Demon Drop
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
58 Vignettes For Cycle B
Theme
There are evil forces at work trying to destroy all that is good and trying to destroy God's people as well.
Summary
The Dark Lord is angry because a religious demon has failed, but the demon has a plan to trap the Holy One of Israel -- Jesus.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
The throne room of the Dark Lord
Props
Throne
Costumes
Black hooded robes
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
DARK LORD
NIGITH -- his underling
GUARDS
DARK LORD: Bring in the accused. (TWO GUARDS FORCEFULLY DRAG IN A PITIFUL FORM. IT COWERS IN FRONT OF THE DARK LORD'S THRONE) What are you doing back here?
NIGITH: It's not my fault, my prince.
DARK LORD: When you fail it is always your fault. And you failed, you whimpering, thoughtless sloth.
NIGITH: He sent me back here. I couldn't help it.
DARK LORD: Silence! Your screeching, rasping voice violates my ears. When you fail your fate is sealed. Guards, take this thing out of my sight. Out of my sight! Dispose of it. I can't stand to look at it any longer. (GUARDS START TO LEAD NIGITH OUT)
NIGITH: No-o-o. Listen to me. I still have a plan. I know how to deal with the Holy One of God.
DARK LORD: Do not speak his name before me.
NIGITH: (BREAKS AWAY FROM THE GUARDS AND RETURNS TO FACE THE DARK LORD.) Listen to me, my Prince.
DARK LORD: Silence! You listen to me. You spoke out when you were in the synagogue and then he knew who and where you were. That was most unwise.
NIGITH: I couldn't help it. I was compelled to call out to him. He has the power.
DARK LORD: Of course you would speak out in the synagogue, but why did you have to identify him? That only promotes his cause. I have the report before me. You said: "What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? You come to destroy us. I know who you are -- the -- the --
NIGITH: Holy One of God.
DARK LORD: Silence! Silence! You are a religious demon and your assignment was to participate in the religious ceremonies and try to provoke the humans to become entangled in the trappings of the services and forget the meaning of the scripture that was being read and discussed. Wasn't that your assignment? (PAUSE) Well, answer me when I speak to you.
NIGITH: You commanded me to be silent, my Prince.
DARK LORD: I know what I told you. I'm telling you now, you worthless slime, answer my questions. You are a religious demon, isn't that correct?
NIGITH: Yes, my Prince.
DARK LORD: What was your assignment?
NIGITH: To disrupt the thinking of the human I was assigned to. To distract and confuse his thoughts.
DARK LORD: You are not the average religious demon, are you?
NIGITH: Oh, no, my Prince. I am a leader of demons. I am the thirty-third rank, my prince. I have had all the training of the secret society of the holy scrolls and can quote any passage from any place in them and coordinate them with any common superstition or craft of human invention.
DARK LORD: I see. Then why did you make such a ridiculous mistake as to call out the title of -- of -- that one?
NIGITH: I have done my job well for the past twenty years with my human, my Prince. I admit I made a small mistake but I not only have a plan to take back my human but to trap the One sent from God.
DARK LORD: Your "small" mistake revealed your cover and that is why you are back here instead of doing the job that you were trained to do.
NIGITH: I know. I know. But listen to this plan.
DARK LORD: Very well, but it better be worthwhile.
NIGITH: Oh, it is a worthwhile plan, my Prince. I am going to wait for a short season, then I am going back to my human. He is perfect for my purposes. He studies the holy scrolls every day. Then when I take possession of my human again I will take along some of my strongest friends. I will be their leader. Some friends like Oonat, who promotes pride so well, and Atak, who specializes in self-righteousness. The plan is to tell of the Holy One's mighty deeds. Isn't it a marvelous plan?
DARK LORD: This is your plan? This is your marvelous plan? Just kill this -- this --
NIGITH: Kill the Holy One of God?
DARK LORD: He is human. He is subject to death. And death is our realm.
NIGITH: But, my Prince, just listen to my plan. It will work.
DARK LORD: Just how will this "plan" of yours work?
NIGITH: My worthy Prince, we will go tell abroad his deeds -- and they are great miracles -- that many will become so enthralled in his works that they will forget the man himself. He will become insignificant.
DARK LORD: To worship the miracles and not the miracle maker -- it just might work. But remember this. If you fail this time you will be sent to the pit and chained there. Do you understand this?
NIGITH: Yes, my Prince. I will not fail. The plan is foolproof.
DARK LORD: Put your plan in effect in a week. That should give you enough time.
NIGITH: (BOWING OUT BACKWARDS) Yes, my Prince. Victory to you.
DARK LORD: Yes, victory.
There are evil forces at work trying to destroy all that is good and trying to destroy God's people as well.
Summary
The Dark Lord is angry because a religious demon has failed, but the demon has a plan to trap the Holy One of Israel -- Jesus.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
The throne room of the Dark Lord
Props
Throne
Costumes
Black hooded robes
Time
The time of Jesus
Cast
DARK LORD
NIGITH -- his underling
GUARDS
DARK LORD: Bring in the accused. (TWO GUARDS FORCEFULLY DRAG IN A PITIFUL FORM. IT COWERS IN FRONT OF THE DARK LORD'S THRONE) What are you doing back here?
NIGITH: It's not my fault, my prince.
DARK LORD: When you fail it is always your fault. And you failed, you whimpering, thoughtless sloth.
NIGITH: He sent me back here. I couldn't help it.
DARK LORD: Silence! Your screeching, rasping voice violates my ears. When you fail your fate is sealed. Guards, take this thing out of my sight. Out of my sight! Dispose of it. I can't stand to look at it any longer. (GUARDS START TO LEAD NIGITH OUT)
NIGITH: No-o-o. Listen to me. I still have a plan. I know how to deal with the Holy One of God.
DARK LORD: Do not speak his name before me.
NIGITH: (BREAKS AWAY FROM THE GUARDS AND RETURNS TO FACE THE DARK LORD.) Listen to me, my Prince.
DARK LORD: Silence! You listen to me. You spoke out when you were in the synagogue and then he knew who and where you were. That was most unwise.
NIGITH: I couldn't help it. I was compelled to call out to him. He has the power.
DARK LORD: Of course you would speak out in the synagogue, but why did you have to identify him? That only promotes his cause. I have the report before me. You said: "What do we have to do with you, Jesus of Nazareth? You come to destroy us. I know who you are -- the -- the --
NIGITH: Holy One of God.
DARK LORD: Silence! Silence! You are a religious demon and your assignment was to participate in the religious ceremonies and try to provoke the humans to become entangled in the trappings of the services and forget the meaning of the scripture that was being read and discussed. Wasn't that your assignment? (PAUSE) Well, answer me when I speak to you.
NIGITH: You commanded me to be silent, my Prince.
DARK LORD: I know what I told you. I'm telling you now, you worthless slime, answer my questions. You are a religious demon, isn't that correct?
NIGITH: Yes, my Prince.
DARK LORD: What was your assignment?
NIGITH: To disrupt the thinking of the human I was assigned to. To distract and confuse his thoughts.
DARK LORD: You are not the average religious demon, are you?
NIGITH: Oh, no, my Prince. I am a leader of demons. I am the thirty-third rank, my prince. I have had all the training of the secret society of the holy scrolls and can quote any passage from any place in them and coordinate them with any common superstition or craft of human invention.
DARK LORD: I see. Then why did you make such a ridiculous mistake as to call out the title of -- of -- that one?
NIGITH: I have done my job well for the past twenty years with my human, my Prince. I admit I made a small mistake but I not only have a plan to take back my human but to trap the One sent from God.
DARK LORD: Your "small" mistake revealed your cover and that is why you are back here instead of doing the job that you were trained to do.
NIGITH: I know. I know. But listen to this plan.
DARK LORD: Very well, but it better be worthwhile.
NIGITH: Oh, it is a worthwhile plan, my Prince. I am going to wait for a short season, then I am going back to my human. He is perfect for my purposes. He studies the holy scrolls every day. Then when I take possession of my human again I will take along some of my strongest friends. I will be their leader. Some friends like Oonat, who promotes pride so well, and Atak, who specializes in self-righteousness. The plan is to tell of the Holy One's mighty deeds. Isn't it a marvelous plan?
DARK LORD: This is your plan? This is your marvelous plan? Just kill this -- this --
NIGITH: Kill the Holy One of God?
DARK LORD: He is human. He is subject to death. And death is our realm.
NIGITH: But, my Prince, just listen to my plan. It will work.
DARK LORD: Just how will this "plan" of yours work?
NIGITH: My worthy Prince, we will go tell abroad his deeds -- and they are great miracles -- that many will become so enthralled in his works that they will forget the man himself. He will become insignificant.
DARK LORD: To worship the miracles and not the miracle maker -- it just might work. But remember this. If you fail this time you will be sent to the pit and chained there. Do you understand this?
NIGITH: Yes, my Prince. I will not fail. The plan is foolproof.
DARK LORD: Put your plan in effect in a week. That should give you enough time.
NIGITH: (BOWING OUT BACKWARDS) Yes, my Prince. Victory to you.
DARK LORD: Yes, victory.
