The Hike (Alt)
(A drama about following God for the long haul)

Director's Notes:
I was recently asked to write a drama for a youth group. I decided to take 'The Hike' and alter it since it seemed to fit so perfectly with their goals. The adult leadership of the group wanted to say that they were there for the teens. The drama is aimed at both the Christian and the non-Christian teen. To the Christian it says: We (the leadership) are going to work with you to continue to grow into a deeper relationship with our God. To the non-Christian it says: We are going to patiently help you understand more about God – moving you in time from a seeker to a follower.

Cast:
John: An adult guide
Beth: Ditto
Ray: A student that has not made a commitment to Christ
Jen: Ditto
Rich: A student that has made a commitment to Christ
Wendy: Ditto

Props:
Backpacks, sleeping bags, etc.
Appropriate hiking gear
A scenic picture of a mountain (if you have a screen to display it on. Need one? Email me.)
A piece of paper (page 2 of the script works!)

Setting:
The camp site at the base of a mountain

(LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE where all the teens are lying on their backs, eyes closed, heads propped up on their sleeping bags.)

Beth: (comes walking up with Beth) Okay, gang. Let’s get a move on.

John: Hello? Let’s go. Hey Ray! (kicks his sleeping bag that he’s using as a pillow).

Ray: What?

John: I said, let’s get going. We think we can make the timberline before nightfall.

Ray: I don’t think so.

John: Why not?

Jen: Cause we’re not going.

Beth: What do you mean? We have to finish the hike.

Jen: YOU guys finish the hike. We’re done.

John: You’re done?

Ray: Yeah. Done. Finished. Over. Hello???

Beth: You can’t be done. We’ve only just made it to the base.

Wendy: Well, we’ve been talking and Ray pointed out that we have everything we need right here. We don’t really need to go any further.

Rich: Yeah, and besides, have you seen that trail?

John: Yeah. So?

Rich: So? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a trail so narrow. Not to mention how steep and rocky it is.

Beth: Hey, c’mon guys. This was part of the deal remember. When we started this hike we said that we’d finish it no matter what.

Jen: No, you c’mon. Look around you. This place is great. (reaches into her backpack) Here.

John: What’s this?

Jen: It’s a list of PROS why we should stay here.

John: These are you’re PROS? Okay, let’s go through them.

Ray: Fine, go ahead.

John: Fresh Air?

Jen: Yeah, beautiful skies, don’t you think?

John: Food and water?

Wendy: Well, Ray pointed out that we’ve got a well over there…

Rich: (finishing her sentence) and a couple acres of apple trees over there.

John: Good fellowship?

Ray: Yeah, have you seen that girl that lives just down the road?

John: Okay gang, right now it might seem that all this is fine. It might actually look better than fine. But what are you gonna do when it starts to storm? Where you gonna go? And what happens when your well goes dry or when the winter comes and there’s no fruit on the trees? Or (looking at Ray) when you take your shoes off and that girl get’s a whiff of the real you?

Ray: Hey!

Beth: You think the air is fresh here? Just wait until you get above the clouds. You think this water tastes good? Try drinking out of clear, mountain streams. You lookin for fellowship? Well, you haven’t had fellowship until you’ve been up on the mountain.

John: So, you guys comin?

Rich: (silence for a couple of seconds and Rich jumps up) Yeah, I’m in. Wendy?

Wendy: Yep. Me too.

John: What about you two? You guys up for it?

Ray: I don’t know. I kinda like it here. I’m not sure I’m ready for it.

Jen: Yeah, me too. I mean, seeing pictures of the mountain and climbing it are two different things.

John: (takes a long look at them - then looks at Beth) Tell you what, Beth. You go on ahead with Rich and Wendy. You know the way. (looks back at Ray and Jen.) I’ll stay here a while. Okay?

Beth: Yep. See you at the first plateau. (Beth, Wendy and Rich leave the stage)

John: (pulls out a map and sits down with Ray and Jen) Okay, how about we spend some time looking at the map again and I’ll answer any questions you might have. Sound good?

Jen/Ray: Yeah, sounds pretty good.

John: Good. Now how about some of those apples Rich was talking about.

Ray: No problem. I’ll get them. (goes walking off the stage)

John: Uh, Ray. Isn’t that the way to that girls house? I thought the trees were over there?

Ray: Oh yeah, heh. Whoops. (walks back to the other side of the stage and off)

John/Jen: (shake their heads and smile. They then go back to looking at the map and talking as the LIGHTS FADE.)

END

© 1999 Dave Marsh