Scenes involving extracts from the Boy with the Cart been deleted pending a

license from Christopher Frys Estate

Parallel Lives
Hartfield Community Play
By Jon Oram

ACT ONE
SETTING
The play takes place in St Marys Church, Hartfield. There is an open floor surrounded by a series of
small raised fixed and mobile stages and platforms. The staging should also make use of the window
ledges and pulpit. On stage is oversized bed, large enough to accommodate five people, it could be
set above another stage to sage space. Theres limited seating for about 30 people, the rest of the
audience will promenade. Screens and the white walls are used for projecting, film, dates and places
of scenes. A series of large shadow puppet screens around the edge of the space will be used to
enhance the scenes or narrate the story.
A NOTE ON ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE
The play is written to accommodate about eighty performers, all of whom are in the performance
play, and therefore the play from start to finish. The spoken parts do not reflect how busy each
performer will be during the production. They will all sing, they will also help create images,
manipulate puppets, dress scenes, make sound effects, act as stage management and more besides.
The event will start outside the church so guests (The audience) will be greeted by characters
improvising in role. Inside the church the cast will act as guides. We intend to experiment with the use
of the space using minimal staging. The Trespassers scene for example may be played by the
children on adults shoulders. Many new roles will be created in rehearsal. Styles of scenes may also
change some involving shadow puppets. (Mc Andrews journey to Holtye Common for example) In
short the whole cast are responsible for the telling of this story all the way through
THE SCRIPT
The script will evolve further in performance, scenes developed by changes but this also implies
sometimes cutting. (We cant have an every expanding script) Performers should be prepared to
allow these changes, especially in early rehearsals.
Sc 1 THE MOLECATCHER Present
A faint sound of wind.
GEORGE NOYES.

Im George Noyes, thats Noyes, N.O (beat) Y.E.S, No, Yes if you like. The
name, like everything else, is an accident of birth, but I swear, Im a real
person. Youll follow me back through three different decades so I dont want
you getting confused with me popping up in all of em. Im one of them
timeless characters you meet in whatever period you live. Im what you might
call a prototype. Youll see em, in every village and town, Hartfield just
happens to be mine. Im the local mole catcher. 1911, I made penny a
moleskin; by 1937 barely four pence, its hardly a living but I love it. Its what
you might call a passion with me. You can forecast weather watchin moles?
Did you know that? Take a card.

He encourages an audience member to take a card.

All seeing is the mole. Put it back. They are the great predictors. Whats your
card?
AUDIENCE

Ace of hearts

GEORGE NOYES

Correct. Ive heard people say Im mystic; yes. But no its the moles. I loiter
round big ouses and clear rich mens lawns. I loiter round the cottages for a
piece of bread and soup. But the place I like to loiter best is the High Street. I
know every crack in its pavements; worn down by years of feet. Theres not
much passes old Noyes. I see it all, the upstairs folk and the downstairs, the
rich, the poor, the quick an the dead, all coming and goings. Well I say going
but nobody thats ever come never really goes; were all walking in the
footsteps of them that went before.

Wind has risen during the speech

Listen to that wind, the howling and wailing? Thatll be the ghosts. Unsettled
they are. Thats what ghosts are restless, complainers. I think its time; the
long and not so long departed of Hartfield are coming back.
th

Sc 2 THE COMPLAINERS 20 Century Ghosts

The CAST take a collective single breath, and within the wind we hear their names. The GHOSTS
move and jostle through the audience competing for their attention.
MRS BONNELL

You know whose fault it is dont you? Its not you is it? No, and Id know if it
was me and it certainly isnt; so whose left? It got to be them hasnt it? Its the
others? / Theres no one else it could possibly be, well there isnt, is there?

LADY MUSGRAVE

She maybe in name but that Muriel Brassey is no Duchess. Muriel Brassey
she is and Muriel Brassey shell stay. You can take a woman out of the street
but not the street out of the woman. Money she may have but it wont do. //
Its not about money, I know Ladies poor as church mice. But her - if she were
the richest woman in England she would still be trade

MR MEDHURST

/ Its incumbent on me to remind the Reverend Beckles about the ever

growing margin of difference between himself and his parishioners. They dont
like the new order;// they dont like it at all.

REV BECKLES

/ Youre complaining that its too Roman? What about your creed Mr Stringer?
You stand there every Sunday and say it. // Every Sunday, Mr Stringer, and
you have the effrontery to say the church is too Roman.

MISS PAUL.

/ Theyre camped all over Holytye common and theres one, or families of
them, in every spare barn. Tramps, Gypsies, travellers, call them what you
will, theyll have your purse soon as look at you. // If I lived up Holtye Id stay
inside and lock my door.

DORCUS

/ Work quickly and leave, the last thing the master wants to see in the morning
is a skivvy. First shake and fold the table cloth, take up the rug, clean the
grate, hearth and fender, // sweep the room, dust the furniture then polish not
forgetting the legs, replace the tablecloth, everything in order..

TOM TARNEY

/ You lot make me sick, with your charity this and charity that. You think youre
some kind of Samaritan.// We dont need your charity.

DOROTHY BAGOT

/They are simply teaching the girl the wrong things. She should be learning
how to have children, how to bring them up, how to be obedient and
biddable.// These are lessons she obviously missed.

CLARA

/ Dont talk to me of his love of human rights and duties. What about his love
for me? // Why is he doing this to us? What have we done to deserve it? You
know what good works means; hes spending our inheritance.

CAST SONG

Blame the foreigner, blame your people

Blame the Devil or blame the steeple
Blame your Country, blame the Law
Blame the stranger or the man next door
Blame your Fathers or blame your Mothers
Blame whoever but blame the others
But whatever you say or whatever you do
Dont blame me and I wont blame you

Sc 3 STUPID MR FISH 1987

ELDER ALICE (Alice Tarney) (92) and ELDER SADIE (Sadie Talbot) (99) are sitting up in the large
th
bed. Oct 15 1987 is written across the bed covers large letters. On TV Michael Fish is giving his
now famous evening weather report

TV

Earlier on today, apparently, a woman rang the BBC and said she heard
there was a hurricane on the way ... well, if you're watching, don't worry,
there isn't.

ELDER SADIE

I am watching and of course theres going to be a hurricane, you stupid little

man.

She clicks and clicks on the remote

Turn off, turn off for goodness sake. Alice. (Louder) Alice.
Sc 4 PULPIT ANNOUNCEMENT 1937
Projected on the walls of the church 1937 Holy Trinity Church, Colemans Hatch
Lights rise on Reverend Causon in the pulpit
REV CAUSON

Let brotherly love continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby
some have entertained angels unawares. In the name of the Father the Son
and the Holy Ghost

ALL

Amen

REV CAUSON

I dont know if you are aware of this but this coming year it will be the 25
anniversary of our church here in Colemans Hatch. I think it would be fitting if
we did something to mark the occasion, so if anyone in the congregation has
any suggestions please let me know

LIZZIE HUDSON

Reverend Causon, sir Ive put a suggestions box at the back of the church

REV CAUSTON

Thank you Mrs Hudson.

th

Sc 5 MEETING ALICE & SADIE 1987

ELDER ALICE and SADIE are in the big bed.
ELDER SADIE

(Shouting louder than before) Alice.

ELDER ALICE

For Gods sake Sadie, what is it? .Why have you turned that off I was
watching that?

ELDER SADIE

No you werent you were miles away

ELDER ALICE

I was thinking of the Boy with the Cart,

ELDER SADIE

That was years ago.

ELDER ALICE

1937... Why were you shouting about hurricanes?

ELDER SADIE

That Mr Fish told everyone Id rung about the hurricane and then tells them
there wont be one.

ELDER ALICE

Stupid man

ELDER SADIE

If old Noyes says theres going to be hurricane theres going to be one.

ELDER ALICE

I hate it when that happens, no-one will be prepared now, everything will fall
apart well get cut off, shut down.

ELDER SADIE

Thats what you get living in the country you shouldnt have come to live here
if you dont like it.

ELDER ALICE

I didnt choose to live here I was born here, 1893, Im pure Hartfield; youre
the one that chose to live here. Youre not even English, youre American.

ELDER SADIE

Ive not been American since I was six. How long does it take for a person to
become Hartfield?

HECKLER

Never

ELDER ALICE

Never is right.

ELDER SADIE

Sarah Bonnell Marriot - Talbot, theres three English husbands in that name.
Ive lived here since I was six and Im a hundred this year.

ELDER ALICE

Collecting English Husbands doesnt make you English. You may as well say
collecting China tea sets makes you Chinese

ELDER SADIE

Thats ridiculous. (Long pause) What made you think of that play?

ELDER ALICE

The Boy with the Cart? I dont know; memories just arrive dont they?. (Beat)
Do you remember how excited we were?

Sc 6 AN IDEA FOR A PLAY 1937

Projected again is: 1937 Holy Trinity Church, Colemans Hatch REV CAUSON greets THE
CONGREGATIONS as it leaves
REV CAUSON

Good morning. Mrs Bonnell

SADIE

Not any more, Mr Bonnell died you know, Its Marriot now

REV CAUSON

Of course, Im so sorry.

GEORGE NOYES

Reverend Causon, sir, Im here to clear the moles when youre ready

REV CAUSON

Thank you George, once everyones gone.

GEORGE NOYES

Times money vicar

SADIE

I liked that reading Reverend Causon especially that bit about entertaining
strangers

REV CAUSON.

Hebrews. Good morning Alice. Major Owen, Mrs Owen, Good morning

MRS OWEN.

A celebration is a wonderful idea.

REV CAUSON

Did you have any ideas of what we might do?

ALICE

What about doing a play about Hartfield?

REV CAUSON

That sounds rather ambitious, if not a little perilous

MRS OWEN.

What a splendid idea; the major mentioned having a dramatic entertainment

up at Holly Hill just the other day.

MAJOR OWEN.

Good Lord so I did I was just telling the wife - we have quite a natural
amphitheatre in the garden, I could imagine people sitting up on the bank,
looking down on the lawn, it would be marvellous for something Greek.

REV CAUSON

Greek?

MRS OWEN.

What an opportunity to link it with a celebration of the church

REV CAUSON.

Its a big undertaking. Somebody would have to take charge

MRS OWEN.

It could be about a play about Mr McAndrew? He lived at Holly Hill before us

He built the church.

ALICE

Im not sure

REV CAUSON

Who would write it?

MAJOR OWEN

Dashed if I know; Im sure you must know somebody clever like, theres
always Mr Milne. Let me know how you get on.

REV CAUSON.

You will of course help?

MAJOR OWEN

Were always happy to loan you the grounds, of course. Good Morning

The OWENS leave

JOHN CHAPMAN

A play sounds different

LIZZIE HUDSON

Would you be in a play Mr Chapman?

JOHN CHAPMAN

Not me dear, Im no actor.

LIZZIE HUDSON

No youre John Chapman, the real thing

JOHN CHAPMAN

I suppose I could play me. No-one else could. Id be good as me.

ALICE

They had that pageant at Forest Row about ten years ago, thats what made
me think of it. They had a whole history. It was a real spectacle

SADIE

And all of Mr Milnes Pooh characters, and Christopher played Christopher, It

was lovely

LIZZIE HUDSON.

Thats Forest Row for you, all arty, always dancing about on their lawns.

JOHN CHAPMAN

You dont find people like that here

LIZZIE HUSDON

And we dont want people like that here, its bad enough we have them over
there. No, we must do it with our own, my brothers will do it, and therell be no
stopping Olive

REV CAUSON

What bothers is me is finding someone to produce it.

JOHN CHAPMAN

What about them newly-weds just moved into the Mill? Hey George that
young chap at the mill, the one you done the lawn for, isnt he some kind of
producer

GEORGE NOYES

Thats right hes something to do with Tunbridge Wells Repertory. Hes a

proper professional him

REV COULSON

I suppose we could ask. Whats his name?

GEORGE NOYE

Mr Fryer init?

Everyone leaves except GEORGE NOYES and JOHN CHAPMAN

GEORGE NOYES

You wont catch me making a fool of myself on stage.

JOHN CHAPMAN

You could help with a bit of carpentry

GEORGE NOYES

Na, theatre a waste of wood

JOHN CHAPMAN

Hows the mollin?

GEORGE NOYES

Not bad, hows the machinin?

JOHN CHAPMAN

Damn if I abnt just lost a whole trailer. Drove a load through some smoke
that were blowing cross track down Greenwood gate

GEORGE NOYES

Thatll most probably be a forest fire

JOHN CHAPMAN

Its too late for you to be telling me that, George. The whole thing goes up;
me cart and me load. I had to leave it all to burn out. Barely saw a spark, why
would a few sparks catch me load alight.

GEORGE NOYES

What was your load John?

JOHN CHAPMAN

Dry bracken for bedding

GEORGE NOYES

Dry bracken? Thatll be it then

Sc 7 MEETING JESS 1987

ELDER ALICE and ELDER SADIE in the bed; JESS (10) is making her through the audience with a
torch. The wind is rising
ELDER ALICE

Will you listen to that wind?

JESS is knocking on the door

ELDER ALICE

Now its knocking and rattling.

ELDER SADIE

Thats the door

JESS

Nana can I come in? Its me, Jess. Can I get in with you?

ELDER ALICE

Come here sweetheart, of course you can

JESS jumps up into the bed and settles in

ELDER SADIE

Thats nice dear. Isnt that nice?

JESS

I dont like it. It sounds like ghosts

ELDER ALICE

Youre safe enough here, Jess love.

JESS

Have you two been telling stories?

ELDER SADIE

Your Nana was reminding me of this play we did at Colemans Hatch

JESS

A play, what was it about?

ELDER ALICE

The first idea was about a man who built a church.

ELDER SADIE

We didnt have a clue where to start so the Reverend and others went to see
a man who did. He took me because Id known the man who built the church.

Sc 8 MEETING MR FRYER 1937

Projection of date and representation of The Mill Colemans Hatch REV CAUSON, LIZZIE HUDSON,
MRS HAMBRO and ALICE are there to meet CHRISTOPHER FRY the potential writer and his wife
PHYLLIS
MRS HAMBRO

Lovely old Mill this Mr Fryer

FRY

Yes it is were very lucky. Though apparently it floods

LIZZIE

Well it would down here, and the river.

PHYLLIS

We were left a little tip. When we came here, there were hundreds of bottle
standing on the floor of the cellar. It turns out theyre the flood warning
system. When the cellar fills up with water you can hear the floating bottles
chinking and thats the time to take precautions. Isnt that ingenious?

REV CAUSON

We need a little local ingenuity for this play.

MRS HAMBRO

Have you written much before Mr Fryer?

FRY

Ive written curtain raisers for George Bernard Shaw.

PHYLLIS

You wrote an entire play about Dr Barnardo, it toured the south east. It got
very good reviews.

MRS HAMBRO

Heavens above, yes, I saw it, that was you? It was terrific.

REV COULSON

As its for the church how do you feel about writing a religious play? Are you
a religious man Mr Fryer?

FRY

Im a Quaker, I believe Im a distant relation of Elizabeth Fry, on my Mothers

side. I kept my Mothers name of Fry

MRS HAMBRO

Weve been calling you Mr Fryer all afternoon. Im quite embarrassed

REV COULSON

Im terribly sorry Mr Fry

PHYLLIS

It really doesnt matter

FRY

A religious theme would suit me as I would be drawn to the idea of writing it in

verse. I dont know if you know the religious verse plays of TS Eliot and WB
Yeats?

LIZZIE

Isnt Mr Yeats the gentleman that came to live at Alice Welfares Cottage
some years ago,

FRY

No I mean WB Yeats, the Irish poet and playwright

LIZZIE

Thats him, kept himself to himself; him and that peculiar friend of his.

REV COULSON

Mr Pound

MRS HAMBRO

Thats Ezra Pound

FRY

Yeats and Pound lived here?

REV COULSON

Came and went for a short while didnt they.

LIZZIE

Three Winters if I recall. I showed them the way, the day they first came.

Sc 9 A BRACE OF POETS 1911

On the Ashdown Forest by Stone Cottage; MRS HUDSON is picking up wood. WB YEATS & EZRA
POUND approach. YEATS wears a cloak, cravat and wide brimmed black hat. POUND is the most
exotically dressed, enhanced by red hair, a yellow goatee beard and earring. GEORGE NOYES is
watching
POUND

Were looking for Stone Cottage

MRS HUDSON

Go up to the top of the green, its the first house on the right.

YEATS

Oh yes we saw it. Nice little place. I hear they rent it out?

MRS HUDSON

Alice Welfare lives there far as Im aware. She dont rent

POUND

Maybe shes thinking she might

MRS HUDSON

I doubt that.

POUND and YEATS wander off YOUNG LIZZIE HUDSON arrives to help her Mother gather firewood
MRS HUDSON

Where are your sisters?

YOUNG LIZZIE

Not up yet

MRS HUDSON

Lazy good for nothins and heres me with a day ahead of scrubbing and
baking, and picking wood to keep my idle children warm.

YEATS stops and takes out a notebook and earwigs the womens conversation.
YOUNG LIZZIE

Tell them, dont moan at me; Im here.

MRS HUDSON

(Woods wet. And you know they only went and bought hair ribbons
yesterday; and with what? Im scrimping to put food on the table, and theyre
buying hair ribbons

YOUNG LIZZIE

Them blousy pair you were talking to. Theyre looking at us. Theyre walking
on now. What were you talking to them about anyway? Youre always telling
us not to be speaking to strangers.

MOTHER

They just crept up on us.

YOUNG LIZZIE

Ive heard that a couple of arty friends of Georgina Hyde Lees were looking
to rent somewhere temporary. That has to be them. They look like a brace
of poets.

MOTHER

They were asking about renting Stone Cottage

MOTHER

Her renting out... Alice Welfare? When did she start doing that?

GEORGE NOYES has been watching it all

GEORGE NOYES

Oh dear; one come they all come. Thats how it is isnt it? Whats she
thinking of letting the world in?

Sc 10 MEETING MR FRYER PART 2 1937

Back at the Mill and the community delegation meeting Christopher Fry
MRS HAMBRO

The Major and his wife at Holly Hill said how theyd like the play to be about
the man who lived in their house before them. Hes the man who built the
church.

FRY

Oh, really.

REV COULSON
.
LIZZIE

We know very little about him?

Alice here used to work for him.

FRY

He must have had money to live there. Where did he come from?

ALICE

Scotland sir. He had money alright, no-one knows from where. I heard when
he first came, the carts bringing the building materials, churned up the roads
and it upset a lot of local people. They tried suing him some of them. They
never got over the trouble it caused.

FRY

He had a bad start?

ALICE.

They werent welcoming. Everyones always a bit cautious of strangers

REV COULSON

Hes a bit of a mystery, he was on the parish for St Marys for twenty years
then suddenly he decides to build the church here, no-one knows why

FRY

Do you know Alice?

ALICE

I cant rightly say Mr Fry I dont think it would be exactly right. He was good to
me is all I can tell you.

FRY

Does he have any surviving relatives?

ALICE

His sister and some nieces; his favourite, Miss Annie died before him. Never
heard nor seen them from that day to this. Youre not really going to write him
in your play?

FRY

I cant know. I need to find a true place to start from, gather facts, and then
leave the rest to the imagination.

Sc 11 SONG OF THE OLD MOTHER 1911

On another stage YEATS is leaning over POUND who sits at a desk taking dictation.
YEATS

Change that to feeble and cold

POUND

Alright,

YEATS

Do you think thats her?

POUND

The woman on the forest? Yes, read it.

YEATS grabs up the paper

YEATS

I rise in the dawn, and I kneel and blow

Till the seed of the fire flicker and glow
And then I must scrub and bake and sweep
Till stars are beginning to blink and peep;
And the young lie long and dream in their bed
Of the matching ribbons for bosom and head,
And their day goes over in idleness,
And they sigh if the wind but shifts a tress:
While I must work because I am old,
And the seed of the fire gets feeble and cold.

During the poem lights have risen on MRS HUDSON and LIZZIE picking litter from the forest and two
sister BECKY & LUCY HUDSON on the end of the bed putting ribbons in their hair. The images now
fade
Sc 12 MEETING MARY & KATHLEEN 1987
ELDER ALICE, SADIE & JESS all in the big bed; Sound of knocking MARY and KATHLEEN speak
from behind the door.
KATHLEEN

Mum?

MARY

Gran?

ELDER ALICE

Kathleen, Mary

MARY and KATHLEEN creep in

KATHLEEN

I could hear you were awake...

MARY

Jess what you are doing here?

JESS

Same as you Mum. Your Gran and I were worried about you. Honestly

ELDER ALICE

Well where else would we be? Get in both of you, you might as well.

MARY

Is there room Gran?

ELDER SADIE

Course theres there is. Move up everyone

MARY and KATHLEEN get in and they all move up

JESS

Ahh Mum, your feet

MARY

Shove up sweetheart. Oh, its getting really wild out there.

10

ELDER SADIE

You remember Holly Hill Kathleen?

KATHLEEN

Goodness gracious yes, why?

ELDER ALICE

I was telling Jess about the days I worked up there

KATHLEEN

I loved it up there; we always used to trespass up there when we were kids

ELDER ALICE

Children always trespassed at Holly Hill

Sc 13 THE TRESPASSERS 1911

1911 The grounds of Holly Hill Two Tribes of TRESSPASSERS creep through the audience. The
VILLAGE CHILDREN 1: HARRY EDWARDS; 2 ERNEST ROSEN; 3 JOHN ROSEN; 4 NATHANIEL
MUGGERIDGE; 5: ALFRED PILBIER are dressed as Cowboys, and the ESTATE CHILDREN
1:BLANCHE GODFREY, 2: ANNIE BUSWELL 3: ALICE WHEATLEY,
as Indians. They are all
Children between the ages of six and eleven. Observing is GEORGE NOYES.

GEORGE NOYES

Step back, clear a path. The village kids and big house kids are rehearsing
for the grown up world

JOHN

Cant you read?

ALFRED

What if I cant?

ERNEST

It says Private keep out

HARRY

What if it does were cowboys and cowboys trespass, thats what they do.
Were on Indian land and if they catch you theyll tie you to a tree and scalp
your head off.

The ESTATE and VILLAGE run into each other

BLANCHE

What are you doing on our land?

JOHN

Bugger its an Indian

ANNIE WHEATLEY

Youd better wash your mouth out.

ERNEST

Are you lot Indians?

ANNIE BUSWELL

What if we are?

HARRY

Youre a bit La de dah for Indians aint you?

NATHANIEL

Are you going to tie us up and scalp our eads off ?

BLANCHE

We might

HARRY

Id like to see you try

GEORGE NOYES

This moment is the brink. Which way do they jump?

ALICE

I dont wanna fight

BLANCHE

Shut up.

ALFRED

Me neither

HARRY

Shut up

JOHN

We dont have to fight.

HARRY

We gotta fight Indians.

11

ALFRED

Why?

ERNEST

Because we do

BLANCHE

We can make up new rules after all, we're not savages. We're English, and
the English are civilized

ALICE

How can we be English Indians?

BLANCH

Shut up

JOHN

We could be blood brothers

NATHANIEL

Ive heard of that

ALICE

How do you do that?

ERNEST

We all cut our arms and hold the cuts together so we bleed into each other

ALL

Ughh; Not me; I aint going to cut myself; Im not having anyone bleed into me.
Thats disgusting

BLANCHE

We can make a promise of friendship for ever

HARRY

Not for ever

ALICE

Alright then, till Saturday

ERNEST

How do we do it?

ANNIE BUSWELL

I know a friendship rhyme.

ANNIE BUSWELL grabs ALFRED and they start a hand clap action song which the others join
GEORGE NOYES

The first taste of enmity, yet the magnet of friendship drew em back.
Innocence is that what we call it or foolishness; but int it a shame when the
pull weakens?

MRS NEWMAN The cook at Holly Hill bangs on a catering tray with a wooden spoon
MRS NEWMAN

Oi you lot clear out of here or Ill have you scalped. Go on clear off.

Sc 14 HOLLY HILL KITCHEN 1911

Holly Hill Kitchens 1911: A wooden clothes dryer is lowered laden with pots and pans. Young ALICE
TARNEY the Kitchen Maid is being instructed by Housemaids DORCAS and MARGARET ELLIS, who
are both dressed up in hat and coat with suitcases close at hand. ALFRED CORNFORD the Page
and JOHN BUSWELL, Butler are polishing silver
DORCUS

Hands

MARGARET

Turn them over

MRS NEWMAN the Cook enters from the previous scene

MRS NEWMAN

Wretched children, Mr Buswell, we must do something about them

JOHN BUSWELL

I will Mrs Newman

MRS NEWMAN

Youve been saying that for years.

DORCUS

Now girl tell me your morning tasks in order.

ALICE

I open the shutters of all the lower rooms

MARGARET

At what hour?

12

ALICE

Six oclock. I open the shutters. Then I brush the kitchen range, light the fire,
clear away the ashes, and clean the hearth and polish

DORCUS

With a leather

ALICE

Proceed to the dining room

DORCUS

The kettle...the kettle

ALICE

First the kettle, then I go to the dining room to get it ready for breakfast. I first
take up the rug, shake and fold up the table cloth, sweep the room, clean the
grate, hearth and fender, put all back in its place, dust the furniture...

DORCUS

Not forgetting the legs

ALICE

After the rug is laid down, I arrange the table cloth, and Iay the cloth for
breakfast. Then I come downstairs.

DORCUS

Quickly, we dont want you running into the Master.

MARGARET

The last thing he wants to see is a skivvy upstairs

ALICE

No Miss Margaret

ALFRED

Have you ever seen the Master

ALICE

No

ALFRED

And you dont want to, hes enormous and hell eat you for breakfast if he
catches you

DORCUS

I think she knows now Mr Buswell

MR BUSWELL

Good. I want you two back next Wednesday afternoon.

ALFRED

Blimey Mr Buswell thats almost a whole week.

MR BUSWELL

Weve all got to do our bit Alfred. Its Worthing int it where you mother lives?

MARGARET

Yes Mr Buswell.

MR BUSWELL

Its a nice run down to Worthing. You have a safe journey and I hope you
Mother improves.

DOCUS

Thank you Mr Buswell.

MR BUSWELL

Now off you go or youll miss the train.

DORCUS and MARGARET leave.

ALL

Goodbye

MRS NEWMAN

This means you will have to work through till the end of Wednesday.

ALICE

Can I go home Wednesday night then Mr Buswell?

MRS NEWMAN

Dont you start thinking about when you might get off, You get going and
prepare my table, You lazy girl.

ALICE

Yes Mrs Newman

MR BUSWELL

Wednesdays when Mr McAndrew has his parish council meeting, so you can
go at six oclock,

13

MRS NEWMAN

Providing she does her duties Mr Buswell, thank you very much. Come on
girl, stop gaping.

Sc 15 SADIES FAMILY1987
ELDER ALICE & SADIE, KATHLEEN, MARY & JESS The storm is raging
JESS

I dont like it out there.

ELDER SADIE

Well this is lovely here. Isnt this lovely?

ELDER ALICE

I feel blessed.

ELDER SADIE

Me too. Here with my oldest and best friend and her lovely girls. I feel like
youre my family

KATHLEEN

You are family Sadie.

JESS

Have you got a family Aunt Sadie, other than us?

ELDER SADIE

Yes I did.

ELDER ALICE

She was a very queer girl, werent you Sadie? What you might call modern.
Very upper class.

ELDER SADIE

I wouldnt say that

ELDER ALICE

You and your sisters were debutantes for heavens sake

Sc 16 THE DEVONSHIRE BALL 1911

The Devonshire Ball 1911 Music, Couples are dancing. Four aristocratic groups stand and sit
around the dance floor THE MUSGRAVE PARTY, THE DEL LA WARR PARTY, and THE BONNELL
PARTY they are THE YOUNG SADIE her sister JESSICA and her mother MRS BONNELL.
JESSICA

Theres Euan Wallace I do hope he will ask me to dance. You know hes
intent on being a Cavalry Officer, Mother. Hed look so handsome in a
uniform

SADIE

Idina Sackville has told me he only has eyes for her

JESSICA

Well Miss Vanity would wouldnt she?

MRS BONNELL

No self respecting man would go near that scandalous family, and any man
who does is not for you Jessica. And I mean it Sadie, drop this friendship with
Idina,. Shes a bad influence, think of your sisters.

JESSICA

Shes hopeless Mother.

SADIE

Im not hopeless, Im different.

JESSICA

Climbing trees, playing games with the servants, its not natural for a girl.
She should never have come to London to spoil our Season

SADIE

I didnt want to come.

MRS BONNELL

Dont be silly dear, its the done-thing.

SADIE

Who wants to do the done-thing?

MRS BONNELL

Why are you such a rebellious Girl

SADIE

Someone has to be.

SADIE

There we are thats Euan Wallace dancing with Idina

JESSICA

Blast

14

SADIE

Told you

JESSICA

You little Tyke

SADIE

Im going to powder my nose.

She leaves. Lights rise on the MUSGRAVE PARTY LADY MUSGRAVE & DOROTHY BAGOT
LADY MUSGRAVE

Why is that Sackville girl dancing with the Wallace, boy, shes hardly suitable.
Whatever possessed the Devonshires to invite her?

DOROTHY

I suppose they are friends of Earl Del la Warr .

LADY MUSGRAVE

But the girls parents are divorced.

DOROTHY

The worst of it is that it was she who divorced he?

LADY MUSGRAVE

Dorothy please, you can spare us the sordid details. A child of divorced
parents marring into the Wallace family is simply unconscionable. The
Devonshires inviting the daughter is bad enough but look at her mother
standing there, as if butter wouldnt melt...

THE DEL LA WARR PARTY

GEORGIE

They are all talking about you Muriel, They are all such terrible gossips

LADY HELEN

What are they saying?

MURIEL

Oh Helen, what does it matter, you know what they are saying. They
obviously cant tolerate me divorcing Gilbert.

Return to THE MUSGRAVE PARTY

LADY MUSGRAVE

You mark my words shell turn out to be one of those radicals

DOROTHY

Shes one of the wealthiest women in the country by all accounts

LADY MUSGRAVE

She may well be but shes still trade

Return to the DEL LA WARR PARTY

MURIEL

Theyll be saying Gilbert should have taken his parents warning

GEORGIE

Did they object?

MURIEL

They refused to come to our wedding, how much clearer can you be?

IDINA SACKVILLE and YOUNG SADIE sit at a dressing table brushing their hair. They a mimicking
the advice they get given
SADIE

(Mimicking their Mothers advice) You must make yourself as attractive as

possible if you want to marry well young woman

IDINA

After all, marrying well is the only way to determine the life ahead of you

SADIE

So sit up straight

IDINA

Tilt your head

SADIE

(In despair) Oh God Idina

TOGETHER

What a sham

SADIE

Oh its my sister. Im not here... Im not here.

15

SADIE hides as her sister JESSICA enters

JESSICA

Have you seen Sadie, Charles Marriot was looking for her

IDINA

No

JESSICA

Hello Idina, Was that you dancing with Euan Wallace?

IDINA

Do I know you?

JESSICA

Jessica Bonnell, Im Sadies sister, dont you remember me from school?

IDINA

Oh Yes, you never powdered.

JESSICA

Really!

She leaves SADIE comes out of hiding laughing. IDINA stares back into the mirror and then messes
up her hair.
IDINA

Mooo. What a meat market. Im so bored with it all.

SADIE

Me too

IDINA

I should so like to do something that makes a difference.

SADIE

Oh, yes

Sc 17 MY OLD FASHIONED SISTERS 1987

Scene moves back to the big bed and ELDER ALICE, ELDER SADIE, KATHLEEN, MARY & JESS
ELDER SADIE

My poor old-fashioned sisters, they didnt know it was the age of rebellious
girls.

JESS

You both came from quite different places didnt you?

ELDER ALICE

A completely other level

ELDER SADIE

Oh please Alice, it was such a long time ago. I tell you it didnt matter where
you came from, if you were a woman you were expected to be biddable.

ELDER ALICE

Thats true, you had to do as you were told and you had to know your place.

Sc 18 RUNNING LATE 1911

Holly Hill ALICE is running with a pile of sheets. She is looking very tired and dishevelled JOHN
BUSWELL the butler stops her n her tracks
MR BUSWELL

Youre running late Alice, youve not opened the shutters yet.

ALICE

(faintly) No Mr Buswell

MR BUSWELL

Are you alright Girl?

ALICE

Yes Mr Buswell

MR BUSWELL

Well you dont look it. Open the shutters in the sitting room and then get
yourself downstairs. I dont want them seeing you upstairs, especially looking
like that..

ALICE

Ive done alright though havent I Mr Buswell, I can go home this evening
cant I?

MR BUSWELL

Yes, yes. Now hurry.

16

Sc 19 THE WRONG DOOR 1987

The big bed
ELDER ALICE

And I didnt know where to go; Id forgotten. My head was spinning, I wasnt
feeling at all well and I was excited about going home that night. I simply
went through the wrong door, and its dark and I think its the sitting room and
Im opening the shutters.

Sc 20 HIDING IN THE LIBRARY 1911

Books are projected all over the walls. At the back of the stage hangs a long curtain
ALICE

Oh no, its the study

ELDER ALICE

And I hear voices

ALICE

Its him, the Master

On another stage an image of ALFRED the page

ALFRED

Hes enormous and hell eat you for breakfast if he catches you.

Image fades. ALICE hears JOHN and ANNIE MCANDREW heading for the Study.
somewhere to hide and gets behind the curtain. They enter the study
JOHN

Ive that wretched vestry meeting tonight

ANNIE

Should you be going? Its a dreadful day,

JOHN

It may improve

ANNIE

George Noyes says were in for a storm.

JOHN
.
ANNIE

Who?

She looks for

He clears the moles. Mrs Newman swears by him.

JOHN

(Ironically) Oh, good, then Ill tell Beckles to cancel the meeting. Honestly
Annie I cant tell him to cancel because of a mole catchers prediction. Id
rather not go of course; theyre confronting Beckles about his Anglo Catholic
services

ANNIE

Again? Theyve been on about that since Reverend Formby died

JOHN

Six years.

ANNIE

where do you stand?

JOHN

I have no view on the matter, I dont speak Latin but as I cant make head nor
tail of the man when he speaks English theres not much difference

ANNIE

Poor Uncle John

JOHN

Why do you say poor like that?

ANNIE

Because you dont seem very interested in anything since you retired. I worry
about you.

JOHN

Youre very astute Annie dear but its nothing. Theres a chill in here. Id like
to use the study later tonight

ANNIE

Ill have them light the fire for when you get home.

JOHN

Youre very good to me Annie dear.

They leave. ALICE comes out of hiding looking very faint. The Gong sounds and she leaves quickly.

17

Sc 21 COMING DOWN 1987

The Big Bed
KATHLEEN

Did he really take no interest in anything?

ELDER SADIE

Nothing much apparently. He never took the time to come down and meet
people. Not like Mr Fry

ELDER ALICE

Mr Fry, no he went everywhere.

Sc 22 PLOUGHMAN 1937
Ploughed ground is projected on the walls. FRANK HILL is ploughing with TWO HORSES through the
middle of the audience. BIRDS follow them; CHRISTOPHER FRY comes to the edge of the field
where GEORGE NOYES and JOHN CHAPMAN are sitting on a gate
JOHN CHAPMAN

Int that there that writing fella coming up the field

GEORGE NOYES

Hello there, Mr Fryer int it?

FRY

Hello George

GEORGE NOYES

You remember me name then. I is impressed

FRY

You remembered mine

GEORGE NOYES

Yea well youre a gentleman, and youd expect us to.

Chapman, deals in tractors

JOHN CHAPMAN

an Combines

FRY

Mr Chapman

GEORGE NOYES

What you doing up Brick Kiln Farm?

FRY

I came to watch the ploughing

GEORGE NOYES

Well there they be.

JOHN CHAPMAN

Which hed be doing better if e had a tractor

GEORGE NOYES

Thats Frank Hill there.

FRY

Do you think hed talk to me?

GEORGE NOYES

Dont see why e wouldnt

JOHN CHAPMAN

Put in a word fer tractors if he does, he wont speak to me.

JOHN CHAPMAN

Is this research like for this play of yours?

FRY

Something like that. Id just be interested

GEORGE NOYES

Oh interested then is it? Hey Frank hold this ere young fella is Mr Fryer the
one whats writing the play for Rev Causon

FRANK

Is he now? Whats this play about then Mr Fryer?

FRY

Fry

JOHN CHAPMAN

Why? Because hed be interested to know what youre writing about, wouldnt
you Frank?

FRANK

Aye I would.

18

This eres John

FRY

No I said Fry, not why

JOHN CHAPMAN

What?

FRY

Never mind.

FRANK

Hes been round too many tractors, aint you John, all that rumbling and
rattling cant hear yerself think. You wouldnt be writing about us would yer?

FRY

Well I wouldnt want to write about anyone directly. But Id like it to reflect the
rural life.

FRANK

That would be like looking in the mirror then.

FRY

I daresay, but Im more interested in the general farming and what you do in
the different seasons. Like now, its the first week of October, is that when
you always start the ploughing?

FRANK

Maybe.

JOHN CHAPMAN

Maybe not.

FRANK

Yes thats right, maybe not. Its once the arvest done when we put away the
scythes and flails and gets out the ploughs.

JOHN CHAPMAN

Which would be all the quicker if e had a tractor.

FRANK

But we choose the day to plough, and the day to seed and the day to harvest
by second nature.

GEORGE NOYES

Aye, labours older than knowledge son.

FRY

Labours older than knowledge, thats very good

JOHN CHAPMAN

Like that does you? He likes that George.

FRY

I just might. So this field Frank

FRANK

This here? Its been lying fallow

GEORGE NOYES

You can see that, by looking at all them mole hills.

FRANK

You leave em be Old Noyes, youre mole mad. Well plough it some six
inches deep; then let winter do the rest to prepare the ground for seedin.

JOHN CHAPMAN

Thatd be nine inches if yer ploughed with a tractor.

FRANK

We must let God and Nature do their will. The Good Lords on our shoulder
mostly its him who provides

FRY

Six inches deep you say

JOHN CHAPMAN

Could be nine

FRANK

Thats it, come over well show yer

GEORGE NOYES

Six or nine makes no odds

GEORGE NOYES addresses the audience.

GEORGE NOYES

If six feet does it for us, six inches will do it for the poor mole. And while on
the subject of moles, Ill tell you another thing. Moles is class; theyre like the
aristocracy. They are arent they? In their velvet jackets and taking all the

19

land they can. Theyre only unlike the aristocrat in one sense; they live in
oles and the animals live above; whereas with people; its quite the opposite.
Sc 23 PARALLEL LIVES 1987
The Big Bed
MARY

Its true, people lived parallel lives, theres them up there and us living here.

ELDER SADIE

Not me

ELDER ALICE

No dear not you, you came down.

MARY

You were telling us about Mr McAndrew

ELDER ALICE

I was till she broke in with her sisters

ELDER SADIE

And you about Mr Fry

ELDER ALICE

He went to his vestry meeting, it was the night everything changed.

Sc 24 THE CHOIR & VESTRY 1911

Projection of St Marys Church 1911; the CHOIR are singing a forbidden hymn. MR MEDHURST
leads the choir. It includes KITTY MARION, a Music Hall singer, her companion LILLA DURHAM and
MRS ELLIOT. During the singing the VESTRY COUNCIL are gathering; they are JOHN MC
ANDREW, MR STRINGER, MRS ANSELL, MRS WOOD, DR PRINCE, MR BURNS, MISS PAUL;
they will eventually be joined by MR MEDHURST and MRS ELIOT from the choir.
MR MEDHURST

Well done

MRS ELIOT

Now why cant we sing like that in church?

LILLA

If he let us sing our favourite old tunes, like that one, we would.

KITTY

Its them wretched laments and all them laudate dominums.

MR MEDHURST

Alright Kitty. Anyway weve got to stop there, we have the vestry meeting in
here now. Thank you everybody

The Church Council are gathering, some with brollies, they all wear big coats all of which are wet.
KITTY MARION comes forward
KITTY

You will speak to him Mr Medhurst?

MR MEDHURST

I will, Kitty, but its difficult I have my re-election tonight

REV BECKLES is arriving

KITTY

Theres always some excuse

REV BECKLES

We really must get started. The choir really shouldnt be here now. Thank
you. Good evening everyone, hurry along now. St Marys vestry meeting,
March 1911. Rev Beckles presiding. Make a note of those present; any
apologies?

KITTY MARION strides back in as REV BECKLES takes his seat.

Miss Marion what can I do for you. We are holding a meeting
KITTY

Thats why Ive come back. Im here for the Choir. I appeal to you to let us
sing our traditional hymns.

REV BECKLES

We have important matters about the church, this is neither the time nor
place.

JOHN MCANDREW

If its about the choir its a church matter surely?

20

KITTY

In choir practice we have to sing the forbidden hymns to get us in full voice.
You should have heard them just now, they sang like angels.

REV BECKLES

Youre a music Hall singer Miss Marion, one of some repute Im led to believe
and the songs you love to sing, if they must be sung, belong there. Now if
youll allow me to continue with the meeting.

MR MEDHURST

Its alright Kitty. Please leave it with me

KITTY

Very well then Ive said what I wanted to say, but its not an end to it.

She leaves
REV BECKLES

Mr McAndrew we cannot have the common congregation interfering in church

affairs

JOHN MCANDREW

Surely we must listen to opinions of the choir.

REV BECKLES

We run our church by scriptures, not opinions and I would certainly ask you
not to invite them, especially from her. Do you have any idea what you are
dealing with?

JOHN MCANDREW

No, I dont know the lady

MR STRINGER

I should think not, shes bullish suffragette, one of the dangerous kind, among
other things

MRS WOOD

Shes not becoming

REV BECKLES

We cant tolerate her in the choir any longer Mr Medhurst.

MRS ELIOT

But she has a wonderful voice.

REV BECKLES

I daresay but shes a poor influence. Relay to her, if you would, Mr Medhurst,
that I dont want her in the choir.. Now can we get back to business? Item
one, re-election of Mr Medhurst as Church Warden, proposed? (Pause)
Thank you doctor Stringer. Seconded? (Pause) Miss Wood. Thank you, all
those in favour. Carried; congratulations Mr Medhurst. Now, if we can move
quickly on. The installation // of a new lectern kindly donated by Miss...

MR MEDHURST

/Wait a minute. Excuse me Rev Beckles.

REV BECKLES

Mr Medhurst?

MR MEDHURST

Isnt it traditional for a newly appointed Churchwarden to say something?

REV BECKLES

Do you have something to say?

MR MEDHURST

Yes. I feel it is incumbent on me to remind Rev Beckles of the ever growing

margin of differences between himself and his parishioners. I am far from
alone in wishing that the services would be more in keeping with the days
when Reverend Formby was here; that we were once again a Church of
England, in the traditional sense.

REV BECKLES

Mrs Ansell, would you stop taking minutes for the moment?

MRS ANSELL

You want me to strike all of it?

REV BECKLES

You have no need to remind me Mr Medhurst. You have disputed my

convictions ever since you chose me as rector of this parish.

MR BURNS

If I may correct you Rev Beckles, Earl De La Warr is the advowee of the living
we dont get to choose anything.

21

MRS WOOD

Wed seen the way that Withyham went under the Earls father.

REV BECKLES

I simply dont understand you; we have a growing congregation, marvellous

new decor, Mr Mc Andrew please tell me you are not dissenting.

JOHN

I sympathise with Mr Medhurst but, for myself, I really dont have a strong
view one way or the other

MISS PAUL

I do know there are some who find it all a little....

REV BECKLES

What?

MISS PAUL

Puzzling

REV BECKLES

Can you be more specific?

MRS ANSELL

Well theres the bells and smells

MISS PAUL

...and the chanting

MISS PAUL

Yes

MR STRINGER

Its all a bit Roman.

REV BECKLES

What about your creed Mr Stringer? You stand there every Sunday and say I
believe in one Catholic and apostolic church Every Sunday Mr Stringer, and
you have the effrontery to say the church is too Roman. Do you listen to what
you say?

DR PRINCE

The common congregation dont understand most of the service and would
like things as they were.

REV BECKLES

Then they should stop meddling in things they dont understand. I dont have
time for this

DR PRINCE

Then may I suggest a committee that might find the time to prepare an
argument for changes that the local congregation would like to see.

REV BECKLES

If you must, but I cannot say if I will make any alterations, God leads me, I can
hardly see how I can alter the character of the services based on the whims of
the illiterate end of the congregation. Now you have had your say well move
on to more immediate matters? The placement of your sisters lectern Mr
McAndrew; do you have a view?

Sc 25 RAINING STAIR RODS 1987

The big Bed. The wind is still moaning.
MARY

And that was that?

ELDER ALICE

Yes. The Reverend Beckles was immovable on the matter. The meeting
ended and outside the weather was worsening

JESS

Like this?

ELDER ALICE

No, but it was windy enough, and it was raining stair rods, and by the time
they all left the vestry meeting it was really very cold. I had been walking back
to Holtye, theyd let us go off work like theyd promised and I was feeling that
sick, in a dreadful state I was.

Sc 26 THE LYCH GATE 1911

The sound of rain YOUNG ALICE TARNEY is wet, bedraggled and slumped on the ground inside the
Lych Gate of St Marys Church. MRS ANSELL and MISS WOOD from the vestry meeting pass.
Observing is GEORGE NOYES
MISS WOOD.

Whos there?

22

MRS ANSELL

Come away. Leave her.

MISS WOOD

Who is she?

MRS ANSELL.

Shes one of the pedlars.

MISS WOOD

She frightened me half to death.

JOHN MC ANDREW approaches

JOHN

Whos that?

ALICE

Only me Sir

JOHN

This is a terrible night to be out. Why are you hiding?

ALICE

I do everything I can sir to go unnoticed

JOHN

Are you here for a purpose?

ALICE

Im just making my way home, I dont mean any harm.

JOHN

Youd best make your way quickly, this is not a night to be out. Goodnight

He walks away. MR STRINGER and Mr BURNS overtake him.

MR BURNS

Who was that?

JOHN

I have no idea

MR STRINGER

One of them foresters probably; up to no good anyway

JOHN stops. GEORGE NOYES comments directly to the audience

GEORGE NOYE

This moment is the brink

JOHN

Goodnight Gentleman

STRINGER

Good night McAndrew

JOHN looks back towards ALICE

GEORGE NOYES

Which way to jump?

JOHN walks back to ALICE

JOHN

You dont look very well. Is home far?

ALICE

Holtye sir, but I dont want to be a bother

JOHN

And youve walked from where?

ALICE

Colemans Hatch.

JOHN

You work there

ALICE

In one of the big houses

JOHN

You really dont look well.

ALICE

Ill be alright when I just rest a bit. .

JOHN

Why on earth would they let you walk all the way to Holtye especially in this
weather

23

ALICE

They wouldnt rightly think about it sir, my comings and goings, how I would
get home, Im a nobody sir

JOHN

Youd better come with me. Ill take you home. Holtye you say. Come on let
me help you to your feet

ALICE

But you dont know me sir, and I shouldnt be going with a stranger.

HE helps her. She stumbles.

JOHN

You can barely stand girl, youre exhausted. Youll never get home on your
own.

MR MEDHURST & MISS PAUL approach

JOHN.

Miss Paul.

MISS PAUL

Whos that with you?

MEDHURST

Is she alright?

JOHN

Shes not at all well. She was here by the Lych Gate. Im going to take her to
her home. I cant manage on my own and we cant just leave her here. Mr
Medhurst. Can you fetch my coachman? Tell him to bring some coach
blankets

MEDHURST goes to fetch the coachman MC ANDREW takes out a notebook and pencil from his coat
pocket
JOHN

Whats your address in Holtye?

ALICE

Earwig cottages

JOHN.

Miss Paul, is Dr Prince still in the church?

MISS PAUL

Hes gone home.

JOHN

Can you go to Dr Princes house and tell him get to Holtye this instance,

He tears out a page of his notebook.

Here is the address?
MISS PAUL

To Holtye? Mr McAndrew, you really dont want to be going there, especially

the common, its heaving with vagrants and tramps, I sympathise, but you
have no idea who she is. .

JOHN

Just tell Dr Prince. Hurry Miss Paul, if you would.

MISS PAUL goes MR MEDHURST returns with WILLIAM GODFREY

JOHN

William help us here, lets get her to the carriage

Sc 27 COMING DOWN TO MEET US 1987

In the big Bed. The storm outside is wild
JESS

So he came down to your place

MARY

Was this at Earwig Cottages?

JESS

Is that really what they were called?

KATHLEEN

They were

24

JESS

They sound like somewhere out of a fairy story

ELDER ALICE

It was.

Suddenly the lights go out

ELDER ALICE

There what did I tell you, bit of weather an were cut off.

ALL

Theres a torch there; I cant see a thing, somewhere by the bed, here, the
other side. Whats this?

They turn the torches on and they are using the sheets like a tent which they all sit under.
ELDER SADIE

We got ourselves prepared. Unlike the followers of Mr Fish

MARY

Well done Sadie

KATHERINE

It sounds like the whole world being torn up

JESS

It wont bring the house down?

ELDER ALICE

Lets all stay calm. So where was I? Jess?

JESS

Earwig cottage, you were being taken home.

ELDER ALICE

I was. I was so sick I dont remember, much but Mr Mc Andrews carriage got
stuck the wrong side of the common and he and Mr Medhurst had to help me
walk the last bit.

Sc 28 HOLTYE COMMON 1911

Lights come on, fires, braziers, candles and lanterns revealing an array of tents, lean-tos and benders,
sitting round the fires and inside the shelters are VAGRANT WOMEN & YOUNG CHILDREN some
preparing suppers. GEORGE NOYES is there smoking his clay pipe. JOHN MCANDREW, WILLIAM
GODFREY and ALICE pass slowly through
JOHN

My God what a terrible place.

WILLIAM

We dont want to hang about here sir

They pick their way through the makeshift dwellings

GEORGE NOYES

Ive got a place at Bassets Farm, but Ive friends here. Theres not a spare
barn in Holtye doesnt have a tramp living in it. Old McAndrew hadnt been up
Holtye at night before. Why should he? You wouldnt know by day we all
disperse round the parishes, farm labouring, helping with the harvest, hop
picking, gathering litter, whatevers going; very skilled like me some of them..

JOHN

Its all so miserable, why isnt something done?

GODFREY

Because they labour for pennies, theyre useful.

GEORGE NOYES

Theres cold comfort, if youre looking for any

We may be miserable but were necessary

HARRY EDWARDS approaches JOHN MC ANDREW who flinches

HARRY

You got anything for us sir?

GODFREY

Get away

JOHN

My God look at him

GEORGE NOYES steps in

25

GEORGE NOYES

George Noyes, Mr McAndrew; your mole catcher. Are you alright sir?

JOHN

Look at him

GEORGE NOYES

(Patronising concern) Has the little lad hurt you sir?

JOHN

No

GEORGE NOYES

Well you just tell Old George if he does, wont you?

JOHN

What do you mean?

GODFREY

Come on sir

JOHN

What does he mean?

As they walk through the camp to the other side of the common VAGRANT WOMEN sing
SONG

To this windy world of cold distress

You all came in utter nakedness
Cold you lay and destitute of all
Till a mother wrapped you in a shawl

VAGRANT MEN & BOYS trudge in from a days work in a choreographed march
But were living and dying in holes
Holes in our bellies and clothes
Were cold from our ears to our toes
And we dont have roof nor a door
And we fell through a hole in the floor
And were living but drowning in tears
And weve borne it for years and for years
Sc 29 EARWIG COTTAGE 1911
A wooden clothes dryer is lowered hung with sheets.
JOHN MC ANDREW knocks at the door
JOHN

Are you Alices mother?

MRS TARNEY

Yes sir, do come in its a terrible night

JOHN

William, this is the right house, bring her in.

WILLIAM GODFREY helps ALICE through the door

MRS TARNEY

Oh Alice love, whats up with you? Whats wrong with her?

JOHN

Shes very weak, she got caught out in this rain.

MRS TARNEY

Tom, give your sister a hand

TOM comes forward

JOHN

A doctor friend of mine will be here shortly

ALICE

I can walk by me self Im alright.

JOHN

You need to get her out of these wet things

MRS TARNEY

Come on love, lets get you straightened out. I was getting worried about you
girl.

MRS TARNEY takes ALICE out

26

WILLIAM

Ill get back to the coach, sir theyll have the wheels and more if I leave it any
longer

JOHN

I dont think we should assume...

WILLIAM

Oh I think you should

JOHN

Alright, thank you.

WILLIAM GODFREY goes. There is an awkward silence with TOM staring at JOHN MCANDREW
JOHN

I thought it best I bought her home. Sorry, Im John McAndrew

TOM

Are you indeed? And what you think youre doing bringing my sister home in
such a state. Youve a right bloody nerve.

JOHN

I dont understand

TOM

You lot make me sick. You think youre some kind of Samaritan when all you
do is what any half decent man would do.

JOHN

Im sorry what am I supposed to have done?

TOM

What Im saying, Mr Mc Andrew is that you bring Alice home half dead after
shes worked them extra days at Holly Hill

JOHN

Holly Hill, why do you say Holly Hill? I live at Holly Hill

TOM

...yea, where she works

DR PRINCE arrives
DR PRINCE.

Can I come in? John, what seems to be the problem?

JOHN

Yes I found this girl

TOM

Alice, her names Alice.

JOHN

Shes Toms sister... this is Tom here. Shes not looking at all well

DR PRINCE

I need to take a look at her. Where is she?

TOM

Shes through there

DR PRINCE goes
JOHN

You said Holly Hill?

TOM

Yea, where Alice works, shes your kitchen maid

Sc 30 I MERELY ASK 1911

On Holtye Common GEORGE NOYES is close by a single lit bender where a VAGRANT FAMILY
eats supper.
GEORGE NOYES

What do you think, could he really not have know who she was, or her not
know her master? Well let me ask you this; why should they? Was she not
trained to be invisible and he reared to be blind? I make no comment, I
merely ask.

WILLIAM GODFREY passes

You get back to your carriage boy; protect your property I would?

27

Sc 31 DOCTORS DIAGNOSIS 1911

Back in EARWIG COTTAGE; MRS TARNEY is pouring a kettle of hot water into a large pan. JOHN
MC ANDREW and TOM TARNEY are there
MRS TARNEY

Poor little wretch, she has a terrible fever. Thank you sir; did you thank the
gentleman Tom?

TOM

What should I thank him for?

MRS TARNEY

Really Tom you should be more civil

DR PRINCE comes in
DR PRINCE.

Mrs Tarney once the waters boiled I want you to add carbolic and soak any
clean sheets. Do you have carbolic?

MRS TARNEY

Yes sir, plenty, Im a Laundress

DR PRINCE.

Then I want you to hang them round the room and over the door. You too
young man, help your mother.

DR PRINCE speaks aside to JOHN MCANDREW

DR PRINCE

I am certain as I can be that its typhoid.

JOHN

Good God

DR PRINCE

You know theres an epidemic in Worthing, we dont want the same here.
Theres no point in alarming them so lets keep it to ourselves till we know
more. For now well try and contain it to the house.
Now, Mrs Tarney, your daughter has a fever.

MRS TARNEY

Shes going to be alright isnt she?

DR PRINCE

You have my word. Fever is remorseless but we can fight it, and we will,
wont we? And Mrs Tarney, Alice will take more strength if you remain calm.

MRS TARNEY

Yes sir

DR PRINCE.

Good woman. Give her a dose of this medicine, once in the morning and
once at night. I want you to wash the all the floors and walls with chlorine of
lime. Ive left the window slightly ajar.

MRS TARNEY

But its cold sir

DR PRINCE

I know its cold but the enemies of her fever are cleanliness, sobriety and
judicious ventilation.

MRS TARNEY

I keep a clean ouse doctor, she cant ave got sick by living here; she cant
ave .

TOM

Me and Mum arent sick, and Alice is never hardly here. If you look to anyone,
look to Mr Mc Andrew.

DR PRINCE

John I had the impression you didnt know the girl.

JOHN

Theres been some misunderstanding. Alice is my Kitchen Maid

DR PRINCE

Is she? Well discuss this //on the way

JOHN

/ Yes, yes of course

28

Sc 32 THERE ARE MOMENTS IN LIFE 1987

In the Big Bed
ELDER ALICE

I think it was that night Mr McAndrew began to see things differently.

Something woke up in him.

KATHLEEN

Do you think people like him can change?

MARY

If people couldnt change there wouldnt be much point in anything would

there?

KATHLEEN

People find change hard though.

MARY

But we all want to make a difference, especially when youre younger. You
and Idina wanted to change things Sadie.

ELDER SADIE

Goodness yes; we so wanted to.

Sc 33 ITS TIME TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE 1911

IDINA SACKVILLE, MURIEL DEL LA WARR are at home LADY HELEN BRASSEY and SADIE
BONNELL are visiting when LADY MUSGRAVE and DOROTHY BAGOT unexpectedly drop in.
MURIEL

What an unexpected pleasure Lady Musgrave. Do you know Sadie Bonnell?

Shes a friend of Idina.

DOROTHY.

Werent you at the Devonshire ball?

SADIE.

Yes, thats right.

LADY MUSGRAVE

Oh yes, the Americans

SADIE

Not any more.

LADY MUSGRAVE

Dont be ridiculous, one cant change what one was born my dear.

MURIEL

I dont know, our money was made by my grandfather who was middle class

LADY MUSGRAVE

(With and almost exasperated sigh) Yes, well.... We have a favour to ask
Muriel. (Pause) Dont we Dorothy?

DOROTHY.

Oh yes? We wondered if you would help us with a donation to our funds

MURIEL

For what?

LADY MUSGRAVE.

Good local causes

MURIEL

Could you be more specific Lady Musgrave

LADY MUSGRAVE

Dorothy, the list

DOROTHY

The Uckfield Workhouse

MURIEL

Thats good

DOROTHY

The Waifs and Strays Society

IDINA

I think we should, Im sure that must be very worthy.

DOROTHY

(pleasantly surprised) Well thank-you my dear.

IDINA

Weve made a decision, havent we Sadie that we want to do something to

make a difference.

LADY MUSGRAVE

Well thats a very noble ambition Idina, perhaps you might by helping us to
raise funds

29

IDINA

Im sure a fete or garden party or whatever will help enormously but I was
thinking more in the way of changing things.

LADY MUSGRAVE

What sort of things?

SADIE

Everything concerning matters of justice

HELEN

That is everything

IDINA

Everything concerns justice?

HELEN

I think so, off the top of my head.

IDINA

I should first like to go to university to know more

LADY MUSGRAVE

Women cant go to university dear

SADIE

Actually they can, they just cant earn a degree and that doesnt seem just.
We could start there, do something to change that.

LADY MUSGRAVE.

Whatever for?

SADIE

To show we have learnt things?

LADY MUSGRAVE

Girls know all they need to know already. How to have children, how to bring
them up and how to be obedient and biddable, although it seems thats a
lesson you missed.

IDINA

But we shouldnt obey things that are wrong, should we? Like not being
allowed to vote for instance

LADY MUSGRAVE.

Youre not mixed up with those unspeakable Suffragettes

MURIEL

Can we perhaps get back to your good causes?

LADY MUSGRAVE

Exactly so. Dorothy continue with the list

DOROTHY

The East Grinstead Conservative Association,

HELEN

You cant support that

LADY MUSGRAVE

I beg your pardon. Why ever not? Dorothy and I are active Conservative
supporters.

HELEN

We are all members of the Labour Party

LADY MUSGRAVE

You are what?

MURIEL

Were members of / the Labour Party...

LADY MUSGRAVE

/ I heard you, but I can hardly believe it. (She stands) Well thank you for the
tea and your time but I think that concludes our business here.

MURIEL

I am more than happy to support the other causes

LADY MUSGRAVE

No thank you, on reflection I dont think it would be appropriate for us to

accept your donation. Come away Dorothy.

MURIEL

Let me see you out

LADY MUSGRAVE

We are perfectly able thank you

LADY MUSGRAVE and DOROTHY leave and once in the hallway.

30

LADY MUSGRAVE

Members of the Labour party indeed. And that child, I dont know what these
modern young things are coming to. She is far to...knowledgeable

DOROTHY

And her Mother just sat there

LADY MUSGRAVE

...and looking rather pleased with herself I thought... and having that awful
American girl to stay. I tell you, this suffrage movement could be our
downfall. Theres only one thing to be done Dorothy

DOROTHY

What?

LADY MUSGRAVE.

We must resist it, fervently and without delay. Well call a meeting. Well
form the East Grinstead Anti Suffrage Society how does that sound?
Dorothy you must start a list

Sc 34 LETS STRAIGHTEN THINGS OUT 1911

ANNIE MC ANDREW and the staff are gathered in Holly Hill awaiting the arrival of JOHN
MCANDREW.
ALFRED

Whats it all about Miss Annie?

ANNIE

Hell tell you when he gets here

ALFRED

Yes Miss

DORCUS

Is there something wrong Miss, Margaret and I only got back last night.

MRS NEWMAN

I do have a breakfast to get. He cant expect it to be there the usual time

ANNIE

Im sure hell take that into account Mrs Newman.

JOHN MC ANDREW arrives

JOHN

Im sorry to upset the daily routine so early in the day, and Im afraid Im going
to upset it more. There is no need for alarm but Alice, the kitchen maid has a
serious fever. Its possible that the sickness has been brought into this house.

MRS NEWMAN

I knew the girl was a good for nothing.

JOHN

You know nothing of the sort Mrs Newman. You have no idea about her at all.
Now I have instructions from Dr Prince on how we track its potential source
and mode of transmission. its most likely to have started in the kitchen. Do
you keep a clean kitchen Mrs Newman?

MRS NEWMAN

How can you ask me that sir? Ive always kept a clean kitchen

ALFRED

Spit clean sir. Its a palace down there sir.

MRS NEWMAN

(Mutters) I dont know how he can be saying that. // es never as so much as

set foot there

JOHN

/Im sure Mrs Newman, that you are most diligent, I dont doubt it for a
moment but Im asking everyone to be extra vigilant. Even if you consider a
thing clean scrub it again, all floors, walls and ceilings, thoroughly penetrate
every nook and cranny. Water is the culprit. All faucets in the house must be
sanitarily pure. Buswell and Alfred, ensure the outside tanks are sealed, that
the pump over the well, is serviceable, check the drains and guttering are
clear. Check the sewage isnt leaking, if there are tree roots near
underground pipes I want them dug out. Nobody take half measures.

BUSWELL

You may rely on me.

JOHN

I know. I know I can rely on all of you. Miss Annie has my list. We must avow
to look after our loves

31

ANNIE

What?

JOHN

Those in our care, Annie, our people, these people; you do see how we are
connected? Has anyone been sick other than Alice? Has anyone been near
sickness?

BUSWELL

Dorcus and Margaret, have been visiting their sick mother in Worthing off
and on/

DORCUS

Oh but sir shes much better now sir. Shes well //on the mend sir, wasnt
nothing really

JOHN.

/Did you say Worthing for heavens sake? I want to see you two in study
instantly. Go and wait there. The rest of you set to your duties. Mrs Newman
well forget breakfast.

MRS NEWMAN

Forget breakfast? I never did hear such a thing.

They all leave only JOHN and ANNIE remain

JOHN

Did I strike the right Tone?

ANNIE

You seem different, more engaged

JOHN

Really, do you think Ive been distant? Somebody said to me last night they
were a nobody.

ANNIE

Thats awful

JOHN

Yes, thats what I thought, but It struck a chord

ANNIE

Dear Uncle

JOHN

Our Kitchen maid is not very well. I think it may be our fault. Shell have to
take some time off

ANNIE

Theyre very transient the under staff, Im sure Mrs Newman would rather
replace her.

JOHN

No. She must come back.

ANNIE

Mrs Newman wont like that. I dont think shell have that.

JOHN

She will. You can remind Mrs Newman shes the cook, that youre
housekeeper and Im the master; and then you can tell her to prepare a
hamper. Pies, pickles, bread that sort of thing.

ANNIE

What for?

JOHN

For Alice and her family.

ANNIE

Shell raise the roof

JOHN

Well then shell raise the roof, Im sure it will drop back into place. I want to
deliver it myself, this afternoon. It would be nice if you came with me.

ANNIE

Yes Uncle

Sc 35 VISITING ALICE 1987 and 1911

Back in the big bed
ELDER ALICE

Feelings he hadnt felt in years started to seep over him

ELDER SADIE

It couldnt be that he was feeling these things simply because he had met a
bedraggled girl, he hadnt known worked for him and helped her home.

32

KATHLEEN

Maybe it was the times. It was the eve of war, nobody knew it was coming
but maybe they sensed something

MARY

What was it?

ELDER ALICE

Something about preciousness, about what was truly important. Suddenly it

seemed everything was more trivial and more important at the same time.
You know those times when life somehow gets seen in perspective.

ELDER SADIE

Like in the war

MARY

Like when Gramps died

JESS

Like now, with this storm and us all here.

KATHLEEN

.The feeling passes though and we get caught up in our lives again

ELDER ALICE

Not with him. It stuck with him

JESS

And he came back to visit?

ELDER ALICE

Just like he promised and he brought Miss Annie

Knocking on the door

ELDER ALICE

Come in

JOHN MC ANDREW and MISS ANNIE of 1911 enter, they step onto the bed of 1987, ELDER ALICE
sees them but the other WOMEN in the bed keep their focus on ELDER ALICE as if this is something
shes telling them.
ELDER ALICE

It was very good of you to call Mr McAndrew and you Miss Annie you
neednt have.

ANNIE

Weve brought a basket of food.

ELDER ALICE

It was very kind, but Ma wouldnt want you to be thinking we were destitute,
theres others far more deserving.

JOHN

Theres others needier but maybe not as deserving,

ELDER ALICE

I mean sir there is a difference in her mind between being charitable and
being neighbourly.

JOHN.

Then we bring it as neighbours.

ANNIE

Alice Ive spoken with my Uncle and we both agree we dont want you back
at Holly Hill. Not directly.

ELDER ALICE

Oh, no sir, Miss Annie, please I need that job

JOHN

We only want you to take the time to recover.

ANNIE

Youll be paid till you come back

JOHN

Which is when youre ready when well talk about improving your position.

ANNIE

Uncle?

ELDER ALICE

Why would you do that sir?

JOHN.

Because I think you can. So what do you think?

ELDER ALICE

I will do my very best sir

33

ANNIE

Uncle //Im not sure...

JOHN

And youll both become very good friends.

ELDER ALICE

Thank you

ANNIE

(Said mainly for Johns sake). You will have more responsibilities, and less
of the house will be out of bounds to you.

JOHN

But we have every trust and confidence.

ELDER ALICE

Sir.... (Pause)//

JOHN.

/ Alice?

ELDER ALICE

... You have been good to me sir. I dont want to start off on the wrong foot,
when I come back. To be trusted I have to be truthful. I made a terrible
mistake.

ANNIE

What? When?

ELDER ALICE

It was the time Miss Dorcus and Miss Margaret were visiting their mother
and I took on their morning duties

ANNIE

They are no longer with us

ELDER ALICE

Oh... I got mixed up one morning doing the shutters and came in to your
study by mistake, then I heard you and Miss Annie coming so not knowing
what to do, I hid behind the curtains

JOHN

And how long were you in there?

ELDER ALICE

Not for long sir, you were talking about the Church and Rev Beckles, it were
only brief sir and then you went

ANNIE

I hope nothing was said out of the order

ELDER ALICE

No Miss, like you sir, no-one in the village likes him either

JOHN suppresses a laugh

JOHN

They dont.

ELDER ALICE

No sir, like you they dont rightly understand him. There was a time my
mother lived for church. Wed hear her singing her hymns all round the
house. How she used to sing.
The church was once about love sir, and
community and theres nothing more important is there?

JOHN

Nothing more important?

ELDER ALICE

Than to love and be loved. (Pause) St Marys isnt that to us no longer.

Maybe thats hard to understand but she cares about it more than you.

JOHN

You dont think I care about it Alice?

ELDER ALICE

Oh sir, Im sorry I dont mean you dont care, I mean you might not know what
it means to them who have roots here. Like I thought the church was for you
people, now I know you dont like it either

JOHN

What? (Pause) Alice if you could do anything you wanted about the church,
what would you do? If you had all the money you needed, and a magic wand.
What would it be?

34

ELDER ALICE

Why Id build em another one sir, and if I had a magic wand Id bring
Reverend Formby back to be our minster in it.

ANNIE

You wouldnt just get get rid of Rev Beckles?

ELDER ALICE

Oh no Miss that wouldnt be right, then what would people that think the way
he does do? Where would they go?

JOHN

Would your people really like their own church?

ELDER ALICE

They pray for the old one sir, the church the way it used to be.

JOHN

Well thank you Alice.

ANNIE

We need to go. We dont want to tire you.

ELDER ALICE

Thank you sir, Miss. Ill get well quick

Outside the bedroom, in another space. ANNIE and JOHN stop

ANNIE

Uncle, arent you getting a bit too familiar?

JOHN.

Thats the same as getting to know someone isnt it? Theres the problem
Annie. They interest me, Alice, her family, the local villagers Im realising
that theyre no less extraordinary than us. Indeed a great number are more
extraordinary than some of us, and more deserving.

ANNIE.

More deserving, I hope youre not thinking... (Pause)//

JOHN

/What?

ANNIE

Nothing, never mind, I dont want to put ideas in your head.

Sc 36 REMEMBERING THE HORTICULTURAL SHOW 1987

In the big bed
JESS

What was it like being a kitchen maid?

ELDER ALICE

Like being a no-body; so him offering me a higher position like house maid
really put me up in the world. Theyre youd meet the grander people.

JESS

Like Sadie?

ELDER SADIE

Oh dear no.

MARY

You two have always been friends, so folk couldnt always have keep
themselves to themselves?

KATHLEEN

The Annual horticultural show was always a mix.

JESS

I know them, they were doing them back then?

ELDER SADIE

125 years. Its true its always been a great mix. We used to like to dress up
then

MARY

Ive seen the picture somewhere of you all dressed up Gran I remember the
hat

ELDER SADIE

It was a special occasions

35

Sc 37 THE ANNUAL HORTIICULTURAL SHOW 1937

MUSIC, an ANNOUNCER speaks through a megaphone.
ANNOUNCER

Good morning, welcome to the Annual Hartfield and District Horticultural

society show. We have a lot here for you this year as we do every year,

GEORGE NOYES

Goes back to 1862, one of the first and proud of it. But these old traditions will
always need new blood so come on you lot lend a hand.

The Hartfield Horticultural show enters. Rows of Flags are unfurled; People walk in wearing trays of
BAR SKITTLES and HOOPLAH GAMES, Sculptured banners representing the STALLS and
EXHIBITORS of flowers, fruit, vegetables, cakes jams and preserves. Children walk through the
audience as PIGS and CHICKENS. CHRISTOPHER AND PHYLLIS FRY are looking at the flowers in
the exhibition tent. MAJOR OWEN MRS OWEN has dragged DOROTHY WELLESLEY (Lady
Wellington) and AA MILNE to meet them
MAJOR OWEN

Christopher dear boy this is Lady Wellington and Alan Milne. This is the
young chappy thats writing our play; and very clever he is by all accounts.

MRS OWEN

We thought you should meet as youre all here.

FRY

So pleased to meet you, this is my wife Phyllis

ALAN

Phyllis

DOROTHY

//What a pleasure

MAJOR OWEN

/Watch what you say you two or hell have you in it that play soon as look at
you.

FRY

Its really not going to be about// anyone here directly.

MAJOR OWEN

/Im sure it will be wonderful dear boy. Mrs Hambro speaks very highly of you.
You know Mrs Hambro she directed the pageant thing that had your
Christopher in, with tigers and kangaroos. Never quite got that bit old man;
jungle animals in the Ashdown Forest.

MRS OWEN

Theyre his sons nursery toys dear //

ALAN

I simply brought them to life

MAJOR OWEN

/Splendid thing though Fry. We must dash though, leave you to it.

MRS OWEN

Im judging the dog show

MAJOR OWEN

And if I miss that theyll be the deuce to pay.

MRS OWEN

What will they think of me?

MAJOR OWEN

Oh dear already in the doghouse what?

MAJOR OWEN and MRS OWEN dashes off

DOROTHY

My gardener has entered the rose bowl and vegetable selection. They havent
made an announcement yet have they?

PHYLLIS

No weve not heard it. It all looks terribly serious

ALAN

Oh but is.

DOROTHY

The poor man will be on tenterhooks. Thats his rose bowl there.

FRY

We were just admiring it.

DOROTHY

You were?

36

PHYLLIS

We really were?

DOROTHY

Mr Fry I was interested to hear you might be thinking of writing the play in
verse, how absolutely thrilling if you were.

FRY

I feel somewhat overawed admitting it to a distinguished poet and a

playwright Mr Milne.

ALAN

I pleased someone remembers me as a playwright

DOROTHY

But verse would be wonderful. You must

FRY

The vicar wants a religious drama and I didnt think it appropriate to write
something naturalistic or directly about the people here

DOROTHY

I couldnt agree more, but Major Owen I must warn you, thinks youre writing
about the previous owner of his house.

FRY

The man who built the church, yes but I cant get much on him. I sense that
hes off limits. The woman who was his maid was not very forthcoming.

DOROTHY

Wont spill the beans. Good for her, good servants dont. What about the
legend of St Cuthman, thats a local legend, hes a Sussex saint. Do you
know it?

FRY

Im sorry, no, I dont.

DOROTHY

Cuthman is a shepherd boy who for reasons I forget pulls his long suffering
mother all the way from Cornwall to Sussex in a cart. Anyway as he crosses
the Sussex Downs, God tells him to build a church. It seems the locals
werent very welcoming at first.

FRY

The same happened to the man here, he wasnt welcomed.

PHYLLIS

That sounds perfect

DOROTHY

Edith Shackleton told me, you need to get it directly from her. Shes a good
friend of Willie Yeats. Im sure if I ask him he could arrange for you to meet
her.

FRY

Of course youre a friend of WB Yeats?

DOROTHY

Willie often comes to stay with me at Penn in the Rocks. Do you know him?

FRY

//No

DOROTHY

/Hed be interested, and so would TS Eliot. Oh it looks as if they are about to

announce the winners. I must find my gardener please forgives me, I will get
you and Edith together, and Ill talk to Willie and Tom, theyll be intrigued. I
promise. See you soon, lovely meeting you Phyllis.

MILNE

Looks like youve found a metaphor; Ill say no more I do find talking about
things Im writing kills the will to write it. Dont you?

FRY

Yes I do.

PHYLLIS

He does talk things over with me.

MILNE

Youre very lucky. My wife and I have different interests. No look Ive got to I
dont want to miss the snake charmer. Well catch up, yes? Do you play golf
at all? Perhaps well do round sometime, dont forget... and we must do the
Garrick, my club, Ill introduce you.

AA MILNE has gone.

37

FRY

The man who built a church. Maybe theres something there after all.

In another space a group of SPECTATORS watch the SNAKE CHARMER who is sitting cross legged
in front of a closed pot playing his flute. A cobra rises out of the pot. THE SNAKE CHARMER
unexpectedly keels over in a faint and the snake drop down into the ground and threatens the
SPECTATORS. GWEN CHAPMAN instinctively grabs the flute sits on the floor and plays. The snake
returns to the basket and GWEN puts the lid back on. While the SNAKE CHARMER is being attended
to GWEN speaks with her husband JOHN
JOHN CHAPMAN

Gwen love I never knew you could charm snakes

GWEN

Yea, well you never asked.

Sc 38 BARN DANCE 1911

Country style Folk Music. On another stage a banner is unfurled Hartfield and Horticultural Society
Barn Dance 1913. A GROUP of VILLAGERS are enjoying an energetic country dance. JOHN MC
ANDREW and MRS TARNEY step into the centre and dance enthusiastically ALICE and her brother
TOM join them. They are encouraged by the VILLAGERS with whoops cheers and clapping.
GEORGE NOYES should be there encouraging and joining in. The lights fade
Sc 39 THE BLANK PAGE 1938
Projection of the date 1938 CHRISTOPHER FRY sits at his desk typing.
FRY

It is there in the story of Cuthman, the working together

Of man and God like root and sky; the son
Of a Cornish shepherd, Cuthman the boy with a cart,

Lights fade
END OF ACT ONE
THE INTERVAL is a representation of the Horticultural refreshment tent

ACT TWO
Sc 40 BOY WITH THECART REHEARSAL1938
Lights fade. Lights rise on the single figure of CHRISTOHER FRY typing
FRY

Speaks opening two lines from Boy with the Cart

On another stage ALICE, SADIE and JOHN CHAPMAN are among the CHORUS in Christopher Frys
Play Boy with the Cart, now being rehearsed.
CHORUS

Pick up from Christopher Fry and completes opening stanza

CHRISTOPHER FRY speaking from the stage opposite now cleared of the typewriter
CHRISTOPHER FRY

Stop there. Some of you are moving forward when you speak. Can you stay
still on your line? Sadie would you mind taking the last three lines of the next
section on your own?

SADIE

Yes Mr Fry

CHRISTOPHER FRY Good

JOHN CHAPMAN

Mr Fry, The werzzleberries is my only line.

CHRISTOPHER FRY

You have hundreds of lines John, youre in the chorus

JOHN CHAPMAN

Its my only solo line

CHRISTOPHER FRY

You seem to have a problem with whortleberries

38

JOHN CHAPMAN

I dont know what //werzzleberries are anyhow.

ALICE has put her hand up

CHRISTOPHER FRY

/ Alice?

ALICE

Mr Chapman can have one of my lines if he wants it.

CHRISTOPHER FRY

Thank you Alice. Lets do the next section first. Ready, remember everyone
dont step forward on every line.

CHORUS

Speak the next section which describes a prcis of the story to come of
Cuthmans journey across five counties and his final intent to build a church

CHRISTOPHER FRY

Lovely.

Sc 41 MIXING 1912
ELDER ALICE, ELDER SADIE, KATHLEEN, MARY & JESS, all in the big bed.
ELDER ALICE

Mr McAndrew was into everything all of a sudden, giving gifts to the clothing
club, the library, the choral society.. But best of all he was mixing.

JESS

Mixing?

KATHLEEN

Getting involved in village life

ELDER SADIE

There was definitely a new spring in his step

MARY

Thats wonderful

ELDER ALICE

Some didnt think so.

Sc 42 BETTER PLACES TO BE 1912

Holly Hill JOHN BUSWELL and ALICE are serving tea to CLARA and GEORGE COX Sister and
brother in law of JOHN MCANDREW.
BUSWELL

Will that be all Sir?

GEORGE

Thank you Buswell

CLARA

More sugar in this

BUSWELL

Alice

ALICE puts more sugar in CLARAS Tea

CLARA

You look unsavoury girl.

ALICE

Yes Miss

CLARA

Buswell?

BUSWELL

Maam?

CLARA

Is something wrong?

BUSWELL

Wrong Madam?

CLARA

Here, at Holly Hill. Things are a shambles. Its chaos, workmen everywhere,
all the goings on.

BUSWELL

Ah yes, Madam. Alice you may go.

ALICE goes

39

BUSWELL

The master thought there might be something wrong with the water. He has
started on a project to renew all of the drains.

GEORGE

And whats wrong with the drains?

BUSWELL

It appears nothing sir. The master decided the problem wasnt the drains but
something else. But with the job of renewal started, it needed to be finished.

GEORGE

Whats wrong with the water?

BUSWELL

Again nothing sir, the problem was two housemaids from Worthing.

CLARA

Youve lost me, Buswell, whats the connection between drains and two
housemaids from. Worthing

BUSWELL

Typhus Maam

CLARA

Good Heavens

GEORGE

Crikey, thats very serious isnt it?

CLARA

Are we safe?

BUSWELL

Yes Madam. According to the Master the housemaids knowingly brought it

into the house. The two girls had invented a sick mother in Worthing, but had
actually been visiting two young men in the town, knowing there was
epidemic of typhoid fever. They infected another member of the staff here, a
kitchen maid.

GEORGE

And did the housemaids get sick?

BUSWELL

I dont know Sir. They have been dismissed

CLARA

I should think so; and the kitchen maid?

BUSWELL

She is recovering; Doctor Prince has said she is no longer infectious.

GEORGE

Im very glad to hear it.

CLARA

But you can never be sure. Shes unlikely to get another job in a household
poor thing.

BUSWELL

No Madam, Mr McAndrew has kept her on, indeed she has replaced the
dismissed housemaids. Alice, it was she who poured your tea.

CLARA who is just taking a sipping her tea suddenly spits it back into her cup.
CLARA

Good Gracious George thats it. Were going.

BUSWELL

Mr McAndrew is only down at the Paternoster wood looking at a plot.

GEORGE

A plot for what?

BUSWELL

I couldnt say sir.

CLARA

You know very well it will have something to do with those people hes mixing
with. You shouldnt collude with him Buswell, you should keep us informed

BUSWELL

Im assured hell be back very soon Madam and you are free to ask him
yourself.

CLARA

If my brother is too busy to be here on time to see me, then. Im sure I can
find better places to be. Come along George, Ive had quite enough of this.
Were leaving. Buswell inform our coachman

40

BUSWELL

Very good Madam

Sc 43 ENCOUNTER 1912
Old Hartfield Station KITTY MARION and LILLA DURHAM are outside Hartfield Station handing out
pamphlets, they are wearing suffragist sashes. KITTY is very fashionably dressed. JOHN
MCANDREW approaches
JOHN

Good morning Miss Marion, I hope you are keeping well

KITTY

You know I have been excluded from the choir?

JOHN

Yes, Im glad I ran into you. Miss Marion I wanted to apologise to you for not
supporting you more strongly at the vestry meeting.

LILLA

We have decided to have a choral society to sing what it chooses, Kitty

sings in that.

KITTY

This is Miss Durham,

LILLA

Lilla

JOHN

A choral society, thats very good

LILLA

One can always find ways round things.

JOHN

Indeed, Id like to contribute, Im sure there are costs

LILLA

Of course. that would be wonderful.

JOHN

Well we should encourage people to sing.

KITTY

So you are now in disagreement with Reverend Beckles?

JOHN

I think it would be more prudent to say I agree with you Miss Marion and
leave it at that.

JOHNS cousin CATHERINE MC ANDREW and MRS ANSELL watch from across the street,
elsewhere GEORGE NOYES does the same
CATHERINE

Goodness theres Uncle John

GEORGE NOYES

Thats John Mc Andrew alright; I told you theres nothing old Noyes misses

MRS ANSELL

Talking to Kitty Marion, dreadful woman

CATHERINE

Why would he be talking to her?

MRS ANSELL

I think hes taken with those radical ideas of hers. Ive been noticing a great
change in him of late. Hes keeping odd company, you should warn him
Catherine.

Returning to JOHN MCANDREW he takes a flier from LILLIA DURHAM

JOHN

And whats all this?

LILLIA

Weve a suffrage march in East Grinstead this afternoon.

JOHN

Are you taking the train? Theres No need, Im going there instantly, let me
take you in my carriage.

Elsewhere WILLIAM GODFREY is waiting by MC ANDREWS carriage (HORSES) he is approached

by JOHN CHAPMAN who is wearing a boot on one foot and a slipper on the other

41

JOHN CHAPMAN

Why dont you get yerself something mechanical, worlds done with horses,
you should talk to your Mr McAndrew, William you gotta get with the fashion.
I could do you a deal.

WILLIAM GODFREY

And your footwear the new fashion is it, Mr Modernisation?

JOHN CHAPMAN

Ah well some things are a matter of chance its all depending on whats by
your bed on a morning.

WILLIAM GODFREY

You wanna smarten yourself up before you start advising others on fashion.
And whats that hanging down yer front?

JOHN CHAPMAN

Oh, good lovely, fried orange, thats a bit of leftover breakfast,

He pulls it off his coat and pops it in his mouth. JOHN MC ANDREW arrives with LILLIA DURHAM
and KITTY MARION.
JOHN MCANDREW

William were taking these ladies to East Grinstead

WILLIAM GODFREY

Yes, sir. (Aside to JOHN CHAPMAN) Now this is what one calls fashion.

JOHN MC ANDREW hands JOHN CHAPMAN a penny

JOHN MC ANDREW

Theres a penny, poor man.

JOHN CHAPMAN looks at the penny in his hand and the departing coach.
JOHN CHAPMAN

A penny? Im an industrious business man.

Sc 44 THE FAMILY DETERMINE 1912

Holly Hill. CLARA & GEORGE COX and John Mc Andrews niece CATHERINE MC ANDREW are in
the drawing room hosted by ANNIE MC ANDREW.
ISABELLA

It seems to me dangerously akin to enthusiasm. Where is he now?

ANNIE

He was called away, hell be here in good time.

ISABELLA

I imagine hes off doing all his good works.

CLARA.

...rashly giving away his money to the poor.

ISABELLA

We saw him in the village talking to Kitty Marion

GEORGE

The music Hall singer, the comedienne, shes terribly funny

CLARA

George, please dont interrupt

ISABELLA

There was a group of them all wearing their suffragist sashes, Kitty Marion is
one of the most radical ones.

GEORGE

Well I never

ISABELLA

And shes German

GEORGE

Is she by jove?

CLARA

Are you telling me hes canoodling with foreigners?

GEORGE

Old Johnny eh! What a dark horse.

CLARA

George //stop it.

ANNIE

/Kittys a choir member he was probably talking to her about the Choral
Society. He does still support their annual outing. Anyway shes a lesbian

42

CLARA

Annie enough, there never was such a thing.

GEORGE

I say, the plot thickens

CLARA
.
ISABELLA

George. Ill not listen to this.

ISABELLA

There can be no doubt hes supporting the suffragettes. I hear there is to be

a march today

CLARA

And hes always been the arbitrator of indifference. What are we going to do
to save him from charity?

ISABELLA

He must be saved

GEORGE COX

Well as executor of his will I think the first thing that must be done is to get a
plain statement from him.

CLARA

However long he is well wait for him here.

Where was he taking them in his carriage?

SC 45 DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE RIOTS? 1987

The big bed
ELDER SADIE

And while they waited, that very afternoon history was being made seven
miles away in East Grinstead. Did you hear of the East Grinstead Suffrage
riots?

KATHERINE

You were there?

ELDER SADIE

Yes and proud to say it. There was a sizable Hartfield contingent of
suffragists. You have to ask how such radical group of women grew and
flourished among the hamlets and in the village of Hartfield. But there they
were. Muriel Del la Warr, Idina Sackville, Lady Brassey, Lilia Durham, Kitty
Marion,

MARY

Sadie Talbot

ELDER SADIE

Yes I was there.

.
Sc 46 THE EAST GRINSTEAD RIOTS 1912
A GROUP OF SUFFRAGISTS including: HELEN HOAR, CLARA GAVEEN, LADY FOX PITT, MARIE
CORBETT, KITTY MARION, LILIA DURHAM, SADIE BONNELL (1913), HELEN HOAR, IDINA
SACKVILLE, CICELY FISHER, LADY EDITH FOX PITT, HELEN BRASSEY, MURIEL DEL LA
WARR, carry two banners, one bearing the arms of East Grinstead. In an opposite space are the
ANTI SUFFRAGISTS. HELEN HOAR speaks from a soap box for and LADY MUSGRAVE from a
stage, behind her holding a banner are DOROTHY BAGOT and MRS ELLIOT.

HELEN HOAR

The rumour that the cause of Womens Suffrage is dead" is misplaced. In

order to show the world it is alive and well the National Union of Womens
Suffrage Society has organised a great pilgrimage from all parts of England
to London.// We are gathering in Hyde Park

LADY MUSGRAVE shouts over HELEN HOAR through a megaphone

LADY MUSGRAVE.

/ We are here in response to those who are promoting suffrage and votes for
women. No sensible woman would want to be governed by women. Nature
has bestowed a talent for domesticity, a temperament for home and
children. //Men, go out into the world and, acquire a broader view of life that
enables them form opinions about the affairs of Empire, and things about
which we nothing. Thus men are more likely to use their vote for the good of
the country as a whole.

43

CICELY

/They are getting rather hostile Mrs. Corbett

CLARA

Will you let us speak

LADY FOX PITT

This is intolerable

KITTY

Well show them what were made of, let me through Ill knock their blocks off.

MARIE

No Kitty we must not indulge them. Well move in procession.

HELEN BRASSEY

Come on ladies, under the banner of womens liberation

MURIEL

Ladies into a processional line

They get into a procession and move through the audience, IDINA SACKVILLE and SADIE BONNELL
front the parade. They encourage women in the audience to join them.
IDINA

We say equality and justice for all

SADIE

Equality and Justice for all.

They begin to sing. They are stopped by the ANTI SUFFRAGISTS. EDWARD STEER stands up on a
box between them
EDWARD

Ladies and Gentlemen I have taken it upon myself to act as arbiter. This
procession is hardly an imposing one, I count no more than a dozen
ladiesWill you please let them through

But the roaring has become too loud for him to be heard. Cabbages are thrown The SUFFRAGISTS
eventually retreat against the press of the CROWD.
EDWARD

Ladies, follow me. Cross the road, well get you into the Dorset Arms where
youll be safe.

MARIE

Ladies follow Councilor Steer.

Sc 47 THE MOWERS 1938 Boy with the Cart

Everyone in costumes, bright pastel shades, Very warmly lit. Hand painted backdrop. MOWERS cut
the grass. CUTHMAN pulls the cart with his MOTHER in it
A short scene in which Cuthman pulls his mother in a cart and the ropes that he pulls with break. In a
field close by MOWERS are harvesting and see the event. They mock Cuthman and his Mother. A
rain storm suddenly hits the field where the MOWERS are and destroys their crop. The MOWERS
flee. Cuthman and his Mother are unharmed as the rain did not fall on them
The MOWERS have fled the field. GEORGE NOYES appears
GEORGE NOYES

Flee at the first spot of rain, run at the first signs of trouble, or stay and stick it
out

SC 48 SAFE IN THE DORSET ARMS 1912

A pub sign of the Dorset Arms above the stage where the SUFFRAGISTS and EDWARD STEER are
HELEN HOAR, CLARA GAVEEN, LADY FOX PITT, MARIE CORBETT, KITTY MARION, LILIA
DURHAM, SADIE BONNELL (1913), HELEN HOAR, IDINA SACKVILLE, CICELY FISHER, LADY
EDITH FOX PITT, HELEN BRASSEY, MURIEL DEL LA WARR,
EDWARD

Ladies the crowd is still baying for blood, were arranging your escape out
the back, were just waiting for a few more officers.

HELEN

Were doing nothing holed up in here

MARIE

Then let us make the speeches we were going to make in here.

44

KITTY

Whats the point of that? .Its not us who should be hearing us its them

MURIEL

Please Kitty.

KITTY

Oh go ahead if you must

MURIEL

Marie, why dont you go first?

MARIE

Very well. I hear mens concern that giving us the vote will disturb the
domestic role of women. That is not in question; we want the vote, we do not
propose to alter the scope of mens and womens work.

KITTY

I do

LADY FOX PITT

No Kitty.

MARIE

First we must tackle the question our fitness to choose our MP. Then a man
can remain manly, and a woman womanly. Men were not made to nurse or
women to become soldiers.

KITTY

Why not?

SADIE speaks out

SADIE

And I should at least like the right to choose

MARIE

Will you let me finish?

KITTY

But you are wrong Mrs Corbett. We are soldiers. And were waging a civil
war.

CICELY

There is no call for that sort of talk.

LADY FOX PITT

The time for the vote has come because evolution dictates it.

CICELY

Just be patient

KITTY

Evolution to blazes weve outlived our days of servitude and if our bonds
arent loosened now, then well break them ourselves. Evolution or
revolution which is it to be?

CLARA GAVEEN

Why are we arguing?

CICELY

Exactly, we all decided we would fight this with diplomatic political argument

LILLA

Weve exhausted that.

KITTY

Come on all of you the time for militancy is here.

LADY FOX PITT

If we are to win this we have to maintain the dignity of ladies

KITTY

Maintain our dignity? We dont have dignity, thats the very point of this fight.
You look at me, some of you, and I know you dont see a Lady. Well maybe
Im not a Lady. I live in a humble workers cottage in Hartfield and when Im
not there I sing in the Music Hall, and sleep in dubious lodgings, frequent
places where I see how things are. Like this little girl, only thirteen she is
lying in a bed playing with a doll on the eve of becoming a mother. Shes
thirteen and shes infected with a loathsome disease. If that isnt enough to
make me a militant suffragette, or any of you, then tell me what is? The
vote is not enough, we women have a mission to free half the human race
from bondage and I incite this meeting to rebellion.

KITTY MARION, LILLA DURHAM, SADIE BONNELL and IDINA SACKVILLE are central in a
revolutionary pose. The Space erupts in shouting for and against militancy.

45

SC 49 RIGHT OR WRONG 1987

In the big Bed
ELDER SADIE

Kitty was following her star and I got carried away, it proved a step too far for
me. Sticking with what you believe can be so inconvenient and poor Kitty
faced such vilification.

KATHLEEN

Theres a big question though over whether she was right.

ELDER SADIE

I still dont know. I do know she was brave

ELDER ALICE

Even when someone stands on principles that are obviously right, it still
seems to become such a problem for people around them

SC 50. FAMILY SHOWDOWN 1912

CLARA & GEORGE COX, JOHN, ANNIE & CATHERINE MC ANDREW are sitting round the Dinner
table having finished supper. ALICE and JOHN BUSWELL are removing final plates.
CLARA COX

That will be all Buswell

BUSWELL

Sir?

JOHN MC ANDREW

Yes thank you, Buswell, Alice

ALICE/BUSWELL

Yes sir, thank you sir.

JOHN

Clara do you mind not dismissing my servants.

CLARA

We need to speak with you seriously John. You know that we all love you

CATHERINE

We do

CLARA

Its only our pride and love for you that prompts us to intercede. We dont want
to interfere, but we do want to know about this new mood you are in. And
Catherine saw you in the village this morning with that Kitty Marion and her
suffragette friends

GEORGE COX

You old rascal

JOHN

Are you spying on me?

CATHERINE

I just happened to be in the village

CLARA

Why are you mixing with these dreadful troublesome people?

JOHN

Because they are brave and they believe in justice.

CLARA

What nonsense, I do hope youre not becoming one of those new socialists.

CATHERINE

I saw you take them in your carriage

JOHN

To save them the train, I was going anyway. They had a meeting

CLARA

A March, Its a march John and there will be trouble.

JOHN

Not of their making

CLARA

Are you out of your mind?

JOHN

I will not// be bullied

CLARA

/I hear youre also mixing with poor people. Well it wont do. We are all in
favour of good works thats all very noble but theres really no need to be
socialising with the wretches.

46

CATHERINE

Theyre not exactly people one could call friends. Theyre more likely to rob
you.

CLARA

I know its fashionable to show concern and no one can be more sympathetic
than me, but for heavens sake John stick to your own kind,

CATHERINE

After all your own people are your own people, arent we, Uncle dear.

GEORGE

And Ill warrant youre spending a fortune on the blighters.

CATHERINE

Tell us its not our inheritance

ANNIE

Catherine, all of you, please

CATHERINE

Were simply asking him to be honest with us.

JOHN

Its alright Annie. You want me to be honest with you?

CLARA

It would be a start.

JOHN

Then I will. As for whats the matter with me, or was the matter with me For
years Ive been feeling a vast emptiness, as if I didnt fully exist, it seems none
of you noticed my mood then. And then one night, just a few months ago, I
walked out in a storm and came across a very sick young woman taking
shelter by the Lych Gate. How many hundreds have I passed in my lifetime,
but something impelled me to help her home. I didnt know who she was at
first, it was only later I discovered she worked in this house. How could I not
know she was one of my own?

CLARA

Shes not one of your own, John, shes a servant.

JOHN

I have a duty to her, so I made sure she was taken care of.

CLARA

Befriended her and her family I think.

JOHN

It wasnt prompted by friendship, on the contrary, I dont think they liked me

very much and I dont think I was really that fond of them except that I
suppose one develops a sort of affection for people that bring you back to life

GEORGE

Brought you back to life what on earth do you mean old man?

JOHN

I began to see things I had been blinded to; places I hadnt ventured; people I
hadnt met; a parallel world full of people as interesting and as dull as weak
and as vulnerable and as human as you and me.

GEORGE

I dont know about anybody else but I dont have the least idea of what hes
talking about.

JOHN

Why doesnt that surprise me George? Anyway there it is. They have their
faults as much as anyone, but they can be thoughtful, moral, funny, kind and
more generous than you can imagine.

CATHERINE

What would you possibly want from them?

JOHN

They have given me a new interest in life, which is something youve never
given. The fact is none of you are interesting; and I want to be where the
interesting people are. I and it seems to me that, at the moment, in this
family, there is more interest below stairs than up,

CLARA

So you flitter away your money on them. Why them? What about our
inheritance?

JOHN

I think I will build my answer in plank and brick, I will labour out my thanks in
plaster and beam and stone. I will build them a church,

47

ELDER ALICE

But they had heard enough.

CLARA

You are a disgrace. George, were going

They leave
JOHN

Its all right theyll come back later. Theyll want things.

ELDER ALICE

And he was to remember that afternoon; that at the moment, up to that time,
in his entire life, he had never been happier.

JOHN

The air is sprung with green

Sc 51 CUTHMANS JOURNEY 1938 Boy with the Cart

CUTHMAN stands in a river he holds a bundle of withies in one hand and a rope of withies in the
other. His MOTHER is beside the cart. THE CHORUS speak
A continuation of the previous scene: Cuthman has collected withies to make a rope, while collecting
them beside the river he has a vision. He tells his mother that they will continue the journey until the
withies break and where the withies break he will build a church..
Sc 52 A STEP TO FAR 1987
In the big bed.
ELDER ALICE

They went too far. And you know who was among the most militant
suffragettes of all, the most renowned?

JESS

Was it Kitty?

ELDER SADIE

Kitty Marion; arrest after arrest after arrest; she started setting fire to things

MARY

What about you Sadie?

SADIE

For me and Idina, the fires were a step too far, But for Kitty, right or wrong,
she was brave.

Sc 53 JUDGEMENT 1912
Sound of fire, the walls go red. KITTY MARION and CLARA GAVEEN, stands before a JUDGE
JUDGE

The jury has found you both guilty of causing devastating fire at Hurst Park
racecourse. Two grandstands, the stewards box, press box, kitchen and
luncheon rooms, all destroyed. Clara Giveen, you are sentenced to four
months imprisonment. As for you Miss Marion, as the principal instigator
and activist of this devastation you must be judged separately. It is my intent
to put a stop to these Suffragette outrages.

KITTY

There are two, only two ways in which that can be done sir

JUDGE

You intrigue me Miss Marion.

KITTY

Kill every woman in the United Kingdom or give them the vote.

JUDGE

I sentence you to three years.

Sc 54 LOBBYING JOHN MC ANDREW 1912

JOHN MC ANDREW is in his study with ANNIE MC ANDREW, LILLA DURHAM and KATE HARVEY
LILLA

Mr Mc Andrew this is Kate Harvey. Kate is deaf; but she can read your lips.
She was imprisoned with Kitty. I fear from what she has told me Kitty is in a
very poor state

KATE

She sleeps on a plank of wood. She has been on hunger strike from the very
beginning. They force feed her.

48

LILLA

Shes been force fed over 200 times.

Two Suffragettes HELEN HOAR and CICELY FISHER, hold a square banner as they would for a
march, though the banner is blank. Projected on it is a flickering image of KITTY being force fed. A
number of PRISON WARDERS, men and women in white coats carry out the procedure. Another two
WARDENS hold CLARA GAVEEN
LILLA

Its the most terrible ordeal. You are surrounded and forced back onto the
chair, which is tilted backward. There are so many people holding you down
while two doctors wriggle a rubber tube up your nose and pour liquid through
a funnel into your stomach. You choke the moment it touches your throat.
The pain is intolerable.

KATE

She begged the doctor to kill her. She keeps protesting.

LILLA

She barricaded herself into her cell and set her bed clothes on fire.

KATE

She wont give in

ANNIE

Poor Kitty

JOHN

I dont know what I can do?

ANNIE

Uncle you have business friends.

JOHN

I can certainly try

ANNIE

But you Miss Harvey, why were you in prison?

KATE

I refused to pay my tax

LILLA

She protested against the new tax laws. She ran a school for handicapped
children in Bromley and they issued a distress warrant against her last year
so she barricaded herself into her house.

JOHN

Was that you? It was big story in the Times,

KATE

I became a bit of a celebrity

JOHN

You certainly did; an eight month standoff with the bailiffs?

KATE

They battered my door down, locked me up and closed my school

ANNIE

How could they do that? What happened to the children?

KATE

I dont know. Living on the streets

LILLA

Kates friend Charlotte Despard has bought Kate Brackenhill House here in
Hartfield so Kate can start a new school

KATE

An open air school for sick children.

ANNIE

Thats marvellous

JOHN

I can certainly help there

Sc 55 WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU SADIE? 1987

The Big Bed
KATHLEEN

Those poor women

JESS

What happened to them?

KATHLEEN

They fought on till the war came. Then they thought it best not to trouble the
politicians had more important things to do.

49

MARY

With the war didnt most of the women help with recruitment?

ELDER SADIE

I didnt. Kitty didnt. She went off to America in disgust continued the struggle
Made a real name for herself, she did

JESS

What happened to you Sadie?

ELDER SADIE

I wanted to be a soldier

JESS

I didnt know they had women soldiers.

ELDER SADIE

Thats what they said, even Idina.

Sc 56 SADIE VISITS IDINA 1914

The drawing room at the Lodge. YOUNG SADIE is visiting MURIEL LADY DEL LA WARR and IDINA
SACKVILLE, HELEN BRASSEY.
IDINA

I said to, Euan, I didnt want him to go, but if I were him I should go.

MURIEL

Thats brave of you?

SADIE

And why arent you going?

IDINA

My God if only I were a man I would

SADIE

And youre a woman, and thats the reason?

IDINA

Well they wont let you

SADIE

They wont let us vote, but that didnt stop us trying.

HELEN

I think thats rather different.

SADIE

Is it? Well I really want to go. I mean I want to go out to France. I want to be
there on the front line. Ive been banging on the Armys doors for almost a
year now and the answers always the same.

HELEN

Theres plenty of work here at home; though of course not so melodramatic.

SADIE

We have a right to serve, just as much as we have a right to vote

IDINA

I think youre being a bit idealistic Sadie dear?

SADIE

Where are the women here who wanted the vote?

MURIEL

First things first my dear

SADIE

(huge sigh) Oh God we are moving backwards arent we?

Sc 57 DESPITE EVERYTHING 1987

In the big bed.
ELDER SADIE

Despite everything I got to France in The First Aid Nursing Yeomanry.

KATHLEEN

She drove Ambulances.

MARY

Was that as close to the front as you could get?

ELDER SADIE

No I got right to the front; ferrying the wounded away.

50

Sc 58 SADIES WAR Projection 1914-1918 War

We hear a huge explosion. On the road to Arques in France, wounded men lie all around. Under a
bombardment of shells EVELYN BROWN & SADIE BONNELL come in with a stretcher and a small
group of FOUR OTHER NURSES
SADIE & EVELYN

Nurse Bonnell and Brown Sir

OFFICER

Is there just you? Theres wounded and dead everywhere.

EVELYN

Yes sir its just us for the moment

OFFICER

Theres an ammunition dump on fire just over there it could go at any time.
You cant possibly get them all out

EVELYN

A few would be better than none sir.

OFFICER

Not till the shelling stops you dont

SADIE

And more are dead.

OFFICER

Thats an order

SADIE

Dont be absurd. Evie, the stretcher

WOUNDED MEN and NURSES move through the audience, wrapped in blankets, carried on
stretchers. ELDER SADIE is standing up in the bed. A sheet wrapped around her shoulders,
watching.
ELDER SADIE

We should have brought so many more out.

Lights fade on the scene of war. ELDER ALICE, ELDER SADIE, KATHLEEN, MARY & JESS, all in
the big bed.
ELDER ALICE

She was among the first women ever to receive the Military Medal werent
you darling?

KATHERINE

Bless you Sadie

ELDER SADIE

It all passes dear, most of what people do all gets forgotten or twisted.

ELDER ALICE

But then she came home to stay. Shes only visited up to then. Do you
remember us finding the bluebell field

Sc 59 SADIE COMES HOME 1925

Elsewhere the ALICE TARNEY (1938) and SADIE (1938) stand with their backs to the audience. They
are wearing black coats and armbands. They are looking at a bluebell wood which has a For Sale
sign Bluebells are projected over all the church walls.
SADIE

Its beautiful Alice. I was right to come here very right indeed. Im going to
shake off my troubles. And if this little plots for sale I shall buy it and build
myself a home...

ALICE

Its a beautiful place Sadie. Its so peaceful.

SADIE

And welcoming

ALICE

Thats so important isnt it. If you want a home and not a house (Pause) Im
thinking about poor Mr Mc Andrew. He built a house and then he built a
church, but I dont think he ever built a home. I know he wanted to, but he
couldnt.

SADIE

What stopped him?

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ALICE

I think it was us. (Pause) From the day he came, and he was here for years,
he was always treated as a stranger.

Sc 60 LET THERE BE A CHURCH 1938 the Boy with the Cart

Enter CUTHMAN pulling his MOTHER in the cart. They approach the VILLAGERS of STEYNING
Cuthman pulls the cart and the withies break. This is the place where he is destined to make a home
with his mother and build a church. They are confronted by local villagers and Cuthman tells them of
his intent
Sc 61: RESIGNATION 1912
Projection Vestry Meeting St Marys Church Hartfield of 1912 The Vestry members including JOHN MC
ANDREW, MR STRINGER, MRS ANSELL, MISS WOOD, DR PRINCE, MR BURNS, MISS PAUL;
MR MEDHURST and MRS ELIOT are sitting facing REV BECKLES
REV BECKLES

A church is it? I see.

JOHN

Yes I am to build a church

MRS ELIOT

Why?

MR STRINGER

Yes, Why?

JOHN

Its an idea I have.

MRS ANSELL

Are we minuting this?

DR PRINCE

And where will you build this church?

JOHN

Paternoster wood, I own land

MISS WOOD

Colemans Hatch

MISS PAUL

What an extraordinary thing

MISS WOOD

Has he discussed this with you Reverend Beckles?

REV BECKLES has beaming all the while

REV BECKLES.

No, But, bless my soul, what a generous gift, John; to have two churches.

JOHN

I think you may have missed the point. The church at Colemans Hatch is not
your church its a church for the common people, where they can worship as
they always have; as they did before you came.

REV BECKLES

No, no, not this argument again; I am the professional here it is my conviction
that decides how people pray.

JOHN

You make my point eloquently sir.

MR BURNS

Bravo John, who would have thought

MEDHURST

You surprise me; you have always been so quiet on the matter

REV BECKLES

You turncoat. Its that company youve been seen with that rebellious woman
Kitty Marion and her kind.

JOHN

To be honest I dont care one way how you conduct your services, I just want
to give the village something they want and knowing them as I now do, what
they want happens to be a church.

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REV BECKLES

You see hes been mixing in the village. And if they had wanted a music hall?

JOHN

Then maybe a Music Hall it would have been.

REV BECKLES

I will not allow it, not in my parish

JOHN

Which is why I have spoken with the Bishop and he fully understands the
predicament and is favorably looking at our application to allow Colemans
Hatch its own church. It would be a new parish.

REV BECKLES

A new parish, you would divide the parish?

JOHN

Its not I who divides the parish, I am quite simply offering a home for the
common worshipper. You and the congregation who choose to may continue
to worship here as you wish. It offers choice. I must of course, as you see,
resign as a churchwarden here.

REV BECKLES is silenced. He stands and looks about him. He picks up a bible.
REV BECKLES

I will discuss this with his lordship (Pause and obviously hurt) if we must part
company Mr Mc Andrew. Perhaps you will accept this bible as a gift. Who
knows, one day you may wish to abide by it.

MRS ANSELL

Do we minute any of this? We must surly minute Mr Mc Andrews

resignation, //Rev Beckles what do I say?

MR MEDHURST

/ reluctant acceptance I think is the general term, and we duly thank him
for all he has done in the parish over the past twenty five years

REV BECKLES

You dictate what you will Mr Medhurst, I wash my hands.

REV BECKLES leaves

Sc 62 CUTHMANS FINAL SCENE 1938 the Boy with the Cart
NEIGHBOURS returning from working on the church meet CUTHMANs MOTHER, they are in despair
because the King pole of the church, the post that holds the building has slipped out of place and they
have been working for days to no avail to put it back in place. They are convinced it is hopeless and
the church will never be completed
Then Cuthman arrives and tells them how he had sat in despair within the church and a shadow of a
man appeared in the doorway and seeing the situation raised his hands and the post slipped on its
own into position. When Cuthman asked the man who he was he told him he had once been a
carpenter. The villagers all fall to their knees

Sc 63 THE CHURCH OF LIGHT 1913

JOHN MC ANDREW stands in a light of his own.
JOHN

There under the bare walls of our labour; there on the edge of Paternoster
wood in my lovely hamlet of Colemans Hatch, a Church where the good
people of Hartfield can come as one; a collective community. I see a
triumphant spire, rooted in the ground and reaching for the light,

EVERYONE sings while LANTERN CARRIERS bring in stained glass lanterns and carried through the
space eventually coming together to build the church. Around the outside SHADOW PUPPETTERS
show the building of the church on shadow screens.
CAST

Good people build our Church of light

Bring wood and bring ye stone
Bring love and bring devotion
To build our church of light

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Good People build our Church of light

Bring heart, and bring ye bread
All else will be provided
To build our church of light
Light on REV OGLE in the pulpit. The church still lit
REV. OGLE

It was characteristic of Englishmen that they work not so much for

themselves but for others; the schoolboy playing for the honour of his
school, the soldier fighting for the freedom of his country. Thus we build not
just for ourselves alone but for our neighbours, the generations to come. We
are grateful to those among us whose generous actions will never be
forgotten. (Pause)
You may applaud

They do
Sc 64 BOY WITH THE CART CURTAIN CALL 1938 the Boy with the Cart
On another stage CUTHMAN CAST are taking a bow. SADIE (1938) ALICE (1938) steps forward,
signals for the clapping to stop
The Chorus speak three lines that relates their play is ended.
Sc 65 WAS THAT THE END OF THE STORY? 1987
In the big bed.
ELDER ALICE

And it was shortly after, Annie died

JESS

Was that the end of Mr Mc Andrews story

ELDER ALICE

It was a sort of completion. The war came and his story all got rather lost,
forgotten.

ELDER SADIE

Just like I said. Time does that. The war erased everything about him

ELDER ALICE

Except his church. Before the war, after the church was built, the day after
Miss Annie died. I went to the study.

Sc 66 NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT 1914

JOHN MC ANDREW is sitting in his study. ALICE enters.
ALICE

Miss Annie asked that I take on her duties with the study sir. Im here to close
the shutters sir if thats alright.

JOHN

Go ahead Alice.

ALICE

Thank you sir

She goes to close the shutters

JOHN

Alice. You remember the night of the storm and I found you by the Lych gate?

ALICE

Yes sir, how could I forget it, you saved my life.

JOHN

And you saved mine

ALICE

How would I have done that sir?

JOHN

You said something to me when you were ill.; you said theres nothing more
important than to love and be loved. Do you remember?

ALICE

No sir, but I would believe that to be true, whether I said it or not.

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JOHN

And thats why I built a church. I didnt build it out of guilt, or for charity, or
posterity, or gratitude, not even because I believed differently to the Reverend
Beckles. I built it for the simplest of reasons

ALICE

What sir

JOHN
.
Sc 67 DAWN 1987
In the big bed

I built it for love

MARY

Its dawn. The winds stopped

KATHLEEN

I dont dare to go outside

MARY

Theyll be devastation.

ELDER SADIE

Looking after our own is the easy bit, well pick ourselves up

JESS

Nanas asleep

KATHLEEN

Dreaming of the past

MARY

Dreaming of the future

Sc 68 THE FINAL ACT 1987 and 1925

MUSIC: Flowers of the Forest.
Lights rise on GEORGE NOYES who stands by a mound of earth with a shovel and a lantern
GEORGE NOYES

Something caught up with John McAndrew just like it caught up with Alice,
and in time will catch up with us all. I know we all know it here (Taps his
head). The difference is John Mc Andrew got to know it in here (taps his
heart) Learnt how to grasp the hour and do something in it before it ran out.
You might say too late. No. Nothing better can be said of a man than he lived
life...we cant know when it will end.
Put out the light I say

The lights fade. Just GEORGE and his lantern

And then put out the light
He blows the lantern out. St Marys Bells are ringing. Lights rise on characters of 1913 ALICE
wearing black coat and an arm band. She has a bunch of wild forest flowers. Standing just behind her
is SADIE and behind them John Mc Andrews relatives CLARA & GEORGE COX, and CATHERINE
MC ANDREW and his servants WILLIAM GODFREY, MRS NEWMAN and JOHN BUSWELL. To the
side is REV COULSON.
Lifes too short in measure - its gone in the blink of an eye
Each days a day you must treasure - until the day that you die
Dont put off till tomorrow - tomorrow can be too late
And live your life in kindness - you dont have the time for hate
Hold yourself to friendship - it isnt a life without love
Love is found in the moments - not in the heavens above
If Heavens above or Hells below - life is here in your hand
Lifes so short in measure, - flows away like sand
On another stage characters of 1987 ELDER SADIE JESS, KATHLEEN and MARY wearing black
coats and arm bands. JESS stands in front holding a bunch of flowers from the forest. She and Young
ALICE and SADIE from 1913 step forward and place their flowers side by side on the ground. Lights
outside illuminate the churchs main stained glass window
Chorus
Lifes for living
Lifes beguiling

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I've tasted her pleasures,

And felt her dismay
Sweet are her blessings,
And kind her caressing,
But now she has fled
And fled far away
Lifes too short in measure - its gone in the blink of an eye
Each days a day you must treasure - until the day that you die
Dont put off till tomorrow - tomorrow can be too late
And live your life in kindness - you dont have the time for hate
The chorus is sung twice. CAST begin walking, they parade in a circle through the promenading
audience. They are joined by JOHN MC ANDREW of 1913 and ELDER SADIE of 1987, both sitting
CARRIERS shoulders. The church walls are covered with projected trees of the forest.
Hold yourself to friendship - it isnt a life without love
Love is found in the moments - not in the heavens above
If Heavens above or Hells below - life is here in your hand
Lifes so short in measure, - flows away like sand
The CAST disperse. The projected forest fades.

Jon Oram March 2012

Extracts from Boy with the Cart by Christopher Fry (permission being sought)
Please do not copy or redistribute

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