Progress ( A Play In One Act )
Episode 1
Corrie
Ah, at last, at last ! By Heaven. I've done it at last. (A very loud knock on the door. He turns round in a puzzled fashion). Eh? Oh, oh! Come in Come in( the door opens, and an elderly servent enters).
Corrie
yes, yes, Hannah, what is it?
Hannah
Mrs. Meldon wants to know whether you'll come downstairs to tea or have it up here?
Hannah
Yes, sir. She expected you to meet her at the station, sir. She waited a long time in the cold then got Marshall to drive her up.
Corrie
I meant to go, but I was busy, and then forgot. But she's quite capable of comming home by herself.
Hannah
Yes, sir. Will you come downstairs to tea sir, or have it up here!
Corrie
The drawing room's so cold! ... Tell Mrs Meldon I'll have it up here. I've news for her. Tell her I've good news for her. My experiment is ended, and it's a success.
Corrie
Yes, but it's no use telling you about it. You wouldn't understand.
Corrie
But I'm a proud man, Hannah. Perhaps you'll understand that. Go and tell Mrs. Meldon,
Corrie
Don't forgot to tell her that my experiment is a success. Or no you'd better not tell her, I'll do that myself. You're sure to make a mess of it. She'll be as pleased as I am.
Hannah
She's not very happy today, sir.
Corrie
Not happy! Why? I'm happy, aren't I?
Episode 2
Corrie
(almost forgetting his grievance). Oh, yes! I'd forgotten that! Of course, one cannot keep on thinking about these things.
Corrie
I'm sorry. I didnt meet her at the station. But I had to attend to my experiment, Hannah. I wish she wouldn't dwell on Eddie's death. It's not my rightfor the living to think so much of the dead. She's woman, of course, and a mother — a bereaved mother. We must make allowances, Hannah. That's all. Now if we tell her about my successful experiment, how would that do?
Hannah
(dubiously). I don't suppose it would make her feel any worse than she is now, sir.
Corrie
Well, tell her to come up here and have her tea with me. See? And I'll tell her about my experiment.
Hannah
Very good, sir.(She turns to go)
Corrie
Oh' . . . and Hannah, tell her I'm very sorry. I couldn't meet her at the station. That'll break the ice a bit. Then when realises how important my work is, and how much depends on it, she'll be all right.
Hannah
Very good, sir. ( She goes towards the door. Then she stops, amd turns towards him). She really isn't happy, sir. Her nerves aren't at all right. You see, she can't forget. sir!
Corrie
Eh! ( turning). Oh, my dear Charlotte, I'm sorry I did not meet you at the station' . . .
Mrs. Meldon
( Seating herself by the fire). It doesn't matter, Henry. Only I thought you were comming — you said you would — and I waited a long time in the cold! . . .
Corrie
Yes, I'm sorry about that, but you see, I was busy. Charlotte, I've succeeded at kast. I've got just exactly what I wanted Charlotte. Absolutely the thing. This will bring fame and fortune to me. I shall be rich now, but more than that, I shall be famous.
Corrie
I said to myself, ''Charlotte won't really expect me to meet her just when everything's going so right, after all, she's grown up woman and she knows the way home as well as I do''! So I didn't go. I stayed here and did my work. I know you'd understand. And it's a success. Charlotte, the greatest and most wonderful success I've ever had.
Episode 3
Corrie
(dashed) Well, you dont seem very excited about it.
Mrs. Meldon
Of course, I'm glade it's a success, Henry, whatever it is, but , you see, you've never told me anything about it.
Corrie
No, that's true. I've always believed in keeping secrets to myself. Tel no one anything until I have been working at this-except myself. The secret of successful invention, Charlotte, is reticence! But now, I can tell you what it is. The component parts are still my secret and will remain such until I can get a binding offer from some Government ! . . .
Mrs. Meldon
Meldon, Government? Is it a Government mateer?
Corrie
I should think it is. I shall offer it first to the British Government, of course, but if they won't pay mu price, I'll offer it to somebody else. Too many inventors have been let down. No, I cam take care of myself, But then, when they hear what my invention is, they'll jump at it.
Corrie
Of course, they will, though you're quite justified in felling skeptical about them. It was very hard to get them use tanks in the war very hard. Those cavalry generals had to be forced to use them. They ought to be horse-knackers instead of soilders. And tin hats, too! Look, what a time it was before that damned War Office could be persuaded to use' em! . . . But I'm sorry Charlotte. I ought not to br talking about the War to you — especially to-day.
Mrs. Meldon
I don't mind, Henry. And after all, the War Office isn't the War!
Mrs. Meldon
What is your invention, Henry ?
Corrie
Ah, Charlotte ! There's something interesting to talk about. (Hannah enters with a tea-tray)
Hannah
Here's the tea, sir
Corrie
Damn! Oh, all right. Put it down there. ( Hannah arranges tge tea-tray in the front of Mrs. Meldon. The professor, meantime, is back at his table and his retort and his formulae. Now and again he exclaims to himself).
Mrs. Meldon
Has everything all right, Hannah ?
Hannah
Yes, ma'am. Gage, the gardner, brought up the wreath you ordered for the War Memorial, ma'am. I've got it in the kitchen now. Shall I fetch it for you?
(And then Hannah, having finished with the teatable,goes out).
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