The Man from Home Part 1

The Man from Home.

by Booth Tarkington and Harry Leon Wilson.

CHARACTERS

MEN

DANIEL VOORHEES PIKE Of Kokomo, Indiana

THE GRAND-DUKE VASILI VASILIVITCH

THE EARL OF HAWCASTLE

THE HON. ALMERIC ST. AUBYN Son of Lord Hawcastle

IVANOFF

HORACE GRANGER-SIMPSON

RIBIERE The Grand-Duke's secretary

MARIANO Maitre d'hotel

MICHELE A waiter

Two carabiniere

A valet de chambre

Several Sorrentine musicians and fishermen

WOMEN

ETHEL GRANGER-SIMPSON

COMTESSE DE CHAMPIGNY

LADY CREECH Sister-in-law of Hawcastle

ACT I.--The terrace of the Hotel Regina Margherita on the cliff at Sorrento. Morning.

ACT II.--The entrance garden. Afternoon.

ACT III.--An apartment in the hotel. Evening.

ACT IV.--The terrace. Morning.

The time is the present.

The scene is Sorrento, in Southern Italy.

THE FIRST ACT

SCENE: The terrace of the Hotel Regina Margherita, on the cliff at Sorrento, overlooking the Bay of Naples.

There is a view of the bay and its semi-circular coast-line, dotted with villages; Vesuvius gray in the distance. Across the stage at the rear runs a marble bal.u.s.trade about three feet high, guarding the edge of the cliff. Upon the left is seen part of one wing of the hotel, entrance to which is afforded by wide-open double doors approached by four or five marble steps with a railing and small stoop. The hotel is of pink and white stucco, and striped awnings s.h.i.+eld the windows. Upon the right is a lemon grove and shrubberies. There are two or three small white wicker tea-tables and a number of wicker chairs upon the left, and a square table laid with white cloth on the right.

As the curtain rises mandolins and guitars are heard, and the "Fisherman's Song," the time very rapid and gay, the musicians being unseen.

MARIANO, maitre d'hotel, is discovered laying the table down R.C. with eggs, coffee, and rolls for two. He is a pleasant-faced, elderly man, stout, swarthy, clean shaven; wears dress-clothes, white waist-coat, and black tie. He is annoyed by the music.

MARIANO [calling to the unseen musicians crossly]. Silenzio!

[MICHELE enters from the hotel. He is young, clean-shaven except for a dark mustache, wears a white tie, a blue coat, cut like dress-coat, blue trousers with red side stripes, bra.s.s b.u.t.tons; his waistcoat is of striped red and blue.]

MICHELE [speaking over his shoulder]. Par ici, Monsieur Ribiere, pour le maitre d'hotel.

[RIBIERE enters from the hotel.]

[MICHELE immediately withdraws.]

[RIBIERE is a trim, business-like young Frenchman of some distinction of appearance. He wears a well-made English dark "cutaway" walking-suit, a derby hat, and carries a handsome leather writing-case under his arm.]

RIBIERE. [as he enters]. Ah, Mariano!

MARIANO. [bowing and greeting him gayly]. Monsieur Ribiere! J'espere que vous etes--

[He breaks off, turns on his heel toward the invisible musicians, and shouts.]

Silenzio!

[He turns again quickly to RIBIERE.]

RIBIERE. [with a warning glance toward hotel]. Let us speak English.

There are not so many who understand.

MARIANO. [politely]. I hope Monsieur still occupy the exalt' position of secretar' to Monseigneur the Grand-Duke.

RIBIERE. [sits and opens writing-case, answers gravely]. We will not mention the name or rank of my employer.

MARIANO. [with gesture and accent of despair]. Again incognito! Every year he come to our hotel for two, three day, but always incognito.