Song by Becky Potter
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
The Son of Man is coming like the flood. Be ready as Noah was.
Summary
A modern retelling of the Noah story.
Playing Time
13 minutes
Setting
The world before the flood
Props
Rain hat, umbrella, lunch pail
Costumes
Contemporary with costume pieces
Time
The time before the flood
Cast
NOAH
MRS. NOAH
GERHON -- a neighbor
NOAH'S SONS AND THEIR WIVES
SHEM
MRS. SHEM
HAM
MRS. HAM
JAPHETH
MRS. JAPHETH
(NOAH, IN PANTOMIME, SEEN WORKING ON ARK. ON THE RADIO WE HEAR ...)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
Once there was a man of God.
And Noah was his name.
God said to Noah,"Better build an ark,
To protect you from the rain.
You see, I'm gonna make it rain
Forty days and forty nights.
It's gonna be such a terrible storm,
Won't be anything left in sight."
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
MRS. NOAH: (ENTERS) How's it coming, dear?
NOAH: It's about finished. Turn that radio down, will you, so we can talk.
MRS. NOAH: (TURNING RADIO DOWN) I brought you lunch.
NOAH: Thanks. I was getting hungry.
MRS. NOAH: You didn't eat any breakfast again.
NOAH: I was anxious to get started. It's almost finished.
MRS. NOAH: You really love it, don't you? The ark, I mean.
NOAH: It's the Lord's work. I get tired, but it's a good tired. It's the Lord's work.
MRS. NOAH: You'd better hurry and get finished. The weather forecast has been predicting rain all day.
NOAH: I know. I heard it.
MRS. NOAH: Noah. What's rain?
NOAH: It's something new. The Lord explained it to me. Somehow the water is going to come down on the earth.
MRS. NOAH: Come down from where?
NOAH: I don't know exactly. But the Lord said it, so He can do it. We just have to trust Him.
MRS. NOAH: I trust you. (SHE GIVES HIM A KISS)
NOAH: That's good. But trust the Lord, too.
MRS. NOAH: But you know Him better than I do. Well, I've got to get back to my laundry. See you at dinnertime. (SHE EXITS. NOAH TURNS RADIO UP AND RETURNS TO WORK)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
Noah said, "Oh, Father, why would you do such a terrible thing?"
" 'Cause the people have turned their backs on me.
Now, they'll see what sin can bring.
You and your family are the only ones, the only ones in all the land
That I'm gonna save from the terrible storm.
You're an honest and upright man."
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
GERHON: (ENTERS) Still at it, I see. (HE FLIPS THE RADIO OFF)
NOAH: Hello, Gerhon. What brings you all the way over here?
GERHON: I wanted to invite you to my wedding.
NOAH: Gerhon, I'd like to come, but I've got to get the ark finished.
GERHON: Come on, Noah, what's a few days? There's going to be eating and drinking and merrying and, of course, giving in marriage. You don't want to miss it.
NOAH: You're right. I don't want to miss it, but I've got work to do.
GERHON: Noah, how long have you been working on that ark?
NOAH: One hundred and nineteen years.
GERHON: One hundred and nineteen. Don't you think you could take a few days off for your friend's wedding?
NOAH: You have been a good friend, Gerhon, but I just can't do it.
GERHON: I walked all the way over here to invite you personally.
NOAH: Look, Gerhon. The Lord God told me to do this, personally!
GERHON: But you're 600 years old.
NOAH: Don't remind me.
GERHON: You could use a rest. A few days of celebration will be nice.
NOAH: A few days of celebration sound real nice. I am tired, but I've got to finish this ark for the Lord.
GERHON: I don't understand.
NOAH: Gerhon, remember I told you about how the Lord God talks to me?
GERHON: Sure, Noah, I remember, but ...
NOAH: Well, He told me to build the ark! Get it?
GERHON: No.
NOAH: How do you think we got here?
GERHON: You know I believe in Yllis.
NOAH: The flying turtle? Come on, Gerhon.
GERHON: Yllis is a goddess. You know that.
NOAH: I don't know that. I do know that any turtle that flies over the countryside spitting out people is a pretty wild thought, even if you think she is a "goddess."
GERHON: Hey. I don't make fun of your god, do I? Yllis doesn't bother your god. So don't pick on mine.
NOAH: Look, Gerhon, your "goddess" is nothing. A figment of someone's imagination. Why not worship the only true God?
GERHON: How do you know the true God isn't Yllis?
NOAH: What good has Yllis ever done for you?
GERHON: She didn't choose my mother as a sacrifice this year.
NOAH: How would you feel if your mother was chosen?
GERHON: Angry ... at first. Then, I suppose, resigned to it ... grateful, I guess, that I was honored ... I don't know.
NOAH: The Lord God loves you, Gerhon.
GERHON: Me? He loves me?
NOAH: He created you. He loves you and wants to save you.
GERHON: Save me? Save me from what?
NOAH: The Lord God is going to flood the earth.
GERHON: Really? How is He going to do that?
NOAH: Well, all I can tell you is that it's something new. It's called rain.
GERHON: Yeah, rain. I heard it forecast on the radio. What is it?
NOAH: The Lord says it's water that comes down.
GERHON: Comes down from where?
NOAH: I don't know. But, don't get hung up on that ...
GERHON: (LAUGHING) I think you've been working out in the sun too long, Noah. Water that comes down, huh? And you think Yllis is unbelievable. Noah, why don't you take some time off and come to the wedding. You need the rest. I'll even let you tell the "rain" joke. "Rain," huh? That's a good one. (AS HE EXITS) Flood the earth. Rain! Water that comes down. (HE LAUGHS. NOAH TURNS THE RADIO ON AND CONTINUES WORKING)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
God said to Noah, "This is my plan.
This is what I want you to do.
When you build the ark you better put in some stalls.
We're gonna have a floating zoo."
Then Noah went across the land
Gathering animals, two of each kind.
His neighbors thought after all of this
He had really lost his mind.
SHEM: (ENTERS. TURNS OFF RADIO) Dad, Dad!
NOAH: What is it, Shem?
SHEM: Have you heard the radio? It's predicting rain.
NOAH: Yes, of course.
SHEM: What is rain?
NOAH: It's water that comes down. Don't ask from where.
SHEM: Is it good?
NOAH: It's a gift from the Lord. The Lord's gifts are always good. He says it will rain for forty days and ...
SHEM: That's going to be a lot of water.
NOAH: Yes, a flood.
SHEM: No one can swim in that much water for forty days.
NOAH: That's why we're building the ark.
SHEM: But all the people ...
NOAH: The Lord knows best.
SHEM: Not all those people can get in the ark, Dad. That doesn't sound like a good gift. That sounds like a harsh judgment. Why would the Lord ...?
NOAH: The Lord said He gave them 119 years to change.
SHEM: The time the ark was being built.
NOAH: That's right. Whenever someone obeys the Lord, it becomes a judgment for all those who don't obey.
SHEM: Oh, I get it. The Lord would save all the people if He could.
NOAH: The Lord can! The people just don't believe Him. They have judged themselves.
SHEM: Thanks for explaining that to me.
NOAH: You're welcome, Shem. By the way, did you bring that load of gopher wood with you?
SHEM: Oh, no. I forgot it. It's back at the house.
NOAH: That's okay. I'll go get it. I'll be right back. (NOAH EXITS)
MRS. SHEM: (ENTERS ALONG WITH MRS. NOAH) Is he gone?
SHEM: Yes, hurry.
MRS. NOAH: Did you remember to bring the kumquats?
SHEM: Yes. They're right here. Where are the others?
MRS. NOAH: They're on the way.
MRS. SHEM: I made Noah's favorite. Rutabaga pie.
MRS. NOAH: Oh, he'll love it. Oh, here they come.
(NOAH, JAPHETH AND MRS. JAPHETH ENTER ALONG WITH HAM AND HIS WIFE)
ALL: Happy Birthday! (ALL HUG AND KISS)
NOAH: I'm so surprised!
MRS. NOAH: (PRODUCING A BIG CAKE) I'm so sorry I couldn't get all 600 candles on it.
NOAH: That's all right. Once you get past 500 you stop counting.
SHEM: Remember what we did 300 years ago on your birthday, Dad?
NOAH: Three hundred years ago ... Let's see. Yes, I do remember. We went to the zoo, and we had a picnic.
HAM: I remember. All the animals.
MRS. NOAH: And now we have our own zoo.
JAPHETH: Dad, you're the birthday boy. You get to choose anything you want to do today.
HAM: Yeah, Dad, what is it?
NOAH: Well, I'd like to go on a picnic again.
MRS. HAM: A picnic, what fun.
MRS. SHEM: Everything's ready. Let's go. (THEY ALL PREPARE TO LEAVE)
HAM: (HOLDING UP HANDS TO FEEL RAIN) Oh, oh. Something's happening.
MRS. NOAH: Water's coming down.
NOAH: That's rain.
MRS. NOAH: Well, let's have our picnic in the ark, then. It'll be just like that day 300 years ago when we went to the zoo.
NOAH: Okay, let's go.
MRS. NOAH: (AS THEY EXIT) Happy birthday, dear.
NOAH: (AS MRS. NOAH KISSES HIM) I love you too, dear. Thanks for the surprise ... so this is rain, huh?
(ALL FREEZE IN ATTITUDES OF WONDERMENT)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
Then one day the time had come and everybody got on board.
The neighbors laughed and started to shout,
And Noah's warnings were just ignored.
Chorus:
And then it rained and rained and rained some more,
And rained and rained some more.
Verse:
The water covered all of the earth.
Wasn't anything left alive,
But for the Ark and its passengers;
They alone survived.
So, when the good Lord says,
"Won't you come to Me,
And turn from your evil ways?"
Don't turn your backs, but turn to Him,
And give Him all your praise;
Or else you'll be just like all the others
Who weren't on board ...
Chorus:
When it rained and rained and rained some more and rained and rained some more.
The Son of Man is coming like the flood. Be ready as Noah was.
Summary
A modern retelling of the Noah story.
Playing Time
13 minutes
Setting
The world before the flood
Props
Rain hat, umbrella, lunch pail
Costumes
Contemporary with costume pieces
Time
The time before the flood
Cast
NOAH
MRS. NOAH
GERHON -- a neighbor
NOAH'S SONS AND THEIR WIVES
SHEM
MRS. SHEM
HAM
MRS. HAM
JAPHETH
MRS. JAPHETH
(NOAH, IN PANTOMIME, SEEN WORKING ON ARK. ON THE RADIO WE HEAR ...)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
Once there was a man of God.
And Noah was his name.
God said to Noah,"Better build an ark,
To protect you from the rain.
You see, I'm gonna make it rain
Forty days and forty nights.
It's gonna be such a terrible storm,
Won't be anything left in sight."
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
MRS. NOAH: (ENTERS) How's it coming, dear?
NOAH: It's about finished. Turn that radio down, will you, so we can talk.
MRS. NOAH: (TURNING RADIO DOWN) I brought you lunch.
NOAH: Thanks. I was getting hungry.
MRS. NOAH: You didn't eat any breakfast again.
NOAH: I was anxious to get started. It's almost finished.
MRS. NOAH: You really love it, don't you? The ark, I mean.
NOAH: It's the Lord's work. I get tired, but it's a good tired. It's the Lord's work.
MRS. NOAH: You'd better hurry and get finished. The weather forecast has been predicting rain all day.
NOAH: I know. I heard it.
MRS. NOAH: Noah. What's rain?
NOAH: It's something new. The Lord explained it to me. Somehow the water is going to come down on the earth.
MRS. NOAH: Come down from where?
NOAH: I don't know exactly. But the Lord said it, so He can do it. We just have to trust Him.
MRS. NOAH: I trust you. (SHE GIVES HIM A KISS)
NOAH: That's good. But trust the Lord, too.
MRS. NOAH: But you know Him better than I do. Well, I've got to get back to my laundry. See you at dinnertime. (SHE EXITS. NOAH TURNS RADIO UP AND RETURNS TO WORK)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
Noah said, "Oh, Father, why would you do such a terrible thing?"
" 'Cause the people have turned their backs on me.
Now, they'll see what sin can bring.
You and your family are the only ones, the only ones in all the land
That I'm gonna save from the terrible storm.
You're an honest and upright man."
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
GERHON: (ENTERS) Still at it, I see. (HE FLIPS THE RADIO OFF)
NOAH: Hello, Gerhon. What brings you all the way over here?
GERHON: I wanted to invite you to my wedding.
NOAH: Gerhon, I'd like to come, but I've got to get the ark finished.
GERHON: Come on, Noah, what's a few days? There's going to be eating and drinking and merrying and, of course, giving in marriage. You don't want to miss it.
NOAH: You're right. I don't want to miss it, but I've got work to do.
GERHON: Noah, how long have you been working on that ark?
NOAH: One hundred and nineteen years.
GERHON: One hundred and nineteen. Don't you think you could take a few days off for your friend's wedding?
NOAH: You have been a good friend, Gerhon, but I just can't do it.
GERHON: I walked all the way over here to invite you personally.
NOAH: Look, Gerhon. The Lord God told me to do this, personally!
GERHON: But you're 600 years old.
NOAH: Don't remind me.
GERHON: You could use a rest. A few days of celebration will be nice.
NOAH: A few days of celebration sound real nice. I am tired, but I've got to finish this ark for the Lord.
GERHON: I don't understand.
NOAH: Gerhon, remember I told you about how the Lord God talks to me?
GERHON: Sure, Noah, I remember, but ...
NOAH: Well, He told me to build the ark! Get it?
GERHON: No.
NOAH: How do you think we got here?
GERHON: You know I believe in Yllis.
NOAH: The flying turtle? Come on, Gerhon.
GERHON: Yllis is a goddess. You know that.
NOAH: I don't know that. I do know that any turtle that flies over the countryside spitting out people is a pretty wild thought, even if you think she is a "goddess."
GERHON: Hey. I don't make fun of your god, do I? Yllis doesn't bother your god. So don't pick on mine.
NOAH: Look, Gerhon, your "goddess" is nothing. A figment of someone's imagination. Why not worship the only true God?
GERHON: How do you know the true God isn't Yllis?
NOAH: What good has Yllis ever done for you?
GERHON: She didn't choose my mother as a sacrifice this year.
NOAH: How would you feel if your mother was chosen?
GERHON: Angry ... at first. Then, I suppose, resigned to it ... grateful, I guess, that I was honored ... I don't know.
NOAH: The Lord God loves you, Gerhon.
GERHON: Me? He loves me?
NOAH: He created you. He loves you and wants to save you.
GERHON: Save me? Save me from what?
NOAH: The Lord God is going to flood the earth.
GERHON: Really? How is He going to do that?
NOAH: Well, all I can tell you is that it's something new. It's called rain.
GERHON: Yeah, rain. I heard it forecast on the radio. What is it?
NOAH: The Lord says it's water that comes down.
GERHON: Comes down from where?
NOAH: I don't know. But, don't get hung up on that ...
GERHON: (LAUGHING) I think you've been working out in the sun too long, Noah. Water that comes down, huh? And you think Yllis is unbelievable. Noah, why don't you take some time off and come to the wedding. You need the rest. I'll even let you tell the "rain" joke. "Rain," huh? That's a good one. (AS HE EXITS) Flood the earth. Rain! Water that comes down. (HE LAUGHS. NOAH TURNS THE RADIO ON AND CONTINUES WORKING)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
God said to Noah, "This is my plan.
This is what I want you to do.
When you build the ark you better put in some stalls.
We're gonna have a floating zoo."
Then Noah went across the land
Gathering animals, two of each kind.
His neighbors thought after all of this
He had really lost his mind.
SHEM: (ENTERS. TURNS OFF RADIO) Dad, Dad!
NOAH: What is it, Shem?
SHEM: Have you heard the radio? It's predicting rain.
NOAH: Yes, of course.
SHEM: What is rain?
NOAH: It's water that comes down. Don't ask from where.
SHEM: Is it good?
NOAH: It's a gift from the Lord. The Lord's gifts are always good. He says it will rain for forty days and ...
SHEM: That's going to be a lot of water.
NOAH: Yes, a flood.
SHEM: No one can swim in that much water for forty days.
NOAH: That's why we're building the ark.
SHEM: But all the people ...
NOAH: The Lord knows best.
SHEM: Not all those people can get in the ark, Dad. That doesn't sound like a good gift. That sounds like a harsh judgment. Why would the Lord ...?
NOAH: The Lord said He gave them 119 years to change.
SHEM: The time the ark was being built.
NOAH: That's right. Whenever someone obeys the Lord, it becomes a judgment for all those who don't obey.
SHEM: Oh, I get it. The Lord would save all the people if He could.
NOAH: The Lord can! The people just don't believe Him. They have judged themselves.
SHEM: Thanks for explaining that to me.
NOAH: You're welcome, Shem. By the way, did you bring that load of gopher wood with you?
SHEM: Oh, no. I forgot it. It's back at the house.
NOAH: That's okay. I'll go get it. I'll be right back. (NOAH EXITS)
MRS. SHEM: (ENTERS ALONG WITH MRS. NOAH) Is he gone?
SHEM: Yes, hurry.
MRS. NOAH: Did you remember to bring the kumquats?
SHEM: Yes. They're right here. Where are the others?
MRS. NOAH: They're on the way.
MRS. SHEM: I made Noah's favorite. Rutabaga pie.
MRS. NOAH: Oh, he'll love it. Oh, here they come.
(NOAH, JAPHETH AND MRS. JAPHETH ENTER ALONG WITH HAM AND HIS WIFE)
ALL: Happy Birthday! (ALL HUG AND KISS)
NOAH: I'm so surprised!
MRS. NOAH: (PRODUCING A BIG CAKE) I'm so sorry I couldn't get all 600 candles on it.
NOAH: That's all right. Once you get past 500 you stop counting.
SHEM: Remember what we did 300 years ago on your birthday, Dad?
NOAH: Three hundred years ago ... Let's see. Yes, I do remember. We went to the zoo, and we had a picnic.
HAM: I remember. All the animals.
MRS. NOAH: And now we have our own zoo.
JAPHETH: Dad, you're the birthday boy. You get to choose anything you want to do today.
HAM: Yeah, Dad, what is it?
NOAH: Well, I'd like to go on a picnic again.
MRS. HAM: A picnic, what fun.
MRS. SHEM: Everything's ready. Let's go. (THEY ALL PREPARE TO LEAVE)
HAM: (HOLDING UP HANDS TO FEEL RAIN) Oh, oh. Something's happening.
MRS. NOAH: Water's coming down.
NOAH: That's rain.
MRS. NOAH: Well, let's have our picnic in the ark, then. It'll be just like that day 300 years ago when we went to the zoo.
NOAH: Okay, let's go.
MRS. NOAH: (AS THEY EXIT) Happy birthday, dear.
NOAH: (AS MRS. NOAH KISSES HIM) I love you too, dear. Thanks for the surprise ... so this is rain, huh?
(ALL FREEZE IN ATTITUDES OF WONDERMENT)
Chorus:
It's gonna rain and rain and rain some more and rain and rain some more.
Verse:
Then one day the time had come and everybody got on board.
The neighbors laughed and started to shout,
And Noah's warnings were just ignored.
Chorus:
And then it rained and rained and rained some more,
And rained and rained some more.
Verse:
The water covered all of the earth.
Wasn't anything left alive,
But for the Ark and its passengers;
They alone survived.
So, when the good Lord says,
"Won't you come to Me,
And turn from your evil ways?"
Don't turn your backs, but turn to Him,
And give Him all your praise;
Or else you'll be just like all the others
Who weren't on board ...
Chorus:
When it rained and rained and rained some more and rained and rained some more.
