Class 11 English 2024 Edition www.tntextbooks.in · Section 99

Woman : And you’ll love this one, dear. Woman : I’m sure I will. Woman : It’s one of me riding a donkey along the sands. Woman : Oh, I say! Woman : Isn’t it a scream, dear? I sat on it the wrong way round, just for the laugh. (Enter Nurse left, ferrying a large hammer. She crosses the stage and goes into the surgery.) Man : Was that a hammer she was carrying? Man : I’ve seen dentists use some queer tools. Man : Well, if it wasn’t a hammer, I should be attending an eye specialist and not a dentist. Woman : I hope he isn’t going to use it. Man : It’s a peculiar thing to have in a surgery. (The sound of hammering is heard from the surgery. Everyone looks at the surgery door and then at one another.) Woman : Oh! Joe! My poor Joe! Oh, what will I do? (Standing) Woman : I shouldn’t worry. The dentist probably knows what he’s doing. Woman : Yes, but does Joe? Surely he’s not hammering on poor Joe’s tooth. Woman : Now, sit down and don’t excite yourself. I’m sure Joe is quite all right. (Woman sits. There is more hammering from the surgery. Woman is about to stand but Woman restrains her.) Woman : There, there, dear, do sit down quietly. Man : I don’t like the sound of that. Man : I shouldn’t worry. These dentists know what they’re doing. I hope. (Nurse enters from the surgery and walks across the stage and out left. Everyone watches her in silence.) Woman : She didn’t look very worried, anyway. Woman : No, it’s the patient who worries. Woman : I say let him worry. Worry is natural. It never did anyone any harm. Woman : I wish you wouldn’t talk like that, with my poor Joe in there, may be writhing in agony. (Enter Nurse left. She is carrying a large pair of pliers. She walks across the stage and into the surgery. Man groans and everyone groans after him. Woman watches in horror. She stands as the Nurse exits into the surgery.) -C-SR-The First - - :