Unforgiveness
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Forgiveness is necessary for relationships.
Summary
Things are in an uproar at the Peskey home. One thing leads to another and Rena, the mother, brings up something in her husband Sam's background for which she cannot forgive him.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
The Peskey house
Props
Sam -- a newspaper
Rena -- a pile of dirty clothes and a tennis shoe
Costumes
Contemporary, casual
Time
The present
Cast
SAM PESKEY
RENA -- his wife
TIFF -- their daughter, age 16
SAM: (ENTERS, CARRYING A NEWSPAPER) Did you see Bill? I told him to finish that lawn, and the lawnmower is sitting out front and he's nowhere around.
RENA: (ENTERS CARRYING DIRTY CLOTHES AND ONE TENNIS SHOE THAT SHE HAS JUST PICKED UP) I can't find my keys. I'm late already. Have you seen my keys? I wish people would just leave things where they're supposed to be. I've got to get Tiff to the doctor. (YELLING) Tiffany! (EXITS)
SAM: (YELLING) Bill! Bill, get in here.
TIFF: (ENTERS) Well, where is she?
SAM: (POINTING AFTER RENA) Where's your brother?
TIFF: How should I know? What does she want?
SAM: (SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS) He's going to get it!
RENA: (ENTERS) There you are. What are you doing?
TIFF: Waiting for you, as usual.
RENA: I've been looking all over for my keys. We're going to be late. Have you seen my keys?
TIFF: No.
SAM: Did you see Bill?
TIFF: NO!
RENA: If you want Bill, why don't you go look for Bill?
SAM: Why can't anyone do what they're told around here? I told Bill ...
RENA: Well, why can't someone set an example for them?
SAM: I didn't lose MY keys.
RENA: You've got time to read the paper, but you don't have time to paint the bathroom.
SAM: I'm tired when I get home. I like to read the paper.
RENA: And the bathroom will just paint itself, I guess.
SAM: I have three shirts I can't wear because they have buttons missing.
TIFF: Mom, are we going, or not?
RENA: Going, yes, we're walking. Tiffany, I cannot find my keys! Is that clear? If you want to do something, go find my keys.
TIFF: Where did you put them?
RENA: If I knew where I put them I'd go get them and leave your father so he can READ HIS PRECIOUS PAPER!
SAM: If you'd get organized you'd be able to find your keys when you need them. You should put them on the key rack in the back hall when you get home. That's what I always do.
RENA: I know you do, on the way to getting the paper and leaving your tie in the hallway and your jacket in the dining room and your shoes under the chair. You never pick up anything around here. I have to pick up after you all the time. I gave birth twice but I have three children!
TIFF: I think I will just go look for those keys. (EXITS)
RENA: Tiff ... (TO SAM) Now, look what you've done.
SAM: Me? Oh, sure, that's my fault.
RENA: It sure is your fault. If you'd take some interest in the lives of your own children ...
SAM: This is logical. If I'd take an interest in Tiffany's French homework, you wouldn't have lost your keys.
RENA: Forget the keys. This isn't about keys. This is about you not having time to paint the bathroom or go to Tiffany's play or ...
SAM: I was in Washington, D.C., for crying out loud.
RENA: You could have gone there anytime.
SAM: I could not. It was the national convention. I didn't set the date for the national convention.
RENA: You didn't have to go.
SAM: Oh, right. Hello, is this the President? I'm sorry I can't make it to the most important meeting of the last four years. Why? Because my daughter is in the school play. Oh, you will? That's great. Okay, I will. You, too.
RENA: Other fathers were there.
SAM: And I wasn't. That makes me the evil demon of Twelfth Street.
RENA: You just broke a little girl's heart.
SAM: That was six years ago. Six years ago.
RENA: Little girls don't forget.
SAM: Neither do you.
RENA: Why should I? You hurt her.
SAM: But six years? Six years? I don't beat her. I've done nice things for her in the last six years. Certainly, I must have made up for it.
RENA: I'll never forgive you for what you did to a ten-year-old girl who was counting on her father to support her. (SAM BEGINS TO EXIT) Where are you going?
SAM: Leaving.
RENA: Leaving again. Where? I want to know where.
SAM: I'm going to sew some buttons on my shirt.
Forgiveness is necessary for relationships.
Summary
Things are in an uproar at the Peskey home. One thing leads to another and Rena, the mother, brings up something in her husband Sam's background for which she cannot forgive him.
Playing Time
3 minutes
Setting
The Peskey house
Props
Sam -- a newspaper
Rena -- a pile of dirty clothes and a tennis shoe
Costumes
Contemporary, casual
Time
The present
Cast
SAM PESKEY
RENA -- his wife
TIFF -- their daughter, age 16
SAM: (ENTERS, CARRYING A NEWSPAPER) Did you see Bill? I told him to finish that lawn, and the lawnmower is sitting out front and he's nowhere around.
RENA: (ENTERS CARRYING DIRTY CLOTHES AND ONE TENNIS SHOE THAT SHE HAS JUST PICKED UP) I can't find my keys. I'm late already. Have you seen my keys? I wish people would just leave things where they're supposed to be. I've got to get Tiff to the doctor. (YELLING) Tiffany! (EXITS)
SAM: (YELLING) Bill! Bill, get in here.
TIFF: (ENTERS) Well, where is she?
SAM: (POINTING AFTER RENA) Where's your brother?
TIFF: How should I know? What does she want?
SAM: (SHRUGS HIS SHOULDERS) He's going to get it!
RENA: (ENTERS) There you are. What are you doing?
TIFF: Waiting for you, as usual.
RENA: I've been looking all over for my keys. We're going to be late. Have you seen my keys?
TIFF: No.
SAM: Did you see Bill?
TIFF: NO!
RENA: If you want Bill, why don't you go look for Bill?
SAM: Why can't anyone do what they're told around here? I told Bill ...
RENA: Well, why can't someone set an example for them?
SAM: I didn't lose MY keys.
RENA: You've got time to read the paper, but you don't have time to paint the bathroom.
SAM: I'm tired when I get home. I like to read the paper.
RENA: And the bathroom will just paint itself, I guess.
SAM: I have three shirts I can't wear because they have buttons missing.
TIFF: Mom, are we going, or not?
RENA: Going, yes, we're walking. Tiffany, I cannot find my keys! Is that clear? If you want to do something, go find my keys.
TIFF: Where did you put them?
RENA: If I knew where I put them I'd go get them and leave your father so he can READ HIS PRECIOUS PAPER!
SAM: If you'd get organized you'd be able to find your keys when you need them. You should put them on the key rack in the back hall when you get home. That's what I always do.
RENA: I know you do, on the way to getting the paper and leaving your tie in the hallway and your jacket in the dining room and your shoes under the chair. You never pick up anything around here. I have to pick up after you all the time. I gave birth twice but I have three children!
TIFF: I think I will just go look for those keys. (EXITS)
RENA: Tiff ... (TO SAM) Now, look what you've done.
SAM: Me? Oh, sure, that's my fault.
RENA: It sure is your fault. If you'd take some interest in the lives of your own children ...
SAM: This is logical. If I'd take an interest in Tiffany's French homework, you wouldn't have lost your keys.
RENA: Forget the keys. This isn't about keys. This is about you not having time to paint the bathroom or go to Tiffany's play or ...
SAM: I was in Washington, D.C., for crying out loud.
RENA: You could have gone there anytime.
SAM: I could not. It was the national convention. I didn't set the date for the national convention.
RENA: You didn't have to go.
SAM: Oh, right. Hello, is this the President? I'm sorry I can't make it to the most important meeting of the last four years. Why? Because my daughter is in the school play. Oh, you will? That's great. Okay, I will. You, too.
RENA: Other fathers were there.
SAM: And I wasn't. That makes me the evil demon of Twelfth Street.
RENA: You just broke a little girl's heart.
SAM: That was six years ago. Six years ago.
RENA: Little girls don't forget.
SAM: Neither do you.
RENA: Why should I? You hurt her.
SAM: But six years? Six years? I don't beat her. I've done nice things for her in the last six years. Certainly, I must have made up for it.
RENA: I'll never forgive you for what you did to a ten-year-old girl who was counting on her father to support her. (SAM BEGINS TO EXIT) Where are you going?
SAM: Leaving.
RENA: Leaving again. Where? I want to know where.
SAM: I'm going to sew some buttons on my shirt.
