RICHARD STOCKTON
JOHN COREY
NED PEABODY
PHIL AMESBURY
JEFFERSON WINWOOD
FRANK WHARTON
THOMAS RIGBY, a tavern-keeper
Young British Lieutenants
EGBERT PENROSE
SIDNEY MARSH
SCENE:The tavern known as The Golden Pheasant. Place, Boston.
TIME: Six o'clock on a December evening, 1773.
The tavern-room is low-ceilinged and wainscoted with dark woodwork. There is a door in middle background, and windows on each side of it.
At the right, towards foreground, a chimney-place, with smoldering fire. Above is a shelf on which are iron candlesticks and short bits of candles that show economy. Against the right wall a round mahogany table. On it another iron candlestick, which has been lighted. A punch-bowl. Cups. A ladle. Also a brass bowl beneath which a small charcoal flame burns, keeping hot the lemonade. Beyond this table a dark wooden chest with a heavy lock. Under the window in left background a similar chest.
By the hearth, facing audience, a long seat with a high back and pew-like ends. At the rise of the curtain, Thomas Rigby, the rubicund landlord, is lighting with a taper the candles that stand on the mantelshelf, the buttons on his plum-colored waistcoat twinkling in the gleam. He has only lighted one when the door is pushed open, and there enter two young British lieutenants, mere lads, whose scarlet cloaks, exaggerated lace wrist ruffles, and brilliant gold braiding make a fine showing. But Thomas Rigby shows no look of welcome.
MARSH.
Hey, landlord! Brrrr! It's cold! Give us something to warm us.
PENROSE
(foppishly).
Aye, and be brisk about it. I do not wish to be served in a loitering fashion.