This Present Time
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Can we analyze the present time as well as analyze the weather? Jesus says we'd better learn.
Summary
A father and daughter are talking about the weather and the daughter longs for her mother and brother from whom she and the father are estranged. A family drama emphasizing our inability to see the signs of the present age.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
A house
Props
Some business papers
Costumes
Contemporary, casual
Time
The present time
Cast
DAD
WENDY -- 15 years old
WENDY: (ENTERS AND CROSSES TO DAD, WHO IS WORKING ON SOME PAPERS) Dad, do you think it's going to rain?
DAD: It looks like it.
WENDY: How do you know that, Dad?
DAD: Look, there, see that black cloud rising in the west?
WENDY: Sure. It is a black one.
DAD: Well, when you see that, it means it's going to rain.
WENDY: Dad, you sure know how to predict the weather. I don't much like the rain.
DAD: I never did either. I still don't.
WENDY: Dad, do you think we'll ever see them again?
DAD: I told you never to talk about them.
WENDY: I know. I know.
DAD: They have decided they didn't want us in their lives.
WENDY: I can't help thinking about Mom and Sammy.
DAD: Please, Wendy. If you're going to talk about them I'm leaving.
WENDY: Okay. I won't talk about them anymore. You wouldn't really leave me, would you?
DAD: Of course not. You think like I do. We have to stick together.
WENDY: And if I didn't think like you do? Then what?
DAD: But you do, so we're together. That's all. Now, let's talk about something else.
WENDY: Okay. (PAUSE) Dad, are we ever going to church again?
DAD: Maybe. We'll see.
WENDY: I had a lot of friends at church.
DAD: We'll see, Wendy.
WENDY: I loved it when we all went to the church picnic. You played baseball and we all cheered for you.
DAD: Yeah, you had a good time, didn't you?
WENDY: I sure did. And Mom made her great fried chicken. I just love her fried chicken.
DAD: Boy, yeah, it was good. I wish ... I told you not to talk about them!
WENDY: Then what can we talk about? There's no subject we can talk about. I'm always thinking about Mom and Sammy and once in a while it just slips out. I have to talk to you, Dad. I don't have any friends.
DAD: You'll make some new friends. It won't take long. You'll see.
WENDY: All my friends were at church and school and I can't go either place. Dad, I'm lonely. If I can't talk to you, who will be my friend?
DAD: Wendy, please, I have to get this work finished. Will you just read or watch television or something?
WENDY: But, Dad ...
DAD: That's it! Wendy, just leave me alone. Do you hear me? Leave me alone! (DAD EXITS, LEAVING WENDY TO CRY ALONE)
Can we analyze the present time as well as analyze the weather? Jesus says we'd better learn.
Summary
A father and daughter are talking about the weather and the daughter longs for her mother and brother from whom she and the father are estranged. A family drama emphasizing our inability to see the signs of the present age.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
A house
Props
Some business papers
Costumes
Contemporary, casual
Time
The present time
Cast
DAD
WENDY -- 15 years old
WENDY: (ENTERS AND CROSSES TO DAD, WHO IS WORKING ON SOME PAPERS) Dad, do you think it's going to rain?
DAD: It looks like it.
WENDY: How do you know that, Dad?
DAD: Look, there, see that black cloud rising in the west?
WENDY: Sure. It is a black one.
DAD: Well, when you see that, it means it's going to rain.
WENDY: Dad, you sure know how to predict the weather. I don't much like the rain.
DAD: I never did either. I still don't.
WENDY: Dad, do you think we'll ever see them again?
DAD: I told you never to talk about them.
WENDY: I know. I know.
DAD: They have decided they didn't want us in their lives.
WENDY: I can't help thinking about Mom and Sammy.
DAD: Please, Wendy. If you're going to talk about them I'm leaving.
WENDY: Okay. I won't talk about them anymore. You wouldn't really leave me, would you?
DAD: Of course not. You think like I do. We have to stick together.
WENDY: And if I didn't think like you do? Then what?
DAD: But you do, so we're together. That's all. Now, let's talk about something else.
WENDY: Okay. (PAUSE) Dad, are we ever going to church again?
DAD: Maybe. We'll see.
WENDY: I had a lot of friends at church.
DAD: We'll see, Wendy.
WENDY: I loved it when we all went to the church picnic. You played baseball and we all cheered for you.
DAD: Yeah, you had a good time, didn't you?
WENDY: I sure did. And Mom made her great fried chicken. I just love her fried chicken.
DAD: Boy, yeah, it was good. I wish ... I told you not to talk about them!
WENDY: Then what can we talk about? There's no subject we can talk about. I'm always thinking about Mom and Sammy and once in a while it just slips out. I have to talk to you, Dad. I don't have any friends.
DAD: You'll make some new friends. It won't take long. You'll see.
WENDY: All my friends were at church and school and I can't go either place. Dad, I'm lonely. If I can't talk to you, who will be my friend?
DAD: Wendy, please, I have to get this work finished. Will you just read or watch television or something?
WENDY: But, Dad ...
DAD: That's it! Wendy, just leave me alone. Do you hear me? Leave me alone! (DAD EXITS, LEAVING WENDY TO CRY ALONE)
