adapted from Where But in America
by Oscar M. Wolff
CHARACTERS
MRS. MOLLIE ESPENHAYNE
MR. ROBERT ESPENHAYNE
SCENE: The Espenhayne dining-room.
The curtain rises on the Espenhayne dining-room which is furnished with modest taste and refinement. There is a door, center, leading to the living-room, and a swinging door, left, leading to the kitchen.
The table is set, and ROBERT and MOLLIE ESPENHAYNE are discovered at their evening meal. They are educated, well-bred young Americans. ROBERT is a pleasing, energetic business man of thirty; MOLLIE an attractive woman of twenty-five. The bouillon cups are before them as the curtain rises.
BOB:
Mollie, I heard from the man who owns that house in Kenilworth. He wants to sell the house, but won't rent.
MOLLIE:
I really don't care, Bob. That house was too far from the station, and it had only one sleeping-porch, and you know I want white-enameled woodwork in the bedrooms. But, Bob, I've been terribly stupid!
BOB:
How so, Mollie?
MOLLIE:
You remember the Russells moved to Highland Park last spring?
BOB:
Yes; Ed Russell rented a house that had just been built.
MOLLIE:
A perfectly darling little house! Fanny Russell once told me that the man who built it will put up a house for anyone who will take a five-year lease, and she says that the man is very competent and they are simply delighted with their place.
BOB:
Why don't we get in touch with the man?
MOLLIE:
Wasn't it stupid of me not to think about it? It just flashed into my mind this morning, and I sat down at once and sent a special-delivery letter to Fanny Russell asking her to tell me his name at once and where we can find him.
BOB:
Good! You ought to have an answer by tomorrow or Thursday and we'll go up north and have a talk with him on Saturday.
MOLLIE:
[With enthusiasm.] Wouldn't it be wonderful if he'd build just what we want! Fanny Russell says every detail of their house is perfect including the garage; they use it—
BOB:
[Interrupting.] Mollie, that's the one thing I'm afraid of about the North Shore plan. I've said repeatedly that I don't want to buy a car for another year or two. But here you are, talking about a garage already.
MOLLIE:
But you didn't let me finish what I was saying. The Russells have fitted up their garage as a playroom for the children. If we had a garage we could do the same thing.
BOB:
Well, let's keep temptation behind us and not even talk to the man about a garage. If we move up north it must be on an economy basis for a few years; just a half-way step between the apartment and the house we used to plan. You mustn't get your heart set on a car.
What is the best way to describe the theme?
*
It is better to discuss one's interests with others.
It is important to have realistic dreams.
People can learn by observing others.
Renting a house is better than buying one.