The Templeton Teapot

Price, 15 Cents

WALTER H. BAKER & CO.
BOSTON

COPYRIGHT, 1889, BY WALTER H. BAKER & CO.

A. W. Pinero's Plays

Price, 50 Cents Each

THE AMAZONS Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, five females. Costumes, modern; scenery, not difficult. Plays a full evening.

THE CABINET MINISTER Farce in Four Acts. Ten males, nine females. Costumes, modern society; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening.

DANDY DICK Farce in Three Acts. Seven males, four females. Costumes, modern; scenery, two interiors. Plays two hours and a half.

THE GAY LORD QUEX Comedy in Four Acts. Four males, ten females. Costumes, modern; scenery, two interiors and an exterior. Plays a full evening.

HIS HOUSE IN ORDER Comedy in Four Acts. Nine males, four females. Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening.

THE HOBBY HORSE Comedy in Three Acts. Ten males, five females. Costumes, modern; scenery easy. Plays two hours and a half.

IRIS Drama in Five Acts. Seven males, seven females. Costumes, modern; scenery, three interiors. Plays a full evening.

LADY BOUNTIFUL Play in Four Acts. Eight males, seven females. Costumes, modern; scenery, four interiors, not easy. Plays a full evening.

LETTY Drama in Four Acts and an Epilogue. Ten males, five females. Costumes, modern; scenery complicated. Plays a full evening.

THE MAGISTRATE Farce in Three Acts. Twelve males, four females. Costumes, modern; scenery, all interior. Plays two hours and a half.

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Walter H. Baker & Company
No. 5 Hamilton Place, Boston, Massachusetts

The Templeton Teapot

A Farce In One Act

By
GRACE COOKE STRONG
Author of "Marrying Belinda," etc.

BOSTON
WALTER H. BAKER & CO.
1912

The Templeton Teapot

CHARACTERS

• Horace Templeton, a collector of antiques.
• Prof. Algernon Gates, bashful but persistent.
• Leon Burnett, a neighbor of the Templetons'.
• Eric Dean, Burnett's brother-in-law.
• Mrs. Templeton, Templeton's wife.
• Hilda, his daughter.
• Sue, his spinster sister.
• Fanny Burnett, Burnett's wife.

Time:—Summer evening of present year.

Copyright, 1912, by Walter H. Baker & Co.

The Templeton Teapot

SCENE.—Library in the Templeton home, a comfortable old-fashioned room, reflecting its owner's love for the antique. A door at r. leads into the hall; another door l., opens into an adjoining room. For furniture, a large desk strewn with books and papers, several easy chairs, and shelves containing books. The room is decorated with pieces of old china, dignified candlesticks, and various old-fashioned articles. In a prominent position on the mantel is a quaint silver teapot.

(As the curtain rises, Mr. Horace Templeton is seated at his desk writing, surrounded by several ponderous reference books. Mrs. Templeton enters l., carrying a large basket packed with cast-off clothing.)

Mrs. T. (setting basket on floor near door r.). Hilda! (Goes to l.) Hilda! Horace, have you seen——? (In despair.) Oh, it's of no use. Sue! (Enter Sue, l.) Sue, have you seen anything of Hilda?

Sue. She came in here after dinner.

Mrs. T. (looking out r.). She must have gone out, for her wraps are not in the hall. How unfortunate!

Sue. She will be at home presently. (Looks at basket.) I wouldn't leave that basket there, Celia. If—if Professor Gates should happen to call this evening he would surely stumble over it; the dear man is so near-sighted.

Mrs. T. (moving basket from door). It's only a few things that I've collected for poor Mrs. McLaffety. She's to send her boy for them. Did Professor Gates tell you that he was coming this evening?

Sue (moving about nervously). Why, no—doesn't he usually call on Tuesday evenings?

Mrs. T. (sitting down). Yes; and on Wednesday evenings and Thursday evenings and Friday—I declare, I'm so worried about Hilda that I can't keep track of anything.

Sue (in surprise). Hilda?

Mrs. T. Yes, Hilda. For weeks she has not been herself. I know that she has something on her mind, but I can't find out what it is. Her father is no help——(Sound of door-bell.) I'm sure that's the evening paper; will you kindly get it, Sue? (Exit Sue, r. Mrs. T. rises hurriedly and goes to desk.) Horace. (Pause.) Horace!

Mr. T. (without looking up). Yes, yes.

Mrs. T. (in exasperation). Will you give me your attention one moment?

Mr. T. (impatiently pushing aside his work). Celia, how many times must I tell you that I'm preparing an article for the press, entitled, "The Philosophy of our Forefathers as Revealed by their Kitchen Utensils," and that I cannot endure this constant interruption? (Resumes work.)

Mrs. T. You shall listen to me. Do you ever wonder at the increasing frequency with which Professor Gates calls here?

Mr. T. (impatiently). Well, Gates is a good fellow—fine family—most distinguished—that sort of thing.

Mrs. T. Very true, and moreover, he is in love with Hilda.

Mr. T. Nonsense! He's twice her age.

Mrs. T. That doesn't matter. Hilda is old for her years; besides, she's in love with him.

Mr. T. You must be mistaken.

Mrs. T. (emphatically). I am not. Didn't you hear me telling Sue that Hilda is unhappy, moody, incomprehensible? Those are symptoms—trust me.

Mr. T. Well?

Mrs. T. I'm trying to determine your attitude toward this marriage.

(Sue appears unnoticed in door r., the paper in