This Could Have Been Your Life!
(A drama about coveting)

Director's Notes: A wacky game show drama about how coveting other people's lives is sin.

The PowerPoint presentation is available HERE. Simply right-click on it and choose "Save Target As..." You should trigger each new slide when each person speaks. I've put these in parenthesis for your convenience. Be sure to have a long enough gap between each line so the person running PowerPoint can keep up.

Cast:
Bob Braggart: A game show host
Jean Cranston: A woman from the audience.
Jason: Announcer

Props:
Microphone
PowerPoint slides

Setting:
A game show

(LIGHTS UP ON CENTER STAGE with game show music playing...)

Bob: Welcome back folks to another exciting, fun-filled addition of This Could Have Been Your Life! The show that’s sweeping the nation!

Bob: Jason, do we have someone out there who could have had a life?

Jason: Well, I hope so Bob or I’m out of a job.

Bob: Right you are Jason! Okay, let’s get ready… Jean Cranston, come on down and get ready for This Could Have Been Your life!

Jean: (Stands up – can’t believe it and runs onto the stage)

Bob: Let’s give her a big hand, folks.

Bob: Well, Jean, are you nervous?

Jean: Yeah, pretty nervous.

Bob: Well, there’s nothing to be nervous about! Tell the audience what you do for a living.

Jean: Well, I’m an executive assistant for GE. Oops, can I say the name of the company?

Bob: No problem. Do they know you’re here today?

Jean: Oh I hope not. I called in sick.

Bob: Jason, do they know she’s here today?

Jason: Yep, called them this morning.

Bob: Oooh, too bad. No need to worry though. Okay, let’s get started. Jean, we’re gonna show you some things on our big Mumbotron screen here and let’s see if you can recognize them. Ready?

Jean: Um, sure Bob. Okay.

Bob: Great! Okay, Jean Cranston, do you recognize this? (SLIDE OF A SUV VEHICLE)

Jean: Hmmm, no, er, well, it kinda looks familiar.

Bob: Well it should because this is the new 1999 Jeep Cherokee that is owned by your neighbor Josh Davis!

Jean: Josh Davis owns that? How can he afford it? I mean, he works at Kinkos! I’ve wanted one of those for years!

Bob: Of course you have! Kinda drives you nuts huh? Yep, Josh has a nice new Cherokee with a V8 engine, On-the-fly 4 wheel drive, a 20 disc CD changer and 15 cup holders. And you have?

Jean: (mumbles)

Bob: I’m sorry, Jean, I couldn’t hear you.

Jean: A 1983 Topaz.

Bob: Oooh, too bad. Right Jason?

Jason: That’s right Bob.

Bob: Well, unfortunately, you won’t be able to afford this so let’s move on. Recognize this? (PICTURE OF AN EXOTIC ISLAND)

Jean: No, not really.

Bob: Of course you don’t! It’s the Bahama’s – a place you’ve never been but a place where Sarah Smith is going!

Jean: Sarah Smith from my small group is going there? She can’t afford to go!

Bob: Of course not but she won it in a drawing at the Lions Club. Pretty neat huh?

Jean: Yeah, I guess. I can’t believe she’s going. I’ve always wanted to go there. I’ve never won anything in my life!

Bob: Is that true, Jason?

Jason: That’s right Bob. She’s a loser.

Bob: Ah, well. I hope Sarah has a good time. Okay, let’s look at these slides! (SLIDE OF A CUTE KID) Recognize this kid?

Jean: Yes.

Bob: Of course you do! It’s little Jimmy Jackson from down the road and he’s perfect. Am I right, Jason?

Jason: Yep, perfect.

Bob: He never disobeys, has 50 Bible verses memorized, always wears nice clothes, and cleans his room. Kinda wish your kids were the same eh?

Jean: Well…

Bob: How about this slide? (SLIDE OF TOM SELLECK)

Jean: You mean I could have been married to Tom Selleck?

Bob: Of course not! We’re just playing with you mind. But you have to admit that he’s much, much better looking than good ol’ Frank and I bet he doesn’t snore either, does he Jason?

Jason: Nope. No snoring.

Bob: Well, that’s about it Jean. Some life you have! That’s all we have time for today.

Jean: Hey, wait a minute. That’s it?! I mean, you’ve shown me all this stuff that I guess I covet but now what? Aren’t you going to tell me how to get over it?

Bob: Of course not.

Jean: Why?

Bob: Because they’d cancel our show and where’s the fun in that? Right Jason?

Jason: Right-o, Bob.

Bob: But thanks for coming Jean (pushes her off the stage) and I hope we see you up here next week on This Could Have Been Your Life!

LIGHTS OUT SLOWLY

END

© 1999 Dave Marsh