Their daughter has been going to church with a friend and when Mark finds out, he’s very upset. Paul and Sharon have been friends of theirs for years, but when they got saved, Mark pulled away, not liking all the religious talk. The girls remained friends, but now they have gone too far, in Mark’s opinion. Rebecca likes going to church, and in fact, she has become a Christian, though she hasn’t told anyone. She wants to embrace her new faith, yet she also wants to obey her father. Paul explains to his daughter, Jess, that if she wants to remain friends, she has to keep it on a secular level. Cindy has enough and leaves Mark on Christmas Eve, but ends up at Paul and Sharon’s so the girls can say good bye. Mark finds her note and comes to see Paul, not knowing why he is even there, but when Paul shares the gospel yet again, this time he’s ready to hear it. Yes, Mark and Cindy do get saved, but finding Christ and finding peace doesn’t mean a big happy ending. They meet together and talk about how this is going to be a new road and they are going to take it slow and work at their marriage. The Christmas theme is not the main part of this story. If you would rather have a version without Christmas references, just ask us for it once you’ve made your purchase. We will be happy to send you a version that is non-seasonal.
9 actors (3 adult males, 3 adult females, 3 teen females) Mark and Cindy are very large parts, the teen girls could be changed to boys if that works better. Dialog is about 60-70 mins. Adding songs would make it a bit longer. We added two songs, with music during scene breaks and it lasted 80 mins. There is a short version under 30 mins available on this site.
CAST OF CHARACTERS:
MARK: Speaks 2815 words. A man who has made his life goal, politics, and in the process is losing his wife and daughter.
CINDY: Speaks 2400 words. Mark’s wife, who has hung in there with Mark for the sake of their daughter, but now is ready to give up, and look for answers in Christianity.
PAUL: Speaks 1858 words. Their Christian friend for many years. He believes he has failed in his witness to Mark.
SHARON: Speaks 1319 words. Paul’s wife and Cindy’s friend.
REBECCA: Speaks 1100 words. Mark and Cindy’s daughter. Get’s saved without her parents’ knowledge.
JESS: Speaks 603 words. Paul and Sharon’s daughter and best friend of Rebecca.
ANITA: Speaks 517 words. Rebecca’s Sunday School teacher.
SAMANTHA: Speaks 237 words. Jess’s younger sister.
PASTOR: Speaks 128 words.
Most of the scenes take place in either Mark’s living room or Paul’s. If you set up your stage with a living room setting on each side, you can go back and forth between homes for each scene. No set pieces need to be moved, but for the church scene, you can keep the set dark, and just use a small podium for the pastor – center stage. Or he could stand in the front of the stage area.
Excerpt:
As this scene opens we see Mark talking on the telephone. Lights come up on opposite side of stage, revealing another living room and Paul on the other end of the phone call. Paul’s place is decorated for Christmas and Mark’s is not.
MARK
Look Paul, I appreciate you calling me back… and you must be able to see where I am coming from. I just had no idea that Becca… Rebecca… had been going to church with you.
PAUL
Mark… I didn’t realize…
MARK
I have nothing against Jess. Jess has been a great friend to Rebecca and we like Jess a lot. And I have nothing against you or anyone in your family…. it’s just that I wasn’t aware of this.
PAUL
But Cindy was.
MARK
Well, yes, I know that Cindy was. Obviously.
PAUL
I have to say, Mark that she left me with the impression that you guys were okay with this.
MARK
Yes… sure, I am sure she did. But we talked about it and we feel that she is young and if she is learning things… you know, religious matters, that we should be there with her.
PAUL
Well, we would love to have you both come…
MARK
No… I’m not suggesting that we go, too. What I am suggesting is that this is a family matter. If and when we ever decide that we want to introduce religion into our family, we will do it as a family.
PAUL
I think that is great… we would love to have your family join us in church. Now, you don’t have to pick our church, but Rebecca has been coming and I believe she likes it there. There’s a Christmas program coming up soon and you might enjoy that…
MARK
Look Paul. I know you would like us to all come and I know how hard you have tried in the past to get us converted. So, you don’t have to try with me now. I would like you to just hear me out, and save all the arguments for another time.
PAUL
Just know that we love you guys, and we’re just concerned for your eternal happiness…
MARK
Yes… you see… comments like that. I know you guys love us… whatever that means, and I know you are only concerned for our eternal happiness… whatever that means! And I also know that you would love nothing more than to get our family converted so that you can win some points with God or your church or whoever.
PAUL
It’s not like that.
MARK
Well, maybe it’s not like that, but that is sure how it feels sometimes. I just think that getting to us through our daughter is dirty pool!
PAUL
Surely you don’t think that is what we’re doing…
MARK
Yes, that is exactly what I think you are doing!! You take our daughter with you and get her thinking your way…. and by the way, I believe that is called brainwashing! Then she starts working on us and we find out our daughter knows more about the Bible than we do. I just feel that I need to put a stop to this right now before it gets out of hand.
PAUL
Even if she enjoys going?
MARK
I don’t care if she does enjoy it. I will not allow those tactics used on my daughter and she will not be going with you on Sundays any longer!
Cindy has entered the room and is overhearing part of this conversation.
PAUL
I’m really sorry to hear that. And I apologize for doing this without your knowledge. But remember what good friends the girls have been for years.
MARK
Now don’t fight me on this, Paul! I don’t want to end this friendship between our girls, but I will if I have to!
PAUL
How about we get together and talk about this?
MARK
Uh… no. I do not want to get together and talk about this anymore. I think I have made myself very clear. So, lets drop the subject, and I would appreciate it if you don’t enter into religious discussions with my daughter and that you would tell your daughter to do the same. Good bye, Paul.
Lights dim on Paul’s side of the stage as Paul drops to his knees in prayer.
CINDY
You know of course that you are going to break Rebecca’s heart.
MARK
Nonsense. I will explain it to her and she will understand.
CINDY
I’m afraid you’re wrong this time. I happen to know that she really likes going to church with Jess.
MARK
All the more reason to nip it in the bud now. I just hope it isn’t too late!
CINDY
Too late for what? What are you afraid of, Mark?
MARK
Following a religion can be a dangerous thing… you know that!
CINDY
You are so ridiculous! There is nothing dangerous about that family! I think you are the one who is becoming dangerous!
MARK
In some countries, they arrest Christians, put them in prison… and sometimes kill them. People are dying all the time because of their religious beliefs! Look at 9-11! Those killers were willing to die for their religion! They believed that by killing Americans, they were doing God’s work! They think we are all Christians over here! If Americans go over to that part of the world and they find out that they’re Christians, that’s like a death sentence!
CINDY
Perhaps that means that there is something to it.
MARK
Just as I suspected! You were starting to give in as well. What is it with you? Why are you suddenly taking the side of that family? They’re getting to you, aren’t they?
CINDY
You’re getting to me! I can’t believe you are acting like this. It is embarrassing! You act like you are afraid of the Peterson’s! They haven’t done a thing to you!
MARK
They are trying to steal my daughter away from me!
CINDY
They are not! If you lose Rebecca, it will be your own doing! If you just acted like a father and spent some time with her, then you wouldn’t have anything to worry about!
MARK
That’s what I’m doing! I’m acting like a father! It is my job to protect my daughter!
CINDY
Would you rather that she was out drinking and doing drugs and getting in with the wrong crowd?
MARK
Don’t you dare pull out the ‘she’s a good kid’ card! And don’t start in on what a good kid Jess is! You don’t have to be religious to turn out good in this world. Look at me! I was not brought up on religion!
CINDY
And you are using yourself as an example to win your case?? Give me a break! At least Paul is a good role model! What kind of role model do you think you have been?
MARK
What is that supposed to mean?
CINDY
What do you think it means?
MARK
That was a very hateful and hurtful remark! Who do you think you are? You can’t stand there and blame me for things that you think are wrong in this family! You are just as much at fault as I am! At this point… I am blaming you for this latest incident. You let Rebecca go to church with Paul and Sharon and you did not say a word to me because you knew that I would be against it. That was deceitful and underhanded, and I hold you responsible! So… don’t be getting all high and mighty with me!
CINDY
I don’t understand you, Mark. Why are you so angry? What did Paul ever do to you? You’ve known him for years… I thought you were friends!
MARK
That was before he turned into Billy Graham! You don’t have to listen to him! I was on the phone with him and he would hardly let me say what I needed to say. He kept putting in his 2 cents about how he loves me and how he’s concerned with my eternal something or other… and how much they would like us all to come with them…
CINDY
(Very sarcastic)
Oh my! What a horrid and hateful person! Telling you that he loves you and he’s concerned…
MARK
Oh just shut up! I can’t talk to you! You take everything I say and twist it all up! I’m going to go and fix me a drink!
He heads for the exit
CINDY
Why don’t you offer one to Rebecca while your at it? Since you want her to follow your good example!
LIGHTS GO DOWN ON SCENE
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