The following drama could be used on its own or on week three of the series, “What Are You Waiting For?” by Chris Walker. Permission is granted for use of this drama as long as the attribution is retained.
Copyright Statement: —© Ruth Saukas 2011. All Rights Reserved. Used by permission.
Scene
Outside of a shopping center/grocery store in December. All the actors should be dressed appropriately for your climate in December.
Actors
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Three musicians/singers: singing Christmas songs
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Several groups of shoppers: no speaking parts
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Man on park bench (Steve)
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Mom 1
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Krista: teen
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Katy: teen
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Dad 1
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Maddie: 7-9 years old
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Curtis: 12-13 years old
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Alma: 70s-80s
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Agnes: 70s-80s
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Mom 2
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Rosie: 6-7
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Ranie 8-9
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Dad 2 (Joe)
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Dave
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Dee
Props
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two different looking collection buckets
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money
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bell
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park bench
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cardboard sign: “Please help, I’m hungry”
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shopping carts (one full one)
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purse
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car keys
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Cocoa Puff cereal (or change the script and use a different kind of cereal)
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bread
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peanut butter
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bananas
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marshmallows
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lunch meat
[Scene opens with three musicians, stage left, set up with a collection bucket and bells. Stage right, on a park bench, is a man with a collection bucket and a cardboard sign saying, “Please help, I’m hungry.” People in coats and hats cross up and down the stage greeting one another; some drop coins into one or both of the buckets. Pushing a cart, a mom with two teens stops as she searches her purse.]
| Mom 1: | Where did I put that grocery list? Krista, you might have to go back to the car. I may have left it on the seat. |
| Krista: | Are you sure? |
| Katy: | I’ll go! Gimme the keys. |
| Mom 1: | No way! Last time you went back to the car you locked the keys in. Let me see. . . . Oh, here it is! No, that’s an old list. Krista, here are the keys. You go look for the list, and get the bottles from the trunk while you’re at it. |
| Krista: | [reluctant and rolling her eyes] The bottles too? Are you sure you don’t have anything else for me to ‘fetch’? |
| Katy: | Let me go! I won’t lock the keys in. I’ll be really careful. |
| Mom 1: | No, Katy! [softening] But I’ll tell you what: you can do the can and bottle return. [still impatient] Hurry up, Krista, what are you waiting for? I’ll meet you in the store. |
| Krista: | [sighs] Fine, I’m just the slave around here. [exits] |
| Katy: | Hey, Mom, look at that guy over there. |
| Mom 1: | Don’t stare, Katy. It’s not polite. |
| Katy: | What’s he doing that for? |
| Mom 1: | Just ignore him and go on in the store. |
| Katy: | Is he really hungry? |
| Mom 1: | Katy! I said ignore him. [walks past the singers and smiles] I’ll get you on the way out. No cash right now. |
| Katy: | Mom! Mom, you have a dollar in your pocket left over from the dry cleaners, remember? |
| Mom 1: | [pinching Katy and searching her pocket] No, I don’t. That was yesterday. Come on! |
| Katy: | But Mom, that was just before we got here, remember? We— |
| Mom 1: | [through her teeth] Katy, get inside the store! |
| Katy: | Fine, whatever you say. [they exit] |
| [A dad approaches with his son and daughter] | |
| Dad 1: | Are you kids ready to go Christmas shopping for Mom? |
| Maddie: | [jumping up and down] Yes! Yes! I am! |
| Curtis: | I guess so. . . . |
| Dad 1: | So, did you ask Mom what she wanted for Christmas? |
| Curtis: | She said she just wanted me to be the best and kindest son in the world. That’s all she wants. |
| Dad 1: | Wow, talk about “Great Expectations”! [jokingly elbows his son ] I think that’s what she asked for last year. How about you, Maddie? Do you know what she wants? |
| Maddie: | I’m already kind and wonderful, so she told me she wants socks. Some really beautiful socks. |
| Dad 1: | Now that we can handle. [pats her head] Hey, kids! Look over there. [Singers start a new song. Dad, Curtis, and Maddie listen for a moment. Dad digs in his pocket.] Here you go. Go put that in their bucket. [Maddie takes the money, skips over to the musicians, and, beaming, drops the money in the bucket.] Go on, Son; you too. [Curtis reluctantly puts money in.] |
| Maddie: | Look, Dad! Look at him! [points to man on park bench] |
| Dad 1: | Yeah, I see. It looks like there’s someone else who needs a little help. [digs in pocket and offers Maddie more money] Here, put this in that guy’s can. [Maddie shakes her head no and steps behind Dad. Dad offers money to son.] How about you, Son? Show your sister how it’s done. |
| Curtis: | [takes money, looking insecure] I don’t want to. |
| Dad 1: | [gives son a little push] Go on, what are you waiting for? He’s not going to bite you. |
| [Curtis reluctantly goes over, gives the man the money, and hurries back to Dad] |
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| Dad 1: | Good job! Now let’s do something really hard: let’s go Christmas shopping for Mom. [Curtis groans, but Maddie bounces up and down as the three exit] |
| Maddie: | Yes, yes, yes! |
| [Two older women approach from the store as singers pick up a refrain.] |
|
| Alma: | Oh, listen, Sister, isn’t that nice? |
| Agnes: | It’s so Christmassy. |
| Alma: | What a good idea to play and sing while they collect money. |
| Agnes: | And they have such wonderful voices! |
| Alma: | Agnes, do you have any spare change? |
| Agnes: | Well, let me see. Yes, Alma, I do. [digs out some change; they approach and put it in the bucket] |
| Alma: | Here you are, and a Merry Christmas to you! |
| Agnes: | You’re just wonderful, you really are! [they turn and continue across the stage] |
| Alma: | That really put me in the Christmas spirit. |
| Agnes: | Me too. It was so magical! |
| Alma: | [spotting the man on the bench] Oh, dear! What is this?! Do you see that, Agnes? I can’t believe they allow this right here on the sidewalk. Disgraceful! |
| Agnes: | [scraping her shoe] Yes, they should make people clean up after their dogs! That is disgusting! |
| Alma: | No, no, I mean that man there. [pointing] |
| Agnes: | Oh—oh, dear! Now that is certainly not very Christmassy. He should be singing! He’d look so much better if he got up and sang. [leaning over the man] Do you sing? No? Oh, well. [turning] Sister, do you have any change? |
| Alma: | [indignantly] Agnes, what are you thinking? You don’t want to encourage those people. Just keep moving, keep moving. [They move on, but Agnes pauses and looks back. Alma pulls her on.] Sister, really, you have no sensibility! |
| [Another Mom pushing a full grocery cart exits the store with two girls.] |
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| Rosie: | [stomping and pouting] I wanted Lucky Charms, not Cocoa Puffs! |
| Mom 2: | Well, it wasn’t your turn to pick this week; it was your sister’s. |
| Rainie: | [smugly smiling, singing with the singers to the tune of “Jingle Bells”] “Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa Puffs, Cocoa all the way. La-la-la, la la la la . . .” |
| Rosie: | Mom! Make her stop! |
| Mom 2: | Girls, that’s enough. Where’s Dad? |
| Rainie: | He went to get the car. |
| Dad 2: | [approaching from the other end of stage] There you are! I thought I’d lost you. Are you ready to head home? [spots homeless man] Whoa, hold on here. Hey, buddy! [extends hand] How are you doing? Tough time of year, isn’t it? Hey, let’s see what we can do to help. [digs through grocery bags] We have some bread . . . and some peanut butter. . . . Got some bananas—if you wrap them in newspaper I don’t think they’ll freeze. |
| Mom 2: | [going through another bag] Here are some marshmallows, and . . . how about lunch meat? Come on, girls, give me a hand. What are you waiting for? |
| [Girls excitedly dig through bags.] |
|
| Rosie: | How about biscuit dough? |
| Mom 2: | No, something else might be better. |
| Rainie: | Teabags? |
| Mom 2: | Not teabags. Keep looking. |
| Dad 2: | We have some Cocoa Puffs! |
| Girls: | [looking at one another, horrified] Not the Cocoa Puffs! [Mom hands the cereal to the girls and they slowly put it on the pile] |
| Dad 2: | [takes bundle and hands it to the man kindly, along with some cash] There you go. That should help some. Merry Christmas! OK, let’s go, I’m double parked. [they begin to leave] |
| Rainie: | Are we just going to leave him alone? |
| Rosie: | Aren’t we supposed to pray for him or something? |
| Mom 2: | You’re probably right. [turning to Dad] What do you think? |
| Dad 2: | They’re definitely right. [goes back and kneels by the man] Hey, I didn’t introduce myself. I’m Joe. What’s your name? I’d like to say a little prayer for you if that’s OK, Steve. [Steve nods] “Dear heavenly Father, we pray that you provide Steve comfort and strength in the midst of everything he’s going through. May your tender mercy break his bonds and renew his spirit with love and compassion found only in our Savior, Christ Jesus. Amen.” [Joe hands Steve a business card] And here’s my business card. Merry Christmas! [turning to leave] Are we ready now? Let’s go. [to wife:] Was that OK? |
| Mom 2: | [taking Joe’s arm as they exit] I’ve never been more proud of you. |
| [Singers start up again. Couple enters.] |
|
| Dave: | I told you we can’t afford that—quit asking! And don’t promise people gifts you can’t deliver! |
| Dee: | I didn’t promise! I said I’d consider it. You are so cheap! After all—[brightening] it’s Christmas! The season of spending—I mean, giving! |
| Dave: | Is there money in your Christmas envelope for that? Did you plan ahead? |
| Dee: | No, but maybe I could borrow from another envelope. The tax envelope has plenty of money in it, and maybe I could— |
| Dave: | Oh, no, you don’t! There’s never enough in the tax envelope. Never! [turns to put change into the singers’ bucket] You just don’t get that, do you? [wife snatches the money away] |
| Dee: | [mimicking him] Oh, no, you don’t! What envelope is that coming out of? |
| Dave: | This is nothing! |
| Dee: | You’re throwing our money away! You might as well give it to . . . to that guy! [points at Steve and walks over to him, holding out money as if she’s going to give it to him] |
| Dave: | Dee, this organization is legit. We can write it off our taxes. That guy is a bum who won’t work. |
| Dee: | Well, I think organizations like that take all our money and spend it on overhead costs. What do you think they have to pay those people to stand outside and play? |
| Dave: | Dee, they’re volunteers. They aren’t paid anything. |
| Dee: | Well, still, can you imagine what they spend on bells? Do you know what a quality bell costs? |
| Dave: | These are volunteers; he’s a squatter. Let him get a job. |
| Dee: | Maybe there aren’t any jobs. Maybe no one is hiring. |
| Dave: | He could get a job at McDonald’s. They’re always hiring. |
| Dee: | Maybe he’s disabled. |
| Dave: | Then he can apply for disability. The government is always handing out money. This is the time of year when everyone is trying to get their hand in my back pocket. That’s why there’s never enough in our tax envelope. I’m sick and tired of carrying people like this guy and that organization on my back! [sighs] Let’s just drop the whole thing and go out and get something to eat and a really good bottle of wine, OK? [pocketing the twenty-dollar bill they’ve been squabbling over] |
| Dee: | [trailing Dave] OK, but you are so cheap! You never let me buy everything I want—I mean, anything I want. . . . |
| [Singers pick up refrain as Agnes sneaks back on stage, looking over her shoulder. She approaches Steve.] |
|
| Agnes: | Here you go. [gives Steve money and pats his shoulder] My sister is really very kind and generous. She just doesn’t always understand. But I do, so I help her out behind her back. [pats Steve’s shoulder again, turns, takes a few steps, then turns back] You know, it would help if you sang a little. [exits, singing off key] |
| [Katy runs back across stage and gives Steve some money.] |
|
| Katy: | Mister, don’t be hungry, OK? [trots over to singers] Here, my mom said I could have the bottle return money. So this is my money I’m giving. [starts to walk away, then turns] Hey, I just thought of something. Does this work for like, you know, Santa stuff? Will I get what I want for Christmas because I . . . you know . . . gave something? Never mind, I suppose that’s stupid and selfish. Anyway, Merry Christmas! |
| Singer: | It’s getting pretty late. [looking at watch] I think it’s time to call it a day. [calling to Steve] Hey, feel free to stop by our building to get a meal or warm up—we might have a bed available. We’re just around the corner. |
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[They start packing up, as does Steve. He counts his money as he walks past the singers, puts some into their pot, then looks up to heaven and mouths the words “thank you.”] |
