Readers Theater x1v4a

Name __________________________ Class __________

(Role: _______________)

Readers’ Theater Script for Number the Stars

NARRATOR: Annemarie was almost asleep when there was a light knock on the bedroom door. Candlelight appeared as the door opened, and her mother stepped in. MRS. JOHANSEN: Are you asleep, Annemarie? ANNEMARIE: No. Why? Is something wrong? MRS. JOHANSEN: Nothing’s wrong. But I’d like you to get up and come out of the living room. Peter’s here. Papa and I want to talk to you. NARRATOR: Annemarie jumped out of bed and ran to Peter in the living room. PETER: You’ve grown taller since I saw you last. You’re all legs! ANNEMARIE: I won the girls’ footrace last Friday at school. Where have you been? We’ve missed you! PETER: My work takes me all over. Look, I brought you something. One for Kirsti, too. NARRATOR: Peter reached into his pocket and handed Annemarie two seashells. PETER: For your mama and papa, I brought something more practical. Two bottles of beer! NARRATOR: Mama and Papa smiled and raised their glasses. Then Papa’s face became more serious. MR. JOHANSEN: Annemarie, Peter tells us that the Germans have issued orders closing many stores run by Jews. ANNEMARIE: Jews? Is Mrs. Hirsch Jewish? Is that why the button shop is closed? Why have they done that? PETER: It is their way of tormenting. For some reason, they want to torment Jewish people. It has happened in the other countries. They have taken their time here—have let us relax a little. But now it seems to be starting.

ANNEMARIE: But why the button shop? What is the harm in a button shop? Mrs. Hirsch is such a nice lady. Even Samuel—he’s a dope, but he would never harm anyone. How could he—he can’t even see, with his thick glasses! But if they can’t sell their buttons, how will they earn a living? MRS. JOHANSEN: Friends will take care of them. That’s what friends do. ANNEMARIE: Mama! Papa! The Rosens are Jewish, too! MRS. JOHANSEN: I talked to Sophy Rosen this afternoon, after you told me about the button shop. She knows what is happening. But she doesn’t think it will affect them. ANNEMARIE: Mr. Rosen doesn’t have a shop. He’s a teacher. They can’t close a whole school! Can they? PETER: I think the Rosens will be all right. But you keep an eye on your friend Ellen. And stay away from the soldiers. Your mother told me about what happened on Østerbrogade. ANNEMARIE: It was nothing. They were only bored and looking for someone to talk to, I think. Papa, do you what you heard the boy say to the soldier? That all of Denmark would be the king’s bodyguard? MR. JOHANSEN: I have never forgotten it. ANNEMARIE: Well, now I think that all of Denmark must be bodyguard for the Jews, as well. MR. JOHANSEN: So we shall be. PETER: I must go. And you, Longlegs, it is way past your bedtime now. NARRATOR: Later, once more in her bed beside the warm cocoon of her sister, Annemarie thought about what she had said. Would she die to protect Denmark’s Jews? Truly? Annemarie was honest enough to it, there in the darkness, to herself, that she wasn’t sure. Adapted from Chapter 3