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[Stage Direction]

A dead dog lies in the middle of the stage. A large garden fork is sticking out of its side. Christopher Boone, 15 years old, stands on one side of it. His 42-year-old neighbour Mrs. Shears stands on the other. They stand for a while without saying anything. The rest of the company watch, waiting to see who is going to dare to speak first.

MRS. SHEARS

Holy fuck. What have you done?

[Stage Direction]

Christopher is frozen to the spot.

MRS. SHEARS

Oh no. Oh my fucking Christ.

[Stage Direction]

Christopher's teacher, Siobhan, opens Christopher's book. She reads from it.

SIOBHAN

"It was 7 minutes after midnight. The dog was lying on the grass in the middle of the lawn in front of Mrs. Shears' house. Its eyes were closed. It looked as if it was running on its side, the way dogs run when they think they are chasing a cat in a dream. But the dog was not running or asleep. The dog was dead."

MRS. SHEARS

Get away from my dog.

SIOBHAN

"There was a garden fork sticking out of the dog. The dog was called Wellington. It belonged to Mrs. Shears who was our friend. She lived on the opposite side of the road, 2 houses to the left."

MRS. SHEARS

Get away from my dog.

[Stage Direction]

Christopher takes two steps away from the dog.

SIOBHAN

"My name is Christopher John Francis Boone. I live at 36 Randolph Street, Swindon, Wiltshire. I know all the countries of the world and capital cities. And every prime number up to 7,507."

MRS. SHEARS

Get away from my dog for Christ's sake.

[Stage Direction]

Christopher puts his hands over his ears. He closes his eyes. He rolls forward. He presses his forehead onto the grass. He starts groaning.

SIOBHAN

"After 12 and a half minutes a policeman arrived. He had a big orange leaf stuck to the bottom of his shoe which was poking out from one side." This is good Christopher. It's quite exciting. I like the details. They make it more realistic.

[Stage Direction]

A policeman enters. He has a big orange leaf stuck to the bottom of his shoe, which is poking out to one side. He squats next to Christopher.

SIOBHAN

"He squatted down next to me. He said to me:"

[Stage Direction]

Christopher stops groaning.

POLICEMAN

Would you like to tell me what's going on here, young man?

[Stage Direction]

Christopher lifts his head from the ground. There is some time. Christopher looks at the policeman. There is some time.

SIOBHAN

"I do not tell lies. Mother used to say that this was because I was a good person. But it is not because I am a good person. It is because I can't tell lies."