If I were you

Q.1 The intruder is boastful. He threatens Gerrard, “I’ll make you crawl” Was
he able to carry out his threat? What happened to him?
Ans. The intruder, armed with a revolver, initially threatens Gerrard and boasts
about his plans. However, rather than making Gerrard "crawl," the intruder's
plan backfires. Gerrard remains calm and engages the intruder in conversation,
leading him to reveal more about himself.
The intruder, who is actually a criminal on the run, ends up being tricked by
Gerrard. Gerrard's ruse makes the intruder believe he is dealing with another
criminal. Gerrard cleverly persuades him to look into a cupboard, claiming it’s
an escape route. Once the intruder is inside, Gerrard locks him in and calls the
police. Thus, the intruder’s boastful threat is never realized, and he is captured.
Q.2 Gerrard says, “In most melodramas, the villain is foolish enough to delay his
killing long enough to be frustrated. Does this statement holds good for the play
‘If I Were You’?
Ans. The playwright of most melodramas wants the hero to be successful. The
play's villain wishes to assassinate the hero. He, on the other hand, came across
as a fool. He keeps putting off the execution for one reason or another. In the end,
his machinations are foiled, and the hero triumphs over him. The same can be
said for this play.
The intruder is the villain in this drama. He bears a striking resemblance to
Gerrard. As a result, he wishes to assassinate Gerrard and live under his name.
He's amassed a wealth of information on Gerard. He is unaware, however, that
Gerrard is a theatre actress. He has a good acting ability. When Gerrard sees the
intruder, he makes a happy face. He converses with him in a courteous manner.
He manipulates the invader into talking about himself. As a result, he continues
to postpone the execution. This allows Gerrard enough time to devise a strategy
to eliminate him. Finally, the intruder's attempt to kill Gerrard is foiled, and he
is imprisoned in a cupboard.
Q.3. Bring out Gerrard’s intelligence, the presence of mind and sense of humour.
How did these traits help him outwit the intruder?
Ans. Gerrard, being a clever man, showed no signs of being alarmed when he
saw the gun-wielding criminal. He realised that his calm demeanour and
presence of mind would not only assist him in managing the problem, but would
also assist in frightening the intruder, who, like him, must be fearful.
Gerrard quickly concocted a storey about his criminal past, keeping the
environment light and alive with his sense of humour and amusing remarks. He
persuaded the invader that the police would arrive at any moment to apprehend
them, and that they needed to flee immediately.
He tricked him into peeping into a cupboard, claiming it was an escape route.
Gerrard pushed the intruder into the cupboard and knocked the revolver out of
his hand as he leaned forward to study it. He then shut and locked the door
behind him. As a result, his wit, humour, and mental foresight turned the tables
on the intruder.
Q.4 The intruder’s plan was clever but not feasible. Do you agree? Give reasons
in support of your answer.
Ans. The intruder's plan to assassinate Gerrard and assume his identity
appeared to be very sophisticated on the surface. However, carrying it out was
not a viable option.
First and foremost, if Gerrard had been killed, the intruder would have had
issues disposing of his body, and there is a likelihood that his crime would have
been discovered and he would have been apprehended.
If he had been able to deal with this aspect of the play, his theatre clients'
concerns would have grown as a result of his inability to reach Gerrard. They
would have definitely sought police assistance in this matter, and the invader
would have been apprehended soon.
As a result, the intruder's plan, however wonderful it seemed to him, was not
practical. It appeared straightforward and fool-proof in theory, but in practise, it
was far too sophisticated to be carried out properly.
Q.5 How did Gerrard react to find the intruder in his room?
Ans: Gerrard was shocked and scared to find an armed stranger in his cottage.
Despite his fear, he attempted to hide his emotions and acted as if he welcomed
the intruder. The intruder ordered Gerrard to keep his hands up, stay calm, and
answer questions about his personal life.
Q.6. What did Gerrard tell the intruder about his childhood?
Ans: Gerrard revealed to the intruder that he was kidnapped by gypsies during
his childhood.
Q.7. What was Gerrard’s Christian name?
Ans: Gerrard's Christian name is Vincent Charles.

Q.8 What did the intruder tell Gerrard about his specialty?
Ans: The intruder revealed to Gerrard that his speciality was jewel robbery. He
expressed a particular interest in Gerrard's car, describing it as a dandy bus.

Q.9 What did the intruder want to know of Gerrard?