Chapter 11: If I Were You

Introduction: A Thrilling Encounter

"If I Were You" is a captivating one-act play by Douglas James. It revolves around Gerrard, a playwright who lives alone, and an Intruder, a criminal on the run. The play is a tense cat-and-mouse game where the Intruder tries to impersonate Gerrard to escape the law, but Gerrard, through his quick wit and presence of mind, turns the tables on him. The play explores themes of identity, deception, cunning, and the importance of quick thinking under pressure.

Illustration of two men, one holding a gun, in a rustic cabin, representing Gerrard and the Intruder.

The Plot: A Battle of Wits

The play opens in Gerrard's isolated cottage. Gerrard is preparing to leave for a rehearsal when an Intruder enters, surprising him with a revolver. The Intruder reveals his plan: he intends to kill Gerrard and assume his identity to escape the police. He believes Gerrard's secluded life and similar build make him an ideal target for this identity swap. The Intruder is a confident, self-assured criminal who thinks he has outsmarted Gerrard.

Gerrard, however, remains remarkably calm and composed. He uses his intelligence and theatrical background to construct a convincing, albeit false, story. He pretends to be a criminal himself, also on the run, who has just committed a murder. He tells the Intruder that the police are after him, and he was about to escape when the Intruder arrived. To make his story believable, he points to a "prop" trunk where he claims he stores his disguise and getaway items.

The Climax: The Trick and the Trap

The climax occurs when Gerrard persuades the Intruder to follow him towards a door, claiming it leads to a safer escape route (the garage). As the Intruder hesitantly steps through, Gerrard shoves him into a cupboard, which he then locks. It is revealed that the "garage" door was actually the door to a small cupboard, and Gerrard's entire story about being a criminal was a fabrication to trick the Intruder. The arrival of a police call further solidifies Gerrard's innocence and quick thinking.

The play ends with Gerrard calling the police, calmly reporting the capture of the criminal, and preparing to resume his normal life, having cleverly outwitted his assailant. It's a testament to the power of intellect over brute force.

Thinking About the Text (Questions & Answers)

I. Answer these questions in a few words or a couple of sentences each.

  1. Who is Gerrard? What is his profession?

    Gerrard is a playwright who lives alone in a secluded cottage.

  2. Who is the Intruder and what is his intention?

    The Intruder is a criminal who intends to kill Gerrard and assume his identity to escape from the police.

  3. What characteristics of Gerrard impress you the most?

    Gerrard's calm demeanor, quick wit, presence of mind, and ability to think on his feet are most impressive.

  4. Why did the Intruder choose Gerrard as his victim?

    The Intruder chose Gerrard because he thought Gerrard looked like him and lived in a secluded place, which would make an identity swap easy and unnoticed.

  5. What 'prop' did Gerrard use to trick the Intruder?

    Gerrard used a cupboard, disguised as an exit to the garage, as his 'prop' to trick the Intruder.

  6. What was the Intruder’s plan of escape after assuming Gerrard’s identity?

    The Intruder planned to live as Gerrard in the secluded cottage, thus avoiding detection by the police who were after him for a murder he had committed.

II. Answer each of these questions in a short paragraph (about 30 words).

  1. What information did the Intruder have about Gerrard?

    The Intruder knew Gerrard lived alone in a secluded cottage, had a similar physical build, seemed mysterious, and left and arrived at odd hours.

  2. How did Gerrard manage to keep his cool when faced with the Intruder?

    Gerrard kept his cool by assessing the situation calmly and immediately thinking of a plan to outwit the Intruder, using his sharp intellect and improvisational skills.

  3. What was the false story Gerrard fabricated to trick the Intruder?

    Gerrard fabricated a story that he himself was a criminal, a murderer, who was also on the run and about to escape when the Intruder arrived.

  4. What does the phrase "If I were you" imply in the context of the play?

    The phrase implies the Intruder's desire to take Gerrard's place. Later, Gerrard uses it ironically to advise the Intruder on how to escape the police, subtly trapping him.

III. Answer each of these questions in two or three paragraphs (100–150 words).

  1. How did Gerrard outwit the Intruder? Explain with examples from the play.

    Gerrard outwitted the Intruder through his remarkable presence of mind, quick thinking, and ability to improvise a convincing story. When the armed Intruder threatened to kill him and steal his identity, Gerrard didn't panic. Instead, he calmly listened to the Intruder's plan and then began to weave a counter-narrative, pretending to be a fellow criminal on the run.

    He convinced the Intruder that the police were already pursuing Gerrard for a recent murder and that Gerrard himself was planning an escape. He used details from his own life, like the car and his theatrical props, to lend credibility to his fabricated story. The most crucial part of his deception was pointing to a cupboard door, claiming it was a secret exit to the garage. He tricked the Intruder into believing that escaping through this door was their only option. As the Intruder stepped in, Gerrard swiftly pushed him inside and locked him up, demonstrating how intellect and cunning can triumph over brute force and simple-minded villainy.

  2. Discuss the importance of quick thinking and presence of mind as highlighted in the play.

    The play "If I Were You" powerfully highlights the critical importance of quick thinking and presence of mind, especially in high-pressure situations. Gerrard, faced with a life-threatening situation, does not succumb to fear or panic. Instead, his ability to analyze the Intruder's motives and limitations instantly allows him to devise a plan.

    His quick thinking enables him to construct a plausible, though false, narrative that preys on the Intruder's own desperation and limited understanding of Gerrard's real life. He rapidly invents details about his own supposed criminal past and an imminent police pursuit, which are convincing enough to make the Intruder believe him. Furthermore, his presence of mind allows him to act decisively when the opportunity arises, pushing the Intruder into the cupboard. This intelligent and immediate response, rather than any physical prowess, saves his life and leads to the capture of the criminal, proving that intellectual agility can be a far more potent weapon than a gun.

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