Earthquake (Supplementary)

Unit 3 – Drama

Old Man River

by Dorothy Deming

Warm Up

A. Discuss in pairs for two minutes on any one of these natural disasters.

Use the following points:
- Causes
- Damages
- Precautions

B. Fill the word web with words related to natural disasters.

Example: collapse

C. Imagine a situation where your house is surrounded by water and answer the following.

1. What health hazards are caused when water stagnates around your place?
2. When there is a power shutdown for long hours during floods, what will you do?
3. What precautions would you take if there is an announcement about flooding in your area?

D. List out the human activities which have an impact on nature.

Complete the tabular column.

Human Activities	Impact on Nature
1. Dumping of toxic waste into oceans	Affects marine life
2. Using of aerosol and air conditioner
3. Encroaching in forest area
4. Disposal of non-biodegradable wastes
5. Emission of smoke from industries and vehicles

Old Man River – A Play in Two Scenes

Characters

• Amy Marshall – 17 years old
• Betty Marshall – her younger sister
• Rose Field – 16 years old, the Marshalls’ neighbour
• Sara Field – 9 years old, Rose’s sister
• Jim Hall – 17 years old, another neighbour
• Mr. Peters – member of the Red Cross Disaster Committee
• Penny Marsh – Red Cross nurse

Time: Late afternoon in March
Setting: Living room of the Marshall home

Scene – 1

At Rise:
Amy, Betty and Rose are sitting around the living-room table. Amy and Rose are knitting. Betty is looking at pictures in a magazine. The stage is not very bright.

Rose:
(Going to the window)
How it rains! In sheets, and look! Your backyard is a small lake.

Amy:
(Joining Rose at the window)
Gracious! I’ve never seen it rain so hard and this is the third day of it.

Betty:
(Puts down magazine and runs to the window)
Whee-ee! It’s more than a lake, it’s a sea! The radio said the river was above flood stage this morning – whatever that means.

Amy:
It means that the water is above that white line on the bank at Thompson Bridge. It must have covered the south meadows and the highway there.

Rose:
It isn’t only the rain. It’s the snow melting in the hills in the northern part of the state.
(The girls return to the table.)

Rose:
Oh, I hope we don’t have a flood here!

(There is a noise of stamping feet and someone breathing hard. The girls all look to the right.)

Jim Hall:
(Entering from right in shining wet rain coat and rain helmet, which he drags off as he enters. He is panting.)
Gosh, girls, it’s a cloudburst!
(He kicks off his shoes.)
I’ve run every step of the way from school to get here. The river is rising fast. The Burnett Dam gave way an hour ago they say and it looks bad! Where is your mother, Amy?

Amy:
She took Dick to the dentist and was going to stop at Mrs. Brant’s for a recipe on her way home. She ought to be here soon.

Jim:
And your father?

Amy:
In Chicago on business, but why all the questions, Jim?

Jim:
Well, you see...
(He is interrupted by the ring of the telephone. Amy exits left to answer it. Her voice can be heard clearly.)

Amy:
Hello. Yes, Mother – I know. Isn’t it awful? How will you get home? Yes, mother, I’m listening carefully.
(Her voice grows very serious)
Yes – yes – yes, I will. No, mother, no, I won’t. Jim Hall is here and Rose Field too. Yes, all right, I’ll tell them. Goodbye.

(Amy returns to the room. She is looking very scared.)

Amy:
Mother can’t get home from Mrs. Brant’s. The bridges between here and town are under water. Rose, mother says you are to telephone your mother right away and tell her you will spend the night here.

Rose:
I will. That will be fun!
(Hurries from the room)

Amy:
Betty, you and I are to fill all the bowls, tubs, pails and pitchers with fresh water in case the town supply is cut off or made unsafe to drink. Mother says she hopes you will stay and help us, Jim.

Jim:
That’s just why I came. Amy, I think I’ll look up a lantern and…

Betty:
(Interrupting)
I’ve got a flashlight. I’ll get it and some candles.

Rose:
(From outside, still at the telephone, with irritation)
Central! Central! I’m trying to get Main 3022 – I can’t –
(There is a pause and Rose comes to the door, her face frightened.)
The telephone is dead! I can’t get Central. There isn’t even a buzzing on the line!

Jim:
Means the lines are down between here and town! Well, girls, let’s get organized! Betty, look up your flashlight and candles, lamps, lanterns or anything you’ve got. Rose, fill the tubs and pails and Amy and I will check on food, blankets and coats. Better get out the first-aid kit. Everyone make it snappy!

(Rose and Betty exit left. Jim turns to Amy.)

Jim:
This is serious, Amy. I don’t want to scare you, but your house is in the direct line of the river. If the dam has given way –
(He goes to the window.)
Well, if it has, you can see for yourself that it means we can’t get out by the main road and we are already cut off from the south side. Look!
(He points out of the window. Amy joins him. She gasps.)

Amy:
Jim! The water is up around the garage! I thought it was just a pool in the garden, but it’s — it’s...

Jim:
(Soberly)
The river. Yes, Ay, that’s old man river himself creeping up to your door.

(Jim and Amy watch it a moment. Amy shudders.)

Amy:
Oh, Jim, I’m scared!

Jim:
(Placing a hand on her shoulder)
Steady, old pal! We’ve been through bad things before and come out safely. Remember the school fire? First thing, we must not let the others see how scared we are. Next, get all the things you can together here: water, food, blankets, coats, lights. I’m glad I served on the Junior Red Cross emergency squad during the war! It’s too bad you live in a bungalow instead of a two-storey house, but we can always climb into the attic and onto the roof.

Amy:
(Still staring out the window)
How fast is the river raising, do you think, Jim?

Jim:
I don’t know and it might stop before it reaches us. If only the rain would let up! We will signal for help from the roof. They will send a boat or something.

Rose:
(Entering left)
I’ve got enough fresh water to last us a week! Who will send a boat for us, Jim, and from where?
(She goes to the window, screams)
Horrors! Look at the river!

Amy:
Hush, Rose. Don’t tell the others. Jim says we will be all right. Let’s see what food we have on hand.

Betty:
(Entering left)
Here are the lights. Did you say food? Hark, what’s that?
(All four stand perfectly still, listening. From far off a child’s voice is heard.)

Sara:
Ro-ose! It’s me! Sara!

Rose:
Sara! Where is she?
(All run to the window.)

Amy:
There she is! On the playhouse porch. How did she get there?

Rose:
Followed me here, probably, she loves that playhouse, the little monkey!

Jim:
(Goes out calling)
Stay where you are. Sara, I’ll get you.

Amy:
It’s lucky the playhouse is on high ground.

Rose:
(Still at the window)
But it isn’t. Look it’s nearly afloat!
(The girls gather at the window.)
There goes Jim. Look, the water is above his knees.

Amy:
He will need dry clothes. See if you can find some of Dad’s things for Jim, Betty. Sara can have Dick’s.

Rose:
There! He’s got her!

Amy:
I’ll make some hot cocoa for everyone.

(There is a thumping and voices at the right and Jim enters carrying Sara pickaback. Sara is beaming.)

Sara:
Hello, everybody! That was fun! Ride some more, please Jim!

Jim:
No, young lady, that’s enough. You’re heavy.

Rose:
She is dry as a bone, Rose. I’m not! You can have some of Dad’s things. I’m going to get us some supper
(As she says this, the lights go out. They all gasp and Betty screams.)

Jim:
(Trying to sound casual)
Power house must be out of commission. Light your candles, Betty.
(Betty switches on the flashlight and lights three candles.)

Amy:
I’m glad we have an oil stove for cooking.

Rose:
(Taking a candle)
Forward march to the kitchen!
(Betty takes a candle and follows, with Sara trailing, all exit right, humming ‘Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching’)

Scene – 2

Time: An hour later.
Setting: The same.

At Rise:
Same group is in the living room with the exception of Jim. Sara is asleep, covered with a blanket, in a big chair. Amy, Rose and Betty have three candles on the table. Betty is trying to read.

Betty:
(Putting down her book with a thud)
I can’t read by this light. How do you suppose our grandmothers ever did?

Rose:
I don’t believe they tried to read. I guess they went to bed when it grew dark.

Amy:
Maybe we ought to go to bed. It’s nearly eleven, but I couldn’t sleep a wink.

Betty:
Nor I.

Rose:
Nor I. Listen, what’s that noise?
(All three listen. Rose, running to the window and peering out)
I can’t see a thing. It's pitch dark. It sounded like something bumping against the house.

Betty:
(Nervously)
Oh, come back! Let's stick here together.

Jim:
(Entering left, in rain coat, carrying flashlight)
Battery's dead. I waved it almost a hundred times, though. Maybe somebody saw it.

Betty:
(Scornfully)
Maybe.

Jim:
It has stopped raining anyway and let us start moving everything to the attic. Bring the food and water first, then the blankets. I'll do the carrying up the ladder to the roof.

Betty:
My new spring coat! I'm going to save that!
(She rushes out left, taking a candle with her)

Rose:
(Going over to her sister, shaking her gently)
Sara! Sara, wake up, dear. We are going to sleep in the attic.

Sara:
Oh, where am I?

Rose:
Come on!
(Exits left leading Sara, and taking one of the candles with her.)

Amy:
Ought to get father’s most valuable books and mother’s jewel case and –

Jim:
Amy, we will need water and food more than books and jewels. You don’t seem to realize –
(He is interrupted by a cry from outside, right)

Mr. Peters:
(Off stage)
Hello there! Hello in the house! Mr. Marshall! Mr. Marshall!

Amy:
They have come for us! Here we are!
(She runs to the window.)

Jim:
(picking up the third candle from the table, running to the window and waving it back and forth)
Here we are! In here!

Betty:
(entering on the run from the left, carrying her dress box)
Are we rescued? Who is there?

Mr. Peters:
(still outside)
Mr. Marshall, are you all right? This is Tom Peters and Miss Marsh, the Red Cross nurse. We’re here in a boat.

Jim:
Row around to the back porch. You can get in there.

(There is a bumping of the boat against wood. Voices)
‘Steady now-there-I’ve got hold of the rail. Tie here up’.
(Jim and Amy exit right towards the voices. More voices greeting, and then Mr. Peters enters the living room with a lighted lantern, followed by Miss Marsh, Amy and Jim.)

Betty:
We’re rescued, we’re rescued! Come, Sara!

Mr. Peters:
Why, are you children all alone?

Amy:
Yes, we —
(There is a terrific crash, followed by a wail of pain and a scream.)

Rose:
(Offstage left)
Oh, Sara! She’s fallen off the step ladder! Come quick, somebody! I’ve dropped my candle and it’s gone out!

Betty:
Oh, I hope she hasn’t broken her neck!

Jim:
Get the first-aid box. It’s in that pile of coats. I’ll fix a place for her to lie down.
(He arranges chairs so Sara can lie down.)

Mr. Peters:
(enters left carrying Sara)
Steady now, you are all right. More frightened than hurt, I think.
(He places Sara on the chairs.)

Amy:
(Placing the lantern near Sara)
I’m glad Miss Marsh is here!

(Miss Marsh is examining Sara. Sara is sobbing softly, saying every so often ‘It hurts.’ Rose kneels beside Sara’s chair; holding her hand, Jim stands in the background with Betty.)

Sara:
It’s my leg that hurts!

Miss Marsh:
Yes, you have hurt it badly, Sara, but we can fix it up and we will all get into the boat and take you home. You are going to be alright.
(She motions to Mr. Peters, Jim and Amy to move to one side of the stage. Rose stays with Sara.)
She has broken her right leg just below the knee. We can splint it up with pillows and umbrella and lift her safely into the boat. I think we ought to take her to the emergency Red Cross hospital in the Armoury.

(Mr. Peters, Miss Marsh, who is carrying a small black bag, and Amy rush off stage, left.)

Jim:
That’s all right, we will be perfectly safe up on the roof.

Mr. Peters:
We can leave you an extra lantern and a jar of coffee, need anything else?

Amy:
Only some of your calmness! We will be all right, thanks.

Mr. Peters:
Don’t thank me, thank the Red Cross.
(He goes over to Sara and helps lift her into a blanket rolled to form a stretcher. Miss Marsh picks up her bag. Jim and Mr.Peters lift and carry Sara toward the right.)
We can swing her down into the boat very easily. It won’t hurt a mite, Sara. Get your things, Rose and Betty, you are going with us.
(Rose and Betty grab their coats. Betty takes her dress box.)

Sara:
(drowsily)
Miss Marsh gave me something to stop the hurt. It has almost gone!

Amy:
(at the door, dropping a kiss on Sara’s forehead as they carry her out)
That’s fine dear! Have a nice boat ride!

(She waves as the stretcher goes out, followed by Rose and Betty.)
Try to get word to Mother that we are all right, Betty, and to Jim’s family, too!

Betty:
I’ll try. I hope you’ll be rescued soon. Bye.

Rose:
Good-bye Amy, good luck!

Amy:
Good-bye.
(There is more thumping, only less loud than before, and voices giving directions. Amy fusses with the lantern, trying to get it lighted.)

Mr. Peters:
(off stage)
You will be all right, Jim?

Jim:
(still offstage)
Yes don’t worry about us. Goodbye.
(Voices in distance, the sound of oars. Jim enters right, wiping his forehead. Amy gets the lantern lighted and blows out candles.)

Jim:
Water’s dropping!
(He pours two cups of coffee from Mr. Peters' jar. Hands one to Amy. Raises his cup as though in a toast.)
Here’s to the coffee, lantern and rescue! I’m glad we have a wide–awake, well-equipped Disaster Committee in this town!

Amy:
And a Red Cross nurse for emergencies! Thank God for the rescue!
(Both lift the coffee cups and drink, still standing.)

Curtain

Glossary

• stamping (v) – bringing down (one’s foot) heavily on the ground
• cloudburst (n) – a sudden violent rainstorm
• pitcher (n) – a large jug
• lantern (n) – a lamp with a transparent case protecting the flame or electric bulb, and typically with a handle by which it may be carried or hung
• gasp (v) – catch one’s breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or astonishment
• shudder (v) – shiver typically as a result of fear or revulsion
• hark (v) – listen, pay attention
• thumping (v) – hitting or striking heavily, especially with fist or a blunt instrument
• pickaback (n) – a piggyback ride, on the back and shoulders of another person
• wink (v) – close and open one eye quickly, shine or flash intermittently
• splint (n) – a long flat object used as a support for a broken bone so that the bone stays in a particular position while it heals

Practice Practice Exercises

1. The name of the narrator is .

2. There were villages in the valley.

3. Brij went to Pauri to buy his .

4. The soldiers had set up a .

5. Bhuli had been buried under the debris for hours.

a) start a company.

b) serve the people.

c) go on a pilgrimage.

d) become a tour guide.

2. Molthi was completely devastated because of

a) a high intensity earthquake.

b) thunder and hail storm.

c) drought and famine.

d) flash floods.

a) he couldn’t find his house.

b) he couldn't locate his sister

c) he was hungry and didn’t eat for a few days.

d) he lost his school books.

a) were brave and courageous.

b) worked day and night.

c) saved his sister from death.

d) all the above.

a) cup of milk.

b) cup of tea.

c) glass of water.

d) cup of coffee.

1. Greetings, traveller. You looked tired and cold.

2. Tomorrow, we will go back to Pauri.

3. Whom are you looking for?

4. My men have been on their feet for days.

5. May God be with you!

1. Explain the efforts taken by the Army Officer to save the child.

2. Brij has become a symbol of love and humanity. Explain.