Farewell Ploy
One Act Comedy
- First performed by the Mercators in the SCDA One Act Festival, February 1977
- Winner of the Scott Salver for the best original play in the SCDA One Act Festival
- This play is also available in a full length version titled Brodie the Broadsword
- Published by Brown, Son & Ferguson
Characters (4m 4f)
Ina: A servant
Clarty Sim: Brodie's man-at-arms
Lady Catherine: Brodie's wife
Young Effie: Another servant
Alison: Brodie's daughter
Sir Archibald Brodie: Nicknamed "The Broadsword"
Stephen Milburn: Sir Henry Milburn's son
Sir Henry Milburn: Brodie's ancestral enemy
The Setting: Sir Archibald Brodie's castle, close to the English Border
Period:Early 16th Century
Running Time: 45 minutes
Synopsis
A minor Border Laird, Sir Archibald Brodie nicknamed "the Broadsword'', has spent his life pursuing a career of raiding, reiving and robbery, particularly from his English neighbour, Sir Henry Milburn. Now well past his prime, Brodie plans one final grand raid.
Anticipating a large ransom, he kidnaps Milburn's son, but trouble soon follows. As an English army gathers outside his castle walls, Brodie reluctantly agrees to a temporary truce, while his wife, Lady Kate, who is eager to end the feud by any means possible, exploits her own singular brand of diplomacy.
Unfortunately, her task is complicated by the stubbornness of the two men, a romantic problem and the combined help and hindrance of the castle's nondescript servants on whom the finer points of diplomacy are wasted. With a combination of persuasion, deception, and sheer good fortune, Lady Kate secures a fragile peace, but the two old enemies have one last ploy to play against each other.
Set against the background of the lawless Borders at the turn of the 16th century, this S.C.D.A. Scott Salver winning comedy offers a variety of rewarding character parts.
