THE PROFESSOR AND HIS INVENTION G208

THE PROFESSOR AND HIS INVENTION

Characters
P—Professor Hunter, an old man
M—Mary Hunter, his daughter
G—Miss Green, his secretary
B—Dr Brown men from London
R—Mr Rose men from London
I—Inspector White
S—Sergeant Bull
Scene 1
(Mary Hunter and Miss Green are in the professor's room—a large, pleasant room with many books. There is a big desk near the window.)
M: Father seems to be excited this morning, Miss Green.
G: Of course he's excited. This is a very important day for him. Today his invention will belong to the world! And the papers are complete already.
M: But what is his invention? I only know it's some kind of machine. Father tried to explain it to me but I just couldn't understand. Do you?
G: No, not really! I think only the professor really understands it. But I know the government thinks highly of it. Your father is doing a great thing, giving his invention to the government. Everyone will then be able to benefit from it.
M: Yes, Father's that way. He wants to do things for people. I'm sorry Father's not strong enough to go to London himself.
G: The men from the government should be here before long. They'll take his papers to London.
(The telephone rings. Mary picks it up.)
M: Hello? Yes, this is Professor Hunter's house. Yes, this is Mary speaking. Oh, Dr Smith. How are you? What's that? Kate's in hospital? Yes, of course I'll come. I wanted to stay with Father, but it doesn't matter. Yes, I'll be there in an hour. Goodbye.
(Mary puts down the telephone.)
G: What's the matter with Kate? Is she very ill?
M: She's broken her leg. Oh, dear! I wanted so much to stay here this morning. I wanted to look after Father.
G: Don't worry, Mary. I'll be with him.
(The professor comes in.)
P: I can't find my glasses. Have you seen them, Mary?
G (going to the professor's desk): Here they are, professor.
P: Ah, thank you, Miss Green.(He puts on his glasses.) I can't see without them. Now, what's the time? Hm, where's my watch?(He looks for his watch in his pocket.)
M (laughing): You're wearing it, Father.
P (also laughing): Yes, of course. I forget so many things, don't I?
M: But you can still do your work, Father. That's the important thing.
P (looking at his watch): Why, it's almost ten. When are the men coming from London? At ten-thirty, wasn't it, Miss Green?
M: No, eleven.
P: Oh, I thought it was ten-thirty. Well, then, I can read through my papers again.
M: Dr Smith telephoned a few minutes ago, Father. He said Kate's broken her leg. I'm going to the hospital to see her now. I'm sorry I can't stay with you, Father.
P: That's all right, Mary. Miss Green will look after me.
(Mary kisses her Father and goes out.)
P: Now, let me see. Ah yes, my papers.(He goes to his desk and sits down.)
G: Do you need me now, professor?
P: Er, no, thanks. I'll ring if I need you.
(Miss Green goes out of the room.)
P (talking to himself): These women! They don't think I can look after myself. (He begins to read his papers.)
Scene 2
(Half an hour later. The professor is still reading his papers. Miss Green comes in.)
G (very excited): Professor! They've arrived!
P (looking up): Who, Miss Green? What are you talking about?
G: The men from the government, of course.
P (looking at his watch): But it's only half past ten. You said they were coming at eleven.
G: Well, they've come early. Shall I bring them in?
P: Yes, bring them in of course. But give me five minutes. I want to finish this page.
(Miss Green goes to the door. Then she stops.)
G: Oh, they've shown me their cards, professor. They are the right men.
P: Good. So I don't have to look at their cards then. I certainly don't want to give my invention to the wrong men.
(Miss Green goes out. Five minutes later she comes in with two men.)
B: Good morning, professor. My name's Brown, Dr Brown. And this is Mr Rose. He's my assistant.
G: Shall I bring some coffee?
B: No coffee for us, thank you. We can't stay long. We have to go back to London soon.
(Miss Green goes out.)
P: So you've come for the papers of my invention.
B: That's right, professor.
P: I wanted to take the papers to London myself, but my daughter wouldn't let me go. She's afraid the trip will be too much for me.
B: You needn't worry, professor. We'll take good care of the papers.
P: Now let me see. Where did I put them?
(Dr Brown is rather surprised. He looks at Mr Rose.)
B: Those papers on your desk, professor, are they the ones?
P: Oh, these? No, they're not the papers for you. These are only some old papers. Ah, I remember now. I put the papers behind some books. (He stands up.)
B: Behind your books? That's not a very good place for papers, is it?
P: Yes, it is. No one touches my books. (He takes down some books. There are some papers behind them.)
Yes, here they are. (He gives the papers to Dr Brown.) You know about my invention, don't you?
B: Why, of course, professor. This invention of yours will greatly benefit the whole world. We've talked a lot about it. You'll be famous, sir. And of course you'll be well rewarded.
P: I don't want to be famous. And I don't want any money for it, either.
B: We understand how you feel, sir. The country will thank you for it. (He looks at his watch.) I'm afraid we have to go now.
P: Well, take good care of the papers.
B: Yes, professor. You can be sure of that. Goodbye.(The two men go out. The professor sits down and starts to laugh.)
P: Well, well, that was fun! Now let's wait and see.
Scene 3
(It is about eleven o' clock. The professor is looking at some papers on his desk. Miss Green runs into the room.)
G: Oh, professor! Those two men! Have they left?
P: Yes, of course they've left, Miss Green. They've taken the papers and gone back to London.
G: Oh, that's terrible!
P: What's terrible? What are you talking about, Miss Green?
G: Those weren't the right men, professor.
P: I don't understand. You looked at their cards, didn't you?
G: I know. But the cards they had were stolen.
P: How do you know?
G: The police telephoned. The right men were coming from London, but their car was stopped by two men. These two shut the men in an empty house and took away their cards. And now they've stolen your invention! (Begins to cry.)
(The doorbell rings.)
P: Go and open the door, Miss Green. It may be the police.
(Miss Green goes out. She comes back with two policemen.)
I: I'm Inspector White, sir. And this is Sergeant Bull.
P: Please take a seat.
(They both sit down.)
I: So the two impostors have taken your papers. We'll try our best to catch them.
P: It isn't necessary, inspector.
I: Not necessary?
P: Oh, the papers aren't important.
I: I don't understand, sir.
G: But your invention! Now those men have it and they'll sell it. That's not what you wanted.
P: Those two men won't sell my invention.
I: Why not?
P: Because they don't have it. Let me explain. When I saw the men, I didn't trust them. They seemed to be too nervous and were too anxious to leave. You looked at their cards, Miss Green, but I had to be certain, very certain. I couldn't give my invention to the wrong men, could I?
I: So, what did you do?
P: Well, Dr Brown said they had talked about my invention. But that wasn't possible. Only a few very important people knew about it.
G: Quite right.
P: I gave Dr Brown some other papers. He took a quick look and he accepted them. It showed that he didn't know about my invention, so I knew then that he wasn't the right man.
I: So you' ve still got the papers, professor?
P: Yes, they' re still on my desk.
I: But we must try to catch those men, professor. Can you tell us what they look like?
P: Mmm, let me see. Doctor Brown was short and fat. He had no hair and…
G: No, professor. That was Mr. Rose. Doctor Brown was tall and thin.
P: Are you sure? Well, perhaps you' re right.
I (standing up): It doesn't matter, professor. We mustn't waste your time. Let Miss Green help us. Thank you very much.
(Miss Green and the policemen go out. The professor sits down at his desk again.)
P (to himself): I'll take the papers to London myself. Now for some work! Hm, where did I put my glasses, eh?
The Curtain Falls