REPERTORY PLAYS, No. 44 THE GRAND CHAM’S DIAMOND Entered at the Library of Congress, Washington, U.S.A. The performing rights of this play are fully protected. All applications for permission to perform “The Grand Cham’s Diamond” in the British Empire (except Canada) must be addressed to Mr Allan Monkhouse, Meadow Bank, Disley, Cheshire. For permission to perform in America and Canada, to The Baker International Play Bureau, 41 Winter Street, Boston, Mass. The fee for each and every representation of the play by amateurs in the British Empire (except Canada) is one guinea; in America and Canada, five dollars. These sums are payable in advance, and no performance may take place unless a written permission has first been obtained. The terms for performance by professionals can be ascertained on application. THE GRAND CHAM’S DIAMOND A PLAY IN ONE ACT BY ALLAN MONKHOUSE GOWANS & GRAY, LTD., LONDON AND GLASGOW THE BAKER INTERNATIONAL PLAY BUREAU BOSTON, U.S.A. 1924 Printed in Great Britain by Turnbull & Spears, Edinburgh CHARACTERS MRS PERKINS MR PERKINS MISS PERKINS A MAN IN BLACK ALBERT WATKINS _This play was first produced at the Birmingham Repertory Theatre on September 21, 1918, by Mr John Drinkwater, with the following cast:_ Mrs Perkins . CATHLEEN ORFORD Mr Perkins . REGINALD GATTY Miss Perkins . SIDNEY LEON A Man in Black . NOEL SHAMMON Albert Watkins . J. ADRIAN BYRNE THE GRAND CHAM’S DIAMOND SCENE: _A sitting-room in a small house in a London suburb. The window is in the wall to the left of the spectator and the door in the right half of the back wall. The furniture is ordinary. On the chimneypiece, to the right of the spectator, is a clock. The room is lit by electric light. It is some time after the evening meal. Mr Perkins is reading a newspaper. Mrs Perkins is darning a sock, and Miss Perkins is engaged upon a jigsaw puzzle._ MRS PERKINS What I mean t’ say is that it’s not much fun for us. MR PERKINS All right, Ma. MISS PERKINS (_Engaged on her puzzle._) Bother! MRS PERKINS It makes a long evenin’ of it. Same every night. We ’ave our tea and then we just set down till it’s time to go to bed. It’s not fair. MR PERKINS Same for all of us. MRS PERKINS That it’s not. MR PERKINS Why isn’t it? MRS PERKINS Do y’ or do y’ not go out o’ this ’ouse every mornin’ and spend the day out? MR PERKINS It’d be a poor job for you if I didn’t. MRS PERKINS I don’t say anythin’ about that. I don’t interfere. MR PERKINS ’Ow could y’ interfere? MISS PERKINS Bother! MRS PERKINS Don’t interrup’ like that when me and your pa’s talkin’, Polly. MISS PERKINS My name isn’t Polly. MR PERKINS What is it? MISS PERKINS It’s Marie. MR PERKINS Well, I’m blowed! MRS PERKINS An’ why shouldn’t she ’ave a bit of a change? She’s tired of bein’ Polly. MISS PERKINS I do think we might have a little more change. MR PERKINS Don’t you start. MISS PERKINS