Passers-by A Play In Four Acts

SCENE: A handsome sitting-room in a bachelor's apartments on the
first floor of a house in Piccadilly, opposite the Green Park. It is
obviously the room of a man of comfortable means and good taste. The
decoration and furniture are of the Adams period. (For details of scene
see accompanying plan.)

TIME: It is about half-past ten at night in the winter, and there is a
cheerful fire in the room.

At rise of curtain stage is in darkness, save for the reflection
through the windows of the lights in the street below.

PINE, who is smoking a cigar, is up L.C., looking out of window.
Suddenly he flings the window open and calls across the road.

PINE. Nighty! (Slight pause. As the call receives no response he
whistles in a peculiar way. This apparently attracts attention and he
waves his arm, inviting the person signalled to cross the road. After
another slight pause, during which he watches NIGHTY cross the road,
he bends out of the window and speaks to him.) Come along up! (Slight
pause) Oh, yes, it's all right. (He withdraws into the window, which
he closes. PINE then goes down R.C., switches on electric light, then
crosses up to sideboard and brings down tray, on which are decanters,
syphons, and glasses. As he comes down there is a knocking on outer
door; he places tray on table down R. and exits R.IE., and the slamming
of the outer door is heard. A few moments later PINE re-enters,
accompanied by NIGHTY. PINE switches on more light. NIGHTY is a typical
London cabman of about sixty, weather-beaten, broad-shouldered and
slightly stooping. His face is at once cheerful and shrewd, and he has
the quality of being deferential without any sacrifice of his natural
pride. He is very warmly clad. As he enters the room he takes his hat
off.)

PINE. (Behind table R) Pretty cold outside!

NIGHTY. (Down n.) Nippy, I call it, but I've known worse.

PINE. A little something to warm the chest wouldn't hurt anyway.

NIGHTY. Thank you, kindly, Mr. Pine, I could do with it, and that's a
fact. (PINE busies himself with decanter and glass) Me and my old horse
are just going to have our supper.

PINE. I saw you drive up to the shelter. Had a good job?

NIGHTY. (R. of table Rj.) Fair! Stout party with a couple of kids to
Ravenscourt Park 'Ammersmith for short an extra bob for crossing the
radius, and nothing for all the way back. Your 'ealth, Mr. Pine. (He
drinks from the glass PINE has handed to him, then puts glass on table)

PINE. Same to you, Nighty! (He drinks)

NIGHTY. Prime stuff! Goes straight to the spot.

PINE. Have a cigar? (Points to box, which is open, on table)