Newspapers / Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper / May 1, 1954, edition 2 / Page 12
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L 1 T E R A R Y THE TRIANGLE OF INJUSTICE One-Act Play By MARY PHILBECK Characters: Fdward Markston: A business man of about 55 Patrick: His secretary, a man of about 60 The girl Setting: Place: Markston’s fabulous New York Apartment Time: Present. PLAY 'As the curtain opens, Edward Markston sits at his desk in his fabulous study. The room is richly furnished with valuable and magnificent antique furniture. H^avy, maroon drapes han:? in deep fo'ds on the windows. In the center cf the room is a large, round table, and upon it sits an exquisitely-made blue bowl filled with deep red roses. Edward Markston wears a dark, immaculately-tailored suit. He is a man of average height and build, with the greved temples that label today’s successful business man. He speaks immediately.) EDWARD: Patrick! (there is no answer to his summons and he calls again, his voice raised with added impatience.) Pat rick! (This time there appears in the doorway a slight, unas suming man of about 60. He wears a dark, modest business suit.) PATRICK: Yes sir? EDWARD: (Angry) Can’t you hear, Patrick? PATRICK: Yes sir? EDWARD: Then, for heaven’s sake, act like it! PAT: Yes, sir. ED: What t’me is Miss Carlson supposed to arrive? PAT: At 3 o’clock, sir. ED: (Consulting his watch) That’s half an hour yet. PAT: That’s correct, sir. ED: That will be all now. By the way, Patrick, did you get those letters in the mail this morning? PAT: All of them were in the morning’s mail, Mr. Markston. ED: Pine, Patrick. Yo umay go now (Patrick continues to stand still, making no move to go.) Did you want somethi^'g, Patrick? PAT: (turning slowly to go) Well, I—no, sir. (starts to ex \ but turns back into the room resolutely) Yes. s'r there -'s something. Miss Carlson is your late partner’s daughter, is she not? ED: Yes, but I don’t see that that concerns you Pat'-’fi:. PAT: (slowly) No, sir, I can’t say that it does, but honesty and decency do concern me in this case. ED: (Shrewdly) I think you’re forgetting your place. Patr'^k. PAT: Perhaps, sir, but I feel that I must speak my mind. Mr. Markston, I have worked for you for 15 years—years in which you have treated me fairly. ED: (Ominously) Well, have you a complaint now, my man? PAT: It’s Miss Carlson, sir. ■ ED: What about Miss Carlson, Patrick? PAT: She’s just a young girl, sir, only 17, I understand. ED: You aren’t making yourself clear. PAT: All right. I shall be blunt. I have worked for you long enough to know how you got where you are today. Your methods have not always been enhancing to your integrity, ED: (deliberately) You must be mistaken, Patrick. I haven’t been in the habit of indulging in crime. PAT: Oh, no, sir. Your system of gaining wealth has re mained inside legality, assuredly, but in the silent code of honor among men. I’m afraid you aren’t exactly faultless. ED: (his eyes narrowed) Since we appear to be in the process of accusations, may I ask—as a matter of curiosity- just why you have remamed in my employment, if you were so well-aware of my perfidious business relations? (sarcastical ly) I’m quite sure you had no ulterior motive, Patrick. PAT: (slowly) I am not a perfect man by any means, Mr. Markston, nor am I insusceptible to the wiles of money. I do not deny that the generous salary I received as your secretary has not been attractive to me . . . and I don’t know that I felt that you committed too great a sin by—shall we say—manuever- ing situations to suit your purpose. ED: (sardonically) Your subtlety is quite touching, Patrick. Just what are you driving at? PAT: Mr. Markston, the business men you have cheated would have—for the most part—done the same to you had they been as clever as you were. That is why I say that I cannot particularly blame you. But there are people who are honest, THE TRIANGLE OF INJUSTICE Mr. Markston. Perhaps it never oc"iirred tT you that integrity to seme people is more than a word, sir. ED: (cynxally) And I a'ways thought you were a secretary, sPtrick. I had no idea you were a philosopher, too. PAT: (ignoring Mr. Markst ;n’s sarcasm) Mr. Markston, Miss Carlson is only a child. H:r fatTer vor- f-i-'d an l part ner. The least you can do is to be fair to his memory. ED: My late partner was a fool, Patrick. PAT: Why? Because he refased to jo;n in your dishonesty': Wiiat wou’d hace tesn Frank C'rl on’s reaction had he knowi. whv this business prospered when ot.itr men cou dn’t make eno meet? ED: C'ud I help ‘t because Frank tecame an invalid? Be- cruse he was stupid? PAT : No, Mr. Markstcn, ; ou can t reciprocate for the in justice you d-'d Frank C"rlson, but the least you can do is to treat his daughter fairly. ED: (shrewdly) I'ust what you are driving at, Patrick? PAT: If I understand the situafon Mr. Markston, you plan to convince M ss Carlson—for her own gcod, of course—that sl:e should s'gn the share of the bus'ness left her by her father, over to you. Am I not correct, sir? ED: I see you have more intelligence than I gave you credit for, Patrick, but I’m afraid you aren’t using it w'isely. You appear to have grasped the situation correctly. Now, just what is vour idea on the subject? PAT: It’s dishonest, sir. ED: (laugh’ng) You use your terms 'oosely. my dear Patrick. S noe when did the po-vev of sugge-tlon—and as you so aptly put it, “for the young lady’s own good”—since when, Patrick, d'd tl’.e power cf suggestion beccm3 illegal? PAT : slowly Mr. Mar’;ston, you are not a young man. Don't you think it about time you were honest with yourself, at least? You have gained your wealth. Is dishonesty such an o’’se^sion wth you that you mu t resort to the indecency of robbing an in locent child of all she has left in the world? ED: (quite pale) Have you finished, Patrick? PAT: delibe-atelv) If you’ve .sunk that low, Mr. Markston, you're a dsmal failure for all your filthy money, (exit^ left). Edwar Markston s'ts on the davenport, his head in hi., hands. After a moment 're wa'ks to the window and looks out. Th»re is a knock on the door of the study). ED: (sharply) Come in. (The dcor is opened by a young g'rl cf 17 with dark hair and eyes. She is dressed in a simply-Ety:e.i light suit. She hesitates just inside the door.) EDIIH Mr. Markiton? Your—your secretary said that 1 shou'd come in. ED: (L ..King at her intently) You are Edith Carlson? EDITH: Yes, sir. ED: Please sit down won't you. (Edith sits on the davenporci You’re rather young, aren’t you? EDITH: I’m seventeen, sir—last month. ED: I see. You’re in school aren’t you? EDITH: Yes, sir. ED: How do you like school. Miss Carlson? EDITH: Very well, sir. ED: Your father was anxious that you finish school and go into training for a nurse, wasn’t he? EDITH: (ooking down) Yes, he was. ED: (sitting in chair at left cf davenport) Do—do you know the stipulations of your father’s will. Miss Carlson? EDITH: (Apparently shocked) Why, no sir. How could I know? Why do you ask? ED: Oh, no reason, (suddenly) Miss Carlson, do you consider honesty a prevalent character trait? EDITH: I—I don’t think I understand, Mr. Markston. ED: Do you think that a man has failed if he has been dis honest with himself. Miss Carlson? EDITH: (nervously) Why do you ask me, Mr. Markston? ED: (apparently forgetting Edith’s presence, he walks over to the window and speaks, as though to himself) Could Patrick be right in concluding me a failure? Funny, I never stopped to consider the way in which I was gaining my wealth—just so long as I got it, I was satisfied, (puts his hand to his fore head, suddenly feeling old and weary) It’s too late now, too late to begin again. (EJith walks about nervously ringing her hands, apparently ui av.are of Mr. Markston’s words at the window). EDITH: Mr. Markstcn, I don’t understand; I came down tc settle my father’s will, not to discuss the auspices of integrity. Page 10
Gardner-Webb University Student Newspaper
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May 1, 1954, edition 2
12
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