Characters:
John: Father
Linda: Mother
Michael: The faithful son
Robby: The prodigal son
Scene/Setting:
The living room of this family’s home.
Plot:
Family discussion gets heated about the son who left three years ago and how it has affected the entire family.
Message:
Unconditional love, a family can still hold on to hope in a crisis.
Props:
Newspaper, apron, dishtowel, sofa, chair, end table with lamp, picture frame on end table, legal size writing pad and pen.
-------------------------------------------------
LIGHTS UP
(John is sitting on living room sofa reading the newspaper. Linda enters STAGE LEFT wearing a small/half apron wiping her hands on a dish towel. And takes a seat next to John on sofa – but not too close.)
Linda: The dishes are done and the kitchen’s clean. (Pause) I let Melba go home early today.
JOHN: (Uninterested) Oh?
LINDA: Well, there’s only the three of us now. So, there’s less for her to do. And ever since Michael’s been running the ranch, he’s usually only here for dinner.
JOHN: Maybe, it’s time to cut back Melba’s hours.
LINDA: No, I don’t want to do that. She really needs the money. Besides, I can always find something for her to do around here.
JOHN: Fine.
LINDA: Did I tell you next Tuesday is my turn to host the women’s Bible study?
JOHN: (Half listening) I don’t think so.
LINDA: (Angry) I told you Sunday in the car on the way home from church. I knew you weren’t listening!
JOHN: Is that why you brought it up again? Just to test my listening skills?
LINDA: Well, let’s face it, John, if it doesn’t have to do with your business then you’re not interested.
JOHN: Here we go.
LINDA: I thought maybe we could talk tonight.
JOHN: We are talking.
LINDA: No! W-e-e are not talking. I’m talking and you’re hardly responding which is pretty much the norm around here. Have you even heard a thing I’ve said since I walked into the living room?
JOHN: (Agitated) Yes! Melba needs money so you’re going to keep finding things for her to do and you’re hosting the women’s Bible study next Thursday.
LINDA: Tuesday!
JOHN: Whatever. Just remind me again so I can make sure I’m not here.
LINDA: You see? That’s what I mean, John! Why can’t you remember anything I say to you?
JOHN: Linda, right now I just want to sit here, read my newspaper and relax.
LINDA: That’s all you ever want to do.
JOHN: I’m tired, that’s all
LINDA: Well, you should be since you didn’t get home until the wee hours of the morning.
JOHN: What's that supposed to mean?
LINDA: I m-e-a-n, why were you out so late last night?
JOHN: We closed an enormous deal yesterday. This is our biggest contract ever. It’s going to keep us in business for the next…I don’t know, four years. The managers at the shop wanted to go out and celebrate. Those guys bust their butts for me. The least I can do is take them out once in a while to show my appreciation. If it wasn’t for their hard work and loyalty we wouldn’t be where we’re at today.
LINDA: That’s why you didn’t come home until two-thirty in the morning? Smelling like whiskey? Gee, it’s been a long time since I’ve had the pleasure of that aroma in the bedroom.
JOHN: I didn’t think I woke you.
LINDA: Well you did! I mean, really, John! Who could sleep with you coming in and stumbling over everything?
JOHN: I’m sorry.
LINDA: I don’t like you drinking, John. I don’t ever want to go through that again. I don’t think I could handle it. And you’ve come so far.
JOHN: (Apologetic and consoling) Linda, you don’t have to worry about that. Last night? I went too far. You’re absolutely right. And I’m sorry.
(Short pause)
LINDA: You know what yesterday was, don’t you?
JOHN: (Pause and sigh) Yes…I know. Of course, I know.
LINDA: It’s been three years, John. Three years since Robby left.
JOHN: (Confessing) I know that’s why I kept right on drinking last night. I just wanted the day to be over.
LINDA: Why don’t we ever talk about it anymore?
JOHN: I…I don’t know, Linda.
LINDA: (Crying) Why don’t you care about him anymore?
JOHN: (Angry) Why don’t I care about him? Why don’t I care about my own son? Do you think one day goes by and I don’t think about him? Wondering what he looks like now? What he’s doing? Constantly worrying about him? Feeling guilty that maybe I did something to hurt him and that’s why he doesn’t come home? Does he think I don’t love him for some reason? Did I do something or say something that caused him to leave? Every single day I imagine him walking through that door. (Tearfully) Every single day my heart aches with a pain I can’t even describe. I’m just exhausted. (Pause…then continue building up anger) Do you know why I have to read the paper everyday? I’m looking for headlines with Robby’s name in them. I’m checking the police reports. I’m reading the obituaries, for God’s sake!
LINDA: I’m sorry, John. I’m really sorry. It just seems like you’ve given up on him.
JOHN: I will never give up on Robby!
LINDA: (Sigh) I can’t stop asking myself, why did we ever let him go?
JOHN: How could we stop him, Linda? He was of legal age. I had to give him his trust fund. After all, it was his. We set that money aside for the boys. We can’t tell them how to use it. You and I could have never kept him from leaving. His mind was made up. That was his decision.
LINDA: I wish we’d at least hear from him. A letter…a phone call…anything.
JOHN: I just keep hoping and praying he’s alright.
LINDA: Shh, I think I hear Michael.
(Michael enters STAGE LEFT whistling “Off to Work I Go”)
BOTH: (Cheery and fake) Hi, Michael!
MICHAEL: Howdy! (Plops down on chair)
JOHN: How’s my favorite, son?
MICHAEL: Favorite son? Ha! Don’t even go there, big guy. Your favorite son is out whorin’ around town, spending all your money. Me? Your hard-working, dependable son? Well, I’m just dandy? (Noticing their mood) Uh, oh. What’s wrong?
JOHN: Nothing. Your mother and I are just…discussing some things.
MICHAEL: BULL! You two haven’t talked in ages.
JOHN: Well, we’re talking now.
MICHAEL: Gee, does it have anything to do with the fact that yesterday was the big three-year anniversary?
LINDA: Stop it, Michael.
MICHAEL: (Angry, hurt) No! I’m not going to stop it. I’m sick of this. Robby’s an idiot. An ungrateful, no good loser! I’m so tired of this entire family revolving around him. Especially since he hasn’t even been here for three years!
JOHN: Michael, yelling is not going to make you feel any better about the situation. I realize how angry you must be toward your brother.
MICHAEL: You have no idea what I feel! I hardly ever see you. It’s been months since you’ve stopped by to see how we’re doing with the ranch. The guys down there wonder if you’re even still alive.
JOHN: We’ve got our hands full at the shop, Michael. You know this is our busiest time of year. I’m putting in a lot of hours. As soon as things settle down a bit I’ll be able to spend more time with you at the ranch.
MICHAEL: Oh, I’ve heard that one before. In fact, I think I hear it every year on this date. It’s your annual “Robby’s still gone, our lives are miserable, I’ll be around more” speech.
LINDA: Michael, please.
MICHAEL: And Mom, you’re just living in your little fantasy world. Always pretending everything’s just fine in this house. God forbid, anyone would ever find out what it’s really like to live here. Which is exactly why I moved into the guesthouse a year ago.
JOHN: Michael.
MICHAEL: Tell me, mom, how many times have you remodeled Robby’s room now? Three? Four times? Is Melba still cleaning it everyday – just in case? (Obvious look from Linda) Yeah, I thought so.
JOHN: (Raised voice, yelling) Michael, that’s enough and I mean it!
(Silent pause)
MICHAEL: (Regretful) I’m sorry.
LINDA: We know.
MICHAEL: No, I mean, I’m really sorry, mom. Dad?
JOHN: I know you are. It’s okay.
MICHAEL: I just get so mad at him. (Pleading to his parents) He - left - us. He left me! He left me alone to run the ranch and…all the work that goes along with it. Sometimes I just get so mad that I hope he never comes back. But, I know I don’t really mean that. I miss him. I wish he were here to see how the ranch has grown. I miss him most on our birthdays. (Chuckle) We used to have some great parties, didn’t we?
JOHN: Yeah, you sure did. (Laughs) Pretty, expensive parties, too.
LINDA: (Picking up picture on end table) This picture of the two of you was taken at your last party together. Hmm. I gave him that haircut.
JOHN: (Laughs) He hated that haircut.
MICHAEL: That’s probably why he left. I’m kidding!
LINDA: I can’t stop wondering what he must be feeling. Does he think he went too far? Does he think he’s gone to a place where I wouldn’t go to find him? Does he have any idea how much I love him?
JOHN: I wonder the same thing. Does he know I love him? Does he know there’s nothing he can do to change my love for him? And then I wonder…does my son love me?
MICHAEL: Of course, he loves you. You gave him two million dollars! Heck, I’ll love you forever for that kind of cash!
JOHN: Michael, you know that everything I have is yours. And I’d give it all up to have Robby back.
MICHAEL: Not if it’s mine, you won’t.
LINDA: Can you remain serious for at least five minutes?
MICHAEL: Yes, I can. (Pause) Look, I didn’t know when to bring this up…but…I know how to get a hold of Robby.
BOTH: What?
JOHN: You know where he is?
MICHAEL: Not exactly. He called at the ranch house about six months ago.
LINDA: Why didn’t you tell us?
MICHAEL: Because I promised him I wouldn’t.
LINDA: How is he? Is he alright?
MICHAEL: He sounded…okay. I mean…physically, he said he was fine. He said he was healthy. But, he was hurting for money, big time. He went through the trust fund about a year ago. He told me he was living with some friends he met. But…I got the impression that meant a shelter with other homeless people.
JOHN: Why didn’t you tell him to come home?
MICHAEL: I tried, Dad. He’s scared. He feels very ashamed. I told him none of that mattered. We just wanted him home.
LINDA: What did he say?
MICHAEL: He asked how the two of you were doing. So, I lied, of course. (Mocking) “All’s fine in John and Linda’s world.” He really just wanted some money. So I sent him some cash. I’ve been sending him money every month.
JOHN: Where is he, Michael?
MICHAEL: I don’t know for sure. I mean...he’s in New Orleans. But, exactly where? I don’t know. He gave me a post office box to send the money.
LINDA: What should we do, John? Can we find him? Is that enough to go on?
JOHN: It might be. But, if we track him down and he’s not ready to come home…what good will that do? At least we know he’s alive.
LINDA: Maybe we should write him a letter. Maybe we can convince him to come home.
MICHAEL: It’s worth a shot.
JOHN: Michael, have you talked to him since that first phone call?
MICHAEL: No. He never called again. I usually send the money in a card with a note. But…he’s never responded.
JOHN: Then I think we should write Robby a letter. A letter from all of us. We’ll tell him how much we miss him. How much we love him. Then we’ll pray. As a family. Like we used to. We have to trust God to protect him and keep him safe. I think that’s all we can do until he decides to come home.
(PLAY SONG: The Prodigal (I’ll be Waiting) performed by Amy Grant from the CD titled Unguarded. The song will be acted out as a HUMAN VIDEO. All three will take turns writing the letter, standing up, pacing, hugging/consoling each other, and then finally praying together. Each actor(s) should move to STAGE FRONT as they act out their part noted below. At other times the actors are seated as if taking turns writing the letter.)
THE PRODIGAL (I’ll Be Waiting)
FATHER (John)
I face the day again
Against the window pain
I remain your closest friend
And wish you back again
MOTHER (Linda)
You wonder how I feel
You think you’ve pushed to far
If only you could see this pen
Scribbling down my heart
FATHER AND MOTHER
I’ll be waiting
I may be young or old and gray
Counting the days
But, I’ll be waiting
And when I finally see you come
I’ll run when I see you
I’ll meet you.
BROTHER (Michael)
But still the days drag on
Why did you decide to go
Did you only need to see
What only time can show
ALL IN PRAYER
I’ll be waiting
I may be young or old and gray
Counting the days
But, I’ll be waiting
And when I finally see you come
I’ll run when I see you
INSTRUMENTAL and FADE
(Robby enters STAGE RIGHT looking very dirty and ragged. SONG FADES OUT. He has a key in his left hand. They notice him standing there.)
JOHN: Robby?
ROBBY: (Tearfully and frightened, holding key up) My key still works.
JOHN: Yes. Of course…of course it does!
LINDA: Robby! Oh, thank you, Jesus!
(As they all approach him, Robby backs off.)
ROBBY: Don’t touch me…please. I’ve been…I can’t tell you where I’ve been.
JOHN: None of that matters, son. It doesn’t matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done. (Embraces him) All that matters is that your home. And that we love you. I love you.
LINDA: (Hugs him) I’ve missed you so much. Oh, Robby!
MICHAEL: Brother, (Puts his arm around his shoulder) I’ve got three years worth of manure with your name on it. (Serious) Hey, thanks for coming home. I love you, brother. (Hug)
JOHN: We are going to throw the biggest party Texas has ever seen. (To audience) My son has come home!
(Fade lights, play song at 3:56 and fade)
END
Copyright C. 2004 by Dale L. Davis
THE PRODIGAL (I’ll Be Waiting)
By Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Robbie Buchanan
Copyright C. 1985 Bug & Bear Music/Riverstone Music/Nanacub Music
Read more articles by Dale Davis or search for articles on the same topic or others.
