This is for my U3A creative writing class. We were supposed to do a one act play about a rich widow coming to dinner - and everybody trying to get on her good side so they have a chance of inheriting. But I couldn't get anywhere with that. This one I literally dreamed up, and didn't want to waste it - so I hope they won't care that I didn't follow the rules.

DIRTY DAY

One Act Play with 7 scenes.

Scene 1.

Curtain opens to show large double bed. Early morning. Philip has just provided Jean with a cup of coffee, and puts it by her bedside table, then takes his own cup of tea around to his side of the bed, and gets back in.

Jean: What time is it?

Philip: Just after seven. You don’t have to wake up yet if you don’t want to.

Jean: It’s okay. I’m pretty much awake anyway. Thanks for the coffee. How did you sleep?

Philip: Not very well. Lots of indigestion as usual.  And this back ache that doesn’t seem to go away. Doesn’t look like much of a day outside.

Jean: Well, there’s not much going on anyway, is there? I have this nagging feeling in the back of my mind that something is happening today, but I can’t remember what it is. It can’t be very important.

Philip: Well, look on the calendar. You always write down what is happening on there.

Jean: I can never read my writing when it comes to it, so if it is something that isn’t a regular happening, sometimes I haven’t a clue.

Philip: Well, I have a hospital appointment this afternoon. Maybe that is what it was.

Jean: Maybe. What time are you going?

Philip: The appointment is at two so I will leave about 12.30. I will take the train in and then get a bus. No need for you to trail in, and since we get all this free travel laid on, it would be a shame not to use it.

Jean: Are you sure you don’t want me with you?

Philip: Of course not. You had better stick around just in case the something on the calendar turns out to be rather important.

They finish their drinks, get out of bed, and both go off, taking clean clothes with them.

Scene 2


Later that day. Living room, with sofa, 2 chairs, various tables and lamps, and a TV. Jean is sitting on the couch, just finished watching Loose Women, turns off the TV and is about to leave the room (thinking of having a rest) when the front door knocker goes. She goes to the front door, stage right.

Brenda: Hi, Jean. How are things?

Jean: Fine, how are you? Come on in.

Brenda: I’ll just bring the lasagna from the car. I hope you’ve got the wine. Chris is bringing the salad.

Jean: Lasagna?

Brenda: For supper tonight. We’re having a ladies’ bridge afternoon and supper here. Don’t tell me you have forgotten. It was your turn to host it - I did it last time. You haven’t forgotten have you?

Jean: No, but I did sort of forget it was today. Having Philip off sick has put things out of my mind a bit, I guess. So when are the others coming?

Brenda: At two. You really have forgotten haven’t you?

Jean: Philip has gone off to Christie’s for his staging appointment. I probably would have cancelled it if I had remembered that I had offered to have it here. He might not feel much like having people around if it is bad news.

Brenda: Well, when is he back?

Jean: His appointment was at two, and would probably take about an hour, so probably 4.30 or so.

Brenda: Why didn’t you go with him?

Jean: He didn’t want me to. He doesn’t like to be fussed over. He thinks he is perfectly capable of dealing with it all himself.

Brenda: Well, even if we can’t do supper here, we can still play bridge, can’t we, until he comes back? It’s a bit late to cancel as the others are probably on their way.

Jean: Yes, of course, I’ll get the card table out, and the cards. I haven’t cleaned in here today, but it isn’t too bad is it?

Brenda: It is pretty awful, if you want the truth.

Jean: Well, I haven’t felt much like cleaning lately. But I guess to be honest that is just an excuse. I never feel much like cleaning.

Brenda: Come on, love. Let’s get this organised. There’s nothing like a good game of bridge to take your mind off your problems.

They both go through into the back of the house.

Scene 3 

 5 p.m.  The empty unlit living room is in the fore ground. Through a semi-permeable curtain, with lights on, you see the bridge four set up and the four women playing cards, laughing and joking. The front door is heard opening, so Jean goes through to find out what Philip has to say. Then she comes back into the bridge group. You see her having words with Philip, and then he exits, up to the bedroom, which is currently off stage. Jean comes back into the bridge area.

Brenda: How is he, love? Will he have to have chemo?

Jean: He didn’t say much. He just wanted to go up and rest. He said he doesn’t want supper anyway so you might as well stay and finish the day off here as planned. He seems a bit low, but doesn’t want to discuss anything at the moment.

The front knocker goes again, so Jean goes to the door to see who it is.

An older man with a very dark colouring and his well dressed wife are at the door. Jean stares at them for a moment, knowing she should recognise them, but not doing so immediately.

Man: Hello, Jean. So nice to see you again. (He kisses her on both cheeks.) You are looking well.

Jean: Hello. Lovely to see you too.

Man: You remember us don’t you? We are visiting relatives in Manchester and we promised Philip we would call in and see you. How long is it now?

Jean: Yes of course. (She kisses his wife on the cheek, remembering them vaguely as Greeks who she spent some time with years before, but still not remembering their names.) Do come in. I will call Philip and tell him you are here. He’s upstairs resting. Please let me take your coats, and go into the living room. I will be right back.
Man and wife sit down in the living room, where Jean puts on a lamp before she leaves.

Jean goes next door  to where her friends are playing bridge. It is obvious from the expressions on their faces that the couple can hear bits of the conversation next door.

Jean: Sorry, but we have some unexpected company from Greece. I think maybe we will have to stop the bridge now, and cancel the meal. Maybe you can take it all over to one of your houses and have it there.

Brenda: You mean these people just turned up out of the blue?

Jean: They said they had told Philip they were coming, but I don’t remember him mentioning it. But he might have done, as something is written on the calendar for today, only I couldn’t read what it was.

Brenda: Okay, we’ll go. Maybe next time you will make a bit more of an effort to plan your activities so they don’t all come on the same day.

The women get up, and get their coats and go out the front door. Jean then goes to the bedroom.

The curtains close and  when they open again, the bedroom is again in view.

Scene 4:

Philip is lying on the top of the bed, but his eyes are shut.

Jean: Philip, are you awake?

Philip: Well, I am now. What do you want?

Jean: Some people just came to the front door to visit us - those people from Greece, that we visited in Thessaloniki ages ago. You remember?

Philip: You mean Tinos?

Jean: Yes, that’s him, I think. And his wife. What’s she called again?

Philip: Claire, I think. Why are they here?

Jean: Well, they seem to think you invited them. They are visiting their relatives in Manchester. I have them sitting in the living room. Can you come down and talk to them? I sent my bridge friends home.

Philip: Oh, God. Why can’t you ever get things straight?

Jean: I didn’t know they were coming. He said he talked to you last month. You are as bad as I am.

Philip: I’ll come down in a minute. I suppose they will have to stay for supper, but I can’t think of what we have to offer them.

Jean leaves the room, and a few minutes later, Philip gets off the bed, has a quick look at himself in the mirror and leaves the room too.

Curtains close. When they reopen we can again see the downstairs rooms, but this time behind the transparent curtains, the table is set for a meal.

Scene 5.

Ten minutes later. Living room.

Prof.: Ah, here you are again. I thought you had left us by the back door. Is this a bad time? When I talked to Philip a month or so ago, he said we should come. He said anytime would be okay.

Claire: We can go again if we have come at a bad time. I saw your friends leaving. Were you doing some entertaining?

Jean: I just had a few friends for bridge, that’s all. I must admit that I didn’t know you were coming, and if Philip told me about it, I don’t remember.  But of course, you are very welcome. Let me get you a drink. Red wine, white wine, beer, orange juice, tea or coffee?

Prof: A cup of tea for now would be very welcome.

Claire: Yes thank you. I would like tea too.

Jean: I will just go and make it. I’m sure Philip would appreciate a drink too. Here he is now.

Philip comes into the room, looking slightly unkempt and slightly unsteady in his actions. He goes up to the Professor and shakes his hand.

Philip: Tinos, good to see you again. (And going up to Claire, he kisses her on both cheeks.) You look so lovely Claire. As always. How long have you been in Manchester?

Tinos: We came about a week ago. I tried to call you at the University but they said you were at home now. Have you finally retired?

Philip: Well, not so much retired, as stopped getting paid. I still go in and teach and run labs.

Claire: And are you keeping well? You look rather tired.

Philip: What has Jean been telling you?

Claire: Nothing, she just said you were resting.

Philip: Oh, yes, I am fine. No problems, except the usual ones of getting older. Nothing that a bit of your lovely Greek sun couldn’t put right. And how is Maria? It seems ages since she was here as my student.

Claire: Oh, she is married now, and never did she actually do any chemistry as a profession. She has three lovely babies, and I do so enjoy having them to care for. Do you have grandchildren?

Philip: Yes, two - Natasha who is nearly 4 and Susannah is will be 2 in April.

Jean comes in with the tea.

Tinos: Ah, thank you for this. It will just hit the spot. I will have this, and then I will bring in our cases.

Jean: (clearly confused again) Yes, do that. I will just pop upstairs and make sure your room is ready.

Philip: Ah, Jean will have to find another home for her books. She has dozens of copies of each of her books, in half emptied boxes on the bed. But that is easily remedied.

Scene 6:

In the back area, now lit with lamps and candles. The remnants of the meal are on the table.

Tinos: That was a lovely meal, Jean. Thank you. I feel quite a new man again. And that wine, Philip was exceptional. I must remember to get some of that for my cellar.

Claire: Thank you for the meal, but I think we will leave now.

Tinos: What? We are staying the night. I have put our cases in the room.

Claire: Well, I think it is better we leave.

Tinos: Why, woman. What is wrong with you now?

Claire: That room is so dirty, so dusty. I cannot sleep in a room like that. My asthma would be so bad, I could hardly breathe.

Jean: I’ll go and get the vacuum cleaner. I admit I haven’t been doing much cleaning lately. But I can fix it.

Scene fades out. Curtain closes.

Curtain opens on bedroom scene again.

Scene 7:
Wednesday, 7.30 a.m. Bedroom with Jean and Philip in bed.

Philip: Wake up Jean. What are you shouting about? Are you having a nightmare? Whatever is the matter with you? Look I've brought you some coffee.

Jean: Slowly coming around. What day is it?

Philip: Wednesday of course. You look like you have been fighting a battle in your dreams. Here is your coffee. Just relax. It can’t be as bad as all that. Now, what are you going to be doing today?

Jean: Well, I thought maybe I would do some house cleaning.

Philip: Oh, are you expecting company?

Jean: You just never know.
 
Curtain closes.