The Little Man: A Farcical Morality in Three Scenes

Published by Good Press, 2021

goodpress@okpublishing.info

EAN 4064066223397

Table of Contents

GALSWORTHY'S PLAYS

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SIX SHORT PLAYS OF GALSWORTHY

THE LITTLE MAN

A Farcical Morality In Three Scenes

By John Galsworthy

SCENE I

SCENE II

SCENE III

GALSWORTHY'S PLAYS

Links to All Volumes

GALSWORTHY'S PLAYS

Table of Contents

Links to All Volumes

Table of Contents

THE FIRST SERIES:	The Silver Box	Joy	Strife
THE SECOND SERIES:	The Eldest Son	Little Dream	Justice
THE THIRD SERIES:	The Fugitive	The Pigeon	The Mob
THE FOURTH SERIES:	A Bit O'Love	The Foundations	The Skin Game
THE FIFTH SERIES:	A Family Man	Loyalties	Windows
THE SIXTH SERIES:	The First and Last	The Little Man	Four Short Plays

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SIX SHORT PLAYS OF GALSWORTHY

Table of Contents

THE LITTLE MAN

Table of Contents

A Farcical Morality In Three Scenes

Table of Contents

From Six Short Plays

By John Galsworthy

Table of Contents

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SCENE I SCENE II SCENE III

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CHARACTERS

     THE LITTLE MAN.
     THE AMERICAN.
     THE ENGLISHMAN.
     THE ENGLISHWOMAN.
     THE GERMAN.
     THE DUTCH BOY.
     THE MOTHER.
     THE BABY.
     THE WAITER.
     THE STATION OFFICIAL.
     THE POLICEMAN.
     THE PORTER.

SCENE I

Table of Contents

Afternoon, on the departure platform of an Austrian railway station. At several little tables outside the buffet persons are taking refreshment, served by a pale young waiter. On a seat against the wall of the buffet a woman of lowly station is sitting beside two large bundles, on one of which she has placed her baby, swathed in a black shawl.

WAITER. [Approaching a table whereat sit an English traveller and his wife] Two coffee?

ENGLISHMAN. [Paying] Thanks. [To his wife, in an Oxford voice] Sugar?

ENGLISHWOMAN. [In a Cambridge voice] One.

AMERICAN TRAVELLER. [With field-glasses and a pocket camera from another table] Waiter, I'd like to have you get my eggs. I've been sitting here quite a while.

WAITER. Yes, sare.

GERMAN TRAVELLER. 'Kellner, bezahlen'! [His voice is, like his moustache, stiff and brushed up at the ends. His figure also is stiff and his hair a little grey; clearly once, if not now, a colonel.]

WAITER. 'Komm' gleich'!

[The baby on the bundle wails. The mother takes it up to soothe it. A young, red-cheeked Dutchman at the fourth table stops eating and laughs.]

AMERICAN. My eggs! Get a wiggle on you!

WAITER. Yes, sare. [He rapidly recedes.]

[A LITTLE MAN in a soft hat is seen to the right of tables. He stands a moment looking after the hurrying waiter, then seats himself at the fifth table.]

ENGLISHMAN. [Looking at his watch] Ten minutes more.

ENGLISHWOMAN. Bother!

AMERICAN. [Addressing them] 'Pears as if they'd a prejudice against eggs here, anyway.

[The ENGLISH look at him, but do not speak. ]

GERMAN. [In creditable English] In these places man can get nothing.

[The WAITER comes flying back with a compote for the DUTCH YOUTH, who pays.]

GERMAN. 'Kellner, bezahlen'!

WAITER. 'Eine Krone sechzig'.

[The GERMAN pays.]

AMERICAN. [Rising, and taking out his watch—blandly] See here. If I don't get my eggs before this watch ticks twenty, there'll be another waiter in heaven.

WAITER. [Flying] 'Komm' gleich'!

AMERICAN. [Seeking sympathy] I'm gettin' kind of mad!