fB MR. RICHEY CHANGES HIS MIND -BY- LEE OWEN SNOOK ^= PRICE 25 CENTS Eldridge Entertainment House Franklin, Ohio £^^ Denver, Colo. 944 So. Logan Stra«t Clever New Monologs and Recitations Monologs of Merit This we believe a splendid collection for elocution- ists or for schools. Contains mainy of the darky sketches of Blanche Goodman which do not appear in the "Viney Sketches." Some novelty readings by Lydia McGaughey are "The White-wash Angel," "A Pair of Boots," "Robert Joins the A. H. T. A./' "Rob- ert and the Auto," ^'Seven, Seventeen and Seventy," "In Grandma's Day," and others. vComplefce volume, 7Sc. Help-U Dialog and Recitatioe Book By various authors' and a real help t:o the teacher. Here are some of the dialogs: "A Strike Mother Goose Settled," "Casey's Twins," "A Lesson in Politeness," "Program for Roosevelt's Birthday," "Boy Wanted," "Helping Santa Claus," "Aunt Phoebe's Nervss," and niany others. These are for ail grades up to gram- mar. An abundance of choice recitations for all the grades. Price 40c. Merry Rhymes of Little Folks' Times By Margaret A. Fassitt. In this collection of choice little gems we present 40 short poems which are real "Kiddie" talk. They can be used as recitations by little people or as child impersonations by adults. By the way, they wi'l make good reading for mothers and fathers at any time. "The Red Head," "Reflec- tions of a Pup," "I Wish I Had a Ginger Cake," "When You Ask About Your Fixin's," "Our Twins," and many others will make you laugh. Price, 40c. Comforting Her Patient By Mrs. W. M. Carruth. Tells how an "impractical" nurse unloads her own and others' troubles on her helpless patient. A good number. Price 15c. Gossip in Slowville By E. Haskell. Depicts the sayings of the village gos- sip and makes a very effective reading. Price 15c. The Spinsterhood of Mary A humorous number by Rhoda Barclay. Tells of Mary's resolve to live and die an old maid and her sudden change of mind. Price, 15c. Mrs. Swattem Attends the Convention This monolog by Rhoda Barclay is an account of the many complaints of Mrs. Swattem while at the con- vention. Her sharp tongue wags industriously, if not truthfully. Price, 15c. Eldridge Entertainment House FRANKLIN, OHIO also DENVER, COLO. 944 S. Logan St. Mr. Richey Changes His Mind (In One Act and Tableaux) By LEE OWEN SNOOK ^ J I jl: Oo»]rrl«ht ISSI, Bldrldge Bntsrtalament Hoaae PUBLISHED BT ELDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOUSB flANKLDI.OHIO DmVIE, COLO. DEC 19 1921 ^ ,2^36733 CAST Roderick Closefist Richey, owner and general manager of the Fair Store. Elizabeth Walling H, Urry Upp, head of delivery department. Mr. Walker, floorwalker. Messenger Boy. Miss Gregg, stenographer. Miss Pitman, stenographer. Red Cross Sales Girl. Clerks, and supernumeraries ad libitum. TABLEAUX 1. Roderick's mother tells him Christmas stories, :2. Roderick hangs up his stocking for Christmas. 3. Roderick's childhood sweetheart gets his present. 4. Roderick receives Christmas box from home, while he is attending college. 5. Roderick's solitaire spurned. v6. The Kiddies' Christmas. . , . '^ TMP96-C06657 ©CI.D 59435 ' (x^ Ml Ricliey Cboges His But 0119 stage setting is needed. Office desk, type- writer stands, filing cases, book cases, or other office fur- niture is all that is required. Exits may be arranged to suit the convenience of the players. Tableaux should be shown at rear center, and some- what removed from stage proper. A frame should en- close these for better effect. Tableaux may be liberally remodeled to suit. A thin gauze work hung between tab- leau performers and audience will add to the retrospect- ive atmosphere of the scenes. Special attention should be given to lighting effects so as to contrast Roderick's day-dreams with the realities presented previous to the tableaux. As curtain rises Richey is discovered seated at desk (right). Two stenographers are at work at left. Char- acters enter and leave left, hut this is not arbitrary. (Enter Upp. Approaches desk timidly.) TJpp — Pardon me, sir, but may I have a word with you? Richey — {wheeling around in chair) Well, what is it? Make it snappy and to the point. You know I'm busy. Upp — I appreciate that sir, but there is one request that the truck drivers have to make — Richey — (interrupting) Request! REQUEST! That's all I've heard for a week. Somebody wanting off for this or that fool's errand. Somebody wanting a raise when he hasn't been earning what he gets already. 3 Mr. Rickey Changes His Mind Always a request! (Scornfully) But never a sugges- tion as to how to improve our sales service, you can be sure of that. Upp — But, sir, my department has not asked you for a favor in months. We have stuck strictly to business, and the boys have undergone many hardships without a murmur. Rickey — Out with it! Out with it! Let's have the agony over, but make it snappy. Upp — In short, sir, the truck drivers desire to be relieved at 6:30 tonight, so that they may make some necessary preparations for Christmas. Rickey — Just as I thought! "Some necessary prep- arations for Christmas!" (Tkis last very scornfully.) But they never think MY business is necessary, it seems. Upp — But, sir, many of them have families, and the kiddies will be expecting their Christmas trees and — Rickey — (interrupting) Let 'em expect 'em. It won't hurt 'em to expect 'em. This Christmas sentimen- tality positively nauseates me. What is there to it but a lot of extravagant and senseless giving. Upp — But, my dear Mr. Richey, you will surely ad- mit that your business success is based on this "extrav- agant and senseless giving," as you call it. Now what — Richey — (interrupting) Bosh! I lose money on Christmas stuff. I actually do. The whole thing's a bore from start to finish. I wish the day could be cut from the calendar. (Enter Messenger Boy. He winks knowingly at the stenographer's, makes grimaces behind his hack at Rich- ey, and deposits dispatches in rack on table. Before he leaves he makes a mock military salute. Stenographers laugh and look knowingly at each other. Exit M. B. left with hands extended before head in oriental leave taking fashion. Very mock-hefoic.) Upp — What shall I tell the drivers, Mr. Richey? Mr. Rickey Changes His Mind Rickey — Just this: Nothin' doin'. Absolutely noth- in' doin'. Upp — And at what time shall I tell them they are at liberty to quit work? Rickey — Whenever the last parcel is delivered — not sooner, Upp — But, sir, that may be midnight. Rickey — Tell me something new. There shall be no relief drivers tonight. I want my experienced men at the wheel until we're through. Upp — Very well, sir, I'll tell them what you say. (Exit Upp left, hurriedly. Stenographers look scornfidly at R., as ke turns to kis desk and writing.) (Enter floor-walker.) Walker — (to Miss Pitman) Please take this dicta- tion for me. I'm in a hurry and I mustn't neglect to send this word to Frank. You know he was my old rooQimate at Haverhill. You'll see that it's mailed at once won't you? Miss Pitman — Certainly, Mr. Walker. Walker — (dictates) Dear old Pal: I have been thinking of you all day, but have been too busy to send you a line before now. Rickey — (wkeeling around in c/^a^rjr— What's this gush? Is this what my stenographers are paid for? At- tend to your correspondence on your own time, not mine. Walker — Pardon me, sir, but it is very late to send any word now, and I have been working so hard all day that I thought you wouldn't object if — Rickey — But I do object. Business is business. Right now you are neglecting your work on the main floor. Walker — Mr. Green is substituting for me the few minutes I'm away, sir. Rickey — Green, to be sure! Fine idea! If you prize your job, get back to work at once, sir. I'll have no Mr. Richey Changes His Mind foolishness about this Christmas rot. (Walker turns away dejectedly, and goes out left. R. rises and paces up and down the office as Walker leaves. Seems nervous. At this point several clerks hurry in and out tvith statements or messages which they leave on R.'s desk or with stenographers. All appear ill at ease and leave hastily. R. seats himself again. Enter school girl, very timidly. She stands for some moments in center, and then edges toward desk. R. finally notices her.) Richey — More Red Cross stamps, I suppose. Girl — Yes, sir. I thought maybe you'd want some. Richey — Well, you thought wrong. I haven't time for such nonsense. (Girl begins to cry and starts to leave. Stenogs. motion her to come close while each buys stamps. Girl throws kiss at them as she departs.) Richey — -(looks at watch) (to stenogs) It's lunch time. You may go. Hurry back as soon as possible. You know what we're up against today. Both — Very well, sir. (They rise, put on wraps and exeunt left.) Richey — (meditates for some time and walks up and down stage. Finally he seats himself at desk. The room gradually groivs darker. He is in deep thought. Doors or curtains at rear part slowly, revealing tableau as indicated.) Richey — I wonder if my idea of Christmas is the one every business man has. It used to be different with me. Even now I can see the youthful face of my moth- er as she held me in her lap and told me of Santa Claus and his wonderful ride over the housetops with his rein- deer team. Yes, and the wonderful stories of the Christ Child she used to tell me ! They are fresh in my mind to- day, even when a lapse of nearly fifty years has left me little else of the Christmas joys of long ago. Mr. Rickey Changes His Mind (During the foregoing soliloquy Tableau 1 takes place. This should show mother with child of three or four on her lap. Child looks earnestly into mother's face and shows that her story is making a profound impres- sion.) Richey — After all, what a wonderful thing it is to have the unquestioning faith of a little child. With what care I used to hang up my stocking on Christmas Eve! I was as sure that Santa would come as that morning itself would dawn. It is something to have a faith like that, after all. I wonder if it is not worth more than all else in this sordid, work-a-day world. (Tableau 2 for this part should shotv simple chimney piece ivitk child hanging up stocking.) Richey — And the first present I bought for Esther! How I did rack my brain for a week before I spent the precious money I had been saving for a long, long time. But how my heart danced with joy when I found that she really liked it, and loved the giver, too, I felt sure. I wonder where she is now, after all these years. She was a rare soul, indeed. (Tableau 3 can show girl of high school age, looking at some present tvhich young Richey has just given her. She should be looking admiringly at it while he stands tvatching her.) And how well I re- member those boxes mother used to send me while I was at college. Christmas surely meant something to me then. What wonderful marble cake she could make! And the fruit cake that was always included! Bless her dear, loving heart. She sleeps beneath the snow this wintry day, all her trials and labors over. And how she loved her boy, and how I love her mem^ory now, even if I wasn't always thoughtful enough to tell her how much '' ^oved her in the old days. The dear, dead, golden days. (With feeling.) (Tableau U shotvs college boy opening Christmas box from, home. This may be handled in a variety of ways. Originality among teachers and pupils will suggest many presentations of this scene, as indeed is. the case in all of the tableaux.) I wish I might erase one thought of the long ago from my memory today. How Mr. Rickey Changes His Mind well do I remember that evening of the long ago, when I had purchased that present of all presents for her. How sure I was that she would accept it and be- come my life-partner. But what caused her to take the attitude toward me that she did take, I shall never know. Surely she did not dream how much I really cared. In any case, she changed my whole outlook on life. Christmas has become a hollow sham to me. These many years I have choked back my real na- ture and have hidden love far from me. I have become a misanthrope, a grump, a grouch, hated and feared by every employe. {Tableau 5 shoivs Rickey at age of 25, witk solitaire in hand, in act of holding it toivard the girl of Ms choice. She stands ivith head boived, as if ir^ attitude of deep thought and perhap'i of regret.) But it is wrong. It is sinful. I should not deny others the pleasures of Christmas time. I cannot undo the past, and I must not add wrong to wrong by keeping up this sort of living. The men are right. The kiddies must be looked after. (Dtiring this last statement of the solilo- quy, Tableau 6, showing a mimber of little children play- ing ivith their toys may be shown.. Their faces should be expressive of supreme happiness.) Note: — // time for shifting scenes (a very simple mat- ter in this case) is needed, Rickey can easily add more to his ruminations, and he may find it to his advantage to pause several times between remarks in order to gain time. The whole thing is very deliberate, and speed does not enter into it. Characters in tableaux may use their own discretion regarding motions or statuesque positions. (Enter stenographers, who start to remove wraps.) Rickey — I have changed my mind. I shall let you oft for the rest of the day, if you choose. Miss Pitman — But there is much to do here, yet, and — Rickey- — That's all right. I have made other plans. (Hands each a bill.) Here is a little added Christmas Mr, Rickey Changes His Mind cheer for you. Merry Christinas to you, and a very hap- py New Year. Miss Gregg — (very much astonished) Why — why — thank you so much, Mr. Richey. Miss Pitman — Really, I am unable to understand it. Riche7j— That's all right. That's all right. It's nothing. Just a little back pay. Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! (He fairly pushes them out of the door.) . (The stenographers are heard outside door as they shout back, "Merry Christmas!") Richey — (taking down receiver of 'phone after pressing interphone button) That you, Upp? Come to the office at once, please. (During the interim Messenger Boy comes in cau- tiously and hands Richey a message. Richey smiles beamingly at him, and Messenger Boy nearly faints. Boy turns to go ivhen R. hands him a piece of money.) Richey — Take this for being a first-class messenger boy. Go to the show tonight and have a good time. Boy — Is it really true? Do I really get off tonight? Richey — ^Yes, I have decided to let you off. Boy — Whoopee! You're a real sport, after all. By gosh ! I didn't think it of you. Richey — Keep the change, lad, and a Merrjr Christ- mas to you. Boy — (as he leaves) Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas! (Outside the door, he is heard to say:) 0, Boy! Me for the Shubert tonight! (Richey sits in chair at desk, rubbing his hands to- gether in a satisfied way. Upp appears hurriedly from left.) Upp — Is there som.ething urgent, sir? Richey — Only this: I have decided to change shifts at six, and your truck drivers may go at that time. Upp — Why, sir, I thought — 10 Mr. Richeij Changes His Mind Richey — Yes, I know. But that doesn't matter now. Go, at once, and tell them. Upp — (eoctending hand to Richey) Put 'er there! This does me a world of good, for the men surely deserve an early quitting after the week's rush. Richey — And see that each driver's check is boosted twenty-five per cent, before he gets it, will you ? Upp — Do you mean it? Richey — Mean it? I certainly do. Now away to your men, and a Merry Christmas to all of you. Upp — The same to you, sir. We surely appreciate the favor. Happy New Year. Richey — Happy New Year, Upp ! (After a second or two.) Oh, yes, one thing more. Upp — (sticking head in at door again) Yes, sir. Richey — Tell Walker to come up. Upp — I'll do it gladly. (Closes door.) Richey — How much better I feel already. This Christmas siesta seems to have gone to my head. I have- n't felt this way for years. Hope is not all dead yet. There is yet time for me to enjoy life and to make others happy. (Walker comes puffing in.) Walker — You wanted me, did you? Richey — Yes, Walker, I want to tell you what a crab I am. That's no news to you, however. I have treated you shamefully. I have behaved myself as befits no gen- tleman. Walker — Why — why — Richey — Only a little while ago I treated you like a galley slave, rather than like a trusted employe. I want to offer you an abject apology, and to crave your for- giveness. Walker — The debt is paid, Mr. Richey. I shall think no more about it, sir. Mr, Rickey Changes His Mind 11 Rickey- — And after the holidays I intend to raise your salary $500 on the year for your close attention to business. Walker — Really? Is it true? How can I ever thank you enough? Now, the wife and youngsters can be given a few of the comforts of life. I don't know how to tell you how J feel about it. Rickey — Then don't try. I feel better over it than you do, if anything. Now, tell your help on the first floor the good news that we close at 8 :00 sharp, and that each is to have a bonus of twenty-five per cent. Walker — (witk emotion) Thank you. Thank you so much. (Walker leaves, hut re-enters immediately.) Walker — There is a lady outside. Slie wants to know if you are too busy to see her a moment. Rickey — Tell her to come in. Walker. (Lady of about forty years, nicely dkd smartly at- tired, enters. Rickey rises and is in tke act of offering a chair.) Visitor — (after a pause) I see you do not recognize me. Perhaps it is my veil that makes the difference. (Removes veil slowly.) (Rickey stands in center rigkt, wonder ivritten on every feature.) Rickey — Elizabeth! Can it be possible? (Seems too surprised to move.) Elizabetk — Yes, Roderick, it is no other. I would have known you anywhere, though, for you have the same merry twinkle to your eye thL.,t was there in the good old days. Rickey — (steps over to ker arid, taking both ker hands m his, says:) I am stunned. I — I can't realize that it is you. But pray do be seated. Here I stand like a bump on a log, entirely carried away by your pres- ence, just as I always was in "the good old days," as you have expressed it. Elizabetk — (accepting chair) I see you are the same old flatterer you used to be. 12 Mr. Richey Changes His Mind Richey^^Flattererl (Not with surprise, but rather reproachfully.) No, Elizabeth, I mean it. (Walks over to her chair and places his hand on the hack of it.) And, more than that, if I thought I had the right to tell you more of what is really in my mind and what has been in my mind for nearly twenty-five years, perhaps you would not misjudge me. Elizabeth — ^You may consider yourself perfectly free to express yourself, Roderick. Richey — Then you have not married? Elizabeth — No. I have led an unhappy existence these long years. (Messenger Boy bursts into the room entirely un- aware of the presence of a visitor.) Boy — Oh, Mr. Richey! I was just — (Sees that he has made a mistake.) Excuse me, sir. I will see you later. Richey — Yes, son, a little later. (Knowingly to Elizabeth.) I have many things besides business to talk about just now. CURTAIN / ' - New Juvenile Entertainmeiits A-B-C-Capers By Soemple. Here is an attractive and aovel numfcf-r for the Primary Grades or Kindergarien. Little Tim's despair in not being able to master letters is turned to keen interest by the antics of the alphabet troupe. Plays about 20 minutes. Price, 25c. Emily's Dream By Mary Frix Kidd. This is the story ot a Geogra- phy lesson, which, instead of being irksome, was, through the medium of a Good Fairy, made very in- teresting. This is done by presenting a Geographical Pageant. For a large number of children, who pre- sent drills, exercises, etc., in costumes of different nations. Time, about 1 hour. Price, 25c. The Love Flower By Bell Elliott Palmer. A very pretty exercise for 6 or 10 girls and 1 boy. Suitable for Children's Day or Easter, and can be given either in or out ai doors. Time, 10 minutes. Price, 15c. The Silver Sandals By Banche Thompson. Ths is a charming- new play for 6 boys, 5 girls, fairies, peasants, attendants, etc. The Princess is downhearted and refuses to be con- soled. The fiddler plays, peasants do fo'.k-dances, fai- ries drill, but not until she gets the silver sandals is she contented. Plays 1 hour or more. Price, 25c. When Betty Saw the Pilgrims By Margaret Howard. A pretty story showing- how dissatisfied, Betty was cured by her mother, y/ho tells the stoi-y of the hardships of the Pilgrims, which is illustrated by ten tableaux. Large numbers of chil- dren can be used. Plays about 30 minutes. Price 25c. Princess Rosy Cheeks By Effie Sammond Balph. A "good health" play for children, which is very impressive. Introduces Fresh Air Fairies, Soap and Water Fairies, Tooth Brush Brigade, Food Fairies, Rest Fairies, and others. Good- si^ed cast required with two older children. Plays about 1 hour. Price, 35c. Queen Loving Heart By Jean Ross. A splendid children's play, teaching many good lessons. 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