Can i get a short script on THE DEAR DEPARTED
Answers
Narration:
The story begins with a scene in which Mrs. Slater is seen laying the table.
She calls her son Victor, and advises him to change the clothes before his aunt and uncle, Ben Jordan and and Elizabeth Jordan arrive.
Victor (to Amelia): What are they coming for now?
Amelia: Your father informed them about your grandpa’s death. So change your clothes.
*****************************Victor Leave, Henry Enters *************************
Henry: Do you think that they would really come because your sister said that she would never step in your house again.
Amelia: Yeah!But I am sure that she will really come to have a share in her father’s property.But firstly, take these new slippers of my father because your slippers are almost worn out and let us bring that old bureau form our father’s room.
Henry:Hmm Okhay! But what if your sister recognises that we taken this thing.
Amelia:No worry, She has never seen this bureau before.
Henry:Ok Then !
Henry and Amelia bring the bureau
down. Suddenly bell rings and Victor opened the gate.
Now Mr. Ben and Mrs. Elizabeth enter the scene.
They all sit and start talking about the shares of property.
Mrs. Jordan: Well Amelia, He has gone at last.
Amelia: Yes sister! Father was doing well this morning, May be he was going to pay his insurance. I have seen him snug in his bed and taking rest after his return. Then after some time I tried to wake him up but he did not respond and was quite cold.
Ben Jordan: Amelia! Don’t worry .He really did a great thing by paying his insurance.
Victor: But Mother,I don’t think that Grandpa actually went to pay his insurance in the morning. Actually, he meet Mr.Tattersall down the street and they went off past St.Philip’s Church.
Ben Jordan: The drunken old beggar!
Mrs.Jordan: I am sure that poor old man intentionally not paid the insurance amount.
Amelia: Even I don’t think so that he had paid the insurance amount.
Henry: I think we better make a list of valuable things and decide who takes what.
Mrs. Jordan: That’s indeed a good idea.
Amelia (to Victor): Victor, go to grandpa’s room and bring the keys of bureau.
Victor: Me! In grandpa’s room.......I don’t want to go to upstairs now.
Amelia: Don’t be so silly Victor; there is no one to hurt you.
Victor goes upstairs and then suddenly coming down with shouting.....
Victor: Grandpa is getting up.........grandpa is getting up!
Amelia: What! Don’t be silly dear
Suddenly the old man Abel Merry Weather comes .....
Abel: Hello Everybody! Happy to see you all here together. Ben and Lizzie what brings you here?
Amelia: Oh father! Is that really you, we are so happy to see you!
Abel: I am absolutely alright, just a bit of headache. By the way, where are my new slippers Amelia?
Then Abel watch Henry wearing his slippers ..
Abel (to Henry): Why the hell are you wearing my slippers Henry?
Amelia (interferes): Father! Actually I saw your slippers new and hard and Henry wear these so that they can be stretched
Victor runs to his grandpa, he sits on the floor at his feet and says....
Victor: Grandpa! I am so happy that you are not dead.
Abel: What? Who has gone dead?
Amelia: Father actually Victor means that he was sorry about your head.
Mrs. Jordan: I'll tell you what's been going on in this house. Father. Nothing short
of robbery.
Amelia: Be quiet, Elizabeth.
MRS. JORDAN : (rising) I'll not be quiet. Oh, I call it double-faced.
Then Elizabeth tell everything truly to Abel
MRS. JORDAN : You know, father, it's quite time you came to live with us again. We'd
make you very comfortable.
Amelia: No, he has not been with us long. So, he would definitely stay with us.
Abel: Please stop fighting over my issue Amelia and Lizzie. I have being seeing how you treat me when I am with you. I actually never happy with the way you treated me.
I want to share three important things with you. I have decided to do three things.
I will meet a lawyer and after this I will pay my premium and I have to go to St. Philip’s Church and get married.
Abel’s proposal of marriage stuns them and all says...
Henry,Amelia,Lizzie,Ben say: ‘WHAT’
Abel: Yes, I am going to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks who keeps the ‘Ring-O-Bells’. We decided it some time back but I kept it as a surprise. I know, I have become a burden on you all, so I found someone who can take care of me now. We shall be very glad to see you all at there on Monday at 12 o’clock and Amelia you did well thing by bringing my bureau down, it is now easy to carry it to ‘Ring-O-Bells’
Abel walks out
**********************************************CURTAIN*****************************************************
‘The Dear Departed’ is dedicated to the old people who are neglected due to the increasing materialism of their families. Abel Merryweather is an old man who had two daughters, Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan. One day, Mrs. Slater ‘found him dead’.
She informed Mrs. Jordan and her husband Ben and began waiting for them. Meanwhile, she discussed with her husband what to do about a clock and the bureau – a writing desk with drawers, which she always liked and wanted to possess. Suddenly, an idea struck her mind and she decided to bring the clock and the bureau down to her room before the arrival of Mrs. Jordan.
Henry did not approve of it but later helped in getting the bureau down. It was at the moment of shifting that the Jordans arrived. But they never realized what had happened. All of them sat to have tea. They discussed the obituary announcement in the papers and insurance premium payment. The little daughter of the Slaters – Victoria put them in a doubt when she said that she saw grandfather going to ‘Ring-OBells’ instead of the insurance office.
She was told by her mother to bring the keys so that they could find the premium receipt in the drawers. Victoria went up reluctantly but the next moment she was back when she saw grandfather rising from his bed. She informed everyone downstairs. By the time they came out of their shock, grandfather came down.
He told them that he had a headache and so was a bit dazed. It was here during the discussion that he noticed that his clock and bureau were in Henry’s room.
He became annoyed and asked for the reason. Then Mrs. Jordan informed him that Mrs. Slater was perhaps deceiving everybody by trying to steal the clock and the bureau before anybody arrived. Grandfather got angry. He told them that he had decided to change his will. He further added that he would give away everything to somebody who cared for him and not his daughters who considered him to be a burden.
The sisters were unable to digest this. They apologised but grandfather didn’t listen to them. Then he told them about his plans, that he was going to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks, the keeper of ‘Ring-O–Bells’ and alter his will in her name. He invited them to attend his marriage on Monday, twelve o’clock at St. Philip’s Church and left the house.