THE CANTERVILLE GHOST-PLAYSCRIPT(2004-5) - ACT 2

THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

PLAYSCRIPT 2004-5

ACT 2

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NARRATOR: So the Otis family came to live at Canterville Chase. They walked through the woods on a lovely July evening. (birds singing)

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VIGINIA: Listen, the birds are singing.

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CINDY: Look, there are some squirrels.

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ROBBY: I can see some rabbits.

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WASHINGTON: But the weather´s changing. Look at those dark clouds. (Sound of thunder).

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VIRGINIA: Look at those big black birds. (Horrible bird sounds)

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CINDY: Yes, it´s beginning to rain.

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ROBBY: I don´t like this English weather. American weather is much better.

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MRS OTIS: It´s all right children. The house is very near.

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WASHINGTON: Who is that lady waiting at the door? She looks very old and strange.

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CINDY: She´s very ugly.

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MRS OTIS: Be polite, children.

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ROBBY: Is she a witch?

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MR OTIS: It´s Mrs Umney. She´s the housekeeper.

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MRS OTIS: Here we are.

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Curtains open. We can see a living room with a fireplace at the back, some old pictures on the wall.

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MRS UMNEY: Welcome to Canterville Chase. Come inside. Dinner is waiting for you. (They get inside one after the other. First Mr and Mrs Umney, then Washington and Virginia and finally the twins)

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SERVANT: Welcome Sir, welcome Madam.

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MRS OTIS: Thank you.

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MRS UMNEY: This is the hall. And this is the library.

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SERVANT: Everthing is ready. Here´s is your dinner.

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MRS OTIS: How horrible. I don´t like bloodstains in the sitting room. Remove it.

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SERVANT: ´But that´s impossible.

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MRS UMNEY: It is the blood of Lady Eleanore de Canterville. Her husband, Sir Simon de Canterville, murdered her on that exact spot in 1575.

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MRS OTIS: What happened after that?

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MRS UMNEY: Sir Simon disappeared nine years later. Nobody has ever found his body. But his guilty spirit still haunts Canterville Chase.

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SERVANT: And nobody can remove the stain.

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WASHINGTON: Nonsense. 'Pinkerton´s Champion Cleaner' will clean it away. It´s the latest American technology.

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SERVANT: All right, I will try.

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CINDY: Look, the stain is going.

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ROBBY: Now it´s gone!

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WASHINGTON: I knew Pinkerton´s would do it.

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Suddenly there is a thunder.

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MRS UMNEY: The ghost is angry. Aaaagh! (Mrs Umney faints and falls on an armchais which is nearby)

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SERVANT: Oh, my god! Not again! (She fans Mrs Umney with her hand)

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MR OTIS: (Very calmly lights a cigar) The English climate is really terrible. I´m not surprised that everyone wants to leave the country.

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MRS OTIS: Look at Mrs Umney. She´s fainted. What a useless housekeeper.

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MR OTIS: We´ll reduce her wages.

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MRS UMNEY: I´m all right now, sir. But don´t laugh at the Ghost, sir. I have seen terrible things in the house.

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SERVANT: Shall I bring you a glass of water?

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MR OTIS: We are Americans. We´re not afraid of ghosts.

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MRS OTIS: You are safe with us. Now let´s all go to bed.

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END OF ACT 2