Characters: •Narattor •Griffin •Mrs Hall •Jimson •Cuss •1st man •2nd Man
Narrator: Late one storms night the stranger appeared surly N in February,carrying black travelling bag in his thickly gloved hand. He was wrapped up Os bend Hot aml the brim of his wifi hat hid overy itch of his thes, except fer his eyes which are cusured by smoked glass. He staggered into the Comck and Harmon mark ad than alive with snow piled on his shoulders. Mes Hall innkeeper's wife, thought she had never sen such strange looking guest. But at this time of the year. avallors were scarce, and she was in no mood be
estion the strangee's appearance.
riffin: Poarang out) A fire, in the name of charity want a room and a fire!
rs Hall: If you can pay, sar, I'm cerutin you'll find ton comfortable.
iffin: I can pay well enough. Here take three vereigns
s Hall (surprised) Three sovereigns! Yes, sir, ht away, str. Please come this way and Ill show the finest room we have
iffin: It needn't be fine. Just so long as there's a and a good, stout door with a lock. I wish to be rmed and fed, and left alone
Mrs Hall: Yes, sir. I'll have the porter light a fire diately (Pause) Will this room suit?
Mrs Hath coling out) dimon! A gentleman in Room 8. Jiemson! Come light firs
quickly! (to Griffin) He'll be here at onen, sir.
Griffin: He can't got hore soon enough to suit me. I'm almost frozen. Mrs Hall: I should think so, sir, travelling on such a night se this. If you'll excuse me
see to some supper for you. Griffin: I'll excuse you, right enough
May I take your hat and cloak, sir, to dry them out by the kitchen fire? You'n
Mrs Hall: soaked through, I shouldn't wonder.
Griffin: No, I prefer to keep them on; and I don't want people hanging about. Mrs Hall: (offended) Vory good, sir. You needn't be so touchy. I was only trying to be
sociable. Griffin: I do not look for sociability at all. I will pay you handsomely for my lodgings never fear.
For the rest, you have only to leave me alone. I have a lot of work to do, and wish to do it in peace. I fancy this place will auit me. It's quiet, it's remote, and I am likely to be interrupted, I trust, madam, that I make myself clear beforehand. (firmly) wish to be left alone. Utterly wholly completely-alone.
Narrator: The stranger got his wish. Except for the delivery of his meals by the porter Jimson, his door remained closed, and for two days none but the porter had so much as impse of him. And even the porter had strange things to t tell of what he had seen. भान Jimson: He kept this back to me the whole time. Wouldn't let me see so much as a
centimetre of his face. Got me to wondering, I tell you. I kept questioning him and making observations about the weather until I thought he'd burst, he was so anxious for me to get out of the room. At last he couldn't control his anger, and he whirled around. Hard to believe it? He talked to me through a handkerchief! Held the thing right up to hu face. Like he didn't want me to see him! Ask me what I think? I think he's invisible! Mrs Hall: ( Jimson. Your
laughing) Lord save us all! Invisible, you say? You're a superstitious old fool mind must be wandering
Narrator: Though Mrs Hall scoffed at Jimson, her curiosity about the stranger changed gradually to fear. The little town of Iping quickly came to accept the man at the inn as a constant topic of conversation. But after a week, a new mystery broke out which occupied everyone's attention, and conversation was now given over to the rash of burglaries that had erupted in the neighbourhood. The police found themselves helpless. There were no evidences of any kind; sums of money just seemed to vanish into thin air. Several weeks went by. And then one day, Dr Cuss, who had been going from house to house taking up a collection for the new nursing home, came running down the stairs of the Mrs
Coach and Horses; his eyes ablaze with fright. Hall: (concerned) What happened, Dr Cuss? You look as though you've seen a ghost!
Dr Cuss: It's worse, Mrs Hall! Worse! The man-the man in Room 8.
Mrs Hall: Did he scare you off? He's extremely particular about being left alone. I should have warned you.
Dr Cuss: I-I thought I'd go in to see him for a minute. I thought he might give me something for the collection. I knocked on the door and waited. There was no answer.
Mrs Hall: Perhaps he didn't hear you.
Dr Cuss: Just what I thought myself, so I-I took the liberty of walking in. He was working, and the minute he heard me behind him, he jammed both his hands into his coat. But not before I was able to see to see he had no hands, Mrs Hall. There were just two empty sleeves! And and when he turned around, I-I saw something more scary; he has no face! The man in Room 8-no hands-no face. Just-emptiness. You can see right through him, except where there's clothing covering him. That's why he always wears the bandages, and the hat, and the smoked glasses. Mrs Hall, oh, Mrs Hall! Jimson was right. The stranger in Room 8-he's an invisible man!
Narrator: The strange story told by Dr Cuss spread like wildfire. Most people refused to believe it-it was too preposterous. But suddenly, it seemed to explain the petty thieveries that had been going on. How else could they have been managed, except by an invisible burglar? A deputation of townsmen was soon formed, to arrest and capture the invisible man.
Dr Cuss: (in a whisper) Should we knock on the door, or burst right in?
Jimson: No use in knocking-it would only warn him.
Ist Man: Jimson's right; he'd have a chance to make himself invisible
Dr Cusse: Very well Courage, men. Well capture him if there's anything to coptors Now, then one, two, three, push!
Narrator: The door was Doug ope
Jimton: (nedlys We've got you now, Instable Man
Griffin: Ohe, my secret is out, is
Dr Cuss: (alarmed) 1 don't see him.
Ist Man: Where is he?
2nd Man: The voice came from that direction!
Jimson: Look. That bandage is hanging in mid-air. Must be him?
Hurry! Ist Man: He's moving too fast!
Griffin: (laughing wichedly) Is it a fight you want? Fools,
you're no match for me. How easily I can elude you!
Ist Man: The bandage has dropped to the floor.
2nd Man: Look, he's taking off the other one!
Dr Cuss: We'll never catch him once he gets them off. He'll be invisible again!
Griffin: (laughing) There, that's the last of it. Now, come and catch me if you can. Fools al of you. Dr Cuss a blow with the poker to teach you to meddle where you aren't wanted.
Narrator: There was a sharp blow, and Dr Cuss fell.
Jimson: He's hit the doctor!
Griffin: I'll finish you all before I'm through. You may have found out my secret, but you'll never track me down. (Laughing) You'll never catch me. Nobody can catch the Invisible Man! Ha, ha, ha, ha!