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The Christmas Con

$40.00

In this Christian Christmas play, you have an unusual premise, as the main character, Marcus Davenport is a con man. He poses as a pastor and gets hired by this church to be the new associate pastor who is in charge of collecting the donations for the big Children’s Hospital fund raiser. The church is expected to raise at least $150,000 and Marcus (alias Logan) plans to take the money and leave the country.

What Logan doesn’t expect is the loving, Christian people who touch his heart, especially a little girl who ends up with a disease and will only survive if she can get the treatment that the donated money would pay for. He waits to the very last minute before turning himself in to bring the happy ending to this story. The gospel is shared through testimony as the little girl’s widowed mother shares her testimony with Logan. He just makes up his. There is a lot of humor and a few interesting character parts that are smaller. The roles of the con man, the pastor and the widow are very large. Only one set is needed with no scene changes.

11 actors (6 males, 4 females, 1 female child) About 70-75 min.

CAST OF CHARACTERS:

MARCUS DAVENPORT: Speaks 3769 words and is by far the largest part. A con man posing as Logan Jamison, an associate pastor and planning to con the church.

ROGER MCKENZIE: Speaks 2720 words. The senior pastor who hires Logan and becomes a little suspicious of him.

REBECCA FLOWERS: Speaks 2317 words. A recent widow who is struggling with her daughter and her emotions.

CAROLYN COMPTON: Speaks 1554 words. The church secretary.

DAVID HUNTER: Speaks 838 words. News man just reading the news on video.

BLAKE SORENSON: Speaks 782 words. The other associate pastor. Comical character in that he is a bit odd and naive.

ALICE BLANKENSHIP: Speaks 717 words. Talkative older lady who wants to give away her award money. Comedic role.

IRENE SORENSON: Speaks 448 words. Blake’s wife.

EARL BLANKENSHIP: Speaks 291 words. Alice’s quiet husband.

SUN FLOWERS: Speaks 280 words. Rebecca’s young daughter. A bit outgoing and outspoken but very sweet.

FEDERAL AGENT: Speaks 167 words. Poses as church attendee.

This play is done on one set without any set changes. The stage is set with two desks, one upstage facing downstage, and one on stage right or left, facing to the opposite side. On the other side of the stage is a couch and chair that is used for a counseling area. The two exits, to R and L are to be used as exits to outside for one and to the other offices and the rest of the church for the other.

A screen will be needed to play the news videos.

Excerpt:

ACT ONE:

Play begins with a video of a news broadcast. Anchorman, David Hunter is reporting.
VIDEO:
DAVID HUNTER
As we come to the end of our news broadcast today, we have a story that we thought fit nicely in our “good news” spot. Raising money for a good cause should always be newsworthy, but especially when the amount is $150,000 and the recipient is Good Samaritan Children’s Hospital. Now you may think we are going to mention some big corporation as the donor, but instead, it came from Pleasant Valley Community Church, a small church on the edge of town that most of you probably didn’t even know existed. Well, they really put themselves on the map this year with this record breaking amount that was raised. Pastor Roger McKenzie commented today as he delivered the money to the hospital, that they hope to do a lot better next year. And that’s the news for this Christmas Eve. All of us here at KTCC would like to wish you and yours a very happy holiday.
FLASH ON SCREEN: NEARLY ONE YEAR LATER…
FADE OUT.

SCENE ONE: NEARLY A YEAR LATER
The scene opens in a church office where you see two desks, one upstage and one to one side. On the other side of the room is a couch and chair, where people gather or meet for counseling. Carolyn is sitting at the secretary’s desk as Pastor Roger enters with Blake Sorenson and Marcus Davenport (Logan Jamison).
PASTOR ROGER
Logan, your timing couldn’t have been more perfect. We were hoping to fill this position before Christmas, so this is really working out well for us.
BLAKE
I definitely see this as a God thing. Plus your resume is really quite impressive. And how lucky that you were recently ordained.
MARCUS
I was concerned about that because I haven’t really had as much experience as most churches want.
BLAKE
Hey…we’re small potatoes here, and we know that we can’t expect to get someone who is qualified to work at a large church. I would say that in this situation, we are pretty darn lucky.
MARCUS
Well, we all know that it’s not luck, don’t we?
PASTOR ROGER
That’s right, when God is in it, luck has nothing to do with it.
BLAKE
Right. That’s sort of what I meant.
PASTOR ROGER
Well, it looks like we are all in agreement that this is going to be a good thing, and what the Lord wants, so I will give you an official welcome.
(Shakes his hand)
And the first thing we need to do is get you acquainted with the hardest worker in this church. This is Carolyn Compton, our church secretary. Carolyn, this is Logan Jamison, he will be taking the position of our new associate pastor.
CAROLYN
(Rising from her desk to shake his hand)
How do you do?
MARCUS
Nice to meet you.
BLAKE
Carolyn is like our gal Friday around here. You’ll find that she always gets the job done.
PASTOR ROGER
Logan, this will be your desk over here. You will share an office with Carolyn. Being a small church, you understand that we don’t have the facilities to warrant a private office for everyone.
MARCUS
Oh, this will be fine. I’m sure I will feel quite at home here.
CAROLYN
When will you be starting Mr. Jamison?
MARCUS
Please, call me Logan. I will be starting right away. I don’t have any family or current job situation that I need to take care of, so I’m quite available.
CAROLYN
Oh! Good!
PASTOR ROGER
Isn’t that great? I think we can put Logan in charge of the funds for the big campaign this year. I was afraid we wouldn’t get someone till after Christmas.
MARCUS
Big campaign?
PASTOR ROGER
We do a big fund raiser every Christmas to help the Good Samaritan Children’s Hospital here in town.
BLAKE
You must have seen us on the national news last year. KTCC did a spot on us. They even mentioned Roger’s name. We raised $150,000.
MARCUS
Wow… that’s impressive. I must have missed that one. But then, I’m not from around here.
CAROLYN
KTCC is local news, Blake.
BLAKE
Well, I know we got national coverage somewhere!
PASTOR ROGER
It is a big thing for our church and our community, but last year, we just had difficulty keeping tabs on the money as it was coming in. It’s really the main reason we decided to add another position.
BLAKE
I did it last year. I’m afraid that finances is not my strong point. It’s best altogether if you just keep those old green backs away from me!
MARCUS
So for now, do you want me to just work mostly with the fund raising campaign?
PASTOR ROGER
I think we will also make use of your counseling experience. We don’t do a lot of counseling here, and I can handle most of it, but often it cuts into my study time.
MARCUS
Oh sure, of course.
BLAKE
And I’m just so tied up with worship, education and youth, that there isn’t really time for me to do any.
MARCUS
Oh, that’s fine.
PASTOR ROGER
We do our counseling right here in this office. You can use the couch area. Carolyn will often be right there at her desk. I actually prefer that, as you can’t be too careful these days. It’s good to have someone else in the room, especially if you are counseling a woman alone.
MARCUS
Oh, absolutely.
PASTOR ROGER
Well then…I think I will leave you to get used to the surroundings and we will see you at work tomorrow. Do you have a place to stay?
MARCUS
I think I will just stay at the motel until I find something more permanent in town.
PASTOR ROGER
Well, you let us know if we can assist you in any way.
BLAKE
My wife usually sends my lunch with me, but maybe sometime we can have lunch together, Logan.
MARCUS
That sounds good, Blake.
Roger and Blake start to exit
PASTOR ROGER
Blake, I thought you were about to offer for your wife to make lunches for Logan…
BLAKE
Oh…do you think I should?
PASTOR ROGER
Not before checking with Irene.

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