Reason for the Season
(A drama about Christmas)

Director's Notes: This drama is really aimed at the kids. It reminds them of the true meaning of Christmas. It's also good for the adults since it shows us how we can easily stress out and forget about God.

The drama is divided into 3 parts. The first part is where everything is going wrong and the Christmas spirit is lost. The second part is where Teri asks the kids questions about what they heard and saw. The third part is where they 'turn back time' and do it all over again - same circumstances, different outcomes.

Cast:
Teri: Mom
Dave: Dad

Props:
A couch or two chairs put together
A bunch of wrapped presents for the kids (doesn't matter what)
1 remote
A candle or two
CD with sound effects on it
A doll and some other presents
Coat
Phone
Christmas tree (if available)
Screwdriver

Setting:
A family room

(LIGHTS UP CENTER STAGE - Christmas Eve - Teri is watching the Weather Channel and Dave enters with wrapping paper and a few gifts to wrap.)

Dave: Hey honey!

Teri: Oh, hey. Are those the last of the gifts?

Dave: I certainly hope so! We're running out of paper. Did the bank call?

Teri: The bank?

Dave: Yeah. You know, we're gonna need a second mortgage to pay for all this junk!

Teri: Bah humbug, Mr. Scrooge.

Dave: Yeah, well. I guess I'd better get a move on if I'm gonna be done before the kids wake up.

Teri: Which should be, oh, at about 5 am.

Dave: (sighs) Sounds about right. (holds up this doll) Did you see this new doll Isabelle wanted? It's supposed to say Mommy, Daddy, Meema, Poppa, Grandma, and Grandpa.

Teri: Yeah?

Dave: (he pushes a button on the back and it moos.)

Teri: Lovely.

Dave: Yeah (disgusted - pulling out a screwdriver) Fifty bucks and it can't even do the thing we bought it for. Junk. Gotta fix it before I can wrap it. (notices that Teri is watching the TV) What's up there?

Teri: The weather. The snow has really been coming down and your brother might not be able to get out of O'Hare.

Dave: Oh, that's just great! (mad) That's going to wreck everything!

Teri: Exactly. I mean, the kids are going to be crushed if they don't see their cousins and what about the presents? They'll be crushed. I mean, that's what it's all about right?

Dave: Yep. This is awful. (looks at the doll) Okay. Here goes nothing. (Presses the button and hears a airplane sound)

Teri: What a waste. (looks at TV). Oh great. There goes the cable! You would figure that the cable could survive snow.

Dave: Well, this is just great! The Grinch is on tonight.

Teri: So?

Dave: So? I've seen the Grinch every year since I was 12! I mean, now what are we gonna do? It's a Christmas tradition! You know, presents, the Grinch, Christmas ham...

Teri: (Let's out a shriek and jumps up) Oh my Gosh! The ham! I forgot to pick up the ham! And now it's closed until after Christmas!

Dave: You've got to be kidding? How could you forget that? What are we gonna serve my brother? Hamburger helper?

Teri: Hey, don't blame me! I wasn't out playing in the snow all day!

Dave: (Shouting) That's called SHOVELING! (He throws down the doll and it begins to bark)

Teri: Oh I can't believe this is happening. What else could go wrong!? (The lights suddenly go out)

Dave: Brilliant. Just brilliant! Now what are we gonna do? Eat tomorrow in the dark? You know Virginia Power. They'll never get it on in time!

Teri: Hold on. Where's those candles...? (starts lighting candles)

Dave: Great. Eating by candlelight with my brother. How romantic. I better call the power company and find out what's going on. (tries the phone but it's dead) Great! Just great!

Teri: Don't tell me the phone is dead!

Dave:Stinking electric phones. Supposed to be better than the old touch tones! Hey, didn't you buy this for me last Christmas?

Teri: (through gritted teeth) D o n ' t   g o   t h e r e....

Dave: Yeah, whatever. I better go outside and see if the neighbors have power. If we're out, they better be! (puts on coat and leaves)

Teri: (shakes her head) This is some Christmas.

(Teri now turns to the kids and asks them questions about what they saw. What problems did they have? How did they respond to them? What did they find important and who did they forget about?

Teri: I wish we could just do it all over again.

Dave: (comes back in) Wait a minute. We can. Let's just rewind this drama and start all over again. This time, let's get it right!

Teri: Sounds great!

(they both then start going backwards very quickly through their paces and say a bunch of gibberish. Once they are at the beginning, the drama starts over.)

Dave: Hey honey!

Teri: Oh, hey. Are those the last of the gifts?

Dave: I certainly hope so! (laughing) We're running out of paper. Did the bank call?

Teri: The bank?

Dave: Yeah. You know, we're gonna need a second mortgage to pay for all this junk! (laughs again)

Teri: (smiling) Bah humbug, Mr. Scrooge.

Dave: Hee hee. Yeah, well. I guess I'd better get a move on if I'm gonna be done before the kids wake up.

Teri: Which should be, oh, at about 5 am.

Dave: (smiles) Sounds about right. (holds up this doll) Did you see this new doll Isabelle wanted? It's supposed to say Mommy, Daddy, Meema, Poppa, Grandma, and Grandpa.

Teri: Yeah?

Dave: (he pushes a button on the back and it moos.)

Teri: Laughs. That's great!

Dave: Yeah (laughs - pulling out a screwdriver) Fifty bucks and it can't even do the thing we bought it for! What a trip! She's gonna love it. But, I guess I should try and = fix it before I  wrap it. (notices that Teri is watching the Tv) What's up there?

Teri: The weather. The snow has really been coming down and your brother might not be able to get out of O'Hare.

Dave: Oh, that's awful! I hope their flight gets out ok.

Teri: Exactly. I mean, I know the kids are going to be crushed if they don't see their cousins but it's more important that they're safe. Hey, Dave, let's pray about it.

Dave: Good idea! (They bow and Dave says a prayer of protection.) Amen. (He looks at the doll) Here goes nothing. (Presses the button and hears a airplane sound)

Teri: (They laugh again and she eventually looks at TV). Oh great. There goes the cable! You would figure that the cable could survive snow.

Dave: Oh, man. that stinks. The Grinch is on tonight.

Teri: Oh, that's right. Haven't you seen that show every year since you were 12?

Dave: Yeah. Except for this year maybe.

Teri: Well, don't we have the Peanuts on video tape? We could watch that. I love that part where Linus tells the true meaning of Christmas.

Dave: You're right, that would be great. I guess I can do without a year of the Grinch, and Sam and the roast beast and...

Teri: (Let's out a shriek and jumps up) Oh my Gosh! The ham! I forgot to pick up the ham! And now it's closed until after Christmas!

Dave: Man.... that's okay though. (stands up and puts his arm around her) It's probably best this way.

Teri: What do you mean?

Dave: Don't you remember last year? You know, my brother and the carving knife?

Teri: (starts laughing) Oh yeah! I've never seen a ham cut quite that way before!  Oh well, I'll find some chicken or something. I mean, it's not that big of a deal. If that's the worse that happens today... (The lights suddenly go out)

Dave:Whoops! Too late. Looks like we're gonna be eating in the dark...

Teri: Unreal. Where's those candles...? (starts lighting candles)

Dave: Well, this will be interesting - eating by candlelight. You know... it's kinda cool. I mean, 2000 years ago, they didn't have electricity and here we are today.

Teri: It is kinda cool. We can make it feel like we were almost back there when Jesus was born.

Dave: Alright. And if it gets too cold, we'll start a fire. Or maybe burn this (points to the doll which let's out a bark) (They laugh)

Dave:I better call the power company and find out what's going on. (tries the phone but it's dead) Well so much for that.

Teri: Don't tell me - the phone is dead.

Dave: I knew I should have kept that old touch tone phone! Hey, didn't you buy this for me last Christmas? (smiling)

Teri: (smiles back and shakes her finger at him) D o n ' t   g o   t h e r e....

Dave: Just kidding! I better go outside and see if the neighbors have power and if they are ok! I'll be back soon! Ho Ho HO! (puts on coat and leaves)

Teri: (shakes her head and smiles) This is some Christmas.

LIGHTS OUT SLOWLY

END

© 2002 Dave Marsh