.png)
.png)
The action of the play takes place in Marshwood House, East Kent. Time: the present.
Act I
Scene I: Saturday afternoon, after lunch
Crestwell, butler to Nigel Marshwood, and Dora Moxton ("Moxie"), maid to Nigel's mother, Felicity, discuss the forthcoming marriage of Nigel to the actress Miranda Frayle. Crestwell is unenthusiastic but philosophical; Moxie is deeply unhappy about it and says she will resign. Felicity and a group of her friends enter. They too discuss the forthcoming marriage, with no enthusiasm. Nigel has been married before and they regard him as a poor judge of women. The friends exit, and Felicity tries to find out why Moxie is so determined to leave if Nigel marries Miranda. Eventually Moxie reveals the reason: Miranda is her younger sister.
Scene II: A few hours later
Felicity and her nephew Peter Ingleton discuss the situation. Felicity is determined not to be parted from the indispensable Moxie. As it is out of the question that Moxie can continue as a maid in the household of her own sister, Peter suggests that Moxie should be promoted to companion to Felicity. They consult Crestwell, telling him what they propose and why. He brings Moxie from her room and the four discuss what is to be done. Crestwell suggests taking Moxie's transformation a step further, giving it out that she has inherited money and has resigned, and is staying at Marshwood House as a personal friend of Felicity's. Moxie is reluctant, but agrees that if this is only way in which she and Felicity can remain together she will make the attempt.
Act II
Scene I: Before dinner
Nigel and Miranda have arrived from London. He and Felicity discuss Moxie's sudden rise in the world. He tries not to be snobbish, but is nonplussed by the thought of a former servant being on equal terms with the family. Miranda enters and makes polite conversation. Moxie enters, impeccably dressed and coifed. Miranda does not recognise her. To Moxie's suppressed fury, Miranda spins yarns about her upbringing and family, pretending she was a slum child with an abusive, alcoholic elder sister, whom, she says, she still supports financially. Felicity's dinner guests arrive and are confused by Moxie's new eminence. Crestwell encourages her to keep up the pretence.
Scene II: After dinner
Miranda's previous lover, the Hollywood actor Don Lucas arrives, uninvited and slightly drunk, hoping to regain Miranda's affections. Crestwell gives him a drink and urges him on. Don encounters Miranda and tries to woo her. Miranda asks him to leave. They are interrupted by the entrance of Felicity who invites Don to stay the night. Nigel is not pleased at having his former rival under his roof, but Felicity insists. Nigel announces that he and Miranda will be married by special licence the next morning. Moxie, still upset at Miranda's earlier lies, and determined that Nigel and Miranda will not marry, reveals that she is Miranda's elder sister and that Miranda's reminiscences are all lies: "Poverty and squalor, indeed! A London Cockney born within the sound of Bow Bells! You were born in No 3 Station Road, Sidcup, and if you can hear the sound of Bow Bells from Sidcup you must have the ears of an elk-hound!"[11]
Act III
The next morning
Moxie has announced her intention to leave at once. Peter and Crestwell, and then Felicity, continue to encourage Don in his pursuit of Miranda. Nigel is confused and distressed at the turn of events. His desire to marry Miranda has faded with the revelation that Moxie is her sister, but having given his word he sees it as his duty to go ahead with the marriage. Miranda is frustrated by her conversations first with Felicity and then with Nigel, and decides that she is better off with Don than as Nigel's wife (and Felicity's daughter-in-law). Miranda and Don leave together. Moxie and Crestwell celebrate the happy outcome with a glass of sherry. Crestwell proposes a toast to the status quo.