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Supplementary/Play by Cedric Mount - Supplementary: Never Never Nest (Play) | 11th English : UNIT 6 : Supplementary: Never Never Nest (Play)

Chapter: 11th English : UNIT 6 : Supplementary: Never Never Nest (Play)

Supplementary: Never Never Nest (Play)

English Supplementary: Never Never Nest (Play) by Cedric Mount.

Supplementary

The Never - Never Nest 

by Cedric Mount

 

Now, read, enact and enjoy the play based on the theme of purchases on instalments. Let’s know how the plot unfolds.


Scene: 

The lounge of JACK and JILL’S Villa at New Hampstead. The essential furniture consists of a table on which are writing materials, and two chairs. As the curtain rises the lounge is empty, but JACK and JILL come immediately, followed by AUNT JANE.

 

Jill: And this is the lounge.

 

Aunt Jane: Charming! Charming! Such a cosy little room! And such pretty furniture.

 

Jack (modestly): We like it, you know, handy place to sit in and listen to the radiogram.

 

Aunt Jane: Oh, have you got a radiogram as well as a car and a piano?

 

Jack: Why, of course, Aunt Jane. You simply must have a radio set nowadays.

 

JillAnd it’s so nice for me when Jack’s away at business. I even make him move it into the kitchen, so that I can listen to it while I cook.


Jack : Sit down, Aunt Jane, you must be tired— and we’ve shown you everything now.

 

Jill: What do you think of our little nest, Aunt Jane?

 

Aunt Jane: I think it’s wonderful, my dears. The furniture—and the car— and the piano— and the refrigerator and the radio-what’s it— it’s wonderful, really wonderful!

 

Jack: And we owe it all to you.

 

Aunt Jane: Yes, Jack, that’s what’s worrying me.

 

Jack: Worrying you, Aunt Jane?

 

Aunt Jane: Yes. That cheque I gave you for your wedding present—it was only two hundred pounds, wasn’t it? I— didn’t put two thousand by mistake?

 

Jill: Why no, Aunt Jane. What on earth made you think that?

 

Aunt Jane: Well, that’s all right. But I still don’t altogether understand. This house(relieved) —it’s very lovely—but doesn’t it cost a great deal for rent?

 

Jack: Rent? Oh, no, we don’t pay rent.

 

Aunt Jane: But, Jack, if you don’t pay rent, you’ll get turned out—into the street. And that would never do. You’ve Jill and the baby to think of now, you know.

 

Jack: No, no, Aunt Jane. You misunderstood me. We don’t pay rent because the house is ours.


Aunt Jane: YOURS?

 

Jill: Why, yes; you just pay ten pounds and it’s yours.

 

Jack: You see, Aunt Jane, we realized how uneconomic it is to go on paying rent year after year, when you can buy and enjoy a home of your own for ten pounds—and a few quarterly payments, of course. Why be Mr .Tenant when you can be Mr. Owner?

 

Aunt Jane: I see. Yes, there’s something in that. Even so, you must be getting on very well to keep up a place like this.

 

Jill: Oh, he is, Aunt Jane. Why, only last year he had a five shilling rise—didn’t you, Jack?

 

Jack (modestly): Of course that was nothing, really. I’m expecting ten this Christmas.

 

Aunt Jane (suddenly): Jack! I’ve just thought of something. That car—is it yours?

 

Jill : Of course it’s ours. Aunt Jane : All yours?

 

Jack  Well, no. Not exactly all.

 

Aunt Jane : How much of it?

 

Jill: Oh, I should say the steering wheel—and one of the tyres -- and about two of the cylinders. But don’t you see, that’s the wonderful thing about it.

 

Aunt Jane: I don’t see anything wonderful about it.

 

Jill: But there is, Aunt Jane. You see, although we could never buy a car outright, we can enjoy all the pleasures of motoring for a mere five pounds down.

 

Aunt Jane: And the rest by easy instalments, I suppose.

 

Jill: Exactly.

 

Aunt Jane: Exactly. And what about the radio-what’s it?

 

Jack  Well, that’s the—

 

Aunt Jane : And the piano?

 

Jill Well, of course—

 

Aunt Jane : And the furniture?

 

Jack  : I—I’m afraid so—

 

Jill : Well, no, as a matter of fact, it’s that one. (She points to another.)

 

Aunt Jane : And the rest belongs to Mr. Sage, I suppose?

 

Jill: Er—Yes.

 

Aunt Jane: Well. I’m not going to sit on Mr. Sage’s part for anyone. (She stands up.) Now, tell me, how much do all these instalments come to?

 

Jack: Well, actually—(He takes out his pocket-book and consults it) actually to seven pounds eight and eight pence a week.

 

Aunt Jane: Good heavens! And how much do you earn?

 

Jack: As a matter of fact—er—that is—six pounds.

 

Aunt Jane: But that’s absurd! How can you pay seven pounds eight and eight pence out of six pounds?

 

Jack: Oh, that’s easy. You see, all you have to do is to borrow the rest of the money for the payments from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation.

 

Jill: They’re only too glad to loan you any amount you like, on note of hand alone.

 

Aunt Jane: And how do you propose to pay that back?

 

Jack: Oh, that’s easy, too. You just pay it back in instalments.

 

Aunt Jane: Instalments! (She claps her hand to her forehead and sinks back weakly into the chair. Then realises that she is sitting on Mr. Sage’s piece and leaps to her feet again with a little shriek.)

 

Jack: Aunt Jane! Is anything the matter? Would you like to lie down?

 

Aunt Jane: Lie down? Do you suppose I’m going to trust myself in a bed that belongs to Mr. Sage, or Marks and Spencer, or somebody? No, I am going home.

 

Jill: Oh, must you really go?

 

Aunt Jane: I think I’d better.

 

Jack: I’ll drive you to the station.

 

Aunt Jane: What! Travel in a car that has only one tyre and two thingummies! No thank you—I’ll take the bus.

 

Jack: Well, of course, if you feel like that about it....

 

Aunt Jane: Now, I’m sorry if I sounded rude, but really I’m shocked to find the way (relenting a little) you’re living. I’ve never owed a penny in my life—cash down, that’s my motto and I want you to do the same. (She opens her handbag.) Now look, here’s a little cheque I was meaning to give you, anyway. (She hands it to Jill.) Suppose you take it and pay off just one of your bills— so that you can say one thing at least really belongs to you.

 

Jill: Er—thank you. Aunt Jane. It’s very nice of you. (awkwardly)

 

Aunt Jane: There! Now I must be going. (patting her arm)

 

Jack: I’ll see you to the bus, anyway.

 

Jill: Good-bye, Aunt Jane—and thanks so much for the present.

 

Aunt Jane: Good-bye, my dear. (She and Jack go out. Jill looks at the cheque and (kissing her) exclaims ‘Ten pounds!’ Then she hurries to the table, addresses an envelope, endorses the cheque and slips it inside with a bill which she takes from the bag and seals the envelope. Then she rings the bell. In a moment the NURSE comes in with the baby in her arms.)

 

Jill: Oh, nurse. I want you to run and post this for me. I’ll look after baby while you’re gone.

 

Nurse: Certainly, madam. (She hands the baby to Jill, takes the letter, and goes.)

 

Jack: Well, she’s gone! What a tartar! Still, she did leave us a bit on account—how much was it?

 

Jill: Ten pounds.

 

Jack: Phew! That’s great! We can pay off the next two months on the car with (with a whistle) that.

 

Jill: I—I’m afraid we can’t—

 

Jack: Why ever not?

 

Jill: You see, I—I’ve already sent it off for something else. Nurse has just gone to post it.

 

Jack: Well that’s all right. Who have you sent it to?

 

Jill: Dr. Martin.

 

Jack: Dr Martin! What on earth possessed you to do that?

 

Jill (nearly in tears): There! Now you’re going to be angry with me.

 

Jack: I’m not angry! But why waste good money on the doctor? Doctors don’t expect to get paid anyway.

 

Jill (sobbing a little): Bu—but you don’t understand —

 

Jack: Understand what?

 

Jill: Why; just one more installment and BABY’S REALLY OURS!

(She is holding out the infant, a little pathetically, as we black out.)

                      - Cedric Mount

 

About the Author

Cedric Mount is a considerable distinguished playwright of his age. He wrote some thoughtful plays, which include Twentieth Century Lullaby, To cut a Long Short Story Short and Nature Abhors a Vacuum. His one act plays are easy to perform, satirical, witty and insightful. These one act plays expose the shams of contemporary society besides delicately admonishing the guilty.

 


Warm up

A. What are the essentials one needs to lead a comfortable life? Fill in the empty bubbles with some of them.


B. List six gadgets that you want to purchase. Write them according to your priorities and state the reasons.


C. Answer the following questions.

a. Do you think you can afford to buy all of these at once?

No. I can buy one by one from my monthly salary.

b. We may not have money to buy all our wants at the same time. In such a situation, what are the options available?

If we do not have enough money to buy all our needs at the same time, we can buy one by one through instalment scheme with the dealers or with the help of bank loan.

c. Expand EMI - Equated Monthly Installments

Tags : Supplementary/Play by Cedric Mount , 11th English : UNIT 6 : Supplementary: Never Never Nest (Play)
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