Woman: (voice) Yes, Doctor.
Man: Come on.
Woman: No response. Still no response. (fading) doctor, we're losing him.
Sam: (enters) Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
Sound: (sound of something breaking)
Woman: Sammy. Donny. What was that noise?
Man: You're gonna get it!
Woman: My lamp!
Sam: Donny did it! He pushed me into it and it broke!
Man: Sam! Mom, he's lying!
Sam: No I'm not, he pushed me real hard. He's always pushing.
Woman: Donny, how many times have I told you not to bully your little brother.
Man: But...
Woman: And you know that lying will not be tolerated in this household. Come with me young man.
Sam: I'm sorry.
Woman: It's too late for sorry, now you go straight to the principal's office.
Sam: I'll be quiet, I promise.
Woman: Off with you.
Sam: I didn't do nothin. I swear.
Man: Samuel. How many times have you been to see me this year?
Sam: I dunno.
Man: Five times. Do you like coming to see me?
Sam: No.
Man: What are you going to do about it? Will you cooperate with Ms. Anderson?
Sam: No way. He'll never see it coming.
Woman: I'm not sure about this.
Man: It'll be cool. He's such a dweeb anyway.
Sam: Now, you'll talk to him, like you really like him. Jake will get behind him and get on his hands and knees, then I'll come up and knock him over.
Woman: But what if he gets hurt?
Man: He's not gonna get hurt.
Sam: I can't believe his head hit the pavement so hard.
Woman: Oh God, I can't believe this happened.
Man: My dad thinks he can keep us out of Juvenile Hall.
Sam: I never thought this could happen.
Woman: Well it did.
Sam: I can't be a father. I'm only sixteen!
Woman: What about me? I'm the one who's pregnant. I'm the one who'll have to raise it.
Sam: Hey, I'm not going to leave you, Betty. We'll raise it together.
Woman: Do you promise?
Sam: I promise.
Man: Good, cause I'm really relying on you for this. I'll see you Thursday at six.
Sam: Don, Donny, I'll be there with the money.
Man: Thanks brother. And I promise I'll never get involved with loan sharks again.
Woman: Oh Sam. I love you so much.
Sam: I love you too, Sharon. Excuse me
Woman: What's wrong?
Sam: I just have to check the time. Oh my God.
Woman: What?
Sam: It's six_thirty. I have to go!
Man: Fine! Go! Get your worthless butt out of my house!
Sam: I will!
Man: Why did it have to be Donny? Why couldn't it have been you?
Sam: I wish it had been me.
Man: Don't let Dad get you down. I forgive you.
Sam: How can you forgive me? I let you down. I'm the reason you're in this hospital.
Man: No, I got myself here.
Sam: If I hadn't been messin' around with Sharon.
Man: Sammy, I said I forgive you.
Sam: I don't feel forgiven.
Man: You know, there's somebody who can help you with that.
Sam: Really? Who? I could use some help right about now.
Man: Jesus Christ.
Woman: You're kidding.
Sam: No, I've become a Christian! Donny...
Woman: Look, just because you feel responsible for what hap...
Sam: No, he showed me who Jesus is, how he can forgive our sins.
Woman: Sins? What's wrong with you? since when did you thinking about sin?
Sam: For a long time now.
Man: Right, we've been friends a long time and you know I wouldn't steer you wrong on this, right?
Sam: I don't know Larry. The union might not like this,
Man: That's the genius. The clause is hidden in such a way that the Union probably won't even see it until it's too late. It'll end up saving the company millions of dollars.
Sam: I guess you're right.
Woman: Of course I'm right. With your support, we could bring attention to the needs of the inner city. We need your help.
Sam: You're right, but I don't think I have the time right now. I want to help, but this is a really busy time of year for me. I can have my secretary write you a check.
Woman: I see. Well, we can always use more funding. Thank you for your time.
Sam: Yeah, that's the problem. I still feel like nothing has changed. When I came to Christ, I thought that I'd stop making dumb decisions. That I'd stop sinning. But it hasn't happened that way.
Man: Do you feel like you came to Christ under false expectations?
Sam: Its not that, I just want some peace. Some assurance that: I'm doing something right. That my life isn't just one big mistake.
Woman: How could you?
Sam: I was lonely.
Woman: And I wasn't?
Sam: I'm sorry. It won't happen again. I'll see that she's moved to another part of the company. I'll never see her again.
Woman: It's too late for that.
Sam: I just want things to be the way they were.
Man: Never happen. She's determined to take everything you've got. If you ask me, you're best move would be to counter-attack. If we move quickly, I can probably get you the house and most of the savings account.
Sam: This shouldn't have happened.
Man: Sam, reality check. It has happened. If you don't take her down now, she'll bury you.
Woman: The doctor will see you now.
Man: Sam, I'm afraid that we're going to have to operate, soon.
Sam: I'd like to talk to the chaplain, before I go under.
Man: Nurse, paddles.
Woman: We're losing him doctor. Still nothing.
Sam: What have I done! My God, what have I done!
Jesus: Sam.
Sam: Lord, I can't. I don't deserve you. Not after all I've done. I've failed myself, my friends, my family. Lord, I've failed you too many times.
Jesus: Sam.
Sam: I never really realized how much hurt I've caused. It never seemed this serious before.
Jesus: Sam.
Sam: Why, Lord? Why did you die for me?
Jesus: I love you Sam. Come. My grace is sufficient for you. Be at peace and join me in my Father's kingdom.
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© Dan Wilson, all rights reserved.
This play may be performed free of charge, provided no entrance fee is charged.
In return for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of
any performance. He may be contacted at dan@danwilsonshow.com