The Never-Never Nest is a one-act play by Cedric Mount that satirizes the dangers of consumer debt. The play follows a young couple, Jack and Jill, who have bought everything they own on installments, including their house, car, furniture, and even their baby. They are living a lavish lifestyle, but they are also deeply in debt.
The Never – Never Nest Summary
‘The Never – Never Nest’ is a comic, one-act play written by Cedric Mount. The play tells us about the merits and demerits of buying things on instalment basis. The writer points out that the instalment system enables the low-income people to have things. On the other hand, this system makes people extravagant. They fall into the habit of borrowing which destroys them.
Jack and Jill were a young married couple. One day Aunt Jane visited them. She was pleased to see their cosy house and beautiful furniture. They were enjoying all the modern comforts. They had a radiogram, a car, a piano, a refrigerator. Aunt Jane thought that it was wonderful. She was surprised to know that they had all those things even though Jack’s salary was not very high.
Aunt Jane worried whether the cheque given by her to them for their wedding present was for two hundred pounds or two thousand pounds. She couldn’t understand how they could possess all those things. She feft that the rent for such a house must be very high. Jack replied that the house was theirs. He explained to her that they had purchased the house on instalment basis. They had to pay only ten pounds in cash and a few quarterly instalments to own the house.
Aunt Jane came to know that they had bought everything on instalment basis. Jack’s salary was only pounds a week. But, he had to pay actually to seven pounds eight and eight pence a week. When Aunt Jane asked Jack how he could pay the instalment amount, he replied that he could borrow money from the Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation for the payments. Aunt Jane was shocked to hear it.
Aunt Jane couldn’t want to stay at their house any more. Before her leaving, she gave them a cheque worth 10 pounds and asked them to pay off one of their bills and make at least one article completely theirs. When Jack went out to see Aunt Jane to the bus, Jill sent the money to Dr. Martin. But Jack had different thoughts. He wanted to pay off two instalments on the car.
Jack got angry when he heard that the cheque was sent to the doctor. Jill told him that they had to pay one more instalment and the baby would really theirs. The end of the play is ironical. The play is really a satire on the modern man’s craving for things on instalments.
Conclusion:
The Never – Never Nest play is still relevant today, as many people still fall into the trap of consumer debt. The playwright’s message is clear: it is important to live within your means and to avoid spending money you don’t have.