THE FANATICS A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS BY MILES MALLESON [Illustration] “_I believe you’ve got to have something of a fanatic in you to do anything worth while these days. The thing is to keep one’s fanaticism and to keep one’s humanity._” LONDON ERNEST BENN LIMITED _Bouverie House, Fleet Street_ 1927 MADE AND PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN _First published February 1924_ _Second Edition April 1927_ _Second Impression_ (_Second Edition_) _April 1927_ _Third Impression_ (_Second Edition_) _July 1927_ NOTE AT the first performance of the production at the Ambassadors Theatre several extensive cuts were made, and for particulars of these cuts for acting purposes application should be made to the author, c/o Messrs. Curtis Brown, Ltd., 6, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, W.C. 2. _All rights reserved._ _Application regarding performing rights should be addressed to the author care of the publishers._ TO THOSE WHO LIKE THE PLAY THE author desires to acknowledge his indebtedness to Mr. Harold Scott for certain incidents and characteristics in “The Fanatics” derived from a previously projected and abandoned collaboration. PERSONS OF THE PLAY MR. FREEMAN MRS. FREEMAN JOHN, _their son_. GWEN, _their daughter_. COLIN MACKENZIE FRANCES SEWELL MARGARET HEAL TOBY ROSIE SCENE: _Mr. Freeman’s Home_. ACT I _Downstairs_. ACT II _Upstairs_. ACT III _Downstairs again_. TIME: _The Present_. ACT I ACT I DOWNSTAIRS _All that follows takes place at MR. FREEMAN’S house in the neighbourhood of Lancaster Gate; a large house in a terrace of others like it. It begins in the dining-room; middle-class, but sumptuously so. Dinner is in its final stages; a decanter of port is on the table, and a goodly array of the best fruits to be bought. MR. FREEMAN is seated at the table very occupied with a fruit; MRS. FREEMAN sits opposite to him; there is no one else in the room. MR. FREEMAN is rather short and rather round, a little red and a little bald; MRS. FREEMAN is his wife._ _MR. FREEMAN continues to eat his fruit--there is no other sound._ MR. FREEMAN (_when his mouth is unoccupied_): Disgusting! (_He reaches out and selects another fruit._) Makes me sick! [_The door opens and such an attractive head comes round it._ THE HEAD: _No!_... He hasn’t. [_The head withdraws and the door shuts._ MR. FREEMAN: _Abominable!_ I wonder if Florence knows. MRS. FREEMAN: She’s out. MR. FREEMAN: Rosie then. (_Calling._) Gwen!... Gwen!! [_The door reopens and the head reappears._ MR. FREEMAN: Does Rosie know? THE HEAD: No. [_The head disappears and the door shuts._ MR. FREEMAN: _Monstrous!_ (_Then suddenly he shouts again_) HI! Gwen!... Gwen!! [_The door reopens and the head reappears._ THE HEAD: Yes?