THE SPOOK’S APPRENTICE: PLAY EDITION
AN RHCP DIGITAL EBOOK 978 1 849 41879 9

Published in Great Britain by RHCP Digital,
an imprint of Random House Children’s Publishers UK
A Random House Group Company

This ebook edition published 2014

Copyright © Joseph Delaney & Stephen Delaney, 2014
Cover illustration copyright © Talexi Taini, 2009
Interior illustrations copyright © David Wyatt, 2004

Suggested classroom activities © Stephen Delaney, 2014

First Published in Great Britain

Bodley Head 9781849418799 2014

The right of Joseph Delaney & Stephen Delaney to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorized distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

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With special thanks to
RUSSELL WOODHEAD

CHARACTERS

THE SPOOK	Tom’s new master; protects the County against the dark
DAD	Tom’s father, a farmer
TOM WARD	The Spook’s new apprentice
SNOUT	A slaughterman
JACK	Tom’s elder brother
ELLIE	His wife
MAM	Tom’s mother
ANDREW	The Spook’s brother, a locksmith
PRIEST
GHAST
THREE BOYS
ALICE	A young witch

VILLAGERS:
GROCER
BAKER
BUTCHER
SEAMSTRESS
TEACHER
MIDWIFE

MESSENGER
MOTHER MALKIN	A witch
BONY LIZZIE	A witch
TUSK	An abhuman
TOMMY	A young boy

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE

READING CHALLENGES

True, False or Can’t Tell

What is your opinion on these statements?

1. Tom is thirteen years old.

2. Dad is tall.

3. Tom learned Greek at an early age.

4. If John Gregory takes on Tom as an apprentice, Tom will get paid twelve guineas.

5. Tom will become a spook.

6. Tom will be lonely working with John Gregory.

7. Tom is on a month’s trial.

8. The Ward family have a cat.

9. Ellie left the room on her own.

10. Jack is cruel to Tom.

Challenge the author

For one of your ‘Can’t Tell’ answers argue whether it is really true or false.

Author’s intent

1. How does the author show that Jack and Dad aren’t happy with John Gregory’s attitude?

2. Is John Gregory a patient or impatient man? Say why.

3. Jack and Ellie are man and wife.

Would you say one of them is in charge? Why?

Character empathy

You need to give explanations for all your answers.

1. Do you think Mam is loving towards Tom?

2. Is Jack worried about Tom leaving?

3. At the top of here, why is there an awkward silence?

4. The characters below have had their emotions during the scene swapped. Join the right character to the right emotion during scene 1, explaining why you think this is so.

Emotion		Character
Cautious		Tom
Loving		Ellie
Worried		Dad
Proud		John Gregory

5. Write a sentence that shows the way each of these characters feels about Tom.

WRITING CHALLENGE

Write a diary entry from Tom’s point of view that shows his feelings about being sent to start his apprenticeship. Explain Tom’s first impressions of the Spook, and his feelings about leaving his family. What is he looking forward to? And what is he going to miss?

MEDIA CHALLENGE

Tom is about to leave with John Gregory to start his life as a spook’s apprentice. However, you now have to prepare an idea for a spin-off series featuring one of the other characters.

Ellie is about to have a baby, Jack is now in charge of the farm, Dad is ageing and Mam doesn’t seem to behave in quite the way you’d expect her to. Who would you choose for the spin off? What would the series be about and can you change the genre from children’s fantasy horror?

SCENES TWO & THREE

READING CHALLENGES

True, False or Can’t Tell?

Can you decide whether each of these statements about Scene 3 are true or false – or can’t you tell?

1. After passing the test Tom would now make a good spook’s apprentice.

2. John Gregory’s dad was a cruel man.

3. John Gregory wasn’t scared when he lived at 13 Watery Lane.

4. The miner was a jealous man.

5. John Gregory wanted Tom to be scared.

6. The ghast will leave the house eventually.

7. The miner meant to kill his wife.

8. Tom passed the test easily.

9. Tom was on time.

10. The fact that a spook notices evil presences and creatures is a good thing.

Challenge the author

For one of your ‘Can’t Tell’ answers argue whether it is really true or false.

Author’s Intent

1. How would you describe the atmosphere in Scene 2? Can you pick five words that create the atmosphere well?

2. How does the author create Tom’s feelings in Scene 2?

3. What do you notice about Tom’s dialogue compared to the Spook’s in Scene 3?

4. Why do you think that John Gregory’s dad isn’t described by the Spook in detail in Scene 3?

5. In Scene 3, do Tom’s actions or his words say more about how he is feeling? Why?

Character Empathy

All these questions are about Scene 3

1. Can you write a short note from the miner’s wife, reassuring her husband that she loves him, understands his frustrations and that she would never be unfaithful?

2. Write two notes from Tom to his mam. One should explain that he failed John Gregory’s test and one that he has passed. Show his feelings in both.

3. What everyday activities and chores would make the miner feel frustrated whilst his wife was at work? Explain your choices.

4. Would the miner feel all of these emotions when trapped in the house? Explain why.

a)      jealousy

b)      loneliness

c)      anger

d)      bitterness

e)      hatred

Explain your choices.

5. What could the wife have done differently to make her husband feel better when he was stuck at home and she was working?

6. Who do you think was more evil, the miner who turned into the ghast or John Gregory’s dad? Explain your answer.

Match the emotion

Match the feelings below to the characters they best suit in Scene 3. Find a part of the script that shows this.

Curious		John Gregory’s dad
Vindictive and nasty		John Gregory
Regretful		Tom

WRITING CHALLENGE

Tom has sent a letter to his family in which he talks about his worries. When Mam reads it, she senses that Tom may run away from the Spook and come back home. Can you write a letter to Tom from Mam persuading him to stay, giving reasons.

MEDIA CHALLENGE

In a dramatization of the story, which actor would you choose to play the Ghast? Talk about previous TV or films he has been in and why he would be ideal for the role.

SCENES FOUR – SEVEN

READING CHALLENGES

True, False or Can’t Tell

What is your opinion on these statements about Scenes 4, 5, 6 and 7?

1. Matty and Arthur were in the same class as Tom.

2. Lefty isn’t a nickname.

3. Tom isn’t generous because he refuses to give the boys food.

4. The boys are scared of Alice.

5. Alice wants to help Tom.

6. Alice isn’t hungry.

7. Alice knows what happened to the last apprentice.

8. Tom is worried when he stares into Mother Malkin’s pit.

9. Witches always wear pointy shoes.

10. John Gregory says that a witch’s feet are pressed in to her shoes.

11. Tom is annoyed when the Spook says all women are trouble.

12. Tom is struggling to understand everything because he can’t keep up with his note taking.

13. Tom doesn’t realize what Alice is wearing.

14. The cakes need to be covered.

15. The Spook trusts Tom to be alone.

16. Tom respects his dad.

17. John Gregory is still away on spook’s business.

18. Maisie is religious.

19. The village lads think that Tom has murdered the missing boy.

20. Mother Malkin drinks the blood of children.

21. The villagers have seen Mother Malkin.

22. The villagers laugh at Tom because he is an amusing person.

23. The villagers know where Mother Malkin is heading.

24. The villagers want to help Tom by making a plan.

Challenge the author

For one of your ‘Can’t Tell’ answers, argue whether it is really true or false.

Author Intent

1. In Scene 5, Tom has a notebook. Why has the author given it an exact number of pages?

2. How does the author show us Tom’s hesitancy in Scene 6?

3. What words and phrases are used in Scene 6 to show the danger of a witch?

4. Act 1 Scene 7 has more characters in it than any other scene, apart from the finale. Why do you think there are so many characters here?

5. What is the reason behind the stage direction here, in Scene 7: All the villagers laugh?

6. The Seamstress is the only character in Scene 7 to show concern for Tom. How is it significant that she is female?

7. What is the author trying to show by indicating that none of the villagers volunteer to help Tom in Scene 7? Try to give two reasons for your answer.

Character Empathy

Give reasons for all your answers.

1. In Scene 4, who is more threatening: Alice or the village boys?

2. Is Tom correct to keep hold of the sack in Scene 4 and not give any food to the boys?

3. Is Tom happy with the way his training has started in Scene 5?

4. In Scene 5, why doesn’t the Spook give Tom more information before he instructs him to look down into Mother Malkin’s pit?