Documentary: The Wasteful Son
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
We would all be wasteful if it weren't for God's plan in our lives. And repentance and forgiveness are always available.
Summary
A retelling of the Prodigal Son as a documentary for television. All the people involved in Johnny's life (The Prodigal) are interviewed. At the end Johnny comes home. This is a televised production with live acting at the end.
Playing Time
6 minutes
Setting
Television studio
Props
Television monitors, and camera
Costumes
Contemporary, rural
Time
The present
Cast
HOST OF SHOW
JOHN'S TEACHER
JOHN'S FRIEND
BUD WILTON -- bartender
JEREMY HOLT -- farmer
JOHN'S MOTHER
JANE MILLER -- girlfriend of John
WILLIAM -- John's brother
JOHN'S FATHER
HOST OF SHOW: What makes today's youth run away from home? There are many factors in our modern world, pressures that a previous generation didn't even dream of. In modern society, with all the specialization necessary for success, young people are forced to choose a career as early as junior high school. Grades become tantamount to success. Success usually means a home, a car, and a good income by age 21.
The pressure of being successful in many diversified areas -- being a successful student, successful socially, and gathering material goods -- is a constant pressure along with the availability of drugs and the new sexual mores. All add their force that pulls young people this way and that way and leads them to attempt rash adventures away from the family nest.
During this time on our program today we are going to take a look at one youth who decided to leave the security of his home and pit himself against the world. To "find his fortune," if you will. This first interview is with his seventh grade teacher.
JOHN'S TEACHER: (BEING INTERVIEWED; INTERVIEWER IS NOT SHOWN) Johnny was a good boy in class. I can't remember his being unruly or misbehaving. He was one of my best students. I remember he was voted the most likely to succeed. The other students liked him. He was popular.
HOST: (THE HOST IS NO LONGER SHOWN ON CAMERA) This is one of John's closest friends, who still lives in John's hometown.
JOHN'S FRIEND (MALE): John? I guess you could say we were best buddies at school. Oh, sure, he was a lot of fun, but a good worker, too. I remember one time we all were going to the amusement park and John wouldn't go because he was working on a special project at school. But he could have fun, don't get me wrong. He could party.
HOST: Bud Wilton owns a bar in a big city some distance from John's hometown.
BUD WILTON: John Jones? (LOOKING AT PICTURE) That's his real name, huh? You bet I knowed him. That scum ended up owing me 200 bucks. I'd like to get my hands on him. From what I hear he owed everyone in town. He'd come in the bar here and act like Mr. Big Shot -- flashing around lots of money. Real big spender. Buy drinks for everyone. I've seen that type before. They don't last long. I could tell he was putting it all on. Finally he ran up a big bill in the entire town when his money ran out. You looking for him, too? He owe you money? Let me know if you run into him.
HOST: Jeremy Holt has a farm outside of town.
JEREMY HOLT: This guy? (LOOKING AT PICTURE) What a joke. I felt sorry for him. I hired him for a day's work feeding my pigs and he wouldn't work. Said he was too sick. Too lazy if you ask me. Couldn't even finish out the day. He left and didn't even collect the little bit of money he did earn. All of a sudden he was gone.
HOST: John's mother.
JOHN'S MOTHER: You'd better believe John was a good boy. The best son a mother could want. He was a good worker, let me tell you. He worked two jobs at once so he could buy himself a car. Isn't that something? How many boys do you know that can buy themselves a new car at the age of sixteen? And he never stopped. He worked hard. Why, I've seen that boy come home and just drop over with exhaustion. We used to do family things together, but that stopped because Johnny was always working. I guess he got it from my side of the family. My own father was a hard-working man. Of course, we didn't see my dad very much, but he was a good provider. I had to sacrifice to marry my husband. My father gave us everything we wanted. I guess John takes after him. That's good, I think. Oh, I wish he were home. I wish I could see him, at least for holidays. I just know he's not taking good care of himself. You know how boys are.
HOST: Jane Miller, an old friend. Jane lives in John's hometown.
JANE: (HOLDING A BABY AND LOOKING AT THE SNAPSHOT LOVINGLY) Johnny was ambitious. We had some great plans. We were going to get married and have our own little farm. We wanted to raise turkeys and Johnny had the idea he wanted to raise minks, too. As it all turned out, I got pregnant and I guess Johnny couldn't face that change in our future. It all happened so suddenly. I don't blame him. I love him. I just hope he remembers me someday.
HOST: John's brother, William, still works on the family farm.
WILLIAM: What made Johnny run off? I'll tell you what made him do it -- greed. Johnny was always greedy. Always wanted more than he had. Usually got it, too. If Dad didn't give it to him he'd steal it from me. I'll tell you the truth, it was a good day that he left home. I've had some peace since then. I don't miss him. Of course, Mom and Dad miss him. They both doted on him. Maybe that was his trouble: he was spoiled. That's for sure. Oh, sure, he worked two jobs, but what Mom and Dad didn't know was that one of the jobs was pushing dope. Good riddance, I say. I hope I never see him again.
HOST: John's father is semi-retired and has built a small house on some acreage near the original farm.
JOHN'S FATHER: Oh, why don't they let it be? Sure, my son left home, but he didn't steal anything. I gave him what was rightly due him. I was going to will it to him anyway. He just wanted it early, that's all. I made plenty of mistakes with both my sons. I realize that now. I had wanted sons so much that I vowed they'd never have to work as hard as I did. I gave both of them everything they wanted. I know now that was wrong. I felt inferior to my father-in-law. He was rich and I had to work hard to give my wife all that she wanted. We started out having family time, but with all the work, that was put aside. Well, if I could do it all over again I would spend more time with each of my sons. I'd make sure they knew I loved them for who they are, not for what they can do for me. Things don't mean so much when you have everything you want and don't have a family that is full of love. I guess I gave them everything but love. Things would be different if I just could have another chance, especially with Johnny. I'd spend some time with God and with my family if I just had another chance. (JOHN WALKS INTO THE CHURCH WHERE THE TELEVISIONS HAVE BEEN PLAYING AND THE FATHER RUNS TO MEET HIM AND HUGS HIM LOVINGLY. THE TELEVISION CAMERAS ARE STILL GETTING THIS ACTION BUT IT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE NOW)
Mary, come see who is home. Mary, Mary, it's Johnny. (THE MOTHER RUNS UP TO JOHN AND HUGS HIM AND THEN JANE ENTERS RELUCTANTLY, WONDERING IF JOHN WILL RECOGNIZE HER. HE WALKS OVER TO HER AND KISSES HER AND TAKES THE BABY. THEY ALL EXIT)
We would all be wasteful if it weren't for God's plan in our lives. And repentance and forgiveness are always available.
Summary
A retelling of the Prodigal Son as a documentary for television. All the people involved in Johnny's life (The Prodigal) are interviewed. At the end Johnny comes home. This is a televised production with live acting at the end.
Playing Time
6 minutes
Setting
Television studio
Props
Television monitors, and camera
Costumes
Contemporary, rural
Time
The present
Cast
HOST OF SHOW
JOHN'S TEACHER
JOHN'S FRIEND
BUD WILTON -- bartender
JEREMY HOLT -- farmer
JOHN'S MOTHER
JANE MILLER -- girlfriend of John
WILLIAM -- John's brother
JOHN'S FATHER
HOST OF SHOW: What makes today's youth run away from home? There are many factors in our modern world, pressures that a previous generation didn't even dream of. In modern society, with all the specialization necessary for success, young people are forced to choose a career as early as junior high school. Grades become tantamount to success. Success usually means a home, a car, and a good income by age 21.
The pressure of being successful in many diversified areas -- being a successful student, successful socially, and gathering material goods -- is a constant pressure along with the availability of drugs and the new sexual mores. All add their force that pulls young people this way and that way and leads them to attempt rash adventures away from the family nest.
During this time on our program today we are going to take a look at one youth who decided to leave the security of his home and pit himself against the world. To "find his fortune," if you will. This first interview is with his seventh grade teacher.
JOHN'S TEACHER: (BEING INTERVIEWED; INTERVIEWER IS NOT SHOWN) Johnny was a good boy in class. I can't remember his being unruly or misbehaving. He was one of my best students. I remember he was voted the most likely to succeed. The other students liked him. He was popular.
HOST: (THE HOST IS NO LONGER SHOWN ON CAMERA) This is one of John's closest friends, who still lives in John's hometown.
JOHN'S FRIEND (MALE): John? I guess you could say we were best buddies at school. Oh, sure, he was a lot of fun, but a good worker, too. I remember one time we all were going to the amusement park and John wouldn't go because he was working on a special project at school. But he could have fun, don't get me wrong. He could party.
HOST: Bud Wilton owns a bar in a big city some distance from John's hometown.
BUD WILTON: John Jones? (LOOKING AT PICTURE) That's his real name, huh? You bet I knowed him. That scum ended up owing me 200 bucks. I'd like to get my hands on him. From what I hear he owed everyone in town. He'd come in the bar here and act like Mr. Big Shot -- flashing around lots of money. Real big spender. Buy drinks for everyone. I've seen that type before. They don't last long. I could tell he was putting it all on. Finally he ran up a big bill in the entire town when his money ran out. You looking for him, too? He owe you money? Let me know if you run into him.
HOST: Jeremy Holt has a farm outside of town.
JEREMY HOLT: This guy? (LOOKING AT PICTURE) What a joke. I felt sorry for him. I hired him for a day's work feeding my pigs and he wouldn't work. Said he was too sick. Too lazy if you ask me. Couldn't even finish out the day. He left and didn't even collect the little bit of money he did earn. All of a sudden he was gone.
HOST: John's mother.
JOHN'S MOTHER: You'd better believe John was a good boy. The best son a mother could want. He was a good worker, let me tell you. He worked two jobs at once so he could buy himself a car. Isn't that something? How many boys do you know that can buy themselves a new car at the age of sixteen? And he never stopped. He worked hard. Why, I've seen that boy come home and just drop over with exhaustion. We used to do family things together, but that stopped because Johnny was always working. I guess he got it from my side of the family. My own father was a hard-working man. Of course, we didn't see my dad very much, but he was a good provider. I had to sacrifice to marry my husband. My father gave us everything we wanted. I guess John takes after him. That's good, I think. Oh, I wish he were home. I wish I could see him, at least for holidays. I just know he's not taking good care of himself. You know how boys are.
HOST: Jane Miller, an old friend. Jane lives in John's hometown.
JANE: (HOLDING A BABY AND LOOKING AT THE SNAPSHOT LOVINGLY) Johnny was ambitious. We had some great plans. We were going to get married and have our own little farm. We wanted to raise turkeys and Johnny had the idea he wanted to raise minks, too. As it all turned out, I got pregnant and I guess Johnny couldn't face that change in our future. It all happened so suddenly. I don't blame him. I love him. I just hope he remembers me someday.
HOST: John's brother, William, still works on the family farm.
WILLIAM: What made Johnny run off? I'll tell you what made him do it -- greed. Johnny was always greedy. Always wanted more than he had. Usually got it, too. If Dad didn't give it to him he'd steal it from me. I'll tell you the truth, it was a good day that he left home. I've had some peace since then. I don't miss him. Of course, Mom and Dad miss him. They both doted on him. Maybe that was his trouble: he was spoiled. That's for sure. Oh, sure, he worked two jobs, but what Mom and Dad didn't know was that one of the jobs was pushing dope. Good riddance, I say. I hope I never see him again.
HOST: John's father is semi-retired and has built a small house on some acreage near the original farm.
JOHN'S FATHER: Oh, why don't they let it be? Sure, my son left home, but he didn't steal anything. I gave him what was rightly due him. I was going to will it to him anyway. He just wanted it early, that's all. I made plenty of mistakes with both my sons. I realize that now. I had wanted sons so much that I vowed they'd never have to work as hard as I did. I gave both of them everything they wanted. I know now that was wrong. I felt inferior to my father-in-law. He was rich and I had to work hard to give my wife all that she wanted. We started out having family time, but with all the work, that was put aside. Well, if I could do it all over again I would spend more time with each of my sons. I'd make sure they knew I loved them for who they are, not for what they can do for me. Things don't mean so much when you have everything you want and don't have a family that is full of love. I guess I gave them everything but love. Things would be different if I just could have another chance, especially with Johnny. I'd spend some time with God and with my family if I just had another chance. (JOHN WALKS INTO THE CHURCH WHERE THE TELEVISIONS HAVE BEEN PLAYING AND THE FATHER RUNS TO MEET HIM AND HUGS HIM LOVINGLY. THE TELEVISION CAMERAS ARE STILL GETTING THIS ACTION BUT IT IS TAKING PLACE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PEOPLE NOW)
Mary, come see who is home. Mary, Mary, it's Johnny. (THE MOTHER RUNS UP TO JOHN AND HUGS HIM AND THEN JANE ENTERS RELUCTANTLY, WONDERING IF JOHN WILL RECOGNIZE HER. HE WALKS OVER TO HER AND KISSES HER AND TAKES THE BABY. THEY ALL EXIT)
