THE BLUE GARTER
On stage as curtains open, Mildred is alone.she picks up a buttonhole of flowers, starts to pin it on her dress, looks at her watch and puts the flowers down on the sideboard. looks at one or two presents, reading the cards.
VOICE OFF Yoo hoo, it’s only me, shall I come in?
Mildred goes to the door.
MILDRED Come in Gertie. We left the back door open for you.
GERTIE Hello Mildred. Where’s Betty? Is she all right?
MILDRED Of course. She’s upstairs putting on the final touches. You don’t get married every day do you?
GERTIE I’m surprised she’s getting married at all, she always said she’d never marry again , as no one could come up to her Eddie. They idolised each other, and were so well matched.
MILDRED Yes I know, then she met Bill at the bingo club and that was it, as they say!
GERTIE Well I think it is ridiculous at her age. All this fuss. Fancy marrying a man she met at BINGO! Eddie was a cultured man you know.
MILDRED Here don’t be so nasty. Betty and Bill are well suited and they are very fond of each other.
Enter Joan carrying a tray with coffee pot and biscuits which she puts on the table.
JOAN Hello Gertie. What’s this about Betty and Bill?
GERTIE (embarrassed) Hello Joan. Er. .nothing.
Enter Betty, she is dressed but has a dressing gown over her clothes.
BETTY Hello Joan, hello Gertie, I’m glad you got here in good time.
MILDRED Betty! I thought you were getting dressed?
BETTY There’s plenty of time.
MILDRED I know, but there can be last minute hitches.
BETTY Let’s have a cup of coffee. Is it ready Joan?
Joan hands round coffee, then sits down.
MILDRED Aren’t you going to open these presents?
BETTY No, I’ll wait until Bill is here, after all, they are for both of us. The rest are on display down at the reception, but I’ll leave these here.
GERTIE How sweet!!.