Global Pratibha School

A Proposed Sr. Secondary CBSE School

Class – 9 Subject – English

I Were You Introduction

Explanation
The play is set in a small cottage. The room has an entrance on the
right hand side with a curtain on it. There is another door to the left
side of the room which is in use. The room has simple furniture- a
small table to the left, a chair or two and a small bed on the right side
of the room. On the table, a telephone is kept. As the curtain on the
stage is rolled up, Gerrard is found standing by the table, making a
phone call. He is of medium height and is wearing spectacles that are
in the shape of horns. He is wearing a lounge suit and a great coat. His
voice indicates that he is cultured and well – educated.Gerrard is
speaking on the phone. He says that the person should call him up
directly. He adds that he would reach in ten minutes, bids ‘goodbye’
and puts the receiver back on the phone. Then he goes to the divan
and starts packing the stuff in a travelling bag. While he is busy
packing, another man who is similar to Gerrard enters the room
silently from the right side. He has a gun in one hand. He is dressed in
a bright coloured dress- an overcoat and a soft hat. He bumps into the
table and Gerrard turns around at the sound.
Gerrard speaks pleasantly to the stranger and says that he is surprised
to see him.
The intruder says that he is glad to find Gerrard happy to see him. He
adds that Gerrard won’t remain happy when he comes to know of his
intentions. The intruder asks Gerrard to raise his hands.
Gerrard finds the intruder’s behaviour to be dramatic and not very
natural.
Gerrard adds that he wants to say that he is trying to be calm and
nonchalant that is, not to show anxiety or enthusiasm.

The intruder thanks Gerrard for completing the sentence and says that
soon he will stop acting smart. He adds that he will torture him and
make him crawl.
Gerrard says that the intruder could ask him anything but before that
he wanted to sit comfortably.
The intruder command Gerrard to sit on the chair and sits on the
divan. He wants to talk about the two of them.

Gerrard says that finally, he has a person who is concerned about him
and wants to know about his past. He adds that he would tell him
about his life, how as a child he was stolen by a group of nomads and
why at the age of thirty two years was he living all alone at this small
cottage in Essex. By saying this, he developed an air of suspense
around him.

The intruder was not intrigued by Gerrard’s words. He wanted

answers to his set of questions and did not want to hear to what
Gerrard had to say. He asked if Gerrard lived there alone.

Gerrard says that the way in which the intruder spoke, made him feel
that he was telling him that he lived alone rather than asking him if he
did live alone. He added that the intruder’s voice was not familiar to
imply that he wanted to know about him.

The intruder repeated his question with emphasis and asked Gerrard if
he lived there alone.
Gerrard asked what would the intruder do if he did not answer his
question.
The intruder warned Gerrard that if he did not want any harm, then he
should obey his orders.
Gerrard spoke intelligently and replied that his good sense reflected in
his ability to avoid pain than the mere desire to avoid it. He asked the
intruder about his opinion and addressed him as “Mr – er -” to
indicate that he wanted to know his name.

The intruder replied that he need not know his name and on the other
hand, asked Gerrard his Christian name (i.e. the name he was given
when he was baptised in the church).
Gerrard replied that his Christian name was Vincent Charles.

The intruder’s next question was if Gerrard had a car.Gerrard replied

negatively.
The intruder said that Gerrard was lying. He said that he was not
foolish. He was smarter than him and knew that he had a car. He
warned Gerrard not to befool him.
Gerrard asked the intruder if he was really an American or was he
copying American accent.
The intruder got angry and said that his gun was not a toy. He could
harm Gerrard and still would get a reply to his questions.

Gerrard showed that he got scared and said that he would be happy to
help the intruder. He accepted that he had a car and said that it was in
the garage.
Then the intruder asked whether the place was frequented by many
people.

Gerrard replied that he rarely had any visitors. He added that very few
people underwent the trouble of visiting him. Other than the baker,
green grocer and the milkman, no one else bothered to visit him

The intruder said that he had come to know that Gerrard did not meet
tradespeople.
Gerrard commented that the intruder had gone through a lot of trouble
to gain information about him. He added that as the intruder knew a
lot about him, he should disclose some details about himself too. He
added that the intruder had been reserved and had not talked much
about himself.

The intruder said that he had a lot to talk about himself. In case
Gerrard thought himself to be smart, he was smarter. He had brains
and used his intelligence to achieve things.

Gerrard commented that the man had just broken into his small
cottage which was not a big deal and did not require much
intelligence.

The intruder said that the reason for his entering Gerrard’s cottage
would shock Gerrard.
Gerrard replied that by seeing the intruder’s behaviour, he knew that
his reason for entering his house would be shocking. Then he inquired
about the crime that the intruder specialized in.

The intruder replied that he specialized in jewel robbing. He added

that Gerrard’s car would be a gift for him because it was very stylish.

Gerrard commented that in Essex, jewels were hardly found. He

wanted to say that it was futile for the intruder to visit the area as he
would not find any jewels there.
The intruder added that just like jewels, cops were also scarce in
Essex and so, he could live there peacefully.
Gerrard asked if the intruder wanted to live with him. He commented
that the decision was sudden and that he had not invited the intruder
to live with him.The intruder replied that he did not take the trouble to
ask permission from Gerrard because he won’t be there for long.
Gerrard asked that what did he mean by that.
The intruder replied that the surprise was that he intended to kill
Gerrard.
Gerrard said that the man sounded harsh.
The intruder replied sarcastically that he would be sorry to do that
because he had developed a liking for him.
Gerrard said that killing a person was a serious crime and advised the
intruder not to do so.

The intruder said that he was being chased by the police as he had
already murdered a person. If he would kill another one, the
punishment would still remain the same as they could not hang him to
death twice.
Gerrard said it meant that the intruder was planning to murder him
without any reason. He agreed that the intruder would not lose
anything but asked him that what would he get by killing him. He
wanted to know the reason for him to kill Gerrard.
The intruder replied that in return for killing Gerrard, he would get
freedom. As he had committed a murder, he was hunted by the police
and was hiding like a rat. Upon stealing the identity of Vincent
Charles Gerrard, he would live a life of freedom. He could go to
places, eat and sleep without the fear of being caught by the police.

Gerrard commented that in many dramatic plays the villain was

showed to be a foolish person. He would delay being killed and
eventually got frustrated due to the delay. Then he would commit
some foolish act and get trapped. But the intruder was luckier than
such villains.

The intruder replied that he was fine because he was doing this for a
reason. He wanted to live on the stolen identity of Vincent Charles
Gerrard. He enacted Gerrards style of speaking which he had learnt
when he had overheard Gerrard talking on the phone. The intruder
mimed Gerrard and asked how was his performance.
Gerrard commented that the acting was not very attractive.
The intruder commented that it wasn’t so because Gerrard’s
behaviour was such. He added that he only required spectacles and he
would look just like Gerrard.
Gerard asked the intruder that what would he do about his clothes. His
dress sense was not like him and could put him in trouble.
The intruder replied that this was not a problem as he would wear
Gerrard’s clothes. They would fit him well.
Tribute: to show gratitude, respect or admiration for someone or
something
Gerrard said that the intruder did not understand his remark when he
said that the intruder was luckier than most melodramatic villains. He
added that he was not praising the intruder’s intelligence but he
wanted to say that the intruder would not kill him until he had a major
reason to do so.
The intruder commented that that was what Gerrard thought.
Gerrard said that the intruder would leave him alive. He thanked God
that the man had not shot at him till that moment.
The intruder ordered Gerrard to be quick and disclose all that was
going on in his mind. He was getting bored by the lengthy
conversation.
Gerrard said that the intruder’s plan was to escape the police by
killing Gerrard and stealing his identity.
The intruder confirmed his plan.
Gerrard asked the intruder that was he sure that this plan would help
him escape the police.
Dodge: to avoid someone, here, the police.
The intruder said that he had planned everything. He did a job in the
town. Something went wrong and he murdered a policeman. Since
that day he was on the run.
Gerrard said that finally, the intruder had reached his cottage while
running from the police.

The intruder said that while he was on the run, he reached a town
called Aylesbury. There he saw Gerrard and overheard two men
discussing him. Their discussion revealed that Gerrard was strange
and mysterious.
Gerrard added that he could explain the mystery that surrounded him.
The intruder overlooked Gerrard’s request and continued his speech.
He said that Gerrard would order things over the phone, would go
away and return suddenly. He also wanted to do such things. Getting
to know of Gerrard was the luckiest happening for him.
Gerrard commented that the intruder was not intelligent to guess that
why was he surrounded by this air of mystery.
The intruder prepared to shoot at Gerrard as he was getting bored by
the conversation.
Gerrard warned the intruder not to act foolishly. If he shot at him, he
would be hanged to death. He added that even if he stole Gerrard’s
identity, he would be hanged to death.
The intruder got curious upon hearing this.
Gerrard said that this was the big surprise for the intruder. The reason
behind Gerrard being a secretive man, his not have visitors and his
activities being suitable for the intruder was that he was also a wrong
man. He was not an honest man like a school teacher. His game got
over when he had to kill someone with a gun. After that, one of his
accomplice got caught by the police. They got evidence against
Gerrard from him. That particular night, Gerrard was expecting that
the police could raid his house to catch him and so, he had packed his
bag and was ready to escape.
The intruder had to clue to all this. He agreed that Gerrard had a bag
and a gun but why was he carrying odd stuff like artificial
moustaches, wigs and props.

Disguise: give a different appearance in order to hide one’s

identity
Gerrard replied that he was carrying these props so that he could
change his appearance in order to hide himself. He hoped that the
intruder would believe him.
The intruder was still doubtful about Gerrard’s words.
Muddled head: confused mind
Frame: false
Gerrard requested the intruder to believe his words and accompany
him in his car. He added that the intruder could help him escape and if
he felt that Gerrard’s words were false, he could kill him with his gun.
The intruder believed Gerrard and said that probably he was right.

Gerrard was in a hurry. He picked up his hat and bag.

The intruder warned Gerrard that he was watching his moves.

Gerrard said that one of his accomplices had been positioned on the
road to warn him if he saw the police. Just then the telephone bell
rang and Gerrard said that it was time to leave. He directed the
intruder to leave through the garage door.
The intruder doubted Gerrard’s words.
(Gerrard opens door and steps away. Intruder leans forward to
inspect it, with his side towards Gerrard, but with the revolver ready.
As he turns his head, Gerrard gives him a push into the cupboard,
knocking the revolver out of his hand. He slams the door and locks it,
picks up the revolver and goes to the phone, where he stands with the
gun pointed at the cupboard door.)
Gerrard said that the intruder should not be foolish. He asked him to
see for himself. He opened the door and stepped to one side so that
the intruder could see outside. The intruder leaned forward with the
gun still

pointed towards Gerrard. As he turned his head, Gerrard pushed him

into the cupboard and the gun fell off the intruder’s hand. (The door
was not of the garage but it was a cupboard door). As Gerrard pushed
the intruder inside the cupboard, he closed the door and locked it. He
picked up the revolver and walked towards the phone, the gun pointed
towards the cupboard, in case the intruder tried to escape.
The intruder rattled the door of the cupboard and shouted to be freed.
.
Props: things used by actors to change appearance
Spot of bother: something that causes inconvenience or trouble
Gerrard answered the phone and said that he would not be able to
deliver the props in time for the rehearsal of the play because he had
been troubled by someone. He added that he would add this incident
to his next play. This shows that Gerrard was a playwright. He asked
the person to send the sergeant to his residence. He added that
probably the sergeant could be found in the public bar.