Style: Light-hearted. Duration: 9min
Actors: 2M, 4M/F
Scripture: Daniel 6
Characters:
Shazzar: Satrap (Officlal) in charge
Shem: Satrap (Official - not the brightest)
Sam: Satrap (Official)
King Darius: Easily manipulated
Daniel: trusting, loyal
Lion: hungry, enjoys the chase
Script
Scene 1: Meeting of the Officials
Shazzar: Okay, does everyone remember the plan?
Shem: You mean about collecting the donations for the widows and orphans?
Sam: Not that plan. The one about getting rid of Daniel.
Shem: Oh, the one where we put on ski masks and drop Daniel into a pot of
boiling oil.
Shazzar: Shem, what does Daniel do at least 3 times a day, every day?
Shem: Eat?
Shazzar: He prays!! He prays three times every day.
Sam: We’re going to trick King Darius into signing this petition into law that
anyone who prays to anybody besides King Darius in the next 30 days will be thrown into the Lions den.
Shem: So we are going to start praying?
Shazzar: Of course not. The important thing is that Daniel will continue to pray to his God, and when he does….
Sam: Into the lion’s mouth he will go.
Shazzar: He will be torn to shreds. (Evil laugh)
Scene two (King Darius’s Throne)
(Scene open with King Darius on his throne speaking with Daniel. Satraps are seen peaking out of corner until Daniel leaves.)
Daniel: As you can see, we have increased production by thirty percent.
Darius: Thank you Daniel. With you in charge of my kingdom, I have nothing to worry about. It is the other Satraps that concerns me. That is why I have put you in charge over them.
Daniel: My God has always been faithful to me.
Darius: Yes I know. Whatever the reason, I know you have things well under control. You may go now. (Daniel exits. Satraps enter.)
Shazzar: Your majesty (bowing).
Darius: Enter, Enter……What is it now?
Shazzar: Your most Highness,
Sam: Your most Magnanimous!
Shem: Your most Pompous, I mean Kingliness?
Darius: Yes, Yes, what do you want?
Shazzar: Are you not the most Powerful King alive?
Darius: It is true.
Sam: Are you not the most handsome man alive.
Darius: Well I try not to brag, but yes it is so.
Shem: Are you not the most, ummm…..ummm well-spoken?
Darius: How nice of you to notice.
Sam: Is it not right that all should honor you?
Darius: I don’t see why not.
Shazzar: We are sad to inform your Highness that there are many here that
choose not honor you.
Darius: Really?
Shem: How we ask, might this wrong be righted?
Darius: How indeed?
Sam: May we suggest a simple proclamation?
Shazzar: One that would require the people to pray only to you for 30 days.
Darius: Pray to me, huh? Would I have to answer them?
Shem: Of course not. That would be impossible.
Sam: What it would do is bring the focus of the people on you.
Shazzar: Imagine, the people praying to and honoring only you.
Darius: I agree, the thought is divine. But how would I enforce such a law?
Shazzar: Quite simple really. You would sign into law that anyone caught praying
to any God other than you in the next 30 days will be thrown into the lion’s den.
Sam: Everyone knows that a law signed by the king cannot be changed. It will make those rebellious people think twice.
Shem: And all you have to do is sign here.
Darius: Why not? It is only right.
(short time later)
Sam: Oh mighty King Darius.
Darius: What is it?
Shazzar: It’s disastrous!
Sam: It’s calamitous!
Shazzar: Catastrophic!
Sam: Tragic!
Shem: It’s, it’s, it’s…a shame.
Darius: What is?
Shazzar: One of your very own court officials has broken the law that you yourself signed.
Darius: Who would do such a thing?
Shem: None other than your precious Daniel!
Sam: Yes, Daniel was caught in the act of praying to the God of Israel.
Darius: Daniel? Say it is not so?
Shem: Okay, it’s not so.
Shazzar: But I am afraid my dear king that it is. And, according to your law, he must be thrown into the den to be torn apart into tiny little pieces.
Darius: No! I take it back. Daniel is my very best servant.
Sam: Oops, so sorry, but according to the laws of the Medes and Persians, not even you oh mighty king can change it.
Darius: Oh, what have I done? (lights out)
Scene 3: in the den of lions
Lion: I can’t take it. I am withering away to nothing. It’s been weeks since I’ve had some fresh meat. If I eat one more blade of grass, I’ll become a blithering goat….. I see light! Someone is coming! (rubbing tummy) Don’t worry my precious. Here comes din din.
(Daniel trips inside like he has been thrown)
Darius: I am so sorry Daniel. I was a fool. May your God that you love protect you.
Daniel: Do not worry my king. My God is faithful…. Oh well, I guess I’ll have plenty of time to pray now.
Lion: Grrr. Guess again runt!
Daniel: Oh, hi there. Did you have a nice lunch?
Lion: Oh yes, quite nice. I ate a couple of juicy thieves. About two weeks ago! How lucky for me that you decided to join me this evening for dinner. Let me see what is on the menu. Looks like man stew.
Daniel: No, thank you. I’m just going to sit in this corner to pray to my God.
Lion: Maybe you have missed my point. (showing claw and sharpening with a nail file) See, this is how it works. I am going to give you to the count of four to run before I pounce on you. One..
Daniel: (Kneels) Thank you Lord God for your faithfulness.
Lion: Two...
Daniel: Please forgive King Darius..
Lion: Three…
Daniel: He did not know what he was doing…
Lion: Three and a half… Look, maybe you don’t get it. I am a big hungry lion who wants to eat you. You’re suppose to run!!!
Daniel: Father, I pray that you would calm the lion’s tummy and close his mouth that King Darius will know that you are the one true God.
Lion: Ummm…mmmm….mm (realizes he cannot open his mouth. Goes from surprised, to content, to sleeping) ZZZZZZ!
Daniel: Thank you God!!! (lays down and sleeps)
Scene 4
Darius: Daniel, Daniel, are you alive? Has your God rescued you?
Daniel: Yes, king Darius, may you live forever. My God has sent an angel to close the lion’s mouth and has rescued me.
Darius: Guards, guards. Open the den. Now I have a new proclamation, “From now on, All will fear and respect the God of Daniel and no other, lest they be thrown to the lions”. Speaking of Lions, find those three officials. They have an appointment for dinner!
(Black out )
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© Copyright Laura Ellis, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
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