Just What is going on?
You might not want to read this page as it gives away much, though not all, of what happens in the play. But if you do read it, no one will ever know and you'll be able to sound ever so knowledgeable.
Scene 1
Septimus is Thomasina's tutor. During one of their lessons Septimus finds out that he has been seen with Ezra Chater’s wife. So Chater challenges Septimus to a duel. Septimus manages to get out of it by flattering Chater. Lady Croom complains about the changes Noakes has made to her garden.
Scene 2
Bernard, an academic, arrives at Sidley Park wanting to talk to Hannah, an author. Bernard wants to find out about Lord Byron. He won’t give his real name because he wrote a scathing review of Hannah’s last book. Chloe walks in whilst they are talking and lets out who he really is. Bernard wants to find out if Byron fought a duel with Chater, killed him and had to flee the country. Bernard kisses Hannah to say thank you. Chloe gets the wrong impression. Gus walks in and gives Hannah an apple as a sign of affection.
Scene 3
Thomasina is having a Latin lesson. Septimus and she become drawn into a discussion of a mathematical idea. Thomasina works out that Septimus isn’t interested though. They end up falling out and Thomasina leaves crying. Brice and Chater enter; Chater has discovered that Septimus was the one who wrote a critical review of his last book, so wants to fight a duel with him again. Lady Croom enters and sees Septimus’s copy of ‘The Couch of Eros’, says he should lend it to Lord Byron and takes it; inside it are Septimus’s letters and notes. When Lady Croom leaves Septimus becomes angry and says he wants to fight a duel with Brice and Chater.
Scene 4
Hannah and Valentine are talking about Thomasina’s mathematical ideas. Valentine doesn’t believe she could have worked out such advanced ideas. Bernard comes in and says he’s got evidence to prove that ‘Byron killed Chater and fled.’ Hannah doesn’t believe him, but Bernard doesn’t care. Early the next morning, you hear a distant pistol shot.
Scene 5
Bernard is reading out his lecture to Chloe, Valentine, Hannah and Gus. Hannah still doesn’t think that Bernard has got all the evidence to prove his theory. She is more interested in who the Sidley Park hermit is. Valentine and Bernard start arguing and Bernard decides to leave. Before he leaves he admits to seducing Chloe and attempts to seduce Hannah, but then gives her information about the hermit. Valentine discovers that the hermit was struggling to work out the second law of thermodynamics.
Scene 6
Septimus is out shooting early in the morning. He brings back a rabbit for Thomasina. He didn’t fight the duel with Brice and Chater because Lady Croom discovered Mrs Chater leaving Lord Byron’s room. As a consequence she ordered Captain Brice, the Chaters and Lord Byron to leave. She then asks Septimus to come to her room later that evening.
Scene 7
That would be telling. You'll just have to come to the performances to find out what happens in this, the final scene.