The Pot Boiler

by Alice Gerstenberg

Genre: Melodrama
Setting: Fantasy
Format of Original Source: Play
Recommended Adaptation Length:

Candidate for Adaptation? Promising

EXCERPT:

MRS. PENCIL [in fury of jealousy opens door and enters in rage]. Coward! Villain!–I have been listening behind that door–all your false vows to me!

INKWELL [he tries to choke her]. Don’t yell so!

MRS. PENCIL [in ordinary tone]. I will yell!

SUD [delighted]. Of course, she will! Shriek good, Mrs. Pencil.

MRS. PENCIL [shrieks]. Ah! Ah! Ah! Ah!

INKWELL [they struggle. Grabs Mrs. Pencil to put his hand over her mouth]. Stop–! Stop!

SUD. Tussle! Tussle! The audience loves it!

[They fight.]

WOULDBY. But what did Inkwell do?

SUD [talks fast over shoulder to Wouldby like a man in a fast auto talks to another passing]. Can’t you tell. Haven’t decided yet! Explanation in last act. No time now. Reaching climax of play. Keep it up! Keep it up!

MRS. PENCIL [yelling]. Oh! The treachery–perjury–You are not fit to live! I’ll have my revenge–Revenge! Bing! Bang! [She grabs revolver from table and shoots Inkwell. He falls back and obligingly lies upon the table.] I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!

MISS IVORY [having heard the shot and shrieks, runs in from the wing]. Oh–who’s hurt?

MRS. PENCIL [turning and aiming revolver at Miss Ivory]. Don’t come near him or I’ll shoot you!

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