THE BLACK CAT

Based on the short story by Edgar Allan Poe

Characters:
 THE NARRATOR: Starts as a gentle lover of animals, but transforms into a manic,
arrogant, alcohol-driven monster. (A powerful, dramatic role).
 THE WIFE: Kind, patient, superstitious, and deeply tragic.
 BARNEY: The Narrator’s rowdy, enabling drinking buddy. He serves as a witness to
the Narrator's descent into madness.
 OFFICER 1 & OFFICER 2: Stern, professional, and sharp police investigators.
Setting & Production Notes:
 The Stage: Divided into two distinct areas. Stage Left is a dimly lit prison cell. Stage
Right/Centre functions as the home, the tavern, and ultimately the dark cellar.
 Key Props: A pen and notebook, a flask/bottle, a prop penknife, a cane, a fake axe,
and a prop brick wall (can be painted cardboard or poster board that can be knocked
over).

ACT I: THE FIEND INTEMPERANCE

SCENE 1: The Confession
(Lights come up Stage Left. THE NARRATOR sits on a wooden stool in a prison cell, looking
gaunt and hollow-eyed. He speaks directly to the audience with haunting intensity.)
NARRATOR
For the wildest, yet most homely narrative which I am about to pen, I neither expect nor
solicit belief. Mad indeed would I be to expect it. Yet, mad am I not, and very surely do I not
dream. But tomorrow I die, and today... to-day I would unburden my soul.
(He stands up, pacing the small cell)
From my infancy, I was noted for the docility and humanity of my disposition. I was
especially fond of animals. There is something in the unselfish and self-sacrificing love of a
brute which goes directly to the heart of him who has tested the paltry friendship of mere
Man.
(He sighs, stepping from the cell into Stage Right, the home. The lights shift to a warm, cozy
amber.)
I married early. My wife and I shared a love for domestic pets. Birds, goldfish, a dog... and a
cat. Pluto was his name. He was remarkably large, entirely black, and sagacious to an
astonishing degree.
SCENE 2: The Domestic Shadow
(THE WIFE enters, setting down a bowl. She smiles warmly.)
WIFE
Look at him, husband. Pluto follows you like a shadow. I have never seen a creature so
completely attached to a man.
NARRATOR
(Smiling, petting an imaginary cat on the table)
He is my favourite playmate, my dear. I alone feed him. He attends me wherever I go about
the house.
WIFE
(Leaning in, lowering her voice playfully but with an underlying chill)
You know what the ancient stories say... all black cats are witches in disguise.
NARRATOR
(Laughs, shaking his head)
Nonsense, darling. Do not let old superstitions cloud your gentle heart.
(The NARRATOR suddenly freezes. The warm lights instantly snap to a harsh, cold blue. He
turns to the audience, his expression twisting into a dark sneer.)
NARRATOR
(Whispering harshly)
But then came the Fiend. The Fiend Intemperance!

SCENE 3: The Tavern and the Knife

(BARNEY enters loudly from the side, slamming a flask onto a table. The scene is now a
rowdy tavern. The Narrator staggers over to him, slouching heavily.)
BARNEY
(Slapping the Narrator on the back, laughing loudly)
Down the hatch, brother! You’re drinking like the world is ending tonight. What’s the matter?
Is the wife giving you grief?
NARRATOR
(Slurring, eyes wide and manic)
Everyone gives me grief, Barney. I am moody. Irritable. Regardless of the feelings of others.
My soul is rotting, and I don't know why.
BARNEY
(Passing the bottle)
Bah! Don't overthink it. A man's got to be master of his own house. Drink up! Let the wine
drown the noise!
NARRATOR
(Takes a heavy swig, slamming the bottle down)
Yes. Drown the noise.
(Barney exits laughing. The Narrator stumbles back to the "home" area. The Wife
approaches him anxiously.)
WIFE
You’ve returned late again. Please, let me take your coat—
NARRATOR
(Shoving her hand away roughly, snarling)
Leave me be! Your voice grates upon my very nerves!
WIFE
(Gasping, stepping back in tears)
What has happened to you? You abuse the animals, you curse at me... you are a monster!
NARRATOR
(Looking down at his feet, scowling)
Get away from me, Pluto! Avoid me, will you?
(The Narrator lunges downward, aggressively mimicking grabbing a struggling cat by the
throat. He winces violently and yells out.)
NARRATOR
Ah! It bit me! The wretched beast bit my hand!
(He stands up entirely, consumed by a demonic rage. He speaks in a manic trance.)
The fury of a demon instantly possessed me. My original soul took flight from my body. I
took from my waistcoat-pocket a penknife... opened it... grasped the poor beast by the
throat... and deliberately cut one of its eyes from the socket!
(The Wife lets out a piercing scream of horror, covering her face and rushing offstage. The
Narrator collapses into a chair, staring blankly at his hands as the lights smash to total
blackout.)

ACT II: PERVERSENESS

SCENE 1: The Spirit of Wrong
(Lights up slowly. Morning. The Narrator is sober, looking exhausted and filled with weak,
pathetic regret.)
NARRATOR
When reason returned with the morning... I experienced a sentiment half of horror, half of
remorse. But the soul remained untouched. I again plunged into excess and soon drowned in
wine all memory of the deed.
(He stands up, walking slowly to the side of the stage)
The cat slowly recovered. The socket of the lost eye presented a frightful appearance, but he
no longer suffered. Yet, as might be expected, he fled in extreme terror at my approach.
(A twisted, terrifying smile creeps onto his face)
And then came... the spirit of Perverseness. Who has not, a hundred times, found himself
committing a vile action for no other reason than because he knows he should not? It was this
unfathomable longing of the soul to offer violence to its own nature...
(He mimics pulling a rope from his pocket and tying a noose. Tears stream down his face, a
mix of madness and grief.)
One morning, in cool blood... I slipped a noose about its neck and hung it to the limb of a
tree. Hung it with the tears streaming from my eyes, and with the bitterest remorse at my
heart. Hung it because I knew it had loved me... hung it because I knew I was committing a
deadly sin that would place my immortal soul even beyond the reach of the infinite mercy of
God.
(A loud sound effect of crackling fire and shouting offstage.)
VOICES OFFSTAGE
Fire! Fire! The whole house is blazing! Escape!
(The Narrator panics, running across the stage as the lights flash red. He meets the Wife;
they look back at their destroyed home.)
NARRATOR
The destruction was complete. My entire worldly wealth was swallowed up. But on the single
wall that resisted the fire, graven upon the white surface... was the figure of a gigantic cat.
There was a rope about the animal’s neck.
SCENE 2: The Gallows Mark
(Time jump indicated by a dimming of lights. The Narrator and Barney are sitting at a rough
wooden table in a sketchy, low-light tavern.)
BARNEY
(Pouring a drink, looking at the Narrator with concern)
You look like a walking corpse, man. Ever since your house burned down, you’ve been
losing your mind.
NARRATOR
(Staring blankly into his glass)
I see it everywhere, Barney. The phantasm of the cat. I need to find another pet... something
to supply its place and rid me of this ghost.
BARNEY
(Suddenly pointing to a large barrel/hogshead on stage)
Well, speak of the devil. Look over there on top of that gin barrel. What is that black object?
NARRATOR
(Squinting, standing up slowly and approaching it)
It... it is a black cat. A very large one. Fully as large as Pluto.
BARNEY
(Walking over, leaning in)
Closely resembling him, too. Except... wait. Pluto didn't have a white hair on him. This one
has a massive, blurry splotch of white covering nearly its whole breast.
NARRATOR
(Touches the imaginary cat. His face softens slightly)
Upon my touching him, he immediately arose. He is purring loudly... rubbing against my
hand. Barney, ask the landlord who owns him.
BARNEY
(Shouting offstage)
Hey! Landlord! Whose cat is this on the gin barrel?
(Barney pauses, listening, then turns back to the Narrator with a shrug)
He says he’s never seen it before in his life. Doesn't know where it came from.
NARRATOR
Then he comes home with me.
(Barney exits. The Wife enters the scene, noticing the new cat.)
WIFE
Oh! What a beautiful creature! He has domesticated himself at once. But husband... look
closely at his face.
(She touches her own eye)
He, too, has been deprived of one of his eyes. It makes my heart ache for him.
NARRATOR
(To the audience, his voice dropping to a terrified whisper)
But for my part, a deep dislike arose within me. Its fondness for myself rather disgusted and
annoyed. And what added to my horror... was that white mark.
(He grips his chest, breathing heavily)
By slow, nearly imperceptible degrees, the mark assumed a rigorous distinctness of outline. It
was now the representation of an object that I shudder to name... it was now the image of a
hideous, of a ghastly thing... of the Gallows!
WIFE
(Anxiously, offstage)
Husband? Come down to the cellar with me, I need help with an errand.
NARRATOR
(Losing control, talking to the air)
Neither by day nor by night knew I the blessing of rest any more! An incarnate nightmare
incumbent eternally upon my heart!

ACT III: THE TOMB

SCENE 1: The Ax
(The stage grows dark and shadowy, representing a steep, damp cellar. The Narrator walks
down imaginary stairs. The Wife follows him.)
NARRATOR
(Muttering angrily)
Get away from my feet... loathsome beast...
(Suddenly, he stumbles violently forward, nearly falling.)
NARRATOR
(Roaring in a blind, manic fury)
Ah! It tripped me! The monster seeks to break my neck!
(He spots a prop ax leaning against the wall. He grabs it and raises it high above his head
with terrifying force.)
NARRATOR
Die! Die!
WIFE
(Dashing forward, firmly grabbing his arm)
No! Husband, stop! For the love of God, do not kill it!
NARRATOR
(Slowly turning his head toward her, his face a mask of pure, demoniacal rage)
You dare stay my arm?!
(Acting Cue: With a violent, explosive motion, he tears his arm free from her grasp and
swings the axe downward toward her. The Wife lets out a sharp, choked gasp, drops to her
knees, and falls completely flat on the floor, dead. Complete, dead silence on stage for three
seconds.)
NARRATOR
(Staring down at her, his voice chillingly calm, completely detached)
She fell dead upon the spot... without a groan.
(He drops the ax casually. He taps his chin, thinking methodically.)
This hideous murder accomplished, I set myself with entire deliberation to the task of
concealing the body. Many projects entered my mind, but finally, I hit upon an expedient. I
determined to wall it up in the cellar... as the monks of the Middle Ages are recorded to have
walled up their victims.
(He steps over to the prop wall. He mimics prying bricks loose with a crowbar, dragging her
body behind the structure, and carefully stacking the bricks back up. He simulates smoothing
over the plaster.)
NARRATOR
I relaid the whole structure. I prepared a plaster which could not be distinguished from the
old. When I finished, I felt satisfied. The wall did not present the slightest appearance of
having been disturbed.
(He looks around the floor, smiling triumphantly)
I looked for the beast which had been the cause of so much wretchedness, but the crafty
animal had fled. It is impossible to imagine the deep, the blissful sense of relief! For three
nights, I soundly and tranquilly slept... aye, slept even with the burden of murder upon my
soul!

SCENE 2: The Bravado

(On the fourth day. Loud, heavy, rhythmic knocking offstage. OFFICER 1, OFFICER 2, and
BARNEY enter the cellar. Barney looks deeply anxious and uncomfortable.)
OFFICER 1
Good day, sir. Your neighbour, Barney here, raised an alarm. Your wife has not been seen in
four days. We must make a rigorous investigation of the premises.
NARRATOR
(Utterly calm, bowing politely with a smug smile)
Of course, gentlemen. Secure in my innocence, I welcome you. Barney, my old friend, why
so pale? Officers, leave no nook or corner unexplored.
BARNEY
(Muttering, looking around nervously)
I’m sorry, man. I just... she wouldn’t just disappear.
OFFICER 2
(Poking around the cellar, tracing the walls)
Let us check the foundations. Search the walls.
(The two Officers walk directly up to the prop wall where the body is hidden, examining it
closely. The Narrator folds his arms, pacing easily and confidently right behind them.)
NARRATOR
(To the audience, grinning)
My heart beat calmly as that of one who slumbers in innocence.
OFFICER 1
(Sighing, shaking his head)
The brickwork is old, but completely solid. There’s nothing here.
OFFICER 2
Everything is clear. Our apologies for the disturbance, sir. We shall depart.
(The Officers and Barney turn and begin walking toward the exit. The Narrator’s eyes gleam
with a manic, overwhelming urge to brag. He cannot help himself.)
NARRATOR
Gentlemen! I delight to have allayed your suspicions. I wish you all health, and a little more
courtesy. By the by, gentlemen... this..this is a very well-constructed house!
(He steps directly up to the hidden-body wall, raising his cane)
An excellently well-constructed house! These walls... are you going, gentlemen? ...these
walls are solidly put together!
(In a frenzy of pure bravado, he smashes his cane heavily against the exact spot on the wall:
THUD. THUD. THUD.)
(Instant, dead silence. Then, a horrific, muffled screaming/wailing sound starts offstage
rising into a loud, inhuman screech.)
BARNEY
(Covering his ears, screaming in terror)
What in God's name is that sound?! It sounds like a child screaming from hell!
OFFICER 1
(Drawing his weapon)
It’s coming from inside the brickwork!
OFFICER 2
Tear down the wall! Help me, tear it down!
(The two Officers and Barney rush the wall, violently knocking over the prop bricks/panels.
Revealed behind it is the standing figure of the Wife, covered in fake gore.)
NARRATOR
(Letting out a horrific, throat-tearing shriek of despair, falling to his knees)
No! Nooooo!
(He points a trembling finger at the corpse’s head)
The corpse... stood erect before the eyes of the spectators! And upon its head... with red
extended mouth and solitary eye of fire... sat the hideous beast whose craft had seduced me
into murder, and whose informing voice had consigned me to the hangman! I had walled the
monster up within the tomb!
(The Officers violently grab the Narrator by his arms, forcing him up. The Narrator lets out a
broken, maniacal, echoing laugh as Barney stares on in absolute horror.)
(Instant Blackout.)