A
Fine Gentleman
Inspired by Moliere's "Le Sicillien"
The Characters
David Drummond....A
young gentleman
Willie Syme....His
trusty servant
Samuel Pitcairn....A
wealthy merchant
Margaret Pitcairn....His
wife
Jean Pitcairn....His
niece
Nell....His
maidservant
A Servant or Caddy....(non-speaking,
male or female)
The Setting
The Parlour of Samuel Pitcairn's House
The Period
An April evening in the
year 1763
(Approx
running time: 45 minutes)
Sample
Scene
The curtains open
on a darkened room, illuminated only by the moonlight which streams through a
window. A distant clock chimes midnight. There are muffled sounds outside the
window. A clattering sound is heard as the top of a ladder appears at the
window.
That's a pretty good way to start a play ....and a sample scene
(A voice outside
whispers "shoosht". The voice is that of DAVID DRUMMOND.
"Sorry, sir", another voice replies. The second voice belongs to WILLIE
SYME)
DRUMMOND (off) Haud it still!
WILLIE (off) Watch my fingers sir!.... Ow!
DRUMMOND (off) Shoosht! You'll wauken the entire hoose!
(The window is carefully opened and DRUMMOND peers into the darkness
of the room)
DRUMMOND Jean?.... Jean? It's me, Davy. Are you there? (there is
no reply) Jean? I'm here, my truest one. Answer me, Jean my love. Jean?....
(still no reply. In a different tone) Where the damn are you?
WILLIE (off) I dinnae think she's there.
DRUMMOND Sneck up!
WILLIE (off) Whit was that?
DRUMMOND I said sneck.... never mind.
WILLIE (off) Whit?
(DRUMMOND aims a downward blow)
WILLIE (off) Ouch!
DRUMMOND Hand up the lantern.
(Taking the lantern, DRUMMOND clambers into the room)
WILLIE (Appearing at the window with another lantern) Maybe
she's asleep.
DRUMMOND She must be stone deif.
(DRUMMOND tiptoes to the fireplace and leaves his lantern on the mantelpiece.
WILLIE, meanwhile, has also entered. Now we see the men more clearly in
the light. DAVID DRUMMOND is a young man in his mid-twenties,
respectably, but not expensively dressed. WILLIE SYME is his servant, an
indeterminate number of years older than his master. His appearance is
distinctly shabby)
DRUMMOND Willie?
WILLIE Aye sir?
DRUMMOND You're a fool. Whit are you?
WILLIE A fool.... Whit have I done noo?
DRUMMOND Does this look like a lassie's bedroom? Weel, does it?
WILLIE No, it doesnae. Maybe she shifted her bed?
DRUMMOND Trust you tae pick the wrong windae.
WILLIE It was daurk oot in yon street. Jist be thankfu' it wasnae
her uncle's windae. Besides, I'm no accustomed tae climbin up ladders tae
lassie's bedroom windaes.
DRUMMOND Willie, did you never gang courtin in your younger days?
WILLIE Of course I did. But at least I haud the genteelity tae gang
chappin at the front door.... even if I was usually tossed oot the back.
DRUMMOND And that's precisely whit'll happen tae us if yon uncle o'
her's finds us here.
WILLIE Aye. They dinnae cry him "Attila" for naethin.
DRUMMOND Where's your courage man?
WILLIE I think I left it at the foot o' yon ladder. I've heard talk
in the toon aboot him that would gie onybody the goose-pimples.
DRUMMOND We must face ony hazard with a stout hert.
WILLIE I like the "we". You're daen the courtin, no me.
DRUMMOND Midnight I promised. Midnight it is, and I'm here.
WILLIE And she isnae.
DRUMMOND Let me think. (He goes to one of the doors. Gingerly,
he opens it slightly, then closes it) As I thought, that leads doonstairs
tae the front door. (He goes to the other door) Then her bedroom must be
through this way.
WILLIE So might her uncle's, no tae mention yon toarn-faced wife o'
his.
DRUMMOND There's only yin way tae find oot. Bring me a lantern.
WILLIE Can we no gang hame?
DRUMMOND Come here!
WILLIE Aye sir.
DRUMMOND Courage, Willie, courage.
(Together they cautiously approach the door. At that moment there is a noise
from behind the door)
DRUMMOND Run for your life!
(Startled, the two men stampede in panic for the window, getting in each
others way. As they attempt to negotiate the window simultaneously,
Plays by
Alan Richardson
