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Mr. Pim Passes By: A Comedy in Three Acts cover

Mr. Pim Passes By: A Comedy in Three Acts

Chapter 14: Electric Plot
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About This Book

A comic three-act play centers on a comfortable household whose placid routine is upset when an amiable but muddled visitor's misremembered facts and casual revelations spark confusion about engagements and marital status. Misunderstandings spread among relatives and acquaintances, producing social embarrassment and moral quandaries that escalate into increasingly absurd situations. Witty dialogue and observational humor lead to clarifications and reconciliations that restore domestic order while gently exposing the characters' foibles and affections.

Scene Plot

Oak panelled chamber, with deep decorative frieze.

Ceiling cloth, painted with carved oak beams.

Fireplace.–Large open stone fireplace decorated all over with flutings and carved stone.

Doors.–Heavy oak doors down R. to open off.

Windows.–C. windows (French windows) opening on stage from terrace.

Stairs.–Stairs up back R. with carved balustrade. Transparent windows stained glass at top of stairway.

Back cloth.–Painted garden and terrace with stone seat C.

Property Plot

Act I

Stage cloth down.–Parquette stage cloth with marble pavement piece attached at back for terrace.

Persian carpet laid up and down R.

Persian carpet laid up and down L.

Settee set across down L. (Jacobean settee upholstered in tapestry).

On settee L. Two tapestry cushions.

Occasional Jacobean table to R. of settee down L.

Stool.–Upholstered in rose R. of table.

Semi-grand piano, with keyboard down stage, down R. below double doors.

On piano.–Dinah's musical instrument.
    Silk pink brocade piano cover.
    Photo of Olivia in frame.
    Photo of George Marden in frame.
    Photo of Dinah in frame.
    Photo of Brian in frame.
    E.P. mirror.
    Blue china bowl containing flowers.
    Quantity of music.

Occasional Jacobean chair.–Below piano.

Settee (small Queen Anne cane-backed) upholstered in tapestry set up and down stage against and to L. of piano.

Cushion–dark gold brocade–on settee.

Table (occasional Jacobean) above settee to L., of piano.

On table.–Illustrated papers.
    Rose-coloured piece of brocade.

Chair (occasional Jacobean with rose-coloured squab) L. of occasional table above settee.

Sideboard (Jacobean) up R. against back wall.

On sideboard.–Metal bowl (with flowers)
    Match stand.
    Matches (safety).
    Ash tray.
    Tobacco jar filled.
    George's pipe filled.
    Photo in frame.
    Cigarette box (with cigarettes).
    Vase lamp with shade.

Arm-chair (Jacobean with rose-coloured squab)–L. of sideboard facing out of windows.

Curtains.–Pair of rose-coloured corduroy curtains with tie backs for centre windows. Single rose-coloured corduroy curtain for archway up R. hung on upstage side of arch.

Stairs.–Painted canvas staircloth.
    Brass stair rods.

Occasional chair (Jacobean with rose-coloured squab).–L. of windows and against back wall.

Table (occasional Jacobean).–Up L. against back wall.
    On table.–Metal bowl containing pink azalea plant in pot.

Writing-table.–In front and below C. windows (leather topped).
  On writing-table.–Specimen glass with flowers
    Writing materials.
    Matches in stand.
    Ash tray.
    Paper and pen rack.
    Small bookcase.

Arm-chair (Jacobean) below writing-table C.

Large cabinet (Jacobean Court cupboard) with three cupboard doors and on short legs–up L. against L. wall above fireplace.
  In cupboard.–Very pronounced yellow and black curtains with webbing arranged for Olivia to stitch on rings.
  Work-box for Olivia containing needles, thread, quantity of rings, scissors.
  On top of cupboard.–Metal bowl with palm in pot.
    Pair of scissors (extra as an emergency for Brian's business).
    Large glass with flowers.

Waste-paper basket.–To L. of writing-table.

Fireplace (L.).–Brass dogs and antique fire tongs.

Combined brass switch and bell pushes on wall down L. below fireplace.

Brass spill-box above bell pushes on wall L. below fireplace.

Table (small Jacobean round cane topped) in angle of fireplace and wall down L. below fireplace.
  On table.–Match stand and matches (safety).
    Ash tray.

Arm-chair(Jacobean with rose-coloured squab) down L. and to R. of circular table L. facing up stage.

Pictures on walls.–Picture in gold frame on wall down R.
    Picture in gold frame on wall above double doors R.
    Picture in gold frame R. of R. wall at back.
    Picture in gold frame L. of R. wall at back.
    Picture in gold frame R. of L. back wall.
    Picture in gold frame L. of L. back wail.

Hand Properties

Off R.–Card salver and card for Anne.
    Letter in envelope unstamped on salver.
    Letter in envelope stamped for Mr. Pim.
    Letter in envelope not stamped for George Marden.
    Gentleman's visiting card (Mr. Carraway Pim) for George Marden.

Act II

Same Scene and Properties.
Dinah's small guitar on piano.

Set on Terrace
    3 light green canvas camp chairs.
    2 green and white striped camp chairs.
    Folding camp table with green baize top.

Curtains refolded and placed in cupboard Left.

Off R.
    Large double handled E.P. tray.
    5 coffee cups (coloured for coffee) and saucers
    5 coffee spoons.
    Sugar basin with sugar.

Small hunting crop for Lady Marden.
Thick leather gloves for Lady Marden.
Cigarette case for Brian.

Act III

Same Set and Furniture as Act II.

Off R.–Pair of short library steps (for George Marden).

Electric Plot

Chandelier (C.).–Jacobean bronze 6-light chandelier hanging centre not lighted.

Brackets on walls.
  One on wall down L.
  One each side of back wall between windows and staircase R.
  One each side of back wall between windows and wall L.
  All above pictures, not lighted.

Fire in fireplace, not lighted.

Lengths.–Length in stairway, amber and white.
    Length in entrance by double door down R.

Foots.–Amber and white.

Battens.–Ceiling batten, amber and white.
    No. 5 batten, amber and white.

Arcs.–2 perch arcs o.p. )
    2 perch arcs p.s. ) Light amber and frost.
    No. 1 o.p. flood stage down L.C.
    No. 2 o.p. on settee down R.
    No. 1 p.s. on settee L.
    No. 2 p.s. on stool and flood C.

Flood Arcs.–Two flood arcs on back cloth L. and R.
    Flood arc on transparency windows above stairs R.
    Focus arc through windows C., L. of windows of writing-table
        and doors down R. into room. Sunlight effect.

To open.–All lights full up and remain for Acts I, II and III.

[ILLUSTRATION: Electric Plan "Mr. Pim Passes By"]