CAST OF CHARACTERS:SILAS TALBOT: A scrooge type of character who lives in the old west, and has become a wealthy rancher. He has no desire for the things of God or for Christmas. By far the largest part.PAUL TALBOT: Silas’ brother, who became a Christian, has a family and then dies.
DOROTHY TALBOT: Paul’s godly wife, later his widow, has two children.
SAM BROCK: Silas’ hired hand.
THE STRANGER: A mysterious man who Silas meets on the street on Christmas Eve.
DAN ROSS: A man who owes Silas money.
PARSON RUDLEY: The local parson.
EMMA ROSS: Dan’s wife
FLORA WINTERS: An elderly woman
TOM: Telegraph operator and stagecoach ticket seller.
HESTER: Paul and Dorothy’s oldest girl
LUCY: Paul and Dorothy’s youngest girl
UNCLE BOB: The man who raised Silas and Paul.
YOUNG SILAS: Silas as a kid.
YOUNG PAUL: Paul as a kid.
(There are optional characters that can be added if you choose: Teenage Silas and Teenage Paul, in the scene just after they are young boys.)
(Sets can be kept very simple, with most of the focus on costumes and props. A lot of the action takes place on the street, where no set changes are necessary. Costumes should reflect the old west with cowboy hats and western clothing.)
Excerpt:
Silas is pacing down the street.A STRANGER enters.STRANGER: Howdy.
SILAS: Same to you…
STRANGER: Somethin’ wrong?
SILAS: Yeah, the whole world is cock-eyed, and I feel sick.
STRANGER: Ah. Maybe I can help.
SILAS: Yeah sure, lemme guess, yer a doctor.
STRANGER: Well I can double as one….Really, I’d like to help.
SILAS: ….All right, I’ll probably never see you again anyhow.
STRANGER: You’re right there, friend, I’m leaving tomorrow for the
East.
SILAS: Well, it all began this morning. I got a letter from my
brother’s wife, Dorothy. She told me my brother Paul just died.
STRANGER: I’m sorry.
SILAS: Everyone’s sorry, but that don’t do much fer me.
STRANGER: Did you love him a lot?
SILAS: Mister, the reason I live away from him is I wanted to stay
away from him. But I loved him, and he loved me. Now it’s Christmas
again, and he’s dead.
STRANGER: I guess I don’t understand. What does Christmas have to
do with it?
SILAS: It’s rather complicated.
STRANGER: I’ve got as much time as you.
SILAS: Ok… let’s head down this way. (They walk offstage)
(The lights go down and the room is decorated like a ranch house
living room.)
NARRATOR (SILAS): Well it all began when we were kids on Uncle Bob’s
farm. It was Christmas then too.
(Uncle Bob enters, Young Silas and Paul are building blocks on the
floor.)
BOB: Paul. Silas. It’s Christmas Eve. Ye’ve got to get to bed now,
or ye’ll be too drowsy to open your presents tomorrow.
SILAS: Tomorrow is really Christmas?
BOB: Aye lad, it is. Now get ready for bed, or ye’ll be fallin’
asleep out on this rug. (He exits)
SILAS: Paul! Tomara is Christmas! That means we don’t have to go to
school, we can play with our presents and have fun all day.
PAUL: Let’s go to bed now. The sooner we sleep, the sooner we’ll
rise.
SILAS: Yeah.
(They both exit)
NARRATOR: It was only a couple years later that Paul announced that
he was leaving on a cattle drive to Kansas as a wrangler. I didn’t
see him for another couple of months until he returned to town.
(PAUL and SILAS enter)
SILAS: Paul, what was it like out there?
PAUL: I just took care of the puncher’s horses in the remuda. It
was a tough job though. I nearly fell off of ol Buster a couple of
times; I was just plum tuckered out.
SILAS: That sounds bully!
PAUL: It was good. The trail boss, Rusty Hanes was a real brick. He
made sure I was always strong enough to be out there. And he told
stories; About Indians and outlaws and…and buffalo.
SILAS: Wow! Can I go with you next time, Paul?
PAUL: I don’t know, but I’ll ask the trail boss the next time I go…
maybe you can be an extra wrangler.
(Fade out)
NARRATOR: It didn’t happen like we hoped, and we both stayed home for
a couple years. But it wasn’t long before I got to go as a wrangler.
This time Paul was riding drag on the herd. I rode on a couple more
drives, becoming a rider myself. Paul and I were inseparable during
those early years, even though we were still young. Christmas Eve
that year, we were hangin’ around Dodge City. The rest of the boys
had gone back to Texas, but Paul and I decided to stick around fer
the holidays. That night, we were walkin’ around town together.
PAUL: Ah, Silas, it’s good to be together like this. Just think: How
many brothers get to work together all the time?
SILAS: I don…..
(FLORA WINTERS enters. She is limping and obviously in pain)
PAUL: Silas, look! (He runs over and helps steady her, preventing
her from falling over)
FLORA: Oh thank you young man.
PAUL: Can we help you home, ma’am?
FLORA: Why….yes…..You’re so kind. You must be one of those young
fellas from the church down the street.
SILAS: The church? I should say….
PAUL: Quiet, Silas…..Are there other men who help older people like
you, ma’am?
FLORA: Oh my yes. They meet down at the church. On Christmas, they
go out and help people with whatever they need. One of them chopped
up a large pile of firewood for old Mr. Peebles who lives next door.
It must have been terribly cold too.
PAUL: I’d like to meet some of them….after I take you home, of
course, as I promised.
FLORA: They meet at the church. If you go down there, you’re sure to
meet some of them.
PAUL: Ah, good. Silas, why don’t you wait for me there?
SILAS: I think I’m going to check on the boys. Mr. Preston asked me
to make sure they didn’t get in trouble.
PAUL: ….All right Silas. I’ll see you later then.
SILAS: Yeah, you will.
(PAUL and FLORA begin walking away from him)
SILAS: (starts walking away from them and talking to himself) It’s
all for nothin’ Paul. It’s all for nothin’.
(SILAS exits)
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