Script

THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

CHARACTERS
The Ghost: The late Simon de Canterville 1525 – 1585.
Hiram Otis: American Millionaire.
Lucretia Otis: Hiram’s wife.
Virginia Otis: Their daughter, aged 16.
Junior Otis: Their son, aged 13.
Washington Otis: Junior’s twin brother, aged 13.
Mrs. Umney: The housekeeper of Canterville Chase.

All rights whatsoever in this script are strictly reserved.

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

* The action takes place in the Ghost’s chamber and the living room of Canterville Chase, a large Gothic
residence in England.

TRACK 1

SCENE 1
Mrs. Umney: (Opens the door.) Hello! Mr Otis and family?
Lucretia: Oh, Hiram! This house is gorgeous! It’s all so…. English!
Hiram: Yep. Are you Umney?
Mrs. Umney: I am Mrs. Umney, the housekeeper. Welcome to the village of Canterville.
Lucretia: That´s a very unusual outfit you´re wearing, Mrs…. Eh….. Jubbley….
Mrs. Umney: The uniform of the housekeeper of Canterville Chase has remained unchanged in over four
hundred years.
Lucretia: Really? Well, I hope you’ve had it cleaned! (She laughs.) I am Lucretia Otis and this is my
husband, Hiram.
Mrs. Umney: A pleasure to meet you.
Lucretia: Oh! And these are my babies. (Looking around.) For God’s sake! Where are
Twins (off): they? We are coming now, we are playing in the garden. Yeah just playing...
Lucretia: And this is Virginia, I know she is not half as pretty as I am…. She can be a little strange.
You’ll get used to that. Just ignore her, like I do.

TRACK 2

Virginia: There’s a very strange mark here.

Hiram: What?
Virginia: Look. Here in the corner of the room. A sort of red stain.
Hiram: She’s right. Look! A stain! All the money I paid for this place and I get a great red stain!
Lucretia: It’s funny, isn’t it, dear? You made your fortune from stain cleaners and now you’ve got a big
stain!
Hiram: Unbelievable!
Lucretia: Why on earth haven’t you cleaned it up, Mrs. Bumbley?
Mrs. Umney: That´s the Canterville stain, Mrs. Otis. It has been there for many centuries.
Lucretia: Well, don’t you think it’s time to clean it up, Mrs. Floomfley?
Mrs. Umney: That stain can never be cleaned, I am afraid. For it is the blood of Lady Eleanor. She was
murdered by her husband, Sir Simon de Canterville. The bloodstain cannot be removed, we
have tried everything.
Hiram: But not… This! (He instantly takes a bottle from his pocket and presents it with a
proud smile.) This is the “Otis’ Champion Stain Remover,” a fine product that will clean that
stain in a matter of seconds: Jingle Otis Champion Stain Remover.
Mrs. Umney: How very American…

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Hiram: Let me give you a free demonstration. (He cleans the stain.)

(Mrs. Umney looks horrified.)

Virginia: What’s the matter Mrs. Umney? Aren’t you glad the stain is gone?
Mrs. Umney: Actually I’m not. I fear this will cause us some troubles.

(A roll of thunder is heard. Black-out. A loud evil laugh is heard.)

Lucretia: What the heck is going on here, Mrs. Poombley?

Mrs. Umney: Oh God! He’s trying to frighten me again!
Lucretia: Who?
Mrs. Umney: The Ghost, madam.
Lucretia: Ghost? What Ghost?
Mrs. Umney: Sir Simon de Canterville… The Canterville Ghost.
Lucretia: Are you drunk?
Mrs. Umney: No, madam. I am quite sober and quite serious.

TRACK 3

(There’s a thunder and lighting and the stain reappears again.)

Virginia: (Noticing the stain.) Well, that’s strange.

Lucretia: The stain! Look!
Hiram: A ghost? Stains? What is all this? I don’t think you’ve told us the whole story.
Mrs. Umney: Perhaps it is best if I explain properly: Sir Simon de Canterville murdered his wife and then
disappeared in very mysterious circumstances. His body has never been found, but his
guilty spirit still haunts the house. This is why we had such difficulty in finding occupants.
Virginia: Do you think the Ghost will appear at some point?
Lucretia: Of course he will, Virginia! What’s the point of being a ghost and not appearing?
Virginia: Mrs. Umney, where is my bedroom?
Mrs. Umney: You may take the last room on the right. It’s very comfortable, dear.
Virginia: Good night Mrs. Umney.
Hiram: We’re not used to having ghosts in the States, and even if we did, we wouldn’t be afraid of
them; we would just put them into a zoo or a Broadway show.
Lucretia: Or in a travelling circus charging 40 dollars a ticket and a selfie with the ghost included!
Hiram: So, don’t worry about the ghost, under no circumstances can we allow that stain in our
living room so: Jingle Otis Champion Stain Remover (Reprise.)
Mrs. Umney: Enough already! Please…
Junior: Are you as old as you look?
Washington: Judging by your face, you look about three hundred.
Lucretia: These are the twins.

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Mrs. Umney: Charming.

Junior: I hate the curtains.
Washington: They look like someone has just thrown up all over them.
Mrs. Umney: They are oriental.
Junior: Who’s the idiot in the picture?
Mrs. Umney: (Mysteriously.) That´s… that’s… Simon de Canterville…
Junior: Did he always dress like that or was he doing it as a bet?
Mrs. Umney: No, that is how he always dressed, in the mid-sixteenth century when he lived in this house.
And, in many ways, he still does…
Junior: What do you mean he still does?
Washington: Do you mean that his ghost lives here?
Junior: We are not scared of any stupid ghost.
Washington: Yeah!!! You have no idea.
Junior: We are his worst nightmare!
Washington: This is gonna be awesome! A real live ghost to battle.
Junior: Yeahhhh!!! It will be fantastic! You got the Otis Twins living here now.
Hiram: Ok, you’ll get to play with the ghost some other time. Now it’s time to go to bed.
Junior: But Pa! We are not tired yet!
Lucretia: Where’s the twins’ bedroom, Mrs. Goofy?
Mrs. Umney: Second door on the left. I shall see you all at breakfast. Good night.

TRACK 4

SCENE 2
Lucretia: I hope this place will keep the kids busy.
Hiram: Maybe they’ll love it. We could end up buying the house.
Lucretia: We could buy the whole country if we wanted to.
Hiram: It will be good for Virginia too. A chance to really find herself.
Lucretia: Find herself?! You would need a road map and Indiana Jones!

(After a few moments we hear a strange noise coming from outside the door.)

Lucretia: Hiram? Hiram! What’s that noise?

Hiram: I don’t know it sounds like it might be the ghost…
Lucretia: The Ghost? In here? In our living room? I haven’t even done my hair!

(Slowly the door creaks open. Mist begins to fill the room. The Ghost enters into the room trough the
mist.)

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hiram: (Laughing hysterically.) Bravo! Bravo! So, you are the dead guy, right?

(Hiram and Lucretia laugh joyously at this comment. The Ghost is completely shocked by this
reaction.)

GhosT: Thou darest laugh at me!

(There is no reaction from Hiram apart from a wide smile.)

Ghost: Uhhhhhh… Uhhhhhh… Uhhhhhh…

Hiram: I’m sorry, I don’t speak French. Anyway I’m Hiram Otis, the new resident of Canterville
Chase. And this is my wife, Lucretia.
Lucretia: Hi there!
Hiram: (Pushing the ghost out of the room.) Listen, I know it’s the first time we’ve met and all
that, I mean we are on holiday here, right? We need to sleep and relax, ok? So I’ve gotta
insist you do something about those annoying chain noises.
Ghost: My what?
Hiram: The chains. Too loud.
Lucretia: They are so uncool.
Hiram: But we´ve got the solution: This is the “Otis’ Champion Chain Lubricator,” a fine product that
will lubricate your chains in a matter of seconds!: Jingle Otis Champion Chain Lubricator

(Junior and Washington appear through the door carrying pillows and batter the Ghost with the
pillows. The Ghost exits the living room in a panic. The Otis family applauds and laughs
hysterically.)

(Black- Out.)

TRACK 5

SCENE 3
(The drawing-room next morning. Mrs. Umney is getting the breakfast ready.)

Virginia: Good morning, Mrs. Umney.

Mrs. Umney: Good morning Miss Virginia, What do you want for breakfast?
Virginia: I would like to try an English breakfast, please.
Mrs. Umney: As you like.

(Lucretia enters.)

Mrs. Umney: Good morning Mrs. Otis.

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Lucretia: Good morning, Mrs. Woomfly, just coffee for me.

Mrs. Umney: I only have tea.
Lucretia: Just give me something hot in a cup with sugar in it! And a cookie! Now, go and wake up the
twins.
Virginia: Good Morning Ma. Look at what I painted yesterday. (Showing a painting.)

(Lucretia regrets looking at the drawing and uses it to blow her nose.)

Lucretia: Did you hear it last night? Your brothers did something very brave. They beat that stupid
ghost. We are so proud of them.
Virginia: I don’t want to spend my holidays attacking people.
Lucretia: He’s not people… He is a ghost! At least your brothers do not waste their time like you do
with those paintings.
Virginia: I enjoy it! It’s my way of expressing myself.
Lucretia: What do I care?
Virginia: You never care about anything, Ma.
Lucretia: Of course I do. It would just be nice if you joined in with everybody else. But that’s you...
Always on the sidelines. Thinking rather than doing.
Virginia: (Almost crying.) That’s not fair. I wish that you could see there’s some good here in me.
You can hate me if you feel you should.
Lucretia: I don’t hate you Virginia. I’m just waiting for you to join in the family spirit.
Virginia: And be just like the rest of you? Do you think that’s a good thing?

TRACK 6

(The twins enter.)

Lucretia: Oh my babies!
Washington: Hey Ma'! I want donuts and a hot brownie for breakfast!
Junior: A hot dog and a bacon cheese burger for me!
Lucretia: They don’t have anything American here. You gotta try something English.
Washington: Come on Ma'! Do we really have to eat this garbage?
Virginia: You should try it, it’s really nice.
Twins: Shut up!

(Virginia, upset, takes a seat in the corner of the room and reads a book. The stain reappears in a
yellowish colour.)

Lucretia: Look! The stain has come back… It’s kind of yellow this morning… Mmm… Strange.

(There’s some thunder and the Ghost enters. He has no head, he is carrying his head under his arm.
He is also carrying an axe.)

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Ghost: Oh, I know I don’t frighten you colonials, I’m just some fool. But the dagger is real!
Lucretia: Oh! Cut it out!
Ghost: I rather cut it off. This dagger has cut off a hundred human heads. So let’s have a little
scream for once shall we? Come on! Just show me some terror?

(The twins kick the head and it flies off stage trough the door. The Ghost exists looking for his head.
Everyone laughs and applauds wildly.)

Junior: That was just the best!

Washington: Did you see him running around? What an idiot! What do you think Ma'?
Lucretia: Fabulous! Come on guys, I’m going to take you into the village for a real hero’s breakfast.
Are you coming Virginia?
Virginia: No, I’m not.

(Lucretia and the twins exit.)

Virginia: Poor Ghost… Mrs. Umney… I feel sorry for the Ghost. My family has been very cruel to him.
Mrs. Umney: It’s very unusual to hear someone taking the Ghost’s side.
Virginia: I am glad he has you here, but I still don’t understand why you stay here.
Mrs. Umney: This was my mother’s position. And her mother’s before. The Umneys have been
housekeepers here for centuries. It is our heritage. One day the Ghost may find the pathway
to his freedom. Until that day comes he is compelled to remain here and frighten and disturb.
Virginia: The Ghost’s apparitions are quite interesting, aren’t they?
Mrs. Umney: They are legendary. Most people are quite frightened of them. Though you are the first
Americans to stay here, and he has failed for the first time.
Virginia: “Poor Ghost”. Do you think he is unhappy?
Mrs. Umney: If he is, there’s really nothing we can do about it. It was very nice talking to you and don’t
worry dear, just enjoy the sunshine.

(Mrs. Umney Exits. Virginia looks at the portrait of Simon de Canterville. The light closes on her.)

TRACK 7

(Virginia exits and Mrs. Umney enter and begins to clear away breakfast. After a moment the Ghost
enters behind Mrs. Umney, he approaches her.)

GhosT: Boooooh!!

(Mrs. Umney screams with fright.)

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Ghost: Do I frighten you!?

Mrs. Umney: Yes! Oh, yes!
Ghost: Are you sure?
Mrs. Umney: Quite sure.
Ghost: Why?
Mrs. Umney: You are terrible.
Ghost: Thank you. So why don’t I frighten these stupid yankees? This is a disaster! I am the
Canterville Ghost! The most feared spirit in England! I have been attacked, battered and
degraded, humiliated and mocked… More than any phantom could ever bear.
Mrs. Umney: It must be very disappointing for you.
Ghost: Disappointing!? It’s more than that! What possible explanation on earth can there be for
this family?
Mrs. Umney: Well, they are American, their culture is very different; they have no ruins, no history.
Ghost: No ruins? No history? No brain? They only have Disney Land and McDonalds.
Mrs. Umney: Perhaps you should take some time off?
Ghost: Me? Certainly not!
Mrs. Umney: All right, don’t stress yourself. Now, I really need to clear up breakfast.
Ghost: Thanks for your support. Just like your mother and your grandmother before. (With energy.)
I am once again filled with spirit! The battle may have been lost, but the war is not over yet!

TRACK 8

SCENE 4
(The living-room. The following evening. The lights come up. The stain in the corner of the room is
blue. Lucretia and the twins are in the living-room. The twins are preparing a series of elaborate
traps.)

Lucretia: I hope you two are being careful.

Twins: Yes, Ma'!
Hiram: (Off stage.) Lucretia?
Lucretia: Yes, Hiram?
Hiram: (Off stage.) Where is Virginia?
Lucretia: Painting the trees!
Hiram: (Off stage.) What? Painting trees?
Lucretia: Yes, and it gets worse. They are purple trees.
Hiram: (Off stage) Well, that at least shows originality.

(There’s a roll of thunder in the near distance.)

Junior: Hear that, Washington?

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Washington: Yeah… He must be on his way.

Junior: This is gonna be great.

(Music ellipsis. The Ghost enters.)

Ghost: This is just too much! I have something to say. Never, never have I felt quite so low and
degraded. As I take it, as you yourselves have no intention of leaving this place, I myself
shall take leave of you. I shall retire and leave you in peace. Enjoy your victory.

(The Ghost exits, sad.)

Junior: That was just the best!

Washington: Did you see him running around?
Junior: What an idiot!
Washington: What do you think, Ma'?
Lucretia: Fabulous!

(Virginia runs in.)

Virginia: What happened? What’s going on?

Junior: Attack! A major victory!
Virginia: Why are you doing this? Leave him alone!
Washington: Oh, great, Virginia is on the Ghost’s side.
Lucretia: What’s the matter with you? Pull yourself together!
Virginia: It’s wrong.
Lucretia: You are wrong!
Virginia: Ghosts have feelings too.
Lucretia: Whatever… Come on guys! It’s time for dinner! Who wants a hot dog?
Twins: Me!!!

Lucretia and the twins exit. Virginia walks forward and stops for a moment. The lights fade to black
out.

TRACK 9

SCENE 5
(The Ghost’s chamber. The next day. Golden lights come up on the wall and highlight an ancient
writing. “When a gentle girl gives away her tears, peace will come to Canterville Chase.”)

Ghost: Gad’s blood! Who’d ever used phrases like that! Oh! This damn book! And this damn
prophecy! “When a gentle girl gives away her tears, peace will come to Canterville Chase.”

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(Virginia enters the Ghost’s Chamber. The Ghost gets scared.)

Ghost: How did you get here?

Virginia: It’s Ok, don’t be frightened. It’s me, it’s Virginia. I’ve come to see if you are all right.
Ghost: I’m glorious, thank you. Now go away! (Suddenly notices Virginia’s golden hair.) Wait!
Wait! (He looks up at the words on the wall.) “When a gentle girl...” (Rejecting the
thought.) No… It can never be an American! I’ve just noticed you are not frightened of
me… You are just like your family; they are all horrid, rude, vulgar and dishonest.
Virginia: You are being unfair!
Ghost: Oh! Am I?
Virginia: You have been dishonest too.
Ghost: I most certainly have not!
Virginia: You have. You’ve been stealing all the colours in my paint box and using them to replace
that stain in the drawing room. First all my red went, then the orange, and now I’m running
short of blue. It’s getting very silly.
Ghost: Well, what was I supposed to do? It’s very difficult to get real blood nowadays. I saw no
reason why I should not have your paints!
Virginia: Look, I didn’t come here to argue! I came here to see if you were ok.
Ghost: And what concern is that of yours?
Virginia: I was just worried for you.
Ghost: Well, don’t be. Now if you forgive me, I must do my hair. (Brushing his fake head.)

(Virginia wonders around the chamber. She examines several items in the room, and tries to make
conversation.)

Virginia: (Picking up the dagger.) What did you use it for?

Ghost: (Enthusiastic.) This dagger has cut off a hundred human heads and caused the Ghost of
Anne Boleyn to walk the Bloody Tower! But those days are over, the lights are dimmed, and I
must remain in solitude.
Virginia: I don’t see why you have to…
Ghost: After these few weeks, it will never be the same again. I have had my first taste of failure. A
shield from the reality of my lonely, miserable existence.

TRACK 10

Virginia: But can’t someone help you?

Ghost: No. I am condemned to stay here forever.
Virginia: Why? Is there a curse or something?
Ghost: A curse that will never be broken.
Virginia: I’m someone who wants to help. I want to help.
Ghost: I am beyond help.
Virginia: Won’t you just explain the curse to me? Does it have something to do with you murdering
your wife?

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Ghost: That is purely a family matter and concerns no one else.

Virginia: It concerns many people. It’s very bad to kill anyone!
Ghost: In fact, I did not kill her, how could I kill her? I loved her so much... One day, after going
hunting, I found her dead body on the stairs. Apparently, she fell and there was no one
around to help here... I was not there for her... I’ll never forgive myself. As I was crying and
cursing myself beside her body, her brothers arrived, whom knew I once had been a violent
and cruel man... They assumed that I killed her and never listened to my explanations. Her
brothers, intent on revenge, had me murdered and placed a curse on me and my spirit.
Virginia: How did they murder you?
Ghost: They starved me to death.
Virginia: Really? Gee… Are you hungry? I could get you a hot dog!

TRACK 11

Ghost: You are very kind but I have no stomach for it.
Virginia: I know what it’s like feeling like you are all alone. Sometimes it can be nice to have a friend.
Ghost: Ghosts don’t have friends.
Virginia: Then you can be different. And I can be a ghost’s friend.
Ghost: You wish to be the friend of an insane heartless ghost who has murdered a thousand
people?
Virginia: Yes! I would really like that!
Ghost: I do not appear to have a choice.

(They shake hands.)

Virginia: Cool! So now I can come visit you all the time! Ok, then I will see you tomorrow!
Ghost: Make sure nobody sees you going back into the house. It’s a private tunnel!
Virginia: I understand. Good bye Ghost.
Ghost: Wait! Wait! Why do you have any care for me? Why are you so interested in me? Why do
you care so much about me?
Virginia: I don’t know. Something in here I guess (She touches her heart.)

(Virginia touches her golden hair. She exits. The Ghost notices this and thinks for a moment.)

GhosT: “When a gentle girl can win, prayers from out of the lips of sin”…

TRACK 12

SCENE 6
(The living room. A sunny afternoon. Lucretia is reading a British magazine.)

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Lucretia: (Reading a magazine.) Oh my God! Look at these people! They are so pale! The Royal
Family should travel to California at least once a year… The Queen of England looks like
a ghost.
Mrs. Umney: Please, show a little respect for the Queen of England! God Save the Queen!
Lucretia: I didn’t mean to offend you, but who dresses this lady?
Mrs. Umney: Fortunately, not the same designer that dresses you.
Lucretia: This magazine is ridiculous! (Talking to Hiram.) Hiram! I want to read People magazine! I
wonder what’s happened to Justin Bieber this week?
Hiram: Honey! I can go to the city and get it for you after my cricket match.
Lucretia: You call that a city? Three squalid little houses and a greasy pub? My God! I need to go to
the mall. I want to go to my beauty therapist! I mean, look at my nails… Hiram! Hiram! Are
you listening to me? I’m talking to you!
Hiram: Just a second, pumpkin! I’m learning how to play cricket.
Lucretia: What? Croquet? What is all that croquet nonsense?
Mrs. Umney: Cricket, Mrs. Otis, Cricket! Cricket is an English sport for gentlemen that consists of a ball
and a bat. It is played by two teams of eleven players each on a grass field, somewhat
oval-shaped, smaller in size to that of a football field. In the middle of the field there is a flat
rectangular area called the pitch… (We hear the sound of broken glass.) And no windows
should be broken in the process.
Lucretia: Do you play cricket Mrs. Umney?
Mrs. Umney: Not any more, madam, not at my age.
Lucretia: Why? Do they make you retire at 90?
Mrs. Umney: I’ll be inside.

TRACK 13

(Hiram enters with the twins.)

Hiram: Oh! It’s raining again. This weather is a disgrace. Any more rain and we’ll have to swim
everywhere.
Junior: I’m so bored with this place. It’s so dull. It’s so quiet. Now that the ghost is leaving us alone,
there’s nothing to do.
Washington: We haven’t seen him in weeks! Bashing Simon de Canterville was the only fun thing to do
here.

(Mrs. Umney enters with some cucumber sandwiches.)

Mrs. Umney: Here we are, a spot of luncheon for you.

Junior: What is this?
Mrs. Umney: It’s a cucumber sandwich.
Washington: Are we supposed to eat it? Or laugh at it?
Mrs. Umney: I believe it’s more nutritious if one eats it. If one simply laughs, one is both hungry and
ridiculous.

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Junior: Whoever heard of putting cucumber into sandwiches? What about hot dogs? Ain’t you got
hot dogs?
Mrs. Umney: No, we “ain’t”! Mrs. Otis, a cucumber sandwich? Or do you object them as well?
Lucretia: Cucumber sandwich? Not at all, bring me two, right away.
Washington: Do we have to put up with this for much longer? We’re bored. And we’re wet! Any more of
this and we’ll start turning bad.
Junior: Or mouldy!

(The twins leave the scene.)

Hiram: Look, what more do you want from me? This is England! I’m doing my best!
Lucretia: No more apologies, Hiram! And no more excuses. The boys are right, enough is enough.
Everywhere you look, culture and history. It’s a nightmare! I miss home so much. I want
baseball. I want McDonalds. I want my personal stylist. Time out, that’s it. We want to go
back to the United States right now!
Hiram: I guess you are right. All this green grass is more than I can take. Cricket is beyond me and
I hate mushy peas and Yorkshire pudding… We’re leaving! Everybody go pack, enough is
enough. We are going back to America.

(Virginia enters.)

Lucretia: Ah, good, you’re here. Go and pack.

Virginia: What?
Lucretia: We’re leaving.
Virginia: But we can’t! Not now… We have to stay!
Hiram: What’s the matter? Don’t you miss home?
Virginia: Home is where my heart is, Pa'.
Hiram: Come on honey, what’s the problem?
Lucretia: The same as usual. Always the opposite of everything we do. You’ve been acting strange for
weeks now.
Virginia: Why are you always putting me down? What is so wrong with me?
Hiram: Nothing’s wrong with you Virginia. We just have trouble figuring out what’s going on in that
head of yours. For an Otis you are just unusual.
Virginia: You mean “different”.
Lucretia: No Virginia, the word is “unusual”: strange, bizarre.
Hiram: Not of this planet! Hahaha! (Virginia turns at him with anger.) Well, I gotta go practice…
(Exits.)
Virginia: You can laugh all you like. I’m gonna spend the rest of my life with someone who
understands.
Lucretia: Mrs. Umney doesn’t understand you, Virginia. She’s not a psychiatrist, she’s a cleaning
machine.
Virginia: I’m not talking about her.
Lucretia: It’s OK, sweetie.
Virginia: No, it’s not!

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

(Virginia marches off.)

Lucretia: Whatever… Come on! Let’s pack!

(Black out.)

TRACK 14

SCENE 7
(The Ghost Chamber. The Ghost is all alone and suddenly Virginia appears in the chamber.)

Ghost: You’re a few minutes late. It gave me quite a fright. If you are more than two minutes late,
I start to worry that we will not see each other, and I do immensely enjoy our afternoons
together.
Virginia: My family is leaving, right away. They’re packing now.

(The Ghost suddenly goes pale.)

Virginia: Are you OK? What is it?

Ghost: You mustn’t go. This cannot happen.
Virginia: I don’t want to go but my Ma' decided to…
Ghost: You don’t understand. It’s… (He looks at the prophecy written on the wall.)
Virginia: Why do you look at that? What does the writing have to do with all this?
Ghost: What?
Virginia: The writing. What does it mean?
Ghost: It means I’ve wasted my time for hundreds of years. My one hope dashed to the ground.
Virginia: (Reading the writing on the wall.) “When a gentle girl gives away her tears, peace will
come to Canterville Chase” I don’t understand.
Ghost: It means that to escape the curse, a young girl must cry for my sins, because I have no
tears. She must then walk into the darkness, a darkness where she would hear and see
terrible things, monstrous shapes, and hideous voices. There, surrounded by the horror, she
must pray for me, for my soul. And then, if she has always been sweet and gentle, the Angel
of Death will have mercy upon me. And I will at last be free.
Virginia: Free? Free to go where?
Ghost: When Englishmen die, they go to heaven.
Virginia: And when Americans die, where do they go?
Ghost: Las Vegas.

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THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

TRACK 15

Virginia: Why didn’t you tell me about this prophecy before?

Ghost: I thought it might not interest you.
Virginia: That’s not true. You were scared of telling me. You thought I might be your golden girl.
Ghost: But I realize that I cannot ask this of you because I should never expect it from anyone.
Virginia: Why not?
Ghost: There you would see such terrible things that it would make you lose your innocence. I
would rather suffer here for centuries than see you terrified.
Virginia: I don’t frighten that easily.
Ghost: Virginia…
Virginia: I don’t have time to argue. I’ll be OK. Just trust me.
Ghost: Would you really do this for me? I had no idea you were so brave.
Virginia: Neither did I.
Ghost: My dear, dear child.
Virginia: Where do I go?
Ghost: Just follow me.

(They reappear in the living room. Together they stand in front of the chimney, which opens with a
roar, revealing a door to another dimension.)

TRACK 16

SCENE 8
(The living room, Lucretia enters.)

Lucretia: Virginia! Virginia! Where are you? It’s ridiculous I can’t find her anywhere.

(Mrs. Umney enters.)

Lucretia: Mrs. Umney, we can’t find Virginia! She hasn’t even packed her…
Mrs. Umney: (Stopping Lucretia.) It’s all right, Mrs. Otis. She will be with us soon. All will be explained in
good time.
Lucretia: You are pushing your luck Umney! I want answers. We are gonna miss the plane!

(Black out.)

16
THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

TRACK 17

SCENE 9
(The living room. Virginia stumbles into the room from the chimney. She looks exhausted and is
covered in dust and cobwebs.)

Lucretia: There she is! Where have you been? Look at your clothes!
Virginia: Calm down, Ma', I can explain.
Lucretia: Really? You better have a good explanation.
Virginia: I need you to listen to me for the first time. The Ghost…
Lucretia: (Stopping Virginia.) The Ghost? What are you talking about?
Virginia: The Ghost has been under a curse. A curse that is nearly broken.
Lucretia: Virginia, what is going on here? Have you been meeting with this Ghost?
Virginia: Everyday. We’ve become great friends.
Lucretia: Terrific. The first friend she’s had in years and it’s a dead guy!
Virginia: There’s more to him than that. The Ghost is special. He has shown me what life is, and what
death is… and why love is stronger than both…
Lucretia: What are you talking about? Where the heck have you been?
Virginia: Ok, listen to me, carefully… I have been to the garden of death, where the wandering souls
roam without rest. I’ve seen terrible things, but they were also incredibly beautiful, like the
greatness of love. For a moment I thought I would never see you again.
Lucretia: All those cucumber sandwiches are affecting your brain.
Mrs. Umney: Dear, you have shown great courage, I’m glad to see you are all right. Did you manage to
put an end to the curse?
Virginia: Almost, there’s just one detail missing. At midnight the doors of the garden of death will open
for one last time. If Sir Simon can obtain his wife’s forgiveness then he will be able to reunite
with her and finally rest in peace. If not, the consequences will be irreversible.
Lucretia: Ghosts? Gardens of death? Blah, blah, blah… Virginia, stop all that nonsense, we have a
plane to catch back to the United States of America.
Virginia: Ma'! You have to believe me, please. We can’t go until the ghost is safe, he needs my help.
Lucretia: This must be very important to you. I had never seen you so passionate about something.
OST

TRACK 18

(The clock strikes midnight and a ghostly sound fills the room. Suddenly, the door of the garden of
death opens and amidst the darkness we are able to see the ghost walking towards the sound of his
wife’s voice.)

Eleanor’s Voice: Simon… Simon…

17
THE CANTERVILLE GHOST

Ghost: Eleanor? My dearest wife? Please forgive my sins. I was not there for you... Let the heart of
this gentle child release me from this torment. Give me your blessing. I beg you.
Eleanor’s Voice: I forgive you… I had always forgiven you. All you needed to do was show love.
Mrs. Umney: Go now, Sir Simon. You are free!

(The Ghost walks into the light and disappears.)

Virginia: I want to be with him! I want to be with my friend.

Lucretia: No! You belong here with us, with your family!
Virginia: I can’t leave him!
Lucretia: Virginia! We love you!
Mrs. Umney: Virginia… Now Sir Simon is where he belongs. He has found freedom. He is with his
beloved wife.

(Lucretia is in shock; she still can’t believe what she has just seen.)

Lucretia: Oh my lord! Were you in that horrible place? All alone? I didn’t know you were so brave, my
little girl. (They embrace.)

(Hiram enter.)

Hiram: We couldn’t find Virginia anywhere!

Lucretia: Virginia is here, she is the bravest girl ever.
Hiram: Virginia?
Lucretia: Virginia saved the Ghost! And the Ghost has left the house!
Twins (off): Virginia kicked the Ghost out of the house before us?
Mrs. Umney: Virginia has saved the Ghost…
Lucretia: … And the Ghost has saved us!
Hiram: The whole house suddenly seems so different, doesn’t it?
Lucretia: You know what Hiram? Why don’t we stay a few more weeks?
Hiram: Whatever you want Lucretia, whatever you want.
Mrs. Umney: Bring some cucumber sandwiches for the Otis family!
Twins: Yeah!

(Black out.)

THE END

18
NUESTRA PROGRAMACIÓN 2018/2019

MERLÍN, EL ENCANTADOR
Educación Infantil, Primer y Segundo Curso de Primaria

LA RATITA PRESUMIDA
Educación Infantil, Primer y Segundo Curso de Primaria

ThE JUNGLE BOOk (In English)

Educación Infantil, Primer a Cuarto Curso de Primaria

MAGIC BEANS (In English)

Educación Infantil, Primer a Cuarto Curso de Primaria

LA vUELTA AL MUNDO EN 80 DÍAS

Tercer a Sexto Curso de Primaria, Primer y Segundo Curso de E.S.O.

BE COOL! (In English)

Tercer a Sexto Curso de Primaria, Primer y Segundo Curso de E.S.O.

A ChRISTMAS CAROL (In English)

Quinto y Sexto de Primaria, E.S.O.

ThE CANTERvILLE GhOST (In English)

E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio

ENTREMESES DE CERvANTES
E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio

TRES SOMBREROS DE COPA

E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio

LES MISÉRABLES (En Français)

E.S.O., Bachillerato y Ciclos Formativos de Grado Medio

Santa Leonor, 61 • Planta 4ª • 28037 Madrid • Tel. 91 111 54 50

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