Narrator: It is a cold, wet night outside. We are inside a warm, cozy house. A fire is burning brightly in the fireplace. An old man, Mr. White, and his son, Herbert, are playing chess. Mrs. White is knitting by the fire. They are expecting a visitor-Sergeant Morris, who has just come back from India. There is a knock at the door.
Mr. White: There he is. I’ll let him in.
Narrator: Mr. White goes to the door and returns with a tall, red faced man. Sergeant Morris shakes hands with everyone and goes to the fire.
Sergeant Morris: Ah, this feels good! It’s really cold outside.
Mr. White: Even with this bad weather, it must be good to get back home to England.
Herbert: I’d love to go to India! It must be interesting. England is so dull. Nothing exciting ever happens here.
Mr. White: Morris, Why don’t you tell us more about that monkey’s paw we’ve heard about?
Sergeant Morris: There’s nothing to it really. Just some strange old Eastern magic.
Herbert: Oh, please tell us! It’s a good night story.
Sergeant Morris: Well it looks just like an ordinary paw. Nothing special about it.
Narrator: He takes a small paw from his pocket and gives it to Herbert.
Mrs. White: Ugh! Herbert, how can you touch that awful old thing?
Mr. White: It sure doesn’t look like magic. What’s so special about it?
Sergeant Morris: An old holy man in India put a spell on it. He wanted to show that fate rules people’s lives, and that if you mess with fate, you’ll get hurt. He put a spell on the paw so that three men could have three wishes from it.
Mrs. White: You sound so serious about it! It’s just an ugly old paw, after all.
Herbert: Why don’t you make three wishes on it, Sergeant Morris?
Sergeant Morris: (looking hard at Herbert) I have. (He turns pale at the thought).
Mrs. White: Well did you really get three wishes?
Sergeant Morris: Yes I did. But let’s not talk about it.
Mrs. White: Has anyone else wished?
Sergeant Morris: The first man had his three wishes. I don’t know what the first two were. But the third wish was for death. That’s how I got the paw.
Herbert: You mean he wished to die, and he did?
Sergeant Morris: Yes.
Mrs. White: So what? It’s probably just a coincidence.
Mr. White: I’m not so sure. If you’ve had your three wishes, why don’t you give the paw to someone else?
Sergeant Morris: I thought of selling it, but I don’t think I will. It has caused enough trouble already.
Narrator: Sergeant Morris picks up the paw and throws in on the logs in the fireplace.
Mr. White: Don’t do that! (He snatches the paw from the fire.) Sergeant Morris, if you don’t want the paw, then give it to me.
Sergeant Morris: Take it. But you’re a fool if you do. And don’t blame me for what happens. Listen, be sensible. Burn it.
Mr. White: No I want it. How do you make the wish?
Sergeant Morris: Hold it up in your right hand and wish aloud. But I warn you of the result.
Narrator: Mrs. White gets up to make dinner.
Mrs. White: Why don’t you wish for four pairs of hands for me?
Sergeant Morris: If you must wish, wish for something sensible. But I think you’ll be sorry.
Narrator: The monkey’s paw was forgotten during dinner. For the rest of the evening the Whites listened to Sergeant Morris talk about India.
Sergeant Morris: My goodness it’s late. I’ve talked too much, I must be going. But before I leave, I wish you’d throw the monkey’s paw away.
Mr. White: Don’t worry, Sergeant. We’ll be careful.
Narrator: Sergeant Morris puts on his coat, says good night, and walks out the door.
Herbert: (Looking at the paw)A magic monkey’s paw-how silly! Wish to be a king, father, then Mother can’t boss you around.
Mrs. White: (Laughing) Wish for 200 pounds to pay off the mortgage.
Mr. White: Why not? Let’s try it. (He holds up the paw in his right hand.) I wish for 200 pounds.
Narrator: Suddenly, he drops the paw.
Mr. White: Ahhh! It moved! It twisted like a snake! I swear it did!
Mrs. White: It couldn’t have. It’s just your imagination.
Herbert: I don’t see any money.(He picks up the paw and puts it on the table.) I guess it doesn’t work.
Mr. White: There’s no harm done. But it gave me quite a scare. Now let’s go to bed and forget about magic for a while.
