The 39 Steps Play Guide For AQA GCSE Drama

COMPONENT 1 UNDERSTANDING DRAMA 24 Plot: the sequence of the play’s main events 4 Scene 1: Hannay’s Apartment. London. August 1935 A restless Richard Hannay decides to go to the theatre. 4 Scene 2: Cockney Music Hall. London • Hannay watches a ‘Mr. Memory’ show at a theatre. • A beautiful woman, Annabella Schmidt, sits next to him. • Annabella takes out a gun and shoots into the air. • Annabella asks Hannay to take her home with him. 4 Scene 3: Hannay’s Flat. Night • Annabella informs Hannay that she is being pursued by a secret agent and that two men are waiting outside his flat. • She explains that top-secret information will be delivered to a foreign country. • She warns Hannay of a man missing the top of his little finger and says she must visit an Englishman who lives at Alt-na-Shellach in Scotland. 4 Scene 4: Hannay’s Flat. Very Late • Annabella dies in Hannay’s flat; her last words being ‘Alt-na-Shellach.’ • Hannay covers her body and grabs a map. 4 Scene 5: Lobby. Morning • Hannay borrows a cap and coat from a milkman in order to escape the two waiting men. 4 Scene 6: Hannay’s Flat. Morning • Mrs Higgins, Hannay’s charlady , discovers Annabella’s body. 4 Scene 7: Edinburgh Train. Day • Hannay travels on the train to Edinburgh with two underwear salesmen. 4 Scene 8: Edinburgh Station. Day • Salesman 2 reads out the newspaper report of a murder in Hannay’s flat. • A policeman asks the salesmen to keep their eyes peeled for anything suspicious. 4 Scene 9: Highland Train. Day • The police are searching the train for Hannay, who is suspected of Annabella’s murder. • To escape the police, Hannay bursts into Pamela’s carriage and kisses her. • When the police leave, Hannay asks Pamela to help him. • The policemen return and Pamela reveals Hannay. • Hannay leaps out and inches along the outside of the train. • A policeman pulls the communication cord, but Hannay flies out of their grasp. 4 Scene 10: Forth Bridge. Night • Hannay is hanging onto the bridge. • When the police approach, he drops into the water below. 4 Scene 11: On the Moors • As Hannay runs across the moors, a radio announcer is heard describing him. 4 Scene 12: Crofter’s Cottage. Outside • Hannay approaches a Crofter, looking for Alt-na-Shellach. • The Crofter introduces his young wife, Margaret. • He insists that Hannay stay the night at the cottage in order to get money from him. 4 Scene 13: Crofter’s Cottage • While the shy Margaret lays the table, Hannay tells her about London. They look at each other with longing. The Crofter interrupts their conversation. • Hannay sees that the Crofter has a newspaper with his photograph in it. Margaret notices the photograph. • Through a window, the Crofter spies on Margaret and Hannay in earnest conversation. 4 Scene 14: Crofter’s Cottage. Midnight • Margaret wakes Hannay to tell him the police are coming. • The Crofter catches Margaret and Hannay together and accuses them of making love. • Hannay tells the Crofter he is on the run from the police and gives him money to hide him. The Crofter takes the money but double-crosses Hannay. • Margaret gives Hannay her husband’s coat and helps him to escape. Before he leaves, they kiss passionately. 4 Scene 15: Scottish Moors. Dawn • Hannay runs across the moors, chased by policemen and dogs. • A radio announcer describes the pursuit. • Two pilots spot Hannay and shoot at him, but their plane crashes. • Hannay arrives at the door of Alt-na-Shellach. 4 Scene 16: Alt-na-Shellach • Hannay tells Mrs Jordan that he is a friend of Annabella. 4 Scene 17: Alt-na-Shellach. Interior • Mrs Jordan leads Hannay through the house, including showing him the party going on. • She leaves him in the study to await the Professor. 4 Scene 18: The Professor’s Study • Hannay tells the Professor about Annabella’s death and that she wanted to tell him a secret. • Hannay says that the foreign agent she feared was missing the top of a little finger. • The Professor shows his little finger and pulls a gun on Hannay, but Mrs Jordan enters and takes it from him. • The Professor invites Hannay to join him. Hannay pretends to consider it, but then asks what the Thirty-Nine Steps are. • The Professor shoots Hannay. KEY TERM Charlady: A cleaning woman. Act 1