Wet Saturday

                                                                   -         John Collier (1901-80)

Characters:

-         Mr. Princey, the father

-         Mrs. Princey, the mother

-         Millicent, the young daughter

-         Withers, a curate who is killed by Millicent

-         Captain Smollett, a scapegoat, a neighbour of Princeys

It was July. It was raining. Mr. Princey and his family members were inside the house. For Mr. Princey, his house was dearer than his wife, his daughter and his son. But now he was going to lose his dear house because of his daughter Millicent. To save it, he had to do something urgently.

Millicent had killed Withers, a curate of a local church. So, she was going to be hanged or put in lunatic asylum. In either case, Mr. Princey had to leave  the place and his house. He didn’t want this. So, he was asking his daughter about why and how she killed Withers.

Withers was going to another place past Mr. Princey’s house. He saw Millicent and wanted to meet her. Millicent had an illusion that he loved her. But he said he loved another girl, Ella Brangwyn Davies. She became angry and hit him on the back of his head with the end of a croquet post. She hit him many times in excitement.

While they were discussing about hiding the crime, Captain Smollett arrived and overheard them. Mr. Princey planned to drag him into his intrigue. He and his son, George, took Captain Smollett into the stable. Mr. Princey told George to punch Smollett twice in his face at gun point. He then made him catch the end of the croquet post used to kill Withers. He again made him drag the dead body down into the sewer.

After all, they all went back to the house. When Smollette had gone away, Mr. Princey called the police.