Produced by Dagny and Frank J. Morlock
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit inprint or other media may be made without the express consent of theCopyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned aboutperformance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, oraudio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance feeor the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: FrankMorlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA orfrankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found athttp://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130
THE UNFORSEEN RETURN
Comedy in One Act
Translated and adapted
By Frank J. Morlock
Characters French names
Mr. Edward Richly (Clitandre)
Belinda (Lucile)
Clarissa (Cydalise)
Squire (Marquis)
Lucy (Lisette)
Mrs. Prim (Mme. Bertrand)
Roger (Merlin)
Jeremy (Jacquinet)
Mr. Andre (M. Andre)
Mr. Richly (M. Geronte)
Six men, four women
The scene is a street before Richly's house. Lucy, a maid isapproaching from one side and encounters Mrs. Prim.
Mrs. Prim:Ah, there you are! I'm very glad to meet you. Let's take theopportunity to have a little serious conversation, Miss Lucy.
Lucy: (easily)
Just as serious as you please, Mrs. Prim.
Mrs. Prim:You know perfectly well that I am displeased with the behavior of myniece.
Lucy:
Really Madam. And what's she done wrong, may I ask?
Mrs. Prim.She does nothing but wrong—and to make it worse she surrounds herselfwith a wench like you who gives her the worst possible advice and whopushes her over the precipice—where she's heading if she hasn'talready fallen.
Lucy:Well, Mrs. Prim, this is at the very least, a serious conversation asyou put it—and if I were to respond as seriously I don't know whereit might end. But the respect I have for your age, and for the aunt ofmy mistress prevents me from responding to you without respect.
Mrs. Prim:
My age! You're a model of moderation!
Lucy:It would be nice if you were, too, Madam. You are not the first tospread scandal about your niece; remarks that have no foundationexcept in your disordered imagination.
Mrs. Prim:My disordered imagination! What impudence. (furiously) It's thedisorder of your actions which make me speak out—and there is nothingworse than the life you are living.
Lucy:
How is that—what's wrong with our life if you please?
Mrs. Prim:What? Is there anything more scandalous than the expenditures Belindais constantly making—a girl without a penny in income.
Lucy:
You have credit, Madame.
Mrs. Prim:
Just what she needs to maintain a large house and extravagant tastes.
Lucy:
Is she forbidden to make her fortune?
Mrs. Prim:
And how is she to make her fortune?
Lucy:Very innocently. She drinks, eats, sings, laughs, gamb