The Accident one act play script

ONE ACT PLAYS

THE ACCIDENT
by Peter Pitt

A moving drama for two men and four women set in post-war Britain (1947)

PLOT SUMMARY
One Monday morning, the staff of a small office are shocked when they hear that Maggie, their tea lady, has been injured in a road accident. They are even more shocked when the replacement tea lady returns from visiting Maggie in hospital with some startling revelations.

ISBN 978-0-9560209-0-1

CAST 2M 4F
Eileen, the secretary
Josie, the clerkess/typist
Sally, the office junior
Fred, the handyman
Mr Scott, the boss
Mary, the tea lady

SET - an office
TIME & PLACE- Britain, 1947
DURATION - 30 minutes

Script Sample

Eileen is standing by the filing cabinet. She extracts some papers and goes over to her desk, which is the one nearest the entrance door to the office. At the desk in front of her Josie sits working. Sally is seated at the third desk. Fred enters. He is wearing a brown overall

Fred Morning, all.
Women Good morning, Fred.
Fred Now which one of you lovely ladies wants me to brighten up your life?
Josie How can you be so lively on a Monday morning?
Fred Well it’s no good moping, is it? And it is only four days to pay day.
Eileen Over there. Above Miss Smith’s desk.

Fred moves towards Sally’s desk

Fred Well, Sally, we can’t have you straining your pretty eyes, can we? (He looks up at the light) Is this it?

Sally nods her head. Fred climbs onto her desk. He removes the bulb from its socket and jumps down from the desk

You’re alright for the moment, aren’t you? Only I’ve got a radiator to see to on the second floor.
Sally That’s okay. I usually only need it on after lunch.
Eileen Do you mean to say that you didn’t bring a bulb with you?
Fred No, I didn’t.
Josie He wanted a reason to come and see us again.
Fred Do I need a reason to visit you girls?
Eileen Then why not bring a bulb?
Fred I can’t carry everything around with me.
Josie No, they can be very heavy, light bulbs.
Fred Very funny, I don’t think. How am I to know what wattage it is? It could be a forty watt plain, or a forty watt pearl, a sixty watt plain. Or a sixty watt pearl. A hundred watt plain, or a......
Josie Alright, alright. We get the point.
Eileen And Fred. You mentioned radiators. Ours don’t seem to give out much heat.
Fred That’s because the Guv’nor won’t let me put ’em on full yet. Not till the really cold weather starts.
Josie Well it was jolly cold round my neck of the woods this morning.
Fred Now, that’s something I like to do.
Josie What?
Fred Neck in the woods.
Josie Oh you are awful, Fred.
Fred You didn’t say that when I got you those eggs the other week.
Josie When can we expect some more?
Fred Probably next week. (He turns to Eileen) Some for you as well this time, Miss Lennor?
Eileen (hesitantly) I could certainly do with some, but where do they come from, I ask myself?
Fred Well, they didn’t fall off a lorry, I can tell you that. You won’t find any cracked ones.

Josie and Sally smile

Eileen But they’re not actually official, are they?
Fred I don’t need your ration book, if that’s what you mean.
Eileen During the war, I made a point of not buying black market goods.
Fred Well the war’s over now, but I’m not trying to twist your arm. I can find plenty of customers for them.
Eileen I suppose it doesn’t do any harm now. Yes I’d like some please, Fred.
Fred (looks toward the inner office) What about his nibs?
Josie Oh I’m sure he’ll want some.
Fred Right-o, then. See you ladies later.

from The Accident

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