center stage

The Curious Case

Of Benjamin Button
The older you get, the younger you feel.
Adapted by Bryon Cahill from the novella by F. Scott Fitzgerald Illustrations by David Leonard

CHARACTERS
(main characters in boldface)

Narrators 1, 2, 3
Benjamin Button, Benjamin
through most of his life
Roger Button, Benjamins
father
Doctor Keene
Nurses 1, 2
Old man, Benjamin as an old
man
Clerk
Emily Button, Benjamins
mother
Cecilia, a neighbor
Mr. Hart, admissions officer at
Yale College
Hildegarde Moncrief,
Benjamins wife
Roscoe Button, Benjamins
son
Ben, Benjamin as a young boy
Nana, young Benjamins nurse

4 READ April 1, 2011

Scene 1
Narrator 1: On a September
morning in 1860, Roger Button
wakes in his Baltimore home and
heads for the hospital. His wife
was admitted the night before.
The happily married couple are
expecting their first child.
Narrator 2: The practice of being born in a hospital is not yet
considered general custom by
any means. In 1860, babies are
almost always birthed at home.
Whether the Buttons decision
to have their baby come into the
world outside their home has
any bearing upon the astonishing
history you are about to hear will
never be known.

of Roger Button & Company,

Wholesale Hardware, enters the
hospital and begins to run toward
Doctor Keene with much less
dignity than is expected from a
gentleman.
Narr 2: The doctor hears Roger
coming and turns to face him.
There is a curious expression
on the doctors face. It is one
that the worried father cannot
comprehend.
Roger: What happened? What
was it? How is she? Is it a boy?
Who is it? What
Doctor Keene: Talk sense, Mr.
Button!
Roger: Is the child born?

Narrator 3: We shall tell you

what occurred and let you judge
for yourself.

Keene: Why, yes, I suppose so

after a fashion.

Roger Button: Doctor Keene!

Oh, Doctor Keene!

Keene: Yes.

Narr 1: Roger Button, president

Roger: Is my wife all right?

Roger: Is it a boy or a girl?

Narr 3: Doctor Keene is perplexed. He does not know how to

answer the simple question.
Keene: It is outrageous!
Roger: What is the matter?
Triplets?
Keene: No, not triplets! Ill ask
you, sir, to go in and see for yourself. And whats more, you can
get another doctor. I brought you
into this world, young man, and
Ive been physician to your family for 40 years, but Im through
with you! I dont want to see
you or any of your relatives ever
again! Good-bye!
Narr 1: And then, without another word, Doctor Keene walks
away from Roger Button, leaving
the poor man there to wonder at
terrible things.

Narr 2: It is with the greatest difficulty that Roger forces himself

forward. He walks in a confused
manner before a nurse sees him.
Roger: Im Mr. Button. I want to
see my

three at a time. He arrives on

the second floor and rushes
down the hall, beside himself
with fright. A dozen doctors and
nurses are standing idly outside
one particular room. He rushes
to them. When he arrives, the
crowd parts.

Narr 3: The nurse drops the

basin she is holding, and it
clanks to the floor. She covers
her mouth in horror.

Narr 3: Roger looks in and sees

an old man crammed into a crib
and wrapped in a voluminous
white blanket. The man is

Roger: I want to see my child!

* vocab

Nurse 1: Can I help you, sir?

Nurse 1: Upstairs. Right upstairs.

Goup.
Narr 1: She points toward the
stairwell and then rushes off in
the opposite direction.
Narr 2: Roger takes the stairs

DIGNITY: the quality of being worthy

of honor
BASIN: a bowl used for holding
water
VOLUMINOUS: of great volume or
size

April 1, 2011 READ 5

approximately 70 years of age.

His sparse hair is almost white,
and a long smoke-colored beard
drips from his chin. The beard
waves back and forth absurdly,
fanned by the breeze coming in
through the window.

Nurse 2: Youre wrong, Mr. Button. This is your child, and youll
have to make the best of it. Were
going to ask you to take him
home as soon as possible.

Roger: What is going on here? I

am Roger Button. I want to see
my child.

Nurse 2: Yes. We cant have him

here. We really cant. You know.

Roger: Home?

Roger: Am I mad? Is this some

ghastly hospital joke?

Old man: Im right glad of it.

With all the yelling and howling
commotion, I havent been able
to get a wink of sleep. I asked
for something to eat, and they
brought me a bottle of milk!

Nurse 2: It doesnt seem like

a joke to us. And I dont know
whether youre mad or not but
that is most certainly your child.

Narr 1: The nurse leaves Roger

alone with the old man. He sinks
down into a chair in the room
and stares at his son in horror.

Narr 2: Roger cannot believe

his eyes or his ears. He steps
forward. The old man looks up,
into Rogers eyes.

Roger: My heavens! What will

people say? What must I do?

Narr 1: All the doctors and

nurses turn to him, but they do
not speak.

Old man: Are you my father? Because if you are, I wish youd get
me out of this place. Or at least
get them to put me in a comfortable rocker.
Roger: Where in Gods name did
you come from? Who are you?
Old man: I cant tell you exactly
who I am, because Ive only been
born a few hours. But my last
name is certainly Button.
Roger: You lie! Youre an
impostor!
Narr 3: The old man turns to
speak to the nurse. The rest of
the hospital staff have left the
scene to discuss the days crazy
events among themselves.
Old man: Nice way to welcome
a newborn child. Tell him hes
wrong, why dont you?

Old man: They gave me this

blanket. I cant very well leave
the building in it. Youll have to
go out and buy me some proper
clothes before you take me
home.
Roger: Take you home?
Old man: And a cane, Father. I
want to have a cane.

Clerk: How old is your child, sir?

Roger: About six hours.
Clerk: Congratulations, sir!
Babies supply department is in
the rear.
Roger: Why, I dont think Im
not sure thats what I want. Its
hes an unusually large child.
Exceptionally large, in fact.
Hes 16.
Clerk: Oh. I beg your pardon, sir.
I thought you said your boy was
just six hours old. Youll find the
youths department in the rear as
well.
Narr 1: Roger looks around and
sees mens suits hanging nearby.
Roger: Ill take that one.
Clerk: Thats not a childs suit, sir.
You could wear that yourself!
Roger: Wrap it up. Thats the
one I want. Ill take a cane, too,
please.

Scene 3
Narr 2: Back at the hospital,
Roger enters his sons room.
Roger: Heres your clothes.

Narr 2: Still unable to fully grasp

the incredible situation, Roger
leaves the room and the hospital.

Narr 3: He throws them at the

old man, who is now standing
in the corner with the blanket
wrapped around him.

Scene 2

Old man: They look sort of

funny to me. I dont want to be
made a monkey of

Narr 3: Ten minutes later, Roger

is in a clothes store just down the
street from the hospital. A clerk
greets him warmly.
Clerk: Good morning!
Roger: Good morning. I want to
buy some clothes for my child.

Roger: It is you who is making a

monkey of me! Now put them on
or or Ill spank you!
Old man: All right, Father. Youve
lived longer. You know best. Just
as you say.

Narr 1: Upon hearing the word

father, Roger cringes.
Narr 2: Once the old man is
properly dressed, Roger escorts
him out of the room.
Roger: Come along now.
Old man: What are you going to
call me, Father?
Roger: I dont know. I think well
call you Methuselah.*

Scene 4
Narr 3: Upon bringing their
newborn addition home, Mr. and
Mrs. Button make some adjustments. They cut his long gray
hair short and dye it black. They
shave his beard and give him a
nameBenjamin.
Narr 1: Despite their attempts

to make Benjamin look younger,

he still has every appearance of
a very aged man. For the first
few months of his life, Benjamin
Button is not allowed outside the
house for fear of what the neighbors might think.
Narr 2: But it soon becomes
quite apparent that hiding Benjamin from the world is doing him
no good. In fact, he is quickly
becoming morose and withdrawn. Mr. and Mrs. Button
decide to have a coming-out
party for him. They invite their
family and friends, as well as
their entire neighborhood, to
their home and introduce their
son over carefully chosen pasta.
Emily Button: Thank you all
for coming. I know that there
have been certain rumors flying

2010
6 read
READSeptember
April 1, 4,
2011

around about our newborn son,

and we wanted to clear it all up
now.
Narr 3: In their large Victorian
home, 86 sets of eyes watch the
staircase as Roger slowly helps
Benjamin down. There are murmurs all around. Cecilia, the Buttons next-door neighbor, chimes
in the loudest.
Cecilia: What on Earth? Have
you adopted an old man?
Roger: No, Cecilia. In fact, this is
our son. His name is Benjamin.
He is 6 months young.

* vocab
SPARSE: thinly scattered
COMMOTION: great disorder, turmoil, racket
MOROSE: terribly gloomy, sad

September
4, 2010READ
read 7
April 1, 2011
* the biblical grandfather of Noah who was believed to have lived for 969 years

you, Mr. Button. Where is that

boy of yours? Benjamin scored
very highly on our entrance
exams. Did you know that?

Narr 3: Mr. Hart stares for a long

moment into Benjamins face
before jumping out of his seat
and hollering.

Benjamin: No. No, I did not.

Hart: Get out! Get out of here!

Get out of town! You are a dangerous lunatic!

Hart: Its true. In fact, he scored

higher than any incoming freshman has in Yales entire history.
Can you believe that, sir?
Benjamin: You dont say.
Hart: Oh, but I do! Now where is
Benjamin? He is late.
Benjamin: Well, that is what I
have been trying to tell you. You
see, I am Benjamin.
Hart: What?
Benjamin: I am Benjamin
Button.

Benjamin Button: Hello.

Emily: Oh, Benjamin. Oh my!

Narr 1: Cecilia faints. Her husband catches her. Benjamin is

now known to all.

Benjamin: What is it, Mother?

Scene 5

Narr 1: Benjamin realizes that is

true. His cane is where he left it,
propped up against the back of
the toilet.

Narr 2: As the months turn into

years, Benjamin becomes readily
accepted. He is an anomaly of
nature. When he turns 14 years
old, he notices in the bathroom
mirror that he no longer has
to dye his hair. The gray has
somehow, as if by magic, gone
away, and his hair is now black.
He appears to have slightly fewer
wrinkles on his face.
Benjamin: Can it be?
Narr 3: He leaves the bathroom and goes into the hall. His
mother is standing there.
2010
8 read
READSeptember
April 1, 4,
2011

Emily: You are walking without

the use of your cane!

Emily: And you are not as

hunched over as you used to
be! Look at you! My little boy is
growing up!
Benjamin: Imagine that.

Scene 6
Narr 2: When Benjamin turns
18, he decides that he would like
to go to college. He has been
homeschooled his entire life and
has become quite smart. He ap-

plies to Yale College in Connecticut and takes a trip there for an

interview.
Narr 3: Upon arriving at the
admissions office, he meets with
a man named Mr. Hart.
Mr. Hart: Please come in, sir.
Have a seat. I assume you have
come to inquire about your sons
possible registration here?
Benjamin: Why, as a matter of
fact, my names Button, and I
Hart: I am very glad to meet you,
Mr. Button. Im expecting your
son here any minute.
Benjamin: No, you dont understand. You see, I am my son. No.
Thats not right. I mean to say
that Mr. Button is my father. No.
Well, he is, yes, but
Hart: I am afraid I dont follow

Narr 1: Mr. Hart looks Benjamin

up and down. It is unheard of to
admit elderly people into Yale in
this day and age, and the admissions officer is disgusted.
Hart: Surely youre joking.
Benjamin: Not at all.
Hart: But I have Mr. Benjamin
Buttons age down here as 18.
Benjamin: That is correct.
Hart: Now surely, Mr. Button,
you dont expect me to believe
that?
Narr 2: Benjamin has met disbelief many times in his life, and
therefore Mr. Harts nearsighted
judgments are nothing new.
However, he believed he would
be treated with respect when he
traveled the long distance to one
of the countrys finest institutions
of higher education.
Benjamin: Despite my surprising
appearance, Mr. Hart, I am 18.
That I can assure you.

Narr 1: Benjamin rises and heads

for the door.
Hart: The very idea! A man of
your age trying to enter here as a
freshman!
Benjamin: But I am 18.
Hart: Eighteen years old, are
you? Well, Ill give you just 18
minutes to get out of town!
This is Yale, sir! Not an old folks
home! Out! Out! Out!
Narr 2: As Benjamin leaves the
building and walks across campus, Mr. Hart opens his window
and shouts very loudly to anyone
who will listen.
Hart: To all true Yale students,
behold the elderly man who
walks among you now. He claims
to be 18! He is mad! Go to Harvard, young man! Maybe they
will take the likes of you!
Narr 3: Many students laugh at
Benjamin as he walks past them
on the green. A small group even
follows him all the way back
to the train station, calling him
names and pushing him along.
Narr 1: When at last Benjamin is
safely in his seat on the train, the
small crowd of jeerers leaves
the platform, laughing wildly.
Benjamin: Theyll regret this.
Narr 2: It is the biggest mistake
that Yale College has ever made.

Scene 7
Narr 3: Benjamin does indeed
apply to Harvard, and he is accepted. He makes a name for
himself and graduates with a
business degree and the highest
of honors in a mere two years.
Narr 1: When Benjamin returns
to Baltimore, Roger looks at his
20-year-old son in amazement.
Roger: I do say, son, you are
getting younger and younger
every day! Why, we could pass
as brothers, you and I! And here I
stand before you, a man of 50!
Emily: Roger, dear, why dont
you take Benjamin to the Shevlins party tonight? I am sure
there will be many pretty ladies
there for my handsome boy.
Narr 2: Emily smiles at her son
and gives him a teasing, motherly
wink.
Roger: An excellent idea! Get
yourself ready, son! Tonight, we
celebrate your most outstanding
education with class!
Narr 3: A few hours later,
Roger and Benjamin are in the
phaeton. Up on a hill, the
Shevlins grand country house
looms. As they approach it,
Roger begins to talk business.
Roger: There are great things
to come for you, Benjamin. Old
fellows like me cant learn new
tricks. Its you youngsters with

* vocab

ANOMALY: something incredibly odd

or peculiar
JEERERS: people who mock, taunt
PHAETON: a light four-wheeled
carriage

September
4, 2010READ
read 9
April 1, 2011

daughter of General Moncrief.

As she steps away from her own
carriage and heads into the party,
Benjamins father tells him her
name.

Moncrief from across the room.

At last the moment comes, and
he and his father approach her.

Narr 2: He steps out of the carriage and sees a woman whom

he instantly recognizes as an
angel in human form.

Roger: Pretty little thing, isnt

she?

Hildegarde Moncrief: Why thank

you, Mr. Button. Charmed, Im
sure.

Benjamin: (softly) She is as beautiful as sin.

Roger: Of course, Benjamin.

energy and vitality that have the

great future before you.
Narr 1: Benjamin is just about
to answer his father when the
phaeton pulls up to the house.

Benjamin: Dad, might you introduce me to her?

Narr 3: A chemical change

seems to dissolve and
recompose the very elements
of Benjamins body. Blood rises
in his cheeks and his forehead,
and there is a steady thumping in
his ears. He is falling in love for
the first time.

Narr 2: Father and son, looking dashingly similar, enter the

Shevlins home. The interval
of time that Benjamin spends
before meeting Miss Moncrief is
excruciating. He is introduced to
many fine gentlemen and ladies,
and many of them marvel at his
likeness to his father.

Narr 1: The woman he is marveling at is Hildegarde Moncrief, the

Narr 3: Throughout it all,

Benjamin keeps his eye on Miss

Roger: Hello, Miss Moncrief. You

look lovely this evening.

Narr 1: She is the image of politeness with her words, but she
looks only at Benjamin. She herself cannot turn from him either.
Roger: May I introduce
Benjamin: My name is Benjamin, Miss Moncrief. Benjamin
Button.
Narr 2: Benjamin lifts her hand
gently and kisses it as a true
gentleman would. Roger realizes
his presence is no longer necessary, and he leaves them alone.

Narr 3: The band begins to play

a waltz.

man of 30 and have to take care

of him.

Benjamin: They arent the only

ones.

Benjamin: Would you do me the

honor, Miss Moncrief ?

Narr 2: The rest of the evening

is a wonderful blur. Benjamin
finally finds his voice, and he and
Hildegarde talk and dance and
laugh the night away. Just before
dawn, the party ends, and the
lovebirds say their good-byes.

Narr 2: As Hildegarde ages,

Benjamins face and body
become younger and younger.
The love they once felt for each
other wanes. They are headed in
opposite directions.

Narr 1: She allows Benjamin to

lead her, and they dance gracefully.
Hildegarde: You and your
brother arrived here just as we
did, didnt you?
Narr 2: Benjamin hesitates.
He remembers his unfortunate
experience at Yale and decides
against telling her the truth just
now. However, it would be rude
to contradict a lady, so he smiles,
listens to her, and is happy.
Hildegarde: I like men your age.
Young boys are so idiotic. They
tell me how much champagne
they drink at college and how
much money they lose at cards.
Men of your age know how to
appreciate women.
Narr 3: Benjamin feels as if he is
on the brink of proposing, but he
chokes back the words and the
impulse.
Hildegarde: Youre just the
romantic age. Twenty-five is too
eager. Thirty is apt to be pale
from overwork. Forty is the age
of long stories that take an entire
cigar to tell. Sixty isoh, well, 60
is too near 70. But 50 is the mellow age. I just love 50.
Narr 1: Her smile is radiant, and
Benjamin feels as if he is dreaming. Her words ring true, and he
instantly wishes he really were
50.
Hildegarde: Ive always said that
Id rather marry a man of 50 and
be taken care of than marry a

10 READ January 21, 2011

Narr 3: In the phaeton on

the ride home, Roger asks
Benjamin what he thinks is the
most important secret to running
a successful business. Benjamin
is lost in his thoughts and answers blindly
Benjamin: Love.
Roger: Lugs? Well, yes, I suppose you do need many lug nuts
to keep a hardware store open. I
will order more tomorrow.
Narr 1: Benjamin regards his
father with dazed eyes just as the
eastern sky is suddenly cracked
with light, and an oriole yawns
piercingly in the quickening trees.

Scene 8
Narr 2: Six months later, Benjamin and Hildegarde are married.
It is the happiest day of their
lives. Soon, they have a son and
name him Roscoe.
Narr 3: Sadly though, their happiness does not last.
Narr 1: As the years go by,
Benjamin takes over his fathers
business. The townspeople who
originally welcomed him into
the world as an old man now
whisper unflattering things when
they see him.
Hildegarde: People are afraid,
Benjamin. Thats all.

Narr 3: When Benjamins parents

pass away within a year of each
other, Benjamin is getting on in
age, but his body is entering its
prime. The year is 1898, and the
Spanish-American War is on.
Benjamin decides to leave the life
he knows and joins the Army.
Narr 1: He is one of many
youthful soldiers to charge up
San Juan Hill. He is one of the
few to survive, though slightly
wounded. He receives a Medal
of Honor, and two years later, he
returns home.
Hildegarde: Good lord!
Narr 2: When she first sees her
husband, Hildegarde is astonished.
Benjamin: Yes. Everybody says I
look younger than ever.
Hildegarde: Well, you dont have
to boast about it! How do you
think it makes me feel to look at
your newfound beauty when I
just whither away?
Benjamin: Im not boasting.
Hildegarde: The very idea of it is
maddening! I should think youd
have enough pride to stop it!
Benjamin: But how can I?

* vocab

RECOMPOSE: to rearrange
WANES: becomes less

April 1, 2011 READ 11

Hildegarde: Im not going to

argue with you. But there is a
right way of doing things and a
wrong way. If youve made up
your mind to be different from
everyone else, I dont suppose I
can stop you. But I really dont
think its very considerate.
Benjamin: But Hildegarde, I
cant help it!
Hildegarde: You can too! Youre
simply stubborn. Just think how
it would be if everyone else
looked at things as you do. What
would the world be like?
Narr 3: Benjamin considers the
question and decides it is impossible to answer. He begins to
wonder what he had ever seen in
such a woman to begin with. It
is not long before their marriage
dissolves and they are divorced.

Scene 9
Narr 1: When Benjamin turns 52,
he has the body and grace of an
18-year-old. He sells his fathers
hardware store and decides to
head back to Harvard, where he
spent the best years of his life.
Narr 2: He once again takes the
entrance exams and passes with
flying colors. He joins Harvards
football team and becomes the
star player in his freshman year.
Each time they play Yale, he
crushes several opponents and
even knocks a few unconscious
with his ferocious tackles.
Benjamin: A Harvard man to the
very end!
Narr 3: By his senior year,
though, Benjamin is smaller and
weaker. He cannot hold his own
12 READ

April 1, 2011

on the field anymore. In fact, he

starts to find that his mind is not
as agile as it once was, and his
studies suffer. He graduates at
the middle of his class and leaves
Harvard unsure and afraid of the
direction he is heading in.

Scene 10

Narr 1: Benjamin decides that

he cannot return to Baltimore.
The people there just wouldnt
understand. Without much other
choice, he moves in with his son,
Roscoe, and his family.

Narr 3: Benjamin is 65 years old

but by all appearances seems
to be no older than 5. He has
trouble remembering the life he
has lived, but he takes great
pleasures in learning new words
and seeing new things. His mind
is a sponge, and it is as if he is
seeing things for the very first
time.

Narr 2: Roscoe himself is in his

mid 30s and finds Benjamins
refusal to live right unpleasant.
Roscoe Button: Youd better not
go on with this business much
longer, Dad. Youd better pull
up short. You'd better turn right
around and start the other way.
This has gone on long enough.
The joke isnt funny anymore.
You look younger than me! It
is absurd! You should behave
yourself!
Ben: I wish that I could, Roscoe.
Roscoe: And thats another thing.
When visitors come to the house,
I want you to call me Uncle. Do
you understand? It looks absurd
for a boy of 15 to call me by my
first name. In fact, you should
call me Uncle all the time in
order to get used to it.
Narr 3: Hurt as he is, Benjamin
complies with his sons request.
Ben: Very well, Uncle.
Narr 1: Benjamin goes upstairs
and looks at his face in the
bathroom mirror. He has not
shaved for three months and now
realizes that he will probably
never have to again. Quietly, his
reflection cries with him.

Narr 2: In 1920, Roscoe's first

child is born. Five years later, he
is a little boy and becomes great
friends with Benjamin. The two
go to kindergarten together.

Narr 1: His kindergarten class

is learning about animals. Benjamin falls in love with one in
particular.
Ben: Ely-phant. Ely-phant. Hee
hee. It is like a big gray monster!
Narr 2: When his long days are
done, Benjamin goes home and
sleeps. Every night he goes to
bed earlier and earlier. Soon, he
is too tired to go to school.
Narr 3: When it becomes obvious that Benjamin is not going to
improve, Roscoe hires a nurse for
him. And she is the only person
in the world who gives him love.
Ben: Nana. Sun.
Nana: Very good, Benjamin!
That is the sun you see in the
sky! You are such a smart little
boy!
Narr 1: Benjamins face beams
brightly in the warm sunlight. He
is 68 years old and has just said
his last words.
Narr 2: The final two years
of Benjamins life are blissful.

Everything he once knew is long

forgotten.
Old man: The past. The wild
charge with my fellow soldiers
up San Juan Hill. The first years
of my marriage when I worked
late into the summer dusk down
in the busy city. And beautiful,
young Hildegarde, whom I most
loved at one time. My father and
my mother. They were all like
unsubstantial dreams I could
not remember.
Narr 3: Baby Benjamin does not
remember clearly whether the
milk he just drank was warm
or cool. There is only his crib
and Nanas presence. And then,
he does not even remember
those.
Narr 1: When he is hungry,

Benjamin cries. That is all.

Through the noons and nights
he breathes, and over him there
are soft mumblings and murmurings that he scarcely hears. There
are faint smells that he does not
understand.

About the Author

Narr 2: There is light and

darkness.

F. Scott Fitzgerald is most widely known

as the author of the classic novel
The Great Gatsby. The book, published in
1925, is considered one of the greatest
works of American literature. Its characters grapple with attaining and holding
on to the American dream during the
roaring 20s.

Narr 3: In his white crib, the dim

faces move above him. And then,
Benjamin closes his eyes, and it
is all dark. And the warm, sweet
aroma of milk fades altogether
from his mind. n

Fitzgerald lived in pursuit of the

American dream. He and his wife,
Zelda, lived beyond their means and often took extravagant trips to Paris. They
had a shaky relationship and health
problems as well. Zelda suffered from
schizophrenia, and Fitzgerald battled
alcoholism.

* vocab

COMPLIES: acts in accordance with

UNSUBSTANTIAL: without material
substance

One wonders whether Fitzgerald was

satisfied with his life. The author was a
product of his time, and many of his fictional works are based on his own experiences. What do you think is the deeper
meaning behind The Curious Case of
Benjamin Button?

April 1, 2011 READ 13