A PLAY IN EIGHT

SCENES
The Picture of Dorian Gray
based on the novel by Oscar
Wilde
Approximate running time:
30–40 minutes

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 1

Cast & Colors
Find your lines byyourcolor: the character name and the colored bar on the left of each speech. (Your
real name is in small grey next to the character you play.)

Dorian Gray Saray

Lord Henry Wotton Anthony

Basil Hallward Sophia

Sibyl Vane Andrea

James Vane Aroon

Alan Campbell Nicole

Lady Agatha Nayerli

Victoria Wotton Briggitte
Mrs. Vane
Carla

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 2

 SCENE 1 — The Painting and the Wish
Setting: Basil's art studio. A painting is covered with a white sheet. Lord Henry sits in a chair.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Admiring, gesturing broadly toward the easel) This is your best work, Basil. It is wonderful.
You must show it to all of London.

BASIL (Sophia)
(Shakes his head) No,Henry. I will never show it. I put too much of myself into this painting.
I love it too much.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Amused) Too much of yourself? You and your secrets. Who is the young man? What is his
name?

BASIL (Sophia)
(Serious) His name is Dorian Gray. He is young, kind, and innocent. Please, Henry, do not
spoil him. Your ideas are dangerous. Do not take him from me—my art lives because of him.

(Enter DORIAN, full of energy.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Walking quickly toward Basil) Good morning, Basil! Am I late? (He sees Henry, turning
polite) Oh — forgive me. I did not know you had a friend here.

BASIL (Sophia)

(Warm, stepping forward to introduce them) Dorian, this is Lord Henry Wotton, my old
friend. Henry, this is Dorian Gray.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Walking smoothly toward Dorian, examining his face) It is a pleasure, Mr. Gray. You have
a wonderful face. And youth — youth is the one thing worth having in the world

DORIAN (Saray)
Do you really believe that, Lord Henry?

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 3

 LORD HENRY (Anthony)
(Intensive voice) I do. Beauty and youth are everything. But they do not last. One day your
face will be grey and lined, your eyes will lose their fire, and you will suffer. Use your youth
now, dear boy, while you still have it

BASIL (Sophia)
Do not listen to him, Dorian. (Proudly) Look, it is finished. Come and see

(Basil pulls off the sheet. Dorian walks to the painting and stares. His smile fades)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Whispered voice) How sad it is! I will grow old, and horrible, and dreadful. But this picture
will always stay young. It will never be older than this day in June.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Lightly, putting a hand on Dorian’s shoulder) That is the way of the world, dear boy.

DORIAN (Saray)
(With rising feeling) If only it were the other way! If I could stay young, and the picture
could grow old instead! For that—for that—I would give everything. There is nothing in the
whole world I would not give. I would give my soul for that!

(The room grows cold. Lights flicker. A low wind is heard, and a clock strikes once.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Touching his chest) Did you feel that? The room turned cold. It was as if... something
heard me.

BASIL (Sophia)

(Trying to laugh it off, walking to Dorian) It was only the wind, Dorian. You said a dark,
foolish thing. Take your wish back.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Laughing softly, walking toward the exit) The wind, the cold—it is nothing. Only your
imagination, dear boy. But what a wonderful wish! Come, the theatre is waiting. Leave Basil
with his sad picture.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Slowly) Yes... yes, let us go. (Looks back at the painting) Goodbye, Basil.

(Lord Henry and Dorian exit. Basil is left alone.)

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 4

BASIL (Sophia)

(Tone sad, walking slowly to the easel) He likes his new friend better than me already.
(Looks at the picture) What have I done? (Covers the painting and exits).

SCENE 2 — The Gossip

Setting: A grand living room. Lady Agatha and Victoria Wotton use fans. Lord Henry enters.

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Gossipy tone, turning to Henry) Henry! All of London is talking about your new friend, Dorian
Gray. He is at every party, every supper, every opera.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Relaxed, leaning against a wall or column) He is learning how to live, Aunt Agatha. Life is
for pleasure, nothing more.

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Suspicious, lowering her fan, whispering) He is a charming boy, Henry. But people
whisper. They say he goes to dark places at night. I saw him myself in the poor streets near
the river. Why does a gentleman go there?

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Smiling) He is in love, Victoria. He has found a little actress—her name is Sibyl Vane. He says
he will marry her.

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Shocked, gasping, waving her fan quickly) An actress?! How dreadful! Society will never
forgive it. A scandal, Henry—a scandal! Scandals destroy a family in one night.

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Sarcastic) A rich young gentleman and a poor actress. It sounds like one of her own plays.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Cynical tone, walking between them and leading them toward the exit) Love is only a
game, ladies. Tonight Dorian takes us all to the theatre to watch his Sibyl act. Come—let us
see if the girl is worth a scandal.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 5

 LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)
(Warning tone, stopping for a second) Be careful, Henry. You play with that boy's heart as if
it were a toy.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Smiling) But hearts are made to be played with, dear Aunt.

(They exit together, the ladies whispering behind their fans)

SCENE 3 — The Theatre and the Dance

Setting: A small, shabby theatre. Soft music plays. Sibyl stands in the light, acting in a play,
full of life. Dorian watches from the side, his hand on his heart.

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Acting with great feeling, arms open wide) "Oh, my love! The night is ours, and the stars
look down on us alone!"

DORIAN (Saray)
(To the audience) Look at her. She is not only an actress—she is every heroine in every great
story. When she speaks, the whole world disappears. I am in love.

(The play ends. Sibyl bows. Dorian steps onto the stage and takes her hand.)

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Shy and happy) Dorian! You came again. You always come.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Holding both her hands) How could I stay away? Sibyl, you are the most beautiful thing in
the whole world. You are my Juliet, my queen. Be mine forever.

SIBYL (Andrea)

(Adoring tone) My Prince Charming. I still cannot believe a fine gentleman loves a poor girl
like me. I do not even know your real name.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Smiling, pulling her close) My name does not matter. Only love matters. Dance with me,
Sibyl. Tonight the whole world belongs to us.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 6

(They dance a slow, happy dance around the stage, laughing. Lord Henry enters quietly and watches.)

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(To the audience) Young love. So sweet. So foolish. I wonder how long it will last.

(The dance ends center stage. Dorian kisses Sibyl's hand.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Excited, looking into her eyes) Tomorrow night I will bring my dearest friends to this
theatre. They must see how perfect you are. Act for them, my love—give them the finest
performance of your life.

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Energetic, backing away toward the curtains) For you, Dorian, I will be more wonderful
than ever before! (She runs off.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Proudly, turning to Henry) Well, Henry? Is she not perfect?

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Calm) She is pretty, Dorian. We shall see if she can act. Tomorrow night, then. (Aside,
smiling) Tomorrow night.

SCENE 4: The Fall

Setting: The theatre, the next night. Dorian sits with Lord Henry, Basil, Lady Agatha, and
Victoria. On the other side, a small stage. Music begins.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Excited, pointing to the stage) There—the lights are going down. Now you will all see her.
Watch, Henry. Watch, Basil. She is the greatest actress in London.

BASIL (Sophia)

(Supportive tone, patting Dorian’s arm) I am happy for you, Dorian. If you love her, then I
will love her too.

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 LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)
(Whispering loudly to Victoria, looking behind her fan) ) So this is the famous Sibyl Vane.
Let us see if a poor girl can really act.

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Whispering back, annoyed) Quiet, Agatha. It is starting.

(Sibyl enters the stage to act, but her voice is flat, and her movements are completely stiff and
unnatural.)

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Nervous, looking at Dorian) "Oh, my love..." (She forgets her words and speaks without
any emotion). "...the night is... cold."

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Low, leaning back with a smirk) Dear me. Your queen speaks her lines like a schoolgirl
reading a list.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Whispering, tense) She is only nervous. Wait—wait, she will be wonderful in a moment.

(Sibyl delivers another line horribly, completely destroying the scene. The audience and guests begin
to laugh.)

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Laughing loudly behind her fan) How dreadful! She has no talent at all!

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Laughing, mocking tone) Oh, the poor little thing! And you wished to marry her, Dorian?
She is ruining the entire play.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Laughing, cynical tone) Dorian, your great actress is a complete failure. What a
performance!

BASIL (Sophia)

(Kindly, standing up to defend her) Be gentle. The poor girl is only frightened.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 8

 DORIAN (Saray)
(Standing up, red with shame) Everyone is laughing. They are laughing at her and at me.
She has made me a fool in front of all my friends. I am ashamed!

(On the other side of the stage, Sibyl looks up at Dorian, smiling with hope, not understanding his
anger. Dorian turns his back to her completely.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Coldly) Take me away from here. The play is over.

(The guests stand up, still chuckling, and exit stage left. Dorian stays for a second, staring at Sibyl
with burning fury.)

SCENE 5: The Broken Heart

Setting: A poor dressing room behind the stage. Mrs. Vane is sewing and James Vane stands
by the door.

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Running in, happy) Mother! He is here—my Prince Charming came again, and he brought all
his grand friends!

MRS VANE (Carla)

(Worried tone, without looking up from her sewing) I know you acted badly tonight, child.
Everyone saw it. Be careful, Sibyl. Rich men are dangerous. They only play with poor girls.

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Spinning around the room) I do not care about the acting, Mother! Before I met Dorian, the
stage was my whole life. But now I know real love, and I cannot pretend on a stage anymore.

JAMES (Aaron)

(Fierce, aggressive voice, stepping into the center and grabbing Sibyl’s shoulders) Listen
to me, sister. Tomorrow I sail away across the sea. I will be gone for years, and I cannot
protect you. (Fierce) But hear me: if that rich man ever does you wrong, I will find him and I
will kill him.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 9

 SIBYL (Andrea)
(Scared, pulling away from James) James, do not say such things! He could never hurt
anyone.

(James and Mrs. Vane exit to leave them alone as Dorian enters, pale with anger.)

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Running to him with open arms) Dorian! My love! Forgive me!

DORIAN (Saray)
(Coldly, pushing her hands away) Do not touch me.

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Confused, pleading) But you do not understand! I could not act a false love while my true
love sat watching me!

DORIAN (Saray)
(Cruel) You have killed my love. I loved you because you had genius, because you brought
dreams to life. Now you are shallow and stupid. You are nothing to me now. I will never see
you again. I wish I had never laid eyes on you!

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Crying on her knees) Do not be cruel to me! I love you better than anything in the world! I
will work, I will improve—oh, do not leave me, do not leave me!

DORIAN (Saray)
(Looking down with absolute disgust) There is always something ridiculous about people
one has stopped loving. Goodbye, Sibyl Vane.

(Dorian walks out, slamming the door. Sibyl collapses, sobbing hysterically on the floor. James
enters quickly, seeing his sister broken.)

JAMES (Aaron)

I never saw his face clearly... but one day I will find that man. I swear it! (James rushes out
to follow Dorian).

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 10

 SCENE 6: The Tragedy of Sibyl Vane
Setting: The same dressing room, moments later. Sibyl is alone. Dramatic, dark music builds.

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Sobbing, looking at her hands) Gone... my Prince Charming is gone. "Shallow and stupid,"
he called me. Without his love, the world is dark. I cannot breathe... I cannot live in a world
without him!

(In despair, Sibyl looks at the table. She grabs a sharp prop knife or a razor blade used for costumes.
Her hands shake.)

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Whispering through tears) Forgive me, Mother. Forgive me, Dorian... I do this for love.

(With a quick, painful motion, she cuts her wrists. She gasps, falling back. Mrs. Vane walks in and
screams in horror).

MRS VANE (Carla)

Sibyl! No! Oh God, my child, what have you done?! Help! Somebody help us!

SIBYL (Andrea)
(Weakly, closing her eyes) Dorian... my love...

(Sibyl's hand falls limp. Mrs. Vane weeps over her body as the lights fade to black).

SCENE 7: The First Change

Setting: Dorian's room, late that night. The painting stands in the corner under a sheet. Dorian
enters, restless. Lord Henry follows him in.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Serious tone, walking slowly to Dorian) Dorian, I have terrible [Link] must be brave.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Nervous, stopping his pacing) What is it, Henry?

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 11

 LORD HENRY (Anthony)
(Solemn) Sibyl Vane is dead. Last night, she could not bear your absence and cut her wrists

DORIAN (Saray)
(Stunned, stepping back, dropping to his chair) Dead? Sibyl... dead? I killed her with my
cruel words. (A pause) But Henry—why do I feel nothing? Why am I not weeping?

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Manipulative, walking over to pat Dorian's shoulder) Because you are strong, dear boy. Do
not cry for her. Think of it — she died for love, like a heroine in a great play. It is the most
romantic thing that has ever happened to you. Tonight we shall go to the opera and forget.
Life goes on, Dorian.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Slowly) The most romantic thing... yes. So I have murdered Sibyl Vane—as surely as if I
used a knife. And yet the roses in the garden are just as sweet, and the birds still sing. How
strange life is.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Smiling, walking to the exit) That is the spirit. I will wait for you outside. (He exits)

(Dorian is alone. He pulls off the sheet from the painting and gasps.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Trembling whisper, pointing at the canvas) No. Look at the face. There is a cruel smile
there that was not there this morning. The painting has changed! My wish... my wish came
true. The picture grows ugly for my sins, but my own face stays young and clean.

(The lights flicker; the same cold wind is heard. Dorian looks around paranoid, then back at the
painting.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Afraid) So it is true, this canvas holds my soul. (He covers it quickly.) Then no one must
ever enter this room. No one. Never.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 12

 SCENE 8: The Party (Eighteen Years Later)
Setting: An elegant salon. Lady Agatha and Victoria Wotton are talking holding glasses. While
other can dance in the background. Dorian and Henry move through the guests on stage left.

(A sign or a slow voice marks the time: EIGHTEEN YEARS LATER.)

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Curious and gossipy, whispering to Victoria) My dear Victoria, have you seen Mr. Dorian
Gray tonight?

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Amazed and fascinated, looking across the stage at Dorian) Yes, Lady Agatha. It’s
incredible. Eighteen years have passed and he hasn't changed at all. He looks as young as
ever.

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Low voice, shaking her head) True. It is very strange. But people say bad things about him.

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Concerned, lowering her voice) I have heard the rumors too. They say many people
became his friends... and then fell into disgrace and lost everything.

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Sighing, looking at Dorian) Poor things. And yet, his face is like an angel's.

(Dorian and Henry walk smoothly across the stage to greet them.)

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Charming and polite, bowing slightly) Lady Agatha, Victoria, what a pleasure to see you.

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Sarcastic and annoyed, looking at Henry) Henry, you are my husband, but I almost never
see you at home.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Playful, smiling at the audience) My dear, husbands and wives who see each other less,
love each other more.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 13

 LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)
(Direct and intrigued, looking closely at Dorian) Mr. Gray, you never grow old. What is your
secret?

DORIAN (Saray)
(Smiling and completely relaxed) I have no secrets, Lady Agatha. I just enjoy life.

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Serious and warning) Well, enjoy it well, because youth does not last.

LORD HENRY (Anthony)

(Admiring and confident, putting a hand on Dorian's shoulder) For him, it seems it does.
Dorian is the only perfect person I know.

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Grave and cautious) Take care, Mr. Gray. People talk a lot about you.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Arrogant, cold tone) Let them talk. I don’t care what they say.

(The ladies turn and leave the stage, whispering. Henry smiles and steps away to talk to other guests.
Dorian stays center stage, completely alone as his smile disappears.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Bitter, dark whisper to himself) I don’t care what they say... but I do care what the picture
shows. Every year it gets uglier. Older. Crueler. (He turns and exits quickly toward his
house.)

SCENE 9: Basil and the Secret

Setting: That same night, at Dorian’s house. A knock at the door. Basil enters wearing a travel
coat.

BASIL (Sophia)

(Friendly but worried) Dorian, I'm glad I found you. I am leaving for Paris tonight, but I
needed to talk to you first.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 14

 DORIAN (Saray)
(Cold and indifferent) Basil! It has been so long. What do you want to talk about?

BASIL (Sophia)

(Serious and tense) About you. The whole city is talking about you. They say terrible
things. I always defend you, but... I don't know what to believe anymore.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Defensive and sharp) You shouldn’t believe anything.

BASIL (Sophia)

(Desperate and pleading) Dorian, tell me the truth. Who are you really? They say your soul
is rotten. I wish I could see your real soul.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Sinister, laughing quietly) You want to see my soul, Basil? Very well. You painted it. Come,
look at your own work.

(Dorian walks to the corner and violently pulls the sheet off the painting. Basil walks over, looks at it,
and screams in horror, falling back.)

BASIL (Sophia)

(Trembling voice, clutching his head) God in heaven! What is this? This is a monster! Old,
twisted, with blood upon its hands! Dorian, what have you done? And yet... that is my name
in the corner. This is my painting! Dorian

DORIAN (Saray)
(Cold and cynical) Years ago, I made a wish. I wished that the painting would grow old for
me. And it came true. That face is my soul, Basil. Every bad thing I did is painted there.

BASIL (Sophia)

This is terrible. Dorian, you must repent. Pray with me. There is still time to change. (falling
to his knees, holding Dorian’s hand) Pray, Dorian! Kneel down and pray for forgiveness

DORIAN (Saray)
(Wild, shaking, pulling his hand away) Too late! It is too late to pray! You painted this. You
taught me to worship my own face. This is your fault, Basil — yours!

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 15

 BASIL (Sophia)

(Crying, looking up from the floor) Dorian, for the love of God—

(Dorian seizes a knife from the table and stabs Basil in the back — once, twice, three times. Basil falls
to the floor, dead. Dorian breathes hard and looks down at his own hands.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Trembling and panicked) What have I done? Basil... what have I done? (Whispering,
looking maniacally at his palms) Clean. My hands are clean. (He looks at the painting.)
Only you saw it. (He covers the painting.) No one will ever know. No one can ever know

SCENE 10: Alan Campbell

Setting: The same room, near midnight. Alan Campbell enters, terrified.

ALAN (Nicole)
(Cold and distant) Dorian, I got your note. It said it was urgent. But I warn you: we are not
friends anymore. What do you want?

DORIAN (Saray)
There is a bodyin the room upstairs — a man named Basil Hallward. You are a man of
science, Alan. Youhave the chemicals. I need you to destroy the body. Leave nothing — no
bone, no trace.

ALAN (Nicole)
(Angry and resolute) You are crazy! I will not help you hide a crime.

DORIAN (Saray)
(In a dark, threatening tone) Alan... I know things about you. Things you don't want anyone
to know. If you don't help me, I will tell everyone.

ALAN (Nicole)
(Furious but scared) You wouldn't dare.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 16

 DORIAN (Saray)
(Cruel and confident) I dare to do anything. You know that. Help me, and I will keep your
secret forever.

ALAN (Nicole)
(Defeated and full of hatred) You are a monster, Dorian. But you leave me no choice. I will do
it. And after this, never look for me again.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Relieved and fake polite) Thank you, Alan. I won't forget this.

ALAN (Nicole)
(Bitter and ominous) I won't either. And believe me: you will regret this your whole life.

(Alan goes upstairs. Dorian is left alone, hugging himself.)

SCENE 11: James’s Revenge

Setting: : Inside a dark, smoky tavern. Dorian sits or walks near a table, looking around
paranoid, preparing to leave. Suddenly, , a man grabs him: it’s James Vane, pointing a gun at
his face.

JAMES (Aaron)

(Furious and aggressive) Finally, I found you! I’ve been looking for you for years. You are
the "Prince Charming" who killed my sister Sibyl.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Terrified but trying to hide it) Your sister? I don’t know what you are talking about. Let me
go.

JAMES (Aaron)

(Dangerous and lethal) Don’t lie. You are going to die tonight. Say your prayers.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Manipulative and fast-talking) Wait! When did your sister die?

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 17

 JAMES (Aaron)

(Angry) Eighteen years ago.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Confident and innocent) Eighteen years ago? Look at my face! I am young. I was just a child
eighteen years ago. You have the wrong man.

(James pulls him and looks at his face, confused.)

JAMES (Aaron)

(Confused and regretful) It’s true... you are very young. Forgive me. I almost killed an
innocent man.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Offended and arrogant, fixing his coat) Be more careful next time. Your madness almost
cost me my life. (He walks away quickly into the darkness.)

DORIAN (Saray)
(Alone, looking at the gun, frustrated) How is this possible? Where is the real murderer?

(An Old Woman from another table steps out of the dark corner of the tavern, looking toward the door
with hatred and laughing wickedly.)

OLD WOMAN (Nicole)

(Mocking) Why didn't you kill him, soldier? You should have shot him right there!

JAMES (Aaron)

(Annoyed) The man I want ruined my sister eighteen years ago. That boy is far too young.

OLD WOMAN (Nicole)

(Spitting on the floor, angry) Too young? Fool! That man has frequented this tavern for
eighteen years and he has never aged a single day! He is a monster, a very bad man who
destroys everyone who comes near him. They say he sold his soul to stay young forever. His
real name is Dorian Gray!

JAMES (Aaron)

(Shocked, raising his gun) Dorian Gray! He never aged... He tricked me! I will follow him to
his country house and kill him! (James runs out of the tavern.)

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 18

(The lights shift quickly to represent Dorian's country house days later. Dorian stands downstage,
trembling. Lord Henry enters briskly.)

LORD HENRY
(Excited) Dorian! You missed the cacería! A strange thing just happened out in the forest.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Anxious) What happened, Henry?

LORD HENRY
(Gesturing) Geoffrey shot into the bushes at a hare, but he hit a man by mistake. The man is
dead.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Terrified) A man? One of our servants?

LORD HENRY
(Shaking his head) No. A stranger. He looks like a sailor and had a gun in his pocket. He was
hiding in the trees, watching the house. Let's go look at the body.

DORIAN (Saray)
(To himself, with an immense smile of relief) A sailor... in the bushes... It's him! James Vane
is dead. I am safe at last!

LORD HENRY
(Shaking his head) Do you said something? I can’t heard you

DORIAN (Saray)
Nothing. Let's go see. (They exit.)

SCENE 12: Alan's Remorse

Setting: Alan Campbell's laboratory, night. A table with chemical bottles and a gun. Alan walks
around looking very scared and crying.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 19

 ALAN (Nicole)
(Holding his head, crying) What did I do?! My hands... my science... used to destroy a dead
body! I am not a scientist anymore, I am a monster! (He looks at his hands with disgust, then
looks at the table.)

ALAN (Nicole)
(Shaking) Basil's ghost is watching me. Dorian destroyed my life with that petition. I cannot
live with this guilt!

(Alan slowly picks up the gun from the table with tears in his eyes and raises it to his head.)

ALAN (Nicole)
(Whispering) God forgive me...

(He pulls the trigger. A loud gunshot rings out. Alan falls to the floor, dead. Total darkness for two
seconds.)

SCENE 13: The News and the Intention

Setting: Dorian's house, the next day. Dorian sits nervously. Lord Henry enters quickly, holding
a morning newspaper.

LORD HENRY
(Serious tone) Dorian, look at the morning paper. This is terrible news

DORIAN (Saray)
(Nervous, standing up) What happened, Henry?

LORD HENRY
(Looking at the paper) Alan Campbell is dead. They found him in his laboratory this morning.
He shot himself.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Stunned, stepping back, whispering) Alan... dead...

LORD HENRY
(Sighing) No one knows why he did it. It was sudden madness. London is full of questions.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 20

 DORIAN (Saray)
(Sad, sitting down) Henry, I am tired of this life. Everyone dies or disappears. I want to be
good. I want to change.

LORD HENRY
(Laughing) Good? You are perfect, Dorian. Don’t change. Basil is gone, Alan is dead... life is
too short to worry about the past. Good night. (Henry exits.)

SCENE 14: The End of the Monster

Setting: Dorian is alone. He approaches the easel and pulls off the white cloth, staring at the
ugly painting.

DORIAN (Saray)
(Desperately sad) I tried to be good, but the picture is worse. Look at the lies in its eyes.
And now, Alan’s blood is on my hands too. (Picks up the knife from the table) This painting
is my secret. If I destroy it, I will be free! Die, you monster! Die!

(Dorian stabs the painting violently. A loud wind howls. Dorian lets out a terrible scream, clutches his
chest, and falls hard to the floor, dead. Total darkness for two seconds.)

(The lights flash back up. Lord Henry, Lady Agatha, and Victoria rush in, panicked.)

LORD HENRY
(Shouting) Dorian! Where are you? I heard a scream!

VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(Pointing at the easel, amazed and confused) Henry, look! It’s the painting Basil made... It
is Dorian Gray, young and beautiful! But how? Why is it here?

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Screaming, pointing at the floor) Oh my God, look on the floor! Who is that horrible old man?
He has so many wrinkles!

(They all gather around the body on the floor in disgust.)

LORD HENRY
(Staring at the dead man's fingers, shocked) Look at his hand... He is wearing Dorian’s rings.
(Whispering in terror) This old monster... is Dorian Gray.

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 21

 VICTORIA (Briggitte)

(In total disbelief, looking from the floor to the canvas) No... that is impossible! The man
on the floor is old and ugly, but the painting is perfect! How can this be him?!

LADY AGATHA (Nayerli)

(Covering her eyes, crying) It is Dorian! The rings don't lie! This is a nightmare... God have
mercy on his soul.

LORD HENRY
(Staring at the beautiful canvas, trembling in fear) I don't understand... It is a terrifying
mystery.

(The lights slowly fade to absolute black on the beautiful painting and the body.)

The Picture of Dorian Gray · page 22