The Mummy Speaks Play Script

The Mummy Speaks is a comedic adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s literary work, Some Words With A Mummy. Dr. Porter is a medical professional that performs experiments along with the help of his sidekick, Dr. McMillin. The two doctors finally gain permission to examine the remains of an Egyptian Mummy on display at a museum. Dr. Porter’s friend, Tully, has begged permission to witness the occasion. The situation goes awry when the mummy is given electroshock that stimulates his ancient existence back to life. Teens will love this creepy Poe tale with a surprising ending!

Cynthia Morrison, B.A. lives within the Bermuda Triangle. Her academic degrees major in law and theology. She is a writer and an award-winning playwright with theatrical works featured Off-Broadway in New York City. She is also a graduate of the Burt Reynolds Institute. Her stage play “Words with a Mummy” is published inside “21st Century Literature from the Philippines and the World” as a textbook lesson in “adaptation of a play from literature”. Her fictional works have earned literary awards from Pinnacle, Florida Book Festival, Royal Dragonfly and Finalist from the William Faulkner Society (New Orleans).

Excerpt from the play:

CAST OF CHARACTERS

Dr. PORTER: (M / or F representing M) A Medical Doctor with a great interest for exploring ancient science.
Dr. MCMILLAN: (Unisex) Friend and colleague to Dr. Porter. He assists in his experiments
SELIM (Sah – Leem): (Unisex) Egyptian Ambassador that wishes to be present during the Mummy experiment.
SHANNON: (F) Dr. Porter’s daughter
TULLY: (M / or F representing M) A friend to Dr. Porter. A bit eccentric and wishes to be present during the Mummy experiment as well.
THE MUMMY: (Unisex) a Mummy

SETTING: Boston Massachusetts USA Early 1900’s. Inside Dr. Porter’s front parlor / living room. The Mummy may be lying down, in a chair or standing.

DR. PORTER and his colleagues stand in the front parlor of his house and stare at the remains of an ancient mummified corpse.

MCMILLIN
Finally gaining permission to open the shrouds of the Mummy. I’ve been waiting a lonnnng time for this opportunity.

PORTER
We should be thankful for the efforts of our friend Selim here. His political influence and Egyptian bloodline had a significant impact on the Museum director’s approval.

SELIM
Glad to be of assistance, Doctor.

SHANNON enters the room.

PORTER
Hello, Shannon. Have you delivered the message to Mr. Tully?

SHANNON
Yes, Father. His wife said he’d visit real soon.

PORTER
And did you remember to get us a sack for the mummy’s wrappings?

SHANNON
Ah yes, I left it out in my bike basket. I’ll go and fetch it.

SHANNON exits the room.

MCMILLIN
A fine daughter got there, Porter.

PORTER
Thank you, McMillin.

SHANNON returns. She presents a sack to PORTER.

SHANNON
It’s the best one I could find.

MCMILLIN
Well, it looks fine to me. Here, I’ll take the sack and the task of collecting the bindings if that’s alright with you, Dr. Porter.

PORTER hands the sack to MCMILLIN.

PORTER
Very well. Now we have one medically trained ancient binding collector.

MCMILLIN
‘Ancient’ referring to the bindings, I hope, and not reference to the collector.

All are amused. SELIM checks his pocket watch.

SELIM
Excuse me Shannon. Did Mrs. Tully say about how long her husband would be? Perhaps they were having supper.

TULLY enters the room.

SHANNON
Well speaking of the Devil.

TULLY
I’ve been called a few names in me time but “Devil” is not one of them. (amused) Good evening all.

PORTER
So glad you could make it Tully

TULLY
I wouldn’t miss this for the World. I couldn’t get changed fast enough when I got your note.

SELIM
You’re not thinking of staying on through this procedure, are you Shannon?

SHANNON
Actually I was hoping that you and the others wouldn’t mind if I observed. I promise not to interrupt.

PORTER
Well seeing that you plan a career in medicine, even if it is with the animal kingdom. Well I don’t see why not.

PORTER
Dr. McMillin, would you wish first rights to uncover the face?

MCMILLIN
I should be honored, Doctor. (addressing SELIM) Ambassador, would you mind holding the sack open for the remnants please?

SELIM takes the sack from MCMILLIN.

SELIM
But of course, Doctor.

MCMILLIN slowly begins to examine the facial area of the Mummy.

MCMILLIN
Forgive me, but it appears that this mummy has no eyes.

SELIM
Of course not. The first step in producing a worthy mummy is to remove all traces of water. Water permits bacteria, which are responsible for the process of decay. The eyeballs hold fluid so they are removed.

PORTER
Dr. McMillin, before we get into exposing the horrid effects of ancient embalming methods I’d like to take another direction.

MCMILLIN
How so?

PORTER
I’d like to experiment with electrotherapy to see if any amount of reflex is present inside the preserved tissues of this corpse.

TULLY
Excuse me, gentleman. Wouldn’t that be crossing the line?