In the dramatic opening scene, a drug deal goes bad and Dave dies in the alley. His wife Sharon finds herself suicidal in another scene, but is helped by two Christian friends. Meanwhile, Lisa has been struggling with many things, one of them being her father’s alcoholism and she becomes a cutter. (Her father comes home drunk and has a fight with his wife.) Becky and Sue confront Lisa and learn of her problem. By the end, Lisa and her father both have come to know the Lord as their savior. There is a scene where the Last Supper is discussed, so this could work at Easter.
13 actors (6 males, 7 females) college age and older. About 45-47 mins. Simple set changes.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
LISA: Speaks 1628 words. College student cutting herself.
BECKY: 1163 words. Lisa’s friend, a strong believer.
MIKE: 725 words. Lisa’s alcoholic father.
SUE: 713 words. Lisa and Becky’s friend.
SHARON: 627 words. Suicidal wife of Dave.
TOM: 625 words. A drug dealer.
BILL: 543 words. A drug dealer.
DONNA: 523 words. Lisa’s Christian mother.
DAVE: 453 words. A drug addict.
JENNIFER: 400 words. A cynical art student.
KATHY: 398 words. A Christian friend of Sharon’s.
JIM: 377 words. A Christian friend of Sharon’s.
RICK: 272 words. Jennifer’s cynical friend.
The set can be kept simple with a few props and set pieces. A bench in the alley, a couch and chair for the home scene and some fake grave stones for the cemetery. The same bench can be in the college scene.
Excerpt:
DONNA
Mike…you’re so late!
MIKE
Am I?
DONNA
You know you are. Where were you?
MIKE
Things came up at work… I couldn’t get away.
DONNA
I called and they said that you left a long time ago.
MIKE
What…you’re checking up on me now?
DONNA
What am I supposed to think? You don’t come home when you are supposed to; you don’t call to keep me informed; how am I supposed to know when to have dinner ready?
MIKE
(Not sounding too convincing)
I’m sorry I didn’t call you.
DONNA
But you just say that every time… and you never try to remember to call me. How am I supposed to deal with that?
MIKE
Just deal with it, all right!
DONNA
Mike!
MIKE
Look… sometimes the guys ask me out with them after work.
DONNA
It seems to happen a lot, lately! You went to a bar didn’t you?
She gets up and moves closer to him and then she smells him.
DONNA
Oh! I can smell it!
MIKE
What?
DONNA
Booze! You reek of it! It might be mixed with breath mints, but it’s still there. You can’t cover that up. What’s going on, Mike? Why are you drinking so much?
MIKE
I didn’t have that many!
DONNA
How many is that many? (Pause) I think you have a problem.
MIKE
I don’t have a problem! Well, unless my problem is you! Are you my problem? I think maybe you are giving me a problem.
DONNA
Mike, what’s got in to you? That sounded very hurtful. Plus it didn’t really make sense.
MIKE
I just had a few drinks with the guys after work! Is that a crime?
DONNA
Is that what the Lord would want you to do?
MIKE
Don’t start preaching at me! You’re not the reverend…. what’s his face…
DONNA
Billings. I don’t want to preach at you…but you have me worried. It’s like you are throwing away your Christian walk in a bar!
MIKE
I’m not throwing away anything. I’m okay…I can handle this.
DONNA
Handle it? Did you drive home?
MIKE
I didn’t drink and drive if that’s what you want to know.
DONNA
So, where’s the car?
MIKE
What car? Oh…It’s at work. Harry gave me a ride home. He was our designated driver. See? We were smart to do that. You gotta give me some credit…
DONNA
Why couldn’t you be the designated driver? Or just tell the guys you needed to get home because your wife has fixed dinner.
MIKE
I already apologized for that. Do I have to do it again?
DONNA
It’s just that you planned the whole thing. You left your car at work because you knew that you would drink too much. You planned on drinking too much! Now, how are you getting to work tomorrow?
MIKE
I can take the bus… or a cab…or maybe Harry can pick me up. Will you just stop nagging me, Donna?
DONNA
I’m sorry. It’s just that…well, I feel like our lives are crumbling… that our marriage is falling apart.
MIKE
I think we’re probably normal. Nobody has a great marriage nowadays.
DONNA
But why not? We’re Christians….we are supposed to be better than the rest of the world.
MIKE
I’m not going to be one of those “high and mighty” types! And I don’t like it on you, either! Now, I think our marriage is fine and my walk with the Lord is fine. (Pause) All this stuff is making me thirsty. I need another drink.
DONNA
Another one!?!
Mike moves for the cabinet.
DONNA
You don’t have anything to drink in there! I don’t think there is even any beer in the fridge. Mike, are you drinking hard liquor again?
MIKE
(Getting upset)
I had some in here. I’m sure I did!
DONNA
I got rid of that a long time ago.
MIKE
You what?
DONNA
I don’t want hard liquor in my house! Haven’t you had enough tonight? You’re acting a little drunk to me.
MIKE
I know how to drunk…drink, and I’m not drunk.
DONNA
The fact that you want another one…and you’re getting upset with me because there isn’t any booze in there…it just tells me that you have a problem. Mike…it’s happened before! Lisa has been so upset lately, and I think it’s your drinking…
MIKE
That’s nonsense! Why should that have any affect….?
DONNA
It does! Your drinking affects this family! I think Lisa might be having some emotional problems.
MIKE
Since when?
DONNA
When was the last time you talked to her? You’re out of touch with this family, Mike! You’re drinking all the time. (Pause) Do you drink every day?
MIKE
I know what you’re doing. You’re trying to say that I’m an alcoholic. Is that what your church friends are telling you? They probably think that anyone who ever takes a drink is an alcoholic. They’re all a bunch of tea-totallers.
DONNA
I haven’t told anyone about your drinking. I’m too embarrassed.
MIKE
Oh that’s just great! My wife is embarrassed by me.
DONNA
What do you expect?
MIKE
I expect to be left alone. I expect my wife to mind her own business and stop nagging me.
DONNA
I only want to help. What if something happened?
MIKE
Happened? Nothings going to happen.
DONNA
You don’t know that.
MIKE
What could happen?
DONNA
You know what happened to Dave. They found him dead in some alley!
MIKE
Dave was a drug addict! Its sad what happened to him, but that sort of thing is not going to happen to you…I mean me. You don’t need to be worrying about that.
DONNA
Alcohol is a drug, too! You’re letting it take control of you!
MIKE
Shut up! Just shut up with all that! I’m really getting sick of it!
DONNA
Mike, please! Please get some help! For Lisa’s sake. For our family’s sake.
MIKE
I said shut up! Just leave me alone! I’m getting out of here!
DONNA
Where are you going?
MIKE
Never mind!
DONNA
Mike! Please don’t drink anymore tonight!
MIKE
Don’t tell me what to do! A drink is the only thing that will help me forget that this just happened.
He heads for the door.
DONNA
Mike! Please!
MIKE
Don’t wait up for me! I don’t know when I’ll be here…If I come home at all.
He exits. Donna collapses on the couch in tears.
SCENE THREE:
As the scene opens, we see Lisa on her cell phone in a heavy conversation that leaves her very upset.
LISA
It’s going to be okay, Mom. Listen to me! You can’t let him get to you like that! He needs help. (Pause) I know. I know, Mom. Yeah…me too. (Pause)
(She tries not to let her mom know that she is getting emotional)
Uh huh. What are you going to do? (Pause) How should I know? Why does this have to happen to us, anyway? (Pause) I’m sorry. No…I’m fine. He needs help….but if he can’t see that, what are you gonna do? (Pause) Mom… I want to ask you something, and I want you to answer me honestly. Has Dad ever hit you? You know….while he was drunk or something! (Pause)
(As her mother is telling her she begins to weep)
Yeah…I’m still here. Mom…maybe you should ask him to leave. Or maybe you should leave. (Pause) No…I’m fine. Stop worrying about me. You have enough to deal with right now. Look… I need to go. Let me know what you decide. Bye.
(She puts the phone away and sits on the bench sobbing.)
Lisa pulls something out of her purse. It is some kind of sharp object like a razor blade or something. She rolls up her sleeve revealing scars on her arm. She stares at the object and then brings it very close to her arm as though she was going to cut herself. At this moment, Sue and Becky enter and see her. At first, they can’t figure out what she is doing. Suddenly, Lisa grabs her arm and winces in pain as the two girls react.
SUE
Lisa! What are you doing!??
Lisa jumps when she sees them and quickly drops the object in her purse and pulls down her sleeve.
LISA
Sue…Becky…what are you doing here?
SUE
We’re out walking… but what is going on with you? What were you doing just now?
LISA
What do you mean?
SUE
Lisa…we saw you. You were doing something to yourself. You looked like you were in pain.
BECKY
Lisa…have you been crying?
LISA
Oh…well, I guess I might as well tell you guys.
SUE
Tell us what?
LISA
Sit down. This ain’t going to be easy.
They sit on each side of her
BECKY
Whatever it is, Hon, you can tell us. We’re here for you.
SUE
That’s right. Tell us what’s going on.
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