One Act Play 1:THE NEVER-NEVER NEST – CEDRIC

MOUNT
One Act Play 1: THE NEVER-NEVER NEST – CEDRIC MOUNT
OUTLINE OF THE ESSAY:
*INTRODUCTION
*JACK AND JILL
*OWNER BY INSTALMENT
*CONCERVATIVE AUNT JANE
*COMPLETE OWNERS
*NEVER NEVER NEST
*CONCLUSION
INTRODUCTION: The One Act Play ‘ The Never-Never Nest’ is a comedy about a young,
naive couple, Jack and Jill. They believe in buying things in installments. When Aunt Jane
visits the couple, she finds them leading a luxurious lifestyle. The play brings out the buy-
now-pay-later marketing system which enables the low-income group to own things, which
they cannot buy easily on their own. On the other hand, the system also makes people
extravagant and makes them fall into the habit of borrowing.
 JACK AND JILL: Jack and Jill were a young married couple who had a small baby. Jill was
a housewife. Jack and Jill had purchased a villa in New Hampstead, a car, furniture, a
radiogram, a piano and a refrigerator. Aunt Jane is a relative of Jack and Jill. She visited their
new house. She was surprised to find that they lived in a beautiful house with all comforts.
She finds it hard to believe that Jack could afford to buy all these things. She was worried
that she had given them 2000 pounds as a wedding gift instead of 200 pounds. At this point,
Jack informed her that they had bought their house and all the expensive things in installment
basis.
OWNER BY INSTALMENT: Aunt Jane understood that though Jack and Jill had
everything, they did not own anything. Only a steering wheel of the car, a wheel and two
cylinders had been paid for. And only one leg of the sofa that Aunt Jane sat on, belonged to
them. Jack’s salary was six pounds a week but the total amount of installments he had to pay
was seven pounds and eighty eight pence. When Aunt Jane asked how he could pay the extra
money, Jack said that they could always take a loan from Thrift and Providence Trust
Corporation. Again, the loan had to be paid back in installments. Aunt Jane was glad that
Jack and Jill had everything but she didn’t like the idea of borrowing money to pay the
installments.
CONSERVATIVE AUNT JANE: Aunt Jane was shocked at the way Jack and Jill lived in
debt. Aunt Jane believes that one should not owe money to anyone in life. She believed that
one should spend less than what he earned. She refused to sit on Jack’s sofa and travel in his
car because the sofa and car was only partly owned by Jack and Jill. She scolded them
severely and asked Jack to take her to the bus station. Before she left, she gave them a cheque
for ten pounds and told them to use it to make at least one thing completely their own.
COMPLETE OWNERS: While Jack went with Aunt Jane, Jill sent the money to Dr.Martin.
Jack came back and said that they should use the money given by Aunt Jane to pay the
installments on the car. But Jill said that she had already used it to pay the last installment to
the doctor. According to them, they had purchased their own baby from Dr. Martin in
installment. Finally, Jack and Jill become complete owners of their own baby. The end of the
play is ironical. The play is really a satire on the materialistic bent of modern man.
 NEVER NEVER NEST:   The ‘nest’ in the title literally refers to the home of birds. Birds
take a lot of time and work very hard to build their nest. But, in this play, both Jack and Jill
have instant gratification for luxuries by installments without saving any money. The double
negative in the title emphasizes the impossibility of home.
       CONCLUSION:  The play criticizes the new trend of young middle-class couples who have
the habit of buying many household items and houses in easy installments. The playwright
feels that such couples would make a nest easily but they will never settle happily.
Posted by GNC ENGLISH at 11:49 PM

SUMMARY OF NEVER NEVER NEST

The Never Never Nest is a comic one act play that focuses on the lives of a
young couple Jack and Jill who have a baby. Always tight pressed for
money, they capitalize on the concept of installments to buy the things that
they need. Things take a turn when Aunt Jane comes to visit them.

Jane wonders how they lead an extravagant lifestyle with their meager
earnings. They own just about everything including a house. She even
thinks that she gave them 2,000 pounds as a mistake as their wedding gift
instead of the planned 20 pounds. When she asks the couple about how
they owned so many things, they tell her about the ‘buy now pay later’
policy they adopt. Before she leaves, the aunt gives Jane 10 pounds and
asks her to finish off the installment for at least one of their belongings.

Jack leaves with Aunt Jane to drop her at the bus stop. Meanwhile, Jill
sends the money to Dr Martin. When Jack gets back, he asks his wife for
the money to clear at least two installments on his car. Jill says what she
has done and justifies that by doing so, at least the baby would be
completely the couple’s!

ESSAYQUESTION
Write an essay of about 200 words by developing the following hints:

Jack and Jill - bought — instalments - salary 6 pounds - Aunt Jane - criticized- absurd -

not paid - hospital charges - delivery of - Jane gave cheque - pay off any bill - Jill want –

payoffdeliverycharges

Title : The Never - Never Nest

Author : Cedric Mount

Genre : An One Act Play (Comic)

Theme : Buy Now Pay Later - Marketing System

Introduction:
This comic one act play ‘The Never - Never Nest’ is written by Ceclric Mount. This drama
exposes the ‘ Buy Now Pay Later” marketing system.
Jack’s economic background
Jack and Jill, the couple, called their house a little nest. Jack’s salary was six pound a week.
But he bought the house, the car, the furniture and the radiogram on monthly instalments. But
the instalments came to more than seven pounds! For the extra 2 pounds he would borrow
from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation.
Aunt Jane’s comment
Jane was Jack’s Aunt. She had the principle of “ready cash” and she never borrowed money
from others. One day she visited Jack and Jill. She thought Jack had bought all the things
with ready cash. She came to know that everything was bought in instalments.. So she
criticized that even though Jack used the car, he was not the owner of it. Only the steering
wheel, one of the tyres and two of the cylinders belonged to him. The instalment purchase
seemed absurd to Aunt Jane, since had the policy of “Ready cash”. The juxtaposition of the
aunt and the couple adds to the humour.
Interesting part of their life
Aunt Jane gave a cheque to Jack and asked him to pay off at least any one of his bills. Then
Aunt and Jack left. On return Jack asked Jill for the cheque because he wanted to pay off
instalments on the car. But Jill had already sent the cheque to Dr. Martin in order to pay off
the delivery charges of her baby. Jill said “Just one more instalment and the Baby is really
ours”. The most interesting part of their life was this: They had not fully paid even the
hospital charges for the delivery of their baby!
Conclusion
Therefore Jack and Jill can never own anything fully. Even the baby is not theirs. So the title
uses double negative Never-Never. “Nest” refers to their house. The end of the play is
ironical, though an exaggeration. It is a satire on the materialistic bent of the mind of the
modern man.

A. Reading Comprehension Questions:

1.        What did Aunt Jane like about Jack’s ‘little nest’?

Aunt Jane liked “the cosy little room”. She also liked “such pretty furniture.”

2.        Aunt Jane seemed to think that there was a mistake in the wedding
present she had given Jack. Why?

When Aunt Jane praised the fridge, the car and the furniture Jack said, “we owe it to you”. Aunt Jane
thought Jack bought all the things with ready cash. She had given them a wedding gift a
cheque for 200 pounds. Now she wondered whether she had committed a mistake and had
w'ritten 2,000!
3.        What would make Jack the owner instead of being the tenant?

Payment of ten pounds and a few quarterly instalment would make Jack the owner of the
house instead of the tenant.

4.        What sounded absurd to Aunt Jane?

The instalments for all the things came to seven pounds eight shillings eight pence a week.
But his income was only six pounds. So, the instalment purchase seemed absurd to Aunt
Jane.

5.        How did Jack manage to pay seven pounds eighty and eighty pence out
of six pounds?

He borrowed the rest of the amount from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation.

6.        What advice did Aunt Jane offer the couple?

Aunt Jane gave a cheque to Jack and asked him to pay off just one of his bills. Then at least
one thing would be completely theirs (Jack and Jill).

7.        For what purpose did Aunt Jane wish to use the cheque given by Aunt
Jane?

Jack wanted to pay off instalments on the car with Aunt Jane’s cheque. Jillwanted to send the
cheque to Dr. Martin in order to pay off the. delivery charges of her baby.
8.        ‘Just one more instalment and BABY’S REALLY OURS!’ This tells us
that the couple __________.

“Just one more instalment and the Baby is really ours” This statement tells us that Jack and
Jill had not paid even the hospital charges for the delivery of the baby.

B. Answer the following questions in about a paragraph of 100 –

150 words each:

1. Why is there a double negative in the title: The Never – Never Nest?
Elucidate with reasons from the play.

The title “The Never-Never Nest” has a double negative for the sake of emphasis. Jack earns
a meagre salary. But he has bought the house, the car, the furniture and the radiogram on
monthly instalments. Even the hospital charges for the delivery of the baby is not fully paid.
Therefore Jack and Jill can never own anything fully. Even the baby is not theirs. So title uses
double negative “The Never-Never Nest” refers to their house.

2. Bring out the humorous elements in the play.

Jack and Jill buy everything on instalment basis -  House, car, furniture, radiogram. Jack’s salary is six
pound, a week, but the instalments come to more than eight pounds! For the extra 2 pounds he will borrow
from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation. The most interesting part of their life is this: They have
not fully paid the hospital charges for the delivery of their baby! Aunt Jane never borrows from anybody
and she has the policy of Ready cash. The juxtaposition of the aunt and the couple adds to the humour.

3. How does the play ‘The Never – Never Nest’ expose the harsh reality of
modern living?

play “The Never-Never Nest” exposes the life of the salaried class. Many salaried people
want to enjoy a luxurious life with all comforts. Therefore they apply for bank loans to buy
things. Many dealers have attractive hire-purchase scheme with monthly instalments. So,
modern life is entangled in instalments. This is the harsh reality.
4. Jill said that they owned the steering wheel of a car, one of the tyres, two
of the cylinders and leg of the sofa. What does this convey?
Jack and Jill had bought a car on instalment basis. They had paid only a small amount to the car company.
More instalments had to be paid. That is why Jill said that the steering wheel, one of the tyres and one of
 the cylinders belonged to them. The rest belonged to the company. The sofa was also bought on
instalments. So, only one leg of the sofa belonged to them.

 The Never-Never Nest – Cedric Mount

Jack and Jill believe in buying all things in installments. They have recently purchased a
house on easy installment. When Aunt Jane came to visit the couple, they preached to
her the ease and comfort of buying a house and its furniture in installments. At the end
of the play humor takes on wings and we hear that the couple had their first baby in
installment!

Theme of the Play

The play points to the fact that the hire-purchase system enables the low-income group
to have things, which they cannot buy with their money. On the other hand the system
makes people Extravagant they fall into the habit of borrowing which makes them
unhappy.

Characters
o Jack – An easy going person. He thinks it wise to buy even an expensive villa by
paying for it in installments.
o Jill – An avid supporter of her husband’s views.
o Aunt Jane – Jack’s (or Jill’s) aunt. She is glad to see that Jack and Jill have all
the luxuries but is awestruck when she heard that the couple was going into trouble
soon.
Bit/Bits
o Jack and Jill believe in buying furniture to house in easy installments.
o They have recently purchased a house, car and furniture in installment.
o Jack has a job yet is is a little hard to pay the installments in time.
o Sometimes Jack borrows from money lenders to pay the installments (The
money lenders he pays back in installments!)
o Aunt Jane is a relative of Jack and Jill. She is paying a visit to Jack and Jill’s new
house.
o Jack and Jill show her around – the house, car, furniture, etc.
o Aunt Jane finds it hard to believe that Jack was rich enough to purchase a house
and car and furniture.
o At this point both Jack and Jill inform her that they have bought their house and
car and furniture in easy installments.
o Aunt Jane is not convinced. How could they pay the installments!
o Aunt Jane was glad that Jack and Jill have purchased house and things but she
didn’t like the idea of borrowing money to pay the installments.
o She believes that one should spend less than what he has earned.
o She refuses to sit on Jack’s sofa and travel in his car because the sofa and car
were not entirely owned by Jack!
o Feeling pity for Jack, worried how he would pay his next installments, Aunt Jane
leaves them a cheque of ten pounds and goes home.
o Jack accompanies Aunt Jane to the bus. In the meanwhile Jill sends her nurse to
the post office to post a cheque to the doctor.
o When Jack returns, Jill tells him where she had sent the 10 pounds – to Dr.
Martin from whom they have bought their baby in installments!

Questions & Answers

1. What all on earth have Jack and Jill purchased in installment?

Jack and Jill have purchased a villa in New Hampstead, a car, furniture, a radiogram, a
piano, a refrigerator and a baby from Dr. Martin, all in installment.
2. What worried Aunt Jane regarding her wedding gift to Jack and Jill?
Aunt Jane had presented a cheque of two hundred pounds to Jack and Jill on their
wedding but now she is worried about the amount. She was sure it was only two
hundred but seeing the glamour at Jack’s house, she began to doubt if she had given
them two thousand pounds with which the couple purchased the villa and the rest.
3. Why was Aunt Jane shocked to hear that Jack and Jill didn’t pay rent for
their house?
In fact Jack and Jill had been living on rent but recently they purchased a house rather
than paying rent for the whole life. Not aware of this, Aunt could not understand how
they could live without paying rent.
4. What was Jack’s justification for buying a house in installment?
Jack was a practical man with regards to buying a house in easy installments rather than
spending all his earnings for paying rent. He believed that adding a few more pounds to
the rent paid every year, he could buy and own a house with a little difficulty in paying
the installments.
5. What was unusual about Jack’s owning his car?
Jack bought a car on loan and he paid the loan back in installment.Though he was the
one who used it yet he had so far paid for one of the car’s tyres, for its steering wheel
and two cylinders with the amount he had so far paid. In this manner, he was the owner
of the tyres of the car.
6. How much made jack’s weekly installments? How did Jack manage to pay
his installments from a meager weekly income of six pounds?
Jack’s weekly installments amounted to seven pounds eight pence. He had to borrow
from a trust called Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation.
7. In your opinion, are Jack and Jill more practical than Aunt Jane? Give
reasons.
Aunt jane believes that one should not owe money to anyone in life. She could never
think of owning a villa as the one Jack and Jill owned. Jack and Jill’s way of living would
have worked really better if they had purchased a smaller villa and fewer furniture and
avoided car, refrigerator and radiograph.
8. Why did Aunt Jane refuse to sit in the sofa?
Aunt Jane refused to sit in the sofa because she believed that the sofa didn’t belong to
Jack but to the money lenders.
9. What for did Aunt Jane give a cheque of ten pounds?
Aunt Jane thought that Jack and Jill would be able to pay one of their bills and own at
least one thing that they have bought in installments.
10. Justify the title, Never-Never nest.

1. The title points to the new trend of young middle-class couple buying so
many household items and houses in easy installments. In the case of Jack and Jill, the
matter is extremely serious. They have run greater risk in owning their villa that was
beyond their access. With six pounds earned every week, Jack’s weekly installments
were higher than his income. The playwright feels that such couples would make a nest
but they will never settle happily.
2. Another version: Jack and Jill call their house a little nest. Like birds
make their nests from wires, fibers, leaves and grass, all collected free of cost, jack and
Jill too had made their nest. Right from the villa they lived to the radio, they had them all
in easy installment. It will take them years to own their villa, their car, their furniture, etc.
Vocabulary
o Tartar – A savage person; an obstinate, stubborn person.