c Tale
Drama
rk T
n Ma
o
d
e
s
Ba
si
s Clas
’
n
i
a
w
The
Prince Pa
and
the
Adaptation by Spencer Kayden l Illustrations by Tom Garrett
CHARACTERS
Circle the character you will play.
*Starred characters are major roles.
*Storytellers 1, 2, 3 (S1, S2, S3)
Guard
*Prince Edward: a 12-year-old boy
*Tom Canty: a 12-year-old boy
Mr. Canty: Tom’s father
Mrs. Canty: Tom’s mother
Servants 1 & 2
AS YOU READ,
THINK ABOUT:
King Henry: Prince Edward’s father
Hertford: King Henry’s adviser
Messenger
Lady Gwen
Lord John
Baker
Boy
Lawyer
Jailer
Nobles: to be read by half the class
Crowd: a group of peasants; to be read by the other
half of the class
24
Scholastic Scope • NOVEMBER 2014
What do the boys learn by
switching places?
Prologue
S1: In 1537, Tom Canty was born in London, England,
to a very poor family.
S2: On the same day, another child was born to a very
rich family. That boy was Prince Edward.
S3: For 12 years, the boys lived their separate lives.
S1: Prince Edward lived in the royal palace, surrounded
by silks, sapphires, and servants.
S2: Tom lived in a filthy room on a foul street.
Scene 1
S3: Tom presses his grimy face against the gilded gates
Pauper
CLASSIC
a sto
timele ry with
ss app
eal
Two boys trade lives.
What could possibly go wrong?
of the palace, ogling the prince in his fancy clothes.
Edward: Then let us trade!
Guard (pushing Tom): Get back, you beggar!
Tom: Really?
Edward: How dare you! Let that poor boy in.
Edward: Yes—just for a moment.
Guard: At once, Your Highness.
S2: The boys switch clothes. They regard themselves in
Edward (to Tom): You look hungry. Come with me.
a mirror.
S1: The prince leads Tom inside.
Edward: Uncanny! We have the same hair. Same eyes.
Edward: What’s your name?
Tom: Same face.
Tom: Tom Canty, Your Royal Highness.
Edward: Same voice.
Edward: And where do you live?
Tom: We could be twins.
Tom: In Offal Court near Pudding Lane.
Edward: Did the guard bruise your hand?
Edward: Do you enjoy it there?
Tom: Oh, it is nothing.
Tom: Yes, Sire. The other boys and I swim in the river
Edward: I shall punish him for hurting you. Wait here.
and play in the mud.
S3: On his way out, the prince sees an object on a table.
Edward: I would give up my kingdom if only I could
Edward (to himself): Father would be furious if I left his
wear clothes like yours and play in the mud just once.
royal seal lying about.
Tom: I have longed to dress in fine clothes like yours.
S1: Edward hides the seal inside a vase.
scope.scholastic.com • NOVEMBER 2014

25
Scene 2
S2: Still wearing Tom’s rags, the prince storms outside.
Edward: Listen here, you brute—
Guard: Be gone, tramp!
S3: The guard shoves Edward out the gate.
Edward: Let me in, you dimwit.
Guard: Off with you.
S1: A crowd has gathered.
Edward: It’s me, Prince Edward.
Crowd: He thinks he’s the prince!
S2: Someone pushes Edward into a puddle.
Crowd (louder): Ha! Ha! Ha!
Edward (to himself ): I must find Offal Court. The boy’s
family can prove who I am.
S3: The prince wanders through miserable alleys.
S1: Suddenly, a rough hand grabs him by the
shoulder.
Mr. Canty: Out this late, Tom?
Edward (relieved ): Are you his father? Excellent! My
Scene 4
good man, take me to the palace and tell them I am not
your son. My father, the king, will reward you well.
S2: Tom is brought to King Henry.
Mr. Canty: You are stark raving mad!
S3: The king, his face gray, lies weakly in bed. His
Edward (indignantly): I am Prince Edward.
adviser Hertford stands behind him.
S2: Tom’s mother rushes over.
Henry: Child, do you recognize me?
Mrs. Canty: Hush! You could be killed for saying that.
Tom (dropping to his knees): Your Majesty, I am a
Edward: You must believe me.
helpless pauper.
Mrs. Canty: Tom, am I not your mother?
Henry: Hertford, my son is mad. You must help him.
Edward: I’ve never seen you before.
Hertford: As you wish, Sire.
S3: Mrs. Canty begins to sob.
Henry: And bring me my royal seal.
S1: They look at Tom.
S1: At the castle, Tom waits nervously for the
Tom: But I’m not Prince Edward!
prince to return.
Henry: My boy, you know I am dying. Soon
Tom: I will be hanged if I am caught wearing
you will be king.
the prince’s clothes.
Tom: Please, let me go home.
S2: He opens the door and peeks out.
Henry: You must not deny who you are.
Servants 1 and 2 (bowing): Your Highness.
Tom: I’m no prince!
S3: He slams the door.
Servant 1: What’s wrong with him?
Servant 2: He said he’s not the prince.
S1: Word spreads that the prince has lost
his mind.
26
Scholastic Scope • NOVEMBER 2014
Kings and queens
signed documents
with their royal
seals, which were
usually pressed
into hot wax.
No laws could
be made official
without a royal
seal.
Scene 5
S2: Mr. Canty drags Edward through the
streets.
Edward: You unmannerly cur, I am the prince!
Mr. Canty: Yeah, yeah. And I am a royal
duchess.
De Agostini/Getty Images
Scene 3
Hertford: My lord, you gave it to the prince yesterday.
Edward: You shall hang for this.
Tom drinks from it.
Mrs. Canty: There’s something strange about this boy.
NOBLES: [horrified gasp]
What if he isn’t Tom?
Lord John: What will become of England?
Mr. Canty: Don’t be absurd.
Scene 7
S3: Suddenly, a trumpet blares. Royal horsemen come
charging down the street.
S2: Despondent, Edward shuffles down a muddy street.
Messenger: King Henry is dead! King Henry is dead!
S3: A cold drizzle soaks him as his royal belly rumbles.
Edward: Oh, Father!
S1: He gazes longingly at a pork pie in a shop window.
S1: In the commotion, Edward breaks free and
He does not see the burly man storming toward him.
disappears into the crowd.
Baker (seizing Edward’s wrist): Here’s the little thief!
Scene 6
Edward: Unhand me!
Baker: It was you who stole my bread.
S2: At the palace, nobles gather.
Edward: What proof have you?
Lady Gwen: Edward can’t remember anyone’s name.
Baker: What proof do I need? Just look at you. Come,
Lord John: He is always hiding food in his pockets.
the judge will decide your fate.
Lady Gwen: Shhhh. Here he comes.
Scene 8
Nobles: Your Majesty.
Tom: Uh, be seated everyone.
S2: Tom sits on the throne.
Hertford: My Lord, no one may sit in your presence.
Tom: Day after day, I sit here surrounded by servants.
Tom: Oh.
They bathe me, dress me, lift my glass for me, taste my
S3: Tom starts to eat his meal, not with a fork and knife,
food. It’s a wonder they don’t breathe for me.
but with his fingers.
S3: Tom admires the diamond clasp on his satin robe.
NOBLES: [horrified gasp]
Tom: I am a captive in a gilded cage. How I miss the
S1: A servant holds out a finger bowl, for hand washing.
fresh air and sunshine.
S1: Tom hears shouting coming from outside.
Tom: What is happening out there?
Hertford: It’s a crowd come to see an execution.
Tom: What is the crime?
Hertford: A man poisoned another man.
Tom: Are there witnesses?
Hertford: Not exactly.
Tom: And the punishment?
Hertford: The law decrees he will be boiled alive.
S2: Tom nearly falls out of his chair.
Tom: Boiled alive? Change that law!
Hertford: Yes, Your Grace.
Tom: In fact, from now on, if evidence against someone
is weak, his life shall be spared.
Hertford (to himself ): The boy gives life as easily as
his father took it. (to Tom) If you remember where you
put the royal seal, I will make your new decrees official.
Tom: The royal what?
Hertford: [sigh]
scope.scholastic.com • NOVEMBER 2014

27
Scene 9
S3: Edward sits in a putrid jail cell. He has
been there for some time, and his hair and
clothes are dirtier than ever.
S1: He watches a boy cry in the corner.
Edward: What saddens you?
Boy: I found a hawk in the woods and took
it home. The owner said I stole it. Now the
court has sentenced me to death.
Mrs. Canty: Tom! My child! Tom!
Hertford: Do you know this woman, Sire?
Tom: No, I . . . I do not know you, woman!
S1: An officer pushes Mrs. Canty away, and she is
swallowed by the crowd.
Hertford: My Lord, you look pale.
Scene 11
S2: At the coronation, Tom trembles.
Edward: To death?
S3: The crown is raised above his head.
Boy: It is the law.
Hertford: I now crown you K—
S2: Edward turns to a man crouching in
Edward (rushing in): Stop!
S1: Guards leap forward and grab him.
the dirt.
Edward: Why are you here, good sir?
Lawyer: I wrote a pamphlet about
England’s unjust laws. Now I am in
Tom: Let him go! That boy . . . is the true king!
NobleS: [gasp]
S2: Tom bows to Edward.
Lady Gwen: This vagabond can’t
prison for life.
Edward: I must change these laws.
possibly be His Majesty.
(calling out) Jailer, it is imperative
Lord John: The resemblance is
that you send a message to Lord
striking.
Hertford. Tell him the king is here.
Lady Gwen: So which is the
Jailer: The new king will be crowned
real king?
Hertford: There is a question
tomorrow, you loon.
Edward: What king?
only the true king can answer:
Jailer: King Edward the Sixth.
Where is the royal seal?
Edward (to himself ): The beggar
Edward: In a vase in my room.
boy? Can it be?
S3: Lord John leaves. He comes
Jailer: He has already repealed his
back holding the royal seal.
father’s cruelest punishments.
Hertford (pointing to Tom):
S3: That night, Edward manages to steal
the keys from the snoring jailer and escape.
Scene 10
Seize this impostor. He shall be put to
death for impersonating the king.
Edward: This boy ruled with gentleness and
mercy. He and his kin shall live under my protection.
S1: The following morning, a royal procession makes its
S1: Edward turns to face the crowd.
way through the crowded streets.
Edward: These past weeks, I have seen poverty and
Crowd: Hoorah! Hoorah!
oppression, inhumanity and intolerance. I do not envy
S2: Tom smiles and waves. His cheeks are flushed with
my people the lives they lead.
excitement as he takes in his adoring public.
Tom: Your Majesty, I do not envy you the life you lead.
Hertford: My Lord, I am happy to see you
back to your old self.
S2: Tom removes his shimmering golden robe
and wraps it around Edward’s shoulders.
Tom: Thank you, Hertford. The people, it
Edward: From this day forward, I will strive
seems, are happy to see their new king as well.
above all to improve the lives of my people.
S3: Suddenly, a ragged woman runs up.
ALL: Long live the king! Long live the king!
28
Scholastic Scope • NOVEMBER 2014
•
HOW-TO
The Secret to a Happier Life
Empathy means putting yourself in someone else’s
shoes. Here’s how to do it. By Kristin Lewis
H
ave you ever cried along with a friend who
suffered the death of a pet? Or swelled
with pride when your little sister won
first prize at the science fair, as though
you had won yourself? Was your heart
pounding during the climax of Divergent ?
Those feelings all come from your ability to put
yourself in another person’s shoes. This ability has a
name: empathy. And many psychologists are saying
it’s one of the most important abilities you can have.
Empathy smothers selfishness and fosters
tolerance and compassion. In short, empathy helps
us get along with others. Some studies suggest that
empathetic people tend to be more successful, while
those with little empathy tend to be lonely and have
more conflicts. That’s why many schools across the
nation are incorporating empathy education into
their anti-bullying programs—with great success.
So how does empathy work?
Some scientists believe that tiny “mirror neurons”
firing in our brains play a key role. When we see
something happen to someone else, these mirror
neurons make it feel like we are experiencing what
we are in fact only observing. We can even take on
someone else’s emotions, reacting as though what is
happening to that person is happening to us.
Almost anyone can learn to be more empathetic.
Read on to learn five ways you can build your
empathy muscles.
1
Be interested
in others. Ask
questions and
learn about their lives,
especially those who seem
very different from you.
If you feel comfortable,
share your own inner
thoughts and feelings.
Sharing builds trust.
at lunch, think about
how you would feel if
you were the one alone.
Then take action. Invite
that student to sit with
you and your friends.
4
Put your
imagination
to use. Think
When engaged
in conversation,
make eye contact, listen
closely, and think deeply
about what the other
person is saying before
responding. (Try not to
check your phone or let
your mind wander.) These
behaviors show that you
care what the person has
to say.
of someone you dislike
or with whom you
disagree. Now imagine
things from his or her
point of view. You
don’t have to become
buds or even agree, but
you may gain a better
understanding of why
that person is the way
he or she is. This, in
turn, will help you deal
with him or her in a
more positive way.
3
5
2
Listen carefully.
Ask, “How would
I feel in that
situation?” If you
see someone sitting alone
Treat all people
like they are
important.
Because they are!
Shutterstock
writing contest
This is a line from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird: “You never really understand a person until you
consider things from his point of view—until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” What
does this mean? How does it apply to the play and the article? Answer in a short essay. Send it
to EMPATHY CONTEST. Five winners will each get Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen.
Get this
activity
Online
scope.scholastic.com • NOVEMBER 2014
29