The Gathering Storm

ONE ACT PLAYS

THE GATHERING STORM
A World War 1 drama by Mark Rees.

PLOT RESUME
The First World War seen through the eyes of three combatants: a worker, an aristocrat, and a recruiting sergeant.

CAST 3 MEN 2 WOMEN 1 M/F

NARRATOR
THE WORKER
THE WORKER'S WIFE
THE ARISTOCRAT
THE ARISTOCRAT'S MOTHER
THE SERGEANT

SET
Various.

TIME - 1914
DURATION - approx. 35 minutes

Script Sample - The Recruiting Sergeant

The Narrator stands to one side of the stage in a spotlight. There is a spot C that the Worker and the Aristocrat move into when they speak

NARRATOR Everyone is caught up in recruiting fever. “ Your country needs you!” “The women of Britain say go.” “What did you do in the war daddy?”

The Worker and Aristocrat step into light

These men feel uncertain. On the way here there were bands playing and the air was full of optimistic jingoism. Women lined the route and called out encouragingly, ‘good luck’ and ’come back soon’. They are not afraid of what they are about to do, apprehensive yes, afraid no. Saying goodbye was the hardest part. Nobody’s good at goodbyes. Still this conflict won’t last long. They probably won’t see any action. According to papers our army is all-powerful, all we have to do is turn up. (Pause) If only they knew.
WORKER I feel as if I’ve been drinking. I haven’t of course. It’s just the atmosphere that’s intoxicating. Military bands playing, flags waving, people shouting. It actually made me forget for a while that I don’t actually agree with the war. Martha convinced me I should go. I suppose she’s right. “It’s the duty of every able bodied man to fight for his country”, even if he doesn’t actually believe in the cause. I won’t be branded a coward.. (Pause) Perhaps it won’t be so bad. I know lots of men who are enlisting; the factory will be nearly empty. Martha says women will be brought in to do the factory work while the men are away, but I can’t see it happening. They’re just not cut out for it, are they? (Pause) I wonder if we’ll get leave? The baby’s due in three months and I wouldn’t mind getting home for the birth. I’ll just have to wait and see I suppose.
ARISTOCRAT What an absolute bore, this waiting. Petty bureaucracy gone mad, if you ask me. These men including myself just want to get on with it. I now find out that we have to do weeks of training before we can se any action. I suppose it’s necessary to beat the rabble and riff-raff into shape before such an important conflict. It really is too bad though some of the sorts I’ve seen waiting to enlist. It seems to me that a couple of thousand well trained men, fully armed and committed could inflict enough damage on the enemy so that there would be no need to enlist some of the rabble I’ve seen today. (Pause) Then again, I suppose in any war one needs cannon fodder. For that’s all they are you see. All that’s expected of them is dumb obedience. There’s a lot to be said for the policy of attrition. It’ll certainly sort the wheat from the chaff.
NARRATOR They then undergo training from the best the army had to offer.

The Sergeant enters. He is an ‘old soldier’ who has seen many campaigns, but none like this

SERGEANT Right you men, fall in, fall in.

The Narrator, the Worker and the Aristocrat line up

SERGEANT For the next few weeks I will be looking after you. Taking you through your basic training. I want you to watch and learn. I’m here to train you lilywhites to be fighting men. To kill or be killed, do you understand?
ALL Yes Sergeant.
SERGEANT You’ve all got to become killing machines.
NARRATOR Why, sergeant?
SERGEANT It’s the King’s regulations. It's kill or be killed, you’ll be getting my lecture ‘the beauty of the bayonet’ shortly. But for now, tell me what you did in civvy street. You, (to the Narrator) what’s your job?
NARRATOR I don’t think I’m really meant to be here sergeant.
SERGEANT Then fall out man, fall out.

The Narrator does. Turns to audience, shrugs and moves R

SERGEANT What are you, some sort of bloody conchie? (To Worker) What about you?
WORKER I’m a factory worker sergeant.
SERGEANT A factory worker eh? Very good, as long as you’re not one of the socialist insurgent types, there are no unions in the army.
WORKER No, sergeant.
SERGEANT Good lad. And what about you?
ARISTOCRAT What about me?
SERGEANT Perhaps you didn’t quite hear me. It would be ‘awfully nice’ if you could tell me what it is you do when you’re not enlisting?
ARISTOCRAT Well, not a lot really. I have a bit of property of course. And I have to manage Mother’s money. She’s absolutely useless with it. If it wasn’t for me she would be penniless I swear. . . . . . . . .
SERGEANT Stop there before you make me swear. We are in the presence of a gentleman. And what qualities do you think you bring to our glorious country’s army?
ARISTOCRAT Well I ride well and I’m not a bad shot, oh and I was top of my class with an epee.
SERGEANT A bloody epee. Well we can all sleep safely in our beds now, knowing you are defending the nation. Do you think we’re going to slap the enemy on the face with a glove and challenge him to a duel? This is going to be a dirty war. Lots of killing, bullets and bayonets, that’s the order of the day. Quite a few of you won’t be coming back, this is not some sort of game. (Pause) How old are you?
ARISTOCRAT Thirty.

The sergeant laughs in disbelief.

ARISTOCRAT Five, sergeant. Thirty-five.
SERGEANT I think you should volunteer for a special job that I keep for those who show the most initiative.
ARISTOCRAT What’s that sergeant?
SERGEANT Digging the latrines.

Blackout. Music

from The Gathering Storm

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