The Lucky Strike
Charlie Chaplin wrote this short "play in two scenes" as part of his
preparations in the fall of 1923 for the 1925 film, The Gold Rush.
Copyrighted 3 December 1923.
[page 1]
THE LUCKY STRIKE.
A play in two acts, written by Charles Chaplin.
CAST
Charlie..........
Mary.............
Bad Bill.........
The Rat..........
Locale. Alaska. First Scene - The Great Outdoors.
Act 1.
Charlie. (soliliquizing) "Oh, for my nice warm home." (looking around)
"But here I am safe." At this moment a bear starts to cross
the stage Charlie sees him and exits followed by the bear.
Scene 2
Interior of a big dance hall and bar in Alaska.
Bartenders, dancing girls, miners, etc., discovered on stage.
Charlie enters, rushes to bar.
Charlie. "Two drinks please."
Bartender "Two?"
Charlie. "Yes, two for me, and one for you, there's luck in odd numbers."
Bartender "Your health."
Charlie "Pretty good now, and yours?"
Bartender "Stranger here?"
Charlie "Yes, any excitement here?"
Bartender "Sometimes, there is supposed to be a big prizefight here to-
night, but they can't find a man to step in the ring with Bad
Bill."
Charlie "Who is Bad Bill ?"
Bartender "See that guy over there ?"
Bad Bill, a big rough tough looking individual is just at this moment
bending a horse shoe straight, and as Charlie looks at him he speaks
Bad Bill "I can lick any guy in the world" (drinks his drink.
Mary "Isn't he wonderful?"
[2]
The Lucky Strike
Page two, Act One,
Charlie (who has overheard this) "Oh I can lick him."
Mary "Look at what says it can lick Bad Bill." (Laughs loudly)
Crowd attracted by this dialogue turn and devote all their attention to
Mary and Charlie, and are openly kidding Charlie.
Bad Bill (crossing to Charlie) "Well, you think you can whip me? Well
we will fight here tonight at eight." "That will give you time
to write home and tell them to expect your body by the next
steamer."
Charlie "But what do I get if I win?"
Bad Bill "There is a purse of ten thousand dollars, and the man who wins
marries Mary here, ain't that right?"
Mary "Yes that is true."
Charlie "Mary, shake hands with your future husband."
Curtain
[3]
THE LUCKY STRIKE
written by Charles Chaplin
ACT 2.
Same as act 1 except that a temporary ring is set up in the middle of the
floor, the place is deserted except for Charlie, and Mary. It is seven
o'clock that night.
Charlie "But you do'nt love that big rough neck?"
Mary "No, but the winner of this fight gets ten thousand dollars, my
kid sister is here and isn't well, she needs a warmer climate
and Bad Bill has promised to send her home if he wins the fight,
and I marry him."
Charlie "Supposing I win."
Mary "Want you to do the same."
Charlie "Will you marry me?"
Mary "I have given my word that I will marry the winner of the fight."
Charlie "If I win I will send your little sister where you want her to go."
Mary (shyly takinghis hand) "I hope you win." runs off stage
Charlie chases after her and exits, right.
Bad Bill and The Rat enter left
Bad Bill "Did you find out anything about this guy?"
The Rat "Not a thing."
Bad Bill " He has an awful nerve to challenge me, what do youse suppose
he has on his mind."
The Rat "Oh, I think he is just a nut."
Bad Bill "I'll murder him." (ferously) during this speech Charlie sticks
his head in the door hears the speech and hurridly withdraws.
At this point off stage is heard the sound off voices and people begin
to enter on scene.
Bartender "The little guy will get killed."
Bad Bill "You said something that time."
Bartender "Where is he?"
The Rat "I haven't seen him since this after noon."
Mary enters on this speech.
Mary "He will be here, don't you worry about that."
Bad Bill "Say do you like that guy.?"
[4]
THE LUCKY STRIKE
written by Charles Chaplin
Page two. ACT Two.
Mary (evasively) "Well I don't dislkie him."
Bad Bill "Well it's five minutes of eight, where is he."
Mary "I saw him a few minutes ago, and I am sure he will be here."
Bad Bill "Well I'm not so sure."
In the course of this dialogue everybodys back is to the ring and as they
are arguing Charlie has sneaked in and is sitting in his corner saying
nothing.
Bad Bill "Well it is one minute past eight, if he doesn't sjow up in four
minutes, I win the money and the fight by default."
The Rat "That's right."
Mary "Oh, that is not fair maybe he has been detained."
Bad Bill "Well it's five minutes past eight and I ........
Charlie "And I claim the fight I have been sitting here for the last
ten minutes."
Bystander "By gum, I think he wins."
Bad Bill "Not by a darn side."
Charlie "Well you said that you won if I was not ready at five minutes
past eight."
Bad Bill "Well if you are a coward."
Mary "He is no coward."
Bad Bill "Well he is afraid to fight me."
Mary "He is not are you Charlie?"
Charlie "N----o.
Bad Bill "Alright let's go."
Charlie "Alright."
Mary "My hero."
Ensemble "Good boy, go to it, lick him etc."
[5]
THE LUCKY STRIKE
written by Charles Chaplin
Page three ACTTwo.
The action of this fight is purely comedy, and after a series of gags that
will have to be ad libbed, Charlie is victorious and knocks out Bad Bill
who is dragged out by The Rat.
Mary "I think you are wonderful."
Charlie "I did it for you."
Ensemble "Speech, speech."
Charlie "Gentlemen, I am happy to say that while I have just won this
battle, and feel very happy, this is just the start and from now
on I shall have to lose the decision as the new campion starts
to work as soon as I can get a minister, may I present the
new champion, Mary step up here.
Curtain.
The End.