GIVER:

Roll up, roll up, get your gifts here.  Roll up, roll up, gifts this way. No charge, the gift’s for free...

ONE:

(Entering) Excellent!  Just what I wanted, I think…yeah, um, thanks…(Takes the gift and wanders off to the side, inspecting it, but with no idea what to do with it)

GIVER:

OK!  Roll up, roll up, gifts over here (Two enters), hey you, over here!

TWO:

(Shaking head) Oh, no thanks, I don’t want one.

GIVER:

But  it’s got your name on it…

TWO:

(Surprised) What?

GIVER:

Here, this one’s yours, mate. (Gives it to him)

TWO:

But I’m telling you, I don’t want it! I really don’t want it! (Walks off with it shaking his head, then chucks it over his shoulder, spends the rest of the time trying not to go and pick it up again)

GIVER:

(Ignoring him, Three enters) Roll up, roll up, the gift’s for free. (Three starts walking towards Giver) that’s right, over here for your gift, madam.

THREE:

Well, well, well, what did I do to deserve this?  I’m afraid I can’t accept this, I’m really not worthy enough…

GIVER:

You let me be the judge of that! And I say, here you go, take this. It’s yours, you know.

THREE:

(Uncertain) Gee…oh well, I suppose I could. Well, maybe…Oh, I don’t know, better not…I wouldn’t be able to use it…could I?

GIVER:

(Nods)  It’s yours. Next! (Three takes it reluctantly and moves off to the side, clutching it to herself, Four enters) Roll up, roll up, gifts over here, over here.

FOUR:

Yeah, no worries, mate, thanks for that. (Takes it in a blasé manner, walks back to centre stage, looks around, then stuffs it quickly into a large bag. Gets a book out and starts to read)

GIVER:

(Sees Five enter) Roll up, roll up, over here for your free gift. Get yours now.

FIVE:

How very kind of you, what a marvellous fellow…I say, what’s in it? (Holds it up to his/her ear and shakes it)

GIVER:

That’s for me to know, and for you to find out...open it!!

FIVE:

Oh no, old chap, couldn’t possibly do that, it would ruin the lovely wrapping paper. I’ll just take it home and pop it on the mantlepiece, next to the clock…(Walks off, admiring it, Six enters)

GIVER:

Roll up, roll up, still more to go. Gifts are this way! (Giver hands Six smallest gift)

SIX:

(Upset) Yeah, right, trying to fob me off with the smallest one of the lot.

GIVER:

Beg your pardon?

SIX:

Well, look at hers over there, and his (Points around at others) Theirs are much bigger and grander than mine. What’s the point of even taking it? (Goes off grumbling, Seven enters)

GIVER:

Roll up, roll up, this one has your name on it, sir…a gift for you, this way, this way…

SEVEN:

Ha!  Great timing, I can give this to my brother for his birthday, I bet it’s just what he needs…(Takes gift willingly)

GIVER:

Actually, it’s for you.

SEVEN:

But I’m OK, it’s my brother who needs it…

GIVER:

I’m afraid he won’t be able to do anything with it!  Anyway, he’s got his own.

SEVEN:

Oh well, if you insist.

TWO:

(Suddenly calls out) I’ve got it, I’ve got it! (Everyone is startled and looks at person two, who has picked up his gift and started an aerobic style workout holding it and working it into the        exercises)

FOUR:

What the heck is he doing?

FIVE:

Poor chap’s gone mad!

SIX:

(To the Giver)  What’s going on?

GIVER:

Looks like he’s exercising his gift.

ALL:

(Except One and Giver) What??

TWO:

Hey, guys, this is great, come and join me…and one, and two and three, and four…

SEVEN:

(To others) He’ll get tired, you wait. He’ll tire out quickly and have to stop.

ONE:

(Watching Two) Hmm, don’t know, he looks pretty happy with himself…

THREE:

Yes, I know what you mean. Maybe I can help. (Goes over to join him, followed by Two. Two indicates to One and Three to follow his lead and helps them out)

FOUR:

(Looking around) I think I’ve lost my gift, anyway. I forgot where I put it…

FIVE:

I don’t even know what’s in mine (Holding it up to ear and shaking it around, to Four) I say, why don’t we give it a try?

FOUR:

Looks like too much hard work to me. Anyway, it could be really embarrassing...(Digs gift out        of bag reluctantly)

FIVE:

Nonsense, let’s go. I just hope it doesn’t wreck the wrapping paper too much…(They go over and join in with the others)

GIVER:

(To Six and Seven) What about you two?

SIX:

No way, they’re all showing off with their fancy gifts. Mine is too insignificant, I’ll just watch them work out.

SEVEN:

Actually, I reckon yours looks interesting, even though it’s small. I’ll swap you with mine!

GIVER:

Sorry guys, no can do…

SIX:

So I’m stuck with this one, hey?

SEVEN:

Hey, maybe it will be easier to exercise, after all, it’s smaller.

GIVER:

Actually, that one is one of the heaviest of them all.

SIX:

Oh? Better go and build up some muscles, then...

SEVEN:

I’d better come too, even though my brother could really do with the exercise instead...

FOUR:

(Enthusiastically beckons them to join in) Come on guys, you can do it! (Six and Seven join others. Four encourages them. The Giver just watches them for a while. They are trying hard, but they are all doing something different and out of step with each other. He smiles and exits)

ONE:

(Stops working out and points to Five) Hey, I bet your gift is teaching!

FIVE:

Apparently…

ONE:

(To person Three) And you, yours is serving…(Three humbly acknowledges it, to Two) And you, your gift is leadership.

TWO:

Hmmm.

ONE:

(To person Six) Your gift is the gift of showing mercy.

SIX:

Thanks, I think...

ONE:

(To Four) And you, you have the gift for encouraging others. (Four acknowledges this shyly, to Seven) Now you, your gift is contributing to the needs of others, generosity…

SEVEN:

And I reckon you have the gift of prophesy!

TWO:

Well then, let’s keep it going. But this time, we’re going to work together, as a team.  We’re all different, but we all work with and for each other…kind of like a well- oiled machine...ready??

ALL:

Yes!

TWO:

One and two and three and four and five and six and seven and eight... (And so on. They all        exit in a line formation, one hand on the shoulder of the person in front, the other holding their gift, exercising it together in complete unison)