ACT 1 SCENE 1

“THE ROOKERY” THE COPPERFIELD DRAWING ROOM.

A BACKDROP WITH A TRANSPARENT WINDOW, A DOOR WHICH OPENS AND VICTORIAN FURNITURE. IF POSSIBLE THERE IS A GRANDFATHER CLOCK.

DAVID’S MOTHER IS SEATED

IN AN ARMCHAIR. SHE IS SOBBING. WE HEAR A BLUSTERY MARCH WIND AND THUNDER OUTSIDE AND THE CRACKLE OF A FIRE WITHIN.

CHARLES DICKENS ENTERS AT ONE SIDE OF THE STAGE.

DICKENS:

I am the famous novelist Charles Dickens.

My favourite character is David Copperfield. He was born at Blunderstone in the county of Suffolk in the east of England. His father had had died six months before he was born.

(BRING UP MOTHER’S SOBBING)

His death made David’s mother very unhappy.

(TAKE DOWN SOBBING)

The richest and most important person in David’s family was Miss Trotwood. She disapproved of David’s father having married such a young woman.

DICKENS LEAVES THE STAGE

WE HEAR A LOUD TAPPING ON THE WINDOW AND SEE THE SHADOW OF WOMAN BEHIND IT..

TROTWOOD:

(CALLS) Open the door.

(DAVID’S MOTHER JUMPS. SHE GETS UP AND OPENS THE DOOR. BRING UP THE BLUSTERY WIND AND THUNDER)

TROTWOOD:

(ENTERING) You must be David Copperfield’s wife.

MOTHER:

(TREMBLING) Yes.

Who are you?

(SHE CLOSES THE DOOR AND THE WIND AND THUNDER LESSEN)

TROTWOOD:

I’m his aunt. Miss Trotwood.

He never asked my permission to marry you.

(SHE LOOKS CLOSELY AT DAVID’S MOTHER)

TROTWOOD:

How young you are. Just a baby!

MOTHER:

(STARTING TO SOB AGAIN) I know I look like a child.

I know I was young to be a wife, and I’ll be young to be a mother!

But perhaps I’ll die before I become a mother!

TROTWOOD:

Come come. Have some tea. Then you’ll feel better. What do you call your girl?

MOTHER:

My girl? How do you know it will be a girl?

TROTWOOD:

I don’t mean the baby. I mean your servant.

MOTHER:

Her name’s Peggotty.

TROTWOOD:

What a terrible name!

MOTHER:

I call her by her surname, because her first name is the same as mine.

(TROTWOOD RINGS A SMALL HAND BELL AND CALLS)

TROTWOOD:

Peggotty! Bring Mrs Copperfield some tea, at once.

(RETURNING AND SITTING) You were talking about the baby. I’m sure it will be a girl. Now, as soon as she’s born…

MOTHER:

(INTERRUPTING, BRAVELY) He, perhaps.

TROTWOOD:

Don’t be stupid. Of course it’ll be a she. I’m going to send her to school and educate her well. I want to prevent her from making the same mistakes that I’ve made in life.

DICKENS ENTERS AT THE SIDE OF THE STAGE.

PEGGOTTY ENTERS WITH THE TEAPOT AND SAUCERS AND CUPS AND THEN LEADS DAVID’S MOTHER OFF THE STAGE

DICKENS:

Peggotty entered with the tea and seeing how ill David’s mother was, took her upstairs to bed.

THE STAGE DARKENS AND THE GRANDFATHER CLOCK BEGINS TO STRIKE TWELVE

DICKENS:

The doctor come soon afterwards. At about midnight he came down. Miss Trotwood was waiting impatiently.

TROTWOOD:

Well, doctor, how is she?

DOCTOR:

The young mother is quite comfortable, madam.

TROTWOOD:

But she, the baby, how is she?

DOCTOR:

It’s a boy, madam.

MISS TROTWOOD THEN THE DOCTOR LEAVE THE STAGE

DICKENS:

Miss Trotwood said nothing. She walked straight out of the house and never came back.

That is how David was born. He was

extremely happy with Peggy and his mother, until he was eight years old.

MR MURDSTONE WALKS ONTO THE STAGE,

DICKENS:

Then his mother went out walking with a gentleman called Mr. Murdstone. He had black hair and whiskers, an unpleasant smile and he always carries a stick.

DICKENS LEAVES THE STAGE. MR MURDSTONE SWISHES THE STICK, THEN NODS TO THE AUDIENCE AND ALSO LEAVES

PEGGOTTY ENTERS WITH YOUNG DAVID

PEGGOTTY:

Master Davy.

YOUNG DAVID:

Yes, Peggotty?

PEGGOTTY:

My dear, how should you like to go along with me and spend a fortnight at my brother’s at Yarmouth? Wouldn’t that be a treat?

YOUNG DAVID:

Is your brother an agreeable man, Peggotty?

PEGGOTTY:

Oh, what an agreeable man he is! Then there’s the sea; and the boats and ships; and the fishermen; and the beach.

YOUNG DAVID:

But what’s mother she to do while we’re away? Peggotty! She can’t live by herself.’

PEGGOTTY:

Oh, bless you! Don’t you know?

YOUNG DAVID:

What, Peggotty?

PEGGOTTY:

She’s going to stay with friends.

AS DICKENS SPEAKS INTRODUCE THEME MUSIC AND STAGE HANDS COME ON AND REMOVE THE FURNITURE AND BACKDROP REPLACING IT WITH A BACKDROP OF THE SEA AND SANDS AND AN OLD BOAT CONVERTED INTO A HOUSE.

ACT 1. SCENE 2

SEASIDE AND HOUSEBOAT

FADE MUSIC. WE HEAR SURF ON THE BEACH AND SEAGULLS. STAGE HANDS ALSO BRING ON A CART WITH BARKIS AND DAVID AND PEGGOTTY ON IT. PERHAPS THE STAGE HANDS HAVE HORSES’ HEADS. DAVID AND PEGGOTTY GET DOWN.

STAGE HANDS PULL THE CART AWAY WITH BARKIS ON IT.

PEGGOTTY:

That’s the house, Master David

YOUNG DAVID:

I can only see an old ship.

PEGGOTTY:

That’s right

YOUNG DAVID:

(DELIGHTED) Is that – that your brother’s house?

DICKENS:

David could not imagine a nicer place to live.

Everything was clean and tidy and smelt of fish. David was introduced to the family. There was Peggotty’s brother, Daniel, a kind old sailor.

MR PEGGOTTY ENTERS AND BOWS TO DAVID

DANIEL:

Glad to see you, sir. You’ll find us rough, sir,

but you’ll find us ready.

SAM AND EMILY ENTER

DANIEL:

These are my adopted children, Sam and Emily.

SAM BOWS AND EMILY CURTSIES.

DICKENS:

In his childish way David fell in love with her and cried when after two happy weeks he had to leave.

THE CART COMES ON AGAIN WITH BARKIS DRIVING. PEGGOTTY AND DAVID GET UP.

PEGGOTTY

(HER LIP IS TREMBLING) I must tell you…. you’ll have to know now … while we have been away, your dear mother has married Mr. Murdstone!

He’s your stepfather now!

His sister Miss Murdstone will also live with us.

DAVID BURSTS INTO TEARS. THE CART LEAVES THE STAGE. FADE SEAWASH AND SEAGULLS. THEME MUSIC

STAGE HANDS RESTORE THE BACKDROP AND FURNITURE FROM SCENE 1.

ACT 1. SCENE 3

DRAWING ROOM.

DAVID’S MOTHER IS THERE. DAVID ENTERS SOBBING TO HIS MOTHER’S ARMS. FADE MUSIC.

MR MURDSTONE ENTERS. HE IS CARRYING HIS STICK.

MURDSTONE:

(STERNLY) What’s this, Clara, my love?

Remember you must be firm with the boy.

I’ve told you before, you’re too weak

with him! Please leave us now.

MOTHER:

Yes, Edward, I’m afraid you’re right.

(LEAVING) I’ll try to be firmer with him.

MURDSTONE:

(WHISPERING, ANGRILY) David, do you know what I’ll do if you don’t obey me? I’ll beat you like a dog.

THEY LEAVE THE STAGE

MOTHER AND MISS MURDSTONE ENTER. MOTHER HAS SOME KEYS AROUND HER WAIST

DICKENS:

Later that evening Mr. Murdstone’s sister arrived.

She had a stern, frowning face. She looked and sounded very much like her brother.

It seemed she was to say with us for ever.

The next morning she addressed my mother:

MISS MURDSTONE:

Now, Clara, I’m here to help you.

You’re much too pretty and thoughtless to worry about the servants, the food and so on.

So just hand me the keys to all your cupboards, and I’ll take care of everything for you.

MOTHER:

Thank you,

(CLARA HANDS HER THE KEYS)

MR MURDSTONE AND DAVID ENTER. DAVID IS CARRYING A QUILL PEN AND A NOTEBOOK. HE SITS DOWN THEN LOOKS UP AT MR MURDSTONE WITH A FRIGHTENED EXPRESSION. HIS MOTHER LEANS FORWARD AND WHISPERS IN HIS EAR

DICKENS::

David had always enjoyed lessons with his mother; but now Mr and Miss Murdstone were present and he could not concentrate. His mother would try to help.

MURDSTONE:

(CROSSLY) Clara, my love. Remember! Be firm! You’re making the boy’s character worse by helping him like that.

MOTHER:

Oh, Edward. I’m very sorry.

MURDSTONE:

(SMILING THROUGH HIS TEETH)

You must be very careful today, David.

Now if you go into a shop, and buy five thousand cheeses at four and a half pennies each how much money will you spend?

DICKENS:

As Mr Murdstone asked more questions a terrible fear took hold of David and he could not think clearly.

MURDSTONE:

Well, David, I think you’ve worried your mother . Leave us please Clara

HE TAKES UP HIS STICK

YOUNG DAVID:

Please, Mr. Murdstone. Don’t beat me. I’ve tried to learn, really I have, sir!

(MR MURDSTONE BEATS DAVID. DAVID SQUEALS. WE SUGGEST THAT THE ACTOR PLAYING DAVID HAS PADDING IN HIS TROUSERS SO THAT HE IS NOT HURT, BUT THSAT THE BEATING MAKES A NOISE)

AFTER FIVE OR SIX THWACKS DAVID CATCHES MR MURDSTONE’S HAND AND BITES IT.

(MR MURDSTONE CRIES OUT AND BEATS HARDER STILL. YOUNG DAVID SCREAMS AND SOBS. THEN MR MURDSTONE LEAVES. DAVID CREEPS INTO A CORNER OF THE STAGE BEHIND A PIECE OF FURNITURE. MISS MURDSTONE CARRIES IN A TRAY

DICKENS:

David was sent to his room and locked in.

MISS MURDSTONE LEAVES SOME BREAD AND MILK BESIDE HIM.

DICKENS:

In the evening Miss Murdstone left bread and milk beside his bed. He was kept locked in that room for five days and five nights.

On the fifth night Peggotty whispered to him through the keyhole.

PEGGOTTY ENTERS AND CROUCHES DOWN NOT FAR FROM DAVID

PEGGOTTY:

(SOBBING WHISPER) Master David, my dear. They’re going to send you away to boarding school! Tomorrow!

YOUNG DAVID:

(CRYING) Oh, Peggotty. I won’t see you and mother very often!

PEGGOTTY:

No my dear. But don’t forget. I’ll take care of your mother.

She needs her cross old Peggotty. I’ll stay with her, though I hate these Murdstones.

And remember, David, I love you as much as your mother, and more.

And I’ll write to you.

YOUNG DAVID:

Thank you, dear Peggotty. Will you write to your brother too, and little Emily, and tell them I’m not as bad as the Murdstones think?

And send my love to them, especially little Emily?

PEGGOTTY:

I promise.

SHE LEAVES. DAVID GETS UP AND MISS MURDSTONE ENTERS.

DICKENS:

The next morning Miss Murdstone spoke to David.

MISS MURDSTONE:

Because of your wickedness, you’re being sent away to school. I’ve packed your case for you. (PAUSE) Well, say thank you, boy.

YOUNG DAVID

(MUMBLES) Thank you.

THEY BOTH LEAVE THE STAGE

DICKENS:

His mother was only allowed to say a very quick goodbye to David.

MUSIC. STAGE HANDS REMOVE THE BACKDROP AND IT IS REPLACED BY A BACKDROP OF COUNTRYSIDE

DICKENS:

The driver put David’s case on the cart ……

ACT 1 SCENE 4

COUNTRYSIDE

BARKIS ENTERS WITH THE CART AND HORSES. HE GETS DOWN, COLLECTS DAVID’S SUITCASE FROM THE SIDE OF THE STAGE AND PUTS IT ONTO THE CART. DAVID ENTERS AND CLIMBS INTO CART AND SITS NEXT TO BARKIS. THEN HORSE TROTS ON THE SPOT AND THE CART RUMBLES.

DICKENS:

….. and they drove slowly out of Blunderstone, when suddenly . . .

PEGGOTTY:

(RUNNING AND CALLING AFTER HIM) Master David! Master David!

(THE CART STOPS WE HEAR HER CLIMBING UP)

(BREATHLESS) Here, Master David! A little present from me and your dear mother! Take care of yourself, my dear.

SHE PUTS A BAG AND A PURSE INTO HIS HANDS. THEN HUGS HIM TIGHT

YOUNG DAVID:

(ALMOST STIFLED) Thank you.

(SHE LETS GO AND JUMPS DOWN FROM THE CART AND RUNS AWAY. THE CART AND HORSE START UP AGAIN. DAVID OPENS THE PURSE AND THE BAG)

DICKENS:

In the purse were eight bright shilling coins, and the bag was full of Peggotty’s special cakes.

YOUNG DAVID:

Would you like one Mr Barkis?

MR BARKIS TAKES ONE AND EATS IT. HE OBVIOUSLY ENJOYS IT.

BARKIS

Thank you.

HE EATS SOME MORE

Did she make those cakes?

YOUNG DAVID:

You mean Peggotty, sir? (NO REPLY FROM BARKIS)

Yes, she does all our cooking.

BARKIS:

Does she? (LONG SILENCE) Does she have a young man?

YOUNG DAVID:

(SURPRISED) Peggotty? A young man? (PAUSE) Oh, no. She’s never had a young man.

DAVID OFFERS HIM ANOTHER CAKE AND BARKIS EATS AND SMILES

BARKIS:

Ah! (PAUSE) Well, perhaps if you write to her, you could tell her, “Barkis is willing.”

YOUNG DAVID:

Barkis is willing. Yes, of course.

But you could tell her yourself, sir, when you return to Blunderstone. Would you do that?

BARKIS:

No, no, no, you just give her the message. Remember: “Barkis is willing.

DICKENS:

As they travelled on David and as they got to Yarmouth composed a letter to Peggotty.

YOUNG DAVID:

My dear Peggotty,

I have arrived safely in Yarmouth. Barkis is willing.

Please give my love to mother.

Yours, David.

P.S. He says it’s important. Barkis is willing.

DICKENS:

David was put on the long distance coach to London.

THE CART WITH BARKIS AND DAVID AND THE HORSES LEAVE THE STAGE. MUSIC. .

ACT 1 SCENE 5

THE BACKDROP IS REPLACED WITH THE BACKDROP AND DESK AND CHAIR AND A BOTTLE AND GLASS OF MR CREAKLE, THE HEADMASTER’S, STUDY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAGE HANDS BRING ON DAVID’S BED

DICKENS:

He was taken to Salem House, a large old school with a dusty playground. He was told he was sent there as a punishment for his wickedness.

He was taken to meet the headmaster, Mr. Creakle, a small, fat man with a purple nose.

He had a bottle and a glass in front of him.

CREAKLE:

So this is the boy, who bites, is it?

I know your stepfather, boy. He’s a man of strong character. I know him, and he knows me. Do you hear me? Answer me, boy.

HE PULLS DAVID’S EAR

YOUNG DAVID:

Ow! Not yet, sir.

CREAKLE:

Ah, but you soon will! Oh yes, I have a strong character too, you’ll see!

HE PRODUCES A NOTICE ON WHICH IS WRITTEN “BEWARE OF HIM ! HE BITES !” MR CREAKLE FASTENS IT ROUND DAVID’S NECK

CREAKLE:

Put this on and keep it on.

Around his neck he was made to wear a message composed by Mr. Murdstone: “Beware of him! He bites!”

YOUNG DAVID:

Please, sir. I’m very sorry for what I did to Mr. Murdstone.

Could – could I take this sign off before the other boys see it . . .

CREAKLE:

Aaarh!!!

(CREAKLE ROARS AND JUMPS OUT OF HIS CHAIR AND DAVID RUNS ACROSS THE STAGE AND JUMPS ONTO HIS BED AND HIDES UNDER A BLANKET)

DICKENS:

David didn’t wait to see whether Creakle would hit him, but ran out of the room and hid in his bed for the next hour.

However the boys were not as cruel to him as he had feared.

TOMMY TRADDLES GOES UP TO HIM AND MIMES CHATTING

He made a friend almost immediately with Tommy Traddles, a boy who was known to be the unluckiest in the school.

THEN JAMES STEERFORTH APPROACHES HIM

He was even noticed and even smiled upon by the great James Steerforth. He was six years older than David. He was a handsome, intelligent, curly-haired young man,

with great influence over the younger boys.

STEERFORTH:

How much money have you got, Copperfield?

YOUNG DAVID:

Eight shillings, Steerforth.

STEERFORTH:

(FRIENDLY) You’d better give it to me.

I’ll take care of it for you.

DAVID OPENS PEGGOTTY’S PURSE INTO STEERFORTH’S HANDS)

STEERFORTH:

Perhaps you’d like to spend some of it now? A bottle of wine, a tin of biscuits, a few cakes, that sort of thing? I can go out whenever you like, so I can buy it for you.

YOUNG DAVID:

(A BIT UNSURE) Ye-es, that’s very kind of you.

STEERFORTH LEAVES WITH THE MONEY

DICKENS:

Later David realized all his money had been spent.

STEERFORTH AND TRADDLES RETURN WITH FOOD AND DRINK

DICKENS:

Eight shillings worth of food and drink was laid out on David’s bed in the moonlight. I did not want to eat by myself, so I invited Steerforth and the other boys to share it with me.

MORE BOYS ENTER AND EAT AND DRINK

DICKENS:

David gathered that all the boys hated Salem House, and especially Mr. Creakle, who beat them regularly. The only boy he dared not beat was Steerforth.

THE BOYS LEAVE. STEERFORTH TAKES DAVID ASIDE.

STEERFORTH:

Goodnight, young Copperfield. I’ll take care of you.

YOUNG DAVID:

It’s very kind of you.

STEERFORTH:

You haven’t got a sister, have you?

YOUNG DAVID:

No, I haven’t.

STEERFORTH:

What a pity! If you had one, I’m sure she’d be a pretty, bright-eyed little girl.

I would have liked to meet her.

HE LEAVES. MUSIC.

DICKENS:

Later on a freezing, cold March day, David was summoned to Mr. Creakle’s office.

MRS CREAKLE ENTERS. DAVID CROSSES TO HER SIDE OF THE STAGE

DICKENS:

He realized something unusual had happened when he found that the headmaster’s wife was waiting to talk to him. she held his hand.

MRS CREAKLE:

Davy, my child, we all have to accept that our loved ones can die at any moment.

YOUNG DAVID:

What do you mean?

MRS CREAKLE:

I’m sorry to tell you that your mother is dangerously ill.

YOUNG DAVID:

Oh. (HE STARTS TO SOB)

MRS CREAKLE:

Your mother is dead.

(HE SOBS MORE LOUDLY. THEN HIS SOBBING FADES UNDER THE OLDER DAVID’S NARRATION)

DICKENS:

Mrs Creakle packed David’s case herself and sent him home in time for the funeral. His little brother had died a few hours after her.

Peggotty met David.

BRING UP MUSIC AS STAGE HANDS TAKE US BACK TO SCENE ONE

ACT 1 SCENE 6

THE DRAWING ROOM AT DAVID’S HOUSE

PEGGOTTY ENTERS

YOUNG DAVID:

(CRYING AGAIN) How did it happen, Peggotty?

PEGGOTTY:

(ALSO CRYING) She was ill for a long time, Master David.

She got worse after the baby was born, you see. She was sometimes unhappy and forgetful, but she was always the same to me, her old Peggotty. Those two downstairs often spoke crossly to her and made her sad,

but she still loved them, you know.

She was so sweet and loving.

I always sat beside her when she went to sleep. It made her feel better she said.

On the last night she asked me for some water, and then gave me such a patient smile! She looked so beautiful! The sun was beginning to rise, and she put her head on my arm, on her stupid, cross old Peggotty’s arm, and died like an innocent child going to sleep!