Marginalia on Terrance Rattigan's 1948 Play The Browning Version in 2014 Screen 1

John Taplow

Andrew Crocker-Harris

Frank Hunter

Millie Crocker- Harris

Dr. Frobisher

Peter Gilbert

Mrs. Gilbert

Scene 

All scenes take place in the sitting-room of the Crocker-Harrises' rooms in a public school in the South of England, but we Americans need to remember that what's referred to as a "public" school is really a privileged school differentiated from one supported by local or state taxes.  I

It's a July evening at the end of the school year. 

Taplow, a sixteen-year-old boy (white for sure) enters.

Taplow

Sir!

I'm not going to change the names until I finish with the 2014 version of the play, when I'll do a search and replace.  As for the setting, I'm going to have it be in the offices of Andrew and Millie Crocker-Harris, both teachers in my version.  Instead of having inherited a small sum that is protected against her husband, Millie is a faculty member, too, and is perceived as more successful than Andrew.  Frank, as in the original play is a faculty member too, but has his office on a different floor.  On this floor, there is a general office area where Taplow enters and a general desk, where Taplow finds a box of chocolate.  (Later I'll decide whether to have him take one.  I don't think our ESL students would do that without their being asked.  They're not "privileged" like Taplow.)  We see him come in the main door at the back of the stage and walk forward toward the desk.  Then, in the foreground are the offices which we can see from the inside.  Taplow sees him from the closed and locked side. Shortly after he comes in, Frank comes in and finds him "playing golf" with a walking stick and instructs him on how he should be swinging.  In my version he  catches Taplow taking a piece of chocolate and teases him about that.  In both versions, Frank is the self-confident, well-liked teacher that Andrew Crocker-Harris is not.  After Taplow expresses the fear that they've made a tear in the carpet, Frank puts the stick aside and asks:

Frank

Do I know you?

I think it's likelier in the ESL world that a teacher would ask, "Can I help you?"  In my version Frank uses this to tease Taplow:

Frank

Can I help you?  Oh, but I see you're helping yourself.

Taplow

swallows chocolate

Oh, I waiting Mr. Crock-Harris.  I waiting have appointment.