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Scholastic Scope january 9, 2012

Readers Theater Play

Dr. Heideggers water will keep you young forever. Want a sip?
STORY BY NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE | Adaptation by Spencer Kayden | ILLUSTRATIONS BY LISA K. WEBER

CHARACTERS

very boundaries of science.

N4: On the day our story takes

Circle the character you will play.

*Narrators 1, 2, 3, 4

Colonel Killigrew

(N1, N2, N3, N4)

Mr. Gascoigne (gas-koin)

*Doctor Heidegger

Widow Clara Wycherly

place, Dr. Heidegger is sharing his

latest plans with his butler.
Doctor: James, I am planning a
special experiment.

James, the doctors butler

Mr. Medbourne

James: Oh, no! Not again.

*Starred characters are major roles.

Doctor: I know just the people to

help me.

as you read, THINK ABOUT:

The Experiment
In this play, Dr.
Heidegger convinces
his friends to
participate in a
bizarre experiment. He
wants to observe what
people learn from
their experiences. As
you read, think about
what he discovers.

James: Oh, dear. Who?

SCENE 1

Doctor: Ive invited three very old

N1: Dr. Heidegger is a famously

friends of mine here. Long ago,

eccentric older gentleman.

these gentlemen were all in love

Doctor: I study human

with the same womanClara.

naturethe way people think,

They were on the verge of cutting

feel, and act. Whats so

each others throats for her sake.

strange about that?

James: How long ago was this?

N2: Whats strange is that the

Doctor: Many decades.

good doctor does not conduct his

James: Oh, dear.

experiments in a laboratory.

Doctor: Ive invited Clara as well.

N3: He entices human subjects

James: Oh, dear. Oh, dear.

to his home. His

Doctor: Dont worry, James.

experiments push the

James: Well, do be careful,

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sir. The human mind is fragile.

things go on in this studythat

could ever bloom again?

Doctor: Ah, I hear the bell.

paintings move by themselves,

Killigrew: Nonsense! You might

I believe our guests are here.

that eerie sounds echo from the

as well ask whether an old mans

closet, and that ghastly faces

brittle body could dance again.

appear in the large mirror that

Doctor: Watch.

N1: One by one, the guests enter

hangs on the wall.

N4: The doctor puts the rose in

and introduce themselves to James.

Medbourne (whispering): I have

the vase. At first, nothing happens.

Medbourne: I, Mr. Medbourne,

heard that this is no ordinary

N1: Then the rose starts to change.

was once a prosperous merchant

mirror.

Killigrew: The petals are turning

N2: but he lost all his money in

Doctor: Indeed, Mr. Medbourne.

crimson!

risky business deals. Now he is

This mirror shows more than our

Gascoigne: The stemit is

destitute.

reflections. It reveals our true

turning green!

Killigrew: I, Colonel Killigrew,

natures.

N2: Soon the rose looks as fresh

was a healthy, strapping man

Widow: What is that big leather

as the day it was first cut.

N3: but a life of drinking

book you are holding?

Medbourne: I dont understand.

destroyed his body. He can hardly

Gascoigne: Is it a book of magic?

Gascoigne: Its a clever trick.

take a step without pain.

Doctor: All will be revealed.

How did you do it?

Gascoigne: I, Mr. Gascoigne, was

Please, take your seats.

Doctor: Have you heard of the

a famous politician

N2: The doctor and his guests sit

Fountain of Youth? The Spanish

N4: more infamous than famous.

around a small table. On the table

adventurer Ponce de Leon went in

His corruption was the talk of the

is a beautiful glass vase filled with

search of it hundreds of years ago.

town. Now he has been forgotten.

glistening liquid. Four glasses are

Widow: But did he find it?

Widow: And I, the Widow Clara

set out.

Doctor: No. But an acquaintance

Wycherly, was once a great

Doctor: My dear old friends, I

of mine did find it, at the tip of the

beauty

have called you here to help me

Florida peninsula. He sent me the

N1: but she craved attention

with a little experiment.

water you see in this vase.

more than true love. She broke

N3: The doctor opens the big

Killigrew: And what does this

many hearts. Now she lives alone

book and takes a dried rose from

fluid do to the human body?

in disgrace.

between its pages.

Doctor: Judge for yourself.

N2: The four guests express

Doctor: Fifty-five years ago, a

N3: The doctor pours the water

surprise at seeing each other.

woman I loved gave me this rose

into the four glasses. The water

Widow: Why have we been asked

on the day she died. And for the

bubbles enticingly.

here?

past 55 years, I have

Doctor: Before you drink, consider

James: The doctor will explain. He

kept it safe in the

is waiting for you. Please follow me.

pages of this book.

SCENE 2

SCENE 3

had a lifetime of experiences.

hardly call that a

It would be a shame if you had

rose. Its brown

the study and shuts the doors.

and crumbly.

N4: The study is as depressing as

Doctor: True.

the guestsdim and dusty and

Now would you

covered with cobwebs.

think it possible

N1: It is said that many bizarre

that this rose

Scholastic Scope JANUARY 9, 2012

your youth. But now you have

Widow: I would

N3: James shows the guests into

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this. Each of you was foolish in

not learned from them.

Medbourne: Good doctor,
we have already made our
mistakes in life.
Gascoigne: We shall not
go astray again.

Doctor: Drink, then, and be

N2: The widow touches her smooth

Killigrew: My dear Clara, your

restored to the bloom of your

forehead, shocked to find that her

eyes are clear and bright.

youth.

wrinkles are gone.

N4: The widow runs to the mirror.

N4: With trembling hands, the

Gascoigne: Give us more of this

Widow: Its true! I am young and

four decrepit creatures raise

wondrous water! We are younger

beautiful again!

their glasses and drink.

but we are still too old.

Medbourne: Its like Ive come out

Doctor: Patience. You have been

of a nightmare in which I was

growing old for a long time. Cant

broke and miserable.

N1: The four guests gaze at one

you wait a little longer to grow

Gascoigne: You know, I could

another in amazement.

young?

run for office again and restore this

Killigrew: I say, Medbourne, your

Widow: Quickgive us more!

country to its former glory. Can I

cheeks look pink instead of gray.

N3: The doctor fills their glasses

count on your votes?

Gascoigne: My body feels

again. Each swallows the contents

Killigrew (singing): When I drink

so warm.

in a single gulp.

the rosy bowl, joy will brighten up

Medbourne: I dont know when

Gascoigne: Killigrew, your hair has

my soul!

I last felt so cheerful.

turned from silver to black!

Medbourne: Ive just

SCENE 4

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thought of a surefire way to

make a fortune. Ill supply
the East Indies with ice by
harnessing a team of whales
to the polar icebergs.
Brilliant!
N1: The widow stands in
front of the mirror curtsying.
Widow: Oh, Clara. I havent
seen you in ages! How
wonderful you look.
N2: She takes off her hat and
admires the red curls that
tumble to her shoulders.
N3: Meanwhile, Doctor
Heidegger quietly observes
their antics.
Widow: My dear doctor,
dont you want to taste
the water?
Doctor: No. I am in no
hurry to grow young again.
Widow: Well, then, favor
me with another glass!
Doctor: Certainly, my dear.

SCENE 5
N4: Sunset approaches, and
the study is growing dark.
The guests swallow glass
after glass of the water.
Killigrew: We are young!
Medbourne: No sorrow!

old. I am so old.

N4: They all gather around the

Killigrew: No disease!

Widow: Dr. Heidegger, get up

widow as she blushes and laughs.

Gascoigne: No secrets!

and dance with me!

Widow: Now, now, boys.

Widow: No regrets!

Gascoigne (laughing): Can you

Killigrew: I want you all to

N1: They feel like new beings in

imagine such an old man dancing?

myself.

a new universe.

N3: They leap around the room.

Gascoigne: She wants ME,

Gascoigne (laughing): Can you

Killigrew: Dance with me, Clara!

not you.

believe how old we were?

Gascoigne: No, I will be her

Medbourne: She would never

N2: Mr. Medbourne limps across

partner!

choose either of you over me!

the room, pretending to be elderly.

Medbourne: Fifty years ago,

Widow (giggling): There is plenty

Medbourne: Ooh, look at me, I am

she promised to marry me!

of time to dance with each of you.

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Scholastic Scope JANUARY 9, 2012

N1: Perhaps it is the darkness of

SCENE 6

Killigrew: I feel worse than

the room, but the mirror seems to

N3: The water from the Fountain

I did when I arrived.

reflect the figures of three

of Youth flows in a bright stream

Doctor: Yes, friends, you are

withered old men ridiculously

across the floor.

indeed old once more.

contending for a shriveled old lady.

N4: Killigrew drops to his knees

N1: The widow throws her hands

N2: No one notices.

and tries to lick up the liquid.

over her face.

Medbourne: Clara, I can buy you

N1: Hearing the commotion, James

Widow: How I wish a coffin lid

anything you desire.

runs into the room. He looks at the

were covering me!

Gascoigne: I can introduce you

guests with dismay.

Doctor: My friends, I must say that

to royalty.

James: Oh, dear!

having seen what has happened

Killigrew: I will love you the most.

N2: The doctor rescues the rose

here, I have learned an important

N3: Killigrew takes her hand.

from the fragments of the shattered

lesson. Even if the Fountain of

Medbourne: Get your hands

vase. He holds it up in the dim light

Youth gushed at my very doorstep,

off of her!

of the sunset.

I would not stoop to drink from it.

Killigrew: Shes mine!

Doctor: My poor rose appears to

N2: But the guests do not seem to

Gascoigne: No, shes mine!

be fading again.

hear the doctor.

Medbourne: I insist, she is mine!

N3: The four friends watch in

Gascoigne: Listen, I have an

N4: The three men turn on

each other.

horror as the flower shrivels and

turns brown.

idea. We must make a pilgrimage

together.

Medbourne: I will RUIN

Widow: Oh, doctor, how

Medbourne: Whatever do

both of you!

awfulyour rose has lost

you mean?

Gascoigne: I will have

its beauty!

Gascoigne: To Florida! We will go

you both tossed in JAIL!

Doctor: Yes, but I love it as

to the Fountain of Youth.

Killigrew: Ill destroy

much now as I did when it

Killigrew: Yes! Yes! We will find it!

you both with my BARE

first bloomed.

Widow: And we will drink from it

HANDS!

N4: A chill creeps over

morning, noon, and night.

N1: They grab each others

throats.
N2: The doctor watches
quietly as the men knock

Medbourne: Just imagine!

the guests.
Gascoigne: My body feels

N3: The four foolish friends revel

cold.

in the thought of being young

Widow: My face! Its

once more . . .

wrinkled again.

N4: . . . an obsession that consumes

vase onto the floor and into

Medbourne: Are we

them until the final darkness of

a thousand pieces.

grown old again so soon?

their dying days.

over the table, dashing the

contest

Write About Character Winston Churchill once said,

All men make mistakes, but only wise men learn from their mistakes.
Explain what this quote means. Do you think Churchill would describe the
characters in the play as wise? Use textual evidence to support your
answer. Send it to Dr. H CONTEST. Five winners will get Gemma
Malleys novel The Resistance. See page 2 for details.
Get this

activity
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