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This is a story of John’s life and choices – his death and the consequences of his decisions.
The Story....
This play begins with John challenging his Mother about a picture someone gave to him. It had a note on the back suggesting that His mother may have been unfaithful in her marriage. John has always feared being a part of a dysfunctional family and when his fears begin to materialize...he seeks ways to deal with this knowledge that may not seem appropriate as a child of God. Situations surfaced that require his forgiveness...i.e. an unfaithful mother and being deceived by his real father, who had been a friend to the family, but is now in prison on death row for a crime he says he didn't commit...but if John was to believe that, then he would have to believe that his Pastor is a murderer.
John turns to his girlfriend for support, but she too carries a secret that will push John over the edge. Eventually John dies and wakes up to find himself face to face with the consequences of his choices and a Judge without mercy...but most of all...
...John comes face to face with the truth.
Cast: 4 males, 3 females.
Audience: Teens and Adults
Genre: Contemporary Drama
Sample Scene
LIGHTS UP
[Pauline walks to the window and looks out. Her face brightens up a bit.
She steps back from the window and waits. Charles enters and is greeted
With a hug. But to Pauline, something feels awkward about the moment]
She pulls away from him and examines his facial expression]
PAULINE: I thought you’d be happy to see me, after all these months.
CHARLES: I am.
PAULINE: So, what’s wrong?
CHARLES: Nothing.
PAULINE: You’re sweating like a mule, Charles. I know you.
CHARLES: I’m not at liberty to discuss my troubles with you. No offense.
[Pauline considers this, and then decides to let it go]
PAULINE: Want something to drink?
CHARLES: Yeah. Sure.
[Pauline exits. Charles walks to the window and stares out nervously.
He backs away and checks a few more times before Pauline returns
With two glasses of lemonade on ice.
She hands one to Charles and sits him down]
CHARLES: How’s everyone?
PAULINE: Jack is at work as usual and John, well he said he’d be back before
Nightfall.
CHARLES: Has he landed a job yet?
PAULINE: Nope. Don’t know if he’s over -qualified or just plain lazy. He hardly
Talks to me about his personal life anyway, so I’m guessing here.
CHARLES: I think he got that from his father.
PAULINE [smiling]: He sure did.
[pause]
CHARLES: I’m happy how things worked out...between you and Jack that is.
PAULINE: It was a long time ago Charles. We’re past that.
CHARLES: The past has a way of catching up sometimes.
PAULINE: I’m not worried and you shouldn’t be either.
[They stare at each other in silence for a moment]
PAULINE: You look good.
CHARLES: You too.
PAULINE: Where have you been...all this time?
CHARLES: I went to the country for a while. I thought the cool air would do
Me good.
PAULINE: It did.
CHARLES: Well, all things considered, I’ll take that as a compliment.
PAULINE: What’s on your mind, Charles? Really?
[Silence]
PAULINE: Please...
CHARLES: I don’t know much about death, Pauline. I have no idea what it feels
Like or how it’s supposed to look or what signs to look for that tells me it’s
Coming..
PAULINE: None of us do.
CHARLES: Death is certain and unpredictable at the same time. It just seems to
Sneak up on you at the most inopportune time.
PAULINE: What are you trying to say?
CHARLES: I cannot die carrying this secret inside.
PAULINE: Oh no. Don’t even go there.
CHARLES: John has to know. He has to know the truth.
PAULINE: We’ve been through this before. Many times. Why do you always bring
It up again?
CHARLES: Because it’s killing me.
PAULINE: You should kill it.
CHARLES: Twenty years I’ve carried this burden, Pauline. I want to be released
From it.
PAULINE: You can’t.
CHARLES: I have to. I know John and we’ve kept him in bondage long enough. He
Needs the truth.
PAULINE: Not now.
CHARLES: The truth will set him free.
PAULINE: Charles, think about what you’re saying.
CHARLES: I have. Everyday for twenty years.
PAULINE: Haven’t we been through enough.
CHARLES: I’m not ungrateful, Pauline. I mean, it’s good that you and Jack have
Come to some understanding about the whole thing...
PAULINE: Yes we have and we have put it behind us.
CHARLES: I’m not convinced you have. Something like this, it just never goes away.
PAULINE: It has, for us.
CHARLES: Then why is Jack hardly home?
PAULINE: He works hard to provide for us. You know that.
CHARLES: Work is just an excuse. He wants to be away. Everytime he looks at John
He sees and remembers and it hurts him.
PAULINE: No Charles...we got past that a long time ago.
[They stare at each other. A tense moment that is broken when
John enters. John’s face lights up when he sees Charles]
JOHN: Hey.
[Charles stands to greet him]
CHARLES: Hey yourself.
[They clap hands together and wrestle a bit]
JOHN: Ha. I’m still stronger than you.
CHARLES: You sure are. So what’s going on?
JOHN: The usual.
CHARLES: Any plans for tonight?
JOHN: Not really.
[Pauline stands to address John]
PAULINE: The church is planning to do some hospital visits all of this week.
JOHN: Good for them.
PAULINE: They wanted you to...
JOHN: No way. You know how I feel about hospitals and the like.
CHARLES [butting in]: There’s a new movie opening tonight.
JOHN: What time you coming to pick me up?
CHARLES: Say around 7:00.
JOHN: I’ll be ready.
CHARLES: You can bring a friend along...if you want.
JOHN: No...I would prefer it be just us guys.
CHARLES: No problem. Seven then.
[John gives Charles the thumbs up and exits.
Charles watches him go. He then turns his attention to Pauline, whose smile
Has faded.]
PAULINE: Why’d you do that?
CHARLES: He’s young, Pauline. He has his whole life ahead of him. There’ll be
Time enough for church stuff.
PAULINE: Is that what it is now. ‘Stuff’
CHARLES: You know how easy it is to get burnt out. A young man has to have
Balance or he’ll run himself to a wreck.
PAULINE: He’s already a wreck.
CHARLES: Well, I beg to differ. Anyway...I need the chance to talk to him.
PAULINE: Fine.
[Pauline holds his arm as he turns to leave. He meets her eyes]
PAULINE: Bury the past, Charles. We’re far better off without it.
[The sound of sirens start to echo in the distant. Cold sweat wash over
Charles forehead. He starts to fidget and stammers when he speaks.
CHARLES: I have to go.
PAULINE: Are you in some sort of trouble, Charles?
[Charles meets her eyes in silence. He turns and exits quickly without another
word. Pauline is puzzled.
The sirens grow louder and louder as..]
LIGHTS FADE
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