One Shining Moment

At the end of the long first scene, Josh has a seizure and dies, and this forces the family to respond to the matters that meant so much to him. That night, his young cousin, Summer (16-18) gets saved and begins to take on the role of peacemaker. By the last scene, Julie and her father, Craig are back together. The gospel is clearly presented in this play and other areas of Christian life are touched on as well.

13 actors (4 adult males, 4 adult females, 4 teen females, 1 male child) About an hour long.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

CRAIG: Speaks 1629 words. A father who has not forgiven his daughter for moving away and marrying a divorced man against his wishes.

JULIE: Speaks 1582 words. Craig’s grown daughter who now wants back into the family.

JORDAN: Speaks 1582 words. Craig’s grown son, who took his side and had words with his sister.

SUMMER: Speaks 1509 words. Julie’s teenage cousin who gets saved and tries to become a peacemaker.

JOSH: Speaks 1327 words. Craig’s youngest, who is 18-20, and believes that Jesus wants to heal his family, using him. He dies on stage at the end of the first scene.

HILDY: Speaks 556 words. Craig’s mother (or aunt, depending on her age)

AUTUMN: Speaks 488 words. Summer’s sister who is one year younger

SIMON: Speaks 376 words. Julie’s new step son, a young boy

CONNIE: Speaks 326 words. Craig’s sister and Summer’s mom

WINTER: Speaks 265 words. Summer’s sister who is two years younger

ELIZABETH: Speaks Speaks 251 words. Craig’s other sister

SAMANTHA: Speaks 165 words. Julie’s new step daughter, a young teen

SAM: Speaks 87 words. Julie’s new husband

Excerpt:

JORDAN
Why are you here? You’ve made tonight very awkward for everybody!
JULIE
Can’t you just let me say what I need to say?
JORDAN
This was your doing, Julie. You made your choice. You have to live with that now.
JULIE
How can you just write me off like that? You act like I murdered someone! I haven’t done anything to you, Jordan! I am your sister!
JORDAN
You went against Dad! You knew that he was against what you were planning to do!
JULIE
So that’s it. You just take his side and now I am no longer in the family. If I made a mistake…I made a mistake!
JORDAN
If??
JULIE
I admit that I probably didn’t know what all I was getting into when I married Sam… but I am making this work. I am working hard at this and we are going to make it work. It would help if I had some support from my family!
JORDAN
Dad had just lost his wife! He was grieving and trying to make it and then you suddenly dump this news on him. Right or wrong about who it was…your timing was really lousy, too! Couldn’t you see that?
JULIE
We all suffered when mom died. It affected us all in a different way.
JORDAN
Why did you leave? That really hurt him, you know!
JULIE
Jordan! I’m an adult! Am I supposed to stay home forever? Is that what you’re going to do? Well, I’m sorry I wasn’t here. But, I couldn’t handle it, alright? I had to get away. Moving away was the best thing I could do.
JORDAN
If you could have seen how that broke up our family.
JULIE
Mom’s death broke up our family! It was never the same after she died!
JORDAN
Dad needed you. Josh needed you. You left.
JULIE
Of course, YOU didn’t need me. (Pause) Well…what about what I needed? I certainly didn’t need my brother to get in my face and say those things…you really hurt me, Jordan!
JORDAN
I can’t do this right now. This is supposed to be a Christmas party. (He exits)
Julie goes over to the couch and sits down and starts to cry. Josh and Summer run in the room laughing. (The sound of singing is faintly heard offstage. Perhaps record a group of people singing Christmas carols around a piano and play that.)
SUMMER
Whew! That was close! I don’t think they saw us.
JOSH
So, you really hate singing Christmas carols that much?
SUMMER
I know…I’m terrible. I guess they’re okay. I would just rather talk to you. My mom won’t notice we’re gone for awhile, cuz she’ll really be into it. I wanted to ask you… did you talk to Julie? I saw you leave with her.
At this, Julie turns to look at them and they see her.
JOSH
Julie?
SUMMER
What’s wrong?
They come over and sit with her
JULIE
I tried Josh. I really did. Dad just went right by me and didn’t say a word and so I talked to Jordan. I’m sorry. He won’t forgive me, Josh!
JOSH
Did you ask him?
JULIE
I don’t know. Maybe not in so many words. Josh…it’s hopeless.
JOSH
No it’s not…hope in God.
(After this he gets very quiet and very still and eventually just starts to stare)
SUMMER
Don’t give up. Your dad and your brother are good Christians. They won’t let this continue.
JULIE
That doesn’t have anything to do with it, Summer. Being a Christian is one thing…but this is a whole other can of worms.
SUMMER
Really? It seems to me that it should all be the same thing. I believe it is Josh’s faith in God that is making him want to bring the family back together. I realize I don’t know that much about it. I mean, I’m not even a Christian yet.
JULIE
You’re not? Could have fooled me.
SUMMER
Well, something tells me that I won’t be able to fool God. Right, Josh? Josh?
Josh is being very quiet, sitting very still and staring.
JULIE
Josh? Josh? Are you okay? Summer, he’s having a seizure.
SUMMER
He is?
JULIE
This has happened before. Dad will know what to do! Maybe he’s got his meds! Stay with him! (She runs out)
Summer sits looking at Josh and is very scared.
SUMMER
Josh? Can you hear me?
Suddenly Josh starts going into convulsions, jerking his body and falling on the floor and flipping his body about and throwing his arms.
SUMMER
(She screams) JOSH!! Somebody help! Call 9-1-1 !!! CALL 9-1-1 !!!
Josh stops jerking and becomes limp. Everyone comes running into the room. One person is on their cell calling while others gather around. Julie or Craig or Jordan try to block the audience’s view so they can’t see Josh breathing, as he will probably be out of breath from the fit. He should try to lie very still as if unconscious. Some stay back and others watch.
SUMMER
I think he has stopped breathing!! Somebody do something!!
CRAIG
Josh honey!! Josh! We need to do CPR!! Everybody make room.
Julie is back at Josh’s side and she takes his hand.
JULIE
Dad! I’m not getting a pulse! I’m not getting a pulse!!
LIGHTS FADE TO BLACK