DRAMA — 3RD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, YEAR A
Proper 6, 1999 Bible reference: Romans 5:1–8,9 (esp. verse 8)
CONDEMNED
CHARACTERS: Sinner, sinner’s peer (1), parent (2), teacher (3), person 4
Characters 1,2 and 3 stand looking at and directing their statements to Sinner, who remains in centre, facing front. All dialogue should be sharp and accusing and very loud. Each speaks directly after the other (overlapping slightly), so that there is a constant barrage of abuse at Sinner. When 1, 2 and 3 have finished speaking, they turn their backs on Sinner.
PEER (1)
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PARENT (2)
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TEACHER (3)
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SINNER
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You’re stupid!
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Don’t touch!
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Concentrate!
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Start off in foetal position.
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You’re ugly!
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Don’t do that!
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Listen!
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Sit, hunched over, sucking thumb.
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You’re fat!
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Bad boy/girl!
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Obey!
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You’ve got funny hair!
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Why can’t you do the right thing?
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Needs to apply him/herself more.
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Stand with shoulders hunched, looking down, sucking thumb.
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We don’t want to play with you!
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You little brat!
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Is disruptive.
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You’re not good at anything!
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Oh, go away!
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Day-dreamer.
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You can’t come to my party.
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You never listen!
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Distracted easily.
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Do we have to have him/her on our team?
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Why can’t you be more like your sister?
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Slow.
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Why are you so different?
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You’re no good for anything!
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Doesn’t mix well with others.
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Hands in pocket, angry/ sad, looking around, ignoring all comments.
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Your clothes suck!
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What I say goes!
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Trouble-maker!
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You’re so uncool!
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You’re more trouble than you’re worth!
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On detention again.
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Your friends are weird!
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That’s just not good enough!
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No-hoper!
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What a dork!
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It’s easier to do it all myself!
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Waste of my time.
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Get with it!
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You’re nothing but trouble!
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Just another delinquent!
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You’re really strange!
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Oh, grow up!
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Unproductive.
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Become agitated.
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You don’t fit in with our group.
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Take my advice.
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Slack.
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Now frantic/desperate/ pleading, looking from one to the other.
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Don’t be so boring!
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Why do you do this to me?
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No people skills.
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You’re so withdrawn!
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You never get anything right!
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Not competent at all.
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What a drag!
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I’ve spent all my life working for you, and this is the thanks I get?
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Never be promotion material.
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Cover face in anguish and slowly curl back into foetal position.
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Get a life!
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What did I ever do to deserve you?
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Will never succeed.
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(Characters 1, 2 and 3 freeze with their backs to Sinner. Character 4 enters. Walks over to Sinner and places hand on Sinner’s shoulder)
4:
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They are wrong. (Takes Sinner’s hand and helps Sinner to his/her feet) You need to hear from someone who knows what you’re really like. Someone who loves you no matter what. Someone who died for you. (Gives Bible to sinner. All exit)
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© Deb Sorensen 1997
Permission is given for the owner of this disk to make sufficient copies of this script for their group or congregation, for rehearsal and performance purposes only.
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