Description
Allegory of Jesus’ sacrifice for us and what we do with that sacrifice,
portraying a modern day epidemic for which there is only one cure.. It is then up to each individual whether they accept it or not.
This script was written by former DramaShare member Barbara Abare
Cast: 18
- 18 plus extras – Main characters are mother, father, young boy, others m or f.
- 2 non-speaking roles and one which is OSV (off-stage voice)
- Evelyn: City girl, likes to party
- Agnes: Sensitive, compassionate, but very meek
- Sue: Tough, very opinionated, complaining, solid
- George: Army sergeant type
- Fred: Nervous, hypochondriac
- News Anchor: News anchor, typical Dan Rather personality
- President: Perfect hair type, Bill Clinton accent – Off stage voice only Tommy: Child, angelic face, very sweet and loving
- Bob: Tommy’s father, caring, responsible
- Rose: Tommy’s mother, very protective
- Nurse Wanda: Busy, efficient
- Nurse Abbey: Typical Nurse – non-speaking role
- Dr. Kruchek: Wild white hair, very focused on his work
- Lab Tech: Hard worker, dedicate
- Hippie:Typical hippie
- Lawyer: Shady Lawyer type
- Preacher: Kindly and firm
- Camera Person: Non-Speaking
- Extras: For hospital scene Stage Hands: 2 Needed
Bible Reference:
- Matt. 13:3-9, 18-23, Mark 4:3, 14, Luke 8:5
Set:
- Most scenes only need a bus stop sign.
- Scenes are:
- living room with a TV,
- a hospital waiting room,
- a hospital examination room
- church memorial service.
- Using chairs and tables is sufficient.
- Use a portable curtain to close during changes of scenes.
Lighting: standard
Sound: wireless mics if available
Song: none
SFX:
- sound of bus starting up,
- sound of a garbled radio
- door slamming
- sound of a heart beating and very slowly coming to a stop.
Costumes:
- Two nurse uniforms and two lab coats, otherwise standard dress.
Props:
- Bus stop sign
- TV
- several chairs
- radio
- telephone
- cell phone
- pulpit
- grocery bags
- newspapers
- table or hospital bed
- blood taking paraphernalia like syringes, bands band-aids, etc.
Special Instructions: none
Time: 50
Sample of script: SCENE 1: Evelyn
Props: Chair, Small table, Telephone, Small radio, Nail file
Costumes: Evelyn is wearing a robe with a towel around her head.
Staging: Evelyn is sitting on a chair SC next to a table with a telephone and radio filing her nails.
Evelyn: (dials phone, waits a second; voice nasal, speaks, “listening” pause after each comment)
Hi, Harriet? It’s me. I’m just calling to see what you’re wearing to the party Friday night.
You mean the blue dress with the wide strap? (wrinkles nose)
Oh, that one …
No, no, really. I think you look great in that one.
No, you do not look fat in that. (waits)
What do you mean you don’t believe me? (waits)
Alright, alright, we’ll go shopping on our lunch break tomorrow! (waits – stops filing her nails)
Hey, wait a minute, Harriet, the radio is telling about that little village in India again. Hold on. (turns radio up; there is a garbled voice, she listens for a minute then turns the radio down and turns back to the phone?
Isn’t that the creepiest thing? Did you hear it? This town – Barachi.
Yeah, Barachi. 18 people are dead now. The announcer said it was this flu or something but they’ve never seen it before. I guess all the big countries are sending their top scientists to check it out. (filing nails)
Ahh, they’ll figure it out. Probably a bad mosquito or something. I sure am glad we live in a civilized country!
Gotta go, Harriet? Bye, bye for now.
(hangs up phone, walks off stage)
SCENE 2: Agnes, Sue
Props: Two filled grocery bags, bus stop sign, bench
Costumes: Agnes and Sue both dress casual with sweaters
Staging: scene opens, Agnes and Sue walk down Center aisle, holding grocery bags, move to CS bus stop at CS, Agnes emotional
Agnes: I can’t believe it, Sue. The news said there are now over 30,000 people dead in Barachi, India.
Sue, (shakes head): I just can’t believe that those medical people have been over there almost a week now and haven’t found a thing! They aren’t as smart as they think they are, now are they?
Agnes: I heard they’re sending people from the Disease Control Center in Atlanta because this flu strain has never been seen before.
Sue: It’s always something! First it was Sars, then the Avian Flu and the H1N1 flu, and now this! It’s getting to be that decent folk can’t get away from hearing about all the sickness anymore!
Agnes: Don’t worry. They’re bound to figure it out. I just know they will! They have to, right?
Sue shakes her head and both continue to walk and exit, SL.
SCENE 3: George, Fred
Props: 2 Newspapers
Costumes: Business suits for both
Staging: Scene opens with George, SL, and Fred, SR, coming at each other toward the bus stop. They nearly collide because they are both reading newspapers.
George: Oh, sorry, Fred. I wasn’t paying attention. Did you read the front page of the newspaper?
Fred: I’m reading it now and I can’t believe it! This “Mystery Flu” has now reached Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iran. It says here that they have people working around the clock to try to figure this out.
George: I just hope they keep it over there. Did you read about the symptoms?
Fred: Not yet. What does it say?
George: As far as they can tell, you have it for a week and you don’t know it. Then, it hits you. Four days of torture!
Fred: (gulps) What do you mean?
George: Let me read it to you! First, your eyes get all crusty as if they had scales on them and your feet and hands swell. Then you start getting chronic nose bleeds, a rash and your joints ache. (Fred visibly nervous) You can’t eat or drink because you’ll vomit. You break out in fever blisters all over. (Fred rubs his arm) In the last stages your neck swells and you can’t breathe well. (Fred’s hand to his throat, hyperventilating slightly) Then your heart gives out from all of the toxins your body can’t get rid of and then, (matter-of-factly) you die.
Fred: I . . I hope they find the cure. (taps paper) It says here that the president stated that he is sending all of the resources they can to come up with a cure.
George: I just wonder how they are going to contain it!
Fred: (shakes head) I wonder, too, George! I wonder, too.
George: (sound of bus) Come on, Fred, there’s our bus!
(they run down aisle)
SCENE 4: Tommy, Bob, News Anchor, President, Rose
Props: 2 chairs & living room furniture, TV, Remote control, Suitcase, Gift Bag, Overcoat
Costumes: Bob in casual wear, Tommy in pyjamas, Rose business attire
Staging: Bob and Tommy sitting watching TV, Bob holding remote. TV positioned so audience can only see light emitting. Voices of President and News Anchor from off stage as if coming from TV or can be taped ahead of time.
Tommy: Isn’t there anything else on? I’m bored. When is Mom coming home?
Bob: Shush now, Tommy. You know Mom had to go to France on a business trip. She’ll be home in a few days.
Tommy: Well, alright. As long as we can have pizza again for supper tomorrow.
Bob: (chuckles, pats Tommy’s arm) Whatever you say, Bud. Now let me hear the news. (Points remote at TV)
Offstage News Anchor: The president of France made a startling announcement today that they were closing their borders to all countries where the now rampant Mystery Flu has been seen. Sadly, this action was not quick enough. We have just picked up a report from France that a 34 year old man is lying in AuBerge’ Hospital in Paris. He is in the last stages of the Mystery Flu. May God be with us! (pauses) This just in! The President of the United States is about to address the American people. We now go live to Washington.