stanhope: Too thin —arent they, Trotter? (He hands Trotter the card.) Trotter (after some thought): Scraggy, I call 'em. _ Hibbert (handing Stanhope another card): That's the one I like best. Stanhope: Not bad. . Hibbert: Glorious bedroom eyes. Stanhope: She's all right. Hibbert: Ever see that show Zip at the Hippodrome? Couple of damn fine girls in that —twins. Did you see em, skipper? Stanhope (wearily): I don t knowseen stacks of shows—can't remember them. all. (He brightens up.) Now then, swallow up that bubbly I Hi! Mason! Mason: Yessir!i (Mason appears.) ■ Stanhope: Bring some whisky. Mason: Yessir. (He disappears.) Trotter: What? Whisky on top of champagne? - - . Stanhope: Why not? Its all right. Trotter: Well, I don't know; doesnt sound right to me. I feel as if somebody's blown me up with a bicycle pump. Stanhope: You look it, too. Trotter: (Blowing a stream of cigar smoke up to .the dark ceiling): Any'ow, it was a jolly fine bit o' chicken—and I'd go a mile any day for a chunk o that jam pudding. Mason brings a bottle of whisky. Stanhope: Your pudding's made Mr. Trotter feel all blown out, Mason. Mason: I'm sorry, sir; it wasn t meant, sir. * , Trotter: It was all right, Mason, take it from me. I know a decent bit o' pudden when I see it. _ - Mason: It was only boiled ration biscuits and jam, sir. (He turns to Stanhope.) I thought I better tell you, sir— this is the last bottle. ; ; __ Stanhope: The last bottle! ■ Why, damn it, we bought six! Mason: I know, sir. But five's gone. Stanhope: Where the devil's it gone t(> Mason: Well, sir, you remember there was one on the first night—and ;then one , , . Stanhope: Oh, for Lord's sake don t go through them one by one; this'll last till sunrise. (He turns to Trotter and Hibbert.) Sunrise to-morrow, my lads! Trotter: Oh forget that. Stanhope: You bet we will! Now then! Who's for a spot of whisky? Trotter: I reckon I'm about full up. I'd like a nice cup o' tea, Mason. Mason: Very good, sir. He goes out. ' ■ ' Stanhope: Tea! Trotter: 'Yes. That's what I want. Decent cup ,o' tea. Still, I'll just 'ave about a spoonful o' whisky—got a touch of pulpitations. Stanhope: Here you are—say:when! Trotter: Wo! That's enough! Stanhope: You'll have a. decent spot, won't you, Hibbert? 1 Hibbert: Yes, I'm game! Trotter, (stifling a hiccup): Just acup o' tea—then I'll gcr and relieve young Raleigh. Pity 'e didn't come down to supper. Stanhope: I told him to. I told him to come down, for . an hour and' let' the sergeant-major take over. Trotter: I wonder why he didn't come. Hibbert: That lad's too keen on hie "duty." He told me he .liked being up there with the men better than down here, with us. .-Stanhope (quietly): He said thatT Hibbert: Yes, I told him about the chicken and champagne and cigars—and he stared at me and said, "You're not having that, are you?"—just as if he thought we w«re going to chuck it away! Trotter: I reckon that raid shook 'im up more'n we thought. I like that youngster. 'E's got pluck. Strong. lad, too—the way he came back through the smoke after that raid, carrying that Boche under 'is arm like a baby. Hibbert: Did you see him afterwards, though? He came into that dug-out and never said h word—didn't seem to know where he was. Trotter: Well, 'e's only a lad. Stanhope (to Hibbert): He actually told you he preferred being up with the meri,better than down here? Hibbert:.That's what he said. Trotter: Well, I 'ope 'e gets the M.C., that's all; 'e's just the kid I'd like if ever I 'ave a kid —strong and plucky. Stanhope: Oh, for God's sake forget that bloody raid! Think I want to talk about it? ' * '

Trotter (surprised): No—but, after all--i; . Stanhope: Well—shut up! Trotter (uneasily): All right—all right. ■ ■ Stanhope* We were having a jolly decent evening till you started blabbing about the war. Trotter: I didn't start it. ' ,'■ Stanhope: You did. . . Trotter: You began it about Stanhope: Well, for God's sake stop it, thett! :.' \ : '. ..... . Trotter: All right—all right. Hibbert: Did I ever tell you the story about the girl I'met in Soho?; Stanhope: I don't know—l expect you did; Hibbert (undismayed): It'll amuse you." I'd been to a dance, and' I was coming home- quite late Stanhope: Yes, and it's late now. You go on duty at eleven. You better go and get some sleep. ' .Hibbert: .It's all right. I'm as fresh as a : daisy. ■ •..;.■. Stanhope: You may be. But go to bed/ Hibberts .What?. Stanhope (louder): I said, "Go to bed!" ■■••■:■; '.Hibbert'!,.l say, that's a nice end to a jolly evening! ■ Stanhope: I'm-sorry. I'm-tired. Hibbert . (perkily): Well,, you better go.to bed! . : ... ■ (There is silence. Stanhope looks at Hibbert, who sniggers.) Stanhope: What was that ".you said? Hibbert: I was only joking. Stanhope: I asked you what you said. Hibbert: I said, "You better go to bed." (Stanhope's flushed face,.is looking full into Hibbert's. Hibbert gives the ghost' of a snigger.) Stanhope: Clear out of here! Hibbert (rising. unsteadily): What — what d'you mean ? Stanhope: Get out of here,.for God's sake! Hibbert (blustering): I say—look .here —~ ■ Stanhope: Get out of my sight! (With a frightened glance at Stanhope, Hibbert sneaks quietly away into his dugout.) There is silence, and the guns can be heard—deep and ominous.) Little worm gets on my nerves. Trotter: Poor little bloke. Never seen 'im so cheerful before out 'ere. Stanhope: Doesn't he nearly drive you-mad? Trotter: I reckon 'e only wanted to keep cheerful. Stanhope: Doesn't his repulsive little mind make you sick? (Mason brings Trotter's mug of. tea and goes away.) I envy you, Trotter. Nothing upsets you, does it? You're always the. same. Trotter: Always the same, am I? (He sighs.) Little you know Stanhope: You never get sick to death of everything, or so happy you want to sing. • Trotter: I don't know —I whistle sometimes." . Stanhope: .But you always feel the same. . Trotter: I feel all blown out now. (There-is a pause. Trotter sips his tea and Stanhope takes a whisky.)

'Ere's 'Ibbert's postcards. Funny a bloke carrying pictures like this about. Satisfies 'is lust, I s'pose—poor little feller. (He rises.) Well, I'll go and relieve • young Raleigh. Pity *e didn't come down to super. (He tries to button his tunic, without success. He buckles his webbing belt over his unbuttoned tunic, puts on his helmet, and slings Jiis respirator over his shoulder.) Well, cheero! Stanhope: ¥ou" realise you're my second-in-command now, don't you? Trotter: Well, you 'adn't said nothing about it, but ' Stanhope: Well, you are. Trotter: Righto, skipper. (He pauses.) Thanks. (He goes towards the door.) I won't let you down. Stanhope: After your duty, have a ! decent sleep. We must be ready at halfpast five. : Trotter: Righto, skipper. Well, I'll be going up. Give me a chance to cool off up there. It's as 'ot as 'ell in 'ere, with'all them damn candles burning. Stanhope: I suppose it is. My head's nearly splitting. (He blows out three of the candles, leaving the dim light ot one.) Trotter (half up the steps): There's a bit of a mist rising. Stanhope . ( dully): Is there ? (Trotter disappears into the night.) . . (To be continued daily.) .