mtlit€itpittMmfovk THE LIBRARIES 1^ piM Pi^SiSi^ Jfi^. A: MttNE SAMvpi. FRENCH, n pms mm BU IVew YM mjM^tf mm^tm^ wtm^^iU ^mUme^ m^mmi m^-h^ ^l»m# .^ ^1 ^^ I ^ ^ .^88^8^8^««J**«!WS«**S^ '.. ^^ ^ ^ ^ ^. ^ ^ . .^ ;:^^. -^^ ^ \ 1^ THE ACTING EDITION OF Mr. Pirn Passes By A COMEDY IN THREE ACTS BY A. A. MILNE COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY A. A. MILNE All Rights Reserved CAUTION: Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that "MR. PIM PASSES BY," being fully protected under the copyright laws of the United States of Amer­ ica, the British Empire, including the Dominion of Can­ ada, and the other countries of the Copyright Union, is subject to a royalty, and anyone presenting the play without the consent of the owners or their authorized agents will be liable to the penalties by law provided. Applications for the Professional and Amateur acting rights must be made to Samuel French. 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. NEW YORK LONDON SAMUEL FRENCH SAMUEL FRENCH, LTD. PUBLISHER 26 SOUTHAMPTON STREET S5 WEST 45TH STREET STRAND ''MR. PIM PASSES BY'' All Rights Reserved Especial notice should be taken that the possession, of this book without a valid contract for production first having been obtained from the publisher, confers no right or license to professionals or amateurs to produce the play publicly or in private for gain or charity. In^ its present form this play is dedicated to the reading public only, and no performance, representation, production, recitation by amateurs, public reading or radio broadcasting may be given except by special arrangement with Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York. This play may be presented by amateurs upon payment of a royalty of Fifty Dollars for each performance, payable to Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, one week before the date when the play is given. Professional royalty quoted on application to Samuel French, 25 West 45th Street, New York, N. Y. Whenever the play is produced the following notice must appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the play: "Produced by special arrangement with Samuel French of New York" Attention is called to the penalty provided by law for any infringement of the author's rights, as follows: "SECTION 4966:—Any person publicly performing or rep­ resenting any dramatic or musical composition for which copyright has been obtained, without the consent of the proprietor of said dramatic or musical composition, or his heirs and assigns, shall be liable for damages thereof, such damages, in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than one hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, as to the court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful performance and representation be wilful and for profit, such person or persons shall ^ be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be im­ prisoned for a period not exceeding one year."—U. S. Revised Statutes: Title 60, Chap. 3. CHARACTERS THE ORIGINAL OAST AT JHE GAIETY THEATRE, MANCHESTEB GBOBQE MABDEN, J.P. • • • • • Mr. Ben Webster. OLIVIA (his Wife) •••••• Miss Irene VanbrugK DINAH (his Niece) . • , • • . Miss Georgette Cohan. LADY HARDEN (hia Aunt) • « • • • Miss St/bil Carlisle. BRIAN STRANGE ••••••• Mr. Philip Boston. CARRAWAY PIM •••••• • Mr. Dion BoucicauU. ANNB Miss Ethel Wdlesley. The action takes place in the morning-room at Marden House, Buckingham- ehire, on a day in July. THE ORIGINAL LONDON OAST AT THE NEW THEATRE GBORGB MAEDBN, J.P. • • . • Mr. Ben Webster. OuviA (his Wife) •••••• Miss Irene Vanbrugh DINAH (his Niece) .•••*. Miss (georgette Cohan. LADY MARDEN (MS Aunt) • • • • » Miss Ethel Oriffles. BRIAN STRANGB ••••••• Mr. Leslie Howard. CARRAWAY PIM ••••••• Mr. Dion BoucicauU. ANNS •»••••• • « Miss Ethel WtOeaU^ Produced by the Theatre Guild at the Garrick Theatre, on Monday evening, February 28, 1921, with the following cast: ANNE Peggy Harvey CARRAWAY PIM Erskine Saiiford DINAH Phyllis Povah BRIAN STRANGE Leonard Mudie OLIVIA MARDEN Laura Hope Or ewes GEORGE MARDEN, J. P. Dudley Digges LADY MARDEN . Helen Westley MR. PIM PASSES BY ACT I fhi' mom{ng-Toom at Marden House (BuchingJiamsMre) decided nuyre than a hundred years ago that it was all right, and has not bothered about itself since. Visitors to the house have called the result swc^ different adjectives as " mellow,'* " old-fashioned," " charming '*— even " baronial" and " antique " ; but nobody ever said it was " exciting.'' Sometimes OLIVIA wants it to be more exciting, and last week she rather let herself go over some new curtains ; she stiU has the rings to put on. It is obvious that the curtains alone will overdo the isxcitement; they will have to be harmonized with a new carpet and cushions. OLIVIA has her eye on just the things, but one has to go carefully with GEORGE. What was good enough for his great-great­ grandfather is good enough for him. However, we can trust OLIVIA to see him through it, although it may take time. A scene plot is given at the end of the play. There are three ways of coming into the room: by the open windows leading from the garden, by the doors to R., or by the staircase from up R. MR. PIM chooses the latter way—or rather ANNE chooses it for him; and MR. PIM kindly and inoffensively follows her. She comes down steps and crosses to c, followed by MR. PIM. ANNE (moves up, looking off L. and returning to PIM R.O.). 1*11 tell Mr. Marden you're here, sir. Mr. Pim, isn't it ? PIM (nervously). Yes—er—Mr. Pim—Mr. Carraway Pim. He doesn't know me, you understand, but if he could just spare me a few moments—er (He fumbles in his pockets.) I gave you that letter ? ANNE. Yes, sir, I'll give it to him. PiM {brings out a stamped letter which is not the one he was looking for, but which reminds him of something else he has forgotten. Looking at letter). Oh I Dear me I ANNE. Yes, sir 1 PIM. Dear me. I ought to have posted this. (Looking at letter.) Oh, well, I must send a telegram. You have a telegraph office In the village ? ANNE. Oh, yes, sir. {Moving up to terrace up L. and poifUdng qffh.) If you turn to the left when you get outside the gates, it's 7 • MR. PIM PASSES BY. [Acm L about a hundred yards down the hill. Turn to the left and down thehiU. PIM. Turn to the left and down the hill. Thank you, thank you. Very stupid of me to have forgotten. (ANKB exiU up staircase B.) (MR. PIM wanders about the room humming to himself, and looking at the pictures and photos on piano. Then goes out at wir^doio up L.) (DINAH enters from staircase up B. dancing^ and humming the air of ** Down on the Farm " ; she is nineteen, very pretty, very happy, and full of boyish high spirits and conversation. She dances to foot of stairs, looks off R., then down c. then to piano ; sits and plays a few bars and sings " Doum on the Farm," rises and moves up to u. of piano, and as she does so PIM re-enters from window up L. and they come suddenly face ioface up hack 0. below the writing-table. There it a slight pause.) DINAH (backing a step). Hullo! PIM. YOU must forgive me, but • • • Gfood momin Mm Marden. DINAH. Oh, I say, /'m not Mrs. Marden. I'm Dinah. PIM (unth a smile). Then I wiU say, Good morning, Miss Diana. DINAH (reproachfully). Now, look here, if you and I are going to be friends, you mustn't do that. Dinah, not Diana. Do remember It, there's a good man, because I get so tired of correcting people. {Moving doum 0. to B.) Have you come to stay with us ? (Sits on settee R.) PIM (following her down). Well, no, Miss—er—Dinah. DINAH (nodding). That's right. I can see I shan't have to speak to you again. Now tell me your name, and I bet you I get it right first time. And do sit down. PIM (crossing to L. and sitting on settee L.). Thank you. My name IB—er—Pim, Carraway Pim DINAH. Pim, that's easy. PIM. And I have a letter of introduction to your father DINAH (rising and crossing to R. of table L.C. and speaking across same). Oh, no; now you're going wrong again, Mr. Pim. George isn't my father; he's my uncle. Uncle George—he doesn't hke me calling him George. Olivia doesn't mind—I mean she doesn't mind being called OUvia, but George is rather touchy. (Sitting on table, facing PIM.) YOU see, he's been my guardian since I was about two, and then about five years ago he married a widow called Mrs. Telworthy. PIM (repeating). Mrs. Telworthy. DINAH. That's OHvia—so she became my Aunt Olivia, only she lets me drop the Aunt. (Speaking very sharply.) Get that! PIM (a little alarmed). I—I think so. Miss Marden. DINAH (admiringly). I say, you are quick, Mz. Pim. Well, U ACT I.] MK. PIM PASSES BY. 9 you take my advice, when you've finished your business with George, you will hang about a bit and see if you can't see Olivia. (Rising and moving c.) She's simply—(feeling for the word)—devastating. I don't wonder George fell in love with her. (Moving to above piano R., looking at photos, etc.) PIM (rising and looking at his watch and coming c).