Reward
Drama
SUNDAY MORNING READERS' THEATER
Cast: Two people, SARAH and SIMON
Length:
5 minutes
SIMON and SARAH are seated on their stools.
SARAH: (Pointing out over the heads of the audience) Look, Simon! There goes the Head Pharisee with his entourage. Isn't he a wonderful man?
SIMON: He certainly is, Sarah! I must admit I really admire him.
SARAH: He gives so much of his money to the poor.
SIMON: Yes. I don't think there's a more generous man in the whole town.
SARAH: Listen! His servants are blowing the horn.
SIMON: Calling the beggars to the money distribution.
SARAH: It stirs my heart every time I hear it.
SIMON: A truly inspiring sound!
SARAH: And here they come! From every corner of the town. He gives alms to everyone in need.
SIMON: How humble he looks, handing out bread and coins! The beggars practically worship him. See how they kiss his hands and the hem of his garments.
SARAH: And then afterwards, when he stops on the street corner to pray out loud. Such eloquence! Such forcefulness! Such fluency!
SIMON: It brings tears to my eyes!
SARAH: And the dedication with which he fasts! I'm so impressed! You can just tell how much he's suffering by the expression on his face.
SIMON: And it's not only food and drink he gives up, I've heard, but most of the other pleasures of his life as well.
SARAH: Yes. It's obvious he doesn't allow himself a good bath or a decent shave the whole time he's fasting.
SIMON: From the way he looks, I wouldn't think he gets much sleep at night, either. Probably up praying into the wee, small hours of the morning.
SARAH: (Sighs) Such a wonderful man! If only I could be one-quarter as holy.
SIMON: Or even one-tenth! (He sees by her look that she's taken this the wrong way. Hastily) Me, I mean. If only I could be one-tenth as holy.
SARAH: And yet, you know, I feel sorry for him.
SIMON: You do?
SARAH: Well, he doesn't look happy.
SIMON: That's the result of fasting.
SARAH: No, I mean even at other times. He doesn't seem to have a very pleasant relationship with his wife, either.
SIMON: I understand his children haven't spoken to him in years.
SARAH: How sad that such a holy man should have to undergo such trials and tribulations.
SIMON: Especially on top of all the suffering he does voluntarily.
SARAH: Life just isn't fair!
SIMON: Yes. It's sad when those who do so much good receive no reward.
SARAH: Of course, a humble person like the Head Pharisee doesn't really care about reward.
SIMON: I can see that.
SARAH: Still, it would be nice for him to get a little recognition once in a while.
SIMON: Look! He's finished his prayer. He's raising his head. He's looking around.
SARAH: He sees us! He's smiling at us. (He waves) Hello! Nice day, isn't it?
SIMON: I feel honored that such an important man would even recognize us.
SARAH: I know! Let's go tell him how much we admire him.
SIMON: Why not? After all, it's important to encourage virtue wherever we find it.
SARAH: There's little enough of it in the world as it is.
SIMON: Probably because the truly holy people never get the admiration they deserve.
SARAH: Exactly! Come on! Let's go tell him how wonderful he is. Poor man! He could certainly use a little encouragement. I've never seen a more miserable person in my life.
SIMON: Right behind you!
They leave together.
Length:
5 minutes
SIMON and SARAH are seated on their stools.
SARAH: (Pointing out over the heads of the audience) Look, Simon! There goes the Head Pharisee with his entourage. Isn't he a wonderful man?
SIMON: He certainly is, Sarah! I must admit I really admire him.
SARAH: He gives so much of his money to the poor.
SIMON: Yes. I don't think there's a more generous man in the whole town.
SARAH: Listen! His servants are blowing the horn.
SIMON: Calling the beggars to the money distribution.
SARAH: It stirs my heart every time I hear it.
SIMON: A truly inspiring sound!
SARAH: And here they come! From every corner of the town. He gives alms to everyone in need.
SIMON: How humble he looks, handing out bread and coins! The beggars practically worship him. See how they kiss his hands and the hem of his garments.
SARAH: And then afterwards, when he stops on the street corner to pray out loud. Such eloquence! Such forcefulness! Such fluency!
SIMON: It brings tears to my eyes!
SARAH: And the dedication with which he fasts! I'm so impressed! You can just tell how much he's suffering by the expression on his face.
SIMON: And it's not only food and drink he gives up, I've heard, but most of the other pleasures of his life as well.
SARAH: Yes. It's obvious he doesn't allow himself a good bath or a decent shave the whole time he's fasting.
SIMON: From the way he looks, I wouldn't think he gets much sleep at night, either. Probably up praying into the wee, small hours of the morning.
SARAH: (Sighs) Such a wonderful man! If only I could be one-quarter as holy.
SIMON: Or even one-tenth! (He sees by her look that she's taken this the wrong way. Hastily) Me, I mean. If only I could be one-tenth as holy.
SARAH: And yet, you know, I feel sorry for him.
SIMON: You do?
SARAH: Well, he doesn't look happy.
SIMON: That's the result of fasting.
SARAH: No, I mean even at other times. He doesn't seem to have a very pleasant relationship with his wife, either.
SIMON: I understand his children haven't spoken to him in years.
SARAH: How sad that such a holy man should have to undergo such trials and tribulations.
SIMON: Especially on top of all the suffering he does voluntarily.
SARAH: Life just isn't fair!
SIMON: Yes. It's sad when those who do so much good receive no reward.
SARAH: Of course, a humble person like the Head Pharisee doesn't really care about reward.
SIMON: I can see that.
SARAH: Still, it would be nice for him to get a little recognition once in a while.
SIMON: Look! He's finished his prayer. He's raising his head. He's looking around.
SARAH: He sees us! He's smiling at us. (He waves) Hello! Nice day, isn't it?
SIMON: I feel honored that such an important man would even recognize us.
SARAH: I know! Let's go tell him how much we admire him.
SIMON: Why not? After all, it's important to encourage virtue wherever we find it.
SARAH: There's little enough of it in the world as it is.
SIMON: Probably because the truly holy people never get the admiration they deserve.
SARAH: Exactly! Come on! Let's go tell him how wonderful he is. Poor man! He could certainly use a little encouragement. I've never seen a more miserable person in my life.
SIMON: Right behind you!
They leave together.
