SHORT DIALOGUES

Southland Times, Issue 21850, 29 October 1932, Page 18

SHORT DIALOGUES

THE GHOST OF THE POPLARS. ■—Prize.— (From the Story by Cousin Dorothy Edwards.) Scene I: A beautiful little glen surrounded by wild flowers and tall poplars. A sweet-faced mother is seated on a grassy mound with her son Barry. It is late afternoon. Mother: And my darling—if some day Igo away on a great journey, (she puts her arms round him) and you, my boy have no mummy to care for you, you will be good? Barry (with tears in his eyes): ,Why, yes, but you won’t go away Mummy? Mother: And you will never, never steal, darling? Barry: Why, no! Mother: And you will be ever truthful and upright (her voice quivers) Barry, my son, be a man and work to live. Barry: Why yes Mummy, of course. But we won’t be parted will we? Mother: Hush my darling, it is time for home. Barry’s hands fold round his mother’s neck, his eyes close. Curtain. Scene H: The same small glen. Barry now a young man of twenty and his friend Ramond are standing benath the poplars. It is night. Ramond: Say Barry, what did you bring me here for? Barry: To show you something; something I treasure, near here. Ramond: What (there is a slight noise). Barry: Hush listen, was that someone? Ramond: Don’t be silly, man, you’re dreaming, come on down to the Gambling Club. Barry: No, I promised not Ramond: Promised who? Barry: Mother. Ramond: She’s gone long ago Barry, come on. Barry: No I couldn’t, I wouldn’t. Ramond: But Barry it’s (He stops as Barry’s hand falls on his arm). Barry: Listen. (A voice is heard from the trees calling). And some day you must die, too, and then shall thy shade, pure and holy, float with mine into the infinite or base and low, shall it fade below? And you will always be true lad, be a man and work to live—work to live. • . . . Barry (turning to his friend): Come along, Ray, we must go on, I’ve something to show you (parting the flowers before him he pointed to a small green mound). It is mother’s, the old place where we sat long ago—she was good to me Ray. I shall never forget her parting words; be a man, and work to live, work to live. His voice quivers and Raymond comes forward. Ramond: I understand—friend. It’s great to dream, but O, to be a man and honest Come the spell has past, we must be going. Both turn away as the curtain falls. 3/- and 4 marks to Cousin Hannah Skerrett (14), Pahia.

(From- “Pam’s Surprise,” by Cousin Alma Dorricot.) Scene I. The raising of the curtain reveals a forest scene. A little girl, with golden curls, and big blue eyes staring vacantly, enters. At her side is an Alsatian dog, so huge t hat he is almost level with her shoulders; she is holding his collar tightly. Child:—“Hurry Luck! Grandpa will be worrying about us. But I am tired! I wonder what time—oh, Luck!—oh!—” The child cries out as she knocks her toe against one of the pieces of rock that are hidden in the grass. She moves slightly to one side trying to avoid it, but, in taking a step forward, trips over it, and falls headlong into the grass. She gives a low moan, and lies perfectly still. Through this, poor Luck has been quite bewildered, but when he sees the child lying there, he realizes what has happened. He barks and whines so mournfully, and places a paw gently on her shoulder, trying to rouse her. Enter Grandpa, looking very anxious. At seeing him, Luck becomes excited and bounds forward; but Grandpa has eyes only for the tiny huddled heap. He rushes forward, crying in dismay. Grandpa:— “Faith—Faith my child—what is the matter? Faith!” He notices her death-like stillness, and picks the unconscious little form up in his arms. “Oh Faith, dearie, what has happened? What have you done?” He goes out slowly, Lucky following dejectedly. Scene 11. It is a room in a small cabin house neatly and comfortably furnished. In a rocking chair beside the fire an old woman is sitting, her face covered by her apron, sobbing. Enter Grandpa by a door that leads to the garden. Grandpa:—“Pan should be here soon, Grandma. Let’s hope for the best. Why, come, you musn’t take on so! Think, dearest, if this means that Faith leaves this world altogether, think how happy she will be away there. Her eyes will see all the beauty about her—her sight would be restored. Down here Grandma, when she grow older, she would always feel that she was a burden.” During this speech he comes over and places his hand on her shoulder, and she, laying her head on his, weeps ouietly. He pats her head consolingly. Suddenly there is a noise from without, then a girl enters, followed by an elderly gentleman, obviously a doctor. Grandpa:—“Oh, Pam!” Pam:—“Grandpa! Is she—still the same? (Grandpa nods.) This is Dr. Benton, Grandpa.” Grandpa:—“How do you do. I suppose you know the story? Well, please come this way. He indicates the other door which leads to a room, and while Pam and Grandpa takes the Doctor in, he busies himself preparing a meal. A minute or two later Pam comes from the bedroom. Pam (quietly):—“We will have to bear this well, Grandpa. Although there is hope, it is absolutely essential that Faith should be taken to a hospital. I shall have- to go now, but if you like, I could wire Faith’s parents.” Grandpa:—“Thank you, my dear. You won’t stay for a cup of tea? Well, goodbye.” Pam:—“Bye, Grandpa.” Exit Pam. (The curtain falls to indicate a lapse of time.) * ♦ ♦ ♦ Some days later. The room is empty, but a fire is burning merrily, and the kettle is singing. Suddenly the door is pushed open, and Pam’s voice is heard as she enters. Pam:—Anybody at home?” She comes in, looks about, then sits down. For some minutes she gazes into the fire; but then she springs up. Pam:—“Oh, dear! How quiet the place is—so quiet and comfortable yet empty, when we are all so unhappy. Oh, Faith, Faith, how can we get on without you?” She wrings her hands in anguish. Enter Grandpa, his cheeks faintly blushed, smiling. Grandpa:— “Just think, Pam, in a letter I received through the post, I was told that Faith’s sight can be restored to her! Somehow the fall affected her—.” Pam (excited): —“Oh, Grandpa, how wonderful! It’s something ordinary people like ourselves can’t understand, but that makes it all the more thrilling for us.” Grandpa:—“Yes, and don’t forget that if you hadn’t been so quick bringing the doctor she might ” his voice quivered. Pam:—“Oh, Luck helped, too, and the Mad Mare. We all did. Dear old Luck!” As the dog comes close to her, she pats him affectionately. “Well, I’m off, Grandpa! I shall sleep well on that news, you may be sure. Good-bye!” Grandpa :—“By-bye, Pam.” He goes to the door and watches her

ride away, the while patting Luck fondly. Curtain. —2 marks to Cousin Constance Fox . (15), 94 Earn street, Invercargill. THE LOST FORTUNE, Characters: 2 or 3 fishermen. Jack Santon—Squire. Jack Santon—wife. Jack Santon—children (5 or 6). 2 doctors. A dying, shipwrecked man. Guide—Arabian. About 12 natives. 10 picked men. Scene I.—Fisherman’s cottage. A fire is buminng fiercely aroud which sit a fisherman talking. (Suddenly the sound of a gun is heard booming out.) Ist F.: Jack, you stay and fix up a bed or two and a hot drink. 2nd F. (Jack): Righto (gets up). You lads go and do your duty. (2 Fishermen go out, while Jack makes up 3 beds humming a tune.) Knock. Jack: Wait a sec, mate. (Opens door.) Only one? 3rd F.: Aye. Jack: What ship. Ist F.: Crusoe. (Doctors up the man and find a deep cut on his head.) Ist D.: Um! Fatal. Shipw. (Huskily): Doctor, I want to see the man who saved my life from the sea. (Santon steps forward and dying man motions for others to leave.) Exit —Fisherm. doct Shipw.: My boy, I like you and I hear you are the Squire. Your estates badly need repair and you yourself are short of money, aren’t you? Santon: Yes. (Shipw. lays back on pillows.) Shipw.: Please bring my coat. Santon: Certainly. (Goes and gets coat from fire.) Shipw. (handing Santon a fat wallet) : Take this, my boy, and examine the chart carefully. Shipw.: Hidden on the island, that is marked, are precious stones, to the value of three million pounds. They are the spoils of the cruel and notorious Blackbeard, the pirate who sank three hundred ships. Here are four thousand pounds. Buy a good ship and man her well, but avoid all Sardinians. At Costa Rica, you will meet a guide and present this ring to him. He is a faithful man, and do not forget to give him a million pounds. Leave me now, for I have not long to live in this world. Curtain, Scene ll.—ln the tropics. Long grass is all around. Guide (turning round): Stop. We are now within five miles of our destination, and therefore we be exceedingly careful. There live within this radius a race, which, though nearly annnihilated, is the fiercest and the most cruellest ever I had to contend with. Shouts are heard and 12 natives come rushing in. The guide fights fiercely, but is overcome and all are taken prisoners. Chief of Tribe: Take them to the dungeons, and bring Nero, the lion. We shall test the upstart. Go out with prisoners in their midst. Curtain. —2 marks to Cousin Monica Ford (12), 223 Ettrick street, Invercargill. —Highly Commended.— (From the same story.) Act (1): The curtain rises. Scene, a beautiful glen covered in a lovely grassy carpet, and many daisies dotted here and there; at the foot of a row of tall poplars. A murmuring brook, a few birds in the trees whistling a tune. A sweet faced mother is seated on a mossy mound; with a little curly headed boy. Mother: Darling, I may go away one day on a long journey. You will always be good. Little Boy: Why, yes, but you will not go, mother? Mother: You will never steal, and be always truthful, and upright, and be an honest man. Little Boy: Why, yes, mother, of course, • * « » Act (2): The same scene as before. The boy (Barry) is now grown to manhood. Striding through glen, on he comes quickly, impatiently, never a thought of the mother’s warning words of so long ago, he stops, hearing a sound, but it was not the stir of the leaves. But a voice, where the shadows lie blackest Voice: “Some day you, too, must die, and float with me into the in-finite-pure and holy.” Barry stands, blue eyes wide, stricken by nameless terror, of the unknown. Voice: You will be good, my darling, good. You will always be truthful, Barry, my boy; be a man and work, and live.

Barry turns —but the voice was but a dream—his little mother’s sweet dead voice. But, oh, to be a man and honest! —2 marks to Cousin Faith Campbell (9), 161 Clyde street. PLAYING PIRATES. One day Jim and Don who lived with their grandmother were playing up in a loft of an old shed. Suddenly Jim noticed in one of the corners was an oak carved trunk. The boys waited till the morrow to open it. When they opened the box they found two suits of pirates’ clothes, gum-boots and two swords. “Lets get dressed up and pretend we are pirates,” Don said. Later on the boys were racing in and out the caves, till at last they reached a long, dark narrow passage, creeping quietly in, the boys found a light shining brightly. As they grew nearer Jim caught a glimpse of some “real pirates”; not waiting to see what was going to happen the boys dashed off. They flew like the wind when all of a sudden Don tripped on a large box and fell. Luckily the kick burst it and gold coins fell out. Full of excitement the boys carried their treasure home to their granny whose eyes gleamed at the wonderful sight as she said, “It was a lucky game of pirates you played this morning.” —Cousin Marian Symon (1 mark), 171 Elies road.