day--the fire is nearly extinguished--the candle nearly burnt down
to the socket. The stage arrangement in other respects, precisely
the same as at end of Scene I, Act I._
SCROOGE _discovered, sleeping in his chair. He appears restless and
uneasy, then starts up, exclaiming._
SCR. Pity me! I will not be the man I have been! Oh, no, no! (_Pauses,
and looks around him._) Ah! here! Could it all have been a dream! A
dream--ha, ha, ha! A dream! Yes! this table's my own--this chair's my
own--this room's my own--and happier still, the time before me is my own
to make amends in! I will live the past, the present, and the future!
Heaven and the Christmas time be praised for this! I say it on my
knees--on my knees! My cheek is wet with tears, but they are tears of
penitence! (_Busies himself in pulling on his coat, throwing off his
cap, etc., and speaking all the time._) I don't know what to do--I'm as
light as a feather--I'm as happy as an angel--I'm as merry as a
school-boy--I'm as giddy as a drunken man! A merry Christmas to every
body--a happy new year to all the world! Hallo, there! Whoop! Hallo!
there's the jug that my gruel was in--there's the door where the ghost
of Jacob Marley entered. It's all right--it's all true--it all
happened--ha, ha, ha! I don't know what day of the month it is--I don't
know how long I've been among the spirits--I don't know anything--I'm
quite a baby--never mind, I don't care--I'd rather be a baby! Hallo!
Whoop! Hallo, here! (_Runs to window--opens it._) Here, you boy! what's
to-day?
BOY. (_Without._) Why, Christmas Day!
SCR. Ah! I haven't missed it! Glorious! I say--go to the poulterer's
round the corner, and buy the prize turkey for me!
BOY. (_Without._) Wal-ker!
SCR. Tell 'em to send it, and I'll give you half a crown. He's off like
a shot! I'll send it to Bob Cratchit's. How astonished he'll be.
(_Coming down._) I'll write a cheque for that society that they called
on me about yesterday. Oh, I'll make every one happy, and myself, too!
(_Knocks heard without._) That must be the turkey! (_Opens door._) As I
live, it's Bob Cratchit!
_Enter BOB CRATCHIT, 2 E. L. H._
BOB. Excuse my calling, sir, but the fact is, I couldn't help it. That
worthy gentleman, your nephew, is ruined. I said, ruined, sir----
SCR. I'm glad of it!
BOB. Glad of it! There's an unnatural cannibal!
_Enter FRANK, 2 E. L. H._
FRANK. Oh uncle, you know all! I come not to ask your assistance--that
would be madness--but I come to bid you farewell. In three days' time,
with my unfortunate family, I shall quit England.
SCR. No, you shan't. You shall stay where you are!
FRANK. You mock me!
SCR. I say you shall stay where you are! (_Writes at table._) There's a
cheque for present use--to-morrow I will see how I can make up your
losses, and at my death you shall inherit all my wealth--but I don't
mean to die yet, you dog!
FRANK. This generosity----
SCR. No thanks. I'll dine with you to-day, Frank--and as for you, Bob,
Tiny Tim shall be my care, and your salary's trebled from this hour.
BOB. Oh, this can't be my master! Oh, I'm quite sure it must be somebody
else. Yes--it is him, too! He must have gone mad! I've a great mind to
knock him down with the ruler, and get Mr. Frank to help me to fit him
on a strait waistcoat! Well, I never!
SCR. A merry Christmas, Frank--a merry Christmas, Bob--and it _shall_ be
a merry one. I have awoke a better man than I fell asleep. So may it be
with all of us! Oh, may my day dreams prove as happy as my night ones?
(_As he speaks, the gauze medium is lit up behind, and the GHOST OF
CHRISTMAS PAST, the GHOST OF CHRISTMAS PRESENT, and the GHOST OF
CHRISTMAS TO COME, with the other characters in the Miser's dream, are
seen in separate groups._) Their remembrance haunts me still. Oh, my
friends--forgive but my past, you will make happy my present, and
inspire me with hope for the future!
THE CURTAIN FALLS.
_THE BAT_
A mystery play in 3 acts. By Mary Roberts Rinehart and Avery Hopwood.
Produced originally at the Morosco Theatre, New York. 7 males, 3
females. 2 interior scenes. Modern costumes.
Miss Cornelia Van Gorder, a maiden lady of sixty, has leased as a
restorative for frayed nerves, a Long Island country house. It had
been the property of a New York financier who had disappeared
coincidentally with the looting of his bank. His cashier, who is
secretly engaged to marry Miss Van Gorder's niece, is suspected of
the defalcation and is a fugitive. The new occupants believe the
place to be haunted. Strange sounds and manifestations first
strengthen this conviction but presently lead them to suspect that
the happenings are mysteriously connected with the bank robbery.
Any sensible woman would have moved to the nearest neighbors for
the night and returned to the city next day. But Miss Van Gorder
decided to remain and solve the mystery. She sends for detectives
and then things begin to happen. At one time or another every
member of the household is suspected of the theft. The audience is
kept running up blind alleys, falling into hidden pitfalls, and
darting around treacherous corners. A genuine thriller guaranteed
to divert any audience.
(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.
_THE HAUNTED HOUSE_
Comedy in 3 acts. By Owen Davis. Produced originally at the George M.
Cohan Theatre, New York. 8 males, 3 females. 1 interior. Modern
costumes.
A newly married couple arrive to spend their honeymoon in a summer
cottage owned by the girl's father, who has begged them not to go
there, because he claims the house is haunted. Almost immediately
after their arrival, strange sounds are heard in the house. The
bride leaves the room for a few moments and when she returns, her
husband is talking very confidentially to a young woman, who he
claims has had trouble with her automobile down the road, and he
goes out to assist her. But when he comes back, his wife's
suspicions force him to confess that the girl is an old sweetheart
of his. The girl is subsequently reported murdered, and the bride
believes her husband has committed the crime. A neighbor, who is an
author of detective stories, attempts to solve the murder, meantime
calling in a prominent New York detective who is vacationing in the
town. As they proceed, everyone in the action becomes involved. But
the whole thing terminates in a laugh, with the most uproarious and
unexpected conclusion imaginable.
(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.
_LOUDER, PLEASE_
A comedy in 3 acts. By Norman Krasna. Produced originally at the Masque
Theatre, New York. 12 males, 3 females. 1 interior scene. Modern
costumes.
The breathless and amusing comedy has to do with the efforts of
Criterion Pictures to keep one of its stars, Polly Madison, before
the public gaze, and Press Agent Herbert White is called in to
promote the necessary ballyhoo. He conceives the brilliant but
ancient idea of having Polly get "lost at sea" in a motor boat.
There is a law making it a punishable crime to fake a false news
report to the press, but what is a law to Herbert if he can get
over the necessary publicity? He broadcasts the news that Polly has
strangely disappeared and is lost at sea. Consequently the forces
of the law get busy, the Coast Guard sends out a fleet of airplanes
to rescue the lost film star, with the result that the front pages
of the papers are loaded with stories of the frantic search for the
actress, and the world at large is on its ear. Detective Bailey
becomes suspicious of the fake and puts the Criterion staff through
a stiff third degree. A prison cell looms up for Herbert White and
he has to resort to the most desperate measures to make the fake
story appear true.
(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.
_SKIDDING_
Comedy in 3 acts. By Aurania Rouverol. Produced originally at the Bijou
Theatre, New York. 5 males, 5 females. 1 interior. Modern costumes.
A fresh, sincere picture of American family life, showing Marion
Hardy, a modern college girl who falls ecstatically in love with
Wayne Trenton just as a career is opening up to her, and the
difficulties she has in adjusting her romance. Then there are the
two pretty young daughters who chose to marry before they finished
their education and want to "come home to Mother" at the first sign
of trouble. Mother Hardy is so upset at the modern tendencies of
her daughters, that she goes on strike in order to straighten out
her family. Young Andy Hardy is an adorable adolescent lad with his
first "case"--a typical Booth Tarkington part. He keeps the
audience in a gale of merriment with his humorous observances.
Grandpa Hardy touches the heart with his absent-mindedness and his
reminiscences about Grandma; and the white satin slippers he makes
for Marion to be married in, have a great deal to do with
straightening out her love affair. Humor is blended with pathos and
a deliciously garnished philosophy makes "Skidding" more
significant than the average comedy. It is life. "Skidding" is one
of our most popular plays for High School production.
(Royalty, twenty-five dollars.) PRICE 75 CENTS.
Transcriber's notes:
The line
"happy as my night ones? (_As he speaks, the gauze_"
was duplicated in the original.
The following is a list of changes made to the original.
The first line is the original line, the second the corrected one.
_Author of Fair Rosamond, Fairinelli, The Dream of Fate,_
_Author of Fair Rosamond, Farinelli, The Dream of Fate,_
CHRISTAMAS CAROL.
A CHRISTMAS CAROL.
_Easy chair Table with candlestick upon it, etc., etc._
_Easy chair, table with candlestick upon it, etc., etc._
(_Binds wrappr round its head once more--slowly_
(_Binds wrapper round its head once more--slowly_
either--nor ony of your family, Bob Cratchit. At
either--nor any of your family, Bob Cratchit. At
MRS. C. Sunday! You went to day, then?
MRS. C. Sunday! You went to-day, then?