Gulp and Gasp

A Drama By John Townsend

THE AUTHOR

John Townsend

A writer of children's books and has written more than 100 books that includes both fiction and non-fiction.

He used to be a teacher in a secondary school in which time he recognised teenage boys reluctant to read and decided to nurture interest among them.

He is now a specialist in designing reading materials for reluctant readers and Gulp and Gasp is one of the many

He is currently living in Suckley, Worchester in the UK.

SynopsisThis drama is about a greedy villain named Lord Septic whose quest is to get more wealth. He is assisted by his brainless side-kick, Crouch whose main duty includes grovelling. They met a maiden named Rose selling flowers at a railway station and disturbs her. A handsome and brave hero named Percy rescues Rose the damsel in distress and in doing so stumble upon his fortune that has been left for him by his late mother Lady Gatsby at the very same station.

Setting

Place An empty railway station

Atmosphere A cold foggy night

Time setting Early 20th century England as there are still steam

engines and gas lamps used at railway station.

Social setting The upper class British society were rich and dominant. The poor or the working-class society suffer social

hardship and financial difficulties'.

Point of ViewThird person point of view told by

the narrator.

Plot

Exposition It is a cold and foggy night. Lord Septic and his servant, Crouch are

the railway station waiting for the night train.

The train is late. Lord septic tells Crouch about his plan

to become the richest and most powerful man in the country.

He also talks to Crouch about finding the Gatsby Gold which is hidden somehow in the station.

Rising ActionRose, a poor and blind flower girl comes into

the station to sell flowers. Lord septic sees Rose and orders Crouch to get

rid of her from the platform. He thinks that she is beggar. Crouch rudely orders Rose to leave. Rose tells Crouch that she is poor and blind and

needs more money to go for an eye operation and cure her mother’s illness.

Crouch shows no compassion and forces Rose to leave. He throws her flowers across the platform. He warns Rose to leave as soon as possible.

Rose starts crying as she tries to look for her flowers.

Percy comes and sheers her up.Percy helps Rose to pick up her flowers.He feels sorry for her because she is blind. Rose tells Percy that she lost her eyesight during a

fire at Lord Septic’s match factory where she worked.

Percy tells Rose how his mother was murdered on the railway track and he was thrown into a litter bin.

Crouch appears again and shouts at Rose. Percy grabs him by the collar and forces him to pick

up the flowers.

ClimaxLord Septic hits Percy on the head with his stick Percy falls to the ground. Rose threatens to expose Lord Septic’s criminal

behavior. Lord Septic orders Crouch to tie Rose up to the

railway track to kill her. Percy gets up and tries to help Rose. Lord Septic pushes Percy against a locker causing

his nose to bleed. Percy gets on his feet and runs off to stop the

train. Rose finds out that Percy is the heir to the Gatsby

Gold.

Falling ActionPercy comes back and ties Lord

Septic and Crouch with a chain. He rescue Rose. Rose tells him about the gold and

the NSL key that he wears round his neck.

Percy unlocks the station locker with the key and finds a bag of gold there.

ResolutionPercy tells Rose that she will get

half of the gold to pay for her eye operation and cure her mother’s illness.

Percy proposes to Rose. Lord Septic and Crouch are

arrested by the police. Percy and Rose plan a happy

future together.

Character AnalysisLord SepticCrouchRosePercy

Lord Septic

Lord SepticSon of the murderer of Lady Gatsby

◦ “I stood right there as my father tied Lady Gatsby to the same track.” (page82)

Married to Clora ◦ “Yes Clora-my wife. Clora Septic. She nags for a

living. I only married her for her arms.” (page 68)

ROLE IN THE DRAMA◦ The name septic itself means infected, foul smelling

and sticking and really suits the person, the character, Lord Septic.

◦ He is master of all materially and morally corrupt as what his name is.

◦ The protagonist character.

Lord Septic characteristicHot-Tempered

◦ “Grab her, Crouch. No one speaks to me like that. Tie her up.”(page79)

Evil and Cruel◦ “the man who wrecked my life.”(page72)

Greedy◦ “ more, I want more, Crouch. I need it. I long for it.

I’m mad for it. I’ll kill for it.(page64) Selfish

◦ “ he didn’t keep the matches safe because it would cost him money.(page75)

Arrogant◦ “ just try and stop me! No one ever tells me what to

do.”(page80)

Crouch

Crouch Bully

◦ “We don’t have beggars' here. Now get out from here and keep this platform free of filth…of vermin…of scum.”( he will throws her tray of flowers across the platform.) (page72)

Subservient◦ Indeed sir. Easy sir, of course sir. Er….any idea where

there’s rope? (page79)

ROLE IN THE DRAMA◦ Supporting role to Lord Septic.◦ Has been used to described and criticize Lord Septic

in a subtle manner.◦ Gives humour to the storyline regarding his verbal

follies and wisecrack.

Crouch characteristic Cruel

◦ “if you haven’t gone…you and your flowers will be pulp under the next train.(page73)

Dim-witted ◦ “don’t be a dim-wit, crouch.”(page67)

A Groveling Servant ◦ Always try to please his master.◦ eg “ most sorry sir. Very sorry sir. Really sorry,sir (page66)

Heartless ◦ “I told you : NO BEGGARS. If lord septic sees you, he’ll

throw you on the track….lucky heather and all…ha ha ha ha.”(page71)

Greedy for power◦ “ very well, sir. Now then, I shall enjoy this. At least,I have

some power…”(page70)

Percy

PercyAn orphan

◦ “I was born with nothing. I’m an orphan. They say my mother was killed on this railway line.” (page76)

Only heir to the Gatsby Gold◦ Sir Percy Gatsby. The heir to the Gatsby Gold.(page87)

Believe in law and justice◦ “It’s the last day of your life of crime. You’ll soon be

behind bars when we tell the world.” (page 89)◦ My price is JUSTICE (page 90)

ROLE IN THE DRAMA ◦ The symbols of good who will always win over the evil ◦ The antagonist character who had been a foil to Lord

Septic, through their contrasting attitudes and manners.

Percy characteristic Brave

◦ “Have you no shame,man? It’s time I gave you a bit of your own treatment. How dare you harm a poor young girl.”(page77)

Kind-hearted◦ No rose. Be happy for us. Half of this is yours. You can pay for your

operation for you to see again. You can pay for your mother’s pills to make her well again.(page 89)

Fights for justice◦ My price is JUSTICE.(page 90)

Intelligent◦ Percy managed to stop the train before it ruins on Rose.(page 84)

Positive ◦ I say it’s not that bad! It might be sunny tomorrow. (page 73)

Caring ◦ And I wish I could help you, too. (page 77)

Romantic ◦ A pure white Rose! Then let me pick you and hold you under my nose.

(page 75)

Rose

Rose Blind

◦ “I’m blind.” (page 71) Poor

◦ She lives with her sick mother in the slum.(page 79) A flower seller

◦ “But I’m just a poor harmless flower seller.”(page70) A pretty young girl

◦ “I say you look so pretty when you smile.”(page 75)

ROLE IN THE DRAMA ◦ She plays the role of victim to a villain and is exposed to

hardship. ◦ Unraveled the mystery of the NSL key owned by Percy

since he was a baby and finds out Percy's identity.

Rose characteristic Hardworking

◦ “But I can’t go home till I earn a few coins. “ (page72)

Optimistic ◦ “I’m trying to save up for an operation on my eyes. Then I

will be able to see again.”(page 84) Strong determination

◦ “If I can sell a few flowers I may be able to pay the doctors. I’m trying to save up for an operation on my eyes. Then, I will be able to see again.”(page 72)

Smart and efficient ◦ Finds out quickly about Percy's background. (page

84) Caring

◦ “my mother is so sick and I must pay for the pills that will make her well.(page 72)

Themes

I. GreedII. Oppression of the weak and

poor III. Heroism IV. Struggle to survive

GreedLord Septic is so greedy that he

is willing to kill people in order to achieve his goals to gain more wealth. The evidence is when he orders Crouch to tie Rose up on the railway tracks when he threatens to tell the Evening News about Lord Septic.

Oppression of the weak and poorThe poor refers to Rose who was

involved in a strike at the match factory that Lord Septic owns. The strike was triggered by the workers protest as they have not received their pay. A fire broke out and many of the poor were killed and Rose was blinded.

Heroism Percy grabs Crouch by the collar

to retaliate over his harsh treatment towards Rose and for throwing her flowers all over the platform.

Struggle to survive Rose who is blind finds ways to

survive by selling sprigs of heather. She struggles hard not just for herself but also to pay for her sick mothers pills.

Moral ValuesOne should be humble about

one’s wealth and fame. ◦When Crouch behaves rudely

towards Rose, Percy grabs him by the collar.

◦Percy feels that Rose does not deserve such treatment and he protects her. Percy finds a way to stop the train from running over Rose.

We should always defend our loved ones. ◦Lord septic is wealthy, famous and proud.

He looks down on the poor and the underprivileged. He treats his servant, Crouch badly although Crouch is loyal to him.

◦He show no compassion to his workers and does not care of their welfare and safety.

◦He has no sympathy for rose and he calls her a beggar.

We must preserve our dignity so that people will respect us. ◦Although Percy is an orphan, he never

look at life in a negative way. He grew up to be a caring, loving and a generous person.

◦He rescues Rose from the villains. He offers to use his gold to pay for her eye operation and to cure her mother’s illness.

Language and Style

Foreshadow • Lord Septic trips over Crouch as he

was telling him about digging up the tracks to look for the Gatsby gold. • (This is the foreshadow that signals

Lord Septic’s demise in the near future.) page 66 ( Lord spectic)

PunsPercy: What a rotter that man is! They have just go on a strike on one of his factories. They all want a shorter wick. Rose : [laughing] I think you mean WEEK. They want a shorter working WEEK. Percy: No -it’s a candle factory

• Page 75 ( Rose, Percy)

IronyRose: Yes, sir. Do you buy a sprig of heather for a penny. It may bring you luck.( Rose is blessed with good luck herself for selling it instead of buying it)

page 71 (Rose)

Idioms

• Filthy rich (page 66, lord septic)

• Key to my heart (page 67,lord septic)

• Nick of time (page 87, percy)

Literary DevicesPersonification The train is personified as a person

about to kill. Simile1. Like a dragon coming to slay the

damsel (page 85, crouch)2. Snap them like twigs (page 80, lord

septic) 3. Crack them like nuts (page 80, lord

septic)

Metaphor check1. the Grim Reaper (page 82, lord

septic)- a name which signifies death2. a purse sweet rose!- It speaks of sweet-smelling, innocent

and pure

Alliteration 1. Feebie fools 2. foul and filthy 3. free of filth4. dim, daft, dopey, dozey, dippy(page 69, Lord septic)

Onomatopoeia5. snap them like twigs (page 80, lord

septic)6. crack them like nuts (page 80, lord septic)7. pop the like pods (page 80, crouch)

Imagery

- filthy rich - thick, black and oily (The image of slimy and thick black oil

is conjured up to show how very rich he will be)

page 66 (Lord Septic)