The Good Soldier
Drama
SUNDAY MORNING READERS' THEATER
Cast: Two Roman soldiers, FLAVIUS and LUCIUS, and an ANGEL
Length:
15 minutes
FLAVIUS and LUCIUS are seated on their stools, center stage.
FLAVIUS: (Complaining) What was all the hurry about for this burial? I don't understand why we had to rush.
LUCIUS:
(Distracted but agreeable) Hmmmm.
FLAVIUS: I don't know why I even ask. It's so typical of the military: Hurry up and wait.
LUCIUS:
True.
FLAVIUS: First we break our backs to get this job done ASAP and then everyone rushes off and leaves us here without a clue as to when we'll be relieved.
LUCIUS: You're right, Flavius.
FLAVIUS: I don't know why I'm so surprised. Ever since I was assigned to duty in Israel, I've been confused. I don't understand anything about this country.
LUCIUS: You're not the only one.
FLAVIUS: I'd give anything to be back in Rome. These people are so strange. Everything they do has some connection with religion. It's not natural.
LUCIUS: I certainly agree.
FLAVIUS: It's a good thing the Roman Empire took this country over to try to bring them out of their primitive culture. All this religion! It can't be good for them.
LUCIUS:
I wouldn't know about that.
FLAVIUS: (Curious) What do you know, Lucius? Do you have any idea what's going on around here?
LUCIUS: Well, I've picked up a few things, listening to the natives. As far as I can tell, all this rush has to do with one of their religious celebrations.
FLAVIUS: (Groans) I should have guessed. Which one?
LUCIUS: Passover, I think it's called.
FLAVIUS: Pass over? Pass over what?
LUCIUS:
I have no idea. I just know that they're not allowed to do any work on Passover, from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.
FLAVIUS: Well, it's Saturday and it's after sunset. So why are we still here?
LUCIUS:
Good question.
FLAVIUS: (Musing) So that's why they had to get the body in the ground so fast. He didn't die until three o'clock on Friday afternoon so they didn't have much time to do all the burial rituals.
LUCIUS:
That's about it.
FLAVIUS: Seems a lot of fuss for a common criminal.
LUCIUS:
Apparently, he isn't just a common criminal.
FLAVIUS: He was put to death on the cross. That seems pretty common to me. Anyone with any status would have been quietly poisoned.
LUCIUS:
From what I hear, he was a pretty important figure among his own people.
FLAVIUS: Religious figure, I suppose.
LUCIUS:
Naturally. Very controversial. Even Pilate got involved in the case.
FLAVIUS: That explains why we Romans ended up putting him to death. At least we did it in a civilized way. These native people still prefer stoning, I believe.
LUCIUS:
That's right. Apparently, this guy got the common people all stirred up against the religious establishment. Naturally, they didn't appreciate that very much. It turned into a gigantic power play. And he lost.
FLAVIUS: One against the establishment. It always ends that way.
LUCIUS:
So now, here we are. Guarding his tomb.
FLAVIUS: Yes. What's the problem there? Are they worried he's going to get up and walk away?
LUCIUS: Nothing so dramatic, although apparently he did make some claims in that direction.
FLAVIUS: That he would walk out of his tomb?
LUCIUS: Something like that.
FLAVIUS: (Glancing over his shoulder) Eeeww!
LUCIUS:
Not that it could ever happen. But I think they're afraid his followers will come and get the body and hide it and then claim that he came back to life.
FLAVIUS: And the establishment is afraid the people would believe that? Is that part of their religion, a belief in walking corpses?
LUCIUS: I guess.
FLAVIUS: Where do you learn all this stuff?
LUCIUS: (Shrugs) Around.
FLAVIUS: (After a pause) The whole thing seems pretty strange to me.
LUCIUS: Absolutely.
FLAVIUS: And sort of morbid, don't you think?
LUCIUS: Sure do.
FLAVIUS: (Looking around) Starting to get pretty dark.
LUCIUS: Sure is.
FLAVIUS: You don't think ...
LUCIUS: Of course not. He's not coming out, Flavius. Relax!
FLAVIUS: Our superiors must have been pretty confident it could happen. Or why else would they have us here?
LUCIUS: Flavius! Pull yourself together. He's dead.
FLAVIUS: I don't like it, that's all. I just don't see the logic in guarding a tomb.
LUCIUS: Since when has logic had anything to do with military orders? I told you, it's all politics.
FLAVIUS: So you did.
LUCIUS: Just remember, we're not here to keep the corpse in, but to keep the grave robbers out.
FLAVIUS: (Relieved) Right! That's right!
LUCIUS: And that's something we can handle.
FLAVIUS: No problem!
LUCIUS: Although ...
FLAVIUS: (Suspicious) "Although" what?
LUCIUS: Nothing.
FLAVIUS: Lucius! Don't do that to me! What are you thinking?
LUCIUS:
I was just wondering. Do you worship the gods?
FLAVIUS: No. Not really.
LUCIUS:
(Surprised) But I've seen you at the rituals.
FLAVIUS: You know how the Emperor feels about the troops attending. I go because I don't want to be reprimanded by the captain.
LUCIUS:
Then you don't believe in the supernatural.
FLAVIUS: Nah! Religion is for women. And for those who can't make it on their own.
LUCIUS:
Then you don't believe such a thing could happen.
FLAVIUS: What do you mean by "such a thing"?
LUCIUS:
The dead coming back to life.
FLAVIUS: No, I don't believe it could happen. And I wish you would stop talking about it.
LUCIUS:
(Musing) I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.
FLAVIUS: You don't sound very sure. What was it this fellow said again?
LUCIUS:
He said that after he died he would come back to life.
FLAVIUS: Really? Does that mean he's a god? Only gods do things like that.
LUCIUS:
I suppose if he does, then we'll know that he is.
FLAVIUS: (Nervously) When did he say this was supposed to happen?
LUCIUS: Three days after his death.
FLAVIUS: Three days! That means tomorrow.
LUCIUS: Or tonight.
FLAVIUS: Lucius!
LUCIUS: Sorry!
FLAVIUS: (Looking over his shoulder) What was that?
LUCIUS: (Looking back) I didn't see anything.
FLAVIUS: There was a movement in the bushes, I'm sure there was.
LUCIUS:
Maybe it's the grave robbers come to take away the body!
FLAVIUS: No, it's gone now.
LUCIUS: You're too jumpy.
FLAVIUS: Wouldn't you be, if someone were telling you ghost stories on a dark night just outside the mouth of a tomb?
LUCIUS:
It won't be dark much longer. (Pointing) Look! The moon's rising. At least now we'll be able to see if anyone tries to rob the tomb.
FLAVIUS: (Looking back) Lucius!
LUCIUS: What?
FLAVIUS: (Very nervously) Don't look now, but the stone has been rolled away from the entrance.
LUCIUS: The entrance to the tomb?
FLAVIUS: What other entrance would I be talking about?
LUCIUS:
Maybe we should send for the captain.
FLAVIUS: Don't be crazy! He'll say it was all our fault.
LUCIUS:
(Making a move as if to get down from his stool) But the grave robbers! They'll get away!
FLAVIUS: (Holding LUCIUS back) Wait! That couldn't have been the robbers. There wasn't a sound. They couldn't have moved that giant stone without a lot of men and a lot of noise. That thing weighs a ton. We should know.
LUCIUS:
So what are you saying? That he did it himself?
FLAVIUS: Certainly not! I don't believe in the gods and I don't believe in the supernatural. I'm a realist.
The ANGEL enters from the side, walks completely around their stools and stands off to one side. LUCIUS and FLAVIUS watch his every move, eyes wide, craning their necks to keep him in sight.
ANGEL: (After a dramatic pause. To the world in general) HE HAS RISEN AS HE SAID!
FLAVIUS: (Covering his eyes) Oooooh!
The ANGEL moves to the opposite side of the stage.
ANGEL: HE HAS RISEN AS HE SAID!
LUCIUS:
(Awed) A supernatural being! I've seen a supernatural being!
The ANGEL walks off stage.
FLAVIUS: (Peeking out through his fingers) Is he still here?
LUCIUS:
No. You can look now. (As FLAVIUS uncovers his eyes) Coward!
FLAVIUS: I'm not a coward! I'm a soldier! I'm a realist! And I don't believe in these things.
LUCIUS:
I'm not sure that's going to do you any good now.
FLAVIUS: Was that him? The dead one?
LUCIUS:
Of course not! Didn't you hear what he said? He said, "He is risen." That was a messenger. Messengers always accompany gods.
FLAVIUS: How do you know these things?
LUCIUS:
(Shrugs) My parents sent me to religious schools.
FLAVIUS: Oh! (Looking about fearfully) But where's the other one then? The dead one that came back to life? The god?
LUCIUS:
Good question. Could be anywhere, I suppose.
FLAVIUS: Maybe we should get out of here.
LUCIUS:
(Scornfully) Leave our post? And end up in the stockade?
FLAVIUS: No, I guess that's not such a good idea.
LUCIUS:
(Making a move as if to get down from his stool) I think I'll go look for him.
FLAVIUS: What? Are you crazy?
LUCIUS:
Not at all. I've always wanted to find out if there really were gods. Now there's one right here, nearby.
FLAVIUS: Why would you want to?
LUCIUS:
Oh, I don't know. Maybe so I can find out what it is the gods want from us humans.
FLAVIUS: I thought you didn't believe in the gods.
LUCIUS:
I never said that. You're the one who thinks he's too macho for that sort of thing.
FLAVIUS: So I am. Religion is for women and other weak people. Not for soldiers.
LUCIUS:
Maybe. But I'm interested. I want to find out more.
FLAVIUS: Really?
LUCIUS:
Sure. Aren't you, just a little? Haven't you always wondered whether the gods really exist? Haven't you ever wished they did exist?
FLAVIUS: I can't imagine what for. All gods do is push people around and require sacrifices. Expensive sacrifices.
LUCIUS:
Well, I want to know.
FLAVIUS: If you want to see gods, why don't you go look for some Roman gods? Why do you have to get involved with this Jewish kind?
LUCIUS:
(Thoughtfully) I don't know. This one just seems more intriguing. Roman gods push people around, as you said. This one seems to be more ... well, more like us.
FLAVIUS: (Warningly) You'll be leaving your port.
LUCIUS:
I'm not going very far. He's bound to be around here, somewhere. Don't you understand, Flavius? This is really important to me.
FLAVIUS: (Slowly) Yes. I can see that it is. Well, if you want to do it, I promise I won't tell any of the other guys.
LUCIUS:
Why would that matter?
FLAVIUS: You wouldn't want them laughing at you, would you? I mean, well, getting all religious like that. It's not the kind of thing a soldier does. Not a real soldier.
LUCIUS:
(Dryly) I'll take my chances. If they laugh, I'll beat them up. Is that more like what a real soldier would do?
FLAVIUS: Lucius! (Unsure) You're just kidding. Right?
LUCIUS: Of course. I wish I could explain this to you, Flavius. I've been looking for a real god ever since I was a kid. I need to know there's more to life than soldiering, more than conquering the world for Rome. More than getting a paycheck every Friday and spending it all on getting drunk Friday nights. Or gambling. Or even working to support a family. There has to be something out there that's bigger than us, more meaningful, more true. There just has to. And if there's any chance at all, I'm going to find it. Even if all the guys in the barracks laugh their heads off.
FLAVIUS: That's pretty impressive.
LUCIUS: (Getting down from his chair) You stay here. No point in both of us getting caught. I'll be back as soon as I can.
FLAVIUS: No! Wait! I'll go with you.
LUCIUS:
Are you sure? I thought you didn't believe.
FLAVIUS: I don't. But that doesn't mean I'm not willing to be convinced.
They slap each other on the shoulder in soldierly fashion, grin, and start off on their quest.
Length:
15 minutes
FLAVIUS and LUCIUS are seated on their stools, center stage.
FLAVIUS: (Complaining) What was all the hurry about for this burial? I don't understand why we had to rush.
LUCIUS:
(Distracted but agreeable) Hmmmm.
FLAVIUS: I don't know why I even ask. It's so typical of the military: Hurry up and wait.
LUCIUS:
True.
FLAVIUS: First we break our backs to get this job done ASAP and then everyone rushes off and leaves us here without a clue as to when we'll be relieved.
LUCIUS: You're right, Flavius.
FLAVIUS: I don't know why I'm so surprised. Ever since I was assigned to duty in Israel, I've been confused. I don't understand anything about this country.
LUCIUS: You're not the only one.
FLAVIUS: I'd give anything to be back in Rome. These people are so strange. Everything they do has some connection with religion. It's not natural.
LUCIUS: I certainly agree.
FLAVIUS: It's a good thing the Roman Empire took this country over to try to bring them out of their primitive culture. All this religion! It can't be good for them.
LUCIUS:
I wouldn't know about that.
FLAVIUS: (Curious) What do you know, Lucius? Do you have any idea what's going on around here?
LUCIUS: Well, I've picked up a few things, listening to the natives. As far as I can tell, all this rush has to do with one of their religious celebrations.
FLAVIUS: (Groans) I should have guessed. Which one?
LUCIUS: Passover, I think it's called.
FLAVIUS: Pass over? Pass over what?
LUCIUS:
I have no idea. I just know that they're not allowed to do any work on Passover, from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday.
FLAVIUS: Well, it's Saturday and it's after sunset. So why are we still here?
LUCIUS:
Good question.
FLAVIUS: (Musing) So that's why they had to get the body in the ground so fast. He didn't die until three o'clock on Friday afternoon so they didn't have much time to do all the burial rituals.
LUCIUS:
That's about it.
FLAVIUS: Seems a lot of fuss for a common criminal.
LUCIUS:
Apparently, he isn't just a common criminal.
FLAVIUS: He was put to death on the cross. That seems pretty common to me. Anyone with any status would have been quietly poisoned.
LUCIUS:
From what I hear, he was a pretty important figure among his own people.
FLAVIUS: Religious figure, I suppose.
LUCIUS:
Naturally. Very controversial. Even Pilate got involved in the case.
FLAVIUS: That explains why we Romans ended up putting him to death. At least we did it in a civilized way. These native people still prefer stoning, I believe.
LUCIUS:
That's right. Apparently, this guy got the common people all stirred up against the religious establishment. Naturally, they didn't appreciate that very much. It turned into a gigantic power play. And he lost.
FLAVIUS: One against the establishment. It always ends that way.
LUCIUS:
So now, here we are. Guarding his tomb.
FLAVIUS: Yes. What's the problem there? Are they worried he's going to get up and walk away?
LUCIUS: Nothing so dramatic, although apparently he did make some claims in that direction.
FLAVIUS: That he would walk out of his tomb?
LUCIUS: Something like that.
FLAVIUS: (Glancing over his shoulder) Eeeww!
LUCIUS:
Not that it could ever happen. But I think they're afraid his followers will come and get the body and hide it and then claim that he came back to life.
FLAVIUS: And the establishment is afraid the people would believe that? Is that part of their religion, a belief in walking corpses?
LUCIUS: I guess.
FLAVIUS: Where do you learn all this stuff?
LUCIUS: (Shrugs) Around.
FLAVIUS: (After a pause) The whole thing seems pretty strange to me.
LUCIUS: Absolutely.
FLAVIUS: And sort of morbid, don't you think?
LUCIUS: Sure do.
FLAVIUS: (Looking around) Starting to get pretty dark.
LUCIUS: Sure is.
FLAVIUS: You don't think ...
LUCIUS: Of course not. He's not coming out, Flavius. Relax!
FLAVIUS: Our superiors must have been pretty confident it could happen. Or why else would they have us here?
LUCIUS: Flavius! Pull yourself together. He's dead.
FLAVIUS: I don't like it, that's all. I just don't see the logic in guarding a tomb.
LUCIUS: Since when has logic had anything to do with military orders? I told you, it's all politics.
FLAVIUS: So you did.
LUCIUS: Just remember, we're not here to keep the corpse in, but to keep the grave robbers out.
FLAVIUS: (Relieved) Right! That's right!
LUCIUS: And that's something we can handle.
FLAVIUS: No problem!
LUCIUS: Although ...
FLAVIUS: (Suspicious) "Although" what?
LUCIUS: Nothing.
FLAVIUS: Lucius! Don't do that to me! What are you thinking?
LUCIUS:
I was just wondering. Do you worship the gods?
FLAVIUS: No. Not really.
LUCIUS:
(Surprised) But I've seen you at the rituals.
FLAVIUS: You know how the Emperor feels about the troops attending. I go because I don't want to be reprimanded by the captain.
LUCIUS:
Then you don't believe in the supernatural.
FLAVIUS: Nah! Religion is for women. And for those who can't make it on their own.
LUCIUS:
Then you don't believe such a thing could happen.
FLAVIUS: What do you mean by "such a thing"?
LUCIUS:
The dead coming back to life.
FLAVIUS: No, I don't believe it could happen. And I wish you would stop talking about it.
LUCIUS:
(Musing) I'm sure there's nothing to worry about.
FLAVIUS: You don't sound very sure. What was it this fellow said again?
LUCIUS:
He said that after he died he would come back to life.
FLAVIUS: Really? Does that mean he's a god? Only gods do things like that.
LUCIUS:
I suppose if he does, then we'll know that he is.
FLAVIUS: (Nervously) When did he say this was supposed to happen?
LUCIUS: Three days after his death.
FLAVIUS: Three days! That means tomorrow.
LUCIUS: Or tonight.
FLAVIUS: Lucius!
LUCIUS: Sorry!
FLAVIUS: (Looking over his shoulder) What was that?
LUCIUS: (Looking back) I didn't see anything.
FLAVIUS: There was a movement in the bushes, I'm sure there was.
LUCIUS:
Maybe it's the grave robbers come to take away the body!
FLAVIUS: No, it's gone now.
LUCIUS: You're too jumpy.
FLAVIUS: Wouldn't you be, if someone were telling you ghost stories on a dark night just outside the mouth of a tomb?
LUCIUS:
It won't be dark much longer. (Pointing) Look! The moon's rising. At least now we'll be able to see if anyone tries to rob the tomb.
FLAVIUS: (Looking back) Lucius!
LUCIUS: What?
FLAVIUS: (Very nervously) Don't look now, but the stone has been rolled away from the entrance.
LUCIUS: The entrance to the tomb?
FLAVIUS: What other entrance would I be talking about?
LUCIUS:
Maybe we should send for the captain.
FLAVIUS: Don't be crazy! He'll say it was all our fault.
LUCIUS:
(Making a move as if to get down from his stool) But the grave robbers! They'll get away!
FLAVIUS: (Holding LUCIUS back) Wait! That couldn't have been the robbers. There wasn't a sound. They couldn't have moved that giant stone without a lot of men and a lot of noise. That thing weighs a ton. We should know.
LUCIUS:
So what are you saying? That he did it himself?
FLAVIUS: Certainly not! I don't believe in the gods and I don't believe in the supernatural. I'm a realist.
The ANGEL enters from the side, walks completely around their stools and stands off to one side. LUCIUS and FLAVIUS watch his every move, eyes wide, craning their necks to keep him in sight.
ANGEL: (After a dramatic pause. To the world in general) HE HAS RISEN AS HE SAID!
FLAVIUS: (Covering his eyes) Oooooh!
The ANGEL moves to the opposite side of the stage.
ANGEL: HE HAS RISEN AS HE SAID!
LUCIUS:
(Awed) A supernatural being! I've seen a supernatural being!
The ANGEL walks off stage.
FLAVIUS: (Peeking out through his fingers) Is he still here?
LUCIUS:
No. You can look now. (As FLAVIUS uncovers his eyes) Coward!
FLAVIUS: I'm not a coward! I'm a soldier! I'm a realist! And I don't believe in these things.
LUCIUS:
I'm not sure that's going to do you any good now.
FLAVIUS: Was that him? The dead one?
LUCIUS:
Of course not! Didn't you hear what he said? He said, "He is risen." That was a messenger. Messengers always accompany gods.
FLAVIUS: How do you know these things?
LUCIUS:
(Shrugs) My parents sent me to religious schools.
FLAVIUS: Oh! (Looking about fearfully) But where's the other one then? The dead one that came back to life? The god?
LUCIUS:
Good question. Could be anywhere, I suppose.
FLAVIUS: Maybe we should get out of here.
LUCIUS:
(Scornfully) Leave our post? And end up in the stockade?
FLAVIUS: No, I guess that's not such a good idea.
LUCIUS:
(Making a move as if to get down from his stool) I think I'll go look for him.
FLAVIUS: What? Are you crazy?
LUCIUS:
Not at all. I've always wanted to find out if there really were gods. Now there's one right here, nearby.
FLAVIUS: Why would you want to?
LUCIUS:
Oh, I don't know. Maybe so I can find out what it is the gods want from us humans.
FLAVIUS: I thought you didn't believe in the gods.
LUCIUS:
I never said that. You're the one who thinks he's too macho for that sort of thing.
FLAVIUS: So I am. Religion is for women and other weak people. Not for soldiers.
LUCIUS:
Maybe. But I'm interested. I want to find out more.
FLAVIUS: Really?
LUCIUS:
Sure. Aren't you, just a little? Haven't you always wondered whether the gods really exist? Haven't you ever wished they did exist?
FLAVIUS: I can't imagine what for. All gods do is push people around and require sacrifices. Expensive sacrifices.
LUCIUS:
Well, I want to know.
FLAVIUS: If you want to see gods, why don't you go look for some Roman gods? Why do you have to get involved with this Jewish kind?
LUCIUS:
(Thoughtfully) I don't know. This one just seems more intriguing. Roman gods push people around, as you said. This one seems to be more ... well, more like us.
FLAVIUS: (Warningly) You'll be leaving your port.
LUCIUS:
I'm not going very far. He's bound to be around here, somewhere. Don't you understand, Flavius? This is really important to me.
FLAVIUS: (Slowly) Yes. I can see that it is. Well, if you want to do it, I promise I won't tell any of the other guys.
LUCIUS:
Why would that matter?
FLAVIUS: You wouldn't want them laughing at you, would you? I mean, well, getting all religious like that. It's not the kind of thing a soldier does. Not a real soldier.
LUCIUS:
(Dryly) I'll take my chances. If they laugh, I'll beat them up. Is that more like what a real soldier would do?
FLAVIUS: Lucius! (Unsure) You're just kidding. Right?
LUCIUS: Of course. I wish I could explain this to you, Flavius. I've been looking for a real god ever since I was a kid. I need to know there's more to life than soldiering, more than conquering the world for Rome. More than getting a paycheck every Friday and spending it all on getting drunk Friday nights. Or gambling. Or even working to support a family. There has to be something out there that's bigger than us, more meaningful, more true. There just has to. And if there's any chance at all, I'm going to find it. Even if all the guys in the barracks laugh their heads off.
FLAVIUS: That's pretty impressive.
LUCIUS: (Getting down from his chair) You stay here. No point in both of us getting caught. I'll be back as soon as I can.
FLAVIUS: No! Wait! I'll go with you.
LUCIUS:
Are you sure? I thought you didn't believe.
FLAVIUS: I don't. But that doesn't mean I'm not willing to be convinced.
They slap each other on the shoulder in soldierly fashion, grin, and start off on their quest.
