Part 1

“SWAT THE FLY!”

A ONE-ACT FANTASY

ELEANOR GATES

AUTHOR OF “THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL,” “WE ARE SEVEN,” “THE BIOGRAPHY OF A PRAIRIE GIRL,” “THE PLOW-WOMAN,” ETC.

COLORED JACKET BY EVERETT SHINN

THE ARROW PUBLISHING COMPANY 116 WEST FIFTY-NINTH STREET NEW YORK

Copyrighted April 17, 1914, as a dramatic composition by ELEANOR GATES.

Copyrighted April, 1915, by THE ARROW PUBLISHING COMPANY.

All rights reserved, including that of translation into foreign languages, including the Scandinavian.

This play may be publicly read without further permission, but the acting rights are reserved by the author.

TO THE TROOPER

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

THE DOCTOR THE WOMAN INSPECTOR THE BOY THE DOG THE CAT THE HORSE THE MONKEY THE RABBIT THE FLY

“SWAT THE FLY!”

A garden in the rear of a laboratory for animal experimentation. A high red-brick wall encloses the garden, into which, at the upper right-hand corner, juts the granite laboratory building. The interior of the laboratory is brilliantly white. From it a door opens upon the garden. Beside the door, hanging from a wrought-iron bracket, is a globe in which are electric bulbs. The lights are turned on by pressing a button in the framework of the door.

In the garden wall, at left, is a wide door leading to a city street. In the rear wall is a square, window-like opening through which can be seen the Horse’s standing-stall. The Monkey’s house is in the lower right-hand corner of the garden. Directly across from it is the kennel of the Dog. The Rabbit’s hutch is placed against the rear wall, close to the square opening. The front of the hutch is screened with wire netting.

The garden is covered by a lawn. Flowers grow against its walls, as well as in the corners made by the meeting of wall and building. Vines climb the bricks on either side of the street door. Above the walls, on every side, bend the branches of trees. At the center of the garden is a low stone bench.

It is late evening. The garden is only star-lit. Out of the gloom come the sleepy bark of the Dog, the crunching and stamping of the Horse, as he feeds, and the cross chatter of the Monkey. The tiny bell, which the Cat wears on her collar, tinkles faintly.

Suddenly the street door opens, and the flash of a pocket search-light is turned upon the garden. The Woman Inspector appears in the doorway. She wears a coat-suit, a neckpiece formed of the skin of a fox, and a hat trimmed with pheasant feathers. She throws her light upon the Monkey’s house: upon the door of the laboratory: upon the opening in the rear wall. The back of the Horse appears above the sill of the opening. The light travels to the Rabbit’s hutch, disclosing a mound of snow-white fur.

The Inspector enters quickly and goes to the Dog, who is lying down, his back curved against the entrance to the kennel. The Inspector turns her light upon him. He moves.

INSPECTOR

(Leans to peer into the kennel.)

Here! Let me look at you. A bandage! Oh, poor fellow! That Doctor’s been torturing you! (The Dog growls.) There! There! (Pats the Dog, and goes to the hutch.) A rabbit! (Makes a brief examination; goes to the opening in the wall and looks through at the Horse, flashing her light over him. Comes down quickly to the Monkey. He is lying just within the door of his house. She drops on one knee.) Well, monkey! What’s that Doctor been doing to YOU? (Reaches in.) Been putting a steel gag on you? Oh, the poor foot! (Soothingly, as the Monkey moves and chatters.) There, now! Lie still!

DOCTOR

(Calls from the laboratory.)

Here, Kitty! Kitty! Kitty!

(The Inspector puts out her pocket-flash, springs up, and hides behind the Monkey’s house. The Doctor enters, and presses the electric button beside the laboratory door. The globe floods the garden with light. The Doctor wears a sack suit, but no hat.)

DOCTOR