PLOT

Epifania Parerga inherited a fabulous fortune from her father along with a wise piece of advice: don’t ever marry a man who does not know how to increase the sum of 150 pounds sterling a hundredfold in three months. An early matrimonial experience, which took place without this ‘financial experiment’, ended unhappily, and Epifania, after other unfortunate romances, decides to throw herself in the Thames. The sudden contact with the cold waters of the river quickly brings her back to reason. She calls for help and Kabir, a humane, altruistic Indian doctor, who practices in the poorest sections of London, hastens to her rescue. Epifania falls in love with him, but Kabir is not the type to succumb to such temptations. He too has faced life with the benefit of a wise piece of maternal advice: don’t ever marry a woman who does not know how to live for three months on 35 shillings. The two come to an agreement: Epifania will try the test of the 35 shillings and Kabir that of the 150 pounds. But whereas the girl passes the test in full, the doctor not only is unable to increase his sum, but will soon remain penniless as a result of his generosity. Nonetheless, this does not change the fact that Epifania and Kabir are made for each other. Therefore they decide to marry despite the advice they inherited, since they are bound together by true love. (Enrico Lancia)
Story: play of the same name by George Bernard Shaw.