Excerpt from Three Wise Fools: A Comedy in Three Acts

Scene. - The living room in an old house on North Washington Square. A distinguished room - distinguished in its simplicity. The room is richly but discreetly furnished, showing rare restraint and good taste. What few things there are reflect knowledge and breeding.

The furniture is well worn by honourable use - early Victorian and very complete.

Double mahogany sliding doors center - leading to a spacious dining room rear.

Door rear R. leads into the front hall - where we get a glimpse of a fine old cabinet and portrait.

Window R. with heavy brocaded curtains.

Stairway at L. rear - first landing leading to library door - the stairway then turns to R. and leads up to second landing where a door faces audience leading to the upper hall.

Fireplace L. - between fireplace and stairway - a door leading to the servant's quarters.

Sofa before fireplace - small horsehair settee in front of table.

Behind sofa round mahogany table on which is an old fashioned globe lamp with hanging crystals. Telephone, magazines and evening papers are also on this table.

Card table center.

Armchair L. Small table with another glass globe lamp.

Between hall door and dining room - a small cabinet full of books - an old family album.

A grandfather's clock stands at foot of stairs and ticks their lives away.

A bell cord hangs L. of the double doors.

Discovered - The curtain rises disclosing Theodore Findley, the senior partner of Findley & Co., Bankers, seated at the small green-covered card table in the center of the stage, facing front. He is strong, powerful, with a fine head of white hair.

He is laying out a game of patience from a double pack of miniature playing cards, with the same deliberation he has laid out his life and affairs. He is whistling as he plays an old fashioned tune.

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