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Lillenas® Drama Presents Black Friday by Jeff Smith

Running Time: 4 minutes Themes: Depression, Perspective, our God is in the midst of all our circumstances Scripture Reference: Psalms 71:20 Synopsis: Ever get those letters at Christmas that bring glad tidings from loved ones only to make you think your life is a wreck? This sketch reminds us that regardless of our situation, we all have much to be thankful for. Cast: MAN—Mid 40s, out of work but in a mid-life crisis. He’s at home taking care of the housework while his wife is working. Props: Basket of laundry Bottle of Fresh Start laundry detergent Mail to include bills and letters (Note: The envelope that has the wordsSAMPLE “Victory Report”DO NOTon it, does PRINT not have to be an actual prop. It can be a generic sales letter from any commercial company trying to sell you something. The audience will not be able to read what’s on the envelope.) Setting: A table and one chair at the end of the table. It’s a folding table in a laundry room.

(MAN enters the stage. He is carrying laundry in a basket with a stack of mail lying on top of the clothes. There are also a few clothespins and a bottle of Fresh Start in the basket. He begins sorting through the mail until he spots the “letter.”)

MAN: Oh no, the annual bliss report from the Walkers. (He examines the outside of the letter thoughtfully.) Do I really want to know how exciting their year was . . . again; the success stories about their five straight-A children and trips to exotic places all over the world. I’ll bet they had these done and in the mail before their Thanksgiving trip to Vail this year. (He tosses the letter onto the table. He notices the next letter in the pile. It is a newsletter from a large, prestigious ministry.) Oh, now this should cheer me up! “Victory Report.” (Sneers) Could they just print that in bigger red letters?

1 (He pulls the stapled newsletter open. His tone is very sarcastic.) Ah, isn’t that sweet? There’s Brother Ken Riggleman walking the dog and smiling at his beautiful, Barbie-doll wife with her recently completed eye tucks. And there’s his perfect little son, Jimmy, and his perfect little sister, Della. Pink ruffles . . . Isn’t that . . . (He rips up the letter.) Precious. (He sings this line to the tune of Jingle Bells.) Victory, victory, Vic’try all the way. (He sighs.) You know just once, I’d like Brother Ken to send out a reality report. (He imagines reading from another letter.) Greetings Prayer Warriors! This is Commander Ken and G-I’m Barbie. We want you to know the truth for once! We’re tired of fighting evil. We’re not even winning the battles in our lives. Our marriage stinks and our kids are out of control. Actually, we’re thinking about giving up the ministry and taking a break. We just can’t find the will to take one more hill for Jesus. So, I think we’re going to pull out and try and work through this mess. Until then, you’re on your own. Oh, and have a great Christmas. (He puts the letter down on the table.) Am I the only one on the planet whose world is falling apart? (This next section of script is played out using the pile of laundry. He speaks to it as if he’s the CEO of a company firing one of the employees. He first moves to the basket of laundry and sets it down in front of him.) Company’s in a heap of trouble, son! (He pulls out the bottle of Fresh Start laundry detergent just underneath the pile.) What we need around here is a “Fresh Start.” (He puts down the bottle, takes one of the shirts and shakes it out in front of him.) So we’re shaking things upSAMPLE around hereDO and .NOT . . PRINT (He holds the shirt out in front of him and then lays it out on the table.) I’m going to lay it out for you. You’re all washed up. (He pulls out a couple of clothespins from the pile of laundry and starts to snap them at the shirt on the table.) We’re going to hang you out to dry. (He attaches the clothespin to the shirt and holds up the clothespin in front of him with the shirt dangling off the pin.) Ha! How does it feel, you old rag? (He catches himself and throws the shirt and pin back onto the pile.) I’m talking to laundry! What’s the matter with me? (He puts his head into his hands and pauses. As he gathers up the mail, he notices the catalog on top of the pile. He lets out a “Hmmmph” and picks it up to look at it momentarily.) Right! This is just what we need. “For the family who has it all . . . limited edition, collector’s series, pewter nativity set.” Shepherds, wise men, cows, sheep, donkeys . . . Look at that! No baby in the manger. Guess that comes extra. (He sits down and looks at the magazine cover. Then he looks around the room.)

2 Now that would be some good news. Please tell me that You’re not in that pewter manger, Lord. I need to know that You’re not in that kind of place; a place that’s only for a few who have their acts together. I need You to be real in my world. Real life; like a guy out of work and playing Mr. Mom while his wife has to go to work to pay the bills and feed the family. (He reaches for the pile of mail again and starts pulling envelopes out of the stack.) Real, like electric bills, house payments, credit card bills, bills . . . (He shakes the stack of envelopes above his head.) This is my reality, Lord. I’ve gotten so cynical. One day after Thanksgiving and I’m thankless again. Maybe that’s why they call it “Black Friday”. I want to see You in the manger with the dirt, and the stink, and the pain, and the tears. That’s what it’s like down here. Please, please . . . I need You to come into this manger and bring a little light . . . please. (He sighs again and reaches over to the “bliss letter” from the Walkers. He opens it and begins to read.) “Dear friends: This is not going to be like most of the annual letters of good cheer you receive from so many. Dave began having severe headaches in August. When they began to interfere with his work schedule, he went to have it checked out. The prognosis is not good. Dave has a brain tumor that seems to be enlarging slowing but surely. Needless to say, it has been a most difficult time for us and we desper- ately need your prayers of support. But through it all, we have sensed the presence of God in a new and different way . . .” (He pauses and sets the letter down next to him.) Forgive me, Lord. Please forgive me. (He kneels next to his chair and begins to pray.)

SAMPLEDO NOT PRINT

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All scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV® ). Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.

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