MARY:

Martha, stop pacing!

MARTHA:

I can’t believe he’s taking so long. It’s four days now since Lazarus died.

MARTHA:

Maybe he’s not coming.

MARY:

(With certainty) He’ll come.

MARTHA:

(Practically) But there’s nothing he can do now.

MARY:

He can comfort us.

MARTHA:

Yes, I suppose. I might go and see if he’s on his way.

MARY:

I’m just going to wait here. We’ve got people watching for him.

MARTHA:

(Frustrated) I have to do something! I can’t even cook with all these people here helping us!

MARY:

You go, Martha, but I’ll just wait here.

MARTHA:

(With certainty) You know, Lazarus wouldn’t have died if Jesus had been here.

MARY:

I know.

MARTHA:

(Upset) He could’ve healed him.

MARY:

Yes, he could’ve.

MARTHA:

(Frustrated) I don’t understand. He’s got the power but he didn’t use it, and now it’s all too late!

MARY:

Maybe it’s not. We’ll see.

MARTHA:

(Trying to find some hope) I mean, I know we’ll see Lazarus again in the resurrection.

MARY:

We certainly will.

MARY:

(Comforting Martha) Jesus will do what he thinks is best, Martha.

MARTHA:

I know. I’ve learnt that from experience. (Enviously) You know you’re always more at peace than I am.

MARY:

I’m just as upset as you. I just don’t know the mind of Jesus, so there’s not much point in worrying. We do know that he’ll do what’s best for all of us.

MARTHA:

(Trying to believe it) I guess so. (Standing up again to resume pacing) You know, if Jesus visits the tomb, the smell will be quite terrible.

MARY:

Oh, Martha, stop worrying. Only you would worry about a thing like that.

MARTHA:

But it will. Jesus will want to visit the tomb and pay his last respects, but because the body has been there for four days, it’ll be very unpleasant.

MARY:

Jesus will cope.

MARTHA:

I guess you’re right, again.

VOICE:

(From off stage ) Mary and Martha, Jesus is coming! Jesus is coming!

MARTHA:

(Excited) Did you hear that? He’s coming. I’m going to meet him. (Puts on jacket)

MARY:

OK, but I’ll wait for you here.

MARY:

Yes.

MARTHA:

(Worried, but dying to go) Well...I won’t be long. (Exits)

MARY:

(Stands, puts down knitting/needlework) What will I say to him? How can I face him? I’ve been waiting patiently for him to come, but now what? Part of me wants to kick and scream and shout at him, ‘Why? Why? Why did you let this happen?’ Another part of me just wants to run into his arms and cry until I can cry no more. I know that Jesus must have a reason for all of this, but it hurts so much. (Sighs) I try to be strong for Martha, but I wonder what she’d think of her ‘peaceful’ sister if she could hear me now. I told her to have faith in him, now I’m the one that’s afraid to face him. Maybe he won’t even notice I’m not there. (Has a sudden thought) Maybe he knows all my doubts. (Starts to worry) What if he doesn’t want to see me?

MARTHA:

(Reenters) Mary! Mary! Oh, it was so good to see him.

MARY:

What did he say?

MARTHA:

He said that Lazarus would rise on the last day, which of course I knew, (Excitedly) but it was so good to see him again.

MARY:

What did you say to him?

MARTHA:

Well, of course I said that Lazarus wouldn’t have died if he’d been here, but I didn’t want to hassle him too much...and then I told him that I believed he was the Son of God. It felt good just to say it again.

MARY:

(Anxiously) Did he say anything else?

MARTHA:

(Remembering why she came) Oh yes, he asked to see you.

MARY:

Me? Why didn’t you say so before? (Goes to get her jacket)

MARTHA:

I was getting round to it. (Mary puts on jacket) Hey, where are you going?

MARY:

To meet Jesus, of course.

MARTHA:

But I thought you were going to wait here until...

MARY:

(Interrupting) It’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind!

MARTHA:

But he hasn’t even reached Bethany yet.

MARY:

’Bye! (She races out)

MARTHA:

(To audience) Well, that was a quick change! I think I’ll go and join her. (Exits)