The Hospital. From The Worship Drama Library, Volume 5 By Jerry Cohagan

Transcription

1 Lillenas Drama Presents The Hospital From The Worship Drama Library, Volume 5 By Jerry Cohagan Theme: The place of the church in a secular world Characters: Three: two men, one woman PAUL: an older man, who has known the Lord for a long time, has a gentle spirit and a homespun sense of wisdom about him BOB: a young man whose faith is still new, honest, and searching NURSE: a veteran, yet still marvels at the birth Synopsis: In what first appears to be a waiting room we find a young man nervously pacing while an older man explains that it gets easier with each birth. Through the course of the scene, the audience discovers that it is not a hospital but a church they are in, and it is not the birth of a baby but the born-again experience of Bob s wife that they are awaiting. Through gentle humor and compassion we discover that the church is a place for the hurting and broken as much as for those of us who are well. Setting/Props: A waiting room, no props needed (The setting is a waiting room. BOB is a young man nervously pacing back and forth. PAUL is an older man calmly sitting reading the newspaper. After a moment PAUL puts the paper down and watches BOB, enjoying it.) PAUL (smiling): This is your first time, isn t it? BOB (continuing to pace): How could you tell? PAUL: Lucky guess... (Amused at BOB) You re gonna wear a path in the carpet there. BOB (stopping): Sorry, I guess I m a little tense. PAUL: That s to be expected. (Crosses to BOB, extending hand) My name s Paul, Paul Myers. BOB (pumping PAUL s hand nervously): Nice to meet you. (Keeps pumping PAUL s hand, unaware of his action) PAUL: And you are...?

2 BOB: What? PAUL (extricating his hand): And you are...? BOB (begins pacing again): Nervous! PAUL (looks at his hand and then wipes it on his shirt, smiling): I meant your name. BOB (stops and turns): What? PAUL: You know, a name. I m Paul, you re...? BOB (laughing nervously, crosses and extends his hand): Oh, sorry. I m Bob, Bob Fuller. (Pumping PAUL s hand again) You ll have to excuse me. My wife s been in there (gesturing stage left) for over an hour. I m a little anxious. PAUL (once again, freeing his hand from BOB s death grip): That s understandable. I was pretty nervous my first time too. It gets easier with each one. BOB: I don t know, I m not sure I could go through this again. PAUL (crosses and sits): Nothing to it, you just gotta trust the Lord s timing. (NURSE enters from stage left. BOB rushes to her.) BOB: Nurse, how s she doing? Is everything OK? NURSE: She s doing fine, Mr. Fuller. Just be patient, these things take time. BOB: Is she in any pain? NURSE: Of course, there s some discomfort. That s part of the process. It s not a cakewalk, Mr. Fuller. There s a struggle going on in there. But she s got the best Doctor available. She s going to be fine, just try to relax. (NURSE exits stage left, BOB groans and begins pacing again.) PAUL (gestures to chair next to him): Come on, Bob. Have a seat. You re gonna wear out the soles on your shoes. BOB (crosses and sits): How can you be so calm? PAUL: I don t know. I guess the more you do it, the easier it gets. Mind you, no two are alike. Each one of them is very special. BOB: How many you got?

3 PAUL: Fourteen. BOB (amazed): Fourteen! PAUL (proudly): That s right. Of course, not all of em were born here. I ll never forget number eight, Hal Benson. (Leans back, as if he s told this story a million times, but never tires of it) I d worked with him for over five years; one of the meanest, most irascible guys you d ever meet. A day didn t go by that he wouldn t mock me for my faith, or make some joke out of my beliefs. Then one day I was out in the warehouse and he came up to me and said, Paul, for five years now I ve watched you live your faith. And for five years, I ve made fun of you for it. But I can see it s not just words to you. I think I d like to have what you got. So, right there I shared the love and mercy of Jesus with him. (Never ceasing to be moved by the miracle) And that big ol grouchy bear of a man bowed his head and prayed for a new beginning. And, by the grace of God, Hal was born anew. A brand-new 44-year-old baby! BOB: Really? It didn t happen here? PAUL: Oh, no. You gotta be prepared wherever you are. Of course, lots of people are born here. It s a fine place to meet God. But some people can t wait. BOB: I was born right here, in Saint Andrew s. A little over three years ago. My wife and I knew we were missing something in our life, but neither one of us wanted to face it. Oh, we d both been coming here regularly, going through all the classes, but our hearts just weren t in it. Then one Sunday during a routine checkup... the Doctor told me I had a heart murmer, that I was just barely living. He said my pulse was weak and that it wasn t beating strong enough for Him. I knew then that I couldn t live without a new heart. PAUL: And today? BOB (smiles at PAUL): There s hardly even a scar. Just enough to remind me of the miracle the Doctor did in my life three and a half years ago. PAUL: That s great. BOB: I ve been praying for my wife ever since. It s been tough. Ever since my operation, there s been a coldness from her that wasn t there before. To be honest, we got along better before my surgery. (Pause, this is hard for him to share) But now, we just seem to be slipping further away from each other. I keep holding out my hand... but she won t take it. PAUL (comforting): She s in the right place, Bob. That s what this building s for; the sick, the broken people who need healing. After all, if we only care for those of us who already know Him, then what s the purpose? As the Doctor says, it s not the well that need Him.

4 BOB (takes a moment, then): You ve really led 14 people to Him? PAUL: Yeah, I have. BOB: That seems so unbelievable. PAUL: There s a popular saying among believers that you ve got to walk the talk... You know, your actions should back up what you say you believe. That s true, of course. But I think sometimes we leave it at that. We think our actions are enough, so we don t tell anybody. Maybe we re scared of ridicule, maybe we expect them to come to us. (Smiles gently) But then I think of Hal Benson. I don t know if he ever would ve come here first. (Looks at BOB) I m just glad I took it to him. BOB: Yeah, but it took five years. PAUL: That s true. But I know Hal s glad I didn t give up on him after four. (Pause, puts a hand on BOB s shoulder) Keep reaching out, Bob... you never know when she ll reach back. NURSE (entering stage left): Mr. Fuller? BOB (stands): Yes? NURSE: Your wife is in recovery. (Smiles) She s been born again, and she s just beautiful. BOB (sighing with joy): Thank You, Lord! Thank You! PAUL (congratulating BOB): Congratulations, Bob! NURSE: Would you like to see her? (BOB looks hesitant for a moment.) NURSE (smiling): She keeps asking for you. PAUL (slapping BOB on the back): Well, what are you waiting for! (BOB, all smiles, exits stage left with NURSE.) PAUL (looks up): Another one s found her way to You, Lord. (Listens and smiles) I think I hear rejoicing. (Blackout)

5 The purchase of this sketch entitles the purchaser to make photocopies of this material for use in their church or nonprofit organization. The sharing of this material with other churches or organizations not owned or controlled by the original purchaser is strictly prohibited. The contents of this sketch may not be reproduced in any other form without written permission from the publisher. Please include the copyright statement found below on each copy made. Questions? Please write, call, or Lillenas Publishing Company Phone: Drama Resources Fax: Web Site: P.O. Box Kansas City, MO The sketch collection The Worship Drama Library, Volume 5 (MP-693) is available for purchase from Lillenas Drama or from your local Christian bookstore. For a full description of the rest of this collection, or to purchase other individual sketches, refer to