“The Secret Garden” Audition Scene Packet
SCENE 1: MRS. MEDLOCK and MARY
SCENE 2: MARTHA AND MARY
SCENE 3: BEN AND MARY
SCENE 4: DICKON AND MARY
SCENE 5: CRAVEN AND MARY
SCENE 6: COLIN AND MARY
SCENE 7: COLIN, MARY and NURSE
SCENE 8: DR. SPENCER, NURSE GREY, COLIN, MARY
SCENE 1: MRS. MEDLOCK and MARY
MRS. MEDLOCK: Careful with that box! Mind you don’t scratch the suitcases! No! No! In the baggage car!
(To Mary) Stay right there and don’t move. Did you lose the umbrella? (Scowling, Mary thrusts umbrella
upward). Careful with the steamer trunk mind you. Come all the way from India. Don’t want it torn up now. If
not for that bothersome girl I’d be at me cousin’s wedding. But master says, “You will escort my niece up from
London”. Says I, “Yes sir, as you wish sir. Anything else sir?” Look at that sullen creature. Well I’ll stand no
nonsense from youngins. Mary – get a move on missy. Here’s our compartment.
MARY: Where are we going now?
MEDLOCK: A long ways. North of England. Take off your coat.
MARY: I don’t want to.
MEDLOCK: Suit yourself.
MARY: Still raining.
MEDLOCK: Won’t see much sun in Yorkshire. Not like India. I’d best explain about your uncle. S’pose your
folks told you some of it.
MARY: Hardly. Father was always away on business and Mem Sahib…
MEDLOCK: Mem who?
MARY: That’s what servants called my mother. Mem Sahib was always rushing off to parties.
MEDLOCK: Mary Lennox, you might’s well find out now. You’re going to a most peculiar place.
MARY: Basil said my Uncle’s a hunchback and so horrid no one comes near. I think Basil’s horrid.
MEDLOCK: Master’s back is a bit twisted. That’s what set him wrong. And who pray tell is Basil?
MARY: One of the Crawford boys. You know… the family I stayed with after… after mother and father died.
Least I’m rid of Basil and five nasty little Crawfords. Always teasing Mary, Mary.
MEDLOCK: (Aside) Quite contrary. Have a candy?
MARY: I don’t like chocolate.
MEDLOCK: It’s my duty to warn you Misselthwaite’s terribly gloomy. Near a hundred rooms, mostly locked
up. What do you think of that?
MARY: Nothing. I know nothing of such places.
MEDLOCK: (laughing) My what an old woman. Don’t you care?
MARY: Doesn’t matter if I care or not.
MEDLOCK: True enough. He’s not going to trouble himself. Master sees no one, cept Pruitt, his old servant
ever since the wife died.
MARY: (Surprised) My Uncle was married?
MEDLOCK: Miss Lily it was, up and married him. And not for money. Course he’s walk the world over to
please her.
MARY: (Intrigued) She died? Like a princess in a fairy tale?
MEDLOCK: Master went off his head, crazy like. Said he lost the only one who’d ever love him. Stays shut up
in the west wing. When he’s home. Hungry?
MARY: I don’t get hungry.
MEDLOCK: I expect not. Scrawny as you look.
MARY: Don’t they heat this train? (Yawn) So dark out.
SCENE 2: MARTHA AND MARY
MARY: Who are you?
MARTHA: Martha… Martha Jane Appleby.
MARY: (Haughty) Are you my servant?
MARTHA: I’m Mrs. Medlock’s servant. I’m to clean hear and wait on thee a bit. But tha’ won’t need much
waitin on.
MARY: Is that the moor?
MARTHA: Does tha’ like it?
MARY: No I hate it.
MARTHA: Tis fair lovely in Spring when heather’s in flower.
MARY: Who is going to dress me?
MARTHA: Our ‘lizabeth Ellen’s only four and never stands around waiting to be dressed like a doll.
MARY: Ayah always dressed me.
MARTHA: (Takes off Mary’s nightgown) Tis high time to learn. Tha’ canna’ begin any younger.
MARY: You are a very strange servant. (Puts out her foot demanding a shoe) Well? (Stamps floor and thrusts
foot again)
MARTHA: (Complying, puts shoes on Mary) When I heard tha’ was from India I was hopin thad’ be brown as
chocolate instead of milky pale.
MARY: You thought I was a native?!? You, you… daughter of a pig!
MARTHA: Callin’ me names? That’s no way for a young lady to talk.
MARY: Natives are servants. They bow and kiss your hand. I’ve a good mind to slap your face. (Raises arm)
MARTHA: (Grabs her wrist) I might take a notion to slap the’ right back.
MARY: In India I’d have you beaten. You know nothing about India. (Leaping to the bed sobbing)
MARTHA: (afraid) Beggin’ thy pardon miss. Tha’ mustn’t cry like that.
MARY: You’re no proper servant.
MARTHA: I’m common and talk too Yorkshire. By rights I’d be down in the scullery. Here put on thy dress.
MARY: Ayah put on my clothes. It was custom. (Martha helps with dress)
MARTHA: Maybe tha’ shoulda’ brung Ayah here to Yorkshire.
MARY: I can’t. She’s dead too.
MARTHA: I’m sorry. I see tha’ misses her.
MARY: Not really. Never cared much for Ayah. The other servants ran off and left me behind. I don’t seem to
belong to anyone.
SCENE 3: BEN AND MARY
MARY: Where did you appear from?
BEN: Tha’ garden. Kitchen garden.
MARY: What’s it for?
BEN: Winter vegetables. Taters. Cabbage.
MARY: Why is everything ugly? No flowers in bloom. No leaves on trees.
BEN: Winter.
MARY: It’s all do dull and drab. Dead.
BEN: Aye.
MARY: Can I go into the orchard?
BEN: (Growls) There’d be no dog at the door to bite thee.
MARY: Where’s the door to that other garden?
BEN: (Stands speaking sharply) What other garden?
MARY: Beyond the orchard. I saw a bird singing in the tree tops.
BEN: (Smiles) Hello tha’ little scamp. (Imaginary robin approaches) Where’s tha’ been? Tha’ cheeky little
begger.
MARY: (Follows amazed) Does he always come when you call?
BEN: Aye that he does. Knowd him since a fledgling. His brood flew off but robin laid got left behind.
MARY: His eyes sparkle. Like shiney black dew-drops!
BEN: He’s a conceited one. Wants folks talkin’ about ‘im.
MARY: Where did the brood fly off to?
BEN: Scattered to th’ winds. Poor chap. Knowd he was lonely.
MARY: (Speaks softly) Robin, I’m lonely.
BEN: Art tha’ th’ lass from India? No wonder twart lonely.
MARY: (Impudent) What is your name?
BEN: Ben Weatherstaff. (Tips cap) One o’ th’ gardeners. I’m lonely too. Robins’ me only friend. Head
gardener he is. Sees things Master Craven never bothers to find out.
MARY: Do you suppose I’ll ever meet my Uncle? I know I wouldn’t like him. And he certainly wouldn’t like
me.
BEN: How’s that?
MARY: People never like me. And I don’t care much for them.
BEN: (At work) In Yorkshire we’ve a habit o’ speakin out blunt. Lass we’re a good bit alike. Use two was wove
o’ the same cloth.
MARY: (Superior) You and I?
BEN: Neither of us is good lookin. (Mary scowls) Both as sour as we look. (Bigger scowl) An’ we’ve th’ same
nasty temper I warrant.
MARY: (Stamps foot) I haven’t a nasty temper!
SCENE 4: DICKON AND MARY
DICKON: Mornin’ Miss.
MARY: Hello.
DICKON: Dickon’s th’ name.
MARY: (Thrilled) Dickon!
DICKON: (A bit shy) I brung garden tools. And packets o’ seeds.
MARY: Dickon, please show me. (Sits inviting Dickon. He hesitates. She taps the bench to encourage him. He
finally sits)
DICKON: Poppies come up pretty and white. They bloom if tha’ whistles to ‘em. (Bird chirp) Where’s the’
robin as he’s callin us?
MARY: Is he really calling us?
DICKON: He’s sayin “See here, I wants a bit of a chat”. Robins took on the’. He’ll tell all about ‘im in a
minute.
MARY: Does he actually like me? (Another chirp)
DICKON: Aye. He’s makin up to thee now Miss Mary.
MARY: You understand everything birds say?
DICKON: Lived on the moor so long. Watchin’ em break shell and start fledgling out. Guess I’m one of ‘em.
MARY: Perhaps you are!
DICKON: Sometimes I think I’m a bird or a beetle and don’t even know it. These larkspur come up whenever
tha’ casts ‘em. See here, I’ll plant ‘em for the’.
MARY: (Alarm) Well I…
DICKON: Mother says ‘bout time they give Miss Mary a wee plot o’ ground. Where be this garden?
MARY: (Trembles) I… I… don’t really…
DICKON: Tha’ hasn’t a bit o’ garden? They wouldn’t give thee none?
MARY: Can… can you keep a secret? I.. I don’t know what I should do if someone found out. I think I might
die.
DICKON: If I couldn’a keep secrets ‘bout hidin places wild things run to, there’s be naught safe on the moor.
MARY: (Seizes his arm) I’ve stolen a garden! Nobody wants it, nobody cares for it.
DICKON: (Whispers) Stolen a garden?
MARY: The garden’s mine now. Nobody has a right to take it from me. (Agitated) I’m the only one who cares.
The only one!
DICKON: Poor Miss Mary.
MARY: I’ve nothing to do. Nothing belongs to me. And I found it, just like Robin. They wouldn’t take it away
from Robin.
DICKON: How can tha’ steel a garden?
MARY: Come, I’ll show you. The wind swept aside a curtain of ivy along a wall. Suddenly I looked up and
saw… (pulls back ivy)
DICKON: (Amazed) A door.
SCENE 5: CRAVEN AND MARY
CRAVEN: Come here. (Mary stands terrified) Come here child. (She takes a few steps) Closer. (Another step)
Are you afraid? (She nods) I suppose they told you what a strange and gloomy fellow I am.
MARY: (Whisper) Yes.
CRAVEN: It’s true. I am. Are you well? Do they take good care of you?
MARY: Yes.
CRAVEN: You’re very thin.
MARY: I’m getting stronger.
CRAVEN: I forgot you. I intended to engage a governess or something.
MARY: (Struggling) Please… please…
CRAVEN: What is it? What do you wish to say?
MARY: Please sir. Please don’t look for a governess. Not just yet.
CRAVEN: Then what do you want?
MARY: I want to play outside. Never wanted to in India. And I’m getting fatter. My stockings aren’t near so
wrinkled. See?
CRAVEN: Tell me, where do you play?
MARY: Oh everywhere. I skip and run. I don’t do any harm, honest.
CRAVEN: Still so frightened? How could you do any harm? My, yes. Do whatever you like.
MARY: (Timid) May I?
CRAVEN: Of course. I know I’ve been a dreadful guardian but I do want you happy here.
MARY: Thank you sir!
CRAVEN: Mrs. Medlock will look after you. I’m leaving her in charge.
MARY: Please sir. Mrs. Medlock doesn’t know about children. She hasn’t had any. Not like Mrs. Appleby.
CRAVEN: That Appleby woman was rather bold to stop me on the moor today. Claims you need fresh air and
freedom, not books and studies.
MARY: (Eager) She knows all about children sir.
CRAVEN: But Mrs. Medlock insisted on a governess. Though you’re quite right, she knows nothing of
children.
MARY: There’s time for lessons later. Now Spring is coming.
CRAVEN: Yes, play outdoors as much as you like. Anything else? Toys? Books?
MARY: Might I have a bit of earth?
CRAVEN: Earth? Of all things. Whatever for?
MARY: To plant seeds in. To make things come alive.
CRAVEN: A bit of earth. (Tender) You remind me of someone… who loved the earth and watched things
grow… Mary when you see a bit of earth you want, take it child. Make it come alive.
SCENE 6: COLIN AND MARY
COLIN: (Frightened) Are you a ghost?
MARY: (Also frightened) No. Are you?
COLIN: No. Who is Mary Lennox?
MARY: A girl from India. Andrew Craven is my Uncle.
COLIN: He is my father!
MARY: Your father! I never knew.
COLIN: Come here. (Mary approaches cautiously. He touches her) You are real, aren’t you? Or am I
dreaming?
MARY: We’re both awake I think. I’ll pinch you if you like.
COLIN: Where did you come from?
MARY: Down the corridor. No one said a word about you.
COLIN: They dare not. I won’t have people staring.
MARY: What were you crying about?
COLIN: I can’t sleep. My head aches. I have horrible dreams.
MARY: Why?
COLIN: Because I’m ill. Father thinks I’ll be a cripple like him. Therefore servants aren’t allowed to talk about
me.
MARY: So many secrets in this house!
COLIN: Mother died when I was born. That’s why father hates me.
MARY: That’s why he hates the garden! Because she died!
COLIN: (quickly) What garden?
MARY: Oh just a garden. (Changes subject) Have you been locked up?
COLIN: Certainly not. I refuse to go anywhere.
MARY: You’ve stayed in this room… all these years?
COLIN: I was at the seaside once. People stared. One old lady patted my cheek so I bit her hand.
MARY: She probably thought you were a mad dog.
COLIN: I wore a brace to keep my back straight until a fancy London Doctor said “How stupid. Take the boy
outside. Give him fresh air”. But I won’t go outside. I hate fresh air.
MARY: As you don’t like people staring, shall I go?
COLIN: If you are real, sit down. We’ll talk.
MARY: When I first came I hated going out.
COLIN: Sometimes father visits, when I’m asleep. Mainly he forgets I exist. Thought he buys me whatever I
like. Tons of splendid books. A nurse taught me to read.
MARY: (Scornful) And you do whatever you please? Like a little Rajah?
SCENE 7: COLIN, MARY and NURSE
COLIN: (Screams) Get out of here. I don’t feel good!
MARY: (Charges over) You stop! You stop! Everybody hates you! I wish they’d let you scream to death! If
you scream again, I’ll scream too and I can scream louder!
COLIN: (Accepting the challenge) Oh yes? (Colin screams. Mary screams. Colin screams louder. Mary
screams loudest. Everyone covers their ears)
COLIN: Stop! Stop!
MARY: You started it. Half what ails you is hysterics and temper. (Stamps her feet) Hysterics, Hysterics,
Hysterics!
COLIN: I have a bump on my back. I felt it!
MARY: Nothing’s wrong with your horrid back. Nothing but hysterics. Nurse, show me his back this instant.
NURSE GREY: (Steps forward) I doubt he’ll allow it.
COLIN: (Gasping) Sh… show her! She’ll see! (Nurse Grey helps stern faced Mary examine his spine)
MARY: (Announced) There’s no lump or bump or anything. Just tiny little backbones poking out because
you’re so thin. Mine stuck out too. There’s not a bump in sight. If you ever say there is, I shall laugh in your
face.
COLIN: (Soft) I’ve been so afraid… all these years. Father’s back started twisting wrong when he was my
age…
NURSE GREY: Colin’s back is weak because he won’t get up. I could’ve told him there was no lump.
COLIN: (Miserable) Co… could you?
NURSE GREY: Certainly.
COLIN: (Weak) You think… I might… live to grow up?
NURSE GREY: Most likely. If you mind your temper. Go out into the world.
COLIN: I’ll… I’ll go with Mary. Maybe I won’t hate fresh air if we can find the sec – (Claps hand over mouth)
SCENE 8: DR. SPENCER, NURSE GREY, COLIN, MARY
DR. SPENCER: Out in his wheelchair? Still? Nurse Grey it is almost dark!
NURSE GREY: Can’t imagine what’s keeping him
DR. SPENCER: Most distressing. With such delicate health he aught never… (Mary pushes Colin into view)
Colin Craven. Under no condition should you exert yourself!
MARY: Colin is not the least bit tired.
NURSE GREY: His color is better sir. Not near so waxy.
COLIN: Tomorrow I’ll go in the morning AND the afternoon as well.
DR. SPENCER: No I won’t allow that. Wouldn’t be prudent.
COLIN: I’ll do as I’ll please. You’re not my father.
DR. SPENCER: I am your doctor. Also your cousin. Were anything to happen…
COLIN: You don’t care about me. You want me to die.
DR. SPENCER: (Sputters) Wha… what did you say young man?
COLIN: It’s true. I’ve heard servants talk.
DR. SPENCER: What’s this? Nurse Grey?
NURSE GREY: (Rattled) Oh sir, I haven’t a clue!
DR. SPENCER: Colin, is that what you think? After all these years?
COLIN: If I die, you will inherit Misselthwaite. But I refuse to die.
DR. SPENCER: Listen to me young man. I’ve a perfectly suitable residence of my own and little desire for
this drafty mansion.
NURSE GREY: Just idle gossip sir. Pay no mind.
DR. SPENCER: Perhaps I erred on the side of caution. But if you think for one moment…
NURSE GREY: I’m sure there’s not a grain of truth.
DR. SPENCER: (Exiting) I have raced over all hours of the day or night in every sort of weather at the beck
and call of a rude and thankless…
COLIN: (Yells) And no more bromides, tonics or phosophates!
DR. SPENCER: (Turns) Phosophites!
COLIN: And no more smelly cod liver oil!
DR. SPENCER: As it happens Colin Craven, I’ve no offspring of my own. Should I be so careless as to die,
you may very well inherit MY estate. (He departs in a huff. Nurse follows him ruffled)
MARY: How horrid for Dr. Spencer. Being polite to such a rude boy.