Tom Sawyer: Faking Illness to Avoid School

Scene 1: Inside Tom and Sid's Bedroom

• Tom and his brother Sid are asleep.
• Tom wakes up, sees it's six o'clock, and decides not to get up.
• Tom suddenly jumps out of bed, grabs a calendar, and realizes it's Saturday and he has a History test.
• Tom pretends to be dying and claims a lion is under his bed with a knife.
• Sid is confused by Tom's claims of a lion and a knife.
• Tom says he wants to write his last will and testament.
• Sid realizes Tom is trying to avoid the test.
• Tom pretends to be leaving everything to Sid and says he's been a good brother.
• Sid runs to get Aunt Polly, shouting that Tom is dying.
• Tom marks his face and arms with red spots.

Aunt Polly and the Doctor's Visit

• Aunt Polly questions Tom's sudden illness, as he was fine the day before.
• Tom groans in bed as Aunt Polly and Sid enter.
• Sid tells Aunt Polly that Tom is dying.
• Aunt Polly dismisses it as silly and tells Tom to sit up.
• Tom says he can't and is going to die.
• Aunt Polly says Doctor Martin is coming with pills to check him.
• Tom insists it's no use and he's done for.
• Sid pleads with Tom not to die.
• Aunt Polly stops the talk of dying, and Sid is sent to let the doctor in.
• Tom continues to groan while Aunt Polly tidies and hugs him, getting ink on her cheek.
• Tom is told the doctor will reveal how ill he is, but she suspects it's nothing serious.
• Doctor says that Tom is poorly.
• Aunt Polly asks the doctor to examine Tom, who was supposed to take a test.
• The doctor examines Tom and notices nasty-looking spots and asks if they itch.
• Tom says the spots are driving him mad and painful.
• The doctor feels Tom's forehead, finds his temperature normal, but is worried about the spots.
• Sid asks if the doctor can make Tom better.
• The doctor says the cure is painful, involving six large injections.

The Doctor's Diagnosis and Cure

• The illness is serious and contagious, called testitis absentiosus, and the injections are the only cure.
• Aunt Polly worriedly asks if the injections will hurt.
• The doctor confirms the pain is awful.
• Tom says he feels better and asks to postpone the injections.
• Aunt Polly feels faint and wonders if Tom needs the injections.
• The doctor sees the red marks on Aunt Polly's face and smiles.
• Tom's illness might spread to others, requiring injections for them as well.
• Aunt Polly is confused, saying she feels fine.
• The doctor asks if she has looked in a mirror recently.
• Aunt Polly looks in the mirror and sees the ink.
• Aunt Polly realizes it's contagious.
• Aunt Polly asks the doctor to give Tom the injections; she recalls that they hurt.
• The doctor confirms their pain and serious side effects, like hair loss.
• Tom denies needing injections and feels better.
• Aunt Polly wipes Tom's face and scolds him for the mess on the sheets.
• Aunt Polly instructs him to wash and come downstairs to work since he missed his test.
• Tom jumps out of bed which is a remarkable recovery.
• The doctor observes the effect of an injection.

Scene 2: Outside Tom's House

• The scene shifts to outside Tom's house, where there is a long, dirty, grey wall.
• Tom, Sid, and Aunt Polly enter; Tom carries a bucket of white paint and brushes.
• Tom is instructed to paint the wall until finished as a form of punishment.
• Tom complains about the wall's length.
• Aunt Polly says she wishes it were longer because he was wicked.
• Sid asks to leave and play.
• Aunt Polly allows Sid to leave but warns him not to end up like Tom.
• Sid thanks Aunt Polly and bids Tom goodbye.
• Tom begins to work; Sid and Aunt Polly exit.
• Tom expresses his hatred for work and wonders how to make painting fun.

Painting the Wall

• Fred and Dave enter and notice Tom working.
• Dave invites Tom to meet the gang at the pump.
• Tom claims he has better things to do.
• Fred questions if Tom considers work better than playing.
• Tom replies Just watch this.
• Tom draws a large face on the wall and writes 'Polly' under it, causing Dave and Fred to laugh.
• Dave asks to have a go.
• Tom refuses, wanting to enjoy it himself.
• Dave offers Tom an apple in exchange for letting him paint.
• Tom agrees for a short time and sits on a bench to eat the apple while Dave begins painting.
• Fred asks for a turn after Dave is done.
• Tom asks what's in it for me.
• Fred offers Tom his catapult.
• Tom reluctantly agrees to let Fred paint after Dave.
• Tom tells Fred not to paint too much of the wall and to leave some for him.
• Mary, Sally, and Jane enter and watch the boys.
• Mary asks what they are up to.
• Dave replies What does it look like, Mary?
• Yes, what do you think we re doing?
• Tom tells the girls that they are having fun painting the wall.
• Tom asks the girls to leave.

Gaining Treasures

• Dave tells the girls to play with their dolls instead.
• Sally questions whether wall painting is fun.
• Jane comments that it looks like hard work.
• Tom asks Dave to return his brush.
• Dave wants to have the brush for a little longer.
• Tom insists that his time is up.
• Mary asks for a turn to paint.
• Tom refuses, saying it's man's work.
• Sally asks for a turn to paint.
• Jane also asks for a turn.
• Mary says she asked first.
• Mary offers Tom a lollipop in exchange for a turn.
• Tom accepts the lollipop.
• Sally offers a beautiful black beetle she found in the morning.
• Tom accepts the beetle.
• Jane offers four marbles from her
• Tom accepts the marbles.
• Tom sits and examinations his new gifts.
• Aunt Polly enters, finding Tom surrounded by children who are painting.
• Aunt Polly exclaims Bless my soul! Tom, Tom, Tom! You crafty soul!
• Curtain falls.