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THE SUBURBAN VICAR Play in 4 acts by Harriet Bloch
Direction: Georg af Klercker.
CHARACTERS: General von Tillisch..Georg Blickingberg
The general's wife...Concordia Selander Ove, lieutenant, their son...Gabriel Alw
Erik Dyhre ... Olof Sandborg
Elin von Prangen, the general's goddaughter...Mary Johnson
Stella, streetwalker ... Lilly Gräber Strong Rudolf ... Frans Öberg
Olof Sandborg as Erik Dyhre.
Mary Johnson as Elin v. Prangen.
The wife of General von Tillisch was in the past married to a Mr Dyhre,
and from her first marriage she has a son, Erik, who works as a vicar.
"Let my son in and make sure we don't get interrupted,
"but tell me right away if the general returns home."
"My only worry is that I need money, money - always money."
"The general is dismounting at this very moment."
Yesterday a meeting was held in the Youth Club. Pastor Dyhre talked about
society's obligations to those girls in the big cities who have gone astray.
When the pastor speaks you get the definite feeling
that white wings grow out of his blameless shoulders,
and you ask yourself awestruck: "Is this man actually an angel, or..?"
Afterwards he told compellingly about his work with the youths of the suburb.
The general's goddaughter, Elin von Prangen,
had spent her childhood in the house.
Stella and her "protector" Strong Rudolf.
"Should we dismount and watch the dance?"
While out on a stroll in the outskirts of the city,
Erik recognises one of his most recent confirmands.
A few days later.
"Was that your son, Auntie! - You must be real proud then."
Elin takes an interest in Erik's work.
"Could you tell me where Pastor Dyhre lives?"
"I just want to... Your mother has told me about your work... I'd like to..."
They had become good friends at the time they parted.
That evening.
"But it has always been a silent agreement that you and Ove..."
"But I've always believed that I loved Ove as well. Now I know that I - don't."
Elin leaves the general's house.
A couple of days later.
"Oh, my boy, she probably wont return home.
"She has totally unexpectedly rejected Ove,
"and now they're of course hostile to one another."
"I've been told that your child is sick, and I'd really like to try to help you."
"Here's my address. Please let me know if I can be of any help to you."
Erik pays a visit to Elin in her new home.
"I wanted to thank you for the help you have given that poor abandoned woman."
"What I did was only so little. I've got both time and money in abundance,
"and I'm only happy that I could be of any use."
"Tell me frankly, Miss Elin, why do you visit the poor in my parish?"
Next morning.
I'm afraid that I promised more than I can keep in the early moments of bliss .
There is no need for me to tell you that I fervently wish to become your wife,
but my dear Erik, I'm so demanding and spoilt
that I don't think I can make the sacrifice you expect of me:
to share your poverty with you. So allow me to share with wealth with you.
An eagerly awaited reply.
...and you're of course right.
I ask you to forget and forgive my behaviour yesterday.
I've understood for a long time that I should be alone with my work
and I'm very sorry that I've caused the rupture between you an Ove.
"Is it really your intention that we should stay on bad terms for ever?"
That evening.
A scream in the night.
"I cannot move; just let me lie."
"The good Samaritan."
"I will not even for the life of me return home.
"My fiancé is furious, and I've had enough beatings for tonight."
"You can sleep on this couch tonight. Let's talk early next morning."
The following morning.
"Ciao, Your Reverence, - I'll administer the morning prayer."
"Where I've been? ...I've slept on the reverend's couch."
"Very well... I'll forgive you this time. But on one condition."
One of his pupils.
"Sensational scandal! A holy priest on the loose. Buy the Early Mail!"
Yesterday a young lady turned up at our office and complained about what
she had gone through the previous night.
Because on her way home she had suddenly felt unwell and fainted in the street.
The self-assured preacher of morals, Pastor Erik Dyhre, found here there
and took her to his elegant bachelor apartment.
She was only allowed to go home early in the morning,
where her companion, sick with worry, had waited for her the entire night.
Erik wants his good name restored.
"Let me see that "lady"s declaration"
"I'm sure you understand that I'll have to take legal action against the paper."
"Look at that! Read what your cherished son has done!"
"And to see my esteemed and respected name mentioned in a scandal like that!"
"And you believe that, uncle?
"Auntie is right - not a single word of that article is true!"
"It doesn't matter what you've seen - he has certainly not done that!"
"You can see what the editor writes.
"The idiot wants a fight, so we have to be careful now. -
"You've told the truth. No indecisions, no confessions.
"It's about the vicar... understood?"
"Your visit is very ill-timed, Mr Dyhre.
"Right now the general's wife is together with the general."
"Today I wish to talk with the general."
"How dare you show yourself here after this scandal!
"I don't want to see you any more! -
"Go away, and do not try to set foot in my house ever again!"
Stella has to appear in court.
"Now what kind of whim is this, Elin?
"...Of course I'll accompany you, but why do you have to go there?"
Before the judge.
"That lieutenant can testify I was in the vicar's home on that night."
Ove relates that he saw Stella walk out of Erik's residence.
"Will you swear to your statement?"
"Do not swear! ...I withdraw the complaint!"
"Now swear, if you dare! Face to face with his wife-to-be."
"It's his fault. He was the one that invented the entire story."
"Did you really mean what you said, or did you just do it to help me, Elin?"