The Thirteenth Chair: A Play in Three Acts

by Bayard Veiller

(WALES walks up and down L. of stage. WILLIAM and TRENT go out door R.C.)

You put them in a circle, don't you? (Begins to place chairs in a circle C. The chair L. of the fireplace is brought down and placed in front of the chesterfield.) What are you going to do, Wales? Ask her a lot of questions?

WALES (L.). I'm going to try to find out who killed Spencer Lee.

CROSBY. Still harping on the murder of Spencer Lee?

(STANDISH places the chairs above and below the table in the circle, then the chair on the R. side of the fireplace in the circle.)

WALES. Yes.

MASON (over R.—opening window curtains and raising window blind). Who was Spencer Lee?

WALES. The best friend I ever had.

(TRENT and WILLIAM enter door R.C., each carrying two chairs. They bring them down R.C. and exit R.C.)

STANDISH (placing chairs C. with backs to audience). We all knew Lee pretty well. And I know he was no good.