Page 130 - Mkjps Magazine 2k21

The Winter’s Evening: A Play
A Winter’s Evening is a play written by me. It is a very short play (because it does not contain a
thousand words and only takes about 7 pages of my note-book!) and consists of only three
characters (only two, as the butler has a single line and does not even appear on the stage). The
play revolves around George Harrison, a poet and a literature Nobel laureate, and James
Cochran, a pauper looking for a job. The play is hilarious (I hope so, but it is not for me to

judge). The play is about Mr. Cochran coming to Mr. Harrison in search of a job. He
presumably came for an interview to Mr. Harrison (I guess we will never know why he came in
the first place) but things go the wrong way right from the start. Be prepared to laugh as hard as
you can (This is a very bold claim that I am making here, considering that this is the first time
that I have written a play).
[Enter Mr. Harrison, the celebrated poet, and a Nobel laureate and Mr. Cochran, a pauper,

looking for a job. The scene is set in a typical French chateau in Sussex. It is a cold winter’s
evening).

Harrison: What brings you here, my good man?
Cochran: Sir, I am James Cochran. You’d talked about a job…
Harrison: (interrupting abruptly) A job? Work? Who thinks of work in this sweet winter
weather?

Cochran: (muttering to himself ) Has he gone mad? What kind of a person thinks that this
weather is sweet? I might even catch a bad cold!
Harrison: What are you muttering about over there?
Cochran: —Oh it’s Nothing Sir! I was just saying that no one thinks of work in this
beautiful weather. It’s just that this hunger —

Harrison: Hunger? What a mean, petty, and paltry word! Pray do not repeat it before me!
Cochran: Very well Sir, I won’t. But I can’t help thinking about it all the time.
Harrison: Really, Mr. Cochran! All the time? Even on a serene, tranquil and beautiful
evening such as this?
Cochran: Yes, indeed. I’m thinking even more about it now than I usually do. I had eggs
and bacon for breakfast a little over half-past nine before I set out for job hunting, and I
haven’t had a bite since then.

Harrison: Does it matter? Must you eat?
(Cochran scratches his head in silence.)
Doesn’t one sitting in this moonlight, wish that these moonbeams, the nectar of
the flowers and the cool breeze might suffice for all of one’s needs?
Cochran: (terrified, softly) Sir, that is hardly enough to hold the body, mind, and soul
together—one needs something more substantial to eat.

Harrison: (heatedly)Then go away and eat! Go stuff yourself with loads of steaks and
lobsters and bread! This is no place for you—you’re trespassing on my property.
Cochran: I’ll go at once sir. Just tell me where I might find those steaks and lobsters and
bread!
(On seeing that Mr. Harrison is about to lose his temper) No, Mr. Harrison, you’re quite
right actually; the breeze from your garden is enough to fill anyone’s belly. One really
doesn’t need anything else.

Harrison: I’m glad to hear you say so—spoken like a true man! Speaking of the
garden, let’s go outside. Why stay indoors on this perfect evening?
Cochran: Yes, let’s go. (softly to himself ) It is freezing out there, and I don’t even have
an overcoat. Huh.