1. FEATURES OF A PLAY TEXT from Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold” … and the Boys

2. “Master Harold” … and the Boys by Athol Fugard Hally: Naught degrees. Cheerful state of affairs! No cash and you’re freezing to death. Mathematics won’t get you out of that one. Sam: “All these quantities are called …” (Spelling the word.) … s-c-a-l … Hally: Scalars. Sam: Scalars! (Shaking his head with a laugh.) You understand all that? Hally: (Turning a page.) No. And I don’t intend to try. Sam: So what happens when the exams come? Hally: Failing a maths exam isn’t the end of the world, Sam. How many times have I told you that examination results don’t measure intelligence? Sam:I would say about as many times as you’ve failed one of them. Hally: Ha, ha, ha. Sam: (Simultaneously.) Ha, ha, ha. Speaking character’s name in capitals followed by a colon (this is sometimes in the centre of the page). Directions in italics indicating character’s movements and tone of voice Directions indicating character’s timing There is no prose, only dialogue and a limited number of essential stage directions.

3. “Master Harold” … and the Boys by Athol Fugard Hally: Naught degrees. Cheerful state of affairs! No cash and you’re freezing to death. Mathematics won’t get you out of that one. Sam: “All these quantities are called …” (Spelling the word.) … s-c-a-l … Hally: Scalars. Sam: Scalars! (Shaking his head with a laugh.) You understand all that? Hally: (Turning a page.) No. And I don’t intend to try. Sam: So what happens when the exams come? Hally: Failing a maths exam isn’t the end of the world, Sam. How many times have I told you that examination results don’t measure intelligence? Sam:I would say about as many times as you’ve failed one of them. Hally: Ha, ha, ha. Sam: (Simultaneously.) Ha, ha, ha. Speaking character’s name in capitals followed by a colon (this is sometimes in the centre of the page). Directions indicating character’s timing Directions in italics indicating character’s movements and tone of voice There is no prose, only dialogue and a limited number of essential stage directions. Excerpt from “Master Harold”… and the Boys by Athol Fugard. New York: A.A. Knopf. 1982. Reprinted by permission of the ICM Literary Agency. Copyright © 1982 by Athol Fugard.