Guilt And Shame
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
There is plenty to be guilty about. We all are sinners.
Without God's forgiveness there is no hope.
Summary
Things are in a turmoil at the Peskey home. Rena is angry at her husband Sam concerning a trip to a massage parlor, and Sam is feeling guilty and worthless.
Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting
The Peskey house
Props
Rena -- a business card
Costumes
Contemporary, casual
Time
The present
Cast
RENA
SAM
SAM: (ENTERS. RENA IS ALREADY IN PLACE, PACING, AND ANGRY) Rena? I've got to talk to you.
RENA: Well, talk.
SAM: Oh-oh. I can see it's going to be one of those very cold talks.
RENA: Frigid. Listen, Sam, I'm in no mood. If you've to got something to say, say it.
SAM: Okay, I deserve that, maybe, but ....
RENA: Let's cut right to it. Sam, you're a loser. My dad said it from the start. You're no good.
SAM: I just want to explain.
RENA: What explanation can there be? You were at some dirty, filthy massage parlor. (WAVING THE BUSINESS CARD) Away from the "little woman," the "nagging wife," to some convention in Washington and and you think you can do anything you like. That's not a husband, Sam. Oh, no, that's not a husband at all. That's a worm. That's a slimeball. That's ...
SAM: Let me explain.
RENA: Explain? How can you explain disrespect -- total disregard for your wife and family? Why did you feel it was necessary to go to a place like that?
SAM: I just wanted to see what it was like.
RENA: I don't want to hear this. (BEGINS TO EXIT)
SAM: No, wait, listen. Nothing happened there. Nothing really happened. Joe and I went. That's it. Nothing happened.
RENA: Why? Why did you go?
SAM: I just told you. I was curious.
RENA: You were curious. You were curious! You're an imbecile! An immature, idiotic imbecile!
SAM: Immature?
RENA: Immature! Immature! You're sick! Look at you. You've got the body of a grown man, but your mind -- your mind is stuck back in high school getting your jollies watching the girls in the bathroom.
SAM: Oh, come on.
RENA: Sick! You're sick. It's pornography. I don't care if they call it soft porn or what they call it. It's harmful and it's addictive and it's got you, Sam. It's got you!
SAM: What do you mean?
RENA: I mean, you're hooked, Sam. You're hooked. Sam, you haven't so much as touched me for six months.
SAM: Well ...
RENA: By God, Sam, you'd better get some help. I'm telling you, you'd better get some help or else we won't have a marriage.
SAM: You wouldn't.
RENA: I would, Sam. I will. You get some help and get it right now or I'll get a divorce.
SAM: Okay, okay, I'm sorry.
RENA: Sorry. Yes. You are. You're a sorry excuse for a husband and a father.
SAM: I know it. I am. I am.
RENA: Get out of my sight.
SAM: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to that place. I shouldn't have gone.
RENA: You're darn right you shouldn't have gone.
SAM: Look, Rena, I'll change. I'll ...
RENA: No, Sam, I don't want to hear that tired old line. You've worn that one out. Just change, Sam. I don't want to hear your stupid promises. Just change who you are.
SAM: So, you don't like who I am, right?
RENA: That's basically it, yes.
SAM: Fine. That's fine. I'll just go change my entire personality. I'll just go shopping for a new me.
RENA: I think that would be best. Yes.
SAM: Look, Rena, I'm no good. I know that. Your father was
right. I'm no good.
RENA: If you think I'm going to feel sorry for you after hearing that pathetic little whimper, you're sadly mistaken.
SAM: Well, what do you want? What do you want from me?
RENA: Nothing anymore. I want a man. A real man.
SAM: What is that supposed to mean?!
RENA: It means I want a real man. A real man.
SAM: And what am I?
RENA: Aw, Sam. You ask me some great questions. You really do.
SAM: Well?
RENA: Sam. Sam. You are a big baby. That's what you are. A big baby. Your inept, stupid parents never took the time to care for you and this is the result.
SAM: I know. I know. It's all true. Sometimes I think I might just change, but then I never do. I'll never change. I know that now.
RENA: Well, then, I'm through. (BEGINS TO EXIT)
SAM: (FOLLOWING HER) No. No, Rena. Wait. (SHE CONTINUES TO EXIT SLOWLY)
There is plenty to be guilty about. We all are sinners.
Without God's forgiveness there is no hope.
Summary
Things are in a turmoil at the Peskey home. Rena is angry at her husband Sam concerning a trip to a massage parlor, and Sam is feeling guilty and worthless.
Playing Time
5 minutes
Setting
The Peskey house
Props
Rena -- a business card
Costumes
Contemporary, casual
Time
The present
Cast
RENA
SAM
SAM: (ENTERS. RENA IS ALREADY IN PLACE, PACING, AND ANGRY) Rena? I've got to talk to you.
RENA: Well, talk.
SAM: Oh-oh. I can see it's going to be one of those very cold talks.
RENA: Frigid. Listen, Sam, I'm in no mood. If you've to got something to say, say it.
SAM: Okay, I deserve that, maybe, but ....
RENA: Let's cut right to it. Sam, you're a loser. My dad said it from the start. You're no good.
SAM: I just want to explain.
RENA: What explanation can there be? You were at some dirty, filthy massage parlor. (WAVING THE BUSINESS CARD) Away from the "little woman," the "nagging wife," to some convention in Washington and and you think you can do anything you like. That's not a husband, Sam. Oh, no, that's not a husband at all. That's a worm. That's a slimeball. That's ...
SAM: Let me explain.
RENA: Explain? How can you explain disrespect -- total disregard for your wife and family? Why did you feel it was necessary to go to a place like that?
SAM: I just wanted to see what it was like.
RENA: I don't want to hear this. (BEGINS TO EXIT)
SAM: No, wait, listen. Nothing happened there. Nothing really happened. Joe and I went. That's it. Nothing happened.
RENA: Why? Why did you go?
SAM: I just told you. I was curious.
RENA: You were curious. You were curious! You're an imbecile! An immature, idiotic imbecile!
SAM: Immature?
RENA: Immature! Immature! You're sick! Look at you. You've got the body of a grown man, but your mind -- your mind is stuck back in high school getting your jollies watching the girls in the bathroom.
SAM: Oh, come on.
RENA: Sick! You're sick. It's pornography. I don't care if they call it soft porn or what they call it. It's harmful and it's addictive and it's got you, Sam. It's got you!
SAM: What do you mean?
RENA: I mean, you're hooked, Sam. You're hooked. Sam, you haven't so much as touched me for six months.
SAM: Well ...
RENA: By God, Sam, you'd better get some help. I'm telling you, you'd better get some help or else we won't have a marriage.
SAM: You wouldn't.
RENA: I would, Sam. I will. You get some help and get it right now or I'll get a divorce.
SAM: Okay, okay, I'm sorry.
RENA: Sorry. Yes. You are. You're a sorry excuse for a husband and a father.
SAM: I know it. I am. I am.
RENA: Get out of my sight.
SAM: I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone to that place. I shouldn't have gone.
RENA: You're darn right you shouldn't have gone.
SAM: Look, Rena, I'll change. I'll ...
RENA: No, Sam, I don't want to hear that tired old line. You've worn that one out. Just change, Sam. I don't want to hear your stupid promises. Just change who you are.
SAM: So, you don't like who I am, right?
RENA: That's basically it, yes.
SAM: Fine. That's fine. I'll just go change my entire personality. I'll just go shopping for a new me.
RENA: I think that would be best. Yes.
SAM: Look, Rena, I'm no good. I know that. Your father was
right. I'm no good.
RENA: If you think I'm going to feel sorry for you after hearing that pathetic little whimper, you're sadly mistaken.
SAM: Well, what do you want? What do you want from me?
RENA: Nothing anymore. I want a man. A real man.
SAM: What is that supposed to mean?!
RENA: It means I want a real man. A real man.
SAM: And what am I?
RENA: Aw, Sam. You ask me some great questions. You really do.
SAM: Well?
RENA: Sam. Sam. You are a big baby. That's what you are. A big baby. Your inept, stupid parents never took the time to care for you and this is the result.
SAM: I know. I know. It's all true. Sometimes I think I might just change, but then I never do. I'll never change. I know that now.
RENA: Well, then, I'm through. (BEGINS TO EXIT)
SAM: (FOLLOWING HER) No. No, Rena. Wait. (SHE CONTINUES TO EXIT SLOWLY)
