To Kill a Mockingbird Script Notes
Characters
Scout Finch (Jean Louise Finch - young):
A young girl with plain hair who wears dungarees.
Jean Louise Finch (Scout - older):
The older version of Scout, wearing simple modern clothes.
Jem Finch:
Scout’s brother, active and a few years older than her.
Atticus Finch:
Their father, a tall, quietly impressive, civilized man of nearly fifty.
Wears glasses due to poor sight in his left eye.
Acts as defense counsel for Tom Robinson.
Calpurnia:
The black housekeeper who has helped raise Scout and Jem since their mother died.
Dill (Charles Baker Harris):
Friend of Scout and Jem, a little older than Scout.
Small, blonde, and wise, neat, well-dressed with sophistication.
Miss Maude Atkinson:
A sympathetic neighbor.
Miss Stephanie Crawford:
The neighborhood scold.
Mrs. Dubose:
An elderly and bad-tempered neighbor who uses a stick for support.
Mr. Cunningham:
A farmer and client of Atticus Finch.
Mayella Ewell:
A poor, nineteen-year-old girl accustomed to hard labor, accuses Tom Robinson.
Bob Ewell:
Mayella's father, a little ‘bantam cock’ of a man, ignorant and sharp-tempered.
Mr. Gilmer:
The counsel for the prosecution in the trial of Tom Robinson.
Nathan Radley:
Boo Radley’s older brother and guardian, a pale, thin, leathery man.
Arthur ‘Boo’ Radley:
A mysterious, tall figure, pale, nervous, and withdrawn.
Tom Robinson:
A powerful, young black man with his left hand curled up to his chest.
Helen Robinson:
Tom Robinson’s wife.
Reverend Sykes:
A black minister, conservatively dressed in a black suit, white shirt, and black tie.
Heck Tate:
The sheriff.
Judge Taylor:
The judge who tried the case of Tom Robinson.
Court Clerk:
An officer of the court
The Mob:
A group of men dressed in farm clothes.
Act 1
Setting the Scene:
Soft sounds of birds and a dog barking in the darkness.
Scout sitting on the porch swing.
Jean Louise Finch (older Scout) appears, reminiscing about the past.
Jean's Reflections:
Remembering the cement-covered knothole in the tree.
Calpurnia calls for Scout.
Atticus's Character:
Described as seemingly ancient and feeble, a lawyer nearing fifty.
Older than other children's parents, different because he works in an office and reads.
Community Prejudice:
A boy's voice calls out, questioning why Atticus defends blacks.
Scout angrily defends her father.
Remarks about Atticus being a disgrace and Tom Robinson deserving to be hanged.
Jean’s Foreshadowing:
Maycomb, Alabama in 1935, a time of ugly words and injustice.
Recalling Boo Radley emerging, an attack on her, Jem’s broken arm, and a man killed.
Focusing on remembering what Atticus wanted.
The Mockingbird Metaphor:
Atticus instructed them not to kill mockingbirds.
Miss Maude explains that mockingbirds only make music and it's a sin to kill them.
Neighborhood Dynamics:
Scout notes that most of their neighbors are old and they are the only children.
Miss Maude points out the benefits of having Atticus as an older father.
Calpurnia’s Role:
Calpurnia is strict with Scout, raising her and Jem.
Scout describes Calpurnia’s hand as hard as a bed slat.
Maycomb’s Atmosphere:
Considered a tired old town, even in 1935.
Streets turned to red slop in rainy weather.
People moved slowly with nowhere to go and nothing to buy.
Neighborhood Gossip (Miss Stephanie Crawford):
Describes everyone in Maycomb having a streak (drinking, gambling, mean, funny).
Shares information about Boo Radley’s past.
Boo Radley's Story:
In his teens, Boo associated with bad influences and was arrested.
His father confined him to the house and he wasn’t seen for fifteen years.
Boo stabbed his father with scissors and was kept at home to avoid an insane asylum.
People suggest Boo Radley is the reason for unexplained events (azaleas freezing, pecans being untouched).
Interactions with Mrs. Dubose:
Mrs. Dubose is old, bad-tempered, and critical of Jem and Scout.
She interrogates them about their behavior and predicts they will amount to nothing.
Jem and Scout hate her, unaware she is fighting a hard battle.
Reverend Sykes and Tom Robinson's Situation:
Reverend Sykes seeks help for Tom Robinson’s wife and children, who are facing hardship.
Explains that Helen is finding it hard to get work due to the accusations against Tom.
The Ewells:
Bob Ewell stops his daughter Mayella from going into town due to Tom Robinson's situation.
The Ewells live off the county near the garbage dump in a small black settlement.
Bob Ewell pride lies in having white skin that can be scrubbed with lye soap.
Calpurnia and Tom Robinson:
Calpurnia explains that Tom Robinson is accused of attacking Mayella Ewell and has been jailed.
Scout is shocked and wonders why people won't hire Tom's wife, despite knowing the Ewells' reputation.
Dill's Arrival:
Dill, described as a pocket Merlin, arrives for the summer.
They plan to make Boo Radley come out.
Dill's real name is Charles Baker Harris, and he is Scout's childhood fiancé.
Dill’s Family Background:
Dill avoids discussing his father because he doesn't have one.
Nathan Radley's Appearance:
Nathan Radley moved in after old Mr. Radley died and took his father’s place.
Scout, Jem, and Dill notice Nathan Radley emerging from the Radley place.
The Dare to Touch the Radley House:
Dill dares Jem to touch the Radley house.
Jem speeds to the house, slaps it with his palm, and races back.
The curtains are pulled slightly to the side, someone was watching them from inside the house.
The Gum in the Tree:
Scout finds chewing gum in the knothole of the tree.
Jem is shocked and forces Scout to spit it out, fearing it was poisoned by Boo Radley.
Dill's Plan:
Dill suggests throwing a pebble against the Radley door.
Atticus Intervenes:
Atticus catches Jem about to throw a stone at the Radley house.
Atticus advises them not to bother Mr. Radley and respects his privacy.
Understanding Others:
Atticus emphasizes the importance of considering things from another person’s perspective.