1:

(Reads) There was a shepherd . . .

2:

(Interrupting) A shepherd? What's a shepherd?

1:

(Patiently) Sheep herd. (2 looks at 1 blankly) He looks after sheep!

2:

Why do sheep need looking after?

1:

(Rolling eyes) 'Cos they're silly and they wander away.

2:

Oh!

1:

(Going back to script) Anyway, this shepherd . . .

2:

(Reading script) Was counting his sheep.

1:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . (Point to people in audience)

2:

And counting his sheep.

1:

17, 18, 19 . . .

2:

And counting his sheep. (Yawns)

1:

26, 27, 28, 29 . . .

2:

(Tiredly) And counting his sheep. (Bigger yawn)

1:

53, 54, 55, 56 . . .

2:

Until he got to . . . (Falls asleep)

1:

99, (Loudly and excitedly) 100! (2 wakes up suddenly)

1 & 2:

(Happily) HOORAY! They're all there!

1:

So he let them graze . . .

2:

On a northern slope . . .

1:

Near the river.

2:

(Peering about) He had to watch carefully.

1:

So none would fall in.

2:

(Horrified) FALL IN!

1:

(Also horrified) Oh dear!

2:

Oh my goodness!

1:

(Both calming down) So the shepherd watched his sheep . . .

2:

And watched his sheep . . .

1:

And watched his sheep.

2:

(Hand over heart) He loved his sheep!

1:

And cared for his sheep.

2:

He knew them by name.

1:

(Pointing to imaginary sheep) Billy, Freddy, Sammy, Jenny

2:

(Pointing to imaginary sheep) Suzie, Mary, Jilly . . .

1:

And they knew his voice.

2:

Night fell . . . (Loudly) Bang!

1:

(Rolling eyes at 2) The sheep were restless.

2:

Baa! Baa! . . .

1:

But finally . . .

2:

(Getting carried away) Baa! Baa! Baa! Baa! Baa! Baa! . . .

1:

(Interrupting and glaring at 2) But finally they settled and fell asleep.

2:

And some snored! (Snores)

1:

(Crossly) Sheep don't snore!

2:

Well, they . . .

1:

Never mind! (Back to script) Morning came.

2:

The sun was shining.

1:

Birds were singing.

2:

Crows were crowing. Ark! Ark! Ark!

1:

(Through gritted teeth) All right! All right! (Back to script) And the shepherd . . .

2:

Gathered his sheep . . .

1:

For the journey upstream.

2:

He began counting his sheep.

1:

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 . . . (Point to people in audience)

2:

Oh no, not again!

1:

17, 18, 19 . . .

2:

And counting his sheep. (Yawns)

1:

26, 27, 28, 29 . . .

2:

And counting his sheep. (Big yawn)

1:

56, 57, 58, 59 . . .

2:

Until he got to . . . (Falls alseep)

1:

99 . . . (Shouts) WHAT?

2:

(Wakes up suddenly) What? What's wrong?

1:

(Frantically shaking 2) Where is he?

2:

(Pointing) He was right there.

1:

Next to Fred.

2:

Baa!

1:

The shepherd was . . .

2:

WORRIED! (Adopts worried pose)

1:

The shepherd was . . .

1 & 2:

VERY UPSET! (Both adopt upset pose)

1:

So he began to look. (The next six lines are said very rapidly)

2:

Behind the logs.

1:

Down in the gullies.

2:

Under the rocks.

1:

In the saltbush.

2:

Down near the river

1:

Down near the sandbar!

1 & 2:

(Horrified) OH NO!

1:

So he left the other 99 sheep . . .

2:

And went right down . . .

1:

To the sandbar.

2:

It was cold.

1:

It was windy.

2:

(Dramatically) It was dangerous.

1:

(Gesturing wildly) Water was everywhere.

2:

(Pointing) And there . . .

1:

(Peering at where 2 is pointing) Huddled against a tree trunk . . .

2:

Was . . .

1:

(Excitedly pointing) The lost sheep!

2:

(Smugly) Number 100!

1:

The shepherd picked him up. (1 gives 2 his script and mimes picking up sheep)

2:

Put him on his shoulders. (Mimes putting sheep on shoulders)

1:

The sheep was cold and wet.

2

And incredibly heavy! (1 suddenly stoops down buckling under the weight)

1:

(Through gritted teeth) But the shepherd didn't mind.

2:

He carried him on his back.

1:

Home to the rest of the flock (Puts sheep down carefully)

2:

And the shepherd . . .

1:

(Interrupting) Was overjoyed (Dances 2 around)

2:

(While being danced around) So happy!

1:

EVER so happy! (Stop dancing)

2:

And our shepherd . . .

1:

(Interrupting) Who is Jesus . . .

2:

Cares just like that.

1:

For all of us.

2:

(Pointing to someone in audience) Yes, you.

1:

(Pointing to someone else in audience) And you.

2:

(Pointing to someone else in audience) And you!

1:

Jesus cares for all of us.

2:

And doesn't want any of us . . .

1 & 2:

To get lost! (Exit together)