On Christmas Eve The Clock Struck Twelve

As the story continues, difficult conversations erupt with comments galore until a horrible shock happens: Several major cities get hit with nuclear bombs. The family tries hard to come together over this horror, try to make sense of it, and contact their youngest brother, who may or may not still be alive. There isn’t a happy ending to the sudden war, but the missing brother does turn up and the family members begin looking to the Christians for answers; because some people will wait till their lives are in turmoil before they begin to seek after God.

Cast of 17 actors (8 men, 5 women, 4 children) About 85 mins. One set, no scene changes. Scenes could be cut to make it shorter.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

ANNIE: Speaks 2039 words. A new believer in Christ, concerned with how her family is going to react to her new faith

GRANDPA: Speaks 1584 words. Henry, grumpy & antagonistic toward Annie’s new life. Vocal with his own strong opinions.

BARB: Speak 1535 words. Alex’s wife, who doesn’t react well to spiritual matters being introduced to her children

AARON: Speaks 1486 words. Alex and Annie’s younger brother who is quite outspoken himself

ALEX: Speaks 1449 words. The oldest & most like his dad

ELTON: Speaks 1161 words. Annie’s husband and also a new believer

GRANDMA: Speaks 816 words. Lois, religious people turned her off as a child, but she doesn’t like her husband to make a scene about Annie

LOUISE: Speaks 674 words. Lois’s sister

DONNIE: Speaks 611 words. Andrew Donald, the youngest, who is in Washington DC on business, surprises them and wants to talk to Annie

OFFICER HOWARD: Speaks 584 words. Kind policeman

LARS: Speaks 429 words. A Scandinavian who lives next door

PAUL: Speaks 357 words. Louise’s husband

OLA: Speaks 200 words. Lars’ wife

AUSTIN: Speaks 199 words. Youngest child of Alex and Barb. Could be a girl named Odessa

DALLAS: Speaks 89 words. Oldest child of Alex and Barb. Boy or girl

KELLY: Speaks 55 words. Oldest child of Annie and Elton. Boy or girl

SHAWN: Speaks 47 words. Youngest child of Annie and Elton. Boy or girl

Excerpt:

ELTON
I’m fine. Don’t worry about me. (Softer to just her) His bark is worse than his bite.
ANNIE
I don’t know… he barks pretty loud, sometimes.
Everyone is doing something else and not listening to this conversation.
ELTON
I’m more concerned about you. You gonna be okay?
ANNIE
Well…that was completely unexpected. My heart is just pounding and I feel a bit shaky. I didn’t know what to think. I was so hoping to avoid those types of situations and confrontations… and then pow!
ELTON
Well, I thought you handled it beautifully. Better than I would have. She was making me mad.
ANNIE
Well, thank you for trying to come to my defense, anyway.
ELTON
Did you see the way she bit my head off??
ANNIE
And then bit it off again! The worst part was I was so excited to hear that the kids were sharing their faith and I wanted to smile out of happiness… but she was so angry…it was really strange! I held back, but she could tell anyway.
ELTON
I know what you mean. I think you were marvelous!
ANNIE
The Lord is marvelous. She was so upset… because she doesn’t have any answers. Here we are trying to keep quiet and our kids give the best witness. I so wanted to tell her that Jesus IS the answer!
ELTON
I started to, but she cut me off.
ANNIE
Well, I hope we don’t have any more of those.
ELTON
It’s all in God’s hands. We just need to be alert. Go and do your duty, dear.
ANNIE
Right. I’ll see you later. (She exits)
ELTON
Are you sure I can’t help you figure that out, Dad?
GRANDPA
I told you I got it. All I have to do is plug it in and turn it on. If I can just find an outlet.
GRANDMA
So you haven’t tested it yet? How do you know it will even work?
GRANDPA
Okay, smarty pants… I don’t know. Now if you will leave me alone, I’ll do this!
GRANDMA
Isn’t there an outlet right over there?
GRANDPA
Where?
GRANDMA
Right over there!
GRANDPA
Well, if that isn’t the craziest place for an outlet!
He gets the radio plugged in and starts tuning it going past one station after another looking for one that comes in good. Have a recording of static sounds and stations changing as he tunes.
There is a knock on the door and then suddenly Lars bursts in
LARS
Turn on the news! Turn on your TV or radio or whatever! Just turn on the news…right away!
GRANDPA
I haven’t got the radio going yet, Lars. What is it? Something big?
LARS
Big? It’s terrible! It is the worst thing ever!
ELTON
You seem very excited. Why don’t you calm down and just tell us what happened?
LARS
I cannot calm down! We are under attack!
AARON
Who is under attack?
LARS
We are!
ELTON
Under attack…what do you mean?
LARS
They are bombing us! Bombs exploding everywhere!!
Just then a local siren begins to blow to announce something.
LARS
There! You see? Maybe they are going to bomb here next!!
AARON
Who is bombing us? What are you talking about?
LARS
Terrorists, I’m sure! Oh you betcha! They are dropping bombs all over the place!
AARON
That’s not possible! We would never let potential enemies into our country to… Dad hurry up and get that radio on!
OLA
(Running in)
Lars! Please come back home! The sirens! Please come back! I’m frightened!
LARS
Ya! I come!
GRANDPA
(With his head next to the radio as he tunes it in)
I think I have something! Everybody be quiet!
ALEX
(Entering)
What’s all the commotion?
ALL
SSHHH!!
ALEX
What?
GRANDMA
We’re being attacked! Someone is bombing us!
LARS
Ya! The terrorists!
OLA
Lars, please!
LARS
Okay…okay…We go now.
The kids all come running in
DALLAS
What are all those sirens?
KELLY
They are so loud!
PAUL
(Entering)
What is that? Is that a fire or a storm warning?
GRANDMA
We are under attack.
LARS
Ya! Bombs everywhere! Whole cities destroyed!
ALL
Whole cities??
LARS
Ya! New York! Los Angeles!
ALEX
Oh my G…
OLA
(Interrupting Alex)
Lars! I think you have said enough! Let’s go back home now, please!
BARB
(Enters and holds on to Alex’s arm)
What is happening?
ALL
SSSHHH!
GRANDPA
I can’t hear a thing! Everyone has to be quiet!
LARS
We are going to go now.
GRANDPA
Yeah…Lars…why don’t you do that?
GRANDMA
Henry!
Lars and Ola exit as Louise enters
LOUISE
So much for a nap! What is all that racket?
ALL
SSSHHH!
GRANDPA
Everyone just sit down someplace and keep quiet and maybe just maybe we can find out what in the world is going on in the world!
RADIO ANNOUNCER
(The radio has been playing for awhile with repeated information being given over and over)
…not a test. We repeat…this is not a test. There is an actual emergency and we are asking everyone to get indoors and try to remain someplace safe. If you can take cover in an underground shelter, we recommend that you do so. This is an emergency… we repeat…this is an actual emergency.