The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Reckoning, by Percival Wilde

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org

Title: The Reckoning
A Play in One Act

Author: Percival Wilde

Release Date: November 27, 2006 [EBook #19931]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE RECKONING ***

Produced by William Coon

The Reckoning
A Play in One Act

By PERCIVAL WILDE

The Reckoning

CHARACTERS
THE BARBER.
THE CUSTOMER.

THE RECKONING

_The scene is a barber shop. At the center is the chair, facing a
mirror and washstand at the right. The tiled walls are sprinkled
with the usual advertisements. At the rear, a door leads up to
the street by a flight of two or three steps. A dock on the left
wall indicates three._

_At the rise of curtain, THE BARBER, a man of fifty, is
discovered sharpening a razor, and whistling softly to himself.
He finishes with the razor; seats himself in the chair, takes up
a paper, and reads._

_The door opens, and THE CUSTOMER, a flashily-dressed individual
of forty-five, enters the shop._

THE BARBER. (_Rising at once_) Good afternoon, sir.

THE CUSTOMER. (_Pulling out his watch_) That clock right?

THE BARBER. Yes, sir; Western Union time. Corrected every hour.

THE CUSTOMER. My watch has run down. (_He sets it._) Now, I've
got just five minutes to spare. Can you shave me in that time?

THE BARBER. Five minutes, sir? Easy! Easy!

THE CUSTOMER. All right. Go ahead. (_He takes off his hat and
coat, and moves towards the chair._)

THE BARBER. Your collar also, sir.

THE CUSTOMER. (_Smiling_) Fussy, aren't you?

THE BARBER. Well, sir, I try to do my work well.

THE CUSTOMER. (_Takes off tie and collar, putting his expensive
scarf-pin in the edge of his vest, which he does not remove_)
Satisfied now?

THE BARBER. Yes, sir Thank you, sir. (_He gets out sheet, towels,
etc._) In a hurry, sir?

THE CUSTOMER. Yes. Got to attend a meeting at three-ten.

THE BARBER. Oh! The auction up-stairs?

THE CUSTOMER. Yes. (_He glances at the clock._) You'll have to
cut it pretty fine.

THE BARBER. Don't worry, sir. There's lots of time.... From the
country, sir?

THE CUSTOMER. (_Lighting a cigar_) Yes.