Who Cares sample text

MESSAGE: Our definition of love, often times, is the product of the kind of love we have experienced. Sadly, many times that experience is not a good one, even within our own families. That is when it becomes difficult to comprehend God’s love, and we are left to wonder is there anyone who really loves me; anyone who understands me? Is there anyone Who Cares?

CAST OF CHARACTERS

MITCH, teen-age boy

JASON, teen-age boy

TRACY, teen-age girl

MICHELLE, teen-age girl

BOBBY, teen-age boy

J. B., “cool” teen-age boy

MRS. ARNOLD, school principal

EDDIE, teen-age boy

NICOLE, teen-age girl

MRS. BENNETT, lunchroom window attendant

AMY, Eddie’s sister

MOM, Eddie’s and Amy’s mother, Mrs. Cook

DAD, Eddie’s and Amy’s father, Mr. Cook

THE TIME: Present day

THE SETTING: A school and a home

ACT ONE

SCENE ONE: In front of the lockers at school

SCENE TWO: Lunchroom at school

ACT TWO

SCENE ONE: Kitchen of Eddie’s house and Eddie’s bedroom

SCENE TWO: Kitchen of Eddie’s house and Eddie’s bedroom

PROPS:

*Books for all the teen-agers

*“Cool” street dress for J. B.

*Dark glasses

*Headphones

*Papers

*School bell sound

*Two tables

*Seven chairs

*Seven lunch trays

*Food

*Lunchroom window for dirty tray return

*Sign for window that reads: “REMOVE UTENSILS FROM TRAY”

*Seven forks

*Box boldly marked: “UTENSILS”

*Bible

*Salisbury steak

*Tennis outfit

*Tennis racket

*Coat and tie for father

*Briefcase

*Door bell sound

*Baseball

*Baseball mitt

*Salisbury steak T. V. dinner

Sample – Eddie doesn’t understand why Jason missed the ballgame to go to church

MICHELLE: Jason went to church with Mitch and became a Christian.

EDDIE: (Disgusted and sarcastic): Oh great. Another "came back from the dead fanatic.”

JASON: Look Eddie, I'm no fanatic. (Jason is beginning to get irritated.)
Besides, once you listen to an accurate explanation of the Resurrection, it's not so hard to believe. (He pauses and then speaks a little more boldly.)
Actually, it's almost impossible not to believe.

EDDIE: Ya, ya, ya. What difference does it make anyway? Even Mitch says it happened two thousand years ago. What good is that now?

(Jason looks at Mitch hoping he will answer the question.)

MITCH: Eddie, what Jesus did two thousand years ago, He did out of love for not only those people then, but also for all of us now. He died and rose because He loves all people. The sacrifice . . .

(Eddie interrupts.)

EDDIE: (Loud disbelief): Love? He loves "all" people? Man, take a look around you. Open your eyes, pal. How can you say God loves everyone? Murders, disease, wars, terrorism and starvation are all you hear about on the news these days. Why does a God that loves "all people" let stuff like that go on?
(Eddie starts walking away and then turns back towards Jason and Mitch.)
Your "loving God" can come back from the dead, but He can't even keep my family together. You can keep Him!!!

(Eddie waves at them in disgust and walks off. As he turned to leave, Jason drew back a fist and acts as if he wanted to hit Eddie. Mitch grabs Eddie's hand and puts it back down.)

JASON: (Talking to Eddie, but not loud enough for him to hear.) Man, you are sick.

Sample – Trying to understand Eddie

MITCH: Sometimes, yes, you have to just listen. Other times you have to answer the questions people like Eddie ask.

JASON: You mean answers to questions about (He appears to be counting them out on his fingers as he struggles to remember them all.) disease . . . starvation . . .
(As he is speaking, Mrs. Arnold comes back by, dragging J. B. behind her. He is dropping books and papers.) terrorism . . .

J. B.: (To the Girls): Ladies.

(Bobby is coming along behind Mrs. Arnold and J. B., scrambling to pick up the papers and books.)

JASON: (Continuing): Violence, war and things like that?

MICHELLE: Good luck.

MITCH: Perhaps those, but more importantly, why does God allow His family to have problems? That's the question that's really eating him.

(School bell rings for classes to start.)

JASON: How am I supposed to know stuff like that?

Sample – Example of humorous situations

J. B.: Nicole, you’re looking fine. How bout Friday, you and I go out?

NICOLE: (Not at all interested.) I'm busy Friday.

J. B.: Ya, me too. How bout Saturday?

NICOLE: Busy.

J. B.: Next weekend?

NICOLE: J. B., as far as you’re concerned, I'm busy every weekend until my grandchildren graduate from college.

(J. B. leans down to talk to Nicole. He does not realize that Bobby has set down the lunchroom trays. As J. B. leans down, his hand comes down right in the middle of a tray of food. He pulls his hand out slowly and stares at it in disbelief.)

NICOLE: (As she gets up to leave): Besides, I don't go out with guys who eat with their hands.

Sample – Looking for ways to help their friend understand

JASON: Mitch, I'm just starting a regular prayer and study time. But there has to be something I can do in the mean time. You gotta help me, Mitch.

MITCH: Look, Eddie dumps all the rotten stuff going on in the world on God because he doesn't understand why a God we claim loves him, allows him to have such a rotten family life.

MICHELLE: He's got a point. His parents fight all the time. They never come to any of his ball games or even seem to care where he is. I heard they were thinking about getting a divorce.

MITCH: In Eddie's mind, if there is a good reason why there is so much evil and sadness in the world, then there is also an explanation why his family is in the shape it is.

JASON: (Confused): So what is the explanation?

Sample – Jason talks to Eddie

JASON: Eddie, don't confuse imperfect human attempts at love with God's real love. It's not right the way your parents treat you, and if you were honest, it's probably not right the way you treat them. The fact is, unless you and your folks allow Jesus into your hearts, you'll never be able to treat each other the way that God intended you to. My parents and I are close. We always have been. But now that I’m a Christian I realize that I've only begun to love them like I'm supposed to; like God wants me to; like I want to. Jesus wants the same thing for your family.

EDDIE: Even if I could change myself, how could I change my mom and dad?

JASON: You can't change yourself . . . or them, but Jesus can change all of you. Eddie, let Him start with you. Ask Jesus into your heart. Let Him forgive you of your sins and then ask Him how to show your parents their need for that same forgiveness. Let Jesus put your family back together