Jig Saw

About the show

Act I (Living room of Claire's penthouse at Hotel Harwich in NYC, a late spring afternoon.) Letty drops in to see Claire, but settles for the glass and bottle of gin Rosa brings her. Claire met Julie at the dock, but turned her over to Mr. Burnell for a shopping trip, and has since vanished. Del Marsh shows up with a suitcase, to be scolded by Letty on account of Julie's homecoming. He leaves to find a cot to sleep on the terrace. Claire returns in the throes of early love. She has a met another young man and given him her penthouse key, in lieu of a calling card. The door of the penthouse opens, and in comes Nathan Gifford, the young man. Letty is sent to fetch cocktails while Claire and Nathan gush over themselves. As they sip their drinks, Frank Mason comes in thru the terrace, dressed for sunbathing. Oblivious to his unwanted status, he grabs a cocktail and explains that his collaborator is writing the second act of a new play. Del returns, adding to the discomfort level. Claire introduces Nathan to Del as her instructor in Spanish. Del in turn introduces himself as Claire's dancing master. Julie enters; she remembers "Uncle Del" and "Uncle Frank" from childhood, but when Nathan proclaims himself "Uncle Nate", she contradicts him. She had encountered him at a Paris restaurant while dining with her aunt. She sent a note to his table and a photo the next day. Prompted, Nathan recalls the "schoolgirl". Claire is shocked that her daughter is as forward as herself. When asked to pass canapés to her mother's young man, Julie replies, "My young man, Uncle Del". (Curtain) Act II (Same as Act I, three weeks later at cocktail hour.) Del and Nathan arrive at the penthouse, each having been away for a few days. Del asks Nathan how he supports himself. Nathan says every so often a relative pops off: "Fortunately my ancestors were provident souls as my descendants will have to be". Del tasks Nathan about Julie's obsession with him and learns of his uneasiness at Julie's persistence. Claire, Letty and Frank join them from the terrace. Claire is upset with Del's presence, but reminds Nathan of their plans to visit Harlem that evening. Julie's arrival puts an end to cocktails and talk of Harlem. Instead, Julie reminds Nathan of his promise to take her to midnight mass at St. Nicholas'. Claire tries to forbid Julie from going out, provoking an argument. Frank takes this as a cue to move the cocktail party to his place; he and Letty leave through the terrace, but Julie won't let Nathan leave with Claire and Del. At last alone with him, she turns on the pressure. His charm and wit, effective with older women, are useless against Julie's willpower and tears. She leads him into one concession after another: he finds her attractive, he likes her, and finally he loves her. Claire and Del return to Julie's announcement of their engagement. Another mother-daughter brawl ensues, as Nathan sneaks out. Julie leaves to look for him. Del tries to get Claire to accept the inevitable, but only provokes her into calling it quits with him. (Curtain) Act III (Terrace of Claire's penthouse, three days later.) Frank, Letty, and Mrs. Finch are on the terrace, the latter two sitting at a garden table. On a table nearby is Claire's unfinished jigsaw puzzle. Their conversation reveals Julie and Nathan have disappeared, with Claire frantically trying find him. Rosa cautions Frank about putting his bottle of rye near the puzzle. Frank sneers: "A thousand pieces of nothing put together to make nothing", and tosses an unused piece over the terrace wall. Ethel calls to Frank from an upper balcony, so he and the two women go to join her in a rubber of bridge. Simpson steps out on the balcony for a moment, apologising to Ethel, then they both disappear inside. Nathan and Del arrive on the terrace, each surprised to see the other. Del twits Nathan for hiding from Julie, who has camped out in his apartment. But Rosa tells Del that Claire has ordered all his things tossed over the terrace wall. Julie shows up and puts the squeeze on Nathan, who finally tells her good-bye. Letty comes to commiserate with Julie, only to find her unmoved. Julie has told his apartment manager and all the newspapers that they will be married soon. She will run him down and manage him from here on out. Claire returns, and quarrels again with Julie, who is moving out to Nathan's. When she leaves, Del and Claire get into it, until he softens hers with blarney. The play ends as the bridge players come back to the terrace, with Claire leaning on Del's shoulder as he fits a piece into the jigsaw puzzle. (Curtain)