"The Spellbook in the Forbidden Room" Whootie Owl's Free Play Script Written by Fidelity, age 11 All You Do is Print the Play, Cast & Perform! Are the scripts really FREE?  Indeed, yes! We ask only that you acknowledge the source of the stories by distributing this Flyer to Go Home to your viewers. If you plan to distribute a program flyer when you perform your play, we ask that you paste one of our conveniently-provided banners on the first page of your program flyer. And Now! Whootie Owl's Free Play Script "The Spellbook in the Forbidden Room" by Fidelity CHARACTERS, in Order of Appearance: Narrator Father Eldest daughter (Sarah) Middle daughter (Kara) Youngest daughter (Bella) Old Woman Evil Sorcerer (Nick) ACT 1 Scene 1 [There are a couple of chairs, a small table, and a fireplace..] [Narrator enters. The lights go on.] NARRATOR: A long time ago, in the mountains of Poland, there lived a father and his three children. His eldest daughter, Sarah, loved to gaze at her own reflection, wondering if she should change her hair, or her shirt. [Sarah is looking in a mirror, messing with her hair and her shirt. She exits once he is done talking about her.] The middle daughter, Kara, loved to dance. She would frolic and dip and weave, forgetting everything but the music around her. [Kara is dancing around the stage. She exits once the narrator is done talking about her.] The last daughter, Bella, was very strange. She was often daydreaming, but she loved her sisters very much. [Bella is sitting on the stage, with her eyes looking up, daydreaming. She leaves once the narrator is done talking about her.] [FATHER enters with the three daughters. NARRATOR stands by the back of the stage. They all sit down.] FATHER: My beautiful daughters, I have a question to ask of you. Would any of you like to learn to read? [NARRATOR comes forward] NARRATOR: Their father had always wanted them to learn how to read. He thought that it was a very valuable skill but he had no money to get a tutor, and he didn’t know how to read himself. [NARRATOR moves back.] SARAH: Well, I do have a lot of parties to attend to, and I must be sure that I am wearing beautiful clothes at all times, but I guess that I could try, father.. KARA: I have plenty of dancing that I have to do, and wherever there is good music, I will most likely always be there, but I shall try to read. BELLA: I have nothing to do, besides sit on this chair, and dream, or watch Kara dance, or help Sarah choose which dress she wants to wear. I shall try my hardest, father.. FATHER: Wonderful! Now all I have to do is find a tutor that will not ask for too much money… [Lights go out.] ACT 1 Scene 2 [There are a couple of chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [NARRATOR enters. The lights go on.] NARRATOR: Things went on as usual. The girl's father didn't find a tutor. Everyone asked too much money, and the old man didn't have much of it to spare. He had given up trying, and he had lost all hope of finding someone to teach his girls to read, when an old woman knocked on the door. [NARRATOR exits. FATHER enters, and sits down. There is a knock from outside.] FATHER: Come in! [Old woman enters.] OLD WOMAN: Hello. I am a wandering poor traveler. Could you give me some food and a warm place to stay tonight? FATHER: Of course, of course. Warm yourself by the fire. [Gestures towards the fireplace.] OLD WOMAN: Thank you kind sir. I won't be too much trouble. [She sits down.] FATHER: All right, I shall go prepare dinner. My oldest daughter was supposed to, but I suppose she is out having a party, or finding new ways to do her hair. OLD WOMAN: Thanks again for letting me stay in your beautiful house. FATHER: My pleasure. [FATHER exits. OLD WOMAN pulls out a book and begins to read. Shortly afterward, FATHER comes back with two bowls of soup.] FATHER: Here is some soup. Sorry that my middle daughter isn't here. She is probably off dancing somewhere. My youngest daughter is probably in her room, daydreaming the day away. OLD WOMAN: No matter. [The woman sips some soup. Father sits down.] OLD WOMAN: This is very fine soup. Thank you very much. FATHER: You're very welcome. Is that a book behind you? OLD WOMAN: Yes, it is. I enjoy reading very much. FATHER: Would you mind staying with us this winter? You could teach my girls how to read, in exchange for a warm house and food. OLD WOMAN: That would be just fine. I do need a place to stay. FATHER: Then it's settled. There lessons will begin tomorrow. OLD WOMAN: Very well. [Old woman and father exit. Lights go out.] ACT 1 Scene 3 [There are a couple of chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [NARRATOR enters. Lights come on.] NARRATOR: The next morning, only one girl was sitting by the fireplace, waiting for her lesson to begin. Perhaps the other girls had something important to do. Perhaps they were off having a meeting with so-and-so, or maybe something terrible had happened in the night, and the girls had rushed over to help. This was not the case. Sarah was off picking flowers to liven up the house for her party that night, and Kara was off dancing. A musician had come into town, and he brought with him an accordion. Kara had jumped at the chance to dance to that wonderful sound. So, only one girl was sitting, waiting for the old woman to come and teach her to read. [NARRATOR exits. Lights go out. OLD WOMAN and BELLA enter. They sit down. Lights go on.] OLD WOMAN: All right, now that is an ...? [She shows her a paper with a letter A written on it.] BELLA: That looks like an A to me. OLD WOMAN: Good! Now is it a upper case A or a lower case A? BELLA: Lower case, right? OLD WOMAN: Yes! And is A a... BELLA: Vowel! OLD WOMAN: Yes my dear! You really are learning fast! [Father enters. He hangs his jacket over one of the chairs.] FATHER: How is she doing? OLD WOMAN: Very well! She's learning very fast! She'll be able to read sentences in no time! BELLA: But I already can! [She grabs the book, and points at the words as she reads them.] This says, I can't- [Old woman grabs the book from her.] OLD WOMAN: Dear girl! That is my personal journal! BELLA: Oh! I'm ever so sorry! I didn't know, you see. OLD WOMAN: It's all right, it's all right. Now, where are your sisters? FATHER: Those two girls! They will be scolded very much when they get home! BELLA: Oh father, it isn't there fault. They have many things to do... OLD WOMAN: It very much is their fault. I am offering you great lessons! Now let's move on to B... [Lights go off. They exit.] ACT 1 Scene 4 [There are a couple of chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [Lights go on. The two girls and the father are standing up.] FATHER: Where have you been! You missed your lessons! SARAH: Oh father! There were all these flowers outside, and I knew that I was having a party tonight, and I just thought that if I got some to decorate the house... KARA: And this musician came into town, father! He had an accordion! He played so well! FATHER: Both of you should be ashamed of yourselves! Bella has almost learned to read, while all you two have accomplished is picking some flowers and dancing to some music! Sarah, you are not having your party tonight! And Kara, you are not allowed to listen to any music for a week! You should know that you two learning to read is very important to me, and that you should take that into account next time, so that maybe you won't be punished! SARAH: We're very sorry father... KARA: Yes, very, very sorry... FATHER: No matter. Now off to bed. KARA: But father, it is five o' clock. FATHER: You should of thought about this before you disobeyed me! Now off to bed! SARAH: But what about supper? FATHER: Get to your rooms, or I will double your consequences! KARA: Goodnight... Or good evening rather. [Everyone exits. DAUGHTERS leave left, FATHER leaves right. NARRATOR enters.] NARRATOR: Those two girls didn't show up for any of the classes. The days went on, and only Bella was able to read. The other girls were always off doing something or another. Kara wasn't allowed to dance anymore, and Sarah hadn't had a single party. Things weren't going too well for the oldest two girls, until a handsome man showed up. [NARRATOR exits. The two DAUGHTERS enter. They sit down.] SARAH: His eyes are the prettiest blue I have ever seen! KARA: And his hair! It's chestnut brown... SARAH: And he wears all of the latest styles! He must be filthy rich! KARA: The other day, I heard him playing the loveliest music. SARAH: I hope that he asks me to be his bride! KARA: I suppose he will, dear sister. You are so much older, and so much prettier. than I. I hope that he does marry you, and that you live happily ever after! It's all so perfect! SARAH: Do you really suppose he will marry me? I know that he is looking for a bride, but I don't know... He hasn't even met me! KARA: He really is handsome! His pretty blue eyes, and his hair... SARAH: I suppose that I shall introduce myself to him tomorrow.. [Lights go out. They exit.] ACT 1 Scene 5 [There are a couple of chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [Narrator enters. Lights go on.] NARRATOR: Now this man was very handsome, of course, and he was filthy rich. Sarah was hopelessly in love with him. I think you would be too, if you saw how good looking he was... Anyway, the man, whose name was Nick, came to this town, looking for a bride. [NARRATOR exits. Lights go out. Sarah and Nick enter.] SARAH: This is my home. It's not much, but, well, it's all right. NICK: I love homes. There always so cozy. My house is huge, well, it's more like a castle. SARAH: You live in a castle! NICK: Well, yes... It is very beautiful... But not as nice as this... SARAH: Not as nice as this! Our house is... well... tiny! NICK: I wouldn't call this tiny, I would just call it... small, and cozy. SARAH: Enough about my home. I want to hear about yours. Do you really live in a castle? [They sit down.] NICK: Yes, I do. It's very beautiful... as I said before. SARAH: I would love to visit a castle... NICK: Maybe you could visit mine someday. SARAH: Do you really mean that! Oh, it must be amazing! NICK: I guess you could say so... SARAH: Well, anyway.... You wanted to see my house, and this is it. NICK: Now Sarah, I have a question to ask you. SARAH: You do? Because I've been hearing some rumors, and all, and I was just wondering... [Father enters.] FATHER: What are you doing here! Sarah, I said no guests! NICK: Oh, pardon me sir! Your lovely daughter was just showing me her home! FATHER: Oh, oh, oh. You must be Nick. The lovely man that my daughters have been talking about. SARAH: Father! FATHER: Nick has pretty eyes, Nick's hair is Chestnut brown, Nick, Nick, Nick! SARAH: How could you, Father! [SARAH exits, with tears streaming down her eyes. NICK runs after her. Lights go out. Furniture is moved out. NICK and SARAH enter, standing. Lights go on.] SARAH: My own father! How dare he! NICK: It's O.K. SARAH: No it's not! Now I've been completely humiliated! NICK: No you haven't! There's nothing to be ashamed of! SARAH: Never mind that. Now what was the question you were going to ask me? NICK: Before I tell you that, I want you to know something. SARAH: What? NICK: You have beautiful eyes. SARAH: You think so? NICK: Yes. And you have amazing Chestnut brown hair yourself. SARAH: Don't tease me so, Nick! NICK: Only joking! Now, I was wondering if you would like to be my bride? [Lights go out. Furniture is moved back on stage. Intermission starts.] [Intermission lasts 10 minutes.] ACT 2 Scene 1 [There are a couple chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [NARRATOR enters. Lights go on.] NARRATOR: The wedding was beautiful, or course, as weddings usually are. Nick and Sarah were perfect together. Kara got to be the bride's maid, and after much arguing, her father agreed to be in the wedding. Things were going great. They were living in Nick's beautiful castle. Everything was perfect, until the day that Nick had to leave for a meeting. [NARRATOR exits. Lights go off. SARAH and NICK enter, and they sit down.] NICK: Sarah, I have to go to a meeting. You must stay here. There are plenty of gowns for you to try on while I am away. SARAH: But what about food? NICK: That table over there will give you whatever food that you need, as long as you think of a hot meal. SARAH: O.K. I think that I will be fine. NICK: Good. Now, there is one thing that you must remember. You must not open the door at the end of the hallway. SARAH: All right. I understand. NICK: I will be back as soon as possible, my dear. [NICK leaves. Lights go out. SARAH leaves. NARRATOR enters.] NARRATOR: Sarah tried on dresses all day long, but eventually that got boring. No one was there to see how beautiful she was! Eventually, Sarah found her curiosity growing about the room at the end of the hallway. She went over to the door, and opened it just a crack, and she was sucked inside. [Lights go out. NARRATOR exit. NICK enters.] NICK: Sarah! Where are you Sarah! Oh no! [Walks off stage. He comes back with Sarah. They stand.] NICK: I told you not to enter that room! You will pay for this! SARAH: But Nick... [NARRATOR enters. NICK and SARAH exit. SARAH flaps her hands like she is a bird.] NARRATOR: Sarah didn't get to finish. She had been turned into a yellow bird by Nick. He shut her up in a cage, and locked her in the closet. [NARRATOR exits. Lights go out.] ACT 2 Scene 2 [There are a few chairs, a table, and a fireplace.] [Lights come on to BELLA and FATHER sitting down.] BELLA: Where is Sarah father! She has been missing for so long! I really am starting to worry about my sister. FATHER: Do not worry about her. She has her own affairs, Bella.. BELLA: I know, but I can't help but worry. FATHER: Don't be so scared. She will come to visit soon. Look, there's Nick now! (points in a random direction). BELLA: Nick! He's here! [KARA enters, and stands.] KARA: Did someone say Nick? BELLA: Yes, look! He has come at last! FATHER: I can't see why you two are so excited. BELLA: Why, father! We haven't seen a sign of our sister in months! [There's a knock at the door.] BELLA: Come in Nick! [Nick enters, and sits.] NICK: Hello. We would like to invite one of you to come visit us at the castle. Sarah and I have been very busy, as you can imagine. KARA: Oh please Bella, could I go first? BELLA: If it would please you, yes. KARA: Oh great! This is all so exciting! I shall go pack my things. BELLA: Why didn't Sarah come with you? NICK: Well, she's at the supermarket. BELLA: Oh, really? NICK: Uh, yes... BELLA: Well, come back soon. I really want to visit my sister. NICK: Of course, of course. See you soon! FATHER: All right then. Goodbye! [KARA returns, and stands. She's carrying a bag.] KARA: I've got my stuff! [Lights go out. Everyone exits. NARRATOR enters. Lights go on.] NARRATOR: Kara goes to Nick's house, and he leaves, telling her that he has to meet an old friend. He tells her that his house if filled with different musical instruments, and that she can play them and dance all she wants. He told her about the table, and about the door at the end of the hall. He told her that Sarah would be back soon, and he left. [Lights go out. Narrator exits.] ACT 2 Scene 3 [There are a few chairs, a table, and a fireplace.] [KARA enters. Lights go on. She is dancing.] [KARA dances around, really happy. She gets tired and she sits down.] KARA: I wonder what is on the other side of that door... [She walks off stage. You hear her talking from offstage.] KARA: Nick! Help! I'm locked inside, with all these funny birds! [Nick enters, and stands.] NICK: Kara? Kara! Oh no! [He walks off stage, and comes back with Kara.] NICK: You have opened that closet, just like your sister! KARA: I know, I'm very sorry! NICK: Why did you open the door? KARA: Well, the curiosity was burning inside me! I just had to open it! NICK: Well, you shall pay for doing that! KARA: What are you going to do to me? NICK: I'm going to turn you into a bird, just like I've done with all of the other girls and wives that I've had, who've opened the door. KARA: But that's terrible! It's not their fault! NICK: No one said that I wasn't a terrible person. Now, ABIRDARUNTUNDUS! [NARRATOR enters, and stands. The others leave, KARA acting like a bird.] NARRATOR: Kara has made the same mistake that her other sister has. Of course, he locked her up in a cage, and put her in the closet with her sister. Back at home, Bella was beginning to worry. She hadn't heard from either of her sisters in a while. [Lights go out. Narrator exits.] ACT 2 Scene 4 [There are a few chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [Bella and her father are sitting down. Lights go on.] BELLA: I'm beginning to worry again, father. FATHER: You were worried last time too, remember? BELLA: Yes, I do... But that was different! FATHER: No it was not! Nick will come back sooner or later. BELLA: But don't you think that something suspicious is happening? FATHER: What do you mean? BELLA: Nothing, nothing. Look! It's Nick! FATHER: Of course, he pops up out of nowhere again! BELLA: This is so great father! Now I shall have my turn! FATHER: But why hasn't he brought Sarah and Kara with him? BELLA: I told you that something strange was going on! FATHER: No matter. He shall explain when he gets here. [There is a knock at the door.] BELLA: Come in Nick! [NICK enters, and he sits.] BELLA: Hello Nick. NICK: Why hello! I have come to take you to meet your sisters. Tonight we are going to see a play. BELLA: A play! How grand! NICK: Are you already packed? BELLA: Of course. But where are my sisters? NICK: They went shopping for something to wear. Come along now. [Lights go off. Nick, Bella, and father exit. Narrator enters. Light goes on.] NARRATOR: Of course, Bella goes back to Nick's home. Nick tells her that he is going to find something for him to wear that night, and that he would be back shortly, along with Sarah and Kara. He told her about the table, and about the door at the end of the hallway. He tells her that his house is filled with books, and that she can read for as long as she liked. As you might of guessed, the house filled itself with whatever the girl liked best. Nick left, and Sarah began to read, but, just like her sisters, she began to wonder about the door. [Lights go out. Narrator exits.] ACT 2 Scene 5 [There are a couple chairs, a small table, and a fireplace.] [SARAH enters. Lights go on.] [SARAH is reading a book. She is sitting on a chair. Suddenly she stops reading.] SARAH: What is behind that door? It can't be anything that important! [She continues to read.] SARAH: I guess that I must open it, unless I might drive myself crazy. [She exits. Narrator enters.] NARRATOR: Poor Bella. She fell for the same trick as her sisters. Lets see how she is faring. [Sarah enters.] NARRATOR: Look, she sees all of the birds. She must be realizing that these are all maidens! [Sarah looks at the birds.] NARRATOR: And look! Now she's found the spellbook! [Sarah looks at the spellbook, and flips through its pages.] SARAH: TARASHAMA reveals their deepest desire... [She continues to flip through the pages, and she hears footsteps.] NARRATOR: Uh oh. Looks like he's coming! [SARAH flips the pages frantically.] SARAH: REDUCTUS MOUSAMILLUS turns someone into a mouse.... [She flips the pages!] SARAH: Ah ha! This one reverses all spells. [Nick enters.] NICK: How dare you! SARAH: BEJACKLE WAX! NARRATOR: Look! All of those girls have come back! [Sara and Kara enter, and other girls.] SARAH: RUN! [The girls run offstage.] SARAH: REDUCTUS MOUSAMILLUS! NARRATOR: Nick turns into a mouse, and Sarah grabs a bird cage, and throws him in. [SARAH throws the mouse into a bird cage. NICK slips out, and a grey MOUSE takes his place.] [SARAH exits with MOUSE.] NARRATOR: They lived very happily. The girls were happy to be reunited, and they told tales about being birds and laughed about what they had said about Nick. The mouse had been eaten by the house cat long ago, and so, Nick's being gone, they lived happily ever after. 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