Detailed summary, character analysis, and themes from Douglas James' suspenseful one-act play.
Author: Douglas James
Genre: Mystery / Thriller / One-act Play
"If I Were You" is a suspenseful play about a playwright named Gerrard who outwits an Intruder. The Intruder, a criminal on the run, breaks into Gerrard's cottage with the intention of killing him and stealing his identity to evade the police.
The play opens with Gerrard packing his bag in his lonely cottage in the wilds of Essex. Suddenly, a man (the Intruder) enters silently, holding a revolver. He is dressed similarly to Gerrard.
Instead of panicking, Gerrard remains remarkably calm. He engages the Intruder in conversation, displaying his wit and presence of mind.
• He jokes about the Intruder's "melodramatic" entrance.
• He tries to distract the Intruder by asking about his background.
• He realizes the Intruder's plan and quickly formulates a counter-plan.
Gerrard spins a false story to convince the Intruder that killing him would be a mistake.
Gerrard lies that he is also a criminal on the run. He claims:
• He had to kill someone in the past.
• The police are after him ("The game is up").
• He is currently packing his bag to escape because one of his men has been caught.
• He expects the police to arrive any minute.
The Intruder hesitates, unsure if Gerrard is telling the truth. Gerrard urges him to hurry and escape with him in his car.
| Feature | Gerrard | The Intruder |
|---|---|---|
| Personality | Intelligent, calm, witty, composed, quick-thinking. | Over-confident, boastful, cruel, villainous but gullible. |
| Situation | A playwright living a quiet life. | A criminal wanted for murder. |
| Strategy | Uses words and psychology to manipulate. | Relies on brute force and a gun. |
| Outcome | Wins by using his brain. | Loses due to foolishness and hesitation. |
Relaxed and calm; not displaying anxiety
Gerrard's attitude towards the gun
Exaggerated and emotional
Gerrard's description of the Intruder
Fashionable; stylish
Intruder comments on the bus
Done without good reason; uncalled for
"Gratuitous double" - stealing identity
Exaggerated behavior; a dramatic entertainment
Used to describe the disguise scene
Q: Why did the Intruder break into Gerrard's cottage?
A: The Intruder was a criminal who had killed a policeman. He noticed that he looked like Gerrard and that Gerrard lived a lonely life. He planned to kill Gerrard and take on his identity to live peacefully without fear of arrest.
Q: "At last a sympathetic audience." Who says this and why?
A: Gerrard says this sarcastically to the Intruder. The Intruder had just asked him to talk about himself. Gerrard pretends to be happy that someone is finally interested in listening to his life story, though he is actually stalling for time.
Q: How does Gerrard outwit the Intruder? What lesson does this teach us?
Answer: Gerrard outwits the Intruder through sheer presence of mind and quick thinking. Instead of panicking at the sight of the gun, he engages the Intruder in conversation to understand his motive. Once he realizes the Intruder plans to steal his identity, he concocts a story that he is also a criminal on the run. He convinces the Intruder that the police are arriving and they must escape together. He lures the Intruder into a cupboard (disguised as a garage door), locks him in, and calls the police.
This teaches us that panic paralyzes, but calmness saves. In a crisis, using one's intelligence is far more effective than physical strength or fear.