Page 1
3
Mother’s Day
J.B. Priestley
The following play is a humorous portrayal of the status of the mother in a
family. Let’s read on to see how Mrs Pearson’s family reacts when she tries to
stand up for her own rights.
Characters
Mrs Annie Pe Arson Geor Ge Pe Arson Doris Pe Arson Cyril Pe Arson Mrs Fitz Ger Al D
The action takes place in the living-room of the
Pearsons’ house in a London suburb.
Time: The Present
Scene: The living-room of the Pearson family. Afternoon. It is a comfortably furnished,
much lived-in room in a small suburban semi-detached villa. If necessary only one door
need be used, but it is better with two— one up left leading to the front door and the
stairs and the other in the right wall leading to the kitchen and the back door. There
can be a muslin-covered window in the left wall and possibly one in the right wall,
too. The fireplace is assumed to be in the fourth wall. There is a settee up right, an
armchair down left and one down right. A small table with two chairs on either side
of it stands at the centre.
Chap 3.indd 14 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 2
3
Mother’s Day
J.B. Priestley
The following play is a humorous portrayal of the status of the mother in a
family. Let’s read on to see how Mrs Pearson’s family reacts when she tries to
stand up for her own rights.
Characters
Mrs Annie Pe Arson Geor Ge Pe Arson Doris Pe Arson Cyril Pe Arson Mrs Fitz Ger Al D
The action takes place in the living-room of the
Pearsons’ house in a London suburb.
Time: The Present
Scene: The living-room of the Pearson family. Afternoon. It is a comfortably furnished,
much lived-in room in a small suburban semi-detached villa. If necessary only one door
need be used, but it is better with two— one up left leading to the front door and the
stairs and the other in the right wall leading to the kitchen and the back door. There
can be a muslin-covered window in the left wall and possibly one in the right wall,
too. The fireplace is assumed to be in the fourth wall. There is a settee up right, an
armchair down left and one down right. A small table with two chairs on either side
of it stands at the centre.
Chap 3.indd 14 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Mother’s Day 15
When the curtain rises it is an afternoon in early autumn and the stage can be
well lit. Mrs Pearson at right, and Mrs Fitzgerald at left, are sitting opposite each other
at the small table, on which are two tea-cups and saucers and the cards with which
Mrs Fitzgerald has been telling Mrs Pearson’s fortune. Mrs Pearson is a pleasant but
worried-looking woman in her forties. Mrs Fitzgerald is older , heavier and a strong and
sinister personality. She is smoking. It is very important that these two should have
sharply contrasting voices — Mrs Pearson speaking in a light, flurried sort of tone, with
a touch of suburban Cockney perhaps; and Mrs Fitzgerald with a deep voice, rather
Irish perhaps.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [collecting up the cards] And that’s all I can tell you, Mrs
Pearson. Could be a good fortune. Could be a bad one.
All depends on yourself now. Make up your mind — and
there it is.
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, thank you, Mrs Fitzgerald. I’m much obliged, I’m
sure. It’s wonderful having a real fortune-teller living
next door. Did you learn that out East, too?
Chap 3.indd 15 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 3
3
Mother’s Day
J.B. Priestley
The following play is a humorous portrayal of the status of the mother in a
family. Let’s read on to see how Mrs Pearson’s family reacts when she tries to
stand up for her own rights.
Characters
Mrs Annie Pe Arson Geor Ge Pe Arson Doris Pe Arson Cyril Pe Arson Mrs Fitz Ger Al D
The action takes place in the living-room of the
Pearsons’ house in a London suburb.
Time: The Present
Scene: The living-room of the Pearson family. Afternoon. It is a comfortably furnished,
much lived-in room in a small suburban semi-detached villa. If necessary only one door
need be used, but it is better with two— one up left leading to the front door and the
stairs and the other in the right wall leading to the kitchen and the back door. There
can be a muslin-covered window in the left wall and possibly one in the right wall,
too. The fireplace is assumed to be in the fourth wall. There is a settee up right, an
armchair down left and one down right. A small table with two chairs on either side
of it stands at the centre.
Chap 3.indd 14 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Mother’s Day 15
When the curtain rises it is an afternoon in early autumn and the stage can be
well lit. Mrs Pearson at right, and Mrs Fitzgerald at left, are sitting opposite each other
at the small table, on which are two tea-cups and saucers and the cards with which
Mrs Fitzgerald has been telling Mrs Pearson’s fortune. Mrs Pearson is a pleasant but
worried-looking woman in her forties. Mrs Fitzgerald is older , heavier and a strong and
sinister personality. She is smoking. It is very important that these two should have
sharply contrasting voices — Mrs Pearson speaking in a light, flurried sort of tone, with
a touch of suburban Cockney perhaps; and Mrs Fitzgerald with a deep voice, rather
Irish perhaps.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [collecting up the cards] And that’s all I can tell you, Mrs
Pearson. Could be a good fortune. Could be a bad one.
All depends on yourself now. Make up your mind — and
there it is.
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, thank you, Mrs Fitzgerald. I’m much obliged, I’m
sure. It’s wonderful having a real fortune-teller living
next door. Did you learn that out East, too?
Chap 3.indd 15 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
16 Snapshots
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: I did. Twelve years I had of it, with my old man rising
to be Lieutenant Quartermaster. He learnt a lot, and I
learnt a lot more. But will you make up your mind now,
Mrs Pearson dear? Put your foot down, once an’ for all,
an’ be the mistress of your own house an’ the boss of
your own family.
Mrs Pe Arson : [smiling apologetically] That’s easier said than done.
Besides I’m so fond of them even if they are so thoughtless
and selfish. They don’t mean to be...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [cutting in] Maybe not. But it’ud be better for them if they
learnt to treat you properly...
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, I suppose it would, in a way.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: No doubt about it at all. Who’s the better for being spoilt —
grown man, lad or girl? Nobody. You think it does ’em
good when you run after them all the time, take their
orders as if you were the servant in the house, stay at
home every night while they go out enjoying themselves?
Never in all your life. It’s the ruin of them as well as you.
Husbands, sons, daughters should be taking notice of
wives an’ mothers, not giving ’em orders an’ treating ’em
like dirt. An’ don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean,
for I know more than you’ve told me.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] I—keep dropping a hint...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Hint? It’s more than hints your family needs, Mrs
Pearson.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] I suppose it is. But I do hate any
unpleasantness. And it’s so hard to know where to start.
I keep making up my mind to have it out with them but
somehow I don’t know how to begin. [She glances at her
watch or at a clock] Oh—good gracious! Look at the
time. Nothing ready and they’ll be home any minute and
probably all in a hurry to go out again.
[As she is about to rise, Mrs Fitzgerald reaches out across
the table and pulls her down.]
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Let ’em wait or look after themselves for once. This is
where your foot goes down. Start now. [She lights a
cigarette from the one she has just finished.]
Mrs Pe Arson : [embarrassed] Mrs Fitzgerald — I know you mean well — in
fact, I agree with you— but I just can’t—and it’s no use
Chap 3.indd 16 11/29/2024 2:25:11 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 4
3
Mother’s Day
J.B. Priestley
The following play is a humorous portrayal of the status of the mother in a
family. Let’s read on to see how Mrs Pearson’s family reacts when she tries to
stand up for her own rights.
Characters
Mrs Annie Pe Arson Geor Ge Pe Arson Doris Pe Arson Cyril Pe Arson Mrs Fitz Ger Al D
The action takes place in the living-room of the
Pearsons’ house in a London suburb.
Time: The Present
Scene: The living-room of the Pearson family. Afternoon. It is a comfortably furnished,
much lived-in room in a small suburban semi-detached villa. If necessary only one door
need be used, but it is better with two— one up left leading to the front door and the
stairs and the other in the right wall leading to the kitchen and the back door. There
can be a muslin-covered window in the left wall and possibly one in the right wall,
too. The fireplace is assumed to be in the fourth wall. There is a settee up right, an
armchair down left and one down right. A small table with two chairs on either side
of it stands at the centre.
Chap 3.indd 14 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Mother’s Day 15
When the curtain rises it is an afternoon in early autumn and the stage can be
well lit. Mrs Pearson at right, and Mrs Fitzgerald at left, are sitting opposite each other
at the small table, on which are two tea-cups and saucers and the cards with which
Mrs Fitzgerald has been telling Mrs Pearson’s fortune. Mrs Pearson is a pleasant but
worried-looking woman in her forties. Mrs Fitzgerald is older , heavier and a strong and
sinister personality. She is smoking. It is very important that these two should have
sharply contrasting voices — Mrs Pearson speaking in a light, flurried sort of tone, with
a touch of suburban Cockney perhaps; and Mrs Fitzgerald with a deep voice, rather
Irish perhaps.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [collecting up the cards] And that’s all I can tell you, Mrs
Pearson. Could be a good fortune. Could be a bad one.
All depends on yourself now. Make up your mind — and
there it is.
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, thank you, Mrs Fitzgerald. I’m much obliged, I’m
sure. It’s wonderful having a real fortune-teller living
next door. Did you learn that out East, too?
Chap 3.indd 15 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
16 Snapshots
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: I did. Twelve years I had of it, with my old man rising
to be Lieutenant Quartermaster. He learnt a lot, and I
learnt a lot more. But will you make up your mind now,
Mrs Pearson dear? Put your foot down, once an’ for all,
an’ be the mistress of your own house an’ the boss of
your own family.
Mrs Pe Arson : [smiling apologetically] That’s easier said than done.
Besides I’m so fond of them even if they are so thoughtless
and selfish. They don’t mean to be...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [cutting in] Maybe not. But it’ud be better for them if they
learnt to treat you properly...
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, I suppose it would, in a way.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: No doubt about it at all. Who’s the better for being spoilt —
grown man, lad or girl? Nobody. You think it does ’em
good when you run after them all the time, take their
orders as if you were the servant in the house, stay at
home every night while they go out enjoying themselves?
Never in all your life. It’s the ruin of them as well as you.
Husbands, sons, daughters should be taking notice of
wives an’ mothers, not giving ’em orders an’ treating ’em
like dirt. An’ don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean,
for I know more than you’ve told me.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] I—keep dropping a hint...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Hint? It’s more than hints your family needs, Mrs
Pearson.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] I suppose it is. But I do hate any
unpleasantness. And it’s so hard to know where to start.
I keep making up my mind to have it out with them but
somehow I don’t know how to begin. [She glances at her
watch or at a clock] Oh—good gracious! Look at the
time. Nothing ready and they’ll be home any minute and
probably all in a hurry to go out again.
[As she is about to rise, Mrs Fitzgerald reaches out across
the table and pulls her down.]
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Let ’em wait or look after themselves for once. This is
where your foot goes down. Start now. [She lights a
cigarette from the one she has just finished.]
Mrs Pe Arson : [embarrassed] Mrs Fitzgerald — I know you mean well — in
fact, I agree with you— but I just can’t—and it’s no use
Chap 3.indd 16 11/29/2024 2:25:11 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Mother’s Day 17
you trying to make me. If I promise you I’d really have it out
with them, I know I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Then let me do it.
Mrs Pe Arson : [ flustered] Oh no — thank you very much, Mrs Fitzgerald—
but that wouldn’t do at all. It couldn’t possibly be
somebody else—they’d resent it at once and wouldn’t
listen—and really I couldn’t blame them. I know I ought
to do it—but you see how it is? [She looks apologetically
across the table, smiling rather miserably.]
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [coolly] You haven’t got the idea.
Mrs Pe Arson : [bewildered] Oh—I’m sorry—I thought you asked me to
let you do it.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: I did. But not as me—as you.
Mrs Pe Arson : But—I don’t understand. You couldn’t be me.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [coolly] We change places. Or—really—bodies. You look
like me. I look like you.
Mrs Pe Arson : But that’s impossible.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: How do you know? Ever tried it?
Mrs Pe Arson : No, of course not...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [coolly] I have. Not for some time but it still ought to work.
Won’t last long, but long enough for what we want to do.
Learnt it out East, of course, where they’re up to all these
tricks. [She holds her hand out across the table, keeping
the cigarette in her mouth] Gimme your hands, dear.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] Well—I don’t know—is it right?
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: It’s your only chance. Give me your hands an’ keep
quiet a minute. Just don’t think about anything. [Taking
her hands] Now look at me. [They stare at each other.
Muttering] Arshtatta dum—arshtatta lam—arshtatta
lamdumbona...
[This little scene should be acted very carefully. We are to assume that the
personalities change bodies. After the spell has been spoken, both women,
still grasping hands, go lax, as if the life were out of them. Then both come to
life, but with the personality of the other. Each must try to adopt the voice and
mannerisms of the other. So now Mrs Pearson is bold and dominating and Mrs
Fitzgerald is nervous and fluttering.]
Mrs Pe Arson : [now with Mrs Fitzgerald’s personality] See what I mean,
dear? [She notices the cigarette] Here—you don’t want
Chap 3.indd 17 11/29/2024 2:25:11 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 5
3
Mother’s Day
J.B. Priestley
The following play is a humorous portrayal of the status of the mother in a
family. Let’s read on to see how Mrs Pearson’s family reacts when she tries to
stand up for her own rights.
Characters
Mrs Annie Pe Arson Geor Ge Pe Arson Doris Pe Arson Cyril Pe Arson Mrs Fitz Ger Al D
The action takes place in the living-room of the
Pearsons’ house in a London suburb.
Time: The Present
Scene: The living-room of the Pearson family. Afternoon. It is a comfortably furnished,
much lived-in room in a small suburban semi-detached villa. If necessary only one door
need be used, but it is better with two— one up left leading to the front door and the
stairs and the other in the right wall leading to the kitchen and the back door. There
can be a muslin-covered window in the left wall and possibly one in the right wall,
too. The fireplace is assumed to be in the fourth wall. There is a settee up right, an
armchair down left and one down right. A small table with two chairs on either side
of it stands at the centre.
Chap 3.indd 14 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Mother’s Day 15
When the curtain rises it is an afternoon in early autumn and the stage can be
well lit. Mrs Pearson at right, and Mrs Fitzgerald at left, are sitting opposite each other
at the small table, on which are two tea-cups and saucers and the cards with which
Mrs Fitzgerald has been telling Mrs Pearson’s fortune. Mrs Pearson is a pleasant but
worried-looking woman in her forties. Mrs Fitzgerald is older , heavier and a strong and
sinister personality. She is smoking. It is very important that these two should have
sharply contrasting voices — Mrs Pearson speaking in a light, flurried sort of tone, with
a touch of suburban Cockney perhaps; and Mrs Fitzgerald with a deep voice, rather
Irish perhaps.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [collecting up the cards] And that’s all I can tell you, Mrs
Pearson. Could be a good fortune. Could be a bad one.
All depends on yourself now. Make up your mind — and
there it is.
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, thank you, Mrs Fitzgerald. I’m much obliged, I’m
sure. It’s wonderful having a real fortune-teller living
next door. Did you learn that out East, too?
Chap 3.indd 15 11/29/2024 2:25:10 PM
Reprint 2025-26
16 Snapshots
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: I did. Twelve years I had of it, with my old man rising
to be Lieutenant Quartermaster. He learnt a lot, and I
learnt a lot more. But will you make up your mind now,
Mrs Pearson dear? Put your foot down, once an’ for all,
an’ be the mistress of your own house an’ the boss of
your own family.
Mrs Pe Arson : [smiling apologetically] That’s easier said than done.
Besides I’m so fond of them even if they are so thoughtless
and selfish. They don’t mean to be...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [cutting in] Maybe not. But it’ud be better for them if they
learnt to treat you properly...
Mrs Pe Arson : Yes, I suppose it would, in a way.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: No doubt about it at all. Who’s the better for being spoilt —
grown man, lad or girl? Nobody. You think it does ’em
good when you run after them all the time, take their
orders as if you were the servant in the house, stay at
home every night while they go out enjoying themselves?
Never in all your life. It’s the ruin of them as well as you.
Husbands, sons, daughters should be taking notice of
wives an’ mothers, not giving ’em orders an’ treating ’em
like dirt. An’ don’t tell me you don’t know what I mean,
for I know more than you’ve told me.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] I—keep dropping a hint...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Hint? It’s more than hints your family needs, Mrs
Pearson.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] I suppose it is. But I do hate any
unpleasantness. And it’s so hard to know where to start.
I keep making up my mind to have it out with them but
somehow I don’t know how to begin. [She glances at her
watch or at a clock] Oh—good gracious! Look at the
time. Nothing ready and they’ll be home any minute and
probably all in a hurry to go out again.
[As she is about to rise, Mrs Fitzgerald reaches out across
the table and pulls her down.]
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Let ’em wait or look after themselves for once. This is
where your foot goes down. Start now. [She lights a
cigarette from the one she has just finished.]
Mrs Pe Arson : [embarrassed] Mrs Fitzgerald — I know you mean well — in
fact, I agree with you— but I just can’t—and it’s no use
Chap 3.indd 16 11/29/2024 2:25:11 PM
Reprint 2025-26
Mother’s Day 17
you trying to make me. If I promise you I’d really have it out
with them, I know I wouldn’t be able to keep my promise.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Then let me do it.
Mrs Pe Arson : [ flustered] Oh no — thank you very much, Mrs Fitzgerald—
but that wouldn’t do at all. It couldn’t possibly be
somebody else—they’d resent it at once and wouldn’t
listen—and really I couldn’t blame them. I know I ought
to do it—but you see how it is? [She looks apologetically
across the table, smiling rather miserably.]
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [coolly] You haven’t got the idea.
Mrs Pe Arson : [bewildered] Oh—I’m sorry—I thought you asked me to
let you do it.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: I did. But not as me—as you.
Mrs Pe Arson : But—I don’t understand. You couldn’t be me.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [coolly] We change places. Or—really—bodies. You look
like me. I look like you.
Mrs Pe Arson : But that’s impossible.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: How do you know? Ever tried it?
Mrs Pe Arson : No, of course not...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [coolly] I have. Not for some time but it still ought to work.
Won’t last long, but long enough for what we want to do.
Learnt it out East, of course, where they’re up to all these
tricks. [She holds her hand out across the table, keeping
the cigarette in her mouth] Gimme your hands, dear.
Mrs Pe Arson : [dubiously] Well—I don’t know—is it right?
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: It’s your only chance. Give me your hands an’ keep
quiet a minute. Just don’t think about anything. [Taking
her hands] Now look at me. [They stare at each other.
Muttering] Arshtatta dum—arshtatta lam—arshtatta
lamdumbona...
[This little scene should be acted very carefully. We are to assume that the
personalities change bodies. After the spell has been spoken, both women,
still grasping hands, go lax, as if the life were out of them. Then both come to
life, but with the personality of the other. Each must try to adopt the voice and
mannerisms of the other. So now Mrs Pearson is bold and dominating and Mrs
Fitzgerald is nervous and fluttering.]
Mrs Pe Arson : [now with Mrs Fitzgerald’s personality] See what I mean,
dear? [She notices the cigarette] Here—you don’t want
Chap 3.indd 17 11/29/2024 2:25:11 PM
Reprint 2025-26
18 Snapshots
that. [She snatches it and puts it in her own mouth, puffing
contentedly.]
[Mrs Fitzgerald, now with Mrs Pearson’s personality, looks down at herself and
sees that her body has changed and gives a scream of fright.]
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [with Mrs Pearson’s personality] Oh — it’s happened.
Mrs Pe Arson : [complacently] Of course it’s happened. Very neat. Didn’t
know I had it in me.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [alarmed] But whatever shall I do, Mrs Fitzgerald? George
and the children can’t see me like this.
Mrs Pe Arson : [grimly] They aren’t going to—that’s the point. They’ll have
me to deal with—only they won’t know it.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [still alarmed] But what if we can’t change back? It’ud be
terrible.
Mrs Pe Arson : Here—steady, Mrs Pearson—if you had to live my life
it wouldn’t be so bad. You’d have more fun as me than
you’ve had as you.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Yes—but I don’t want to be anybody else...
Mrs Pe Arson : Now—stop worrying. It’s easier changing back—I can do
it any time we want...
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: Well—do it now...
Mrs Pe Arson : Not likely. I’ve got to deal with your family first. That’s
the idea, isn’t it? Didn’t know how to begin with ‘em, you
said. Well. I’ll show you.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: But what am I going to do?
Mrs Pe Arson : Go into my house for a bit—there’s nobody there—then
pop back and see how we’re doing. You ought to enjoy it.
Better get off now before one of ’em comes.
Mrs Fitz Ger Al D: [nervously rising] Yes—I suppose that’s best. You’re sure
it’ll be all right?
Mrs Pe Arson : [chuckling] It’ll be wonderful. Now off you go, dear.
[Mrs Fitzgerald crosses and hurries out through the door right. Left to herself,
Mrs Pearson smokes away —lighting another cigarette—and begins laying out
the cards for patience on the table.
After a few moments Doris Pearson comes bursting in left. She is a pretty girl
in her early twenties, who would be pleasant enough if she had not been spoilt.]
Doris : [before she has taken anything in] Mum—you’ll have
to iron my yellow silk. I must wear it tonight. [She now
Chap 3.indd 18 11/29/2024 2:25:11 PM
Reprint 2025-26
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