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  • Mary And George

    This is a play I wrote originally for a competition but there was an entry fee so here it is for what it's worth

    The Last Night

    Character’s

    Mary

    George

    The Stranger



    The Scene

    It is a cold Autumn night November 8 1888 Whitechappel in the East End of London. George is sitting waiting for Mary it is late. He is worried.


    Mary suddenly appears. She is a little drunk and maudlin

    Mary: Waiting for me again?

    George: I could be. Where have you been so late?

    Mary: Oh Georgie you know better than to ask

    George: Why do you do it girl? Now of all times?

    Mary: I’ve no other choice Georgie

    George: You could spend less at the Pub

    Mary(a little annoyed): You’re no saint yourself

    George: We’re two of a kind girl.

    Mary: Oh it will be grand tomorrow. All the fine clothes ,the horses. You know I used to ride in a carriage. I could have lived the grand life, if I’d wanted to.

    George(teasing): Tomorrow? What’s tomorrow?

    Mary: Georgie! You should be ashamed of yourself. You know full well it’s the Lord Mayors Show.

    George (laughing) All right steady on girl. I know.

    Mary: I want to be there early so I get a good spot.

    George: We could go together if you like.

    Mary: I suppose we could. I hope it will be a fine day. I want the sun to shine all day.

    George: I could meet you in the morning call for you . We could walk together.

    Mary: I did ride in a carriage you know. A lot round here don’t believe me but when I first came to London I lived a very different life.

    George: Who’s that, over there? Do you know him?

    Mary: I don’t know. I’ve seen him a few times though.

    George: Where have you seen him?

    Mary: Just around Georgie just around.

    George: He’s not one of your (pause) acquaintances then.

    Mary: No George .He is not one of my acquaintances.

    George: I’m sorry.

    Mary: You should have seen me when I had those fine dresses. Made especially for me they were by a fine Dressmaker. It’s ever such a fuss they go to. Kept sticking pins in me! Then they told me off for not standing still. Fancy that!

    George: So what happened to these fine dresses then?

    Mary(hesitantly): Well we had a bit of a disagreement the Landlady and me and she wouldn’t give them back. She kept my trunk with all my fine things! She was a bad woman George. I made a mistake there.

    George: Never mind. Fine dresses aren’t everything. I’ve seen those fine ladies as you call them all trussed up in their finery but they don’t look any the better for it.

    Mary: No. They don’t. You’re quite right Georgie. They think themselves so grand. Used to look down on me they did when I lived there.

    George: Have you seen Joe?

    Mary: Not for a while.


    They sit together silently for a few moments

    Mary: Look up at the stars Georgie, aren’t they beautiful I could sit here and watch them all night. Do you ever wonder what’s up there?

    George: Up there? No. I’ve enough problems down here.

    Mary: Oh Georgie I don’t think you’ve got an imagination at all.

    George: That man’s still there.

    Mary: It’s not what you’re thinking George. I told you I don’t know him.

    George: But you’ve seen him?

    Mary: Yes. I’ve seen him around.

    George: Do you think he’s following you?
    Mary(startled):No, I don’t think so, I hadn’t thought.

    George: He’s been there a good while now. He’s waiting for something.

    Mary: Georgie stop it you’re scaring me. You know I’ve got to go back out.

    George: You don’t have to.

    Mary: I haven’t any money Georgie.I’ve got to. The rent’s so far behind now.

    George: How far?

    Mary: Weeks Georgie weeks.

    George: You drank it didn’t you

    Mary: Don’t scold George. I get enough of that as it is.

    George: Why don’t you give up the drink.

    Mary: Look around you George. That’s why.

    George: Drink’ll be your undoing Mary.

    Mary: It’s a bit late now. I’m undone.

    George: Oh Mary it doesn’t have to be like this



    Mary: Oh Georgie I know you’re sweet on me but we’ve neither of us any money.

    George: I’ll get work soon.

    Mary: You say that all the time.

    George: We could leave here go to the country.

    Mary: And do what? We wouldn’t be any better off there than here.

    George: We could own a pub.

    (Mary shoves George gently)

    Mary: You’ll never make the Halls with jokes like that.

    George: And I suppose you could do better.

    Mary: Sure I could. I wanted to go on the stage. I’d be grand I would. You’ve heard me sing I’m as good as any of them.

    George: You’re not bad.

    Mary: Not bad indeed! I’ve been told I could be a professional.
    George: By that Landlord of yours no doubt. What’s he been filling your head with.

    Mary: He knows people who work in the Halls. He says if I want to he can talk to them. Put in a good word for me.

    George: He’s having you on Mary.

    Mary: He is not. He knows talent when he sees it.

    George: I didn’t say you had no talent. It’s that Landlord that worries me.

    Mary: He’s all right

    George: Will you look at that. He’s moved closer

    Mary: What?

    George: That man. He’s over there now.

    Mary: Oh George stop it. You really are scaring me now.

    George: He’s almost close enough to hear us.

    Mary: He’s probably waiting for somebody.

    George: I don’t like it. I’m sure he’s looking over at us.

    Mary: Oh Georgie don’t, there are always people around here

    George: If he comes any closer I’m going to see what he’s about.

    Mary: Let’s not talk about it .Do you believe in ghosts Georie?

    George: Ghosts? I don’t know I’ve never met one.

    Mary: Oh Georgie be serious.

    George: I’ll try (sits up with serious look on his face) There is that serious enough?

    Mary: Sometimes Idont know why I bother with you.

    George: Because I’m very good company and charming with it (winks at her)

    Mary: When I was a little girl I used to see people. People that other people couldn’t see.
    Maybe he’s one of those people.

    George: He looks solid enough to me and why can we both see him if you’re the one who sees ghosts?

    Mary: Maybe he wants us both to see him.

    George: Oh Mary I do love you, you know that.

    Mary: Yes I know.

    (She gets up)

    Mary: Well I’d best get on my way. Come and meet me at ten and we’ll walk together to see the Lord Mayors Show. It’ll be grand.

    (Mary walks off into the darkness)

  • #2
    Ah, very nice work there Belinda!
    Summed up pretty well....poor Mary.

    Cheers,
    Adam.

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Belinda,

      Good writing, had me drawn into the scene before I knew it. Amost like actually watching it. Sad, moving and as I say, very well written, imho!!!

      Best wishes,

      Zodiac.
      And thus I clothe my naked villainy
      With old odd ends, stol'n forth of holy writ;
      And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.

      Comment


      • #4
        Thank You

        Maybe I should have paid the entry fee after all

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by belinda View Post
          This is a play I wrote originally for a competition but there was an entry fee so here it is for what it's worth

          The Last Night

          Character’s

          Mary

          George

          The Stranger



          The Scene

          It is a cold Autumn night November 8 1888 Whitechappel in the East End of London. George is sitting waiting for Mary it is late. He is worried.


          Mary suddenly appears. She is a little drunk and maudlin

          Mary: Waiting for me again?

          George: I could be. Where have you been so late?

          Mary: Oh Georgie you know better than to ask

          George: Why do you do it girl? Now of all times?

          Mary: I’ve no other choice Georgie

          George: You could spend less at the Pub

          Mary(a little annoyed): You’re no saint yourself

          George: We’re two of a kind girl.

          Mary: Oh it will be grand tomorrow. All the fine clothes ,the horses. You know I used to ride in a carriage. I could have lived the grand life, if I’d wanted to.

          George(teasing): Tomorrow? What’s tomorrow?

          Mary: Georgie! You should be ashamed of yourself. You know full well it’s the Lord Mayors Show.

          George (laughing) All right steady on girl. I know.

          Mary: I want to be there early so I get a good spot.

          George: We could go together if you like.

          Mary: I suppose we could. I hope it will be a fine day. I want the sun to shine all day.

          George: I could meet you in the morning call for you . We could walk together.

          Mary: I did ride in a carriage you know. A lot round here don’t believe me but when I first came to London I lived a very different life.

          George: Who’s that, over there? Do you know him?

          Mary: I don’t know. I’ve seen him a few times though.

          George: Where have you seen him?

          Mary: Just around Georgie just around.

          George: He’s not one of your (pause) acquaintances then.

          Mary: No George .He is not one of my acquaintances.

          George: I’m sorry.

          Mary: You should have seen me when I had those fine dresses. Made especially for me they were by a fine Dressmaker. It’s ever such a fuss they go to. Kept sticking pins in me! Then they told me off for not standing still. Fancy that!

          George: So what happened to these fine dresses then?

          Mary(hesitantly): Well we had a bit of a disagreement the Landlady and me and she wouldn’t give them back. She kept my trunk with all my fine things! She was a bad woman George. I made a mistake there.

          George: Never mind. Fine dresses aren’t everything. I’ve seen those fine ladies as you call them all trussed up in their finery but they don’t look any the better for it.

          Mary: No. They don’t. You’re quite right Georgie. They think themselves so grand. Used to look down on me they did when I lived there.

          George: Have you seen Joe?

          Mary: Not for a while.


          They sit together silently for a few moments

          Mary: Look up at the stars Georgie, aren’t they beautiful I could sit here and watch them all night. Do you ever wonder what’s up there?

          George: Up there? No. I’ve enough problems down here.

          Mary: Oh Georgie I don’t think you’ve got an imagination at all.

          George: That man’s still there.

          Mary: It’s not what you’re thinking George. I told you I don’t know him.

          George: But you’ve seen him?

          Mary: Yes. I’ve seen him around.

          George: Do you think he’s following you?
          Mary(startled):No, I don’t think so, I hadn’t thought.

          George: He’s been there a good while now. He’s waiting for something.

          Mary: Georgie stop it you’re scaring me. You know I’ve got to go back out.

          George: You don’t have to.

          Mary: I haven’t any money Georgie.I’ve got to. The rent’s so far behind now.

          George: How far?

          Mary: Weeks Georgie weeks.

          George: You drank it didn’t you

          Mary: Don’t scold George. I get enough of that as it is.

          George: Why don’t you give up the drink.

          Mary: Look around you George. That’s why.

          George: Drink’ll be your undoing Mary.

          Mary: It’s a bit late now. I’m undone.

          George: Oh Mary it doesn’t have to be like this



          Mary: Oh Georgie I know you’re sweet on me but we’ve neither of us any money.

          George: I’ll get work soon.

          Mary: You say that all the time.

          George: We could leave here go to the country.

          Mary: And do what? We wouldn’t be any better off there than here.

          George: We could own a pub.

          (Mary shoves George gently)

          Mary: You’ll never make the Halls with jokes like that.

          George: And I suppose you could do better.

          Mary: Sure I could. I wanted to go on the stage. I’d be grand I would. You’ve heard me sing I’m as good as any of them.

          George: You’re not bad.

          Mary: Not bad indeed! I’ve been told I could be a professional.
          George: By that Landlord of yours no doubt. What’s he been filling your head with.

          Mary: He knows people who work in the Halls. He says if I want to he can talk to them. Put in a good word for me.

          George: He’s having you on Mary.

          Mary: He is not. He knows talent when he sees it.

          George: I didn’t say you had no talent. It’s that Landlord that worries me.

          Mary: He’s all right

          George: Will you look at that. He’s moved closer

          Mary: What?

          George: That man. He’s over there now.

          Mary: Oh George stop it. You really are scaring me now.

          George: He’s almost close enough to hear us.

          Mary: He’s probably waiting for somebody.

          George: I don’t like it. I’m sure he’s looking over at us.

          Mary: Oh Georgie don’t, there are always people around here

          George: If he comes any closer I’m going to see what he’s about.

          Mary: Let’s not talk about it .Do you believe in ghosts Georie?

          George: Ghosts? I don’t know I’ve never met one.

          Mary: Oh Georgie be serious.

          George: I’ll try (sits up with serious look on his face) There is that serious enough?

          Mary: Sometimes Idont know why I bother with you.

          George: Because I’m very good company and charming with it (winks at her)

          Mary: When I was a little girl I used to see people. People that other people couldn’t see.
          Maybe he’s one of those people.

          George: He looks solid enough to me and why can we both see him if you’re the one who sees ghosts?

          Mary: Maybe he wants us both to see him.

          George: Oh Mary I do love you, you know that.

          Mary: Yes I know.

          (She gets up)

          Mary: Well I’d best get on my way. Come and meet me at ten and we’ll walk together to see the Lord Mayors Show. It’ll be grand.

          (Mary walks off into the darkness)
          Nice one, youve captured the moment well

          Comment


          • #6
            Yes, I liked it, too. I read it three times and liked it better each time. It does draw you in pretty quickly, and you want to do something to stop her from wandering off into the night. I like the contrast between them--she's got her head in the stars and dreams of a could-be future, and he's firmly planted on the pavement.

            Thanks, Belinda.
            "What our ancestors would really be thinking, if they were alive today, is: "Why is it so dark in here?"" From Pyramids by Sir Terry Pratchett, a British National Treasure.

            __________________________________

            Comment

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