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A Man for Others Christmas Play

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A Man for Others Christmas Play A MAN FOR OTHERS Adapted from a short story by Abelardo Diaz Alfaro Asher Casper King Herod Justus Balthazar Archelaus Zebulun Innkeeper Tero Nicodemus Gabriel (angel) Blind Man Joseph Family Man Jacob Melchior Scene #1: Night. On a stable at in Inn in a pastoral area of Bethlehem, a bright light comes out upwards from a mangle and the cry of baby Jesus is heard while a man is standing in front, back to audience. Then, from another area out in the fields nearby, four Shepherds (who were keeping watch over their flocks) come running scared from different sides, meeting at one point. ASHER. (running) Wooo… What was that? JUSTUS. (running) Did you see it, you saw it too, I’m not crazy then? ZEBULUN. (running) What was that? Who was he? Oh God! NICODEMUS. (runnning and meeting with others) Woah… Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! That was no sheep ghost! You saw it too, Asher? ASHER. Saw what? JUSTUS. You did saw it, come on, we all did! ASHER. What? No, I got scared and came running because you were running scared! ZEBULUN. I did see him! What was that? Nicodemus… NICODEMUS. I usually dream of someone coming from heaven, but it is always bringing me fish, fruits and cheese. ZEBULUN. Well I always dream of sheep. I came up with this idea; when I cannot fall asleep, I count sheep. It works well. JUSTUS. This was no dream, Zebulun, I am sure of that. We all saw it. ASHER. (cool and casual) I really do not know what you are referring to, Justus. JUSTUS. Yes, Asher. You are just so much different and better than the rest of us. That is why you always say your sheep are the most intelligent and well-trained. 1 ASHER. Because they are. And because I am not a poor, lonely dreamer like you all,. NICODEMUS. Well this time you lost, Asher. Because we just saw an angel. ZEBULUN. An angel! Was that an angel? Yes, that is what I saw! JUSTUS. An angel descended upon us! Us, poor, lonely shepherds! ASHER. We must be special to God, hahaha. Oh come on, an angel! Haha. Do not turn crazy on me now, you are seeing hallucinations. JUSTUS. Well who was him then? Because you saw him as well as us. ASHER. I did not see a thing! (pause) Maybe I heard a voice. ZEBULUN. And what did the voice say? ASHER. It said… “Beware, my noble Asher, beware the other shepherds, for they are turning sheep to angels by being so isolated.” NICODEMUS. I am trying to remember… I opened my eyes as he was descending upon here, such a bright light, it was truly a message from the heavens… ZEBULUN I was totally terrified. I could not see if anyone else was around. I wanted to run away. JUSTUS Me too! I wanted to run but I could not… because the glory of the Lord shone around me… and for that instant I felt peace… I felt… somebody is watching me from up there… I am not alone. NICODEMUS. I think I got it! Hear me… “Do not be afraid…” ZEBULUN. Yes, I heard that too! NICODEMUS. (continuing) “I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” JUSTUS. (crying) Yes, that is what I heard. (falls to his knees) At last… the Messiah is here. Zebulun and Nicodemus get down on their knees next to Justus, holding hands and lowering their heads, and pray with tears in their eyes. ASHER. (surprised and upset) Just what in heaven are you doing? Are you all believing this? Have you all gone mad? Stop this nonsense! (pause) Oh, I am going back to my sheep. ZEBULUN (stands turning to Asher) Asher! What are you so afraid of? You do not want to acknowledge the presence of an angel? Fine. But accept, respect and embrace His message for it is the message of the Lord. You heard it too. ASHER. But just stop and think, why us? Why to us, poor, isolated shepherds? Why does He want to bring this message to US? Think about this, you men. Really. We never talk much to each other, but if this unite us please let this not make fools of ourselves. 2 NICODEMUS. He has a point there. Why to us? ASHER. Are we this desperate to for acknowledgement and appreciation? NICODEMUS. And why the Messiah is to be born at a mangle outside a room? Are his parents poor? ASHER. Yes! You see? It does not make any sense! You do not see it? Yes, I heard a voice. I refuse to believe an angel came to us because I was sleeping, and so were you. JUSTUS. You mean to say we all had the exact same dream at the same time? ASHER. I do not know! But the Messiah will be the king of all people, not a poor child born in a mangle. And certainly not to be welcomed to the world by POOR SHEPHERDS! (sits down frustrated) JUSTUS. And you think God does not love us? What are we then? That is exactly why we have been waiting all this time for the Messiah to come, for US! Not for the powerful, the wealthy, the healthy, the privileged. ZEBULUN. There is a reason and an explanation to all this. We just cannot see it now. We must go there and welcome the baby. The son of God will be the man for all people. JUSTUS. And that include US, Asher, Nicodemus. US! We have been waiting for this moment all our lives… Now we are not to believe it? NICODEMUS. You are right, Justus. We are not doing right by this. We are just afraid. ZEBULUN. Trying to look for explanations is not bringing us to anything. We just will have to follow our hearts. We all want this so much to be true. Do not be afraid to say, friends. How do you feel right now? JUSTUS. (smiling) So hopeful. NICODEMUS. (looking at Asher) Yes, I want to believe. ZEBULUN. Then let us speak no more… and go. NICODEMUS. (helps Asher stand) Come on, Asher. We will find answers. I feel so positive and empowered by this. You see? Have faith… and do what is right… and you will feel a better man. Scene #2: Back to the stable with a manger at an Inn in Bethlehem. Night, almost dawn. The cry of baby Jesus is heard while Joseph and the Wise Men walk around or rest trying to relax. The cries fade out. INNKEEPER. How is she doing, Joseph? Do you need anything? I feel so bad I could not get you a room at the Inn but we have no vacancies. JOSEPH. They are both doing fine, thank you. You did more than anyone else, we will be forever thankful. 3 MELCHIOR. No, my good man. This happened where it needed to happen, under the Bethlehem star. It was… magical. Such a special night to remember for a long time. JOSEPH. Maybe forever. (others laugh) We are all blessed by this. We came to Bethlehem for the census, and Jesus was born here. This is his home. I thank all of you for coming here. BALTHAZAR. So tell us, how did those Shepherds in there got here? Why? JOSEPH. Well, they said an angel visited them and told them to come welcome Jesus. CASPER. Wow, I have heard some stories in my lifetime, but that one… INNKEEPER. How did you come here? CASPER. We… we followed a star. INNKEEPER. And you do not want us to believe the Shepherds? Hahahaa. A star! MELCHIOR. That star shinning up there right now. The Bethlehem star. INNKEEPER. It is a good thing I do not drink anymore, angels and stars, that would get me wasted. CASPER. Yes, we followed a star for hundreds of miles to bring us here bearing gifts to welcome Jesus the Messiah, and here we are. Are we crazy or blessed? INNKEEPER. In any way, nobody is going to be able to explain this. BALTHAZAR. But it has been explained already, my good man. It is the Messiah, the son of God, the one we came to welcome. We all know why we are here. MELCHOIR. It is a new world. (Joseph looking away, distraught) Are you well, Joseph? JOSEPH. (thoughtful) I just… But why him? Why was Jesus the chosen one? (pause) Can a baby lead us to salvation? CASPER. He will grow up to become a man, Joseph. JOSEPH. Yes, but how about Mary and me? What is our part on this? What do we have to do now? How should we raise him? How will we know we are doing things correctly? And when will we know to let him be and do the things… BALTHAZAR. So many questions! (laughs) All will come in time. Just raise him well. Mary and you already did the most important part. CASPER. Yes, but what do we know? Nobody here knows. And what is our part in this? MELCHOIR. We did our part, Casper. CASPER. Did we? And what is this man doing here (Joseph)? He is not the real father. Why should God… or the Messiah care for those Shepherds being here? 4 MELCHOIR. Exactly. Because even if nobody else cares, He is showing you that He still cares. We are all here for a reason.
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