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The
Short Stories, Plays and Bible Studies of Kathy Kearney
The
Short Stories, Plays and Bible Studies of Kathy Kearney
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Prodigals ACT III
A Season For ProdigalsACT III
Scene I
READER
When he came to his senses, he said, How many of my fathers employees have more than enough to live on, but I’m dying here with nothing. I will arise and go to my father. And I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against you, and heaven, and in your sight I have lost the right to be called your son. Just take me on as the lowest paid employee you have. But let me be your son again.
(Home, Father, Sheila and Kevin sitting in the living room drinking coffee after their Christmas dinner. Kevin stands to offer a toast.)
KEVIN: I hereby take this coffee in hand to toast my future wife, he bows to Sheila. I’m only marrying you because dad’s absolutely in love with you.)
FATHER: Oh, this is wonderful. (Hugs Kevin) Congratulations, son. You couldn’t have asked for a better blessing than our Sheila! When our guests arrive won’t they be surprised. (kisses Sheila’s hand) Welcome to the family, my dear. I hope this home will ring to the rafters with the laughter of 5 or 6 grandchildren.
SHEILA: Well, I hope you’ll give us a couple of years to work on that. Maybe we can rustle up some twins and triplets.
KEVIN: Dad, Sheila and I have some last minute presents to wrap. You stay here. . .
SHEILA. . .and don’t peek into the dining room while we work.
FATHER: So what’s the penalty for peeking?
SHEILA: My mother always told us kids that peeking got you a lump of coal in your stocking.
FATHER: My, that would be painful. (hobbles around)
KEVIN: (Suddenly serious) It’s been a great Christmas, hasn’t it dad. See, we don’t need Mike after all. C’mon, Sheila, let’s get to work before the guests arrive. (Exit)
(Father sits down with coffee. Hears a knock at front door. Opens)
MIKE: Hello, dad. I. . .
FATHER: (Throws his arms around Mike) Mike! Oh, Mike, my son. You’ve come home.
MIKE: (Gently puts father at arm’s length.) I only have one thing to say, and then I’ll be on my way. (Father starts to speak, but Mike holds up his hands) I have been wrong, and I have been a fool. I threw away, more than my money, I threw away your love. You are the best father a man every had, and I want to say—
FATHER: Oh, son. You don’t have to. . .
MIKE: No, I need to say I am sorry, and ask you to forgive me. I’ll understand if you can’t. And I will leave.
FATHER: Mike, I forgave you the day you left. Oh, how I’ve prayed for this moment.
MIKE: Dad, I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but before I leave could you help my friend here. I know I brought her to the right place, and unlike me, she’s done nothing to deserve all that’s happened to her.
FATHER: (Grabs Mike in another hug). Leave! No one’s leaving, not ever again. Come, come in, both of you. You’re just in time for a party that will now be the biggest celebration of my life. (Runs hands through hair) Listen, Why don’t you two go upstairs. You both look like you could use a . . .
MIKE: . . . are you trying to say we need a shower, dad?
FATHER: Well, I didn’t want to be rude.
CHRIS: But we smell kind of ripe, right.
FATHER: (laughs) Fully aged is more like it. Mike, Chris can use the guest room. (Turns to Chris) Chris, You’re almost the same size as my wife was. Mike will get you a pair of her slacks and a sweater. Kevin and Sheila are in the dining room, so when you’re ready, wait in the den. I want to tell them you’ve come home. I’m so excited, Mike. Kevin and Sheila are going to announce their engagement tonight. Oh, we have a lot to celebrate. I’ll call you when I’m ready. (They exit as Father warns them to be quiet After they leave he stand in the room and calls) Kevin, Sheila, would you come in here please.
KEVIN: What’s wrong, dad. You sound excited.
FATHER: It’s Mike! He’s come home.
KEVIN: What! Of all the nerve! I suppose he wants more money. I hope you told him to get lost, dad. If you’re afraid to, I’ll take care of it.
SHEILA: Kevin! How can you say such a hateful thing.
FATHER: Oh, What timing! Just in time for Christmas, your engagement, and the party tonight.
KEVIN: You’ve got to be joking. You actually think I want him here celebrating this holy season with us. His presence makes a mockery of the whole thing. (Draws back from his dad, and pounds on table) Now I know where I stand with you after all these years. I can work hard, and I have, and be faithful in all the things you hold dear, church attendance, Bible studies, business ethics, and for what, so you can turn your back on me and embrace the man who killed mom and nearly ruined our business.
(As she listens to this, Sheila goes to the couch and sits down. She is visibly disturbed by Kevin’s reaction.)
FATHER: You can’t mean that, Kevin. Your brother’s back, and on Christmas eve.
KEVIN: What you ask is unreasonable. Neither Sheila nor I will be here for the party either. Come on, Sheila!
FATHER: Kevin, I have always loved you. Everything I’ve ever worked for has been yours for the asking. I thought you gave those things you mentioned from a willing heart. What did they mean to you, son? I can’t turn my back on Mike. I’m asking you not to. I’m begging you to be reconciled to your brother. Please don’t ask me to not be overjoyed at his return.
(Knocks on door sound and voices ringing out Merry Christmas.) Our guests are arriving. I’ll take them into the dining room. Wait until they see Mike. (Father rushes out, and we can hear his voice offstage.) Welcome, everyone, and Merry Christmas indeed! You all remember by youngest son, Mike. He’s come home just in time to celebrate Christmas with us, and his return from a long journey.
(Voices answer.) Yes, yes, he’s here now, with a lovely young friend. They’ll be joining us shortly.
(Sheila has had her back to Kevin when he turns from father)
KEVIN: Sheila, I’ve made up my mind. Let’s leave here now. I don’t care if we have to drive all night. I want as much distance between me and Mike as possible.
SHEILA: Kevin, I’m returning your ring. (She takes it off)
KEVIN: Why?
SHEILA: Because, Kevin, all this time I thought you were someone else, or maybe I hoped you would become a different you. I thought that if Mike ever returned you’d forget your anger in the rush of love that one brother can only have for another.
KEVIN: What does that have to do with us?
SHEILA: You don’t see it, do you. You don’t see that it has everything to do with us. How can I marry you—give you my heart, Kevin, when I will always wonder what trespass or shortcoming will make you throw it away. If you can’t forgive Mike, how will forgive me when I fall short of your wishes? How can I have children to a father that will always remind them of how they’re failing to live up to those expectations? I’m sorry, Kevin, the risk is too great. I could never live with such uncertainty.
KEVIN: Very well, (takes the ring) if that’s how you feel. Perhaps you’re right. Better that I find out now just how disloyal to me you are when it comes to Mike. Good bye, Sheila. I will not stay in the same house with people who have betrayed me. Tell dad that I’ll send for my things. (Turns and leaves the room)
(Sheila looks after Kevin as he leaves, and then sits down)
MIKE: (Enters looking for Kevin) Kevin? (Sees Sheila) Sheila! How great to see you again.
SHEILA: Mike! (Goes to Mike and hugs) Oh, Mike. It’s so good to see you. I’ve prayed for you so often. This must be your father’s happiest moment.
MIKE: Oh Sheila, I didn’t think I could get any lower, and I lost all hope of coming home. But I met a very special lady on those distant streets. God used her to open my eyes and help me come to my senses. And I intend to go back and get her.
SHEILA: I only knew you a short while before you left, Mike. But I always sensed you had a caring heart. Welcome home.
MIKE: (looks around) Where’s Kevin. I have so much to tell him.
SHEILA: (Looks sadly at the door that Kevin exited through) Kevin? Well, he’s gone away on a very long journey. I-uh, don’t know when he’s coming back. Come on, Mike. Everyone is waiting for you. (She exits the room wiping her eyes)
MIKE: (Looks about the room, and then heads for the living-room, stops) Christmas—thank God, there’s a season for prodigals. (Exits)
READER:
Christmas. The season for prodigals. Mike has chosen to return to the Father, but Kevin who has all along been as alienated as Mike, has chosen to remain in the distant country of his bitterness. You see; his pride has blinded him to the fact that all of us are prodigals. He has never learned that the unconditional love of God the Father is never ours to demand because of good works, or clean living.
It is to us prodigals that God, in awesome love, sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ. You see, Christ makes it possible for light to shine in the darkness of the human condition and soul. “For unto to us all this night, in the city of David, is born a savior, who is Christ, the Lord. Yes, is born, not was born.
He comes to every prodigal, you and me, knocking on our heart’s door and asking to be born anew in our life. And like every prodigal we must decide to stay in the distant countries of our shabby efforts and hopelessness, and sin, or arise and go to our Father.
While Christmas is a statement of God’s love, it is also a question demanding our answer.
Thank God for Christmas, the season for prodigals—the season for us.
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Kathy Kearney, published author of Christian short stories, Christian articles, Plays, Monologues, Old Fashioned Melodrama's -- Also Bible Study Teacher and public speaker. Her Bible Studies are on the site in a Blog format. You can access those from the main site. Please check back - OFTEN because the Blog is updated two to three times a week!!
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