Priestley dangerous turn summary what time. Read a dangerous turn by john priestly for free. Other retellings and reviews for the reader's diary
John Boynton Priestley wrote his debut play in 1932. "Dangerous Turn" loudly ascended and gained popularity. The genre of the work can be described as a detective in a closed room.
about the author
Priestley was born in Bradford in 1894. His father was a provincial teacher. The writer was in the army during the First World War, after its completion he entered Cambridge.
He wrote novels, the most famous of which is "Good Comrades". Wrote over 40 plays and became one of the most popular English playwrights.
He died in 1984 in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Plot
At a reception at the co-owner of the publishing house Robert Kaplan, interesting details of his brother's suicide, which occurred a year ago, are revealed.
The owner of the house begins an investigation, during which, one by one, the secrets of those present are revealed. The plot of "Dangerous Turn" is based on the revelations of the main characters. Such secrets from the lives of heroes surface as theft, betrayal, attempted rape.
The details of Brother Robert's suicide are eventually revealed, but the lives of those present will never be the same again.
The main characters of "Dangerous Turn"
- Robert, co-owner of an English publishing house. The play takes place in his house.
- Freda Kaplan, his wife.
- Gordon Whitehouse, Robert's companion, Freda's brother.
- Betty Whitehouse, his wife.
- Olwen Peel, publisher.
- Charles Trevor Stanton is the new publishing director.
- Maud Mockridge is a writer.
There are 7 main characters in the play, and Robert's late brother, Martin Kaplan, is constantly mentioned.
Summary of "Dangerous Turn" Priestley. Act one
For dinner, the spouses Robert and Freda Kaplan were visited by guests - relatives, friends, employees of the English publishing house, which includes the owner himself.
After the gala dinner, the men talk at the table, and the women return to the living room. Before that, they listened to the Sleeping Dog radio play there, but while having lunch, they missed 5 scenes. As a result, the ladies cannot understand the meaning of the title and the ending. They don't know why the play ends with a fatal shot.
Olwen Peel believes that the sleeping dog is a symbol of truth. The character who woke the dog was revealed the whole truth. Unable to bear it, he put a bullet in his forehead. Miss Mockridge mentions the case of Robert's brother, Martin Kaplan, who committed suicide a year ago.
The men enter the living room. They wonder what the play was about. The conversation turns to whether it's worth telling the truth at all, or whether it's wiser to hide it.
Opinions are mixed. Robert Kaplan believes that the truth must be revealed sooner or later. Stanton is sure that such a position is tantamount to a dangerous turn at high speed. The mistress of the house offers cigarettes and drinks to everyone to change the topic of conversation.
Freda opens a beautiful box of cigarettes. Olwen mentions seeing her at Martin Kaplan's. But Freda is sure that this is impossible, because Martin had her a week before the suicide, that is, after Olwen and Martin met for the last time.
Olwen does not argue with the mistress. Interested in the topic, Robert insists on continuing the conversation.
It turns out that Freda gave Martin the box on the day of the suicide. And after that brother Roberta visited Olwen on some very important matter. Moreover, both women had not told anyone about this before, even the investigation.
Robert is confused. He wants to find out all the details of this story and is not going to end the conversation. Betty, citing a headache, asks her husband to go home. Maud Mockridge and Stanton have also left, so only Olwen, Robert and Freda remain.
It turns out that Olwen went to Martin's that fateful day to find out which of the two brothers stole her £500 check.
It is believed that it was Martin, which is why he took his own life. But Olwen is suspicious of Robert. The latter is outraged, because he always considered the girl his close friend.
Freda intervenes. She tells Robert that he is blind unless she notices that Olwen is secretly in love with him. The girl agrees that it is. Therefore, she was silent during the last conversation with Martin. After all, he assured that Robert was guilty, as Stanton told him.
Robert is shocked, because Stanton said the same thing to him, but about Martin.
Freda and Robert decide that it is Stanton who is the thief, because apart from him and the brothers, no one knew about the money.
Robert calls Stanton and asks him to come back to finally sort out this case.
Action two
Stanton returns with Gordon and, under pressure, admits that he committed the theft. He really needed the money, Stanton assures that he hoped to return it soon.
But Martin suddenly shot himself, and everyone decided that the reason was the stolen amount and fear of exposure. Stanton decided to take the opportunity to keep quiet about the theft.
Freda and Gordon are glad that Martin has nothing to do with it. They condemn Stanton, but Stanton also has something to say.
He is ready to reveal everything he knows about Martin in order to help understand the reasons for his suicide. Stanton reveals that Freda had an affair with Martin.
She doesn't deny it. Freda says she couldn't end her relationship with Martin even after marrying Robert. But the first brother did not love her, so she stayed with the second.
Olwen admits that she is disgusted by Martin, his intrigues, so she feels hatred for the deceased. Gordon loved Martin, for this reason he is acutely aware of such a statement. A quarrel ensues between them.
Act Three
Suddenly, Olwen confesses that she is the one who killed Martin. But the girl claims that she did it by accident.
Then she plunges into memories of that evening. Olwen came to Martin when he was alone. It seemed to her that he was too cheerful and was under the influence of drugs. At first he began to say unpleasant things about her. He called her a stiff old maid and urged her to give in to the desire she felt for him.
When he suggested that the girl take off her dress, Olwen, outraged by this behavior, tried to leave. But he blocked her exit and took out a revolver.
A fight broke out, the man tried to rip off Olwen's dress, but she grabbed his arm and turned the gun around. Martin accidentally pulled the trigger himself and fell dead.
Everyone in the living room is shocked by what they heard, but they decide to keep this story a secret so as not to frame Olwen. Stanton had long suspected her involvement, as he found a piece of fabric from the girl's dress at the crime scene. But at the same time, he always respected Olwen and considered her moral and decent.
By this time, Betty has also appeared in the living room, and Robert wonders if it is true that she is Stanton's mistress. She admits that it is, and she hates her marriage to Gordon.
She began dating Stanton because of a disgusting relationship with her husband. In addition, her lover gave her good expensive gifts. For this, he needed money.
Robert also makes a confession - he loves Betty. But she is sure that he just sees in her a beautiful image, which she really is not.
Robert and Gordon tell Stanton they want nothing more to do with him. They demand his dismissal from the publishing house and the return of the stolen money.
Robert drinks whiskey and says that his world has collapsed due to Stanton's fault, the last illusions have evaporated, everything is now empty and meaningless.
The final
Robert leaves the room in a terribly depressed state.
Freda remembers that her husband has a gun. Olwen goes to Robert to prevent disaster.
"No! It can't happen. It will never happen!" Olwen exclaims.
The end of Priestley's "Dangerous Turn" takes us back to the beginning.
The light turns on slowly again. There are four women on stage. They talk about the Sleeping Dog play and its ending. Soon the men leave the dining room, the same conversation is again tied up as at the beginning of the play.
Again they are trying to figure out the meaning of the name "Sleeping Dog", arguing about truth and lies, and Freda takes the box of cigarettes. Olwen recognizes her, but then the conversation naturally turns in a different direction.
Gordon scrolls the airwaves looking for music to dance to, Olwen and Robert dance a foxtrot called "Things Could Have Been Different".
Everyone has a lot of fun, joy and smiles on their faces, the music is playing louder.
The curtain falls.
The main idea of the play
When analyzing "Dangerous Turn", Priestleys first of all pay attention to the concept of truth and lies set forth in the play.
One of the characters claims that telling the truth is tantamount to a dangerous turn at high speed. And subsequent events, where the whole truth is revealed, really lead to tragic consequences.
But the idea of the play is not at all that the truth must be hidden. The heroine named Olwen expresses important thoughts for understanding the play. The truth would not be dangerous if people were initially ready to be sincere, revealing their flaws and shortcomings.
Taken out of context, the truth may sound terrible, but it does not take into account the circumstances of a person’s life and what is in his soul. Such a half-truth, no matter how disgusting it may sound, will never help to understand a person.
The complexity of the issue lies also in the fact that a person often cannot understand himself, does not know how to be sincere with himself.
Another idea that John Boynton Priestley put into this and his other plays is the general interdependence of people. Their good and evil deeds give rise to a chain of events, and it is impossible to guess how they will end.
The film "Dangerous Turn" in 1972 based on Priestley's play was directed by Vladimir Basov. He himself played one of the main roles in this tape. Also in the film starred Yuri Yakovlev, Rufina Nifontova.
The picture consists of three episodes and lasts 199 minutes.
The fate of the work
"Dangerous Turn" Priestley was on the stages of many theaters around the world. But the author himself did not really like his first creation. He believed that the dramatic technique shown in the work was too polished and flawless.
And although the characters are depicted vividly and believably, the author and some directors found the characters too flat.
The play "Dangerous Turn" by Priestley is still popular with the public. It is often staged in amateur and professional theaters. Several screen adaptations have also been released. different countries. In Russia, the film "Dangerous Turn" in 1972 is still highly appreciated by critics and viewers.
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John Boynton Priestley
Dangerous turn
J. B. Priestley. Dangerous Corner, A Play in Three Acts (1932).
Characters:
Robert Kaplan.
Fred Kaplan.
Betty Whitehouse.
Gordon Whitehouse.
Olwen Peel.
Charles Trevor Stanton.
Maud Mockridge.
The scene is the living room in the Kaplen house in Chantbury Kloe. The time is after lunch. Decoration - one for all three actions.
STEP ONE
The curtain rises - the stage is dark. There is a muffled shot from a revolver, immediately followed by a woman's scream, and there is dead silence. After a short pause, Freda's somewhat ironic voice is heard: "Well, that's it!" - and the light above the fireplace is lit, illuminating the living room. Freda is standing by the fireplace: she is a young, beautiful, cheerful woman, about thirty years old. In front of the fireplace sits Olwen, an interesting brunette, the same age as Freda. Not far from her, stretched out on a couch, lies Betty, a young and very pretty woman. Sitting comfortably in a chair in the middle of the room is Miss Mockridge, a writer, elegant, middle-aged, with the appearance typical of women of her profession. They are all in evening dress and, obviously, have just been listening to a radio program (the radio is right there on the table), waiting for the men who lingered in the dining room. Freda is about to go to the receiver to turn it off - at this moment a typical announcer's voice is heard.
Speaker. You have just listened to the play in eight pictures Sleeping Dog!, written especially for us by Humphrey Stot.
FREDA (slowly approaching the radio). That's all. I hope you weren't bored, Miss Mockridge?
Miss Mockridge. Not at all.
Betty. I don't like these plays, with their boring conversations. Like Gordon, I like dance music more.
Freda (turning off the receiver). You know, Miss Mockridge, whenever my brother Gordon comes over here, he harasses us with dance music on the radio.
Betty. I love to turn off all those solemn, pompous rants - like this, cut them off.
Miss Mockridge. What was the name of this play?
Olwen. Sleeping dog!
Miss Mockridge. What's with the dog?
Betty. And despite the fact that it is not necessary to interfere with lying.
Fred. Who is to stop lying?
Betty. Well, they all lie, don't they? And they lied.
Miss Mockridge. How many scenes have we missed?
Olwen. Seems like five.
Miss Mockridge. I can imagine how many lies were in these scenes. It is understandable why this man is so angry. I mean my husband.
Betty. But which one was the husband? Was it not the one who spoke in such a nasal voice, as if he had polyps in his nose?
Miss Mockridge (live). Yes, the one with polyps, he took it and shot himself. It's a pity.
Fred. Because of the polyps.
Miss Mockridge. And because of the polyps - sorry!
Everyone laughs. At this moment, muffled male laughter comes from the dining room.
Betty. Just listen to these men.
Miss Mockridge. Probably laughing at some obscenity.
Betty. Where there, just gossip. Men love to gossip.
Fred. Still would.
Miss Mockridge. Well, let them, to health! People who don't like gossip usually don't care about their neighbors. I really wish my publishers liked to gossip.
Betty. At the same time, men pretend that they are busy with business.
Fred. Ours now have an excellent pretext for gossip: all three became directors of the company.
Miss Mockridge. Well, yes, of course. Miss Peel, I think you should marry Mr Stanton.
Olwen. Oh why?
Miss Mockridge. To complete the picture. Then there would be three married couples adoring each other. I thought about it all the time at dinner.
Fred. What, gotcha, Olwen?
Miss Mockridge. I myself would not mind marrying him, just to become one of the members of your charming circle. You are an amazingly nice little company.
Fred. We?
Miss Mockridge. Is not it so?
Freda (a little mockingly). "Nice little company." How terrible!
Miss Mockridge. Nothing terrible. Just lovely.
Freda (smiling). Sounds a bit cheesy.
Betty. Yes. Looks like Dickens or Christmas cards.
Miss Mockridge. And there is nothing wrong with that. In our age, this is even too good and does not seem to be true.
FREDA (apparently amused by her tone). Oh really?
Olwen. I didn't know you were such a pessimist, Miss Mockridge.
Miss Mockridge. Did not know? Then you apparently don't read reviews of my books, which you should, since you work for my publishers. I will complain about this to my three directors when they get back. (With a short laugh.) Of course, I'm a pessimist. But don't get me wrong. I just wanted to say how amazing it is here!
Fred. Yes, it's pretty nice here. We were lucky.
Olwen. It's amazing here. I hate leaving here. (Miss Mockridge.) You know, I'm busy in the city office of the publishing house now ... not like before when I worked here in the printing house. But I come here at the slightest opportunity.
Miss Mockridge. I completely understand you. It must be surprisingly pleasant to live like this - all together.
Betty. Not so bad.
Miss Mockridge (Frede). But for some reason it seems to me that you all miss your brother-in-law. Did he come here often too?
Fred (who clearly dislikes this remark). Are you talking about Martin, Robert's brother?
Miss Mockridge. Yes, about Martin Kaplan. At that time I was in America and didn’t really understand what happened to him. Looks like something terrible?
An awkward silence - Betty and Olwen look at Freda.
Miss Mockridge. (He looks from one to the other.) Oh, that seems like a tactless question. It's always like this with me.
FREDA (very calmly). No, not at all. It was a big shock for us at the time, but now it has subsided a bit. Martin shot himself. And it all happened almost a year ago, last June to be exact, not here, but in Follows End, twenty miles away. He rented a cottage there.
Miss Mockridge. Oh yes, it's terrible. I think I've only seen him twice. I remember finding it extremely interesting and charming. He was very handsome, wasn't he?
Enter Stanton and Gordon. Stanton is about forty, his manner of address is somewhat deliberate, his speech is slightly ironic. Gordon is a young man in his early twenties who is very good-looking, although somewhat unstable.
Olwen. Yes, very handsome.
Stanton (with a condescending smile). Who is very handsome?
Fred. Calm down, not you, Charles.
Stanton. And can I find out who or is it a big secret?
GORDON (taking Betty's hand). They were talking about me, Betty, why do you let them flatter your husband so rudely? Aren't you ashamed, my dear?
Betty (holding his hand). My dear, I am convinced that you have been gossiping too much and drinking too much. Your face is crimson and even swollen, well, quite a successful financier.
Robert enters. He's a little over thirty. He can serve as a model of a healthy, attractive man. You may not always agree with him, but still he will involuntarily inspire you with sympathy.
Robert. I'm sorry I'm late, but it's your damn puppy, Freda.
Fred. Oh what else has he done?
Robert. Tried to devour the manuscript of Sonya Williams' new novel. I was afraid that he would vomit. You see, Miss Mockridge, how we speak of you, the authors.
Miss Mockridge. I got used already. I was just saying what a charming little circle you all make up.
Robert. I am extremely pleased that you think so.
Miss Mockridge. I find that you are very fortunate.
Robert. That is how it is.
Stanton. It's not about happiness, Miss Mockridge. You see, it so happened that we all turned out to be people with an easy, accommodating character.
ROBERT (jokingly, perhaps - too jokingly). Except for Betty, she has a rabid temperament.
Stanton. It's because Gordon doesn't hit her often enough!
Miss Mockridge. Well, you see, Miss Peel, Mr. Stanton is still a cynical bachelor, I'm afraid he spoils all your music.
Stanton. Miss Peel has no influence now - she has transferred to the London office and left us altogether.
Olwen. I come here very often, as often as I am invited.
Gordon. But for what? To see me or Robert - that we can't decide yet. In any case, our wives are already starting to get jealous.
Betty (laughing). And scary!
Gordon (starting to play the radio). What is being broadcast today? Who knows?
Fred. Oh, please, Gordon, don't turn on the radio. We just turned it off.
Gordon. What were you listening to?
Fred. The end of a play.
Olwen. Titled "Sleeping Dog!".
Stanton. What's the name?
Miss Mockridge. We didn't really understand - something about lies and some gentleman who shot himself.
Stanton. Well, jokers at the radio station.
Olwen (who must have been thinking about something). Look, I think I figured out what the play was about. The sleeping dog is true, and the man - well, this husband - certainly wanted to disturb her, wake the dog.
Robert. Well, he did exactly the right thing.
Stanton. Do you think? Curious. I find this to be a profound thought: the truth is a sleeping dog.
Miss Mockridge (ignoring his words). Indeed, we spend too much time lying, both in words and in deeds.
BETTY (with the air of a naive child). But it's completely inevitable. I always lie, all day long I do just that.
GORDON (still fiddling with the radio). Exactly, my dear, exactly.
Betty. This is the whole secret of my charm.
Miss Mockridge (somewhat impatiently). Very possible. But we meant something more serious.
Robert. Seriously or jokingly, I always stand for everything to come out. That's better.
Stanton. It seems to me that telling the truth is like making a turn at sixty miles an hour.
Fred (with some mysterious or even evil tone in his voice). There are so many dangerous twists and turns in life, aren't there, Charles?
Stanton (as if arguing with her or with someone else present). Yes, it happens - unless you know how to choose the right path. To lie or not to lie, what do you say, Olwen? You have a terribly thoughtful look.
Olwen (very seriously). I agree with you. It seems to me that saying everything to the end is extremely dangerous. The fact is that ... there is truth and truth.
Gordon. Exactly: the truth is different.
Stanton. Shut up, Gordon. Go on, Olwen.
Miss Mockridge. Yes, yes, go on.
Olwen (thoughtfully). It seems to me ... the real truth ... that is, everything, everything to the smallest detail, without any concealment ... would not be terrible. I mean the highest, true truth. But what is meant by truth in ordinary life and what this person in the radio program meant by it is only half the truth. From it you can not find out what is happening in the soul of each. You are simply introduced to a number of facts that were previously hidden ... and it is very good that they were hidden. Such truth is a treacherous thing.
Gordon. Yes, like the vileness that they try to pull out of a person in court: “Where were you on the night of the twenty-seventh of November last year? .. Answer only “yes” or “no.”
Miss Mockridge (who clearly wants to challenge those present to an argument). You haven't convinced me, Miss Peel. But I am ready to welcome what you call half-truths, that is, facts.
Robert. Me too. I stand for it completely.
Freda (in some mysterious tone). Do you think so, Robert?
Robert. What do you mean by that?
Freda (carelessly). Yes, nothing. Let's talk about something more fun. Who wants to drink? Come on, Robert. And offer cigarettes.
ROBERT (looking into the cigarette box on the table). There are no more cigarettes here.
Fred. This one has it. (Taking a music box for cigarettes from the table.) Miss Mockridge, Olwen, would you like to? (Holds out box.)
Olwen (examining the box). Oh, I remember this box. It plays a melody when you open the lid. I even remember the motive. Yes, it seems, "Wedding March"? (Opens the box, takes out a cigarette, the gentle melody of the "Wedding March" is heard.)
Robert. Okay, isn't it?
Freda (closing the box). You couldn't remember this box. I got it for the first time today. It belonged to... a stranger.
Olwen. She belonged to Martin, didn't she? He showed it to me.
A little silence. Both women stare at each other.
Fred. He couldn't show it to you, Olwen. He didn't have it yet when you last saw him.
Stanton. How do you know he didn't have it, Freda?
Fred. Doesn't matter. I know it. Martin couldn't show you this box, Olwen.
Olwen. You think? (Looks meaningfully at Freda, then in a completely different tone.) Yes, maybe he couldn't. I must have confused something. She must have seen a similar one somewhere else, but attributed it to the late Martin - he adored such things.
Robert. Olwen, I may be impolite, but I'm sure you won't complain. You just suddenly stopped telling the truth and you are well aware of it. You are quite sure that this is the box that Martin showed you, just as Freda is convinced otherwise.
Olwen. Well, let's say, what does it matter?
GORDON (fiddling with the radio). Not the slightest. I keep trying to catch some foxtrot, but this machine suddenly decided to go on strike.
ROBERT (irritated). Yes, leave her alone.
Betty. Why are you yelling at Gordon?
Robert. Well, well, then stop it yourself. No, Olwen, I don't think it matters, but after what we've said, you can't help thinking that the situation is rather curious.
Miss Mockridge (with impatient curiosity). Just what I thought. Indeed, very curious. Please tell us the whole truth about this musical cigarette.
Fred. Everything is very simple…
Olwen. One minute, Freda. I'm not at all sure that everything is so simple, but it seems that now it is not so important.
Fred. I do not understand.
Robert. Me too. At first you say that this is not the right box, and now that everything is not so simple at all, and you let in a mysterious fog. I think you're hiding something, and it doesn't look like you at all. Either this box belonged to Martin or not...
Stanton (with his usual rough good nature). I gave you this damn box.
Betty. Oh, Charles, we would like to hear.
Miss Mockridge (together with Betty). But Mr Stanton...
Stanton. I'm sorry, but I hate these playing boxes. Especially with this kind of music. Let's forget about her.
GORDON (with a sudden hint of bitterness). And about Martin, by the way. He is no longer in the world, and we are all sitting here and we are warm and comfortable - such a charming, sweet company.
Robert. Stop it please. Gordon.
Gordon. Let's not mention Martin or think about him. This is inappropriate. He died.
Fred. No need to get hysterical about it, Gordon. Listening to you, you might think that Martin was your personal property.
Betty. In fact, Martin did not belong to anyone. He belonged only to himself and was not so stupid.
ROBERT (suddenly awakening from his reverie). What does it all mean, Betty?
Betty (laughing). This means that I was talking nonsense, and you are all talking terrible nonsense, and I risk getting a migraine every minute.
Robert. And it's all?
Betty. But isn't that enough? (Looks at him with a smile.)
Robert. Keep going Fred.
Fred. I wish you weren't so recklessly pushy, Robert. And with the box, everything is very simple. It came to us along with some of Martin's other belongings from his cottage. I hid it and took it out for the first time today. Meanwhile, Olwen was at the cottage in Fallows End for the last time on that Saturday when we were all there ... you remember, at the very beginning of June.
GORDON (with suppressed but intense excitement). Still would! Of course. What a day! And a wonderful night, isn't it? We sat in the garden for a long time, and Martin told us about his funny, pompous neighbors with whom he lived in Cornwall ...
Betty. Yes, and about the lanky, lean lady who kept asking about everyone: “Is this a person of our circle?”
Gordon (quite sincerely). I have not had another have a nice day and we don't see that anymore.
Robert. Yes, it was a wonderful day. Although I never thought you'd be so worried.
Fred. Neither you nor anyone else could have imagined such experiences. It looks like Gordon decided to throw a fit every time Martin's name is mentioned.
Betty. I think it's all about strong brandy. No wonder, with such huge glasses. The wine went to his head.
Gordon. Where else do you think he should hit?
Robert (Frede). So, you're saying that Olwen visited Martin's cottage for the last time on that Saturday in early June?
Fred. Yes, and I know that he did not yet have this cigarette.
Robert. He would have shown it to us if he had it. Indeed, I do not remember ever seeing this thing in his cottage. Well, and you, Olwen?
Olwen (with a vague smile). What am I?
Robert. Damn it, what can you say?
Olwen (smiling indulgently). You are a real baby, Robert. I hope I'm not in the dock or the witness stand.
Miss Mockridge. Oh no no please. Don't be fooled by our expectations.
Betty. You know, Olwen, coming to Martin's cottage on Saturday was not your last visit to this house. Don't you remember how you and I went there the following Sunday afternoon to talk to Martin about these little engravings?
Olwen. I remember.
Robert. Yes, right.
Betty. But I don't remember him showing us this cigarette box. I had never really seen her before.
Stanton. I haven't seen her and I don't want to. I've never heard so much fuss about nothing.
Fred. I would not be as categorical as you, Charles. Besides, I can tell you - if only to get it over with - Martin couldn't possibly show this cigarette box on Sunday, because he didn't have it then.
Stanton (not without some malice). You seem to know a lot about this box, Freda?
Gordon. This is exactly what I wanted to say. Where does this awareness come from?
Betty (triumphantly). I know where. (Fred). You gave it to him.
Everyone looks at Fred.
Robert. Is that true, Freda?
Freda (unperturbed). Yes, I gave it to him.
Robert. Weird! I mean, it's not the gift of some cigarette-maker that's strange in itself - why don't you give it. It's strange that you never mentioned it. When did you give it to him? Where did you get it?
FREDA (still with complete composure). This is also very simple. Do you remember the day before that terrible Saturday? You were then in the city, and I came there for one day. It was there that I accidentally saw this box in an antique shop. I found it interesting and quite cheap, so I bought it for Martin.
Robert. The shop sent it to Martin in Follows End himself, right? So he couldn't have gotten it before that fateful Saturday?
Fred. Yes.
Robert. Then it's clear.
Gordon. I'm sorry, Freda, but this is not at all as obvious as you say. You must not forget that I was at Martin's cottage that Saturday morning.
Robert. Well, so what?
Gordon. And the fact that I was there at the time when parcels arrived from the post office along with the letters. I remember Martin getting a package of books from Jack Brookfield—I can't forget a single detail of that morning, and you wouldn't if you had to go through that damn interrogation like I did—but the box wasn't there.
Fred. It must have been sent not with the morning mail, but with the afternoon mail, that's all. Who cares?
Gordon. None, of course, my dear Freda, except for the slight difference that in Follows End parcels never arrive by day mail.
Fred. No, they come.
Gordon. No.
Freda (sharply). How do you know?
Gordon. Because Martin always grumbled about it and complained that he was always getting books and manuscripts a day late. This cigarette box was not sent in the morning, I myself was present at the opening of the mail, it could not be delivered even with the afternoon mail. Freda, I don't believe the store ever shipped this box. You brought it to Martin yourself. So it was?
Freda (in a fit of irritation). You're just stupid, Gordon.
Gordon. Maybe. But remember, I didn't start it all. And yet, you brought it to Martin, didn't you?
Robert. Is this true?
FREDA (quickly coming to her senses, restrainedly). Well, well, if you want to know so much, yes, I brought it.
Robert. Fred!
Gordon. I thought so.
ROBERT (amazed). But, Freda, if you went to the cottage to give Martin the box after Gordon left, you must have seen Martin later than anyone else, that is, a few hours before he ... how he finished with yourself.
Fred. Yes. I saw him between afternoon tea and lunch.
Robert. Why didn't you say anything about this before? Why didn't you testify?
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JOHN BOYNTON PRIESTLEY
DANGEROUS BEND
Characters:
Robert Kaplan.
Fred Kaplan.
Betty Whitehouse.
Gordon Whitehouse.
Olwen Peel.
Charles Trevor Stanton.
Maud Mockridge.
The scene is the living room in the Kaplen house in Chantbury Kloe. Time is after lunch. Decoration - one for all three actions.
STEP ONE
The curtain rises - the stage is dark. There is a muffled shot from a revolver, immediately followed by a woman's scream, and there is dead silence. After a short pause, Freda's somewhat ironic voice is heard: "Well, that's it!" - and the light above the fireplace is lit, illuminating the living room. Freda is standing by the fireplace: she is a young, beautiful, cheerful woman, about thirty years old. In front of the fireplace sits Olwen, an interesting brunette, the same age as Freda. Not far from her, stretched out on a couch, lies Betty, a young and very pretty woman. Sitting comfortably in a chair in the middle of the room is Miss Mockridge, a writer, elegant, middle-aged, with the appearance typical of women of her profession. They are all in evening dress and, obviously, have just been listening to a radio program (the radio is right there on the table), waiting for the men who lingered in the dining room. Freda is about to go over to the receiver to turn it off when a typically announcer's voice is heard.
Speaker. You have just listened to the play in eight pictures Sleeping Dog!, written especially for us by Humphrey Stot.
FREDA (slowly approaching the radio). That's all. I hope you weren't bored, Miss Mockridge?
Miss Mockridge. Not at all.
Betty. I don't like these plays, with their boring conversations. Like Gordon, I like dance music more.
Freda (turning off the receiver). You know, Miss Mockridge, whenever my brother Gordon comes over here, he harasses us with dance music on the radio.
Betty. I love to turn off all those solemn, pompous rants - like this, cut them off.
Miss Mockridge. What was the name of this play?
Olwen. Sleeping dog!
Miss Mockridge. What's with the dog?
Betty. And despite the fact that it is not necessary to interfere with lying.
Fred. Who is to stop lying?
Betty. Well, they all lie, don't they? And they lied.
Miss Mockridge. How many scenes have we missed?
Olwen. Seems like five.
Miss Mockridge. I can imagine how many lies were in these scenes. It is understandable why this man is so angry. I mean my husband.
Betty. But which one was the husband? Was it not the one who spoke in such a nasal voice, as if he had polyps in his nose?
Miss Mockridge (live). Yes, the one with polyps, he took it and shot himself. It's a pity.
Fred. Because of the polyps.
Miss Mockridge. And because of the polyps - sorry!
Everyone laughs. At this moment, muffled male laughter comes from the dining room.
Betty. Just listen to these men.
Miss Mockridge. Probably laughing at some obscenity.
Betty. Where there, just gossip. Men love to gossip.
Fred. Still would.
Miss Mockridge. Well, let them, to health! People who don't like gossip usually don't care about their neighbors. I really wish my publishers liked to gossip.
Betty. At the same time, men pretend that they are busy with business.
Fred. Ours now have an excellent pretext for gossip: all three became directors of the company.
Miss Mockridge. Well, yes, of course. Miss Peel, I think you should marry Mr Stanton.
Olwen. Oh why?
Miss Mockridge. To complete the picture. Then there would be three married couples adoring each other. I thought about it all the time at dinner.
Fred. What, gotcha, Olwen?
Miss Mockridge. I myself would not mind marrying him, just to become one of the members of your charming circle. You are an amazingly nice little company.
Fred. We?
Miss Mockridge. Is not it so?
Freda (slightly derisive). "Nice little company." How terrible!
Miss Mockridge. Nothing terrible. Just lovely.
Freda (smiling). Sounds a bit cheesy.
Betty. Yes. Looks like Dickens or Christmas cards.
Miss Mockridge. And there is nothing wrong with that. In our age, this is even too good and does not seem to be true.
FREDA (apparently amused by her tone). Oh really?
Olwen. I didn't know you were such a pessimist, Miss Mockridge.
Miss Mockridge. Did not know? Then you apparently don't read reviews of my books, which you should, since you work for my publishers. I will complain about this to my three directors when they get back. (With a short laugh.) Of course, I'm a pessimist. But don't get me wrong. I just wanted to say how amazing it is here!
Fred. Yes, it's pretty nice here. We were lucky.
Olwen. It's amazing here. I hate leaving here. (Miss Mockridge.) You know, I'm busy in the city office of the publishing house now ... not like before when I worked here in the printing house. But I come here at the slightest opportunity.
Miss Mockridge. I completely understand you. It must be surprisingly pleasant to live like this - all together.
Betty. Not so bad.
Miss Mockridge (Frede). But for some reason it seems to me that you all miss your brother-in-law. Did he come here often too?
Fred (who clearly dislikes this remark). Are you talking about Martin, Robert's brother?
Miss Mockridge. Yes, about Martin Kaplan. At that time I was in America and didn’t really understand what happened to him. Looks like something terrible?
An awkward silence as Betty and Olwen look at Freda.
Miss Mockridge. (He looks from one to the other.) Oh, that seems like a tactless question. It's always like this with me.
FREDA (very calmly). No, not at all. It was a big shock for us at the time, but now it has subsided a bit. Martin shot himself. And it all happened almost a year ago, more precisely, last June, but not here, but in Follows End, twenty miles from here. He rented a cottage there.
Miss Mockridge. Oh yes, it's terrible. I think I've only seen him twice. I remember finding it extremely interesting and charming. He was very handsome, wasn't he?
Enter Stanton and Gordon. Stanton is about forty, his manner of address is somewhat deliberate, his speech is slightly ironic. Gordon is a young man in his early twenties, very handsome, if somewhat unstable.
Olwen. Yes, very handsome.
Stanton (with a condescending smile). Who is very handsome?
Fred. Calm down, not you, Charles.
Stanton. And can I find out who or is it a big secret?
GORDON (taking Betty's hand). They were talking about me, Betty, why do you let them flatter your husband so rudely? Aren't you ashamed, my dear?
Betty (holding his hand). My dear, I am convinced that you have been gossiping too much and drinking too much. Your face is crimson and even swollen, well, quite a successful financier.
Robert enters. He's a little over thirty. He can serve as a model of a healthy, attractive man. You may not always agree with him, but still he will involuntarily inspire you with sympathy.
Robert. I'm sorry I'm late, but it's your damn puppy, Freda.
Fred. Oh what else has he done?
Robert. Tried to devour the manuscript of Sonya Williams' new novel. I was afraid that he would vomit. You see, Miss Mockridge, how we speak of you, the authors.
Miss Mockridge. I got used already. I was just saying what a charming little circle you all make up.
Robert. I am extremely pleased that you think so.
Miss Mockridge. I find that you are very fortunate.
Robert. That is how it is.
Stanton. It's not about happiness, Miss Mockridge. You see, it so happened that we all turned out to be people with an easy, accommodating character.
ROBERT (jokingly, perhaps - too jokingly). Except for Betty, she has a rabid temperament.
Stanton. It's because Gordon doesn't hit her often enough!
Miss Mockridge. Well, you see, Miss Peel, Mr. Stanton is still a cynical bachelor, I'm afraid he spoils all your music.
Stanton. Miss Peel has no influence now - she has transferred to the London office and left us completely.
Olwen. I come here very often, as often as I am invited.
Gordon. But for what? To see me or Robert, we can't decide yet. In any case, our wives are already starting to get jealous.
Betty (laughing). And scary!
Gordon (starting to play the radio). What is being broadcast today? Who knows?
Fred. Oh, please, Gordon, don't turn on the radio. We just turned it off.
Gordon. What were you listening to?
Fred. The end of a play.
Olwen. Titled "Sleeping Dog!".
Stanton. What's the name?
Miss Mockridge. We did not really understand - something about a lie and some kind of gentleman who shot himself.
Stanton. Well, jokers at the radio station.
Olwen (who seemed to be thinking about something). Look, I think I figured out what the play was about. The sleeping dog is true, and the man - well, this husband - certainly wanted to disturb her, wake the dog.
Robert. Well, he did exactly the right thing.
Stanton. Do you think? Curious. I find this to be a profound thought: Truth is a sleeping dog.
Miss Mockridge (ignoring his words). Indeed, we spend too much time lying, both in words and in deeds.
BETTY (with the air of a naive child). But it's completely inevitable. I always lie, all day long I do just that.
GORDON (still fiddling with the radio). Exactly, my dear, exactly.
Betty. This is the whole secret of my charm.
Miss Mockridge (somewhat impatiently). Very possible. But we meant something more serious.
Robert. Seriously or jokingly, I always stand for everything to come out. That's better.
Stanton. It seems to me that telling the truth is like making a turn at sixty miles an hour.
Fred (with some mysterious or even evil tone in his voice). There are so many dangerous twists and turns in life, aren't there, Charles?
Stanton (as if arguing with her or with someone else present). Yes, it happens - unless you know how to choose the right path. To lie or not to lie, what do you say, Olwen? You have a terribly thoughtful look.
Olwen (very seriously). I agree with you. It seems to me that saying everything to the end is extremely dangerous. The fact is that ... there is truth and truth.
Gordon. Exactly: the truth is different.
Stanton. Shut up, Gordon. Go on, Olwen.
Miss Mockridge. Yes, yes, go on.
Olwen (thoughtfully). It seems to me ... the real truth ... that is, everything, everything to the smallest detail, without any concealment ... would not be terrible. I mean the highest, true truth. But what is meant by truth in ordinary life and what this person in the radio program meant by it is only half the truth. From it you can not find out what is happening in the soul of each. You are simply introduced to a number of facts that were previously hidden ... and it is very good that they were hidden. Such truth is a treacherous thing.
Gordon. Yes, like the vileness that they try to pull out of a person in court: “Where were you on the night of the twenty-seventh of November last year? .. Answer only “yes” or “no.”
Miss Mockridge (who clearly wants to challenge those present to an argument). You haven't convinced me, Miss Peel. But I am ready to welcome what you call half-truths, that is, facts.
Robert. Me too. I stand for it completely.
Freda (in a mysterious tone). Do you think so, Robert?
Robert. What do you mean by that?
Freda (carelessly). Yes, nothing. Let's talk about something more fun. Who wants to drink? Come on, Robert. And offer cigarettes.
ROBERT (looking into the cigarette box on the table). There are no more cigarettes here.
Fred. This one has it. (Taking a music box for cigarettes from the table.) Miss Mockridge, Olwen, would you like to? (Holds out box.)
Olwen (examining the box). Oh, I remember this box. It plays a melody when you open the lid. I even remember the motive. Yes, it seems, "Wedding March"? (Opens the box, takes out a cigarette, the gentle melody of the "Wedding March" is heard.)
Robert. Okay, isn't it?
Freda (closing the box). You couldn't remember this box. I got it for the first time today. It belonged to... a stranger.
Olwen. She belonged to Martin, didn't she? He showed it to me.
A little silence. Both women stare at each other.
Fred. He couldn't show it to you, Olwen. He didn't have it yet when you last saw him.
Stanton. How do you know he didn't have it, Freda?
Fred. Doesn't matter. I know it. Martin couldn't show you this box, Olwen.
Olwen. You think? (Looks meaningfully at Freda, then in a completely different tone.) Yes, maybe he couldn't. I must have confused something. She must have seen a similar one somewhere else, but attributed it to the late Martin - he adored such things.
Robert. Olwen, I may be impolite, but I'm sure you won't complain. You just suddenly stopped telling the truth and you are well aware of it. You are quite sure that this is the box that Martin showed you, just as Freda is convinced otherwise.
Olwen. Well, let's say, what does it matter?
GORDON (fiddling with the radio). Not the slightest. I keep trying to catch some foxtrot, but this machine suddenly decided to go on strike.
ROBERT (irritated). Yes, leave her alone.
Betty. Why are you yelling at Gordon?
Robert. Well, well, then stop it yourself. No, Olwen, I don't think it matters, but after what we've said, you can't help thinking that the situation is rather curious.
Relatives and friends came to dinner with Robert and Freda Kaplan. Among the guests are the married couple Gordon and Betty Whitehouse, the publishing house employee Olwen Peel, the director of the same publishing house Charles Trevor Stanton and the writer Maud Mockridge. Men communicate after dinner in the dining room, and women decide to listen to the play on the radio that they listened to before dinner, however, they do not quite understand what's what, as they missed several scenes when they dined. The women began to come up with their theories about the missing scenes. The men returned from the dining room and began to ask the ladies about the play, and then discuss the topic: “should I tell the truth or lie?”
People's opinions differ, as Robert believes that it is necessary to tell the truth, since sooner or later everything secret becomes clear. And Stanton says that he does not like to tell the truth, as it is dangerous. Freda wants to switch the conversation to another topic and offers to drink a little and smoke cigarettes. They lie in a box, which seemed very familiar to the employee of the publishing house - she had already seen this box in a man named Martin Kaplan. Freda says it's impossible, as Martin received it after Olwen and Martin saw each other for the last time, that is, a week before Martin's death. Olwen doesn't argue with Freda. Robert finds this suspicious and begins questioning. As it turned out, Freda bought the box after their visit, but after that, Olwen came to Martin to talk about one thing. And they kept silent about their visit to Martin. They didn't even tell the investigators. Robert says he has to find out the whole story. Betty began to get nervous and persuaded her husband to go home, saying that she had a headache. Stanton went with them.
Robert, Freda and Olwen reminisce about the experience. The guest says that she went to Martin to find out who stole the check for half a thousand pounds - Martin or Robert. Everyone believes that Martin did it and because of this he became suicidal. But Olwen continues to doubt and she decided to ask Robert directly. Robert was outraged by this behavior because he was hearing it from a man he considered his friend. Freda says that Robert is blind and cannot see Olwen's love for him. The girl admits this fact and that she still loves him and even covered for him. She did not tell anyone that Martin blamed Robert for what he had done, and Stanton had evidence. Sitting in shock, Robert tells that Stanton showed Martin as a thief. The hosts conclude that Stanton took the money. Robert calls the Gordon family, where Stanton was still, and asks them to come back to sort things out.
The men arrived, but Betty stayed at home. Stanton was bombarded with questions. He admits that he took the money because he needed it and he will return everything soon. It was then that Martin shot himself and everyone, of course, thought that he had done it and could not stand the shame. And Stanton decided not to confess. Freda and Gordon were very pleased that Martin kept his good name and attacked the thief with accusations. Stanton decided to tell why Martin shot himself. Yes, yes, he knows. And he knows that Freda was Martin's mistress. Freda confirmed his words and said that she could not break intimate relationship with Martin after marrying Robert, but Martin did not love her, so she lived with Robert.
Gordon, who always liked Martin, began to reproach Olwen, who confesses that she did not like Martin for his intrigues. Oni says she shot Martin, but not on purpose. That evening they were alone. Martin was under the influence of drugs. He teased Olwen by calling her an old maid. He explained to her that she does not live a full life and in vain suppresses her desire to get close to Martin. He offered to take off her dress. Olwen decided to leave, but Martin did not let her do it, and in his hands he held a revolver. The pushing began and Olwen took Martin's hand, which had a pistol in it, and pointed it at him and pulled the trigger. Martin fell dead.
Everyone was shocked by what they heard, but they were sure of the girl's innocence. They decided to keep this secret. Only Stanton knew about it. He found a piece of fabric from Olwen's dress at Martin's house. Olauen decided to continue the story. After all this, she drove to Stanton's house, as she wanted to tell someone. Near the house she saw Betty and Stanton. Olwen decided to leave. Just returned Betty and Robert asked her if it was true. She answered in the affirmative and said that her marriage to Gordon was the dumbest idea of her life. She says she cheated with Stanton because he gave her expensive gifts. Robert and Gordon said they did not want to see him anymore, they were waiting for his resignation and the return of five hundred pounds. Robert poured himself a whisky. He leaves the room in complete despair. His wife remembered that there was a revolver in the bedroom. Olwen wants to stop Robert...
A shot rang out in the darkness and women's cries were heard. Then the light appeared again, which illuminates the four women. They are talking about the play "Sleeping Dog", which was broadcast on the radio. Men's laughter can be heard from the dining room. The men came to the girls and struck up a conversation that was very similar to the conversation at the beginning of the play. Freda offers cigarettes from the box. You can hear the motive of the song "Everything could be different." Olwen and Robert are dancing. Everyone is very happy. The curtain is slowly falling...
Please note that this is only summary literary work"Dangerous turn". This summary omits many important points and quotes.
John Boynton Priestley
Dangerous turn
J. B. Priestley. Dangerous Corner, A Play in Three Acts (1932) .
Characters:
Robert Kaplan .
Freda Kaplan .
Betty Whitehouse .
Gordon Whitehouse .
Olwen Peel .
Charles Trevor Stanton .
Maud Mockridge .
The scene is the living room in the Kaplen house in Chantbury Kloe. Time is after lunch. Decoration - one for all three actions.
STEP ONE
The curtain rises - the stage is dark. There is a muffled shot from a revolver, immediately followed by a woman's scream, and there is dead silence. After a short pause, Freda's somewhat ironic voice is heard: "Well, that's it!" - and the light above the fireplace is lit, illuminating the living room. Freda is standing by the fireplace: she is a young, beautiful, cheerful woman, about thirty years old. In front of the fireplace sits Olwen, an interesting brunette, the same age as Freda. Not far from her, stretched out on a couch, lies Betty, a young and very pretty woman. Sitting comfortably in a chair in the middle of the room is Miss Mockridge, a writer, elegant, middle-aged, with the appearance typical of women of her profession. They are all in evening dress and have obviously just been listening to a radio broadcast. (the radio is right there on the table), waiting for the men who lingered in the dining room. Freda is about to go over to the receiver to turn it off when a typically announcer's voice is heard.
Speaker. You have just listened to the play in eight pictures Sleeping Dog!, written especially for us by Humphrey Stot.
Freda(slowly approaching the radio). That's all. I hope you weren't bored, Miss Mockridge?
Miss Mockridge. Not at all.
Betty. I don't like these plays, with their boring conversations. Like Gordon, I like dance music more.
Freda(turning off the receiver). You know, Miss Mockridge, whenever my brother Gordon comes over here, he harasses us with dance music on the radio.
Betty. I love to turn off all those solemn, pompous rants - like this, cut them off.
Miss Mockridge. What was the name of this play?
Olwen. Sleeping dog!
Miss Mockridge. What's with the dog?
Betty. And despite the fact that it is not necessary to interfere with lying.
Freda. Who is to stop lying?
Betty. Well, they all lie, don't they? And they lied.
Miss Mockridge. How many scenes have we missed?
Olwen. Seems like five.
Miss Mockridge. I can imagine how many lies were in these scenes. It is understandable why this man is so angry. I mean my husband.
Betty. But which one was the husband? Was it not the one who spoke in such a nasal voice, as if he had polyps in his nose?
Miss Mockridge(lively). Yes, the one with polyps, he took it and shot himself. It's a pity.
Freda. Because of the polyps.
Miss Mockridge. And because of the polyps - sorry!
Everyone laughs. At this moment, muffled male laughter comes from the dining room.
Betty. Just listen to these men.
Miss Mockridge. Probably laughing at some obscenity.
Betty. Where there, just gossip. Men love to gossip.
Freda. Still would.
Miss Mockridge. Well, let them, to health! People who don't like gossip usually don't care about their neighbors. I really wish my publishers liked to gossip.
Betty. At the same time, men pretend that they are busy with business.
Freda. Ours now have an excellent pretext for gossip: all three became directors of the company.
Miss Mockridge. Well, yes, of course. Miss Peel, I think you should marry Mr Stanton.
Olwen. Oh why?
Miss Mockridge. To complete the picture. Then there would be three married couples adoring each other. I thought about it all the time at dinner.
Freda. What, gotcha, Olwen?
Miss Mockridge. I myself would not mind marrying him, just to become one of the members of your charming circle. You are an amazingly nice little company.
Freda. We?
Miss Mockridge. Is not it so?
Freda(slightly mocking). "Nice little company." How terrible!
Miss Mockridge. Nothing terrible. Just lovely.
Freda(smiling). Sounds a bit cheesy.
Betty. Yes. Looks like Dickens or Christmas cards.
Miss Mockridge. And there is nothing wrong with that. In our age, this is even too good and does not seem to be true.
Freda(apparently amused by her tone). Oh really?
Olwen. I didn't know you were such a pessimist, Miss Mockridge.
Miss Mockridge. Did not know? Then you apparently don't read reviews of my books, which you should, since you work for my publishers. I will complain about this to my three directors when they get back. (With a short laugh.) Of course, I am a pessimist. But don't get me wrong. I just wanted to say how amazing it is here!
Freda. Yes, it's pretty nice here. We were lucky.
Olwen. It's amazing here. I hate leaving here. (Miss Mockridge.) You know, I'm busy in the city publishing office now... not like I used to be when I worked here in the printing house. But I come here at the slightest opportunity.
Miss Mockridge. I completely understand you. It must be surprisingly pleasant to live like this - all together.
Betty. Not so bad.
Miss Mockridge(Frede). But for some reason it seems to me that you all miss your brother-in-law. Did he come here often too?
Freda(whom this remark is clearly unpleasant). Are you talking about Martin, Robert's brother?
Miss Mockridge. Yes, about Martin Kaplan. At that time I was in America and didn’t really understand what happened to him. Looks like something terrible?
An awkward silence as Betty and Olwen look at Freda.
Miss Mockridge. (He looks from one to the other.) Oh, it seems like it was a tactless question. It's always like this with me.
Freda(very calm). No, not at all. It was a big shock for us at the time, but now it has subsided a bit. Martin shot himself. And it all happened almost a year ago, last June to be exact, not here, but in Follows End, twenty miles away. He rented a cottage there.
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