(UNIT-01) GENERAL ENGLISH (SEM IV)

FIVE AT “THE GEORGE”

STUART READY

Five at “The George” by Staurt Ready tells the story of five people who had some association with the murder of their friend, an Indian Army Colonel Foster. Three years back, he was found dead under mysterious circumstances one night in bed after a meeting at Colney lodge. Now they all receive a telegram asking them to meet the sender at an inn not far from the scene of the colonel's death. Each of them comes to the inn - the George – Crewsworth, responding to the anonymous telegram unknowingly about the presence of the others at the exact place. They meet there and their discussion rotates around the murder. All of them had been with him at his house on the night he died. The climax of the play reveals the real murderer who blabbers out the truth out of his foolishness.

The scene opens in the entrance hall of the George inn in a small country. The first one who arrives to the place is Captain Standish. He enquires the landlord of the inn and comes to know all about the place. He also finds that the Colney is ten miles away from the George. He is followed by Mrs. Vane and Mr. Merridew. They arrive the place to meet a person who sent each a telegram which was signed by one Mr. ‘L’. These three come into contact and remember each other for they had met once at Colney in the meeting hall arranged by Colonel Foster. Standish too informs about his own telegram. He just came to see the person behind it as he is in the town for some reason.

Soon Mr. and Mrs. Weir join them as they too received the same type of letter signed by the same person ‘L’. The three recognizes Mr. and Mrs. Weir as they too attended Foster’s meeting that night. They all now have a curiosity of being there at that odd hours in the snowy night. The appointed time of meeting by the anonymous is 9. 30 and they all assembled there by 9.10. They order their drink and they have a continuous discussion of the murder and the outcome of the case.

At first, they thought that the death was due to heart failure but now they realise that it was not and it had some foul play. They start to look for the motive behind the murder. Mrs. Weir is the sole heir of Colonel Foster, Mrs. Vane was once engaged with the Colonel but the idea of marriage was dropped for some reason. Mr. Merridew was a business partner of Colonel and Standish gave up his ex-lover in marriage to the Colonel for money but he was deprived of money. So each one had a motive to go with the deed. They decided that someone is planning to trap them and they doubt an Australian named Mr. Larner, a close friend of Colonel who vowed to take revenge on the murderer. But Standish knows well that he got drowned on his way to England. All the five get terrified and smell some danger behind the scene

When the exact time arrives, they all plan to leave finishing their drink. On their leaving, they see a glass of drink untouched on the tray which none ordered for. A policeman on duty who is on rounds enters the place and suspects them all for being there at late hours. He accuses them of trespassing as the inn where they are drinking has been closed for several weeks. The truth is discovered that there is no landlord for the inn as he had left the place three weeks before. He asks all the five to follow him to the police station for further enquiry. Out of his weariness, he goes to have the drink which remained on the tray. When he was about to drink, Standish blabbers out that the drink is poisoned. Thus the truth is revealed.

Throughout the play, mystery and suspense over the death of Colonel Foster go hand in hand and the writer at the end of the play brings out the true murderer all by his own without much difficulties.

THE BISHOP’S CANDLESTICKS
NORMAN MC KINNELL

The plot of the play revolves around a story that brings forth the themes of religious virtues like love and redemption. The play dramatically depicts how the love and the compassion of the Bishop brought about a change of heart in a convict and turned him into a man of promise for a good life.
The Bishop is a kind hearted man who being a true Christian is also an ardent humanist. He lives with his sister Persome, a worldly woman, who is neither selfless as her brother nor so noble. He is ready to sacrifice everything to help the needy people. The doors of his house are always open for the poor and the needy. Even after selling all, he had, for others; he is feeling sorry that he could do so little whereas the world has so much suffering. He has contributed everything except Candlesticks gifted by his dying mother.
The Bishop’s sister Persome feels that most people take advantage of his simplicity and nobility. In her opinion, he is often cheated and misused of his generosity. One such occasion is Mere Gringoire; the old woman who lives on the top of the hill and does no work. He is made to pay for an old lady’s house rent by selling his salt-cellars.
One day in the midnight the Bishop sits to read. A convict enters the Bishop’s house and demands for food at the point of his knife. He threatens to kill the Bishop if he tries to call out. The convict is rude, hardhearted, rough and suspicious and full of fear. The Bishop calls Persome to open the cupboard. He treats him with all love and respect as he regards him as a sufferer. He provides him cold pie, wine, and bread to eat.
The convict tells his painful story. He tells convict that he has lived in the prison for ten years. His wife, Jeanette was ill and dying of hunger.  He stole a piece of bread for his wife but was arrested soon. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. While in the jail, he was informed that his dear wife had died. He lived in the Hell for ten long years and had broken the prison and came out. But, the society treated him no better. None gave him job and the police hunted him down. He was running away from them starving. So he stole again for food. Thus society with its wrong attitude, did not give him a chance to lead a good life.
The Bishop is moved on hearing the convict’s story and asks him to sleep in his house and assures no harm would come to him. Saying this, the Bishop goes inside to sleep. The convict happens to see a silver candle sticks on the mantel piece. He was told before by the Bishop that they were given by his mother. Unable to resist the temptation, the convict steals them and goes out of the house.
As he goes out, the door slammed. Persome gets up at the sound and finds out the candlestick missing. She shouts and arouses the Bishop from sleep. They both were upset. The Bishop blames himself for exposing the convict to the temptation. But soon the convict was arrested by the gendarmes along with the candlesticks. The sergeant saw the convict moving stealthily, so he has to arrest him on suspicion. They recognized the candlesticks of the Bishop and brought him back to him. But the Bishop saves the convict by saying that the accused is his friend and that he himself had given the candlesticks to him. The sergeant releases the convict and goes away.
The convict is deeply touched by the noble gesture and generosity of the Bishop. Now, he is full of repentance and asks for the Bishop’s blessings. He feels that he is once again a human being and not a beast. The Bishop gives him the candlesticks and shows him a secret road to Paris. He also asks him to remember that the body of man is the temple of God. Thus the convict’s human values and human goodness are restored due to the noble act of the Bishop.

WURZEL-FLUMMERY

A. MILNE

The tale concerns two Members of Britain’s Parliament:  the first, Robert Crawshaw, a middle-aged conservative, the other, his friend Richard Meriton, who is a rival from across the aisle, a young liberal that just happens to be seeking the hand of the former’s daughter, Viola. 

An unexpected visit by a peculiar attorney Denis Clifton presents a dilemma to these successful politicians:  A mischievous old man Antony Clifton has left both M.P.s a fortune of 50,000 pounds for each in his will, conditional upon their agreement to change their names to a ridiculous name of his own invention: Wurzel-Flummery. 

If Robert Crawshaw, M.P. or Richard Meriton, M.P. (or hopefully both) wants to inherit this legacy, they must immediately give up their surnames – the names under which they have won seats in Britain’s majestic House of Commons – to become Robert and Richard Wurzel-Flummery.

They have a dilemma whether it will be right to refuse the money because of the shameful condition, or would it be wrong to reject such a legacy, considering the good it might do. The audience is reminded that wives and daughters are expected to give up their own names soon after entering adulthood; but the men are so horrified at the thought.  After all, the Bard would ask, what’s in a name?

“Wurzel-Flummery” really is a dozy, especially for a politician who depends on the respect of his constituency. As a politician, the good name they gained so far is important, but that good name recognition costs money.  A fortune might make them a better representative, more independent, more able to do the people’s will.  So both Robert and Richard are deeply (and humorously) conflicted… and both take the money, and the name, in the end.

“The Old man River” was a story written by Dorothy Deming.

It was the story of the family. The children were in the family was in the house. Their parents were not with them. There was continuous rain for three days. The river was rising fast. Their house was surrounded with water. They were expecting someone to rescue them. It was a terrific experience.

 Jim explained the situation to the girls. He asked them to get organised. He himself volunteered to check on food, blanket and coats along with them. He explained to Amy about the two important things to be kept in mind during danger. Mr. Peters and Ms. Marsh arrived in a boat. They entered the house with lighted lantern. They rescued Sara, Rose and Betty. They gave an extra lantern and a jar of coffee to Jim and Amy. They promised them that they too would be rescued soon.