Satirise technology with an already included scene

 Money. Came into inheritance at end?

 Satirise standards?
 Main Themes:
 Social Class
 Money
 Lies and Deceit (Lie about cleaning room to procrastinate and hang out with girlfriend?)
Satirising males:
-Importance on physical capabilities
-Pretend they are independent, maybe depending on a mother
-Still seek to do things of their own accord even after marriage (John lying to get away from
his wife/mother?) Maybe trying to show independence by staying away from mother figure, his
sister?
-They try not being emotional
-Possibly relying on intellect and logic rather than emotion or intuition
-Try to be dominant and show leadership
-Ambition, pride, honor, competitive nature and sense of adventure
-Lower importance of special dates such as birthdays? Anniversaries?
-Distancing from feminine characteristics
-A need to show how successful they are
-Algernon is squatting in places of people who are away on holiday
-Jack pretends to be a doctor
-Men may also overreact on sickness

Rationale bit:
Algernon stays in a luxurious part of London (half-moon street). Depicted modernised as an expert
squatter in homes of those who are away. His favourite is 15 Central Park West, one of the most
expensive places to live in New York, sold for $88 million. Layout described to stick close with
elevators. Switches places a lot.
In the play, Jack is a legal judge, based on his title J.P. (Justice of Peace) In this, Jack is pretending to
be a medical doctor, M.D. and must forge/get a medical certificate.

SCENE
Living Room, penthouse of 15 Central Park West. ALGERNON is reclined on a sofa and watching a
replay of tennis on TV]
ALGERNON: Yes! One more point! What? That was out! This is ridiculous!
[He grabs the remote and furiously switches it off. LANE enters the room, carrying food]
ALGERNON: Did you hear what I was shouting, Lane?
LANE: No sir. You asked for privacy.
ALGERNON: Yes. Yes I did. It is quite rude to listen to another watching the tennis. I don’t think I
could ever let one live here if they did.
LANE: This isn’t your place sir.
ALGERNON [sits up straight]: What? What did you say Lane?
LANE: Nothing sir. Nothing at all.
ALGERNON [lies back down]: Of course not. You know, I worked hard for this place Lane. My father
was a poor man. Very poor.
LANE: Yes sir. Your hard work and knowledge astounds me.
ALGERNON: I know. Did you know that seahorses can become invisible? After all this time and I still
remember it.
LANE: Quite remarkable sir. I did not know that.
ALGERNON: Yes. It’s true. Now where is the platter of fruit and croissants for Lady Bracknell?
LANE: I do not know sir.
ALGERNON: What? Are you trying to make me look like I have no money to spare for fruit and
croissants? Look around. There must be some around here!
LANE: Of course sir.

[LANE exits. The intercom crackles]

JACK: Algie? Are you there?

[Algernon gets up and walks to the intercom]
ALGERNON: Jack? Come on up!
[JACK enters and they head back to the living room]
ALGERNON: About time. What took you so long?
JACK [sits down]: You never seem to stay in one place for long. It took me too long to convince the
guard to let me up. He told me the owner had gone for a holiday!
ALGERNON [also sits down]: Ah. Yes. This place is mine. It belongs to my uncle…..[Looks around and
finds letters on the table] my uncle Albert!
JACK: I find that hardly likely.
ALGERNON: Oh it most certainly is! But that is not the important thing now. Why have you only now
decided to come visit me?
JACK: An important surgery on the President, I’m afraid.
ALGERNON: Really? Today? Lane!
JACK: Yesterday, in fact.

[Enter LANE]

ALGERNON: Bring me yesterday’s newspaper!

LANE: Yes sir.

[Exit LANE]

JACK: Did you watch the tennis last night? Your favourite player lost and I know how much you get
riled when they lose.
ALGERNON: Hm? Oh yes, I watched it but I didn’t mind. Tennis is such a trivial thing to get worked
up over.
JACK: Really? You, not overreacting? Are you sick Algie? Your moaning about the sickness leave you
bedridden for months! You act as if it’s terminal!
ALGERNON: I blame a severe chill. They’re terribly difficult to get rid of.
JACK: Oh please. It’s just a cold.
 [Enter LANE, who hands ALGERNON the newspaper and exits]

ALGERNON: Here we are! It says here that the President has made an appearance at a Comic-Con.
JACK [hesitates]: Well, I didn’t say it was the President of America, did I? I meant the President of
Atlantis.
ALGERNON: There is no such place.
JACK: Alright. In New York, I am a medical doctor. In the countryside, I am a priest.
ALGERNON [Phone chimes and he checks it]: Ah. That is very interesting. All this for Gwendolen? I
must admit, you are quite the Bunburyist. I myself have invented a job where I work in a homeless
shelter to serve food whenever I desire.
JACK: You could live with me. My inheritance is more than sufficient to keep us both living a life of
luxury.
ALGERNON: I couldn’t possibly accept charity. I’m not poor. Simply exploring the world, one
apartment at a time. But I am late for my lunch with Lady Bracknell at Le Bernardin. Would you like
to come along? She apparently forgot her wallet.
JACK [begins to leave]: Sorry, gotta dash. I really must be going.
ALGERNON: Gwendolen will be there.
JACK [swivels around quickly]: I suppose a quick bite won’t be too bad.

[JACK and ALGERNON head into the elevator]

ACT DROP

SCENE
Private Dining Room at Le Bernadin.

[LADY BRACKNELL and GWENDOLEN are sitting at the table when JACK and ALGERNON arrive]

ALGERNON [kisses her on the cheek]: Aunt Augusta.

LADY BRACKNELL: It’s about time you got here dear Algernon. One mustn’t wait longer than one
should.
ALGERNON: I apologize Aunt Augusta. I was talking to Jack.
LADY BRACKNELL: Yes. I wasn’t aware he was coming. Gwendolen has far more important things to
do than come.
GWENDOLEN: You insisted mother.
LADY BRACKNELL: Yes. A great tragedy. Very well. You may sit.
[ALGERNON and JACK sit down]
LADY BRACKNELL [gestures to Jack’s opposite]: Would you rather sit here Gwendolen? You can see
the painting much better from there.
GWENDOLEN: I’m fine mother.
ALGERNON [coughs]:
 GWENDOLEN: I’ve always wanted to marry someone who could look after me. When Algernon
mentioned that he had a friend who was a doctor, I knew it was meant to be.

LADY BRACKNELL: Your father was quite broke when he died Algernon. You inherited the bulk of his
$20 million.

I never said she stole my money