Everyman And Woman
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
57 Vignettes For Cycle A
Theme
The church as the body of Christ is "in the world" and needs to relate to spiritual things but keep its feet firmly planted on solid ground. How does it do that? Confession leads to forgiveness.
Summary
A rehearsal for the medieval play Everyman erupts into an argument when the actor playing Everyman cannot confess.
Playing Time: 7 minutes
Place: Your church
Props: None
Costumes: Medieval
Time: The present
Cast: EVERYMAN
CONSCIENCE -- a woman
CONFESSION -- a woman
(A REHEARSAL FOR EVERYMAN)
EVERYMAN: Oh, you give me great contentment, Conscience, certainly, with your sweet words.
CONSCIENCE: Now, let us go together, Everyman, lovingly to that cleansing river, Confession.
EVERYMAN: Oh, I weep for joy; I wish we were there! but, I beg you to tell me, if you will, where Confession, that holy man, dwells.
CONSCIENCE: In the house of salvation; we shall find him in that place, that shall comfort us, by God's grace. (CONSCIENCE TAKES EVERYMAN TO CONFESSION) Here is Confession. Kneel down and ask mercy. For he is highly esteemed by God Almighty.
EVERYMAN: Oh, glorious fountain, that purifies all uncleanliness, wash the dark spots of vice from me. I come with Conscience for my redemption, and offer sincere and complete repentance; for I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, and a strict account before God to make. Oh, hear me, Confession, guide to salvation. (PAUSE) Oh hear me, Confession, guide to salvation. (SOMETHING IS WRONG. EVERYMAN WHISPERS TO CONFESSION) I well know your sorrow. (NO RESPONSE) I well know your sorrow.
CONFESSION: I know my line. I didn't drop a line. You did. (TO CONSCIENCE) What's the line?
CONSCIENCE: Everyman, it's your line. You're supposed to say, "Help my good deeds; oh answer my plea!"
EVERYMAN: That's not my line.
CONSCIENCE: Of course it's your line. You're supposed to say, "Help my good deeds; oh answer my plea!" It rhymes with her line, "And because with Conscience you come to me."
EVERYMAN: It's not my line.
CONSCIENCE: It is your line. Here's the script.
EVERYMAN: It's not my line.
CONSCIENCE: You always go up on that line. Here it is. Right here. "Oh, glorious fountain, that purifies all uncleanliness, wash blah, blah, blah, vice from me. I come with Conscience for my redemption, and blah, blah, blah, complete repentance; for I am blah, blah, blah to take, and a strict account before God to make." Listen to this, "Oh, hear me, confession, guide to salvation. Help my good Deeds; oh, answer my plea."
EVERYMAN: Let me see that. (GRABBING THE BOOK AWAY FROM CONFESSION, EVERYMAN SEES THAT HE IS WRONG AND MAKES AN EXCUSE FOR FORGETTING HIS LINE) I've had to work overtime four times this week.
CONSCIENCE: Can we get back to it? Listen, Everyman, why don't you just admit you messed up the line and we can continue the rehearsal.
EVERYMAN: Do you know how much sleep I got last night?
CONSCIENCE: Of course I know how much sleep you got. You got five hours sleep.
EVERYMAN: Yeah. That's right. Five hours. How did you know?
CONSCIENCE: You told us when you forgot your blocking. You always make some excuse when you make a mistake.
EVERYMAN: Well, okay, I made a mistake. Big deal. I have a lot of pressure. My stupid boss messes up too. He messed up an entire run and I had to work overtime to fix it.
CONFESSION: Let's go back a bit to where you kneel to Confession and say ...
EVERYMAN: Boy, oh boy. You're getting a kick out of this, aren't you?
CONFESSION: Getting a kick out of what?
CONSCIENCE: You're going to get a kick out of me leaving.
EVERYMAN: Out of me kneeling to you.
CONFESSION: It's in the script.
EVERYMAN: I know that, but you enjoy a man kneeling in front of you, don't you?
CONFESSION: Get off it. It's in the script. I'm Confession, you're Everyman. Let's get on with it.
CONSCIENCE: Please.
EVERYMAN: Okay, but I'm going to at least play it standing up. People pray standing up.
CONSCIENCE: It's true they do. I am right now. (GIVING EVERYMAN HIS LINE) Oh, glorious fountain ...
EVERYMAN: There, you see. She smiled. Did you see her smile? She's enjoying this.
CONFESSION: I always smile when I first see you.
EVERYMAN: You do? Why?
CONFESSION: It's part of my motivation. I'm glad to see a sinner approach the Almighty by confessing his sins.
EVERYMAN: The script says, "I beg you to tell me, if you will, where Confession, that holy man dwells." Why do you have to be a woman, anyway?
CONSCIENCE: Ask God.
CONFESSION: What's with you? Do your part and stop getting off the script. We'll never get finished here. You wanted the role of Everyman. You're the only man that showed up when we had auditions, anyway.
EVERYMAN: Yeah.
CONSCIENCE: We could have cast a woman and called it Everywoman.
CONFESSION: Can we get back to it?
EVERYMAN: I'm not kneeling.
CONFESSION: Okay. Don't kneel.
CONSCIENCE: I think he should kneel. After all he is confessing his sins.
CONFESSION: It would make it more real to you. You would get into it more. You might even feel repentant.
EVERYMAN: Who asked you anyway, Conscience? Why don't you just butt out.
CONFESSION: Now don't talk to her that way. You know she's helped you with your lines.
EVERYMAN: You're always insulting my intelligence. Don't you think I know what I'm doing?
CONSCIENCE: I don't think you want an honest answer to that.
EVERYMAN: I wouldn't get it from you anyway.
CONSCIENCE: You're an actor. You can't recognize honesty when you see it. You live in a world of fantasy.
EVERYMAN: Listen, who do you think you are, the director? I don't need you. Get lost.
CONSCIENCE: All right. I can see you don't want me.
CONFESSION: We can't do this without you. We need you, Conscience.
EVERYMAN: Speak for yourself.
CONFESSION: I was speaking for you.
EVERYMAN: I can speak for myself without any help, thank you.
CONSCIENCE: You don't really don't want me around?
EVERYMAN: You got it.
CONSCIENCE: Good-bye, then. (SHE EXITS)
CONFESSION: Now you've done it. You've lost your conscience.
EVERYMAN: Aw, who needs her anyway. Her part's over.
CONFESSION: And who will give you your lines when you make a mistake?
EVERYMAN: I won't make any.
CONFESSION: We'll see.
EVERYMAN: Yes, we will, won't we.
CONFESSION: All right, say your line. Confess.
EVERYMAN: Uh, give me the line.
CONFESSION: I can't give you the line. I don't know your line. Conscience left with the only script.
EVERYMAN: Never mind. I've got it. "Oh, glorious fountain ..." "Oh, glorious ..." Oh, I can't do it.
CONFESSION: What's your problem?
EVERYMAN: I can't do this play. I wanted to be in a play, not do some stupid mealy-mouth part like this.
CONFESSION: It's a medieval play.
EVERYMAN: It sure is.
CONFESSION: You don't think it speaks to us today?
EVERYMAN: Of course not. How could it? No one confesses anything today. Don't you read the newspapers? The only reason to confess is to plea bargain for a lighter sentence.
CONFESSION: Don't you think people confess to God?
EVERYMAN: I suppose there are a few people. The minister probably does. And I suppose women do.
CONFESSION: But men don't?
EVERYMAN: Why would they? Come to think of it, it is right that you should be a woman, it's a woman's thing to do.
CONFESSION: Let's get on with the play.
EVERYMAN: Why?
CONFESSION: Because we have a performance next week.
EVERYMAN: Let's forget it. I'm tired. And I have a headache. And I don't like this script. (HE EXITS)
CONFESSION: Great. Here I am with no one to confess. This happens more than I want to admit. We always have had a hard time filling this role.
The church as the body of Christ is "in the world" and needs to relate to spiritual things but keep its feet firmly planted on solid ground. How does it do that? Confession leads to forgiveness.
Summary
A rehearsal for the medieval play Everyman erupts into an argument when the actor playing Everyman cannot confess.
Playing Time: 7 minutes
Place: Your church
Props: None
Costumes: Medieval
Time: The present
Cast: EVERYMAN
CONSCIENCE -- a woman
CONFESSION -- a woman
(A REHEARSAL FOR EVERYMAN)
EVERYMAN: Oh, you give me great contentment, Conscience, certainly, with your sweet words.
CONSCIENCE: Now, let us go together, Everyman, lovingly to that cleansing river, Confession.
EVERYMAN: Oh, I weep for joy; I wish we were there! but, I beg you to tell me, if you will, where Confession, that holy man, dwells.
CONSCIENCE: In the house of salvation; we shall find him in that place, that shall comfort us, by God's grace. (CONSCIENCE TAKES EVERYMAN TO CONFESSION) Here is Confession. Kneel down and ask mercy. For he is highly esteemed by God Almighty.
EVERYMAN: Oh, glorious fountain, that purifies all uncleanliness, wash the dark spots of vice from me. I come with Conscience for my redemption, and offer sincere and complete repentance; for I am commanded a pilgrimage to take, and a strict account before God to make. Oh, hear me, Confession, guide to salvation. (PAUSE) Oh hear me, Confession, guide to salvation. (SOMETHING IS WRONG. EVERYMAN WHISPERS TO CONFESSION) I well know your sorrow. (NO RESPONSE) I well know your sorrow.
CONFESSION: I know my line. I didn't drop a line. You did. (TO CONSCIENCE) What's the line?
CONSCIENCE: Everyman, it's your line. You're supposed to say, "Help my good deeds; oh answer my plea!"
EVERYMAN: That's not my line.
CONSCIENCE: Of course it's your line. You're supposed to say, "Help my good deeds; oh answer my plea!" It rhymes with her line, "And because with Conscience you come to me."
EVERYMAN: It's not my line.
CONSCIENCE: It is your line. Here's the script.
EVERYMAN: It's not my line.
CONSCIENCE: You always go up on that line. Here it is. Right here. "Oh, glorious fountain, that purifies all uncleanliness, wash blah, blah, blah, vice from me. I come with Conscience for my redemption, and blah, blah, blah, complete repentance; for I am blah, blah, blah to take, and a strict account before God to make." Listen to this, "Oh, hear me, confession, guide to salvation. Help my good Deeds; oh, answer my plea."
EVERYMAN: Let me see that. (GRABBING THE BOOK AWAY FROM CONFESSION, EVERYMAN SEES THAT HE IS WRONG AND MAKES AN EXCUSE FOR FORGETTING HIS LINE) I've had to work overtime four times this week.
CONSCIENCE: Can we get back to it? Listen, Everyman, why don't you just admit you messed up the line and we can continue the rehearsal.
EVERYMAN: Do you know how much sleep I got last night?
CONSCIENCE: Of course I know how much sleep you got. You got five hours sleep.
EVERYMAN: Yeah. That's right. Five hours. How did you know?
CONSCIENCE: You told us when you forgot your blocking. You always make some excuse when you make a mistake.
EVERYMAN: Well, okay, I made a mistake. Big deal. I have a lot of pressure. My stupid boss messes up too. He messed up an entire run and I had to work overtime to fix it.
CONFESSION: Let's go back a bit to where you kneel to Confession and say ...
EVERYMAN: Boy, oh boy. You're getting a kick out of this, aren't you?
CONFESSION: Getting a kick out of what?
CONSCIENCE: You're going to get a kick out of me leaving.
EVERYMAN: Out of me kneeling to you.
CONFESSION: It's in the script.
EVERYMAN: I know that, but you enjoy a man kneeling in front of you, don't you?
CONFESSION: Get off it. It's in the script. I'm Confession, you're Everyman. Let's get on with it.
CONSCIENCE: Please.
EVERYMAN: Okay, but I'm going to at least play it standing up. People pray standing up.
CONSCIENCE: It's true they do. I am right now. (GIVING EVERYMAN HIS LINE) Oh, glorious fountain ...
EVERYMAN: There, you see. She smiled. Did you see her smile? She's enjoying this.
CONFESSION: I always smile when I first see you.
EVERYMAN: You do? Why?
CONFESSION: It's part of my motivation. I'm glad to see a sinner approach the Almighty by confessing his sins.
EVERYMAN: The script says, "I beg you to tell me, if you will, where Confession, that holy man dwells." Why do you have to be a woman, anyway?
CONSCIENCE: Ask God.
CONFESSION: What's with you? Do your part and stop getting off the script. We'll never get finished here. You wanted the role of Everyman. You're the only man that showed up when we had auditions, anyway.
EVERYMAN: Yeah.
CONSCIENCE: We could have cast a woman and called it Everywoman.
CONFESSION: Can we get back to it?
EVERYMAN: I'm not kneeling.
CONFESSION: Okay. Don't kneel.
CONSCIENCE: I think he should kneel. After all he is confessing his sins.
CONFESSION: It would make it more real to you. You would get into it more. You might even feel repentant.
EVERYMAN: Who asked you anyway, Conscience? Why don't you just butt out.
CONFESSION: Now don't talk to her that way. You know she's helped you with your lines.
EVERYMAN: You're always insulting my intelligence. Don't you think I know what I'm doing?
CONSCIENCE: I don't think you want an honest answer to that.
EVERYMAN: I wouldn't get it from you anyway.
CONSCIENCE: You're an actor. You can't recognize honesty when you see it. You live in a world of fantasy.
EVERYMAN: Listen, who do you think you are, the director? I don't need you. Get lost.
CONSCIENCE: All right. I can see you don't want me.
CONFESSION: We can't do this without you. We need you, Conscience.
EVERYMAN: Speak for yourself.
CONFESSION: I was speaking for you.
EVERYMAN: I can speak for myself without any help, thank you.
CONSCIENCE: You don't really don't want me around?
EVERYMAN: You got it.
CONSCIENCE: Good-bye, then. (SHE EXITS)
CONFESSION: Now you've done it. You've lost your conscience.
EVERYMAN: Aw, who needs her anyway. Her part's over.
CONFESSION: And who will give you your lines when you make a mistake?
EVERYMAN: I won't make any.
CONFESSION: We'll see.
EVERYMAN: Yes, we will, won't we.
CONFESSION: All right, say your line. Confess.
EVERYMAN: Uh, give me the line.
CONFESSION: I can't give you the line. I don't know your line. Conscience left with the only script.
EVERYMAN: Never mind. I've got it. "Oh, glorious fountain ..." "Oh, glorious ..." Oh, I can't do it.
CONFESSION: What's your problem?
EVERYMAN: I can't do this play. I wanted to be in a play, not do some stupid mealy-mouth part like this.
CONFESSION: It's a medieval play.
EVERYMAN: It sure is.
CONFESSION: You don't think it speaks to us today?
EVERYMAN: Of course not. How could it? No one confesses anything today. Don't you read the newspapers? The only reason to confess is to plea bargain for a lighter sentence.
CONFESSION: Don't you think people confess to God?
EVERYMAN: I suppose there are a few people. The minister probably does. And I suppose women do.
CONFESSION: But men don't?
EVERYMAN: Why would they? Come to think of it, it is right that you should be a woman, it's a woman's thing to do.
CONFESSION: Let's get on with the play.
EVERYMAN: Why?
CONFESSION: Because we have a performance next week.
EVERYMAN: Let's forget it. I'm tired. And I have a headache. And I don't like this script. (HE EXITS)
CONFESSION: Great. Here I am with no one to confess. This happens more than I want to admit. We always have had a hard time filling this role.
