All Choices Have Consequences
Drama
Graduation Is Not For Angels
Contemporary Christian Dramas
Object:
Teenage drinking often brings with it painful, irreversible consequences. This particular drama not only shows the price of uncontrolled actions, but also incorporates the role every responsible Christian has in the problem.
* * *
Scene: Living room of a house several days after a fatal car accident
Characters:
ROB: Nice-looking Christian young man, clean cut, has just killed his mother while driving drunk
MARY: Christian young woman, Rob's classmate, sensitive, caring
JIM: Christian young man, serious yet fun loving
Props: Three chairs or boxes for characters to sit on, stool
Setting: Three chairs in a conversation pattern center stage, stool front and left of left chair
* * *
(ROB is sitting on chair to left, head in hands, he is obviously stricken with grief)
(MARY and JIM enter from right and stand quietly, not knowing what to do. They look at each other and finally move to the two empty chairs and sit down. For a long time they do not speak. Both look at the floor uneasily, at each other, stare into space)
JIM: (Quietly) Rob, is there anything we can do?
(ROB does not respond for a long time, then shakes his head)
JIM: Mary and I just want you to know we're really sorry.
ROB: (Sits back in his chair, bites lip, then looks at ceiling as though trying to compose himself, sighs) Thanks.
MARY: We've been praying for you.
ROB: (Resignedly, softly) Doesn't do a whole lot of good now, does it? (Pauses) Mom's gone. There's nothing anyone can do. (Long silence, then talks almost to himself) You know, I never knew, until now, how final death can be. In the movies people just get up and walk off the screen. And next week we see them in another episode. But Mom's not going to do that. (As if in a daze) She's gone ... and I killed her.
JIM: Hey, Rob, it was an accident.
ROB: No, Jim, it wasn't an accident. I killed her just as intentionally as if I had put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger. Ask the cops. They've already told me they're going to try me for manslaughter.
The hurt in Dad's eyes ... in my sister's eyes when I see them. (Breaks down) Man, I don't know if I can take the pain! I've hurt the people I love best in the worst possible way. I couldn't have done anything worse to them. I've literally destroyed their lives.
(Long pause as he regains his composure. Moves in a daze to the stool, faces audience) Who would have thought that an occasional Saturday night innocent beer bash at Farmer's Valley would end like this? I lost track of time ... I thought I had only had two beers when I left for home. Amazing how you can lose track of how many beers you drink. I didn't think I was drunk. In fact, I was feeling mighty good. And Mom came looking for me. Met her at the crest of the hill (Quietly) head on. She died right there, and they tell me I was so looped I kept singing "Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall," and inviting everyone to join me. I was too drunk even to realize my mother was dying! (Breaks down again)
You know, I'm going to miss her, more than you will ever know. Her chocolate chip cookies ... my clean football uniform -- she always was concerned about my getting hurt and having enough to eat before a game. (Softly) She loved me; she really did. And I killed her! (Puts head in hands and shakes with grief)
MARY: (Walks over and places hand on Rob's shoulder) We'll get through this together, Rob. We'll stand by you.
ROB: (Shakes off her hand almost angrily) And where were you guys when I really needed you. Two weeks ago! Two months ago! When I started drinking on weekends, now and then. Why didn't you stop me?
JIM: (Puzzled) What do you mean?
ROB: Did any of you ever come up to me and say, "Rob, are you sure you want to do this?" Did you ever say, "Rob, drinking isn't cool. Some day you're going to drink and drive and kill someone"? NO! No one said anything!
JIM: (Confused and surprised) Rob, would you have listened?
ROB: (Does not answer right away) I don't know ... maybe. (Determinedly) But you shouldn't have given up! You should have kept at me! Even though I would have thought you were self-righteous prudes, you should not have given up! You should have hounded me. Told me God had something better for my life. Telling my folks and having me absolutely hate your guts would be better than what I'm facing now.
How can I live? Tell me, how can I live knowing I selfishly destroyed my family, the only things that really matter to me for a few lousy beers! I almost hate you for that!
(Defeatedly) I hope the two of you never walk in my shoes. Hell would be a relief. Every night I go to bed wishing I could die.
MARY: Rob, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I figured you wouldn't listen. I figured it was none of my business. But I realize now, as your friend, it was my business. I guess I was selfish, too. I didn't want to look like a goodie two-shoes. I thought praying would be enough.
JIM: (Rises and puts a hand on Rob's shoulder) Forgive me, buddy. I figured it was your choice to make. I never realized you would hit someone else. (Emotion overcomes him) Sorry, buddy, I'm really sorry.
(ROB remains with head in hands, motionless)
(MARY and JIM look at each other)
JIM: (Weakly) We'll stop by tomorrow, Rob.
(ROB does not respond)
(MARY and JIM walk sadly off stage)
* * *
Scene: Living room of a house several days after a fatal car accident
Characters:
ROB: Nice-looking Christian young man, clean cut, has just killed his mother while driving drunk
MARY: Christian young woman, Rob's classmate, sensitive, caring
JIM: Christian young man, serious yet fun loving
Props: Three chairs or boxes for characters to sit on, stool
Setting: Three chairs in a conversation pattern center stage, stool front and left of left chair
* * *
(ROB is sitting on chair to left, head in hands, he is obviously stricken with grief)
(MARY and JIM enter from right and stand quietly, not knowing what to do. They look at each other and finally move to the two empty chairs and sit down. For a long time they do not speak. Both look at the floor uneasily, at each other, stare into space)
JIM: (Quietly) Rob, is there anything we can do?
(ROB does not respond for a long time, then shakes his head)
JIM: Mary and I just want you to know we're really sorry.
ROB: (Sits back in his chair, bites lip, then looks at ceiling as though trying to compose himself, sighs) Thanks.
MARY: We've been praying for you.
ROB: (Resignedly, softly) Doesn't do a whole lot of good now, does it? (Pauses) Mom's gone. There's nothing anyone can do. (Long silence, then talks almost to himself) You know, I never knew, until now, how final death can be. In the movies people just get up and walk off the screen. And next week we see them in another episode. But Mom's not going to do that. (As if in a daze) She's gone ... and I killed her.
JIM: Hey, Rob, it was an accident.
ROB: No, Jim, it wasn't an accident. I killed her just as intentionally as if I had put a gun to her head and pulled the trigger. Ask the cops. They've already told me they're going to try me for manslaughter.
The hurt in Dad's eyes ... in my sister's eyes when I see them. (Breaks down) Man, I don't know if I can take the pain! I've hurt the people I love best in the worst possible way. I couldn't have done anything worse to them. I've literally destroyed their lives.
(Long pause as he regains his composure. Moves in a daze to the stool, faces audience) Who would have thought that an occasional Saturday night innocent beer bash at Farmer's Valley would end like this? I lost track of time ... I thought I had only had two beers when I left for home. Amazing how you can lose track of how many beers you drink. I didn't think I was drunk. In fact, I was feeling mighty good. And Mom came looking for me. Met her at the crest of the hill (Quietly) head on. She died right there, and they tell me I was so looped I kept singing "Ninety-nine bottles of beer on the wall," and inviting everyone to join me. I was too drunk even to realize my mother was dying! (Breaks down again)
You know, I'm going to miss her, more than you will ever know. Her chocolate chip cookies ... my clean football uniform -- she always was concerned about my getting hurt and having enough to eat before a game. (Softly) She loved me; she really did. And I killed her! (Puts head in hands and shakes with grief)
MARY: (Walks over and places hand on Rob's shoulder) We'll get through this together, Rob. We'll stand by you.
ROB: (Shakes off her hand almost angrily) And where were you guys when I really needed you. Two weeks ago! Two months ago! When I started drinking on weekends, now and then. Why didn't you stop me?
JIM: (Puzzled) What do you mean?
ROB: Did any of you ever come up to me and say, "Rob, are you sure you want to do this?" Did you ever say, "Rob, drinking isn't cool. Some day you're going to drink and drive and kill someone"? NO! No one said anything!
JIM: (Confused and surprised) Rob, would you have listened?
ROB: (Does not answer right away) I don't know ... maybe. (Determinedly) But you shouldn't have given up! You should have kept at me! Even though I would have thought you were self-righteous prudes, you should not have given up! You should have hounded me. Told me God had something better for my life. Telling my folks and having me absolutely hate your guts would be better than what I'm facing now.
How can I live? Tell me, how can I live knowing I selfishly destroyed my family, the only things that really matter to me for a few lousy beers! I almost hate you for that!
(Defeatedly) I hope the two of you never walk in my shoes. Hell would be a relief. Every night I go to bed wishing I could die.
MARY: Rob, I'm sorry. I'm sorry I didn't say anything. I figured you wouldn't listen. I figured it was none of my business. But I realize now, as your friend, it was my business. I guess I was selfish, too. I didn't want to look like a goodie two-shoes. I thought praying would be enough.
JIM: (Rises and puts a hand on Rob's shoulder) Forgive me, buddy. I figured it was your choice to make. I never realized you would hit someone else. (Emotion overcomes him) Sorry, buddy, I'm really sorry.
(ROB remains with head in hands, motionless)
(MARY and JIM look at each other)
JIM: (Weakly) We'll stop by tomorrow, Rob.
(ROB does not respond)
(MARY and JIM walk sadly off stage)
