[4] Or the evening of the performance.
“MY UNCLE, THE CAPTAIN.”
CHARACTERS.
| Mr. Sol Hanscomb, Jr. | (landlord of “The Fatted Calf”). |
| Capt. Nat Skillings | (skipper and owner of the “Jemima Matilda”). |
| Sam Skillings | (his nephew). |
| Pete White | (a colored waiter). |
| Steve Black | (a white waiter). |
| Bobby Small | (a boot-black). |
COSTUMES.
| Hanscomb. | —Modern. |
| Nat Skillings. | —Sailor rig; blue pants and shirt, pea-jacket, old fisherman’s hat, gray wig. |
| Sam Skillings. | —Dark mixed pants, blue coat with brass buttons, white hat, shawl, red wig. |
| Pete and Steve. | —Waiters’ dress, white aprons, wigs to suit. |
| Bobby Small. | —Red shirt, black pants rolled up, glazed cap. |
Scene.—Room No. 86,“Fatted Calf” Hotel. Table and two chairs, C. Entrances, R. and L.
Hanscomb (outside, L.). Steve, Pete, come, come, hurry, hurry, wake up! (Enter, L.) This is really encouraging. The Fatted Calf, just opened, is rapidly filling up, and such customers, too; real upper crust,—nabobs, millionnaires, heiresses, generals, majors, captains, colonels, and all sorts of stylish people! Now let’s look at the situation. I have on my books already thirty permanent boarders at five dollars a day. Pretty high for the times, but that draws the style. Of these thirty, ten will pay up promptly, ten wont pay at all, and the other ten will be obliged to leave their baggage to settle the bill. Well, I think that will pay. We must give a wide margin for profit, and in course of time may make a fortune, or manage to fail for seventy-five or a hundred thousand, either of which will create a sensation. Where can those waiters be? Ah, here’s Steve at last, as stiff and pompous as one of the nabobs whom he delights to wait upon. (Enter Steve, L.)