Tag line:
!!Look Beyond The Emptiness!!
Genre: Comedy/Light Drama
Time: 5 mins
Cast Breakdown: 2M,2F
Theme: Christian Living, sincerity in developing talents/gifts
Scripture Reference: Mt 25:
Church year season: Any
Suggested Use: Higher intellectual audiences Christian/non- Christian and art critiques
Synopsis: Jabez, the peddler fails to find the worth of his uncle’s gift
Characters:
Laura Mason – Rich lady
Jabez – Peddler
Sandy Rogers – Laura’s friend
Wilson – Art shop owner
Props: Peddler’s wagon,2 paintings on frames 1painting having a painting underneath it, Costumes: normal costumes
Settings: Art shop ,house entrance, inside house
Lights and sounds: Not compulsory
Director’s Tip: Don’t let the audience know you are doing a modern version of the parable of the talents. Keep it racy and humoristic
Scene 1
At Laura’s house. Laura is standing at the door looking as a man comes on his bicycle down the street
L: There he comes. Jabez! Jabez! So what have you brought today?
J: Aye! Madam. Wretched day. An ole uncle of mine died.
L: Oh… sorry to hear
J: It’s not his death. It’s what He gave and said before dying that trouble my mind
L: Gave??Said??
J: Yay.He gave me these pair of dirty squigglies and said …
“Copper for the proper.Gold for the bold.
Rake it and take it.Mystery unfolds”
and then he died..
Use a rake on a squiggly..that guy was crazy
L: ..mm.Cud have been something important..
J: I dunna care..I wish I cud get my hands clean of these.aint worth nothing to me.
(Enters Sandy)
S: Hi there Laura wassup o’er here?
L: Well Jabez wants to get rid of these paintings quick..Say why don’t we buy one each
S: Yep that ok with me..nothing better than to help a guy in need.So wat dya say Jabez
J: Five bucks for a squiggly and its all yours.
S: Squiggly..ha ha very funny..doesn’t look that awful to me..Here’s ur five
L: Here’s my five..I’d take that picture of a rose.
S: And these darling puppies are mine…whoohoo
J: See u then! Thankz for clearing me orf de junk.
Scene 2
The art shop
(Sandy has cleaned the painting and polished the frames)
W: Good morning Mrs.Rogers.Nice to see you.
S: Thank u Mr.Wilson.I need your help.
W: Certainly Mrs.Rogers.
S: Can u buy this painting for me..I need some quick bucks to join a diet programme
W: Diet program huh! (chuckles)Let’s see
(take’s painting from Sandy and looks at it)
Say it looks good. I’d give you 50 bucks no more no less
S: Deal!
W: My Pleasure
(Wilson hands over cash to Sandy.Sandy leaves)
Scene 3
Laura’s house
(Laura is cleaning and polishing the dirty painting)
L: Jolly ho! What’s this ..a lil tear on the edge..mmm..something is underneath
(peels of top layer of painting.sees a painting with unique splash of colours underneath )
Wow! this is great.I’ll take it to Wilson .Maybe he can help
Scene 4
The art shop
W: Good morning Madam. You need my duty..(takes a bow)
L: Very kind of you Wilson. I do need a small help from you.
W: Anything for you Madam.
L: Can u tell me what this painting means..
(hands over painting to Wilson)
W: (Takes a long stare of awe at it and exclaims)I’ve seen it!
Laura: Seen what ?
W: Excuse me madam.This is Van Eyck’s most inspiring art.It was bought by a rich man some 200 years ago and has been with his family ever since.The last man who held it died recently but he had given it away to one of his relatives since he had no children.Where did u get it from?
L: A peddlar..that old man was his uncle..
W: This is worth atleast a couple of million dollars
L: That’s fabulous!
W: Don’t worry madam. I’ll help you sell it the right way so that it doesn’t go to wrong hands and you are cheated.
L: Thank you Wilson. See you soon
(Leaves art shop. Sees Jabez at the doorstep weeping)
L: Jabez..You lost the copper You lost the gold..You should have looked beyond the emptiness.
Curtains down