Set on a stretch of rocky beach on an island off the north-west coast of Australia this one-act has two characters.
Mrs Boake, alone on an island lighthouse, recalls the death of her daughters as an Act of God. In the maudlin, sentimental simplicity of a mentally low old lady, she sings 'Abide With Me' as she reminisces. Her husband is gone to the mainland with two small pearls they have found. Parkson, a criminal, comes to frighten her into disclosing where the hoard is hidden, having heard of the pearls before Boake, inebriated, is knocked down and killed on the mainland. Her simplicity is her strength and Parkson cannot pierce her armour. She steadfastly holds to her assertion that there are no other pearls. She is shocked when he tells her of her husband's death, but refuses to leave the island with him and as he rows away she is heard singing 'Abide With Me'.
Abstract adapted fromThe Campbell Howard Annotated Index of Australian Plays 1920-1955.
