anyway the best

3. William Stanley Houghton (1881-1913) was a famous English
dramatist. He was one of the best of a group of realistic
playwrights often called the Manchester School. In every play he
sought to present an idea. He had a remarkable gift for dialogue
that is evident in THE DEAR DEPARTED. The dear
departed was first produced in Manchester in1908. here Houghton
satirizes the degradation of moral values in the British middle-
class.

4. Sisters : Mrs. Amelia Slatter
Mrs. Elizabeth Jordon
Their Husbands : Henry Slatter
Ben Jordon
A girl of ten Victoria
Grandfather Abel Merryweather

5. This sTory is abouT a family in which an old
man wiTh his daughTer and her husband
and Their daughTer lived. This drama is
based on moral values. The sTory begins
like This……
a room in which a sofa is placed .
ornamenTs and a cheap american clock
are on manTelpiece. a cenTer Table is
There on which some newspapers and
magazines are placed. a red faced
vulgar woman mrs. slaTTer is laying The
Table. she is sharply calling her
daughTer vicToria…..

6. Yes
mamma
Just
coming..
Victoria, Victoria !
Do you hear me ?
Can you come here
for a while ?
Victoria, Victoria !
Do you hear me ?
Can you come here
for a while ?

7. Why are they
coming?
They haven’t been
here for years.
Why are they
coming?
They haven’t been
here for years.
They are
coming to talk
about
grandpa’s
matter.
They are
coming to talk
about
grandpa’s
matter.
I am amazed that how can you
seek pleasure in the street?
Don’t you know that your
grandpa is lying dead upstairs?
Go & change your dress your
uncle and aunt are coming
soon.
I am amazed that how can you
seek pleasure in the street?
Don’t you know that your
grandpa is lying dead upstairs?
Go & change your dress your
uncle and aunt are coming
soon.

8. A noise is heard suddenly , Mrs. Slater hurries to the door
and opens it. She sighs when she sees her husband Henry on
the door.

9. Not came yet , eh ?
You can see they haven’t , can
you ? Now Victoria be off
upstairs and change your
dress.

10. Henry and Amelia discusses about their
mourning dress . Henry sits on the armchair ,
then Amelia asks to get his books off .
Then Henry shows his astonishment by asking
that she had quarreled with Elizabeth then
she took decision that she would never set her
leg into her house so why she’s coming to her
house that day.
Amelia clears his doubt that she’s coming just to
get her share in their father’s property.
Amelia unwraps the parcel . It contains apple pie
and she puts it on a dish.

11. Henry I am thinking about
that pa ‘s bureau that’s in
his bedroom . You know
that I always wanted to
have it after he died.
You must always
arrange with
Elizabeth when you
are dividing things
up.

12. She’ll see that I’m after it
and she’ll drive a hard
bargain over it.
She’ll see that I’m after it
and she’ll drive a hard
bargain over it.
Perhaps she’s got
her eye on the
bureau as well.
Mrs. Slater suggests Henry to put that bureau down and
act as that the bureau is their own.

13. We should do it before
they come…
We should do it before
they come…
I wouldn’t care.I wouldn’t care.
Don’t look so daft .
Why not ?
Don’t look so daft .
Why not ?
It doesn’t seem to
be delicate.
It doesn’t seem to
be delicate.

14. Amelia suggests ….
“we could put that shabby old chest of drawers at
the place of bureau.”
Henry questions…..
“suppose they come when we are doing it …”
Amelia answers…
“I’ll fasten the front door. Get your coat off.”
(Amelia fastens the door and Henry gets his coats
off.)
Amelia reappears…

15. Mom! Can you
please fasten my
frock?
I’m busy . Get
your father to do
it.
I’m busy . Get
your father to do
it.

16. Henry fastens her frock and Amelia hurries upstairs.
What you have got
your coat off , father ?
Mother and me
bringing your
grandpa’s bureau
here.
As we pinching
before aunt Eliza
come?
No my dear
your grandpa
gifted it when
he died.

17. Then Victoria doubtfully asks, "this morning?”
Henry , “yes”
Victoria- EH!!! He was drunk this morning…
Henry – don’t say like that…

18. I think that we should
fetch this clock also.
Our clock worth
nothing and this
always appeared to
me.
I think that we should
fetch this clock also.
Our clock worth
nothing and this
always appeared to
me.
That’s
grandpa’s
clock!!!!!
That’s
grandpa’s
clock!!!!!

19. Amelia makes Victoria to be shut and not to say a
single word this shows that Amelia is very rude
towards her daughter and selfish towards her
family. She fetched the mantle table and bureau to
herself.
After some time a sharp knock is heard. She orders
Victoria not to open the door till she says to her
because she frequently understands that who will
be on the door.
They do whatever they planned, they displaces the
bureau . Knocking is still on the door…..

20. Open the door
Victoria. Now Henry
get your coat on.
Open the door
Victoria. Now Henry
get your coat on.
Mrs. Slater straightens her hair and throws magazine towards
Henry.

21. Victoria opens the door. Ben Jordon and Elizabeth Jordon enters
in the house. Both the couples shakes hands and gives kisses.
They meet to each other formally. The sits on the sofas and
talks about grandpa’s issues and activities he did before
death. In talking Elizabeth comes to know..
Elizabeth-now tell us about him. What did the doctor say?
Amelia- OH!! He’s not been near yet…
Elizabeth – not been near ???
Ben – didn’t you sent him at once???
Amelia – Of coarse! I did . I once sent Henry to Dr. Prinjle
but he was out..
Elizabeth – Its’ just a fatal mistake…

22. Amelia tells her that their father went to pay his insurance in
that morning and when came back , he was in ‘merry’. The
whole family talks about his final activities and they sniffs in a
tear.
After a moment Amelia offers tea to them and they sits and
talks about the obituary to be given in the in the newspaper.
But they aren’t able to decide so they postpone their program
and talks about their father’s valuables and sorts.

23. I want that gold
watch . He
promised that
to our Jimmy.
I want that gold
watch . He
promised that
to our Jimmy.
Elizabeth tells everyone that…….
Amelia gets surprised after listening his father’s will and asks that when
did he do so..

24. Anyhow.. There’s his
insurance money.
Where is receipt of
the premium he paid
today??
Anyhow.. There’s his
insurance money.
Where is receipt of
the premium he paid
today??
Ben asks Amelia about the receipt…
Amelia refuses that she don’t know anything about it…

25. Victoria suddenly jumps up from the sofa and share her thoughts
with her family. She informs everyone that her grandpa didn’t go
into the town, he went to his an old friend and after that to the St.
Philip's Church.
Then Elizabeth puts her opinion that their father hasn’t filled
the premium just to annoy them, Amelia doesn’t believes them
and orders Victoria to bring the Bunch of keys that was kept in
her grandpa’s dressing table .
Victoria reluctantly goes there , here by mistake Amelia takes
the name of bureau . Then Elizabeth and Ben starts
investigating about the bureau by asking questions about it.
Then Amelia lies to them that they bought that bureau at an
auction.

26. Elizabeth believes in whatever Amelia says and says
that all the masterpieces are of second hand.

27. Victoria returns very scared and informs everyone that grandpa is
getting up. Firstly everyone shouts on her and refer her as a foolish
girl. But she sticks on her words and tells everyone to check out.
Elizabeth asks her to check out once.
Suddenly they hears some sound . They look behind… they sees
Abel is coming down . On seeing grandpa all becomes terrified.
Amelia pokes grandpa to see if he is solid.
Abel gets irritated by their tomfoolery . And feel happy on seeing
Elizabeth and Amelia together. Victoria runs towards her grandpa
and sits on the floor at his feet ….

28. Oh grandpa!!!
I’m glad that
you are not
dead.
Oh grandpa!!!
I’m glad that
you are not
dead.
Eh? What’s that?
Who’s gone
dead????
AmeliA corrects (loudly) - VictoriA sAys thAt she’s sorry About
your heAd.
As Amelia doesn’t wants Abel to know that they thought Abel is dead.
But Abel doubts that something serious is happening behind him….

29. Abel thanks Victoria for her well wishing. On
seeing this Amelia remembers that Elizabeth told
her about their father’s gold watch, so she
tactfully tells her to ask about that gold watch
from their father, but she ignores .on seeing their
unusual behavior, Abel asks…

30. Why all of you are in
mourning??? Who’s
gone dead??? It’s
someone in the
family????
Why all of you are in
mourning??? Who’s
gone dead??? It’s
someone in the
family????

31. Amelia grapples with the problem and pretexts that a person in the relation of
Ben has been died and starts making imaginary stories about that
imaginary dead person. They hide the truth. Just to hide one truth they
say a number of lies. This shows that they are not loyal to their father and
they just wanted to fetch his property. They don’t wanted to deteriorate
their image in front of their father. Abel wishes to have some food as he is
feeling hungry. Amelia grants her some apple pie and pours some tea. Ben
then asks Abel about his health.
While eating Abel shouts ,” Melia and Henry , how dare you to shift my
bureau out of my bedroom???”
Elizabeth , “ what bureau was that. Father???
Abel , “ that bureau that one I bought .”
Elizabeth , “ was that father ?”( pointing towards the bureau)
Abel,” what’s it doing here??”

32. After some time the clock of mantelpiece strikes six.
Everyone looks at it.
Drat me if that isn’t
my clock too. What
the devil’s been
going on in this
house????
Drat me if that isn’t
my clock too. What
the devil’s been
going on in this
house????

33. Elizabeth understands the tricks of Amelia and tells Abel that what is going
on that house. Amelia orders herto keep quite but she doesn’t .she tells the
whole story to herfatherthat Amelia is playing robbery on him. And also
tells himthat Amelia and Henry thought that he was dead and fetched his
clockand bureau. Abel also understands the whole story and Amelia sobs
afterit .
It seems that
neither of you has
any cause to feel
proud about the way
you have treated
me.
It seems that
neither of you has
any cause to feel
proud about the way
you have treated
me.
Come Mr.
Merryweather
you’ve got to live
with one of your
daughters.
Come Mr.
Merryweather
you’ve got to live
with one of your
daughters.

34. Ben and Henry : what ????
Elizabeth : Get married!!!!
Amelia : He’s out of his senses….

36. It’s a good thing you
brought that bureau
downstairs. Amelia , it’ll
be handier to carry
across to the RING-O-
BELLS on Monday.