Believe Me, Xantippe

About the show

The 1918 published play divides the work into four acts, as does the Boston production synopsis. However, from Broadway reviews, it appears the play was presented there in three acts, with the last act broken into two scenes, separated by a brief curtain. The following synopsis conforms to the published play. Act I (MacFarland's Apartment at Sherry's in NYC. October 5th) Incensed by a burglary at his apartment, George MacFarland tells his friend Thornton Brown that police, detectives, and sheriffs are incapable of catching any crooks but the most incompetent. Brown demurs, but MacFarland insists, offering to bet $10,000 he could avoid arrest for a year. Brown takes him on, and telephones his detective friend Arthur Sole, who upon arrival also agrees to bet $20,000. MacFarland takes one of Brown's blank checks and forges his signature for $100, payable to George E. MacGinniss, the alias he'll adopt in flight. Sole pays him $100 cash for the forged check and offers to try depositing it, so as to trigger the forgery's discovery. The bet is lost if any detective or law enforcement officer within the US arrests MacGinnis within one year's time. The three of them agree that only they should know of the bet and that MacGinnis is really MacFarland. Sole takes detailed physical measurements of MacFarland, and borrows a photo of him. Brown lets Sole know quietly that MacFarland is partial to using the expression "Believe me, Xantippe". Sole cautions MacFarland that upon arrest, he must immediately wire Brown or himself, to avoid being incarcerated. MacFarland, using a ruse, escapes from the apartment unnoticed, taking Sole's hat with him. (Curtain) Act II (Hunting Shack in Southwest Colorado. September 30th, following year.) Buck and Dolly Kammen have been staying at the shack while hunting. Buck has to return to town, but Dolly persuades him to let her stay one more night. While she sees off her father, MacFarland enters from another door. He is surprised by the returning Dolly. Realizing he is a tenderfoot, Dolly coaxes from him the admission that he can neither shoot nor ride. Despite his scruffy appearance, Dolly is at ease with him, until he utters the phrase "Believe me, Xantippe". She disarms him, and forces him to climb into a camp bed, since it is night and she can't take him to jail in the dark. While they converse, Simp Calloway enters quietly, catching Dolly unaware. Recognizing him, she allows him to think she is MacFarland's wife. A series of comical twists and turns ends with MacFarland catching Simp in the dark, and tying him up when Dolly lights a candle. Simp is stowed in the bed. Dolly has no intention of letting MacFarland escape, even though he helped her. At gunpoint, she makes him climb into bed beside Simp. She tells the men she never got a deer while hunting, but has now "bagged two bucks". (Curtain) Act III (Sheriff's office at county jail in Delta, Colorado. Two days later.) Dolly had brought her prisoners into Delta, where they now sat in separate cells (off stage). Buck was so pleased with his daughter that he made her a deputy sheriff. On the jail house wall is a "Wanted" poster for MacGinnis, offering a $5000 reward. Dolly outargues Wrenn Rigley, whose orders were to keep everyone out of the cell block. She visits MacFarland in his cell, while first Buck Kammen and then Martha arrive. They are outraged when Dolly strolls out of the cell block. Later MacFarland strolls into the jail office to give Dolly his cell's key, which she had left in the lock. She learns from him the story of the wager that led to him becoming a fugitive. Dolly then sends the telegrams to Sole and Brown for MacFarland. Meanwhile, Violet tries to get Simp Calloway sprung from jail by accusing MacFarland of being one of their gang, The only result is she winds up in a cell next to Simp. (Curtain) Act IV (Same as Act III. Four days later.) Buck Kammen is summoned by telephone to the scene of holdup near the town. The eastern "lawmen" are due at the railroad station to pick up MacFarland. As a joke, Brown sends a telegram to MacFarland at the jail, falsely claiming the duo were lost at sea. Dolly, realizing MacFarland will now be imprisoned for forgery, releases him and gives him a horse on which to get away. So inept at riding is MacFarland that he falls off the horse at Aunt Martha's house and she recaptures him. Dazed by the fall, he does not resist as she brings him to jail in a wheelbarrow. Buck returns and is impressed with his sister-in-law's resourcefulness. Martha and Buck rebuke Dolly for having let him escape. Dolly is stunned when Sole and Brown are introduced. Buck is upset that the whole fandango was for a prank wager. Sole tells MacFarland he has lost the bet since Dolly is a deputy sheriff, which the latter accepts. However, Dolly corrects Sole: she wasn't made a deputy until after she brought in MacFarland and Simp Calloway. Sole and Brown give MacFarland the checks totaling $30,000. Buck hugs Martha, evidently seeing her in a new light. They all leave quietly as MacFarland woos Dolly. Wrenn comes in, sees the situation, and quickly leaves. MacFarland proposes to Dolly, saying he "will be her prisoner for life", and she accepts. (Curtain)