by Chip Tudor | Feb 18, 2015
Theme: The decisions people make in their sexual lives is a matter of choice. (1 Thess. 4:1-8)
Characters: 1 male and 2 females
Length: 4 – 5 minutes
Set/Props: An office with desk and chair, phone, coat rack, small table and coffee pot, and a client seat.
Synopsis: In this 50’s style, movie classic that features all voice-over narration, a small time private eye is hired by a classy lady who suspects her husband of cheating on her. He muses on the decisions people make and how those choices ruin lives. Then he leaves for the day with his own sweetheart.
Excerpt:
(Frank enters with a slow, tired trudge. He’s wears an overcoat, a hat and carries a camera. He pauses to lift his hat with a tired, drawn expression.)
Frank: (voice-over) The name is Merit. Frank Merit. Private Eye.
(SFX: Melancholy music for emphasis)
(Frank slowly removes his coat and hat and hangs them on the rack. Then he looks through the mail on his desk.)
Frank: (voice-over) In my line of work, I’m different things. Part cop… part counselor…part canine. And right now I was dog tired. Of course the job always boils down to the same thing…finding the truth. Unfortunately, it’s often the last thing people want to hear. And delivering bad news is the worst part of the job. That’s when I take on the role of a prophet…sharing revelations.
(Frank pours himself a cup of coffee.)
Frank: (voice-over) It had been another long day in the world of kept secrets. Choking down exhaust fumes while camped out in parking garages, creeping along cold, damp alleys and squatting in hedgerows. Really left me feeling bushed. It was the kind of day that made my head spin, my bones ache, and my stomach knot up like it was full of lead. Or it might have been those five burritos from Taco Bell. On the bright side, I did rescue the widow Smith’s poodle who had accidentally wandered off. The way her face lit up when I handed over little Duchess was the highlight of my day.
(Frank gets out a deck of cards and starts a game of solitaire.)
Frank: I had one more appointment left and a few minutes to unwind so I relaxed with a quiet game. Yeah, I was quite a card shark in my day. But it had been a long time.
(Frank tries to shuffle the cards and they fly everywhere.)
Frank: (voice-over) Too long. (SFX: Knocking on the door) The knock on the door was tentative…almost a question mark. It was a Dame.
by Chip Tudor | Feb 18, 2015
Theme: Salvation is through faith and not by works. (Romans 4:1-4)
Length: 4 –5 minutes
Characters: 3 males, 2 females
Scene/Props: An office waiting area that consists of two chairs and a coffee table with a few magazines on it and a trash can. You’ll also need a briefcase, PDA, and a cell phone.
Synopsis: Two applicants arrive about the same time for an appointment. One is a work oriented, self-made man and the other a self-less man of faith. Both leave with different account representatives. One goes up and the other goes down.
Excerpt:
(RUSH OVERMAN enters hastily. He’s well dressed in a sharp, business suit and carries a brief case. He sets the briefcase down and glances at his watch. He paces restlessly, finally sits in a chair, and taps his foot impatiently. A SECRETARY enters.)
SECRETARY: Mr. Overman?
(Rush stands and moves toward the secretary, invading her personal body space.)
RUSH: That’s me. Rush Overman.
SECRETARY: (gently pushes him back) We’re running a little behind schedule.
Please make yourself comfortable. An account representative will be with you shortly. Do you need an application?
(Rush pulls papers from his briefcase and walks towards her again.)
RUSH: I already have it completed…along with my resume, three letters of
recommendation, and my portfolio. It was a lot of work, but I believe in being prepared.
SECRETARY: (pushes him back) If you need anything else, let me know.
(As she exits. Rush pulls out his cellular phone and dials.)
TELEPHONE OPERATOR: (V.O.) I’m sorry, the number you have dialed
is not in service at this time. If you think you’ve reached this recording in error, please check the number and try your call again.
(He puts away the phone and resumes pacing. PHILLIP GLASS enters. He carries a sheet of paper, crosses over, and sits in a chair. He begins looking over the paper and realizes he has nothing to write with.)
PHILLIP: Pardon me sir, may I borrow a pen?
RUSH: (tosses a pen) Keep it. Part of a company promo…got millions of them. New at this, huh?
by Chip Tudor | Feb 18, 2015
Theme: God’s Will is not always the unfathomable mystery Christians often seem to make it.
Length: 1.5 – 2 minutes
Characters: Searcher, Voice of God
Scene/Props: No particular scene or props are needed although if possible, use a darkened room with a spotlight for effect.
Synopsis: A Searcher in a solitary moment genuinely seeks God’s Will in a prayer that is spoken aloud. God replies, but the Searcher is completely oblivious to His responses.
Excerpt:
(The Searcher paces the stage and seems genuinely sincere and yet completely unaware of God’s responses. The Voice of God is from off stage.)
Searcher: I wish I could know God’s will for my life. What am I to do? What am I to become?
God: I’d like to see you become more like me.
Searcher: There are so many questions. Who should I marry? What career path should I follow?
God: If you’ll take up your cross and follow me, everything else will fall into place.
Searcher: Where do I begin to find answers?
God: Begin with the Bible. That’s what it’s for.
Searcher: My quiet time doesn’t seem to be what it ought to be.
God: I’ll say!
Searcher: I don’t feel like I’m getting anything out of it.
God: I don’t feel like you’re putting anything into it.
by Chip Tudor | Feb 18, 2015
Theme: Grace should not be taken for granted. It may be free, but it’s not cheap. (Romans 6:1-5)
Length: 3 – 3.5 minutes
Characters: Accountant, Female Elevator Voice
Scenes/Props: A door frame indicating an elevator, folder with papers, and a calculator.
Synopsis: A pre-occupied accountant on his way to a financial meeting steps on an elevator. When the ride stops in between floors, he and the elevator engage in a conversation that centers on the elevator’s woe of being taken for granted and the concept of grace.
Excerpt:
An ACCOUNTANT approaches an elevator carrying a folder with paper work along with a calculator. He hits the elevator button and glances over his paperwork as he waits. The elevator bell RINGS, he enters, and turns to face the audience. He pushes the button for his floor then assumes a blank stare as the ride begins, but lurches when the elevator stops suddenly. He pushes buttons on the panel, but nothing happens. Annoyed, he jabs harder, but still nothing.
Accountant: Hey, what’s wrong with this thing?
Elevator: Thing? You call me a thing? Okay then. I’ll call you number cruncher. Number Cruncher.
Accountant: Alone in an elevator for less than a minute and I’m already hearing voices.
Elevator: Correction. You’re never alone. You just don’t happen to be around any people at the moment.
Accountant: Yeah, and no soothing elevator music either. Stupid elevator.
(The Accountant jabs the buttons harder, starts smacking them with his hand and finally jumps up and down.)
Elevator: Hey. A few jabs I can tolerate, but no jumping. We’re both feeling that extra donut you had this morning.
Account: Great. I’m stuck on an elevator with no music…that talks…AND has an attitude. (yells to the outside) Hello, can anybody hear me? Hello, the elevator’s stuck!
Elevator: I’m not stuck. I’m just pausing to regroup.
Accountant: Wonderful. I have a meeting in 15 minutes and the elevator is pausing to re-group. And what does that even mean anyway?
Elevator: It means you’re stuck.
by Chip Tudor | Feb 18, 2015
Theme: Missionaries are real people who need to feel that they are connected to and supported by the church.
Length: 4 – 5 minutes
Characters: Game show host, two contestants and a missionary.
Scene/Props: A table for the contestants. A chair for the missionary. The game show takes place stage right and the missionary is seated stage left. The two scenes alternate on and off.
Synopsis: Two contestants compete on a superficial game show called “Name that Need.” The contestants try to answer questions about the needs of missionaries, but are unable to answer even one correctly. In contrast, a missionary delivers a monologue that communicates real, heartfelt needs.
Excerpt:
(SFX: Up tempo music and crowd noise)
SPOTLIGHTS ON THE GAME SHOW
HOST: (big show biz grin) Hi and welcome to Name that Need. An informative quiz show that educates you on the needs of missionaries. Today our two contestants are John and Mary. Welcome to the show.
(John and Mary smile and shake hands with one another.)
FREEZE ACTION, LIGHTS OUT AND SPOT LIGHTS ON MISSIONARY.
MISSIONARY: Lord, I feel so out of it…disoriented… and yes…even a little disillusioned. I return to the states after 5 years of serving you in another country and everything is different…I’m different. I need to talk about my experience. But no one wants to listen. Nobody has time.
FREEZE ACTION, LIGHTS OUT, AND SPOT LIGHTS ON GAME SHOW.
HOST: All right. First question. Missionaries need from us: Advice…Support…Credit Cards.
MARY: Credit cards. They’re like, everywhere you want to be.
HOST: (imitates buzzer sound) Ehhh! Wrong!
JOHN: Advice?
HOST: Ehhh! Wrong again! The answer is support. Next question. Providing moral support for a missionary means…
MARY: Supporting them in teaching good morals.
HOST: Ehhh! John?
ONE: Giving them a pat on the back for a job well done. No, wait. That’s morale.
