Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

Twenty Minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb

Introduction
Twenty Minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb is an effective little piece of emotional drama written by Frank
Arthur. Frank Arthur is known for his achievements as a civil servant, novelist and scriptwriter.
It is a rare specimen of a melodrama filled with thrill and suspense. The play is notable for the skilful
manipulation of suspense. The story is based on the theme of revenge, crime and punishment.
“Revenge renders ears deaf.”
- William Shakespeare

Summary
It was a stormy winter’s evening of 1955. A heavily wrapped lady entered the waiting room of a
country railway junction, followed by a porter who lighted the fire for her, as it was very cold. Soon a
male passenger also entered the waiting room and came near the fire in order to warm himself. The
porter told them that they had to wait for 20 minutes for the arrival of the train, bound for
Stainthorpe. After the departure of the porter the two passengers were left alone.
They were strangers to each other, but soon they started a conversation to while away the time.
The man told the woman of two half-minute meetings, which had the most profound effect on his life.
The first meeting took place in June 1953 in Korea. He was severely wounded and wanted to die. He
fainted and when he regained consciousness, he saw a young Korean girl bending over him. She smiled
at him and her smile gave him the courage to live. He smile made him realize what his daughter would
have been like if she had lived. She was killed along with her mother in a road accident. They were
overrun by a car, which was being driven recklessly by Mrs. Judy Oakentubb. She was held guilty of
manslaughter and was sentenced to 18-month imprisonment but according to him it was a plain
deliberate heartless murder. So, he was going to Stainthorpe in order to avenge the murder of his wife
and daughter.
The woman told the man that his wife and daughter were killed in the accident. It was not a murder.
But he did not agree. He said that she was drunk and was driving the car very fast to reach the coast
from Stainthorpe. She led a bet with one of her companies to cover the long distance within 15
minutes while it could be covered in half an hour. She drove recklessly and killed his wife and daughter.
So, it was a deliberate murder.
By chance he read the name of Mrs. Oakentubb, written on the label of the suitcase, which belonged
to the lady who was conversing with him. He was sure that the lady, who was standing before him, was
Mrs. Judy Oakentubb. He pulled a revolver from his pocket and pointed at her. Mrs. Judy Oakentubb
recoiled and told him that she had been in perpetual agony ever since the accident took place. She
posed herself as a repentant lady over the tragic accident. She instead of asking for her life implored
for her death that according to her was a mean of escaping from the mental torture.
Believing in her statement, he decided to leave her and give her no punishment, as living with a sense
of self-reproachment was an ideal punishment for the lady. He says:

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

“Yes! You are right! It would be a greater punishment to live.”

He pocketed his revolver and walked out leaving her sobbing. As soon as he left the room, she came to
her real self. She expressed her hatred for the man observing her from outside. He opened the door
suddenly, raised the revolver and shot her dead. It is rightly said:
“Often a clever culprit is caught by the trap of his own blunders.”

Conclusion
Those who cause tragedies in thee lives of others inevitably meet the tragic end. Beyond any shadow
of doubt an evildoer is the engineer of his own catastrophe.

The Main Theme of Play Mrs. Oakentubb

Introduction of Author
The “Twenty minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb” is written by Frank Arthur, who is famous for his style.
Simplicity and straight-forwardness are his hallmarks. In his play, he delivers the dialogue and action
very energetically with straight-forwardness.

Main Theme of Play

“Twenty Minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb” is an effective, sensational and extremely absorbing little
piece of melodrama, notable for its skillful manipulation of suspense and thrill. The flow of suspense is
maintained by the author right from the beginning of the play to the end. The play has two major
characters of a lady, Mrs. Judy Oakentubb and an ex-army man. The main theme of the poem is based
on the idea of offence and revenge.
“Revenge is a kind of wild justice” -Bacon

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

1. Q. Explain the importance of the label on Mrs. Oakentubb’s suitcase. Why does she hide it?

The label on Mrs. Oakentubb’s suitcase is of utmost importance as it reveals the name of “Mrs.
Judy Oakentubb.” When the man enters the waiting room, both of them started light chit chat.
During their talk, the man explains his purpose of going to Stainthorpe to meet Mrs. Oakentubb as
she had murdered his wife and daughter. After listening the intentions of the man, the lady who is
actually Mrs. Oakentubb gets near to her suitcase and tries to hide the label on it as she believes
that the man does not recognize her and even he has no idea how Mrs. Oakentubb looks like as he
only knows much about her character.

2. Q. At what point in the play do we become certain that the man knows that the woman in the
waiting room is Mrs. Oakentubb? When, in fact, do you think he discovered her identity?

We become certain that the man discovered that the woman in the waiting room was Mrs.
Oakentubb at the very beginning of the melodrama. It became quite obvious the moment she got
up from her chair and strolled across the room in the state of agitation. Then she took up the
position right in front of her suitcase. The moment the man opened the door and looked out, she
quickly hid her label under the cover so the man must not know who she was. In reality, the man
himself gave her the chance to do that act so to be sure that she was the one whom he was looking
for i.e. Mrs. Oakentubb, the lady who killed his wife and daughter in a car accident.

3. Q. When is the audience likely to begin to suspect that she might be Mrs. Oakentubb?

The audience is likely to begin suspecting that she might be Mrs. Oakentubb due to the following
conversational lines delivered by the lady in order to justify the act of Mrs. Oakentubb:

She replies faintly, “I think I know what you mean.”

Secondly, she starts defending Mrs. Oakentubb without any purpose or acquaintance by saying,
“She was not convicted of murder. She was not even charged with murder.”

Furthermore, she protests by saying, “She was not drunk.”

At one point, she becomes more defensive in giving excuses for Mrs. Oakentubb’s mistake by
saying, “Eighteen months in prison! She served that sentence, didn’t she?”

Last but not the least she says twice in one single sentence so to convince the man that “She’s had
her punishment. But she’s had her punishment.”

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

4. Q. What motive has the man for murdering her?

The man has a very valid reason to murder her as she ruthlessly killed his wife and little innocent
daughter in a car accident. Actually, she was drunk and driving quite fast at a busy, blind corner
road due to a bet which she had made with one of her friends. So, he had a strong urge to take
revenge from her in the form of taking her life.

5. Q. In this little melodrama, the author keeps on building up the tension then relaxing it, until the
final moment of tension when the murder is done. Briefly describe the chief moments of tension
and what follows after each one.

According to the author and from the viewpoint of the audience or readers, following are some of
the chief moments of tension in the play that follows one after another:

a. It just starts right from the beginning of the play at the moment when the man asks the lady
that does she know Mrs. Oakentubb being the resident of Stainthorpe.
b. Then the man says that he knows all about her character.
c. Later at one point again the man says that it is not wicked to punish the evil-doer.
d. The man further reveals that Mrs. Oakentubb murdered his wife and daughter and in my
opinion, it is one of the prime moments of tension between the two.
e. Next, when the man exposes his intention of killing Mrs. Oakentubb, the lady wildly says
“Kill her! No! You can’t do that!”
f. All of a sudden it seems to the audience that all the tensions have vanished with the
remarks of the man as “So I thought I’d tell you a story to keep you amused. All ladies like to
be amused.”
g. But again the tension mounts as the man says to the lady that “It’s just the amount of time I
need for killing you. You took their lives and wrecked mine. Haven’t I the right to take
yours?”

6. Q. Why, in your opinion, does the author make the porter a humorous character?

Frank Arthur is an excellent writer who has the potential to amalgamate suspense with humor so
the readers don’t have a feeling of boredom. This is the basic reason for making the porter a
humorous character in the melodrama. Another motive is that he wants to give a flavor of fun,
laughter, enjoyment to his readers by the addition of Porter playing a short side role quite
effectively. That’s not all; the author adds porter as he wants to relax his audience or readers from
everyday tensions and the mounting suspense of his melodrama.

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

7. Q. Suspense is an important element in a thriller. Briefly show how the author keeps the
audience in suspense for the answers to two questions – will he find out who she is? Will he kill
her?

It is quite an artistic skill of the author to maintain suspense from the beginning till the end of the
fiction or drama. Frank Arthur performs his job marvelously in this respect. He keeps the audience
in suspense for the answers to two questions in a thrilling manner:

a. The man explores quite dramatically that the lady to whom he is talking to is actually Mrs.
Oakentubb by probing, again and again, the particulars about Mrs. Oakentubb from the lady
so to be sure whether she is the one or not.
b. The moment the man takes out the revolver and points at the lady it seems to the audience
that he is about to shoot the lady but he quickly hides it behind him with the sudden entry
of the porter into the room.

8. Q. Write a brief character sketch of Mrs.Oakentubb.

Mrs. Oakentubb is one of the main characters of the melodrama. She is a fairly ordinary woman.
There is no such significant thing about her personality. She is neither tall nor short; rather she is
about five feet three inches. She weighs a little under eight stone. With respect to her physical
appearance; there are no special distinguishing marks about her. She once had blonde hair that
changed their color due to age factor or might be of some other reason.

Mrs. Oakentubb is a shrewd sort of a woman who knows quite well how to deceive others, play
tricks or gain sympathy. She owns the bad character and loves the company of the same. She used
to drink heavily, actively participates and enjoys cocktail parties too. She is in a habit to wager with
her friends on silly acts. The melodrama originated just because of her bet that she makes with her
friend to drive quite fast in the thickly populated area of the city with bending, blind roads, and
heavy traffic. She is such a selfish woman that in order to save her own life, she overturns her car
on to the pavement taking the lives of two innocent persons i.e. the man’s wife and her little
daughter. That’s not all; being a resourceful person, she only receives the punishment of 18 months
prison and does not even get the charge of murder by the law enforcement agencies. She knows
the trick how to change the mind of others by using defensive language and sympathetic gestures.
Due to this, she is able to soften the heart of the man so he gives up the idea of killing her. But as
soon as he leaves the room, she comes back to her evilness and bad character and starts making
faces at the man by putting her finger in her nose. In the end, she receives the punishment not only
for her cruelty but for her bad contempt as well in the form of murder by the man.

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

9. Q. Write a brief character sketch of the porter.

Although the porter has a trivial role but his entry adds a special flavor of humor, joy, smile, and
excitement to the readers and audience of Arthur’s melodrama. He breaks the boredom and
seriousness of the play with his light chit chat and dialogues. He seems to a middle-aged man who
might have spent a number of years in this profession being a porter. We came to know about this
as he is quite sure about each and every detail of not only the railway station but about the exact
timing of the train too. He is pretty much sure that the job he is performing of facilitating and
comforting the passengers as well as carrying their luggage requires great mental and physical
strength.

In short, he is a man of kindness, cooperation, love and humor who knows well how to serve the
passengers in a good way by making them amuse with his manner of conversation.

10. Q. Briefly discuss whether the play would have had a more satisfying ending if the man had not
come back through the door, seen Mrs. Oakentubb’s vulgar and impenitent gesture and shot her-
that is to say if it had ended in Mrs. Oakentubb’s collapsing with genuine remorse and the man’s
decision that he would be adequately revenged if she went on living.

In my opinion, yes the play would have had a more satisfying ending if the man had not come back
through the door, seen Mrs. Oakentubb’s vulgar and impenitent gesture and let her live her life for
some more days or even years. The reason behind is that if she really felt guilty of her doing as she
said to the man then it would become a punishment for her to keep thinking again and again about
the killing of two innocent beings. That’s not all; the whole incident might become a nightmare for
her and pinch her every second of her life for her evil-doing. It might happen that she starts
thinking about the punishment that she would be getting in the world hereafter in the form of
burning in Hell and there might be the possibility that in order to get rid of all such horrible
suffering; she takes her own life by attempting suicide. In this way, the man would not get the
blood or murder of a lady on his head and he remains safe from the hands of the law enforcing
agencies.

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

Write a letter of between 150 to 200 words (excluding your address) to a friend or relative on one of
the following topics.

1. Your seeing a performance of Twenty Minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb. Briefly describe what sort a
play it was and what you thought of it.

Examination Hall,
City A.B.C.
Date: May 18, 2021

Dear friend,

Hope you are enjoying good health and peace of mind. Yesterday, I got the chance to visit one
the nearest theatre with my hostel friends to watch the most talked about melodrama of the city
named “Twenty minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb.” It was a superb drama that’s why I suggest you to
watch it at least once whenever you get any leisure time.

Hearing the title of the drama, I was pretty sure that Mrs. Oakentubb must be the center of
attraction of the play, performing the most important character. I didn’t expect that she was such a
shrewd, selfish, ill-mannered sort of a lady and indeed a murderer.

As the play starts everything seems normal but gradually the lightness of the play was taken
over by the suspense and thrilling element highlighted by the author of the drama. It is such an
enthralling drama that it was difficult for the audience to judge what would happen next or what
would be the end of the drama.

Actually, I thought it light, humorous sort of a play but the suspense of the play grabbed all of
my attention at once and I found my self engrossed in the play.

Pay my regards to everyone at your home and be in contact.

Yours truly,
X.Y.Z.

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

2. Imagine that you have acted one of the parts in an amateur performance of Twenty Minutes with
Mrs. Oakentubb. Briefly describe how the performance went from an actor’s point of view.

Examination Hall,
City A.B.C.
Date: May 18, 2021

Dear Uncle,

Hope you are doing well. Today, I am writing to you to share one of my life’s best experiences
as an amateur performer in a play named “Twenty Minutes with Mrs. Oakentubb.”

Last Saturday, for the very first time, I enthusiastically participated in a drama. You would be
surprised to know that for amateur performance, I received a certificate of appreciation from the
organizing authority.

I am excited to tell you what one of the mature and experienced actors of the play commented
after seeing my performance. He said that he has not seen any amateur actor performing with such
zeal and zest, without any hesitation, fumbling, and confusion.” According to him, I have given the
performance just like Brad Pitt. This remark by him gives a 360 degree turn to my thoughts and
decision about my future. After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I am planning to get admission in
performing arts studies so to polish my talent and skills in the field of acting.

Pay my regards to aunt and pray for my success in the future.

Yours nephew,
X.Y.Z.

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

Translate the following sentences into Urdu or Sindhi:

1. He can sue me for libel if he likes. I won’t take back what I said.
‫اگر وہ چاہے تو وہ مجھ پر مقدمہ چال سکتا ہے۔ میں جو کہتا ہوں واپس نہیں لیتا۔‬
2. We intend to have this wall taken down in order to convert the two rooms into one.
‫ہمارا ارادہ ہے کہ اس دیوار کو گرا دیا جائے تاکہ دونوں کمروں کو ایک میں تبدیل کیا جا سکے۔‬
3. I forgot to take down his telephone number.
‫میں اس کا ٹیلی فون نمبر لینا بھول گیا۔‬
4. It is no use giving him an explanation of how this machine works. He will never take it in.
‫اسے یہ وضاحت دینے کا کوئی فائدہ نہیں ہے کہ یہ مشین کیسے کام کرتی ہے۔ وہ اسے کبھی‬
‫نہیں سمجھے گا۔‬
5. My father was cheated of five thousand rupees. He said that he had never been so taken in, in his
life.
‫میرے والد کو پانچ ہزار روپے کا دھوکہ دیا گیا۔ اس نے کہا کہ اسے اپنی زندگی میں کبھی‬
‫اتنا دھوکہ نہیں دیا گیا۔‬
6. They were lost and caught in a storm, but a kindly farmer took them in for the night.
‫ لیکن ایک مہربان کسان نے انہیں رات کے لیے‬، ‫وہ کھو گئے اور ایک طوفان میں پھنس گئے‬
‫رہنے دیا۔‬
7. Why did you take it into your head that Ali had a holiday this week?
‫آپ نے اسے اپنے سر میں کیوں لیا کہ علی نے اس ہفتے ایک دن کی چھٹی کی؟‬
8. I would gladly have helped him if he had taken me into his confidence.
‫میں خوشی سے اس کی مدد کرتا اگر وہ مجھے اپنے اعتماد میں لیتا۔‬
9. Don’t forget to take into account the costs of repair and maintenance before you decide to buy a
second-hand car.
‫سیکنڈ ہینڈ کار خریدنے کا فیصلہ کرنے سے پہلے مرمت اور دیکھ بھال کے اخراجات کو مدنظر‬
‫رکھنا نہ بھولیں۔‬
10. When will your final examinations take place?
‫آپ کے آخری امتحانات کب ہوں گے؟‬
11. Do take your coat off and sit down for a while.
‫اپنا کوٹ اتار کر تھوڑی دیر بیٹھ جاؤ۔‬
12. The shopkeeper told the boy that if he didn’t take himself off he would call a policeman.
‫دکاندار نے لڑکے سے کہا کہ اگر وہ دکان سے باہر نہیں نکال تو وہ پولیس والے کو فون کرے گا۔‬
13. Before the take-off passengers are always instructed to fasten their belts and not to smoke.
‫ٹیک آف سے پہلے مسافروں کو ہمیشہ ہدایت کی جاتی ہے کہ وہ اپنی بیلٹ باندھیں اور سگریٹ‬

‫نہ پائیں۔‬
14. This is an utterly thankless task; I’ll never take it on again.
‫یہ ایک سراسر شکرانہ کام ہے میں پھر کبھی نہیں کروں گا۔‬
15. Mr. Jackson was tired after driving for so many hours and he asked his wife if she would like to take
over.
‫مسٹر جیکسن اتنے گھنٹے ڈرائیونگ کرنے کے بعد تھک گئے تھے اور انہوں نے اپنی بیوی سے‬

‫پوچھا کہ کیا وہ اقتدار سنبھالنا چاہیں گی؟‬

16. This huge commercial organization is constantly taking over smaller firms.
‫یہ بڑی تجارتی تنظیم مسلسل چھوٹی کمپنی پر قبضہ کر رہی ہے۔‬

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah
 Twenty Minutes With Mrs Oakentubb

17. How has your son taken to life in a hostel?

‫آپ کے بیٹے نے ہاسٹل میں زندگی کیسے گزاری؟‬
18. His ruin began when he took to gambling.
‫اس کی بربادی اس وقت شروع ہوئی جب وہ جوا کھیلنے گیا۔‬
19. Some people have successfully taken up painting quite Late in life.
‫کچھ لوگوں نے کامیابی کے ساتھ پینٹنگ کو زندگی میں دیر سے تسلیم کیا ہے۔‬
20. If he wants his salary to be raised, he will have to take it up with the manager.
‫اگر وہ چاہتا ہے کہ اس کی تنخواہ میں اضافہ کیا جائے تو اسے مینیجر کے ساتھ مشغول ہونا‬

‫پڑے گا۔‬

2nd year Notes Zeeshan Ali (BS in English) Level Up Academy Nawabshah