The Parable Of Big Business
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
57 Vignettes For Cycle A
Theme
In the Kingdom of God increased responsibility necessitates increased faithfulness.
Summary
The boss delegates responsibilities before he leaves and each of his assistants handles the responsibility according to his level of faith and obedience. The first two people receive praise for their efforts when the boss returns, but the last person receives no praise because he wasted his time.
Playing Time: 8 minutes
Setting: The boss's office
Props: Files, notebooks, phones, a gun
Costumes: Business
Time: The present
Cast: BOSS
CELIA -- his secretary
BANNON
KRASKY
WHITE
BOSS: (IS SEATED CENTER STAGE. CELIA STANDS NEARBY) Are all the accounts paid up?
CELIA: Yes, Sir. Every one of them.
BOSS: Good. That's good. Is my car ready?
CELIA: It has arrived, Sir.
BOSS: Did you contact Bannon, Krusky, and White?
CELIA: I certainly did. They're outside waiting for you.
BOSS: Good. Send them in. I'll be with you in a moment. (CELIA EXITS. BANNON, KRUSKY AND WHITE ENTER)
BOSS: All right, boys, you know I'm leaving, so I'm dividing the entire operation between you three. Now, you, Bannon, I'm assigning you to the waterfront operation and the garment district.
BANNON: I'll take good care of things, Boss.
BOSS: I'm not finished, yet. Plus, you also take care of all the theaters and the motels and the car dealership.
BANNON: Gotcha.
BOSS: Okay, get to it. My secretary will have all the details for you in writing.
BANNON: Thanks, Boss. Good luck. (HE EXITS)
BOSS: And now, Krusky, you get the nite clubs and the hotel.
KRUSKY: All right, Boss. I'm on my way.
BOSS: Good. Take care.
KRUSKY: Will do, Boss. You, too.
BOSS: And now you, White.
WHITE: Sir?
BOSS: I'm putting you in charge of the deli.
WHITE: The deli, Sir?
BOSS: Yes, you used to work there so you know the operation. (HANDS HIM THE DEED) It's yours until I return. Now, I don't want to be late, so take care. I'll see you later. (BOSS EXITS)
WHITE: Okay. (SITS IN BOSS' CHAIR)
KRUSKY: (ENTERS. ON PHONE) Thanks, Mason. Get back to me on that, will you?
CELIA: (ENTERS) Mr. Krusky, here are those files you wanted on the copper mining deal.
KRUSKY: Thanks, Celia. Oh, by the way, did the Boss mention anything about buying into soft drinks?
CELIA: Soft drinks? No, he didn't.
(KRUSKY AND CELIA CROSS TO ANOTHER AREA. KRUSKY TALKS ON PHONE)
BANNON: (ENTERS. AS HE DOES, CELIA CROSSES TO HIM) Celia? Remember the Maitlin Company. Well, I think I can buy them out. They had a bad month and they're desperate. I've got some ideas that will help them turn a profit. Get me all the facts on them, will you? (BANNON AND CELIA CROSS TO ANOTHER AREA. BANNON GETS ON PHONE)
WHITE: (THINKING OUT LOUD) Look at them. Of course they're doing well. Look at all they have to work with. What did I get? The deli, that's what. It never did make any money. Why the boss didn't get rid of it long ago, I'll never know.
CELIA: Mr. Bannon, those statistics just came in on Stryker Oil.
BANNON: Good. Let's have a look. (INTO PHONE.) Listen, H. C., I don't think ...
WHITE: I can't even think straight. All this noise. What am I supposed to do? I can't sell the deli, what if the boss comes back and doesn't like what I did?
KRUSKY: Celia, ask the managers of the Alkin Company. to stand by, will you? I'll talk to them later.
CELIA: Mr. Krusky, will you be dining out tonight?
KRUSKY: No. Too much work. Send out for Chinese.
WHITE: You'd think they'd at least eat at the deli. Naw! I wouldn't even eat there. It's hopeless. No one would buy the place. It doesn't make a dime and it's run down. How'd I get stuck with such a lousy place? When the boss comes back, I'm going to ... but what if the boss doesn't come back? I've heard rumors that he's going away because of his heart. Maybe he'll kick-off. Maybe I could close the deli down and if he doesn't come back I could sell the land, maybe keep the money myself. I'll just hide this deed ... (TIME PASSES. BANNON, KRUSKY AND CELIA MOVE IN FAST MOTION AND WHITE SITS LAZILY IN BOSS' CHAIR)
BANNON: How long has it been since the boss left?
CELIA: Three and a half years.
BANNON: Well, I just hope, when he gets back ... (THE BOSS ENTERS)
CELIA: Mr ...
BANNON: Boss, you're back.
KRUSKY: (RUSHING UP TO HIM) Welcome home. It's been a long time.
BANNON: How was it?
BOSS: Well, I made a few good deals. How about here? How'd it go?
BANNON: I had to sell Sinco, but I bought Northco Inc. and the Wintime Camera.
BOSS: And how are they doing?
BANNON: Wintime had a twenty percent increase so far this year. Here's the rest of the statistics. We doubled our holdings.
BOSS: Well done. Good. Very good. How would you like to oversee the entire operation here?
BANNON: I'd like the opportunity.
BOSS: Why don't you get started. There's a bonus in it, too. You've been faithful.
BANNON: Thanks a lot. (HE EXITS)
KRUSKY: Look at this. I'm glad you're here. I didn't know whether to buy the coal interest in the Worthy Company or their oil stock.
BOSS: Where'd you get the capital for this?
KRUSKY: We did really well last year. (HANDS HIM A FOLDER)
BOSS: I guess so. In that case, buy them both. Try to close the deal within a couple of days; I'm promoting you. I want you to be in charge of the operation in Paris.
KRUSKY: Thanks, Boss. (HE EXITS)
WHITE: Boss?
BOSS: Oh, yes, White. What is it? How's the deli?
WHITE: That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
BOSS: Well?
WHITE: The deli wasn't doing so good.
BOSS: Go on.
WHITE: It lost money two years in a row, and I ...
BOSS: Lost money! How did that happen?
WHITE: How'd it happen? I don't know. No customers, I guess.
BOSS: You guess! No one guesses around me. Especially when money's involved.
WHITE: I was afraid. I hid the deed so no one would steal the property from you. I know you're a hard man in business, so ...
BOSS: (GRABBING WHITE BY THE COLLAR) Why, you lazy, good for nothing ... You ought to have sold it and at least put the money in the bank where it would've drawn interest.
WHITE: But you've got lots of money. What could one little deli mean to you?
BOSS: You're right. I've got lots of money and I intend to have a lot more, but I haven't held onto it by being lazy ... or hiring lazy people to work for me. (YELLS) Bannon, Krusky! (THEY ENTER. CELIA FOLLOWS)
BANNON: Yes, Sir?
BOSS: (HANDING DEED TO BANNON) Here, take this. It's the deli. You're in charge of it now.
BANNON: Good. I've got some things I'd like to try, there.
BOSS: And take care of this lazy ... (HANDING WHITE OVER TO BANNON AND KRUSKY WHO EXIT WITH HIM)
CELIA: Sir?
BOSS: Yes?
CELIA: May I ask a question?
BOSS: Of course. Go right ahead.
CELIA: I can understand your getting rid of Mr. White. I would have done the same thing myself. But why did you give the deli to Mr. Bannon?
BOSS: Well, it's like this -- it all boils down to responsibility. If you can't handle the little things ...
CELIA: You can't handle the big things, right?
BOSS: Right. And it has a lot to do with accountability. White must have thought there would never come a time when I would call him to account. Who knows what was going on in his mind? (BANNON AND KRUSKY ENTER)
CELIA: Too bad.
BOSS: Yeah. (A PISTOL SHOT)
In the Kingdom of God increased responsibility necessitates increased faithfulness.
Summary
The boss delegates responsibilities before he leaves and each of his assistants handles the responsibility according to his level of faith and obedience. The first two people receive praise for their efforts when the boss returns, but the last person receives no praise because he wasted his time.
Playing Time: 8 minutes
Setting: The boss's office
Props: Files, notebooks, phones, a gun
Costumes: Business
Time: The present
Cast: BOSS
CELIA -- his secretary
BANNON
KRASKY
WHITE
BOSS: (IS SEATED CENTER STAGE. CELIA STANDS NEARBY) Are all the accounts paid up?
CELIA: Yes, Sir. Every one of them.
BOSS: Good. That's good. Is my car ready?
CELIA: It has arrived, Sir.
BOSS: Did you contact Bannon, Krusky, and White?
CELIA: I certainly did. They're outside waiting for you.
BOSS: Good. Send them in. I'll be with you in a moment. (CELIA EXITS. BANNON, KRUSKY AND WHITE ENTER)
BOSS: All right, boys, you know I'm leaving, so I'm dividing the entire operation between you three. Now, you, Bannon, I'm assigning you to the waterfront operation and the garment district.
BANNON: I'll take good care of things, Boss.
BOSS: I'm not finished, yet. Plus, you also take care of all the theaters and the motels and the car dealership.
BANNON: Gotcha.
BOSS: Okay, get to it. My secretary will have all the details for you in writing.
BANNON: Thanks, Boss. Good luck. (HE EXITS)
BOSS: And now, Krusky, you get the nite clubs and the hotel.
KRUSKY: All right, Boss. I'm on my way.
BOSS: Good. Take care.
KRUSKY: Will do, Boss. You, too.
BOSS: And now you, White.
WHITE: Sir?
BOSS: I'm putting you in charge of the deli.
WHITE: The deli, Sir?
BOSS: Yes, you used to work there so you know the operation. (HANDS HIM THE DEED) It's yours until I return. Now, I don't want to be late, so take care. I'll see you later. (BOSS EXITS)
WHITE: Okay. (SITS IN BOSS' CHAIR)
KRUSKY: (ENTERS. ON PHONE) Thanks, Mason. Get back to me on that, will you?
CELIA: (ENTERS) Mr. Krusky, here are those files you wanted on the copper mining deal.
KRUSKY: Thanks, Celia. Oh, by the way, did the Boss mention anything about buying into soft drinks?
CELIA: Soft drinks? No, he didn't.
(KRUSKY AND CELIA CROSS TO ANOTHER AREA. KRUSKY TALKS ON PHONE)
BANNON: (ENTERS. AS HE DOES, CELIA CROSSES TO HIM) Celia? Remember the Maitlin Company. Well, I think I can buy them out. They had a bad month and they're desperate. I've got some ideas that will help them turn a profit. Get me all the facts on them, will you? (BANNON AND CELIA CROSS TO ANOTHER AREA. BANNON GETS ON PHONE)
WHITE: (THINKING OUT LOUD) Look at them. Of course they're doing well. Look at all they have to work with. What did I get? The deli, that's what. It never did make any money. Why the boss didn't get rid of it long ago, I'll never know.
CELIA: Mr. Bannon, those statistics just came in on Stryker Oil.
BANNON: Good. Let's have a look. (INTO PHONE.) Listen, H. C., I don't think ...
WHITE: I can't even think straight. All this noise. What am I supposed to do? I can't sell the deli, what if the boss comes back and doesn't like what I did?
KRUSKY: Celia, ask the managers of the Alkin Company. to stand by, will you? I'll talk to them later.
CELIA: Mr. Krusky, will you be dining out tonight?
KRUSKY: No. Too much work. Send out for Chinese.
WHITE: You'd think they'd at least eat at the deli. Naw! I wouldn't even eat there. It's hopeless. No one would buy the place. It doesn't make a dime and it's run down. How'd I get stuck with such a lousy place? When the boss comes back, I'm going to ... but what if the boss doesn't come back? I've heard rumors that he's going away because of his heart. Maybe he'll kick-off. Maybe I could close the deli down and if he doesn't come back I could sell the land, maybe keep the money myself. I'll just hide this deed ... (TIME PASSES. BANNON, KRUSKY AND CELIA MOVE IN FAST MOTION AND WHITE SITS LAZILY IN BOSS' CHAIR)
BANNON: How long has it been since the boss left?
CELIA: Three and a half years.
BANNON: Well, I just hope, when he gets back ... (THE BOSS ENTERS)
CELIA: Mr ...
BANNON: Boss, you're back.
KRUSKY: (RUSHING UP TO HIM) Welcome home. It's been a long time.
BANNON: How was it?
BOSS: Well, I made a few good deals. How about here? How'd it go?
BANNON: I had to sell Sinco, but I bought Northco Inc. and the Wintime Camera.
BOSS: And how are they doing?
BANNON: Wintime had a twenty percent increase so far this year. Here's the rest of the statistics. We doubled our holdings.
BOSS: Well done. Good. Very good. How would you like to oversee the entire operation here?
BANNON: I'd like the opportunity.
BOSS: Why don't you get started. There's a bonus in it, too. You've been faithful.
BANNON: Thanks a lot. (HE EXITS)
KRUSKY: Look at this. I'm glad you're here. I didn't know whether to buy the coal interest in the Worthy Company or their oil stock.
BOSS: Where'd you get the capital for this?
KRUSKY: We did really well last year. (HANDS HIM A FOLDER)
BOSS: I guess so. In that case, buy them both. Try to close the deal within a couple of days; I'm promoting you. I want you to be in charge of the operation in Paris.
KRUSKY: Thanks, Boss. (HE EXITS)
WHITE: Boss?
BOSS: Oh, yes, White. What is it? How's the deli?
WHITE: That's what I wanted to talk to you about.
BOSS: Well?
WHITE: The deli wasn't doing so good.
BOSS: Go on.
WHITE: It lost money two years in a row, and I ...
BOSS: Lost money! How did that happen?
WHITE: How'd it happen? I don't know. No customers, I guess.
BOSS: You guess! No one guesses around me. Especially when money's involved.
WHITE: I was afraid. I hid the deed so no one would steal the property from you. I know you're a hard man in business, so ...
BOSS: (GRABBING WHITE BY THE COLLAR) Why, you lazy, good for nothing ... You ought to have sold it and at least put the money in the bank where it would've drawn interest.
WHITE: But you've got lots of money. What could one little deli mean to you?
BOSS: You're right. I've got lots of money and I intend to have a lot more, but I haven't held onto it by being lazy ... or hiring lazy people to work for me. (YELLS) Bannon, Krusky! (THEY ENTER. CELIA FOLLOWS)
BANNON: Yes, Sir?
BOSS: (HANDING DEED TO BANNON) Here, take this. It's the deli. You're in charge of it now.
BANNON: Good. I've got some things I'd like to try, there.
BOSS: And take care of this lazy ... (HANDING WHITE OVER TO BANNON AND KRUSKY WHO EXIT WITH HIM)
CELIA: Sir?
BOSS: Yes?
CELIA: May I ask a question?
BOSS: Of course. Go right ahead.
CELIA: I can understand your getting rid of Mr. White. I would have done the same thing myself. But why did you give the deli to Mr. Bannon?
BOSS: Well, it's like this -- it all boils down to responsibility. If you can't handle the little things ...
CELIA: You can't handle the big things, right?
BOSS: Right. And it has a lot to do with accountability. White must have thought there would never come a time when I would call him to account. Who knows what was going on in his mind? (BANNON AND KRUSKY ENTER)
CELIA: Too bad.
BOSS: Yeah. (A PISTOL SHOT)
