11. THE DEAR DEPARTED

(By Stanley Houghton)Summary

The story of the play begins with Mrs. Slater telling her ten years old daughter, Victoria, to go upstairs andput on her white frock with a black sash. Her husband Henry Slater comes home after sending a telegram tohis sister-in-law, Elizabeth, and her husband Jordan to come to talk over Grandpa’s affairs who ispresumably dead. Henry wonders if they would come because Elizabeth has said she would never set foot intheir house again. But Mrs. Slater says she will come her husband to wear Grandpa’s new slippers andproposes Henry to replace their shabby chest of drawers with the valuable bureaus of Grandpa. After somehesitation he agrees. Mrs. Slater fastens the front door and they carry the old chest of drawers upstairs. Mrs.Slater tells her daughter not to open the door till they come down. There is a bureau down.Mrs. Jordan throws her husband Tit-Bits, and tells him to try to look as if they had been waiting for them.Victoria ushers in Ben and Mrs. Jordan. Sisters kiss each other and men shake hands. Mrs. Jordan says thathe has gone at last and asks he sister whether she had sent for the doctor. Mrs. Slater says that she sentHenry at once for Dr. Pingle but he was out. Mrs. Jordan says that she should have sent for another doctorbecause many persons have been resorted to life after they were thought to be gone. Then they talk about hispaying the premium. Mrs. Jordan says he did Mrs. Slater gets tea ready. They consider the announcement inthe papers and think of some appropriate verses. Then they say that they will look through his things andmake a list of them. Mrs. Slater tells Victoria to run upstairs and fetch the bunch of keys on her Grandpa’sdressing table. She is afraid to go but goes.Victoria returns very scared and tells that Grandpa is getting up. They are transfixed with amazement. Thedoor open and Grandfather, Abel Merry weather comes in. they cannot believe their eyes. He comes forwardto shake hand with his son-in-law, Mrs. Jordan. He retreats with Mrs. Jordan to a safe distance. Mrs. Slaterpokes him with her hand to see if he is solid. Only Victoria is glad that he is not dead. She snatches theslippers from her husband and gives them to Grandpa. Abel Marry weather asks them why they are inmourning. Mrs. Slater invents an excuse and tells that Ben’s brother has died and they are going to hisfuneral.Grandfather says, perhaps, they have been waiting for him. Then he tells them to sit down and take tea. Hesays there is nothing serious. Due to over-drinking he had become unconscious. Then he asks Mrs. Slaterand Henry what they had been doing with his bureau. Elizabeth blames her sister for stealing. The twosisters start quarrelling. Their integrity is exposed. Grandpa comes to know the reality. He tells them that hewould change his will. He would give his money and things to the one with whom he lives. Both the sisterstry to persuade him to do live with them but he says that it is a bit late. He declares that he will do threethings on Monday next. He will go to the lawyer and change the will, pay the premium and get married toMrs. John Shorrocks who keeps the Ring-o-Bells at St. Philips’ Church. He invites all of them to attend theceremony.

Study Question

Q 1. Who is Mrs. Slate expecting and Why?Ans. Mrs. Slater is expecting her sister Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan and her husband Ben Jordan. Her husband

Henry Slater has sent them a telegram that Grandpa is dead. They are coming to condole his deathand talk over Grandpa’s affairs. They want to reach an agreement about the division of things thatthe two sisters, Amelia and Elizabeth, are going to inherit after the death of their father.

Q 2. Why does Mrs. Slater ask Victoria to change dress?Ans. Mrs. Slater asks her daughter Victoria to change her colourful dress and put on her white frock with

a black sash. She tells her daughter to do so because they all have to adapt themselves to theregrettable occasion. Her Grandpa is presumably dead so she must be in mourning. Moreover, itwould never do her aunt and uncle to find her in colours.

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Q 3. Why does Mrs. Slater suggest Henry that they should bring Grandpa’s bureau downstairs?Ans. Mrs. Slater suggests Henry that they should bring Grandpa’s bureau downstairs because she always

wanted to have it since Grandfather bought it. She wants to hide it from her sister, Elizabeth becauseshe might like to have it. So she fears that Mrs. Jordan will have a bargain over it

Q 4. Why does Ben call Grandfather ‘the drunken old beggar’?Ans. Ben calls Grandfather ‘the drunken old beggar’ because he is poor and homeless. He has not paid the

premium of his insurance policy. The premium is overdue and he has been given a ‘warning’. He isalways hanging about the Ring-o-Bells because he wants to may the owner of this public house whois a rich widow.

Q 5. Why is Victoria scared when she returns fro Grandpa’s room?Ans. when Victoria returns from Grandpa’s room, she is scared to see him because he is getting up while

her parents have told her that he is dead.Q 6. why do they talk about Ben’s brother when he doesn’t have one?Ans. they all are in mourning on this presumption that Grandfather is dead. But when Victoria tells her

mother that Grandpa is getting up, they are transfixed with amazement. On seeing him Mrs. Slatertells others that he is not dead. Grandpa asks them why they are in mourning. They have to invent anexcuse to satisfy the old man. That is what they talk about the death of Ben’s brother when he doesnot have one.

Q 7. Why do Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan quarrel about?Ans. Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan quarrel about providing medical id to Grandpa. Mr. Slater says that she

called for Dr. Pingle but he was out. Her sister says that she should have called anointer one. Mrs.Slater says that a doctor could have done no good. Mr. Jordan says that many persons have beenrestored to life hours after they were through to be gone. The second time, the sister’s startquarrelling and blaming each other when Grandpa gets up. Mrs. Jordan blames her sister of robbery.Then she asks Henry whether she is so poor that he must do every dirty thing she tells him.

Q 8. What does Grandpa have to do on Monday next?Ans. Grandpa has to do three things on Monday next. He has to go to his lawyer and alter his will. He has

to go to insurance company and pay his premium. He has to go to St. Philips Church at twelveo’clock and get married to Mrs. John Shorroks who keeps the Ring-o-Bells.

Q 9. Why is Grandpa getting married and why?Ans. Grandpa is getting married because he is alone. It is a fact of life that the feeling of loneliness

increases with age. His daughters do not want to keep him with them. Grandpa is really fed up withthe rude behaviour of his daughters. They do not love and respect their father. They are onlyinterested in his things. Moreover, grandpa wants to live and enjoy an independent life. By doing thishe wants to inflict punishment on his mean and greedy daughters.

Q 10. How does the playwright describe all the characters? Write a not on everyone.

CHARACTERS

1. Mrs. Amelia SlaterPersonality:She is the most important characters of the play. She is the wife of Henry Slater. Her real name isAmelia. She has a ten years old daughter, Victoria. She is the daughter of Abel Merry weather. She isa vigorous, plump, red-faces vulgar woman, prepared to do any amount of straight talking to get herown way. She is in black; but not in complete black.

Extremely Greedy:She is an extremely woman. She does not wait for the arrival of her sister and the confirmation ofGrandpa’s death. She brings down Grandpa’s valuable bureau and handsome clock with the help ofher husband. Though her father is lying dead in his bed-room, yet she is not at all, affected by this

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great loss. She tells her husband to wear new slippers of her father. She enters into discussion withher sister and others about Grandpa’s payment of insurance, gold watch and other valuable items.

Negligent:She is an extremely negligent woman. Her father resides in her house but she does not look afterhim. She does not send for a doctor to examine him and prescribe some treatment or confirm hisdeath. She tells her husband to send a telegram to her sister and brother-in-law for attending thefuneral rites.Hypocrite:She tells her husband that her heart is fit to break when she sees the little trifles that belonged toGrand-father lying around and thinks he will never use them again. N the same breath she tells herhusband to wear his new slippers, bring down his bureau and his handsome clock before the arrivalof her sister. She furtively inspects the new mourning of her sister and sniffs back a tear to show thatshe is grieved.

Her behaviour:She has no love for her father. She has been unwillingly accommodating him for three years. She is aquarrelsome woman. She is rude to everybody.

2. MRS. ELIZABETH JORDAN

Personality:She is the wife of Ben Jordan, sister of Amelia and the daughter of Grandpa, Able Merry weather.She is stout, complacent woman with an impressive face and irritating air of being always right. Sheis wearing a complete and deadly outfit of new mourning, crowned by a great black hat with plumes.She has a son named Jummy

Greedy and Selfish:Mrs. Jordan is as selfish and greedy as her sister. She has no real love for her father. She is notgrieved at the death of her father. She has come to have her share of the things left by her father. Sheis worried about the payment of the premium of her father’s insurance policy. She wants to have hisgold watch for her son, Jimmy.

Sensible and Practical:She is very sensible and practical woman. She asks her sister to tell them all about her father’s death.Then she asks her sister whether she sent for the doctor at once. On hearing that Dr. Pingle was out,she says that she should have called another doctor because many persons have restored to life hoursafter they were thought to be gone. Then she asks whether the premium has been paid or not. Sheways that after tea they will look through the bits of things and make a list of them. When Mrs. Slatertells a lie to Grandpa that they were mourning the death of Ben’s brother. She at once says that Benhas no brother. She also rebukes her sister for stealing the bureau and clock of Grandpa.

Cunning:She is as cunning and liar as her sister. She is not on good terms with her sister. She turned Grandpaout of her house three years ago, yet she comes to attend the funeral ceremony. She tells Grandpathat Mrs. and Mr. Slater have stolen his bureau and clock. This statement turns Grandpa againstSlater. She offers her father to live with them and promises to make him very comfortable. WhenHenry advises his to arrange with Elizabeth when she is dividing things up. She responds that willdrive a hard bargain over it. It shows she is a cunning and non-compromising woman.

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3. HENRY SLATER

Personality:Henry Slater is the husband of Amelia, father of Victoria and the son-in-law of Abel Merry weather.He is a stooping, heavy man with a drooping moustache. He is wearing a black tail coat, grey trouser,a black tie, and a hat. He is in half mourning.

Hen-pecked:He has no say, no way and no will. He takes dictation from his wife. He wears new slippers of hisdead father-in-law when directed by his wife. By nature he is not very bad. He sends a telegram toElizabeth and Jordan to attend the funeral rites of Grandpa. Though he is not selfish and greedy, yetcompelled by his wife, hides some precious things of Grandpa before the arrival of her sister. Hehelps his wife in carrying down the bureaus and taking upstairs the chest of drawers. He is muchashamed when Grandpa sees him wearing his slippers. He supports all the greed acts of his wife.

Careful Person:He is a very careful person. When his wife tells him to bring the bureau down, he says supposeElizabeth and her husband, com Because of this warning, Amelia fastens the front door. He alsosuggests her to exchange the bureaus with their chest of drawers.

4. BEN JORDANPersonality:Ben Jordan is the husband of Elizabeth, father, of Jimmy, and the son-in-law of Grandfather. He is incomplete new mourning, with black gloves and a band round his hat. He is rather a jolly little man,accustomed to be humorous, but at present trying to adapt himself to the regrettable occasion. He hasa bright, chirpy little voice.

Diplomatic:He is a very diplomatic person. He tries to find out some important information. He analysis theissue to Grandfather’s payment of premium on his insurance policy and asks to find out the receipt ifthe payment is made. He tries to find out the weak points of the other. Family and proves himself tobe innocent. He laughs on several occasions to prove that others are not so wise as he is. He nevermisses a chance to criticize others. The calls Grandpa: “the drunken old beggar”. But when Grandpagets up, he becomes polite towards him and repeatedly enquires about his health. He remarks aboutthe stolen bureau that it was second hand, He always his wife. He tells Grandpa that he has to livewith one of his daughter. He offers him to live with them and promises to take care of him.

5. VICTORIA SLATER

Personality:Victoria is the daughter of Mrs. and Mr. Slater and grand-daughter of Mr. Abel Merry weather. Sheis a precocious girl of ten.

Simple and innocent:She is an innocent and simple girl. When the play opens, she is gallivanting in the street, unconsciousof the fact that her Grandpa is lying dead and cold upstairs. She is unable to understand all that isgoing on in the house. She goes upstairs to take the bunch of keys per instruction of her mother.When she comes back she is scared and exclaims emotionally that Grandpa is getting up. She fails tounderstand the trick of her parents. She simply calls it stealing. When Mrs. Slater say that Grandpa

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went out for depositing the premium. Victoria tells her at once that he did not go into town thismourning.

Loves Grandpa:Victoria has great love for her Grandfather. When the old man enters the room and sits in anarmchair, everyone is unhappy. Only Victoria is happy to see his Grandpa alive. She sits on the floorat his feet.

Very Obedient:She is very obedient. When her mother forbids her to move about in the street and change her dress,she at once puts on her white frock with a black sash. She remains quiet and does not open the doorwhile her parents are shifting the table from the old man’s bed-room. She keeps the secret of herparents to herself. Although she fears and hesitates entering the bedroom of Grandpa, yet she obeysher mother and goes upstairs to fetch the bunch of keys.

Intelligent:She is very intelligent. When her parents bring down the bureau of Grandpa, she at once understandsthat they are stealing. She asks her mother why she is doing so. She observes everything but keepsher mouth shut. When her mother and aunt are quarreling, she does not interrupt.

6. ABEL MERRYWEATHER

Personality:Abel Merry weather is the father of Elizabeth and Amelia. He is clad in a faded but gay dressinggown. He is wearing stockings. Although he is over seventy yet he is healthy. He bright, maliciouseyes twinkle under the heavy reddish-grey eyebrows.

Homeless:He is a homeless person. He first lives with his daughter, Elizabeth and then resides with his otherdaughter, Amelia. He is neglected by both of them. Ben calls him “The drunken old beggar. Hisdaughters think him a burden and do not want to keep him with them.”

Drunkard:He is drunkard. One night he drinks Mrs. Slater thinks he is dead. Everybody is in mourning when hegets up.

Humorous:He is humorous fellow. He is loving a carefree life. He talks in funny ways. He always takes thingslightly. At the end of the play. He extends an invitation to both of his daughters and both of his sons-in-law to attend his marriage ceremony.

Romantic:Hs is a romantic fellow. He has the ability to fall in love and marry a widow at the age of seventy-two. He is a jolly old fellow and goes to the Ring-o-Bells which is a public place.

A wise man:He knows that neither of his daughters wants to keep him in her house. They are only after histhings. That is why he decides to change his will, get married to a widow who keep a public place. Inthey way, he wants to punish his mean and greedy daughters by depriving them of what he will leave

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after him. He enjoys at the cost of the confusion of his daughters and sons-in-law by puttingridiculous questions and passing funny remarks. He decides to pay the premium.

Loving Grandpa:He loves his granddaughter, Victoria and grandson, Jimmy from the core of his heart. He haspromised to give his gold watch to Jimmy. When the gets up Victoria sits on the floor at his feet.

A Glutton:He goes on eating while the others look at him with surprise. At the end of the play, he is busy ineating when his daughters are exposed. I think he believes in epicurean way of life, i.e. “Eat drinkand be marry.”

2. DAMON AND PYTHIAS

Summary

Damon and Phthias were devoted friends. They lived on the island of Sicily. The king was a tyrant.He treated the people harshly and harshly. He was not much liked by the people. The people did notoppose him because they were afraid of his strong and powerful army. Pythias was a bold and braveperson. He opposed the cruel laws of the king. This made the king angry who ordered his arrest andannounced to put him to death after two weeks in the public square. His friend Damon met Pythias inthe prison. Pythias was in high spirits and was prepared to die. He was worried about his mother andsister and wished to see them before his death. Damon appealed to the king to let Pythias go homefor a few days to meet his mother and sister and to settle his family affairs. He told the king that hewould take the place of Pythias in the prison till his retune form his home and would die in place ofPythias in case he did not return on the applointed day. The king wanted to put Damon and Pythias totest and agreed to release Pythias for a few days.Pythias met his mother and sister and arranged his family affairs. He started back towards theprision. He was stopped by the robbers who robbed him of his money and tied him to a tree. WhenPythias did not return at the appointed time the king laughed at Damon and asked him about Pythias.Damon expressed his complete trust and confidence in his friends and told the king that he wouldreturn and he was right because Pythias reached at the proper time. He told the reason of his delaybecause he was stopped by the robbers who robbed him of his money and tied him to a tree.The king was greatly impressed by the devotion and sincerity of their friendship and set them free.He promised to punish the robbers.

CHARACTERS

Pythias:(1): He is the most important character in the play. He is a very bold and brave person. No one daresto oppose the king. He challenges the king and does not care for his life. He does not request the kingto spare his life. He don not beg mercy and never apologizes to the king. He faces the difficultsituations with the courage and confidence.

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(2) He is a faithful and loyal friend. His sincerity to his friend is fully shown in the play.

(3) He is a true democrat and patriot. He fights for the rights of the people. He is against cruelty,injustice and oppression. He fights for the cause of the people and does not care for his life. He loveshis country and his people.

(4) He is a man of principles. He does not give up his principles even in the face of death. He isready to sacrifice his life for his principles. He always keeps his promise. He is a just, fair, and cleanman who does not betray anyone. He fights for justice, freedom and rights of the people.

(5) He is a good son. While in the prison he is worried about his mother and sister. He loves andrespects his family.In short we can say that Pythias is a true, honest sincere and loyal person. We respect and admirehim for his truthfulness, sense of sacrifice, his courage, his selflessness, his sincerity and honesty.

Damon:The first important quality that we find in the character of Damon is his loyalty to his friend. He is avery sincere, honest and faithful friend. Pythias trusted him and he trusted Pythias. Damon is reliableand trustworthy and a person can put faith and confidence in him. The play shows how much he issincere and loyal to his friend Pythias. He puts his life in danger for his friend. We highly appreciatehis spirit of sacrifice. He is selfless person.Pythias gets late and Damon is brought to the square for hanging. He shows no fear and is ready tosacrifice his life for his friend. He did not loss his faith in his friend till the last moment and told theking his friend; Pythias is true, honest and devoted. Damon is bold and courageous like his friendPythais. He is also a patriot and democrat and is against injustice and cruelty.To sum u we can say that Damon impresses us with his sincerity, selflessness spirit of sacrifice, loveof people and struggle for common good.

King:The king is a cruel and tyrant. He has made cruel laws. The people could not rebel against himbecause the people were afraid of severe punishment and his strong and powerful army. WhenPythias opposes him he puts him in the prison and decides to put him to death. He shows no mercy.He had no faith in the sincerity of friendship but seeing the friendship of Pythias and Damon andtesting their friendship, he believes in honest and true friendship and he says that he needs such afriend even at the cost of his power and money. The king shows certain good qualities in releasingPythias to meet his mother and sister and ultimately setting both Pythias and Damon free. He isimpressed by the sincere and devoted friendship of Pythias and Damon

Q 1: What is the theme of the play, “Damon and Pythias?” Whose behavior, Damon Pythias or the King’sis most admirable and why? ORWhich character in the play “Damon and Pythias” do you like most?” Give reason.

Ans. The theme of the play is true and devoted friendship. Damon and Pythias were two deep friends.Both of them have interesting character in the play for passing through critical situations and stagesin the life of their friendship. But in comparison of them admire most the character of Pythias forsome extra qualities in his conduct. The following are the reasons for his attractiveness.

1): Critical of the king’s tyranny: Pythias was a leading critic of the cruel laws proclaimed by theking. None could dare to speak against the king but he was determined to bring change in the lot ofthe oppressed people through his active criticism of the king’s harsh laws.

2): Translator of popular sentiments: Pythias was a true translator of the popular sentiments of thepeople. He put his life at stake to tell the king that the people are suffering under his rule. He addedthat the king rule with such an iron hands that they dare not complain.

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3): Arrest for democratic spirit: Pythias highlighted the sufferings of his people want to have avoice in making the laws for themselves. The tyrant king could not bear his democratic spirits andarrested him. The king declares him the greatest rebel and he was to be executed within two weeks.

4): Popular figure: Pythias was a popular figure. Throughout his life he never broke his promise.Damon managed Pythias with the special permission of the king to visit his home before death.

5): Return after visit: Pythias visited his mother and sister and set out on the appointed day. On theway back he was caught by the robbers. They took away from him the bag of money and tied him atree. He struggles all the night to untie himself. Meanwhile, he was in hurry to free him and reach hisfriend Damon well in time prior to the execution of the death penalty in his place. All these are thequalities due to which I like admire Pythias.

Q 2: Relate the most dramatic scene in the play “Damon and Pythias.”Ans. Pythias is caught by two robbers while he is going back to the prison after meeting his mother and

sister. They rob his money. He requests them to let him go so that he may reach in time to set hisfriend free. Despite his humble requests they tie him to a tree and go away. He shouts for help butnobody comes to help him. He struggles all the night to unite him at last a rope becomes loose and hesets himself free. He is very weak due to hunger and thirst but he runs fast towards his destination.When Pythias is late, the king orders his men to bring Damon before him and he mocks Damon andtells him that his friend has deceived him. Now he will be killed in the place of his friend. Damonreplies that Pythias will do come. Some people says that Pythias has saved himself and has deceivedhis friend, while some others says that Pythias is a man of word, he will do come according to hispromise. All of the sudden Pythias appears and the people shout out of joy. The king asks him thereason of his becoming late. He tells him the story of those robbers. The king is too much impressedby their devotion and sincerity and releases them both on the spot.

Study Questions

Q 1. Who were Damon and Pythias and where did they live?Ans. Damon and Pythias were two very close and devoted friends. They lived on the island of Sicily.

Q 2. What was the king like?Ans. The king was tyrant. He treated his people cruelly.

Q 3. Why did not the people rebel against the cruel king?Ans. The king had a great and powerful army. He gave severe punishment to person who rebelled against

him, so the people were afraid of him and did not rebel against him.

Q 4. Why is Pythias arrested?Ans. Pythias opposed the cruel laws of the king and criticized him openly. The king ordered his arrest and

Pythias was put into the prison.

Q 5. How does the king react to Pythias disapproval of his laws?Ans. Pythias disapproval of king’s laws made the king angry. He ordered his arrest and decided to hang

him in the public square.

Q 6. What punishment does the king accord to Pythias?Ans. The king ordered his arrest and decided to put him to death in the main square of the city. This

punishment was to serve as an example to all those who rebelled against the king.

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Q 7. What does Damon do when he hears about his friend’s imprisonment?Ans. Damon is shocked to hear about his friend’s imprisonment. He rushes to the prison to meet his

friends.

Q 8. What thought the troubles the mind of Pythias?Ans. The thought of his mother and sister troubles the mind of Pythias. He feels worried about them.

Q 9. What does Pythias wish to do before hi is put to death?Ans. He wants to meet his mother and sister before he is put to death.

Q10. What is Pythias known for through out Sicily?Ans. He is known for keeping his promise throughout Sicily and also for his true friendship.

Q 11. What plan Damon propose to Pythias to help him do what he wants to do?Ans. Damon proposes to Pythias to make an appeal to the king to release Pythias for a few days and to

take his place in the prison. In case Pythias does not return the king will put him to death in the placeof Pythias.

Q 12. How does Damon plead Pythias case before the king?Ans. Damon appealed to the king to release Pythias for a few days to enable him to meet his mother and

sister and to arrange his family affairs and in Pythias absence he will take his place in the prison.

Q 13. Why does the king agree to Damon’s proposal?Ans. The king agreed to Damon’s proposal in order to test their true friendship.

Q 14. Does Pythias like Damon’s bargain with the king? Why?Ans. Pythias does not like Damon’s bargain with the king. He is a man of principles and refuses to submit

to a tyrant.

Q 15. What do the people, represented by the voices, think whether Pythias will return to die or not?Ans. Some people thing that Pythias will keep his promise and save his friends life. Other thinks that he

will not come back.

Q 16. Why does not Pythias stay for another day as his mother asks him to?Ans. Pythias wishes to reach the prison well in time to save the life of his friend Damon. That is why he

refuses to stay for another day as his mother asks him.

Q 17. Do the robbers believe Pythias story about Damon and himself?Ans. The robbers do not believe Pythias story abut Damon and himself.

Q 18. Why does the king mock Damon and what is Damon’s response?Ans. As Pythias has not returned so far the king mocks Damon and makes fun of his friends and their

friendship. Damon tells the king that he has complete faith in his friends who will reach at the propertime.

Q 19. What does the king say when he hears about that two robbers?Ans. The king promises to punish the two robbers and orders their arrest.

Q 20. Why does the king let Damon and Pythias go free?Ans. The true and faithful friendship of Damon and Pythias and their devotion and loyalty to each other

impressed the king very much. So the king set them free.

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Q 21. What is the theme of the play? Whose behavior, Damon’s, Pythias’ or the king’s mostadmirable and why?

Ans. The theme of the play is true and devoted friendship. The behavior of Pythias is most admirablebecause of his boldness, sense of sacrifice, patriotism and devotion. He opposes a tyrant, fights forthe rights of the people and is ready to sacrifice his life.

3. HEAT LIGHTNING

(By Robert E.Carroll)

Summary

This one-act play is a melodrama. This is the story of frightened young girl of about twenty-threeyears old. Her clothes are wet and muddy. She is sobbing and running to save herself from the killer.It is a dark stormy night. She enter a bus station. She throws her body against the door, and bolts it.And feels herself safe.There is a Man already in the room. She requests him to help her as she is in danger. The man tries toassure her that she is safe and asks her to calm herself. Then he asks her the reason of her fear. Shetells the man that she was coming back from a party about one mile away from here. She ran out ofgas. She took her flashlight and locked the car and started walking down the road. She knew shecould get a bus. She had walked a little way when she noticed a cap pull off into a lane. She wantedto call out to them and ask for help. When she reached near the car, she saw the front door of the carwas open and someone was pulling the dead body of a woman out of the car. He saw her flashlight.He looked up and saw her. She dropped the flashlight and started running. She could hear himbehind her. She came straight here.Then the man in the rooms asks her whether she can identify him. She says she has not seen his faceclearly. Then the man tells her to go to the police and report the case. She refuses to do so becauseshe does not remember anything.There is knocking at the door. She things he is the man who has come in search of her. She getsfrightened. He has come to seek shelter from the storm weather. She comes out of the room. Thesecond man asks her why she is frightened. The first man tells him that the girl is afraid of storm.She considers that the first man is her guard while the second one is her killer. The second man tellsher how to overcome her fear.In the meantime a bus arrives and the second man offers them to go with him. Both of them refuse.The second man boards the bus and goes away. The light becomes dim. The first man tells the girlnow to worry and takes out a flashlight from his coat pocket and when he prepares himself to gripthe girl; she runs and bolts the door. A dog that has come there by chance to save itself from thestorm jumps and seizes the man with his sharp teeth and forces the Man to run away and the girlcomes out to pat the dog.

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Study Questions

Q 1. What has happened to the girl that she is so frightened?Ans. The girl has seen the dead body of a girl thrown out of a car and dragged into mud. The girl known

the killer has seen her. She is so frightened because she thinks the killer is following her.

Q 2. Why does she ask the Man not to let him in? Who is ‘him’?Ans. She asks the Man not to let ‘him’ in because she thins ‘him’ is the killer. But in fact him is not a

killer, he is a passenger.

Q 3. Why could not the girl describe the killer?Ans. The girl could not describe the killer because she had not seen his face due to dark stormy night.

Q 4. How was the weather?Ans. The weather was very unpleasant and stormy. It was raining heavily, lightning flashed followed by

burst of thunder.

Q 5. Who is the second Man? Why has he come to the bus station?Ans. The second Man is a passenger. He has come to the bus station for taking a bus. He has come here to

seek shelter from the stormy weather.

Q 6. Why is the girl afraid of the second Man?Ans. The girl is afraid of the Second Man because she takes him to be the killer who has been following

her after being seen throwing the dead body of a girl out of the car.

Q 7. Why does the girl get frightened when she sees the flashlight with the Man?Ans. The girl is frightened when she sees the flashlight with the flashlight she had dropped. She becomes

certain that he is the killer who has been following her.

Q 8. Why does the girl get frightened when she sees the flashlight with the Man?Ans. The girl is frightened when she sees the flashlight with the Man because she recognizes her

flashlight. It is the same flashlight she had dropped. She becomes certain that he is the killer who hasbeen following her.

Q 9. What does actually turn out at the end?Ans. Actually the first man turns out to be the killer at the end of the play because he attacks the girl in the

light of the flashlight when the LIGHT dies completely.

Q 10. How is the girl saved from the man?Ans. The girl is saved from the man by a dog who jumps and seizes the man with its sharp teeth. Thus the

dog forces the man to run away.

Q 11. Why does the Man act so friendly towards her? He even advises her to go to the police. Why?Ans. The man acts so friendly towards the girl for several reasons. He wants to win her confidence. He

wants to know whether she can recognize the killer or not. He wants to worm out information fromher whether she has reported to the police or not. He wants to kill her when she is alone.

Q 12. Tell the story in your own words beginning ‘One stormy night, a girl….’Ans. Using past tenses rewrite the summary beginning one stormy night, a girl of about twenty three…

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CHARACTERS

(1) THE GIRLThe girl is the main character of the play. The whole story of the play revolves round her. She is ofabout twenty-three. Her clothes are wet and muddy. Her hair is disheveled.She was at a party. It was dark and stormy night. She could have stayed all night with a friend butshe thought she had enough gas to get home. She ran out of gas on her way home. She took herflashlight and locked the car and started walking down the road. She knew she could get a bus whenit came along.She must have walked just a little way when she noticed a car pulled off into a lane. She went nearthe car to get some gas. Before she could cal out. She saw someone opening the font door of the carand the dead body of a woman being dragged out in the mud. She was extremely frightened. Shedropped her flashlight and started running. She could hear him behind her.She reached a bus stop. There was already a man in the room. She told him that the killer wasfollowing her, and requested him to help her. He asked her if she could identify him or she hadreported to the police. She replied in the negative and began to sob.Then a second man knocked at the door. She got into the Women’s room and the second Manentered the room to take shelter from the stormy weather. She was afraid of the second Man becauseshe thought he was the killer. But she was confident that the first Man would help her. The secondMan asked the girl if somebody was bothering her and how far she had to go. She told him that shehad to go to the town.When the bus arrived, the second Man offered the girl and the first Man to get into the bus but theyrefused. The light died completely. The first Man took out flashlight from his pocket. It was the sameflashlight that she had dropped. She had bolted the door before the Man came near to attack her. Bychance a dog came there. It seized the Man with its sharp teeth and forced him to run away.

(2) THE FIRST MANThe first Man is the killer. He is about thirty-five years old handsome man. He is the man who hasbeen following the frightened girl. He has already reached the bus station when the girl arrives here.The girl fails to recognize him as she has not seen his face clearly. On the contrary she considers himto be her guard. She asks him to help her. He promises to do so. He is very cunning and aprofessional criminal. He asks her whether she has reported to the police or not. When the secondMan leaves, he takes out the flashlight and attacks her but she is saved by a dog.

(3) THE SECOND MANThe second Man is just a passenger who has come to the but station to take shelter from the storm.The girl takes him to be the killer and becomes nervous. The second man asks her why she is upset.The first Man tells him that it is because of the storm. When the bus arrives the second Man asks thefirst Man and the girl to get into the bus but they refuse. So he goes away and rides the bus.