Professor Marvel's Crystal Ball Reading
from The Wizard Of Oz
Written by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allen Woolf
Professor Marvel uses a crystal ball and a hidden photograph to trick Dorothy into believing her Aunt Em is falling ill from a broken heart. His goal is to guilt Dorothy into returning home rather than running away, leading to an emotional realization for the young girl.
PROFESSOR: This is the same genuine, magic, authentic crystal used by the Priests of Isis and Osiris in the days of the Pharaohs of Egypt. Now, you'd better close your eyes, my child, for a moment in order to be better in tune with the infinite.
DOROTHY: That's our farm!
PROFESSOR: Oh, yes. There's a woman... she's wearing a polka-dot dress. Her face is careworn.
DOROTHY: Yes... That's Aunt Em.
PROFESSOR: Her name is Emily. Someone has hurt her. Someone has just about broken her heart.
DOROTHY: Me?
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Find the "Professor Marvel's Crystal Ball Reading" duologue from The Wizard of Oz for your fantasy drama audition. This manipulative, sentimental scene features Professor Marvel's urgent plea to Dorothy, testing her emotional range. Perfect for actors seeking a modern-classic piece.
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from The Wizard Of Oz
The Ruby Slippers Confrontation
from The Wizard Of Oz
Following the death of the Wicked Witch of the East, her sister arrives in Munchkinland to claim the powerful ruby slippers and seek vengeance. Glinda the Good Witch protects Dorothy, revealing that the slippers have already transferred to Dorothy's feet and possess a magic the villainous witch cannot touch while in this realm. The scene establishes the primary conflict of the story as the Witch issues her iconic threat against Dorothy and her dog.
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
from The Wizard Of Oz
Dorothy Gale confides in her dog, Toto, about her longing to escape her drab life in Kansas for a magical land of happiness. She sings of a place 'over the rainbow' where dreams come true and troubles disappear, expressing a deep sense of yearning and hope.
The Wizard's Demands
from The Wizard Of Oz
Dorothy and her companions finally face the Great and Powerful Oz to ask for their hearts' desires, only to be met with a terrifying display of fire and booming authority. The stakes are raised when Oz demands the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West as payment for his help, forcing the fearful group to confront their greatest enemy.
Similar Scenes
Merlin's Desperate Plea
from Merlin
Merlin desperately attempts to convince Arthur to withdraw from a lethal challenge against an seemingly supernatural knight. Arthur, bound by his sense of duty and honor as the Crown Prince, refuses to back down despite Merlin's warnings that the fight will lead to his certain death.
The Price of a Son
from Merlin
King Uther is confronted by the sorceress Nimueh, who reveals the dark truth behind Arthur's birth and the price of the magic Uther once requested. As Nimueh seeks vengeance for the purge of her kind, Uther must face the devastating reality that his own past choices have put his son's life in immediate peril.
A Father's Confession
from Merlin
Following a dangerous battle with a wraith, King Uther and Prince Arthur share a rare moment of emotional honesty. Uther confesses his deep love for his son and his fear of losing him, while Arthur finally addresses his feelings of inadequacy, leading to a tentative reconciliation between the two.