Summary: The waiter in a prayer café tries to help his customers, on behalf of the chef.
Style: Dramatic, with light touches. Duration: 6min
Actors: 1M/F, 4M, 2F (can be swapped)
Script
Waiter: Good evening Sir, Madam. Welcome to the prayer café. Table for 2?
Alex: Yes please.
Waiter: By the window?
Betty: Oh yes.
Waiter: Would you like to take a look at the menu?
Alex: Thank you.
Waiter: Oh, starting with thankfulness – very good sir!
[Waiter leaves their table, moves to 2nd table]
Alex: This is nice, isn’t it. I don’t know why we haven’t done this before.
Betty: Well, maybe it’s easier than we thought it was. Let’s see what we can have…
Waiter: [To Chris] Sir, I am very sorry, but the chef says that it’s not ready yet.
Chris: Really? I’ve been waiting so long, I just thought that perhaps this time it would work.
Waiter: I’m very sorry Sir, chef understands the situation, but he asks that you trust him, and come back again soon. We do like to see you here, Sir.
Chris: Okay, I’ll see you again tomorrow.
[Chris leaves sadly]
[Waiter returns to Alex & Betty’s table]
Waiter: How are you getting on with your choices?
Alex: I really don’t know where to begin, everything looks so good.
Waiter: Could I make some suggestions for you?
Betty: Oh yes, please!
Waiter: Well, they used say you should always start with Adoration, then Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication.
Betty: [looking completely confused] Did they?
Waiter: But nowadays we suggest you keep things simple. We suggest you think about the chef, then other people, and then yourself.
Alex: Ah, okay. Can we have another minute please?
Waiter: Of course, sir [leaves table]
[Darren rushes in]
Darren: Hi! Do you do takeaway?
Waiter: Of course sir, you can pray anywhere.
Darren: Could I have 2 portions of “Please can I get an A in my exams” to go?
Waiter: Have you revised, sir?
Darren: Kind of….
Waiter: The chef has prepared these for you.
[Passes over container]
Darren: Oh wow! What is it?
Waiter: That you might do your best, and get the mark you need.
Darren: I’m not really sure that’s what I want.
Waiter: The chef reminds you that he is in control, he loves you, and he knows what’s best for you, sir.
Darren: I guess so. See you next week – I have another exam then!
Waiter: Happy revising!
[Waiter goes to 3rd table]
Waiter: Madam, can I ask if what you would like?
Emily: I want to know if Jonny is the right man for me? How can I be sure?
Waiter: And is that the only thing you’re interested in?
Emily: Yes, I’ve got to know. I think about him all the time!
Waiter: The chef would remind you that a diet of just one thing is unhealthy. He would recommend a more varied diet for you.
Emily: He said that yesterday.
Waiter: He’ll probably say that tomorrow too. Perhaps you would like to try something else? Maybe just a God-bless-mummy-and-daddy? For a change.
Emily: No, I’m not interested.
[Emily leaves]
[Freddy enters, nervously]
Freddy: Hello, I probably shouldn’t have come in here, but I don’t know what to do, and I don’t know where to go, but I saw the sign and thought maybe you could help.
Waiter: Or course Sir, we’ve been expecting you. Your table is over here, by the kitchen, and the chef will have something for you in just a moment.
[Waiter escorts Freddy to table 2]
Freddy: Really? Thank you!
Waiter: Any time, sir, any time!
[Waiter returns to Alex & Betty]
Waiter: So, how can I help you.
Alex: Can you tell the chef he is amazing.
Betty: And we want our friends and our family to get to know him….
Alex: …So that they can be provided for by him like everyone else here.
Betty: And we’d like to help him out if we can.
Waiter: The chef would be delighted if you would come and join him the kitchen. He has something very special in mind for you.
[Alex, Betty and the Waiter leave together, and Freddy joins them, leaving the stage empty to finish]
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© Copyright Norwin Simms, Craigavon Presbyterian, 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 may be contacted at: