Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

N1: Gabriel Utterson walks with his cousin Rebecca Enfield.

N2: They stroll down a pretty street in London, England. 

Enfield: I love our Sunday walks, Gabriel.

Utterson: They’re the highlight of my week!

N1: They stop in front of an ugly building. It has no windows and stands out on the charming block. 

Enfield: Have you ever noticed this odd building?

Utterson: Why yes. It's the back door into–

Enfield : I saw the strangest thing here the other day. A small child was walking toward a man on the sidewalk. The man just trampled right over her!

Utterson: How awful! 

Enfield: It was. The poor girl wasn’t hurt, thankfully. But we told the man he must pay for his crime! 

Utterson: Did he?

N2: The next day, Utterson is standing outside the back entrance to Jekyll’s lab. A strange man walks up and begins unlocking the door.

Utterson: Mr. Hyde? I am Mr. Utterson—

Hyde: How do you know my name?

Utterson: We, um, have a friend in common. 

Hyde: Ha! I have no friends.

Utterson: What about Dr. Henry Jekyll? 

N1: Hyde lets out an evil laugh. Then he opens the door, hurries in, and slams it shut.

N2: Later that week, Utterson walks through the front door of Jekyll’s fancy town house.

N1: Jekyll’s butler, Mr. Poole, takes Utterson’s coat.

Utterson: Poole, do you happen to know Edward Hyde—a friend of Dr. Jekyll’s?

Poole: Why, yes, sir. We all have orders to obey him. 

Utterson: Why is that?

N2: Before Poole can answer, Jekyll walks in. 

Jekyll: Utterson, my dear man! Come, the dinner party is starting.

N1: Jekyll leads Utterson to a candlelit dining table. 

N2: Halfway through the meal, Jekyll stands to make an announcement.

Jekyll: I am proud to tell you that the new Dr. Jekyll’s Home for Lost Children will open this week!

N1: The guests cheer.

Bates: Bravo, Henry! You do so much for the poor!

Lanyon: But you must also tell us about your latest science experiment. 

Jekyll: Well, it’s . . . complicated. Would you agree with me that all people are a mix of both good and evil? 

Bates: I’m not sure I’d go that far. 

Jekyll: I have been wondering: What if you could release the evil so that you could be only good?

Lanyon: That’s not science. That’s nonsense!

Jekyll: Is it? 

N2: The dinner continues. At one point, Utterson leans over and whispers to Jekyll.

Utterson: Henry, we must discuss your will. I have heard terrible things about that Mr. Hyde. I can help you. Whatever you owe this Hyde—

Jekyll: This is a private matter. The moment I choose, I can get rid of Mr. Hyde. 

N1: Utterson nods. 

Jekyll: Listen, Hyde told me you saw him. I fear he may have been rude. But I have great interest in that man. Promise you will look after him if anything should happen to me?

Utterson: All right, I promise. 

N2: One year has passed. 

N1: At a police station, a woman speaks to a detective.

Newcomen: What happened?

Hawkins: I was sitting by my window. I saw Sir Carew coming down the block. Then I saw . . . the other man.

Newcomen: Hyde?

Hawkins (shivering ): Yes. I knew it was Mr. Hyde. I had seen him before. You don’t forget a face like that.

Newcomen: Please, go on.

Hawkins: Well, Hyde became very angry. He started hitting Sir Carew with his cane—like a wild beast! Carew fell, and Hyde ran off. It was awful!

Newcomen: Thank you, Miss Hawkins. You may go.

N2: Utterson walks in as Hawkins leaves.

Newcomen: Ah, Mr. Utterson. I called you here because your client Sir Carew has been murdered.

Utterson: How awful!

Newcomen: Do you also happen to know a Mr. Hyde?

Utterson: Hyde?! I’ve . . . heard of him.

Newcomen: A witness claims Hyde is the murderer. We also found the murder weapon. 

N1: He holds up a broken cane. Utterson goes pale.

N2: It is the cane Utterson gave to Jekyll as a gift many years ago.

Utterson: I . . . I . . . Have you found this Mr. Hyde? 

Newcomen: Not yet, but we will.

N1: The next night, Poole shows up at Utterson’s door. 

Poole: Something is wrong. You must come!

N2: They hurry to Jekyll’s lab. 

Poole: Mr. Utterson is here to see you, Doctor ! 

Jekyll (in a strange voice): Tell him I cannot see anyone!

Poole (whispering): That is not Dr. Jekyll’s voice. 

Utterson: Poole, do you have a key? We must get in!

N1: Poole unlocks the door.

N2: Inside, the lab is a mess. There’s broken glass everywhere.

N1: And in the middle of the room stands . . . Mr. Hyde. 

Utterson: What have you done with Dr. Jekyll?

Hyde: He’s gone—forever!

N2: Hyde grabs the key from Poole’s hand and runs out the door, slamming it shut behind him. 

Poole: Stop! 

N1: Poole runs to the door, but it is locked.

N2: Then Utterson notices an envelope. He opens it and begins to read.

Jekyll (voice offstage): Dear Utterson: In all of us, there is both good and evil. I wondered: What if I could separate myself into two? My evil side could enjoy itself. My good side could be pure. 

N1: Utterson looks worried.

Jekyll (voice offstage): I created a potion that turned me into Hyde, my evil side. I felt powerful. I was no longer held back by the laws of morality.

N2: Utterson gasps.

Jekyll (voice offstage): But after the murder, I vowed to never change into Hyde again. For a while, all was well. Then my dark side grew stronger. I couldn’t stop myself from turning into Hyde. 

N1: Poole finally gets the door open and runs out. Utterson keeps reading.

Jekyll (voice offstage): Soon I ran out of the potion that would turn me back into my good self. I am not able to make more. There is a key ingredient I cannot find. The next time I turn into Hyde, it will be forever. 

Utterson: Noooooooo!

Jekyll (voice offstage): By the time you read this, Henry Jekyll will be no more.