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| LD-OC The Best of the Lectionary Dramas for Cycle "C" (Select a link below or scroll through the page for details.)
Click Here to Order The Best of Lectionary Cycle "C" or Contact Us Excerpt from Luke 15:25-32 After the Prodigal Son Returns SUGGESTED HYMNS: "Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound" and "In Adam We Have All Been One" CHARACTERS:
SCENE:
* * * * * James: Do you believe this? Who'd have believed this? (He looks back toward the house and then back to the audience.) My little brother leaves with his part of the inheritance, he's gone for months, and then he returns, broken and penniless. (He looks at the house and then back at the audience once again.) And what does my dad do when this good-for-nothing bum returns? Does he punish him? Does he discipline him? Heck no! He throws a party for that worthless piece of trash. I just don't believe it. (He sits down with his head hung low.) Dad: James. (The son does not answer.) James. (The son still does not answer. The father comes down the stairs and sits next to James.) James. (The son looks up and the father puts his arm around him.) James, what's wrong? (James jumps up and moves away from the father.) James: What's wrong? Oh, you've got to be kidding. Dad: I don't know what you mean. What's wrong? James: You really don't know, do you? Dad: No, I really don't. James: How could you? What in God's name were you thinking of? Dad: (He stands.) James, I don't know what this is all about. I've been so busy with the party. James: That's part of it. Dad: What? James: You have a party, and I'm the last to know about it. You invited everyone, everyone but me. Dad: I'm sorry, but I was so happy that your brother came home. James: And that's the most worst part. Dad: The worst part is that your brother came home? James: No, the worst part is that you received him, you welcomed him as though he'd just been away on a trip for a few days. Click Here to Order The Best of Lectionary Cycle "C" or Contact Us Excerpt from Luke 23:35-43 The Centurion & the Tribune at the Cross Trib: What did Jesus say? Cent: Well, the second criminal, got real sentimental. Going to hedge his bets, I guess. So, he asked Jesus that when he came into his Kingdom to remember him. Trib: And what did Jesus say? Cent: Said he'd forgive him and that today the criminal would be in paradise with him. Well, I got news for both of them. The only place they're gonna' be today is in a grave! (He laughs.) Why are you so all-fired interested in this Jesus anyway? Trib: A few weeks ago my slave, a Greek fellow, went with a few others to hear Jesus speak. Jesus said a lot of things, but the two statements that stand out were that he was going to institute the Kingdom of God and that all men would enter the Kingdom of God when he was lifted up. Cent: Well, he is lifted up all right. (He laughs.) Just like a Jewish Messiah to draw all men to some kingdom by dying. Got it all backwards. It's those who live, not those who die, who become kings. Trib: I'm not so sure. This man was different. Cent: Ah, you can't go by what a slave says. They are all liars. Trib: You don't know my slave. Cent: They're all alike. Trib: You don't know them all, so how can they be all alike? Besides, I heard this man myself. This Jesus was talking about something more noble than an earthly kingdom. He was talking about a kingdom built on justice, peace, and humble service. Cent: With all due respect, Sir, I think this is effecting you in a rather negative way. Why don't you leave? I won't breathe a word of this to anyone. Trib: All I know is what I have learned from history. And that is that no one has ever brought justice, peace, and integrity to the world with a sword. Maybe this fellow came to show us a different way. Cent: But on a cross? No sir. I'm not a learned man like you, but no man can do anything once he is dead. He may be all the things you say he is, but in a short while none of it will mean anything. He'll be dead. Trib: Perhaps you are right. I'm not as sure as you are. Cent: With all due respect, Sir, justice, peace, and humble service? Why it would be easier to. . . to . . .uh . . . to rise from the dead than to bring all that to bear. Trib: Maybe you are right. I don't know. Cent: Sir, it looks like it is going to rain. Why don't you go back? I'll join the rest of the men and get this nasty business over with. Trib: No. I think there is a reason I should stay. Let's go over to the others. (He walks off.) Cent: Whatever you say, Sir. (He follows.) Click Here to Order The Best of Lectionary Cycle "C" or Contact Us Excerpt from Matthew 2:13-23 Herod Orders the Killing of the Innocents Captain: A pre-emptive strike. Adv. 1: What? Captain: Don't count on some childhood disease or on him not having the stomach to be king. Take the child out now! Adv. 1: Are you mad? Adv. 2: Hmm. Makes some sense. Herod: I like the idea. Adv. 1: The only thing you know is that he is in Bethlehem. How are you going to find him? You're not even sure of his age. He could be one or two years old. No one is going to point the child out to you. Adv. 2: That does present a problem. Captain: Not a problem at all. We just kill every male child two years of age or younger. Adv. 1: (Jumps up.) You're mad! Herod: I think it is a workable plan. Adv. 1: Look, political assassination is one thing, but this is just-- Captain: Collateral damage. Adv. 1: What? Captain: In a war, civilians sometimes get killed. That's called collateral damage. Adv. 2: I can live with that. Adv. 1: Well, I can't. This is absurd. I'm leaving and I hope you all come to your senses. (Threatening.) If anything happens in that village, I will go to Rome. (He exits.) Herod: Gutless coward. Adv. 2: So, if we go into Bethlehem, he will go to Rome. Herod: We can't have that. Adv. 2: Do we go ahead with the plan? Herod: Absolutely. Adv. 2: What do we do about him? (He points off in the direction of Adv. 1.) Captain: (Shrugging his shoulders.) Collateral damage. (He salutes and exits.) Herod: The secret of a good monarchy is surrounding yourself with capable and loyal people. (He looks at his watch.) It's late. Let's get some lunch. Adv. 2: (Looks at his watch.) I could eat a little something. (They exit.) Click Here to Order The Best of Lectionary Cycle "C" or Contact Us
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