Summary: This script was created to help teens see a practical application of a familiar bible story, the story of Jonah. This skit isn’t intended to be funny, but when the kids brainstormed the bullying and the dream sequence, it turned out that way.
Style: Dramatic Duration: 12min
Actors: 1M/F, 7+Teens
Characters:
Group of Kids (this can be variable)
New Kid (boy or girl)
Good Kid (boy or girl)
Mom (can be father)
Script:
(Group of Kids and Good Kid enter talking and joking, stop center stage. New Kid enters, walks by, exits. As New Kid is walking some of Group make fun of New Kid. Some of the comments could be seen as bullying.)
Good Kid: (laughs uncomfortably) I gotta go guys. I’ll see you tomorrow. (exits)
(rest of kids exit as a group, laughing and joking)
(Mom and Good Kid enter together saying lines. They stop center stage.)
Mom: Hi honey, how was your day?
Good Kid: Not so good, mom.
Mom: Oh? What happened?
Good Kid: I don’t really want to talk about it.
Mom: OK. Well, you're clearly upset. Let me know if I can help.
Good Kid: I don’t think anything can help.
Mom: That doesn’t sound good. You know, Pastor John has been encouraging you guys to pray more and use those Bibles. Maybe you should try it. That might help.
Good Kid: Yeah, whatever mom. I’m going to my room. (exits one way, Mom exits the other)
Good Kid: (enters with Bible) Use my Bible. Whatever. I guess it can’t hurt. I don’t know where to start. (thumbs through some pages, stops thumbing) Hmm, Jonah, I know that story. (starts "skim reading"- following lines can be written on paper on page he has turned to) Jonah...God sends him to Ninevah...doesn’t want to go...runs away...gets swallowed by big fish...God rescues him...goes to Ninevah...preaches and bad people change into good people. (closes Bible)
(sighs) I don’t get that at all. What does that have to do with me? I’m going to bed. (lies down on one side of stage and falls asleep fitfully)
(Group of kids and New Kid come out and recreate scene in slow motion- they exagerate motions and faces in slo mo- can be very funny but don't go on too long- can be spoken, drawn-out words or mouths form words but not actually spoken- all this establishes that this sequence is a dream- all exit)
Mom: (enters after pause) How did you sleep? Do you feel any better?
Good Kid: (stands and stretches) No, I slept terribly. I don’t think that Bible helped me at all.
Mom: You tried it? Good for you! What did you read?
Good Kid: Jonah.
Mom: Oh, that's a great one. What did you learn?
Good Kid: Nothing!
Mom: Oh, really? God tells Jonah what to do, he won’t do it, he is miserable, he then does what he is supposed to do. Are you sure that doesn’t fit your situation?
Good Kid: Maybe. I know what God wanted me to do, and I didn’t do it. Now He is bugging me with this bad feeling. So I need to do what he wants me to do?
Mom: Sounds like a plan to me.
Good Kid: Thanks mom. (both exit together, with Bible)
(Good Kid and two from the Group of Kids enter, talking and joking- stop at center stage)
Kid 1: (looking off-stage) There's that loser again. Let’s mess with her.
Good Kid: No!
Kid 2: What do you mean, no?
Good Kid: No. Why are you guys being such jerks? She didn’t do anything wrong. I think you are better than that. Let's go apologize and invite her to our church.
Kid 1: Whoa! Where did that come from?
Good Kid: (walking off-stage towards New Kid) Jonah.
(Kid 1 and Kid 2 watch Good Kid exit, look at each other a little confused, shrug their shoulders)
Kid 1 and Kid 2: (together) Ok. (exit toward New Kid)
© Copyright Jill Gresham, 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.
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged. In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed. He/she may be contacted at: