7 std MUF

Summary

In 'My Unknown Friend' by Stephen Leacock, the protagonist encounters a stranger who mistakes him for an old acquaintance. The stranger engages in conversation, discussing mutual friends and the narrator's supposed grandmother's death. The narrator plays along, not correcting the mistake. When the stranger hastily exits the train, he leaves behind a suitcase, which the narrator assumes contains money. However, another man soon claims the suitcase, revealing the stranger's ruse. The narrator is left reflecting on the folly of his own cleverness.

Takeaways

• 🤝 The protagonist encounters a stranger who acts familiar, initiating a conversation with a warm greeting.
• 🧳 The stranger carries a heavy suitcase, which he places on the seat, indicating he might be traveling with valuables.
• 😅 The protagonist pretends to recognize the stranger to avoid awkwardness, despite not recalling who he is.
• 🕒 The conversation reveals they haven't met in a long time, suggesting a past connection that has faded.
• 👴 The mention of 'old gang' members like Billy and Pete indicates they were once part of a close-knit group.
• 🏠 The stranger shares updates about their mutual acquaintances, including one who is ranching and another who has married.
• 😢 The protagonist is led to believe someone close to him has died, only to realize it was a misunderstanding about his grandmother.
• 🚄 The stranger hastily exits the train after a mix-up, leaving his suitcase behind in his rush.
• 💸 The protagonist offers the stranger money for his missed stop, which the stranger accepts and leaves the train with.
• 😤 The protagonist is left with the stranger's suitcase, only for another man to claim it, realizing he's been duped.
• 😱 The protagonist reflects on the situation, feeling dismayed at being outsmarted and losing his money.

Q & A

Who is the main character interacting with when he steps into the compartment?

The main character is interacting with an unknown friend who carries a 50 suitcase.

How does the main character react when he doesn't recognize the man?

The main character maintains his presence of mind and engages in conversation without revealing that he doesn't recognize the man.

What does the unknown friend say when he first sees the main character?

The unknown friend says, 'Well, well,' and comments on how the main character hasn't changed.

What does the main character repeat when the unknown friend mentions it's been a long time since they met?

The main character repeats 'a long time' to maintain the conversation.

Who is 'Billy' mentioned in the conversation?

'Billy' is a member of the 'old gang' and is said to be ranching out in Montana.

What is the condition of 'Old Pete' according to the unknown friend?

Old Pete is mentioned to be quite changed, and it is implied that he is married.

What does the unknown friend express sympathy for?

The unknown friend expresses sympathy for the main character's loss, which is later revealed to be the death of his grandmother.

How does the main character react when he learns of his supposed 'loss'?

The main character is initially confused but then realizes it's about his grandmother's death and plays along.

Why does the unknown friend get off the train suddenly?

The unknown friend realizes he has missed his stop and needs to get off the train immediately.

What does the main character do when the unknown friend struggles with the suitcase lock?

The main character offers him money instead of bothering with the lock.

What happens to the 50-dollar suitcase left behind by the unknown friend?

Another man, who is not the main character's friend, claims the suitcase as his own and takes it away.

What is the main character's final realization about the situation?

The main character realizes he has been tricked and that the conversation was an act to distract him and steal his money.

Outlines

00:00

🤔 Encounter with a Familiar Stranger

The narrator describes an unexpected encounter with a man who seems to know him well but whom he does not recognize. The man enters the compartment, greets the narrator warmly, and engages in conversation. Despite not recalling the man, the narrator maintains his composure and participates in the dialogue. They discuss mutual acquaintances, including a 'Billy' who is ranching in Montana and a 'Pete' who has gotten married. The conversation takes a turn when the man expresses condolences for the narrator's supposed loss, which turns out to be the death of the narrator's grandmother. The man becomes flustered when he realizes he has missed his stop and, in his haste to disembark, leaves behind a suitcase containing fifty dollars. The narrator reflects on the irony of the situation, having unknowingly engaged in conversation about a deceased grandmother and lost money, all while being deceived by a stranger.

Keywords

💡Compartment

A compartment is a separate section or division of a larger space, often used to describe a private area in a train. In the script, it refers to the personal space where the protagonist and the stranger interact. The compartment symbolizes a confined space where the story unfolds, highlighting the unexpected encounter between two individuals.

💡Presence of Mind

Presence of mind refers to the ability to remain calm and collected in challenging or unexpected situations. The protagonist demonstrates this trait when he doesn't recognize the stranger but pretends to know him to avoid awkwardness. This concept is central to the theme of social interaction and the masks people wear in society.

💡Old Gang

The term 'old gang' typically refers to a group of friends from the past. In the script, it is used to evoke nostalgia and a sense of camaraderie. The mention of 'Billy' and 'old Pete' helps to establish the protagonist's social history and the passage of time since their interactions.

💡Ranching

Ranching is the practice of raising livestock, often on a large scale. When the stranger mentions that 'Billy is ranching out in Montana,' it sets a scene of a rugged, rural life, contrasting with the urban setting of the train and the protagonist's current situation.

💡Marriage

Marriage is a legally or formally recognized union of two people. The stranger's comment about 'old Pete's marriage' serves to show change over time and the divergent paths that friends can take. It also underscores the theme of life transitions and the impact of time.

💡Death

Death is the end of life. The protagonist's misunderstanding about the death of his grandmother leads to a humorous yet poignant moment. It reflects on the inevitability of death and how it can be a part of everyday conversation, even in the midst of misunderstandings.

💡Junction

A junction is a place where two or more things meet or join together, often used in the context of train tracks. The stranger's realization that he has missed his stop at 'the junction' creates a turning point in the story, leading to a series of actions that reveal his true intentions.

💡Porter

A porter is a person who carries or moves luggage, often at a hotel or train station. The porter's role in the script is to provide a sense of urgency and movement, as his calls for 'all aboard' and the subsequent actions of the characters create a sense of time pressure.

💡Money

Money is a medium of exchange in the form of coins and banknotes. The protagonist's roll of money is a symbol of trust and generosity when he offers it to the stranger. However, it also becomes a plot device that leads to the protagonist's realization of the stranger's deceit.

💡Recognition

Recognition refers to the act of identifying or acknowledging someone or something previously known. The second man's 'beaming with recognition' upon seeing the suitcase, not the protagonist, reveals a twist in the story. It highlights the theme of mistaken identity and the protagonist's dawning awareness of the stranger's ruse.

💡Casual Stranger

A casual stranger is someone one meets by chance without any prior acquaintance. The protagonist's interaction with the stranger in the train compartment is a central theme of the story. It explores the complexities of human interaction and the potential for misunderstandings or deception in such encounters.

Highlights

The protagonist encounters an unknown friend who mistakes him for someone else.

The unknown friend carries a heavy suitcase into the compartment.

The friend greets the protagonist warmly, assuming they are old acquaintances.

The protagonist plays along, not wanting to admit he doesn't recognize the man.

They discuss old friends, including 'Billy' and 'Pete', and their current whereabouts.

The conversation shifts to the supposed death of the protagonist's grandmother.

The protagonist humorously tries to guess who has died, playing along with the conversation.

The friend expresses condolences for the protagonist's supposed loss.

The protagonist describes the supposed death in a humorously exaggerated manner.

The friend becomes flustered when he realizes he has missed his stop.

The friend struggles with the suitcase lock, trying to retrieve his money.

The protagonist offers money to the friend, who hastily exits the train.

The friend leaves behind the suitcase, which the protagonist initially thinks is a mistake.

A stranger enters the compartment, claiming the suitcase as his own.

The protagonist realizes he has been tricked, as the stranger takes the suitcase.

The protagonist reflects on the conversation, realizing the stranger was part of the scam.

The protagonist vows to be less clever when talking to strangers in the future.

Transcripts

my unknown friend

by stephen leecock

he stepped into my compartment he

carried a 50 suitcase

that he put down on the seat then he saw

me

well well he said well well

i repeat it who would have thought of

seeing you

he said shaking hands eagerly you

haven't changed a bit

neither have you said i and all the time

i was wondering who he was i couldn't

recall him at all

but when a name or face escapes me i

never lose my presence of mind

i know how to deal with the situation my

friend

sat down it's a long time since we met

he said a long time i repeated

i sometimes wonder where the old gang

are gone to

he said say i said where's billy

this is a safe line every old gang has a

billy in it

billy is ranching out in montana said my

friend

and where's pete i said there's always a

beat too

old pete's quite changed answered the

man

why pete's married i started to laugh

too

i meant to write to you said my friend

when i heard of your loss

i remained quiet what had i lost

yes the man went on death is always sad

death oh that was it was it i almost

hiccuped with joy that was easy one has

only to sit quiet and wait to find out

who is dead

yes i murmured very sad strong and

bright to the last

i suppose he continued yes i said

able to sit up in bed and smoke within a

few days of the end

he looked confused did your grandmother

my grandmother

pardon me i said i mean able to sit up

and be smoked too as i said this

the train slowed down my friend looked

quickly out of the window

his face was agitated that's the

junction he said

i have missed my stop i should have got

out at the last station

he hopped up and fumbled at the lock of

the suitcase with a bunch of keys

i'll have to wire back he gasped

whatever's the matter with this lock

my money's in the suitcase don't bother

with the lock

i said here's some money thanks he said

grab the entire roll of money out of my

hand he sprang from the train

i saw him through the window moving

toward the waiting room but

not very fast the porters were calling

all aboard

there was the clang of a bell a hiss of

steam

and the train was off idiot i thought

he's missed it and there was his fifty

dollar suitcase lying on the seat

then i heard the porter's voice again

guiding someone through the car

ah looked all through the car for it he

was saying

i left it on the seat in the car there

said the angry voice of a stranger

a well-dressed man who put his head into

the door of my compartment

then his face beamed with recognition

but it was not for me

it was for the 50 suitcase ah

there it is he cried seizing it

and carrying it off i sank back in

dismay

the old gang pete's marriage my

grandmother's death

great heavens and my money i saw it all

the other man was making talk too and

making it with a purpose

stung the next time i fall in to talk

with a casual stranger in a car

i shall not try to be quite so clever