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Note: The original story The Monkey’s Paw by W. W. Jacobs, was gotten from Project Gutenberg at www.gutenberg.org. The original story is in the public domain. This stage adaptation is offered free for performance, if author and adapter’s names are left on it. Very little was changed from the original.

See other J. Jaquish scripts at www.theaterfunscripts.com .

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CHARACTERS
FATHER – Randall White, an old man in the original
MOTHER – Eliza White, an old woman in the original
HERBERT WHITE – their son (or daughter), age 17 to 30
MORRIS – Visiting retired military, 40’s
VISITOR – From Herbert’s company
NARRATOR

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Scene 1: The Night It Came
(Middle class cottage: fireplace, armchairs in one place, kitchen table and chairs another place, bedroom with bed and chair another.)

NARRATOR Without, the night was cold and wet, but in the small parlour of Mr. and Mrs. White, the blinds were drawn and the fire burned brightly. Father and son were at chess, the former, who possessed ideas about the game involving radical changes, putting his king into such sharp and unnecessary perils that it even provoked comment from the white-haired old lady knitting placidly by the fire.

FATHER Hark at the wind,

NARRATOR said Mr. White, who, having seen a fatal mistake after it was too late, was amiably desirous of preventing his son from seeing it.

HERBERT I'm listening... Check.

FATHER I should hardly think that he'd come to-night. (his hand poised over the board.)

HERBERT Mate.

FATHER That's the worst of living so far out, (with sudden and unlooked-for violence) Of all the beastly, slushy, out-of-the-way places to live in, this is the worst. Pathway's a bog, and the road's a torrent. I don't know what people are thinking about. I suppose because only two houses in the road are let, they think it doesn't matter.

MOTHER Never mind, dear (soothingly) Perhaps you'll win the next one

(Mr. White looked up sharply, just in time to intercept a knowing glance between mother and son. The words died away on his lips, and he hid a guilty grin in his thin grey beard. )

KNOCK KNOCK

HERBERT There he is!

FATHER (opening the door) Charlie! You old, scalliwag!

MORRIS Guilty as charged. You’re looking no worse for wear Randall.

FATHER (introducing him) Sergeant-Major Charles Morris, this is my dear wife, Eliza, and my son Herbert.
(Hand shaking and greetings. Herbert hangs his coat & hat. The Father pours whiskey into two tumblers.)

MOTHER Sit here by the fire, Sergeant Major Morris, and warm up.

MORRIS Thank you.

MOTHER Was the walk from the train station terribly wet?

MORRIS Not too bad. I’ve certainly seen worse.

MOTHER I’m, sure you have.

MORRIS (taking the tumbler of whiskey from the Father) Ah, thank you. That will take the chill off.

HERBERT (sitting near) My father has retold many stories of your adventures.

MORRIS Has he? I’m sure they’ve gotten better with time.

FATHER Is it my fault you’ve given us so much time to tell ‘em without coming to tell ‘em yourself? Twenty-one years Charley’s been off in the military witnessing wars and plagues and strange peoples. When he went away he was just a slip of a youth in the warehouse. Now look at him.

MOTHER He don't look to have taken much harm.
FATHER I'd like to go to India myself, just to look round a bit, you know.

MORRIS Better where you are.(shaking his head. He put down the empty glass, and sighing softly, shook it again.)

FATHER I should like to see those old temples and fakirs and jugglers. What was that you started telling me the other day about a monkey's paw or something, Morris?

MORRIS Nothing, ( hastily) Leastways nothing worth hearing.

MOTHER Monkey's paw?

MORRIS Well, it's just a bit of what you might call magic, perhaps.

(His three listeners leaned forward eagerly. The visitor absent-mindedly put his empty glass to his lips and then set it down again. His host filled it for him.)

MORRIS To look at, ( fumbling in his pocket) it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy. (holds it out The Mother drew back with a grimace, but Herbert, taking it, examined it curiously.)

FATHER And what is there special about it? (as he took it from his son, and having examined it, placed it upon the table.)

MORRIS It had a spell put on it by an old fakir, a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it.

(Light laughter.)
HERBERT (cleverly) Well, why don't you have three, sir?

(The soldier regarded him in the way that middle age is wont to regard presumptuous youth.)

MORRIS (quietly) I have.

MOTHER And did you really have the three wishes granted?

MORRIS I did. (and his glass tapped against his strong teeth.)

HERBERT And has anybody else wished?

MORRIS The first man had his three wishes. Yes. I don't know what the first two were, but the third was for death. (pause) That's how I got the paw.

(His tones were so grave that a hush fell upon the group.)

FATHER If you've had your three wishes, it's no good to you now, then, Morris. What do you keep it for?

MORRIS (shaking his head) Fancy, I suppose ( slowly) I did have some idea of selling it, but I don't think I will. It has caused enough mischief already. Besides, people won't buy. They think it's a fairy tale; some of them, and those who do think anything of it want to try it first and pay me afterward.

HERBERT If you could have another three wishes, (eyeing him keenly) would you have them?

MORRIS I don't know. I don't know.

(He took the paw, and dangling it between his forefinger and thumb, suddenly threw it upon the fire. The Father, with a slight cry, snatched it off.)

MORRIS Better let it burn, ( solemnly)

FATHER If you don't want it, Morris, give it to me.

MORRIS (doggedly) I won't. I threw it on the fire. If you keep it, don't blame me for what happens. Pitch it on the fire again like a sensible man.

(The Father shook his head and examined his new possession closely.)

FATHER How do you do it?

MORRIS Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud. But I warn you of the consequences.

MOTHER Sounds like the Arabian Nights. (as she rose and began to set the supper.) Don't you think you might wish for four pairs of hands for me?

(Her FATHER drew the talisman from pocket,
the sergeant-major, with a look of alarm on his face, caught him by the arm.
The family bursts into laughter.)

MORRIS If you must wish, ( gruffly) wish for something sensible.

(More laughter from the family. They will all sit down to dinner pantomiming eating and talking, then rising, good-byes and MORRIS EXITS.)

NARRATOR In the business of supper the talisman was partly forgotten, and afterward the three sat listening in an enthralled fashion to a second installment of the soldier's adventures in India. Sergeant-Colonel Morris made his good-byes with just enough time to catch the last train.

HERBERT If the tale about the monkey's paw is not more truthful than those he has been telling us, we sha'nt make much out of it.

MOTHER Did you give him anything for it, dear

FATHER (a bit embarrassed) A trifle. He didn't want it, but I made him take it. And he pressed me again to throw it away.

HERBERT (with mock horror) Throw it away??? Why, we're going to be rich, and famous and happy. To begin with, wish to be an emperor, father; then you can't be henpecked.
(He darted round the table, pursued by the maligned Mrs. White armed with an antimacassar. Mr. White took the paw from his pocket and eyed it dubiously.)

FATHER I don't know what to wish for, and that's a fact. It seems to me I've got all I want.

HERBERT If you only paid off the house, you'd be quite happy, wouldn't you? Well, wish for two hundred pounds, then; that'll just do it.

(The Father, slightly embarrassed held up the talisman, as his son, with a solemn face, somewhat marred by a wink at his mother, sat down at the piano and struck a few impressive chords. )

FATHER I wish for two hundred pounds.

( A fine crashing chord from the piano greeted the words, interrupted by a shuddering cry from the old man.)

FATHER It moved! As I wished, it twisted in my hand like a snake.

HERBERT Well, I don't see the money, ( as he picked it up and placed it on a table near the fireplace) and I bet I never shall.

MOTHER It must have been your fancy, dear.

FATHER (shaking his head) Never mind, though; there's no harm done, but it gave me a shock all the same.

NARRATOR They sat down by the fire again while the two men finished their pipes. Outside, the wind was higher than ever, and the old man started nervously at the sound of a door banging upstairs. A silence unusual and depressing settled upon all three, which lasted until the old couple rose to retire for the night.

MOTHER Come to bed, dear. Good-night dear Herbert. (kisses his head)

HERBERT Good-night, Mother. I expect you'll find the cash tied up in a big bag in the middle of your bed upstairs. And something horrible squatting up on top of the wardrobe watching you as you pocket your ill-gotten gains. I’ll stay up just a little longer.

(MOTHER & FATHER EXIT,
HERBERT acts out narration. )

NARRATOR Herbert sat alone in the darkness, gazing at the dying fire, and seeing faces in the embers. The last face was so horrible and so simian that he gazed at it in amazement. It got so vivid that, with a little uneasy laugh, he felt for his glass of water to throw over it. His hand grasped the monkey's paw, and with a little shiver he wiped his hand on his coat and went up to bed.

(HERBERT drops the monkey hand on the floor and EXITS)

(CURTAIN CLOSES)

(HERBERT walks across stage apron, sniffs his hand and wipes it on his coat again. EXITS.)

(CURTAIN OPENS)
SCENE 2: NEXT MORNING – OFF TO WORK
Same room arrangement.
Day Lighting.
(Mother wears a bright apron, carries breakfast things to the table. Father is at breakfast.)

NARRATOR In the brightness of the wintry sun next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table they laughed at their fears of the night before.

MOTHER Herbert! Your breakfast is getting cold!

HERBERT (ENTERING happily) Morning, Father! Morning, Mother!

MOTHER Good morning, sleepyhead. Hurry and eat your breakfast or you’ll be late for work. (scraping food from a fry pan onto his plate. A sausage falls to the floor.) Ooops!
(She reaches down to pick up what fell.) SCREAM!
(She has accidentally picked up the monkey paw and jerks her hand away in midair. It flies off a little ways.)

HERBERT You trying to feed me that old monkey hand? (picks it up)

FATHER At least she was cooking it first.

MOTHER I was not. Now where did that sausage roll to? (searching under the table, finds it and throws it away)

HERBERT You mean you were feeding it to me raw?

MOTHER Oh, put it over there. (towards the fireplace) Away from the table.

(HERBERT puts it on the mantle and goes to eat.)
HERBERT Sorry Mr. Monkey Hand. If you were a monkey mouth maybe you could join us. (sits) Mmmm. Thank you for the good breakfast, Mother.

MOTHER You are welcome, dear. I wish you’d wash your hands.

FATHER I hope ol’ Morris didn’t get too wet on his walk back to the train. Oh, well, like he said: he’s seen worse.

MOTHER I suppose all old soldiers are the same. The idea of our listening to such nonsense! How could wishes be granted in these days?
And if they could, how could two hundred pounds hurt you, Randall?

HERBERT Might drop on his head from the sky.

FATHER Morris said the things happened so naturally that you might, if you wished, attribute it to coincidence.

HERBERT Well, don't break into the money before I come back. I'm afraid it'll turn you into a mean, avaricious skinflint, and we shall have to disown you.

MOTHER Oh, get on with you, or you’ll be late. Here’s your coat and your lunch box.

(MOTHER hurries him out the door, goodbyes, watching fondly as he departs. Serves herself breakfast.)

MOTHER Wishing on a monkey’s paw. I can’t believe you’d believe in such things.

FATHER What??

(CURTAIN CLOSES)

KNOCK KNOCK (in a “postman’s pattern”)

MOTHER Oh! The mail.
(MOTHER ENTERS, scurries across the stage apron to EXIT other side, returning immediately with an envelope) An envelope!

FATHER (voice offstage) Isn’t that what the postman usually brings?

MOTHER (disappointed) A bill from the tailor.

FATHER (voice offstage) Maybe he has to make a second trip for the bag of gold.

(CURTAIN OPENS
Afternoon lighting
Afternoon activity:: reading the paper, ironing, etc.)

MOTHER Well, 4pm, and no sign of wealth. (lovingly) Herbert will have some more of his funny remarks, I expect, when he comes home. (she glances out the window at something of interest)

FATHER I dare say, but for all that, the thing moved in my hand; that I'll swear to.

MOTHER You thought it did, (continues to look)

FATHER I say it did. There was no thought about it; I had just-- What's the matter?

MOTHER A well dressed gentleman outside. Three times he has stopped at our gate as if to enter.

FATHER Maybe he's bringing our 200 pounds. (chuckle)

MOTHER He's coming up! Oh! (She quickly takes off her apron and stashes it under a cushion and straightens a few things.)

(KNOCK)
MOTHER Good day, sir..... Can I help you?

VISITOR Are you Mrs. White?

MOTHER Yes, I am. Won't you come in.
(The stranger ENTERS the room, ill at ease.)

MOTHER Please excuse our untidy parlor and my husband's old coat - he was working in the garden. (waits)

VISITOR I was asked to call.
( stoops and picks a piece of cotton from his trousers.)
I come from 'Maw and Meggins.'

MOTHER (sudden shock) Is anything the matter? Has anything happened to Herbert? What is it? What is it?

FATHER There, there, Eliza. Sit down, and don't jump to conclusions. (to the visitor) You've not brought bad news, I'm sure, sir?

VISITOR I'm sorry-
MOTHER (wildly) Is he hurt?
VISITOR (nodding) Badly hurt, but he is not in any pain.

MOTHER Oh, thank God! ( clasping her hands) Thank God for that! Thank-

(She broke off suddenly as the sinister meaning of the assurance dawned upon her and she saw the awful confirmation of her fears in the other's contorted face. She caught her breath, and turning to her slower-witted husband, laid her trembling old hand upon his. There was a long silence. Both turn from the visitor to stare out the window toward audience.)

VISITOR He was caught in the machinery.

FATHER Caught in the machinery, yes.
(He stared blankly out at the window, and taking his wife's hand between his own, pressed it as he had been wont to do in their old courting-days nearly forty years before.)
He was the only one left to us,
( turning gently to the visitor.) It is hard.

VISITOR (walking closer but awkwardly to them)
The firm wished me to convey their sincere sympathy with you in your great loss. I beg that you will understand I am only their servant and merely obeying orders.

(There was no reply; the old woman's face was white, her eyes staring, and her breath inaudible; on the old man’s face was a look such as his friend the sergeant might have carried into his first action.)

VISITOR I was to say that Maw and Meggins disclaim all responsibility. They admit no liability at all, but in consideration of your son's services, they wish to present you with a certain sum as compensation. (he awkwardly holds out an envelope)

(Mr. White dropped his wife's hand. THEY turn to face the visitor with a look of horror.)

FATHER How much?
VISITOR Two hundred pounds

MOTHER (shriek)

(Unconscious of his wife's shriek, the FATHER chuckled then sobbed softly, put out his hands like a sightless man, and dropped, a senseless heap, to the floor. )

(CLOSE CURTAIN)

NARRATOR In the huge new cemetery, some two miles distant, the old people buried their dead, and came back to a house steeped in shadow and silence. It was all over so quickly that at first they could hardly realize it, and remained in a state of expectation as though of something else to happen -something else which was to lighten this load, too heavy for old hearts to bear. But the days passed, and expectation gave place to resignation -the hopeless resignation of the old, sometimes miscalled, apathy.
Sometimes they hardly exchanged a word, for now they had nothing to talk about, and their days were long to weariness.
It was about a week after, that the old man, waking suddenly in the night, stretched out his hand and found himself alone.

(CURTAIN OPENS)
SCENE 3: COME HOME
(The FATHER is in bed but already waking and realizing she is not next to him. The MOTHER sits in a chair near the bed but facing away from it. )

FATHER ( sits up, sees her.)
Come back to bed, ( tenderly) You will be cold.

MOTHER It is colder for my son, (soft sobbing)

(FATHER sits for a long moment watching her, but is overcome with sleep.
After a few moments...)

MOTHER The paw! (she cried wildly) The monkey's paw!
(She shakes him awake roughly.)

FATHER (He started up in alarm.) Where? Where is it? What's the matter?

MOTHER I want it, (quietly, intensely) You've not destroyed it?

FATHER It's in the parlour, on the mantle. Why?

MOTHER (crying and laughing) I only just thought of it. Why didn't I think of it before? Why didn't you think of it?

FATHER Think of what?

MOTHER The other two wishes. We've only had one.

FATHER Was not that enough? (demanding fiercely)

MOTHER No! We'll have one more. Quickly! Go down and get it and wish our boy alive again.

FATHER Good God, you are mad!

MOTHER Get it, get it quickly, and wish - Oh, my boy, my boy!

FATHER Get back to bed. ( unsteadily) You don't know what you are saying.

MOTHER We had the first wish granted, why not the second?

FATHER A coincidence.

MOTHER Go and get it and wish!

( The old man turned and regarded her, and his voice shook.)
FATHER He has been dead ten days, and besides he-I would not tell you this before, but---- I could only recognize him by his clothing. If he was too terrible for you to see then, how now?

MOTHER Bring him back! (pulling him toward the doorway) Do you think I fear the child I have nursed?

(They EXIT the bedroom and ENTER the downstairs. HE apprehensively gets the monkey's paw from the fireplace mantle and fearfully looks around.)

FATHER Here is the accursed thing.

MOTHER Wish! (she cried, in a strong voice. )

FATHER It is foolish and wicked.

MOTHER Wish!

FATHER (holding up the paw) I wish my son alive again! (a cry of anguish. He drops the monkey's paw)

NARRATOR The old man sank trembling into a chair as the old woman, with burning eyes, walked to the window and watched and waited. He sat until he was chilled with the cold, glancing occasionally at the figure of the old woman peering through the window.

MOTHER (with a look of hope) Herbert..

FATHER Such a request. To bring the dead to life. It cannot have the power. Come to bed.

MOTHER I'll wait..

(Despondently, he goes upstairs, lies in bed staring.)

NARRATOR The old man, with an unspeakable sense of relief at the failure of the talisman, crept back to his bed, but it was at least half an hour before the old woman came, silently and apathetically, to lie beside him. Neither spoke, but lay silently listening to the ticking of the clock.

MOTHER This darkness is oppressive.

FATHER Need a new candle.
(Carrying the lantern, goes downstairs and takes a candle from a drawer.)

KNOCK (soft)

(He stood motionless, his breath suspended.)

KNOCK (soft)

(He turned and fled swiftly back to his room, puts the candle in the lamp and lights it.)

THIRD LOUDER KNOCK

MOTHER What's that?

FATHER A rat. ( in shaking tones)A rat. It passed me on the stairs.

(MOTHER sits up in bed listening. )
TWO LOUD KNOCKS

MOTHER It's Herbert! It's Herbert!

(She tries to run, He catching her by the arm, held her tightly.)

FATHER What are you going to do? (whispered hoarsely)

MOTHER It's my boy; it's Herbert! (struggling mechanically)
I forgot the graveyard is two miles away. What are you holding me for? Let go. I must open the door.

FATHER For God's sake! Don't let it in

MOTHER You're afraid of your own son! (breaks free)
Let me go. I'm coming, Herbert; I'm coming.

LOUD CONSTANT KNOCKING

(MOTHER runs downstairs, stumbling thru the dark to the door.
FATHER follows but stops too terrified to approach the door.
She struggles to slide the bottom bolt, then the key lock.)

MOTHER Stop knocking, Herbert! I’m opening the door!

FURIOUS BANGING

(The FATHER gropes on the floor to find the monkey hand.)
FATHER Don’t open it, Eliza! (to himself) Where is it? Where is it?

MOTHER I can’t reach the top bolt! Help me, Randall!
(She drags a chair to door)

FATHER Where is that cursed monkey paw!

(She stands on the chair, draws back bolt and steps off the chair.)

FATHER (finds it) I wish my son dead and at peace in his grave!

(The knocking ceases. The MOTHER draws the chair back, and opens the door. Nothing is there.)

MOTHER (long loud wail of disappointment and misery.)

(FATHER runs down to her side. Together they look out.)

(CLOSE CURTAIN)