Still Waters

By George S Beeby

Still Waters by George S. Beeby is a play about a man who finds himself with a great idea for a play. Paul casts his daughters for the leading roles, and things inevitably go haywire. Excerpt: "PAUL CONWAY (opening a book and reading). "True drama can deal with the most ordinary incidents of human life as well as with its tragedies. This is the nearest approach to tragedy in my little life—sitting here at three in the morning writing a play."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Good Press
• Release date: Nov 9, 2021
• ISBN: 4066338051219

Book preview

George S Beeby

Still Waters

Published by Good Press, 2022

[e-mail]

EAN 4066338051219

Table of Contents

Cover

Titlepage

Text

"

PERSONS OF THE PLAY

PAUL CONWAY      a solicitor's accountant

 

ESTHER CONWAY   

his wife

 

CORNELIUS CONWAY 

his son (a medical student)

JULIA CONWAY     

His daughter

 

LETITIA CONWAY   

His daughter

 

DR. CAMMIDGE     

a suburban physician.

 

MARY             

a housemaid

 

JANE JONES       

of San Francisco.

 

DR. AYLWARD     

an English physician.

 

 

Habitués of 'The Cave Cafe in San Francisco

 

    CONNIE BRIGHT

    LOU ADAMS

    PETROVSKI

    ARISTO

    CLAUDIA

    AND OTHERS

 

NURSE COLLINS   

of San Francisco

MAY ASHLEY       

of the Roseville Literary Circle

 

PAUL DIBLEY     

of the Roseville Literary Circle

 

NORMAN THWAITE   

of the Roseville Literary Circle Waiter, Police Officers, etc

---

ACT I.

SCENE I.

Period — the present time about 3 a.m. on Sunday. The dining room of PAUL CONWAY's suburban home, with the customary furnishings. There are several books,a leather satchel, and scattered manuscript, on the table. PAUL CONWAY, a rather good-looking, grey haired man, of comfortable outline, is seated at the end of the table writing laboriously. He is dressed in pyjamas and looks dishevelled a slipper on one foot and a bed sock on the other. His hair is tousled, and he has the appearance of one whose sleep is being unnaturally broken.

PAUL CONWAY (opening a book and reading). "True drama can deal with the most ordinary incidents of human life as well as with its tragedies. This is the nearest approach to tragedy in my little life—sitting here at three in the morning writing a play. (Reads to himself for a moment) and then continues monologue). If it wasn't for those two giggling girls of mine and that patronising son, I'd do it openly

(Pauses on hearing a slight noise in the hallway, tiptoes to door and peers into the hall, as JULIA CONWAY appears at the opposite door in pyjamas. PAUL CONWAY steps into the hall, JULIA enters silently, looks swiftly for a hiding place, lies on floor and rolls under the couch. PAUL returns and closes and locks the door, walks across and looks the opposite door, crosses back to the table and, pickinq up a newspaper clipping, walks to the rnantelpieoe, and after gazing at himself in the mirror, turns and reads the clippng).

Two hundred guineas for the best Australian play.

PAUL. Why not? Thirty years juggling with figures and drawing bills of costs. Fifty years old and nothing to show for my life but three children and some prize dahlias.

(JULIA's head slowly emerges from under the couch as PAUL contemplates his reflection in the mirror).

PAUL (chuckling). By Jove! It would be funny if I could spring a surprise on everybody. I can hear the boys in the morning train—old Conny, they call me now—fancy old Conny writing a play. And then the astonishment of the family—and the office—and perhaps the whisper behind me in the street—There goes Paul Conway, the dramatist.

JULIA (solemnly). The father of the notorious Julia Conway!

PAUL (swinging round and gazing down on JULIA). Good Heavens! How did you get there?

JULIA. I often sleep here on summer nights—it's cooler.

PAUL. Have you been listening?

JULIA. I scorn the accusation. I had a troubled dream. A wicked Baronet called Sir Roger was encompassing the ruin of a beautiful maid answering to the name of Elfreda. I thought it was time to intervene.

PAUL. You must have been listening outside.

JULIA. I couldn't help hearing some of it.

PAUL. Come out of that. This is a most undignified situation.

JULIA (crawls out and pirouettes round the room). What a lark! Dad! I'm in the great secret. We'll write it together, and I'll play Elfreda when it's staged.

PAUL. You'll go straight back to bed.

JULIA. Not I. I'm in a position to dictate terms; let me in as a partner, or...

PAUL. Or what? Blackmail?

JULIA. What fun, when I tell