THE SECRET GARDEN
“The Secret Garden” ( Adapted from the story “The Secret Garden” by Frances Hodgson Burnett)
LEVEL : 4th E.S.O. and English Extension.
CHARACTERS:
Mary Lennox
Colin
Dickon
Martha
Mrs Medlock
The Gardener
Mr Craven
SYNOPSIS
Mary Lennox is a spoilt child who lives in India. When her parents die because of a cholera epidemic, she moves to Misselthwaite Manor in England to live with her uncle. One day Mary finds a locked door to a secret garden. She meets all sorts of people in Misselthwaite : Matha, Dickon and his cousin, Colin. Colin is ill and never leaves his bed, but Mary will help Colin get better and together they will experience a deep transformation and the magic of friendship, determination and perseverance.
CHARACTER OBJECTIVES
Mary Lennox
Mary Lennox is a ten-year-old girl. She has always been a spoilt child. Her aya took care of her and she didn’t have any friends. When she arrives at Misslthwaite she finds the secret garden. This garden, which has been locked for so long, will Mary grow in every sense and in the same was as she makes the garden blossom, she will make her cousin Colin come to life.
Martha
She is a housemaid. She is good-natured. She is not a well-trained servant like those in India, but just a Yorkshire rustic girl. She is good-natured and she is the person who will Mary go back to earth and help her open her heart.
Dickon
Dickon is Martha’brother. He goes off on the moor by himself and plays for hours. He is going to make friend with Mary and they both will make the magic of the garden come true. Their friendship will will change Mary totally from the very moment they keep a secret, the secret garden.
Colin
He is Mary’s cousin and is the same age as her. He harldy ever leaves his room. He thinks he’s going to die. He is surprised at knowing Mary is her cousin. He has always been overprotected by Mrs Medlock. He has never been told much about her mother and the garden where she had the accident. He lacks his father’s love, which he will gain thanks to the magic of the garden when Mary and Dickon share their secret with him.
Mrs Medlock
She is the governess at Miselthwaite. She has looked after Colin since he was born. She overprotects him and tries to make up for the lack of his father’s love. She looks very strict but deep inside she is very tender.
Mr Craven
Archibald Craven is a widower. His wife died when she was very young and he hasn’t got over it. He is always alone and does not like meeting people. He spends long time away from Misselthwite. He is unable to cope with either his lost or his son, Colin. Thanks to the magic of the garden he will be able to express his feelings and show his son how much he loves him.
The Gardener
Ben is a grumpy old man. He was Mrs Craven’s gardener many years ago. But he knows how fond of the rose garden she was. He thinks that Colin is just an invalid but soon he will realize that the rose garden is alive and it will never be locked again.
SCENE BREAKDOWN
Scene one
(On a carriage across the Moor, late in the evening) Mary has just arrived in England. Mrs Medlock has picked her up and they have a long journey to Misselthwaite Manor.
Scene two
(In Mary’s room, in the morning) Mary wakes up and meets Martha. She realizes that her life will never be the same.
Scene three
(In the garden. In a cold winter morning) Mary goes out into the garden. She meets Ben, the Gardener and sees the robin that will show her the way into the secret garden.
Scene four
(In Mary’s room, looking around the house) Mary is wandering around the house. She hears someone crying for the first time. Mrs Medlock tells her off and sends her back her room. Mary tells Martha every thing about the gardener, the robin and the garden. Then Martha tells her the story of the secret garden and how Mrs Craven died when she fell off a tree.
Scene five
(In the garden, in the morning) Mary meets Dickon, Martha’s brother. Mary asks him to help her make the garden beautiful again. They will make friends and will share a secret: the secret garden.
Scene six
(In Mr Craven’s studio, in the evening) Mary meets her uncle for the first time. She tells her she does not want a teacher but just a little soil to make her own garden. Mr Craven agrees and tells Mary that he is going away the next day.
Scene seven
(In Misselthwaite, in the middle of the night) There is a terrible storm. Mary wakes up in the middle of the night. Then she hears the crying again. She leaves her room to find out what it is. She meets her cousin Colin. The meeting will be very surprising and the beginning of a friendship.
Scene eight
(In Colin’s room , in the morning) Mary visits Colin and tells him that she has met his father. Although Colin thinks he is an invalid, who will never leave his room, Mary assures him that he will feel better if he goes outside and see her secret garden.
Scene nine
(In the garden, in the morning) Mary meets Dickon at the secret garden. They agree to help Colin so that he can also go into the secret garden.
Scene ten
(In Missethwaite, in the middle of the night) In the middle of the night, Colin has a terrible tantrum. Mary goes to his room and manages to calm him down. She promises to take him to the secret garden.
Scene eleven
(In Colin’s room, in the morning) Mary and Dickon visit Colin. Dickon brings some animal and they decide to take Colin to the secret garden on a wheelchair.
Scene twelve
(Outside the house ) They go into the garden and help Colin stand up on his feet. The gardener finds them but in the end he recognizes Colin and tells him that he will be his gardener.
Scene thirteen
(In the garden, after some time) Colin is healthier and stronger. Now he can walk . Then his father comes back home and understands that a deep transformation has taken place thanks to the secret garden.
