Journey back to Victorian London with us for the fourth episode of The Importance of Being Earnest, based on the original comedy by Oscar Wilde.
Algernon has secretly managed to find out the address of Jack’s house in the country - the house where he lives with Cecily. He decides to pay Cecily a visit, pretending to be Jack’s wicked younger brother, Ernest.
While you listen to the audio, see how many examples of the past perfect continuous you can spot. Then take a look at the transcript to see them in bold.
Narrator Algernon secretly managed to find out the address of Jack’s house in the country – the house where he lives with Cecily. We now join Cecily, a pretty girl of eighteen, and her governess Miss Prism – that’s the lady who looks after her, in their garden on a summer’s day. They’re studying German grammar, but Cecily seems more interested in the flowers.
Miss Prism Cecily! Leave the flowers. Sit down and we’ll look at the German verbs.
Cecily But I really don’t like German.
Miss Prism Cecily, you know Mr Worthing wants you to improve yourself.
Cecily Dear Uncle Jack is so serious!
Miss Prism Cecily! I am surprised at you. You know the problems Mr Worthing has. You must remember how worried he is about his unfortunate young brother.
Cecily I wish Uncle Jack would let that unfortunate young man, his brother, come here sometimes. Oh, Miss Prism… Look who’s coming… It’s Reverend Chasuble.
Narrator And indeed, they hadn’t noticed the middle-aged man walking up the garden because they had been talking so energetically about Jack.
Miss Prism Reverend Chasuble! This is a pleasure.
Chasuble Oh, Miss Prism, I hope you are well?
Cecily Miss Prism has just been complaining of a headache. I think it would be good for her to have a short walk with you in the park, Reverend.
Miss Prism I haven’t mentioned anything about a headache.
Cecily No, dear Miss Prism, I know that, but I thought you had been looking like you might get one.
Chasuble Mr Worthing, I suppose, has not returned from London yet?
Miss Prism He won’t be back until Monday afternoon.
Chasuble Ah yes, he likes spending Sunday in London. He’s not one of those people who spend all their time enjoying themselves, not like that young man his brother.
Miss Prism I think, dear Reverend, I will have a walk with you. I find I have a headache after all, and a walk might do it good.
Chasuble With pleasure, Miss Prism.
Miss Prism Cecily, you can read your economics book while I’m gone.
Narrator So Miss Prism and Dr Chasuble wander off, leaving Cecily alone. She immediately shuts her book on economics and is about to get up when Merriman, the butler, arrives.
Merriman Mr Ernest Worthing has just driven over from the station.
Cecily Uncle Jack’s brother! Did you tell him Mr Worthing was in London?
Merriman Yes, Miss. He seemed very disappointed. He had been hoping to find Mr Worthing at home and had been planning to stay the night. I mentioned that you and Miss Prism were in the garden. He said he would like to talk to you for a moment.
Cecily Ask him to come here.
Merriman Yes, Miss.
Cecily I have never met a really wicked person before.
Narrator Algernon enters looking stylish and confident.
Algernon You are my little cousin Cecily, I’m sure.
Cecily You are mistaken. I am not little. In fact, I believe I am unusually tall for my age.
Algernon Oh, I’m sorry…
Cecily But I am your cousin Cecily. You are Uncle Jack’s brother, my cousin Ernest, my wicked cousin Ernest.
Algernon Oh! I’m not really wicked at all, cousin Cecily.
Cecily If you aren’t, then you have been deceiving us all. I hope you haven’t been leading a double life, pretending to be wicked and being really good all the time.
Algernon Oh! Of course I have been rather reckless.
Cecily I am glad to hear it.
Algernon In fact, now you mention it, I’ve been very bad in my own small way.
Cecily I don’t think you should be so proud of that, though I am sure it has been very pleasant.
Algernon It is much pleasanter being here with you.
Cecily I can’t understand why you are here at all. Uncle Jack isn’t back until Monday afternoon.
Algernon How disappointing! I have to go back to London early on Monday morning.
Cecily Well, I think you should wait till Uncle Jack arrives. I know he wants to speak to you about you emigrating.
Algernon About me what?
Cecily You emigrating. He’s gone to London to buy you some clothes.
Algernon I’m not happy about Jack buying my clothes. I don’t like his style of ties at all.
Cecily I don’t think you’ll need ties. Uncle Jack is sending you to Australia.
Algernon Australia! I’d sooner die.
Cecily Well, he said at dinner on Wednesday night, that you would have to choose between this world, the next world, and Australia.
Algernon Oh, well! I haven’t heard very good things about Australia or the next world. This world is good enough for me, cousin Cecily.
Cecily Yes, but are you good enough for it?
Algernon I’m afraid I’m not. That is why you have to reform me, cousin Cecily.
Cecily I’m sorry, I don’t have time this morning.
Algernon Well, will you have time to reform me this afternoon?
Cecily I think you should try.
Algernon I will, but I will need a little something to eat first. I’m a little hungry.
Cecily How thoughtless of me! Won’t you come in for something to eat?
Algernon Thank you. Could I have one of your flowers first?
Cecily Certainly.
Algernon I’d like a pink rose.
Cecily Why?
Algernon Because you are like a pink rose, cousin Cecily.
Cecily I don’t think it can be right for you to talk to me like that. Miss Prism never says such things to me.
Algernon Then Miss Prism is a short-sighted old lady. You are the prettiest girl I ever saw.
Narrator Algernon and Cecily go up to the house. Miss Prism and Reverend Chasuble, who had been walking and discussing the advantages of marriage for single men, also return home. But someone else is now walking up the garden path. It’s Jack! He’s back early. He’s dressed in black and looking very serious.
Miss Prism Mr Worthing! This is indeed a surprise. We thought you were coming back on Monday!
Chasuble Dear Mr Worthing, I hope this black suit does not mean some terrible news?
Jack My brother.
Miss Prism Spending lots of money and running up debts again?
Chasuble Still leading his life of pleasure?
Jack Dead!
Chasuble Your brother Ernest, dead?
Jack Quite dead.
Vocabulary
governess an old-fashione word for a woman who lives with a family and teaches the children
unfortunate describing someone who is in an embarrassing or unpleasant situation
Reverend form of address to a Christian priest
butler the most important male servant in a house
wicked morally bad
deceiving (to deceive) tricking people into believing something to be true when it isn’t
reckless acting without thinking of the possible effects of your actions
emigrating (to emigrate) leaving one country to go and live in another
reform to change someone’s behaviour so they are a better person
debt money that one person or organisation owes to another person or organisation
Credits
Miss Prism: Catherine Chapman
Miss Cecily Cardew: Alice Brown
Reverend Chasuble: Rob Carter
Merriman: Michael Harrison
Algernon Moncreiff: Darren Benedict
Jack Worthing: Tim Gibson
Narrator: Finn Aberdein
Original play written by: Oscar Wilde
Adaptation by: Sue Mushin
Illustrator: Magdolna Terray
ELT consultant: Catherine Chapman
Producer: Finn Aberdein