BACK URGENT 5'1m1f Suffer the children...: urgency vs conviction WOMAN -- (enters hurriedly wearing tunic, carrying a list written a piece of parchment, speaks rapidly while crossing) Oh, there you are, Jesus. Do you have any idea how many people have been looking for you? JESUS -- (enters opposite) Good morning, dear. It's nice to see you too. WOMAN -- Where have you been? I've been looking all over for you. JESUS -- I've been praying. I pray every morn.... WOMAN -- (not hearing a word) ...Well, no matter. We've got to get you started. (refers to list) There are some Pharisees here to see you. We certainly don't want to slight them. They can make life miserable for you if you don't handle them with kid gloves... JESUS -- ...kid gloves? WOMAN -- (reads) ...They said they want to ask you about divorce. I personally think they want to try to trap you and embarrass you in front of all your disciples. I think you should rehearse your answers in front of the apostles a few times before you go out there and face them... JESUS -- ...That won't be necessary... WOMAN -- ...Then, after the Pharisees, there's a rich young ruler who wants to see you. I'm told he's very influential. You would do well to keep on the good side of him. If you win him over, you could win the entire Southern end of Israel. And you know what they say, "If you win over the south, the rest of Israel will follow."... JESUS -- ...Yes, well... WOMAN -- (reads) ...Then, we have the usual list of sicknesses and disabilities stacked up out there waiting to be healed. If I were you I would start with the lepers. You would not believe the odor emanating from those people. I personally think the stink is driving away potential disciples, if you know what I mean... JESUS -- ...I know what you mean, but... WOMAN -- (reads) ...Then there's a demon-possessed man and a deaf-mute. But the deaf-mute might be demon-possessed too. Perhaps we ought to put them on the very top of the list, just to kind of impress the Pharisees, if you know what I mean. JESUS -- ...I know what you mean, but... WOMAN -- (reads) ...There's also a bunch of children here from the orphanage. But I think your schedule is way to full today. I think I'll send them away. Maybe we can reschedule them next time we're in town... JESUS -- ...Wait!... WOMAN -- ...That's right. It wouldn't hurt them to wait... JESUS -- ...Wait! Hold it!... WOMAN -- ...Hold it?! Hold what? We don't have enough time to hold anything. Even if we cancel the children, we'll be lucky to squeeze in all the others before sundown. JESUS -- ...Wait! Hold it! Stop talking! WOMAN -- What's the matter? Did I miss something? JESUS -- You missed the children. WOMAN -- No, I didn't. (points) See? I had them down. They were first on the list. They've been here since before sunrise. But they're just kids, you can see them anytime... JESUS -- ...Wait! Hold it! Stop talking! WOMAN -- I'm sorry, I didn't know I was offending you. I'm just trying to schedule your appointments as efficiently as I can. But if... JESUS -- (puts finger near Woman's lips) Shshshsh! WOMAN -- I'm sorry. I'll be quiet. What did you want to say? JESUS -- We do not arrange our priorities according to urgency. WOMAN -- We don't? JESUS -- No. We arrange our priorities according to our convictions. Children, widows and orphans are top priority to my father and they are top priority to me too. WOMAN -- Oh. So, you want to see the children. JESUS -- You're very quick on the uptake. WOMAN -- I will remind you that children have absolutely no political clout in Israel. JESUS -- That's why they're our top priority. WIDOW -- I don't understand. JESUS -- They have noone else to look after them. WOMAN -- Oh. I never thought about it like that. JESUS -- Obviously not. WOMAN -- I'm sorry. JESUS -- You can learn a lot from children, you know. WOMAN -- I can? I mean, of course I can.... Like what? JESUS -- The kingdom of God belongs to such as them. WOMAN -- What about such as... me? JESUS -- Children are not impressed by the money of a rich young ruler or the influence of the Pharisees. WOMAN -- I know. They have a lot to learn. I suppose I could take time out of my schedule to teach them all about.... JESUS -- (puts finger near Woman's lips) Shshshsh! WOMAN -- I'm sorry. You talk. I'll listen. JESUS -- Another lesson we can learn from children is... They don't think they have all the answers. WOMAN -- (tears up list) You're right. I've got the wrong priorities. No more scheduling from urgency. From now on, we schedule according to our convictions. (exiting) Let's go see the children. JESUS -- (follows) Good idea. ©2007 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.fea.net/bobsnook email: bobsnook@fea.net BACK |