“DEARLY PRESENT”
Summary: There are too many verses to cite concerning our relationship with God. This is my bent using a reading of a Last Will and Testament, thinking about God’s testament with the world. Rather than Dearly Departed, the Father is Dearly Present.
Style: Drama. Duration: 8min
Actors: 3F, 1M/F
Characters
READER – sitting behind desk.
MARY – upstage chair
JANE – center chair
NANCY – downstage chair
Script
READER
Thank you for coming to the reading of the last will and testament. Though the estate is vast, the testament will be simple. [reading] “All assets will be given to the trustee to be liquidated and all proceeds returned to the estate.”
Now, here is the part you have been waiting for and this is even simpler. Quote: [reading] “My entire estate will go to my four daughters to be equally divided among those present at this reading.”
MARY
[confused]
Wait a minute!
NANCY
[joyful]
This is wonderful!
JANE
[joyful]
Shut up!
MARY
[stands]
Wait a minute! How can it be divided equally?? There has to be a mistake!
NANCY
He just said "quote". That sounds official to me.
MARY
I'm the only one that took care of him in his last days!
JANE
Nancy and I helped.
MARY
Not much! How could dad have done this?
NANCY
Well, you can't argue with him now.
MARY
Nancy, you shouldn't even be here. His daughters are Jane, June, and me.
JANE
[stands]
What? Nancy was just as much a daughter to dad as we were.
NANCY
[stands]
Yes. He adopted me and I have the name.
MARY
Adopted is not the same as actual daughter.
JANE
That didn't matter to dad. We all called him "dad".
NANCY
Except for June. She didn't even show up. I know she never seemed to recognize even having a dad.
READER
You just brought up an important point. According to the will, there will be a three-way equal split since there are only three present.
MARY
How can it be EQUAL!??
JANE
Less complicated that way.
MARY
Oh you would say that wouldn't you. I drove to the store, did most the cooking and cleaning.
NANCY
I did too. So did Jane.
MARY
Yes. You and Jane did half. Maybe less. And I did half. I'll tell you what. You two can take a full half and I'll take the other half. Now that sounds fair.
READER
I'm sorry, that is not the way it is written. It is your father's intention that the daughters present should get an equal share.
MARY
That's another thing! Nancy is NOT a daughter. She's adopted.
JANE
Didn't he say four daughters? You, me, and June are three. I know that Nancy was as good as dad's daughter to dad.
NANCY
Mary, why are you questioning dad's wishes? It was his money to do with as he pleased.
MARY
Yes, and I can see how you can be happy with his wishes. You get the same as Jane and me and you are ADOPTED!
NANCY
If June was here, she would get an equal amount too. No cooking or cleaning. What would you think of that?
MARY
I think dad was crazy even counting June! It should just be me and Jane.
JANE
I remember dad always wished June would come home. I believe he would still include her just for showing up at the reading.
MARY
[sitting]
Wow. That really could have happened. If June, who never even cared to be part of the family, showed up, she would have gotten a fourth.
[JANE and NANCY sit during last statement.]
NANCY
One third. One fourth. I don't know about you, but we are rich if it was one tenth! We are set! Why even worry about amounts.
MARY
It's the principle I guess. It just seemed weird to get, you know, equal... [struggles for word]
JANE
I wonder if dad would have expected this kind of arguing.
MARY
I must have lost my head. I am sorry about not treating you like a sister, Nancy.
NANCY
Not that big of a deal. Dad always treated me like a daughter. That counted the most.
MARY
I am still embarrassed. You made a good point. The estate is so huge; any division is more that we could ever even want. I wish June DID show up.
JANE
She may never know what she missed out on.
MARY
[to READER]
Well, I guess my sisters and I will be taking off now that the reading is over. [looking up] Thanks, dad!
JANE
Yeah, thanks dad. It was great.
NANCY
Thanks dad for being there.
READER
[looking at document]
Oops. Just a second. There is something else down here. I must have missed it. [pause]
It says [reading] ...And thank you for being my daughters.
………………………………………………
© 2011 John Beavers
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