Begging For Mercy
Drama
SUNDAY MORNING READERS' THEATER
Cast: NARRATOR, RICH MAN, 1ST BEGGAR (male), 2ND BEGGAR (female), 3RD BEGGAR (either, non-speaking part), VOICEOVER
Length:
10 minutes
The NARRATOR is seated on the middle stool of five. While he is speaking, the RICH MAN wanders on stage and takes the stool next to the NARRATOR.
NARRATOR: (To the audience) Once upon a time there was a rich man.
RICH MAN: (Interrupting) Not rich, really. Just comfortable.
NARRATOR: (To the RICH MAN) Would you say "well-off"?
RICH MAN: Well
NARRATOR: (To audience) Once upon a time there was a man, comfortably well-off, who had an office downtown. Every day beggars would come round his door, hoping for a hand-out.
The three BEGGARS enter, carrying packs and blankets, and walk toward the RICH MAN, hands held out.
NARRATOR: These people had no jobs, no place to live, and, apparently, no bathtubs, either.
The RICH MAN holds his nose as they walk by.
RICH MAN: (To BEGGARS) Why can't you just go away and leave me alone?
The BEGGARS shrug but instead of leaving they sit on the stools near him.
RICH MAN: Why don't you go out and get jobs like regular people?
1ST BEG: I can't find any work. You have no idea how many people are after the same few jobs.
2ND BEG: I have three small children. I don't want to leave them alone.
The 3RD BEGGAR, obviously brain-damaged, sits rocking back and forth.
RICH MAN: Why aren't the government social services doing anything for you? Don't you get food stamps, welfare, Medicare? Why are you bothering me?
1ST BEG: I used to get food stamps but they just stopped coming.
2ND BEG: The government won't pay because my husband has a good job. But he won't send me or his children any of his money.
RICH MAN: (Indicating 3RD BEGGAR) And what about him?
2ND BEG: His mind hasn't been working too well for the last few years. He can't even figure out where the welfare office is.
RICH MAN: Why isn't his family taking care of him?
1ST BEG: They don't want him. He burned out his mind on drugs and they say it's his own fault.
RICH MAN: And what about the rest of you? Where are your families?
1ST BEG: I used to have a big farm in Minnesota. We had a bad year and the banks foreclosed. Then my wife left me and took the kids.
2ND BEG: My parents kicked me out when I got pregnant with my first child. I got married then to his father and had two more. Now my husband's left me. I'm too ashamed to go home.
RICH MAN: But this is a disgrace! Somebody should do something about this!
1ST BEG: Why don't you give us something?
RICH MAN: I already have. Don't my taxes go to take care of this problem?
1ST BEG: Do they?
2ND BEG: I haven't seen much of that money.
RICH MAN: But I can't just give you money. You have to work for it.
1ST BEG: Who would want to hire a broken-down dirt farmer?
2ND BEG: Who would want to hire a tired mother? Besides, I don't want to leave my kids.
RICH MAN: There are day-care facilities provided by the government, aren't there?
2ND BEG: They've got waiting lists into next year.
RICH MAN: Would you work even if you could? Perhaps you like being out on the street.
2ND BEG: You wouldn't say that if you knew what it was like.
1ST BEG: Maybe some people do, but I don't.
2ND BEG: I would like to have nice things - a comfortable house, three meals a day.
RICH MAN: If you don't work, you don't deserve them.
2ND BEG: What do I deserve?
RICH MAN: Just what you've got.
1ST BEG: And you do deserve them?
RICH MAN: Yes! I work for them!
The RICH MANfolds his arms and glowers. The BEGGARS open their packs and take out some sandwiches. 2ND BEGGAR gives a sandwich to 3RD BEGGAR.
NARRATOR: The rich man was confused. He didn't know what to do. He tried pleading.
RICH MAN: (To BEGGARS) Why don't you go away and leave me alone? Please?
The BEGGARS begin eating their sandwiches.
NARRATOR: He tried threats.
RICH MAN: If you don't go away, I'll call the police and they'll take you off to jail.
2ND BEG: The jails are all full.
RICH MAN: (To the audience, desperately) But isn't that what I'm paying my taxes for?
NARRATOR: One day the rich man was praying and he decided to ask God what he thought about the situation.
As he prays, the BEGGARS begin to pick up their bundles and move off to make camp on the floor off to one side.
RICH MAN: (To heaven, with folded hands) Isn't the government supposed to be taking care of this?
VOICEOVER: You'd think the government was pretty wonderful if they did, wouldn't you?
RICH MAN: Yes. If the government would just solve the problem of these beggars and the homeless, well, no praise would be too great for it.
VOICEOVER: Really?
RICH MAN: Well, I mean, second only to the praise I give to you, of course.
VOICEOVER: What would I have to do to receive the praise you are willing to give to the government?
RICH MAN: What would you have to do? Well, nothing. I mean, I give you praise anyway, just for being who you are.
VOICEOVER: No, I mean it. Who gets the most praise?
RICH MAN: (Slowly) Well, whoever solves this problem gets the praise, I guess.
VOICEOVER: Well, I think I deserve the praise, so I guess I'll have to solve the problem.
RICH MAN: You? You're going to solve it? Well, that's great but ... (Suspiciously) Just how are you planning to do this?
VOICEOVER: You guessed it. I'm going to give you the privilege of being my representative in your community. Remember, I have no hands but yours.
RICH MAN: No, wait! That's not fair. I already pay my taxes.
VOICEOVER: I've already given you the gifts you'll need to carry this out. Administration, wisdom, discernment of spirits.
RICH MAN: Oh, great!
VOICEOVER: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
RICH MAN: This is going to cost a bundle. You'll give me all the money I'll need?
VOICEOVER: I already have.
RICH MAN: Oh, no! That's my money. I worked for it. I deserve it. I don't want to give it to those ... bums.
VOICEOVER: (Sternly) You deserve it? You? Don't you remember ...?
RICH MAN: (Remembering) Remember? Oh, um ... Oh, yes. It's all coming back to me. That time I And then the way I never forgave ... And all the times I ... And the way I treated you sometimes ... (Penitently) Oh, God forgive me! Have mercy on me, a sinner!
VOICEOVER: Of course, I'll forgive you, but not because you deserve it. I will show you mercy just as I want you to show mercy to the beggars. Remember, while you were still a sinner, I died for you.
RICH MAN: I don't have to do it all alone, do I?
VOICEOVER: Oh, no. That's what my body is for. Each member of the Body has been given the gifts needed for the common good. There are a variety of gifts, a variety of services, a variety of activities, but the same Lord.
RICH MAN: (Indicating the BEGGARS) What are their gifts?
VOICEOVER: That's for me to know and for you to find out.
RICH MAN: Are they going to appreciate what we're doing for them?
VOICEOVER: Some will, some won't. You're going to be running into some of the same problems I've experienced.
RICH MAN: (Sarcastically) Well, I guess I should thank you for giving me the gifts necessary to accomplish all this.
VOICEOVER: (Seriously) You're welcome.
RICH MAN: I'm sorry. That wasn't very nice of me. I do thank you. And I praise you for solving this problem. To you be the glory and praise for ever and ever.
ALL: Amen!
Length:
10 minutes
The NARRATOR is seated on the middle stool of five. While he is speaking, the RICH MAN wanders on stage and takes the stool next to the NARRATOR.
NARRATOR: (To the audience) Once upon a time there was a rich man.
RICH MAN: (Interrupting) Not rich, really. Just comfortable.
NARRATOR: (To the RICH MAN) Would you say "well-off"?
RICH MAN: Well
NARRATOR: (To audience) Once upon a time there was a man, comfortably well-off, who had an office downtown. Every day beggars would come round his door, hoping for a hand-out.
The three BEGGARS enter, carrying packs and blankets, and walk toward the RICH MAN, hands held out.
NARRATOR: These people had no jobs, no place to live, and, apparently, no bathtubs, either.
The RICH MAN holds his nose as they walk by.
RICH MAN: (To BEGGARS) Why can't you just go away and leave me alone?
The BEGGARS shrug but instead of leaving they sit on the stools near him.
RICH MAN: Why don't you go out and get jobs like regular people?
1ST BEG: I can't find any work. You have no idea how many people are after the same few jobs.
2ND BEG: I have three small children. I don't want to leave them alone.
The 3RD BEGGAR, obviously brain-damaged, sits rocking back and forth.
RICH MAN: Why aren't the government social services doing anything for you? Don't you get food stamps, welfare, Medicare? Why are you bothering me?
1ST BEG: I used to get food stamps but they just stopped coming.
2ND BEG: The government won't pay because my husband has a good job. But he won't send me or his children any of his money.
RICH MAN: (Indicating 3RD BEGGAR) And what about him?
2ND BEG: His mind hasn't been working too well for the last few years. He can't even figure out where the welfare office is.
RICH MAN: Why isn't his family taking care of him?
1ST BEG: They don't want him. He burned out his mind on drugs and they say it's his own fault.
RICH MAN: And what about the rest of you? Where are your families?
1ST BEG: I used to have a big farm in Minnesota. We had a bad year and the banks foreclosed. Then my wife left me and took the kids.
2ND BEG: My parents kicked me out when I got pregnant with my first child. I got married then to his father and had two more. Now my husband's left me. I'm too ashamed to go home.
RICH MAN: But this is a disgrace! Somebody should do something about this!
1ST BEG: Why don't you give us something?
RICH MAN: I already have. Don't my taxes go to take care of this problem?
1ST BEG: Do they?
2ND BEG: I haven't seen much of that money.
RICH MAN: But I can't just give you money. You have to work for it.
1ST BEG: Who would want to hire a broken-down dirt farmer?
2ND BEG: Who would want to hire a tired mother? Besides, I don't want to leave my kids.
RICH MAN: There are day-care facilities provided by the government, aren't there?
2ND BEG: They've got waiting lists into next year.
RICH MAN: Would you work even if you could? Perhaps you like being out on the street.
2ND BEG: You wouldn't say that if you knew what it was like.
1ST BEG: Maybe some people do, but I don't.
2ND BEG: I would like to have nice things - a comfortable house, three meals a day.
RICH MAN: If you don't work, you don't deserve them.
2ND BEG: What do I deserve?
RICH MAN: Just what you've got.
1ST BEG: And you do deserve them?
RICH MAN: Yes! I work for them!
The RICH MANfolds his arms and glowers. The BEGGARS open their packs and take out some sandwiches. 2ND BEGGAR gives a sandwich to 3RD BEGGAR.
NARRATOR: The rich man was confused. He didn't know what to do. He tried pleading.
RICH MAN: (To BEGGARS) Why don't you go away and leave me alone? Please?
The BEGGARS begin eating their sandwiches.
NARRATOR: He tried threats.
RICH MAN: If you don't go away, I'll call the police and they'll take you off to jail.
2ND BEG: The jails are all full.
RICH MAN: (To the audience, desperately) But isn't that what I'm paying my taxes for?
NARRATOR: One day the rich man was praying and he decided to ask God what he thought about the situation.
As he prays, the BEGGARS begin to pick up their bundles and move off to make camp on the floor off to one side.
RICH MAN: (To heaven, with folded hands) Isn't the government supposed to be taking care of this?
VOICEOVER: You'd think the government was pretty wonderful if they did, wouldn't you?
RICH MAN: Yes. If the government would just solve the problem of these beggars and the homeless, well, no praise would be too great for it.
VOICEOVER: Really?
RICH MAN: Well, I mean, second only to the praise I give to you, of course.
VOICEOVER: What would I have to do to receive the praise you are willing to give to the government?
RICH MAN: What would you have to do? Well, nothing. I mean, I give you praise anyway, just for being who you are.
VOICEOVER: No, I mean it. Who gets the most praise?
RICH MAN: (Slowly) Well, whoever solves this problem gets the praise, I guess.
VOICEOVER: Well, I think I deserve the praise, so I guess I'll have to solve the problem.
RICH MAN: You? You're going to solve it? Well, that's great but ... (Suspiciously) Just how are you planning to do this?
VOICEOVER: You guessed it. I'm going to give you the privilege of being my representative in your community. Remember, I have no hands but yours.
RICH MAN: No, wait! That's not fair. I already pay my taxes.
VOICEOVER: I've already given you the gifts you'll need to carry this out. Administration, wisdom, discernment of spirits.
RICH MAN: Oh, great!
VOICEOVER: To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
RICH MAN: This is going to cost a bundle. You'll give me all the money I'll need?
VOICEOVER: I already have.
RICH MAN: Oh, no! That's my money. I worked for it. I deserve it. I don't want to give it to those ... bums.
VOICEOVER: (Sternly) You deserve it? You? Don't you remember ...?
RICH MAN: (Remembering) Remember? Oh, um ... Oh, yes. It's all coming back to me. That time I And then the way I never forgave ... And all the times I ... And the way I treated you sometimes ... (Penitently) Oh, God forgive me! Have mercy on me, a sinner!
VOICEOVER: Of course, I'll forgive you, but not because you deserve it. I will show you mercy just as I want you to show mercy to the beggars. Remember, while you were still a sinner, I died for you.
RICH MAN: I don't have to do it all alone, do I?
VOICEOVER: Oh, no. That's what my body is for. Each member of the Body has been given the gifts needed for the common good. There are a variety of gifts, a variety of services, a variety of activities, but the same Lord.
RICH MAN: (Indicating the BEGGARS) What are their gifts?
VOICEOVER: That's for me to know and for you to find out.
RICH MAN: Are they going to appreciate what we're doing for them?
VOICEOVER: Some will, some won't. You're going to be running into some of the same problems I've experienced.
RICH MAN: (Sarcastically) Well, I guess I should thank you for giving me the gifts necessary to accomplish all this.
VOICEOVER: (Seriously) You're welcome.
RICH MAN: I'm sorry. That wasn't very nice of me. I do thank you. And I praise you for solving this problem. To you be the glory and praise for ever and ever.
ALL: Amen!
