6th Aug 1914 · 1st Dec 1914 Podcast Storyline

Freddie and Victor

74 min Play story

Cousins and cavalry officers, Freddie and Victor suffer different fates

  1. 6th August 1914

    Scene 1 of 2

    1. Jimmy fires a gun

      Freddie and his soldier friends show Sam and Jimmy how to fire a revolver but they accidentally wound Kush the dog in the ear

      • The Leas, Folkestone
      • On this day The War Office appealed for an extra 100,000 men to join up

      Characters

    2. Doctor, Doctor - come quick

      Dr McFee patches up the bullet graze to Kush the dog's ear, but Sam, Jimmy and the soldiers all fear repercussions

      • On this day The War Office appealed for an extra 100,000 men to join up

      Characters

  2. 12th August 1914

    Scene 1 of 5

    1. Freddie feels guilty

      Victor tries to distract Freddie from guilty thoughts of Jimmy's disappearance with a horse race, but is injured in a tumble

      • The Beach, Folkestone
      • On this day Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary

      Characters

    2. Brandy for the pain

      Dr McFee fixes the shoulder Victor dislocated in the horse race, and tears a strip of Freddie for his frivolity

      • On this day Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary

      Characters

    3. Who's a pretty boy then?

      Freddie cajoles Victor into entering the Male Beauty Contest in his 'dashing' sling, knowing he needs the money.

      • Victoria Pier, Folkestone
      • On this day Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary

      Characters

    4. Victor victorious

      In the pub after Victor's competition win, Freddie embarrasses his cousin with salacious talk, until they are interrupted by a fracas outside

      • On this day Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary

      Characters

    5. A beating in the street

      Victor and Freddie step in to stop Bill Macknade beating up Ralph in the street

      • On this day Britain and France declared war on Austria-Hungary

      Characters

  3. 14th August 1914

    Scene 1 of 1

    1. Bathing beauty

      In front of Lilian's lens Kitty and Victor disport themselves by the sea

      • The Leas, Folkestone
      • On this day The Battle of the Frontiers began

      Characters

  4. 15th August 1914

    Scene 1 of 1

    1. A sister's promise

      Freddie makes Isabel promise not to blame herself for the missing boys, and in return makes his mother hire Esme Macknade

      • The Harbour, Folkestone
      • On this day Two Austrians in Kent were sentenced to three months hard labour for being enemy aliens

      Characters

  5. 19th August 1914

    Scene 1 of 3

    1. Victor is restless

      Left behind by his colleagues, the injured Victor tells his subordinate, horse doctor and would-be procurer about Kitty

      • On this day The Kaiser referred to the British Expeditionary Force as a ‘contemptible little army’, giving rise to their nickname The Old Contemptibles

      Characters

    2. Aunt Sylvia has a plan

      Victor is bullied by his aunt on matters of Belgian refugees and of romance

      • On this day The Kaiser referred to the British Expeditionary Force as a ‘contemptible little army’, giving rise to their nickname The Old Contemptibles

      Characters

    3. What's hiding in the cellar?

      Mr Martindale informs Victor and the soldiers about Hans, the German hiding in the hotel cellar.

      • On this day The Kaiser referred to the British Expeditionary Force as a ‘contemptible little army’, giving rise to their nickname The Old Contemptibles

      Characters

  6. 5th September 1914

    Scene 1 of 1

    1. Victor speaks his mind

      Sylvia speaks up for the status quo of the class system, but Victor defends Kitty

      • On this day The Battle of the Ourcq began

      Characters

  7. 8th September 1914

    Scene 1 of 8

    1. Shocking News

      The Grahams' worries about Isabel are overtaken by a telegram reporting Freddie's death

      • The dining room, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    2. The Vicar Calls

      Ralph blunders into the Graham house - Isabel seems unable to stop him

      • The hall, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    3. Reactions to tragedy

      Gabriel and Isabel are paralysed by grief while Sylvia seems to think it her duty to soldier on

      • The dining room, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    4. Isabel fears she is cursed

      Isabel is shattered - 'undone' - by the news, and her secret intimacy with Ralph shadows all their dealings

      • The hall, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    5. The household is rocked

      Grief in all its manifestations: Ralph is practical, Sylvia indomitable, Isabel numb, Esme coarse

      • The drawing room, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    6. A house divided

      Prostrated by sorrow, councillor Graham is unable to respond to his wife's wishes

      • Gabriel's study, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    7. Isabel flees

      Isabel cannot bear to stay in the house any longer.

      • The dining room, Grahams' House
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

    8. An encounter with a soldier

      Her emotions in disarray, Isabel kisses a soldier who thinks she is a prostitute: the revelation brings Freddie's death home to her

      • Victoria Pier, Folkestone
      • On this day Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George gave a speech on the need for economy in wartime

      Characters

  8. 9th September 1914

    Scene 1 of 4

    1. Hilary intrudes on Gabriel's solitude

      The ever-suave Hilary presents himself as Gabriel's right hand, and warns Isabel she was seen kissing the soldier

      • Gabriel's study, Grahams' House
      • On this day Folkestone held its annual regatta (and the so called “Dover Humbug” was a “prefect nuisance”)

      Characters

    2. Gabriel presides in court

      Those before Gabriel in the magistrate's court include the last man to see the lost boys alive, and Sgt Harris's own son

      • On this day Folkestone held its annual regatta (and the so called “Dover Humbug” was a “prefect nuisance”)

      Characters

    3. To the Regatta

      Gabriel overtakes Mervyn and Norman on his way to immerse himself further in his "civic duties"

      • On this day Folkestone held its annual regatta (and the so called “Dover Humbug” was a “prefect nuisance”)

      Characters

    4. Gabriel capsized

      Mervyn redeems himself by saving his brother from the water after two boats overturn

      • The Harbour, Folkestone
      • On this day Folkestone held its annual regatta (and the so called “Dover Humbug” was a “prefect nuisance”)

      Characters

  9. 15th September 1914

    Scene 1 of 1

    1. A memorial service on the Leas

      Gabriel breaks down, Sylvia steps up, and the Wilsons miss Dieter and Sam

      • The Leas, Folkestone
      • On this day On this day, Arras was occupied by the German Army

      Characters

  10. 16th September 1914

    Scene 1 of 1

    1. Family condolences

      Victor disagrees with Sylvia over Kitty, and is shocked when Gabriel mistakes him for Freddie

      • The hall, Grahams' House
      • On this day The sea liner ‘German’ was renamed the ‘Glengorm Castle’

      Characters

  11. 1st December 1914

    Scene 1 of 4

    1. Sober preparations

      Sylvia, Gabriel and Isabel gather scattered cufflinks and wits to prepare for Freddie's funeral

      • On this day George the Fifth visited Indian troops on the Western Front front

      Characters

    2. Juliet returns

      Returning daughter Juliet Graham represents the modern, independent woman: Freddie's funeral cortege is diverted to avoid damaging morale

      • The Harbour, Folkestone
      • On this day George the Fifth visited Indian troops on the Western Front front

      Characters

    3. A funeral

      Dorothea appears, insisting she has a right to attend Freddie's funeral.

      • St Jude's Church, Folkestone
      • On this day George the Fifth visited Indian troops on the Western Front front

      Characters

    4. Freddie laid to rest

      Only when the rest of the family has left Freddie's grave can Silvia speak freely to her dead son of her love for him

      • St Jude's Church, Folkestone
      • On this day George the Fifth visited Indian troops on the Western Front front

      Characters

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