The Intimate Strangers

About the show

The humor revolves around the complicated family relationship, which is only partially revealed during the course of the play, and the competition between Isabel and Florence. William Ames was on a vacation when he was stranded at an isolated station north of Utica, New York, by a storm that washed out a bridge and communication lines. Also stranded is Isabel Stuart. Though they noticed each other on the train, they didn't speak until marooned at the station. When the play begins, they had been at the station for ten hours, with their only company the station master's brother-in-law, who has since departed. Act I (Interior of a railway station in upstate New York. A night in April.) The Station Master enters the darkened station to find Ames sleeping on a bench. Through exposition, it appears Ames and Isabel, who is sitting on a trunk on the platform, haven't spoken for hours. Isabel shared her lunch with Ames, but the Station Master confirms there is no prospect of further food, nor any information on when the railway will resume operation. During their isolation Ames had told Isabel of his dislike for flighty young women. The more experienced Isabel found it easy to lead Ames on by feigning an older age, and eventually Ames confesses an attraction for her. But Florence arrives in a burst of energy; she had Johnnie drive her forty miles at night to pick up Isabel at the station. Naturally, she fixates on Ames, who despite his aversion to flappers, finds her fascinating. The foursome depart the station for Isabel's home. (Curtain) Act II (Living room of Isabel's farm home, the next morning.) Aunt Ellen questions Henry about everyone's whereabouts. Florence comes in from an early morning horseback ride, while Mattie announces Johnnie. Florence tries to get Ames to stay another day with a fake telegram scheme, while Isabel gives Johnnie some pointers on women. Florence maneuvers Ames into changing her slippers for tennis shoes, then leaves to play tennis with Johnnie. Isabel uses the break to buffalo Ames by showing him a lot of old family daguerrotypes and implying she knew the folks in them personally. Florence later asks Ames to put the slippers back on her. She then seizes Ames and makes him dance to music from a vocalion. But Johnnie has gotten wise, and when Isabel feigns a lame foot, he pointedly puts slippers on her feet. The scene ends as Florence whirls Ames, amazed that both he and Johnnie are so concerned about Isabel. (Curtain) Act III (Same, late afternoon to early evening.) Mattie pretends to search for the family bible for Aunt Ellen, but Isabel had given her instructions not to find it. Mattie also wipes off the year on an inscription dedicating a cabinet to Isabel on her 15th birthday. Isabel enters and spars with Aunt Ellen over the missing bible, which has all of their birthdates in it. The latter leaves after being told another bible is upstairs. Ames wanders in from searching, having been primed by Mattie about the missing bible, but not where it can be found. Mattie also obligingly leaves ajar the cabinet door with the inscription inside. Isabel resumes her limp upon Ames' entrance, eventually drawing his attention to the antique cabinet, which she claims was new when given to her. Aunt Ellen plays a waltz on the piano, to which Johnnie and Isabel dance. When Ames comes in, he sweeps Isabel away from Johnnie, as Ellen continues playing. Ames accuses Isabel of mocking him, but she points to the family bible which she had brought into the room. It is open to the page that discloses her father married his second wife at age 65, after which Isabel was born. They are joined in the waltz by Johnnie and Florence, as Ames mutters to Isabel, "You infant". (Curtain)