Synopsis
In a resort-style fishing lodge in rural Georgia, the plot revolves around the visit of two guests, Englishmen Charlie Baker and Staff Sergeant Froggy LeSueur. Naturally shy, Charlie is also depressed because his beloved wife may be dying. He tells Froggy, "I should have stayed with Mary, at the hospital. When a man's wife is dying, he belongs with her, not – not in Georgia." He begs Froggy, "Please. Try to understand. I can't—talk to anyone now."
To help his friend, Froggy tells Betty Meeks, who owns the lodge, that Charlie is the native of an exotic country who does not understand a word of English. Betty, who has never traveled, is delighted to cater for a stranger who is "as foreign as the day is long." At first, Charlie is appalled by Froggy's fabrication and protests that he can't pretend, only to be talked into it.
At once, though, Charlie overhears a private and emotional conversation (Catherine discovers she is pregnant), and decides he had better perpetuate the ruse.
Before long, Charlie finds himself privy to assorted secrets and scandals freely discussed in front of him by the other visitors. These include spoiled but introspective heiress and Southern belle Catherine Simms and the man to whom she is somewhat reluctantly engaged, the Reverend David Lee, a seemingly good-natured preacher with a dark side. Her younger brother, Ellard, a somewhat "slow" boy (often thought of as a young Forrest Gump) is a simpleton who tries to "teach" Charlie how to speak English. Owen Musser, the racist county property inspector, plans to oust Betty and convert the lodge into a meeting place for the Ku Klux Klan. Catherine appears at first to be hysterical and sarcastic, but later proves to be brave and loving.
While Act I establishes the various characters, from Charlie's sweetness and apparent naivety to David Lee's duplicity, Act II swings into action and suspense.
When Charlie overhears David and Owen plotting the takeover by declaring the lodge buildings condemned, he spends the weekend pretending to learn a great deal of English very rapidly under the tutelage of Ellard. (He also pretends to speak his "native" language, with much repetition of the phrase "blasny, blasny" and other words that sound vaguely Russian.) Owen finds Charlie alone and threatens him, saying that when the Ku Klux Klan is in power, they will kill all the foreigners. Charlie cheerfully babbles some words, then sets out to frighten Owen.
Panicked, Owen yells for the others. He exclaims that Charlie was speaking "weird zombie-talk" and that "rays" were coming from his eyes. David tries to calm him and to ask Charlie some questions about his land and language, but Charlie, using broken English and pretending only friendliness, taunts them. Owen furiously exits, promising to bring the Klan to deal with them all. David follows him, ordering Catherine not to call the police. Instead, Catherine calls Froggy's office and leaves a message, begging him for help; then the electricity is cut, and night falls. Through the window they see headlights and torches as some Klan members approach. Charlie devises a plan, but Ellard is almost paralyzed with fear. Charlie encourages him by saying that Ellard looks like the king of his country – "King Buddy."
Charlie sends Catherine and Ellard upstairs, and he and Betty face five men wearing sheets over their heads. Owen says that they will kill Charlie and destroy the house with the munitions in the van outside, and that Betty, Catherine and Ellard will disappear. Charlie, recalling the science fiction he has read, alarms Owen with more "Hoodoo talk".
With the help of the trap-door to the cellar, Charlie appears to disintegrate a Klansman, and the rest run away in terror. David is unmasked, confesses all to Catherine (he was marrying her for her money), but exclaims that he can start again from scratch as long as he has the weapons in the van. Froggy appears in the doorway, arms his detonator and blows up the van. With the threat vanquished, the protagonists celebrate. Froggy takes Charlie aside to give him a telegram, saying that perhaps Charlie can remain at the lodge a little longer. Betty expects that he has received news of his wife's death. Froggy explains, "No. It was from 'is wife. No. She recovered completely. Ran off with a petrologist." Catherine urges Charlie to stay with them, and he agrees.
((As always, loves, here is where you can add your own experiences of this production. Respect the setting, and have fun, whatever you do!))