The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe – Duologue
Two-hander · Tragicomedy
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe – Duologue
The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe – Duologue · CS Lewis Adapted for the stage by Adrian Mitchell
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The Lion, The Witch And The Wardrobe
Published by scriptsandsketches.com
Lucy discovers a secret entrance to Narnia and meets Mr. Tumnus, a faun who invites her for tea. As they converse, Tumnus reveals his troubling allegiance to the White Witch.
Duologue
Characters: LUCY, TUMNUS
(LUCY finds a secret entrance through a wardrobe in her uncle's house into the magical World of Narnia, a place which is always winter and never Christmas. Here she meets a faun, MR TUMNUS, who invites her to his home for tea.)
TUMNUS:
Daughter of Eve, from the far land of Spare Oom where eternal summer reigns around the bright city of War Drobe, will you come and take tea with me?
LUCY:
Thank you, Mr Tumnus, but I ought to get back.
TUMNUS:
It's only just around the corner. There'll be a roaring fire - and toast - and sardines - and cake.
LUCY:
Well, I can't stay long.
TUMINUS:
Take my arm, Daughter of Eve. I'll hold my umbrella over the both of us. That's the way. Now - off we go to my humble home. After you, Daughter of Eve.
LUCY:
(After hesitating for a second.) Thank you, Mr Tumnus. (LUCY enters the cave. TUMNUS glances from left to right, then follows her.)
TUMINUS:
Take a seat while I prepare the tea things.
LUCY:
I'd rather explore, if you don't mind.
TUMNUS:
Explore, explode or stand on your head it's all the same to me. I'm concentrating on the cookery side of life.
LUCY:
The first thing I do in a new room - I always inspect the books. Let's see. (She examines the bookshelf) Nymphs and Their Ways ... The Breeding and Care of Unicorns ... Is Man a Myth? We haven't got any of those at home.
TUMNUS:
(Mr Tumnus returns) Now, Daughter of Eve! I wasn't sure what you'd like, so I've done everything. Nice brown eggs, lightly boiled. Sardines on toast. Buttered toast. Toast with honey. And we’ll finish with sugar-topped cake. I hope that'll do.
LUCY:
(Smiling) Oh, that'll do. (They both tuck in.) What’s it like, Mr Tumnus, living in a forest in Narnia? (TUMINUS shakes his head sorrowfully, rather frightened) Mr Tumnus Whatever's the matter? (TUMNUS is sitting down, covering his face with his hands and sobbing) Mr Tumnus! Don’t! Aren’t you well? (She goes over, puts her arms round him and lends him her handkerchief, which he uses, but keeps crying) Mr Tumnus Stop it at once! You ought to be ashamed of yourself, great big Faun like you.
TUMNUS:
(Sobbing) Oh — oh — oh! I don’t suppose there’s ever been a worse Faun since the beginning of the world.
LUCY:
What’ve you done?
TUMNUS:
My old father, now, (Points to the portrait over the mantelpiece) he would never have done a thing like this. I'm in the pay of the White Witch.
LUCY:
The White Witch? Who is she?
TUMNUS:
She’s the one who keeps all Narnia under her crooked thumb. She's the one who makes it always Winter. Always winter and never Christmas; think of that.
LUCY:
How awful! But what does she pay you for?
TUMNUS:
I'm paid to be a-kidnapper. Look at me, Daughter of Eve. Would you believe that I’m the sort of Faun to meet a poor innocent child in the wood and invite it home to my cave for tea. So that I could hand it over to the White Witch?
LUCY:
You wouldn't do anything of the sort.
TUMINUS:
But I have.
LUCY:
(Slowly) Well, that was pretty bad. But I'm sure you'll never do it again.
TUMINUS:
Don't you understand? It's not something I have done. I'm doing it now.
LUCY:
(Scared now) What do you mean?
