© 2000 Kimberly Cole
The Christmas Play
(Opening Scene)
{Mother sitting at table sewing.}
{Two Children enter, fussing}

Katie: I just don’t believe that!

Jimmy: I know. I don’t believe it either!

Mother: What is going on children?

Katie: Haven’t you heard?

Mother: Heard what, dear?

Jimmy: The most infuriating thing in the world, that’s all!

Mother: Now, now, Jimmy calm down. Katie, tell me what is going on.

Katie: The most vile thing has happened to our town and to us too!

Jimmy: Yeah, just wait until you hear this.

Katie: Well, let me tell her.

Mother: Yes please, do!

Katie: We were down at the church practicing our parts in the play when it all started.

Jimmy: Yeah, those awful people came in! They don’t even have a job.

Mother: What people darling?

Katie: These bums. They were dirty and looked awful. And they wanted a room to stay in for awhile.

Jimmy: What bums! They don’t even have any money or nothing.

Mother: It is not nice to call people bums. Don’t these people have a name?

Katie: Who cares they are going to ruin everything!

Jimmy: Yeah, I don’t want them to ruin everything. I was just getting use to the idea that Katie was going to be Jesus mom and everything.

Mother: What has all this got to do with Katie being Jesus mom in the play?

Katie: Don’t you understand that with those bums…

Mother: Now Katie.

Katie: With those people staying in the church we won’t be able to have the big play, like we were going to have before they came.

Jimmy: Cause we won’t have room for the sets.

{Telephone rings off set}

Mother: Children let me get the phone and we’ll talk some more, ok?

Katie: OK

Jimmy: OK

Mother: All right then I’ll be right back. {Mother exits the set}

Katie: I’m just so mad!

Jimmy: Ah, Mom will take care of it.

Katie: I hope so this is the most important thing in the world to me. And those no good people are about ready to ruin everything!

Jimmy: Awe, come on it not that important. Nothing can be more important than presents!

Katie: Well maybe. But its’ close. {Light fades to dark}

Act Two
{Three people in shabby clothes in room talking}

Joe: Mary I don’t know about this.

Mary: I know what you mean Joe. But we had to find some place to stay right now and this is where the good Lord lead us.

Joe: I understand that, Mary. And I also understand that we always don’t see the purpose until later, and that we must walk in faith. But I want to make sure that we are in Gods’ will.

Mary: Then let us pray together and seek guidance.

Joe: You all ways have a good answer. Then lets pray. {Light fades to dark}

{Light comes back up on Katie and Jimmy. Mom comes in.}

Mother: Alright children, that was the pastor.

Jimmy: See, I told ya.

Katie: (smiling) Yes, Mother and I guess you told him a thing or two.

Mother: The people are staying Katie.

Katie: What! You said you would take care of things!

Jimmy: Yeah, you said you where going to get us the play back.

Mother: I did.

Katie: But how?

Jimmy: See, I told you Mom was the greatest.

Mother: Why, there was no problem at all. I Just told the Pastor that those people could stay here, that’s all.

Katie: Mother are you out of your mind?

Jimmy: Oh no, whose room are they going to stay in? I gave up my room last time so Grandma could stay. So I say its Katie’s turn.

Katie: I will not give up my room to those dirty bums!

Mother: Children I am a shamed of you. And Katie those people have names. They are Joe, Mary, and John. And you are giving them your room Katie. And Jimmy I think you have some clothes that Jesse could wear. This will be a wonderful Christmas after all.

Jimmy: How can you say that? Well, I guess it’s on account of you don’t have to give up your clothes. What’s next toys?

Katie: Or maybe even presents!

Mother: Why children I’m so glad you thought of it. We can all give one of our presents to the family that is coming to make their Christmas better.

Katie: I know what this, it’s a really bad dream and all I have to do is wake up. WAKE UP WAKE UP. Oh please let this be a dream!

Jimmy: Your not dreaming and we had better get ready for those bu…(looks at Mother) people.

Mother: That’s right I’m sure they will be here any minute. (Light fades to dark)
{Bring light back up on Joe, Mary, and Jesse)

Joe: I feel much better now.

Mary: I know we are in the right town.

{Knock at the door}

Joe: Come in.

Pastor: Hello we have found a place for your family to stay through the holiday. A lady who attends our church has gladly offered your family a room in her home. She has two children of her own and the boy I believe is about the same age as your son.

Mary: Thank you so very much for all your kindness.

Joe: Yes, thank you very much.

Pastor: Please don’t thank me it is the least we could do, and especially at this time of the year. Here are the directions, and I hope to see you in church this Sunday.

Joe: You can count on us. Well be better be going.

Mary: Come on John lets get started. {Lights fade to darkness} {Lights return to Mother}

Mother: Hurry up kids. I think I see them coming up the driveway.

Jimmy: All done Mom.

Katie: I removed all my clothes and personal things from my room.

Mother: Katie please, try to be nice. I never thought I would see you act like this. Every body smile. {Knock at door} Yes, come in. {Opens door}

{Joe, Mary, and Jesse walk into the Living room}

Mother: Please come in. I would like to welcome you to our home. I have taken the liberty to get a room ready for the three of you.

Joe: Thank you Ma’am. We sure do appreciate this.

Mary: Yes, we do. You have a beautiful home.

Mother: Thank you. Let me introduce you to my family. This is my daughter Katie, and this is my son Jimmy.

Joe: It is nice to meet you. This is my wife Mary and our son Jesse.

Jimmy: How old are you Jesse?

Mary: Jesse doesn’t talk. But I will tell you; he is six years old.

Katie: I didn’t know that he couldn’t talk.

Mary: That is what I was trying to tell you today at the church.

Mother: Oh, you have all ready meet?

Katie: Well kind of.

Joe: It was no big deal your daughter didn’t know that Jesse couldn’t talk.

Mother: What did happen Katie?

Katie: Like he said I didn’t know he couldn’t talk.

Jimmy: Your gonna get in trouble now.

Mother: Please someone tell me what is going on?

Mary: Please, Mrs…..I’m sorry I don’t know your name.

Mother: I am sorry. My name is Pam.

Mary: Please don’t be angry with your daughter. Children make mistakes and even adults are prone to make a few.

Mother: I apologize for my daughter and I suppose you are right we need to start out on a good foot. Katie please take Mary and show her the room.

Joe: Could I have a word with you Pam?

Mother: Of course. What can I do for you?

Joe: Well, your Pastor said you are having a play and I just thought maybe I could help with the sets. You see I am a carpenter by trade and want to do some thing in return for staying here.

Mother: Why you don’t have to worry about repaying us. But I am sure the Pastor could use the help.

Mary: I am willing to help also. I do sewing when I can.

Mother: Oh, thank the good Lord, I was just praying for someone to help me get all this sewing done.

Mary: Well I have two willing hands, just show me the way.

Mother: You go freshen up and we’ll get started.{Light fades to darkness}

Act Three
Joe: Mary, I know that we are in the right place.

Mary: (Smiling) I know too. I like Pam, I think she’s really a Godly woman.

Joe: I just hope Jesse will fit in.

Mary: He will.{Mary and Joe turn to Jesse} We love you so much.

Joe: Yes, we do son. Want to come down to the church and help me?{Jesse nods}

Mary: Let me wash your face and hands before you go.{Knock at the door}

Joe: Just a minute, Oh hello Jimmy, what can I do for you?

Jimmy: My Mom said to ask you if he could wear these?

Joe: His name is Jesse. And I do believe he can. Thank you Jimmy.

Jimmy: Does he play and stuff?

Mary: Yes, Jimmy he plays and stuff. Right now he is going with his daddy down to the church to see if he can help with your play.

Jimmy: Cool, I am going down there to maybe we could walk together.

Joe: That is a good idea we will be down in a minute.

Jimmy: OK, I’ll tell my Mom.{Lights fade to darkness}

{Lights come up in the Living room} Mother: Katie, I don’t know what you did to that little boy but I am sure it wasn’t very nice.

Katie: Well how was I to know that you would invite those dirty people into our own home.

Mother: Katie I am surprised at you. I thought I had raised you better than that. You should treat every one as if they, were Jesus, himself. After all that is what the Bible says we or to do.

Katie: I know, I know. Why do they have to stay here anyway?

Mother: Because I ask them to. Here comes Jimmy.

Jimmy: Mom I am going down to the church with Joe and Jesse.

Katie: Have you become a trader?

Jimmy: No, I just want to see what they are going to do about the play.

Mother: I think that is a wonderful idea. {Enters Joe, Mary, and Jesse}

Joe: Are you ready Jimmy? Lets go.{Jimmy, Joe, and Jesse exits}

Act Four
Mary: Where is all that sewing we have to do. And thank you for the clothes for Jesse. They fit him perfect.

Mother: You are quite welcome. And we can start with this dress for Katie to wear. She is going to play Mary the Mother of Jesus.{Mother gets the material and pins}

Mary: Oh, how nice. So many people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas.

Katie: What would you know about Christmas?

Mother: Katie! How could you?

Katie: Well they don’t have any money to buy presents or any thing.

Mother: Katie is that what you think Christmas is? I am so sorry Mary I would not have believed her possible of being so rude.

Mary: Katie, can I ask you a question?

Katie: I guess so.

Mary: What would you do if you had no money and Christmas came?

Katie: Well that’s easy. Mom always gives us money to spend.

Mother: What if I weren’t here?

Katie: But your always here.

Mary: What if there were no presents on Christmas morning?

Katie: There has to be presents! It wouldn’t be Christmas.

Mother: When did Christmas become presents?

Mary: Katie, you think that we are bad people don’t you. Because we don’t have a lot of money, and we don’t have nice clothes, and we don’t have a big nice house right?

Katie: Yes, I do.

Mary: Looks can be deceiving, Katie.

Mother: Mary has offered to help make your dress and you think badly of her. If she were a bad person do you think for one minute I would have ask them into our home?

Katie: No, I guess not. But why don’t you have good clothes and money?

Mother: Katie, I do believe that you have lost your mind.

Mary: No, that’s ok Pam. Let me tell you a little about us and then you judge us again. OK?

Katie: Ok.

Mary: You see when I met Joe he was traveling around the country preaching and giving out Bibles. He came to our town and started working for my Dad, to make money to buy more Bible to give to the lost.

Mother: Really that sounds so romantic.

Mary: Well, I feel in love with him. And I wanted to do some thing for God, so when I married Joe I got both. And my Daddy was so proud of us working together for the Lord. We would both get a job and work long enough to buy up as many Bibles as we could and then off we would go to preach the gospel and hand out the word of God. We have tried to reach as many lost souls as we can. I know our clothes may not be the best but we feel that Gods work comes first. And we do have a car it broke down and had to be fixed that’s why we needed a place to stay until it was done. The man at the shop said he would have to order the parts and with the holidays and all it would take awhile.

Mother: Now Katie what do you have to say for yourself?

Katie: I don’t know. I just thought you where freeloaders.

Mother: KATIE!

Mary: That’s all right a lot of people think that until they meet us.

Katie: I have to go meet Billy to practice for the play can I go now?

Mother: I suppose you have to we can work on this later. Come on Mary we can start on these Costumes for the kings. {Light fades to darkness} {Light comes up on Katie, Billy, and David}

Katie: I guess you heard about us having them stay with us?

David: I sure did. I was wondering what they are like.

Katie: Why? I think the whole thing is ridiculous.

David: I guess it is tough having to give up your room.

Billy: Excuse me. What is wrong with this picture?

Katie: What do you mean?

Billy: Think about it. What play are we putting on?

David: The Nativity.

Billy: that’s right and what if these people where the really Mary and Joseph. They came looking for a place to stay at Christmas.

Katie: Don’t be silly. Jesus could speak and he wasn’t a bum.

Billy: These people aren’t bums either. The are people who carry the word of God to the lost.

David: Yeah, my Dad said that their wasn’t many people who would give up having a lot of material things just so they could do what God wanted them to do.

Katie: Do you really think that they could be like the real Mary and Joseph?

Billy: Well, I know that Joe sure has been a blessing to the Pastor. Helping with the sets and all.

David: Yeah, they sure are great. You know it is kind of strange that the Pastor needed help with the sets and your Mom needed help with the sewing and here came a man to help with the sets and his wife to help with the sewing.

Katie: But what about the money?

Billy: What money?

Katie: That’s just it they don’t have any.

David: I heard Joe tell my Dad that God always provides a way.

Billy: He does when you put him first.

Katie: What about presents?

Billy: What about them?

Katie: I want lots of them and my Mom says we have to give one to those people.

David: Hey, I wonder if my Mom would let me give one of mine to Jesse.

Katie: You want to give up one of your presents?

Billy: Sure we could each give one like they did to baby Jesus. You know the kings.

Katie: That’s what my Mom and Mary was working on when I left was the costumes for the kings. You know my Mom said she was praying for help just before they came to town,

Billy: See I told you that it was like the story in the Bible.

David: My Dad says you never know when it could be Jesus come to see what is really in our heart.

Katie: {Looking a little distracted} I gotta go. I’ll see you both later.

Billy: OK. See you later.

David: Bye Katie. Come on Billy lets go back down to the church and see the sets.{Lights fade to darkness}

Act Five
{Light comes up on Living room} Joe: That was a fine meal. I really appreciate all you have done for us.

Mother: You are quite welcome.

Jimmy: Did Joe tell you that the Pastor got him a job?

Katie: It’s about time.

Mother: Katie, how could you.

Mary: That’s fine. Let her say her peace. Joe will you tell a story. I think it is time we had one don’t you.

Joe: Only if you will help.

Mary: All right.

Joe: The Bible is my favorite subject so I’ll borrow one from there.

Jimmy: Cool I can’t wait.

Joe: One dark and star lit night there were two travelers on the road to Bethlehem.

Katie: Yeah, yeah we all know that story. We are doing the play remember.

Mother: Maybe we should talk about the true meaning of Christmas.

Mary: I think that would be a good idea.

Mother: Jimmy you go first, tell us what you think the true meaning of Christmas is?

Jimmy: Well, it is Jesus birthday. And we get lots and lots of presents.

Joe: Now it is your turn Katie.

Katie: Christmas is when you get presents and money then tell all your friend about them and how much money you got.

Mary: What about Jesus? Where does he fit in?

Katie: Oh yeah it is his birthday.

Joe: You know that is what a lot of people do.

Mother: I am so ashamed of my children and of my self. Because I let this happen. I have wanted to make their lives so perfect and give them all the things that I didn’t have growing up that I to for got what Christmas was all about.

Jimmy: You are a good Mom. I love you.

Katie: What do you mean that it is, all your fault. What did you do wrong?

Mary: You see Katie, sometimes a Mom wants so much for her children that she forgets the training that they need to grow properly. The Bible says we are to train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Katie: So you’re saying that presents are bad?

Mary: No, Katie. What I am saying is that we shouldn’t make them the most important things in our lives. In fact we should think of others first. Jesus came into this world to take our sins upon his self so that we could some day go to heaven. He did not care how many presents that they brought to him.

Joe: And he didn’t want money for things either. He told the disciples if people offer them money to wipe the sand from their shoes. We aren’t trying to say Christmas presents are wrong we are saying that the most important part of Christmas should be Christ.

Mary: Yes, you have heard the slogan; Jesus is the reason for the season. Most people have forgotten that there, was really a man called Jesus born in the city of Bethlehem.

Katie: I know all that. But that was then.

Mother: And you think that doesn’t apply for today?

Katie: I don’t know.

Joe: Think about this. Your Mother loves you dearly. Doesn’t she?

Katie: Yes

Mary: How much did God love his son?

Jimmy: I know John 3:16

Joe: That’s right. And Jesus himself said what so ever you do unto the least of these to do unto me also.

Mary: It is not what we receive it is what we give.

Katie: I am so confused. {Crying}

Joe: Why don’t you pray about it?

Mother: That is a good idea.

Katie: I am going to my room. {Exits}

Mother: Thank you for all your kindness. I truly am glad you came. I needed to hear that as well.

Mary: That’s all right I think we all do from time to time. {Light fades to darkness}

Act Six
{Light comes up on Katie kneeling down to pray} Katie: Dear God I thought I only had to pray on Wednesday and Sunday but I guess I was wrong about that too. I can’t help feeling that maybe everybody is right and maybe they could be special people. Mom says not to call them bums and the Pastor said we must think as Jesus would. I just don’t understand. I have been in church all my life but I just don’t know. I have heard all the stories and my Mom has read out of the Bible to us. But I always thought they were stories about back then not now. I don’t know what to do I’m all mixed up and I just want to know the truth.{Crying falls to sleep} {Lights dim but you can still see Katie.} {Voices start}

Pastor: They are godly people.

Mother: God knows what is in our heart.

Jimmy: They are like missionaries. They carry the word of God to the lost.

Billy: The Pastor prayed for help and your Mom prayed for help and they came.

David: God sure does work in mysterious ways.

Joe: God always provides away when we put him first.

Mary: God is so good to us he sent his only begotten Son to shed his blood for us.

Mother: What if I weren’t here, Katie.

Jimmy: You know presents come in all sizes. I sure am glad God sent Jesse to be my friend that was a good present.

Billy: The Pastor couldn’t afford to pay someone to fix the sets. I sure am glad Joe came. It was like a gift from God.

David: So many costumes and so little time I sure am glad God sent someone to help your Mom.

Mary: Jesus didn’t have a lot of money and get a lot of presents. Instead he got run out of town and they tried to kill him.

Mother: God is so full of mercy and goodness. He will forgive every sin if we just ask.

Joe: God is big enough to handle all our problems.

{Starting to stir, sleepily says} Even when we have judged wrongly?

Mary: Ask God To forgive and guide you. {Voice as if faded}

Katie: Will God forgive me for being greedy?

Billy: God is love remember. {Voice as if faded}

Mother: {Voice sounds from afar of then Mother enters and calls again} Katie, are you alright?

Katie: OH, Mom I just had the strangest dream and all of you were in it.

Mother: That sounds good.

Katie: I am so sorry. I know now that I have been acting foolishly. Please forgive me.

Mother Of course I will. Now up you go it is Christmas morning.

Katie: It is!

Jimmy: Come on down Katie. Get a move on.

Mother: {Laughing} Come on Katie. {Light fades} {Light comes up on everybody in the living room.}

Katie: {Enters} Merry Christmas everyone.

{Everybody but Jesse chimes in Merry Christmas Katie.}

Mary: Katie I have a gift for you.

Katie: {shocked} For me?

Mary: I hope you like it. Here.

Katie: {Opens the gift} It the dress I need to wear in the play tonight. Its beautiful. Thank you so much. {Starts to cry. Goes and hugs Mary.}

Mary: Yes, Katie. You did give me the best present of all. Some presents can’t be put in a box. Thank you.

Joe: Here’s a gift from me and Jesse.

Katie: I don’t know what to say.

Jimmy: Open it, already.

Mother: What is it?

Katie: {Opens the gift} Oh my, it is so beautiful. Thank you so much.

Joe: That is so you will always remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Katie: I don’t know what to say. I feel so much love inside me, and it feels like its gonna pour right out. {Jesse comes over to Katie and faces the audience}

Jesse: God loves us every one! {All cast gasps and then laughs} {Lights go out}