Priestley Plays Four by J. B. Priestley Read Free Book Online Page A

hand and takes an occasional pull from it. LAMISON concludes his song or piece on the lute, with a little bow
.
    SAM: Thanks very much. Let’s have another one, shall we?
(LAMISON smiles and bows.)
Now – wait a minute. I heard a thing the other night on the air – you’ll probably know it. Oh – yes –
The Black Knight Hath My Heart
–
    LAMISON:
(Who is angry.)
Bah!
    He stalks out angrily. If SAM is to be a pipe-smoker, he should fill and light a pipe here. Otherwise, he should roam around the room. NINETTE enters in a new costume now and looking very fine indeed. SAM, if sitting now, rises and smiles at her, and she smiles winningly at him
.
    NINETTE: How doth my fair lord after so much hath befallen him?
    SAM:
(Doing his best.)
Fair gentlewoman – er – I am come to no harm but – er – am yet amazed –
    NINETTE:
(Smiling.)
Fair sir, sithen ye seek adventure, to win prowess, oft times must ye stand amazed.
    SAM:
(Struggling with it.)
Noble damsel – er – ye say sooth. Er – what name – er – ?
    NINETTE: Men calleth me Lady Ninette – and among my kindred are many great lords and noble ladies –
(She curtsies, smilingly.)
    SAM: Fair Lady Ninette – men call me Sam – and the name of my family is Penty – and my kindred – to speak truth – are no great shakes –
    NINETTE: And you are no great shakes at that kind of dialogue, are you, Sam?
    SAM:
(Relieved.)
Oh – we needn’t keep it up? Good! By the way, Lady Ninette, as you were kind enough to ask me how I was feeling, I must confess I’m feeling very hungry.
    NINETTE:
(Smiling.)
I am sure you would be.
(She goes to door she entered by and opens it. GRUMET and perhaps a page or attendant enter with food and more drink all in the Medieval style. She continues talking as they put it down.)
I am hungry myself, Sam, for I waited for you, knowing you were coming. Wasn’t that nice of me?
    SAM: It was, Lady Ninette. I was about to say so.
    NINETTE: I’m afraid I hadn’t time to order anything very special.
    SAM:
(Regarding the food with satisfaction.)
No, please don’t apologise. This is a splendid lunch –
    NINETTE:
(Haughtily to GRUMET and the other.)
We’ll wait upon ourselves. Go!
    As they go, NINETTE and SAM settle down to eat and drink. There can be a good deal of little by-play here, which need not be indicated, though it must be remembered there are no forks, no plates only thick slices of bread, just sharp knives to cut with and fingers used. They are eating and drinking throughout dialogue that follows
.
    SAM:
(Hesitantly.)
By the way – what – er – age are we in here?
    NINETTE:
(Puzzled.)
What age?
    SAM: Yes – age. Period. What king is reigning?
    NINETTE: Arthur is still High King –
    SAM: Oh – Arthurian age. Legendary really. Then I suppose everything is still in full swing – knights, enchanters, dragons, giants –
    NINETTE:
(Rather surprised at this.)
Naturally. The usual Arthurian way of life. Who rules your mythical kingdom, Sam?
    SAM: Nominally – a queen, Elizabeth the Second. Actually, the executive committees of the Conservative and Labour parties, the Trades Union Congress and the federation of British Industries –
    NINETTE interrupts him by laughing heartily
.
    NINETTE:
(As she recovers.)
I’m sorry, Sam – but you must admit, now that you’re in real life, it all seems so absurd. Really, people will believe in anything. Now let’s be serious. I’m very anxious to know how Master Malgrim brought you here. I haven’t seen him since he asked me to be ready to receive you, Sam.
    SAM: We were through almost in a flash. I felt a bit dizzy of course – private bar of The Black Horse to a castle in Peradore in one move – and then I found that Malgrim had disappeared and with him a rather rum bloke, Captain Plunket, who’d insisted upon coming along. No idea where they are. You’re the first person I’ve had any talk with here, Lady Ninette.
    NINETTE:
(Smiling seductively at him.)
But rather a nice