Summary: The Wager is about the spiritual dimension. Based on Ephesians 6:12 - “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the spiritual realm.” (NIV) An angel and a demon make a wager that good can overcome evil in their present situation, on board a bus with passengers.
Style: Dramatic, with light touches. Duration: 10-12min
Actors: 3M, 3F, 3M/F
Characters
Angel
Demon
Lisa
Brett
Mum
Val
Bus Driver
2 Passengers
Script
SET ON A METROPOLITAN BUS, A TIRED BUS DRIVER IS AT THE WHEEL. LISA, A YOUNG WOMAN OF ABOUT 22, IN OFFICE ATTIRE, READS A BOOK (ANGELS & DEMONS). SITTING NEXT TO HER IS BRETT, A YOUNG MAN OF ABOUT THE SAME AGE IN A SUIT AND TIE. ACROSS FROM THEM SITS MUM A WOMAN OF ABOUT 50. NEXT TO HER IS HER DAUGHTER VAL, 20. THEY HAVE BEEN SHOPPING.
A DEMON IN THE FORM OF A MAN DRESSED IN A BLACK SUIT, GETS ON THE BUS. HE WALKS SLOWLY DOWN THE AISLE. HE IS INVISIBLE TO THE PASSENGERS. HE PICKS UP A LOCK OF LISA’S HAIR AND LECHEROUSLY SNIFFS IT AND HER NECK. HE GOES OVER TO MUM LOOKS AT HER INTENTLY. HE ALSO CHECKS OUT BRETT AND LISA. LAUGHS TO SEE HER READING THE BOOK. HE WALKS TO THE BACK WHERE AN ANGEL DRESSED IN ALL WHITE SITS.
ANGEL What are you doing here?
DEMON My job.
ANGEL Don’t you think that’s rather demeaning and worthless?
DEMON That’s me the demon, Demeaning and worthless at your service.
ANGEL Of course Demworth, I should have recognised you.
DEMON It’s the haircut. (Looks her over) You’ve changed too. Where’s the (INDICATES HALO) you know, the stupid round thing above your head? Did it fall off? (SMILES)
ANGEL Halos are not in fashion anymore.
DEMON Looks good. (PAUSE) Aren’t you late for choir practice? Or are you afraid of the boss, I hear he’s got a God complex.
HE LAUGHS, ANGEL GIVES HIM A SERIOUS STARE, HE STOPS LAUGHING.
You angels don’t have a sense of humour.
ANGEL Of course we do. I heard a funny story the other day, about three demons that went to harass a Christian evangelist. When the demons arrived the man covered the room in the blood of Jesus.
DEMON I don’t see what’s so funny about that. So he locked himself in a room with three demons, sounds good to me.
ANGEL He started playing praise and worship music.
DEMON (MAKING AN ANGUISHED FACE) Oh no, no that’s not right.
ANGEL (LAUGHING) They couldn’t get out of room. I heard they were writhing and screaming for hours until he let them out. How’s that for the power of the blood of Jesus?
DEMON That is disgusting. Talking about disgusting see that bus driver.
ANGEL NODS.
He hasn’t been sleeping. He’s also been doing a lot of gambling and hiding it from his wife. Makes my job very easy.
ANGEL What are you going to do?
DEMON SMILES WALKS UP TO THE DRIVER.
DEMON (WHISPERS IN THE DRIVER’S EAR) Where’s the money, Paul? What are you gonna’ tell her? You can’t tell the truth, she’ll divorce you. (PAUSE) You are so worthless.
ANGEL Leave him alone.
DEMON Are you going to let me get on with my work? I have to make these people miserable and discouraged by the time they get off this bus.
ANGEL I’m not going to let you.
DEMON I wonder how you are-...
MUM I’m glad you bought that shirt, it really suits you.
VAL Yeah, I like it.
SHE STARTS TO READ A MAGAZINE.
DEMON (GOES TO TALK BUT IS CUT OFF)
MUM Goes with that green skirt of yours.
DEMON (LOOKS IN THE BAG) I was going to say, I wonder how you are you going to do that without prayer.
HE WALKS BACK TO THE ANGEL
Well?
ANGEL How do you know they’re not praying?
DEMON Are you joking? This lot wouldn’t know how to pray if their life depended on it. (PAUSE) Now there’s an idea.
HE TAKES OUT A LIGHTER. FLICKS THE FLAME, SMILES. HE PUTS THE FLAME NEAR THE CORNER OF VAL’S MAGAZINE. ANGEL BLOWS IT OUT. DEMON IS ANNOYED.
VAL My horoscope says I shouldn’t travel today.
DEMON See! What kind of praying Christian reads a horoscope?
ANGEL I hate that kind of filth, it’s everywhere. It gradually turns people to the dark side.
DEMON And they even don’t even know it. It’s brilliant.
ANGEL You’re disgusting.
DEMON No, I’m Demworth, demeaning and worthless. Disgusting is working the city today.
HE SRUTINIZES BRETT CLOSELY. LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW. GETS AN IDEA. WHISPERS IN HIS EAR.
Hot chick ten o’clock. (HE TURNS TO ANGEL WHO IS DISGUSTED) That’s the way he speaks.
BRETT LOOKS OUT THE WINDOW AT THE GIRL.
ANGEL He doesn’t speak like that to Lisa.
DEMON Of course not. She’d think he was a creep.
BRETT LOOKS AWAY. DEMON WHISPERS IN HIS EAR.
You want another look. She’s got a great rack.
ANGEL LOOKS TO HEAVEN. PACES. BRETT TURNS TO LOOK. ANGEL IS FURIOUS.
Hey I just give him a couple of ideas. Now it’s up to him. Well you know how it works if he goes for the bait it’s not my fault but if he does he’s all mine or perhaps the demon lusts, pornography or if he lets it, adultery. I’m so good at my job. I’m really a referral service.
BRETT TURNS AWAY. ANGEL SMILES. DEMON TAKES OUT MOBILE PHONE MAKES A NOTE.
I’m making a note, I think this guy’s got potential, he just doesn’t know it yet.
ANGEL I’ll make a wager with you.
DEMON A wager – that sounds interesting.
ANGEL That good will overpower evil.
DEMON You mean right now between you and me?
ANGEL Yes.
DEMON What do I get if I win?
ANGEL Gloating rights.
DEMON I already have that.
ANGEL Alright, You get to do a lot of damage (pause) to these people.
DEMON STALKS AROUND PASSENGERS.
DEMON Now you’re talking, done.
LISA (PUTS HER BOOK AWAY) What did you think of meeting? Did the presentation come across well?
BRETT Definitely. You handled it very professionally.
LISA (SMILES) Thanks.
DEMON (WHISPERS TO LISA) He really didn’t think so.
ANGEL You don’t know what they’re thinking.
DEMON Alright I don’t. Anyway, who cares what they think. It’s what they do that’s important.
DEMON (WALKS UP TO LISA WHISPERS IN HER EAR) He’s only saying that because he wants to take you out.
Lisa looks at Brett suspiciously. Turns away from him, annoyed.
DEMON (WALKS UP TO VAL WHISPERS IN HER EAR) She thinks you paid too much for the shirt.
ANGEL That’s not true.
DEMON I make it up. So what.
VAL (PUTS THE MAGAZINE DOWN & LOOKS IN THE BAG) It’s a lovely design. I haven’t seen anything like it around (PAUSE) for the price.
MUM Yes, dear.
VAL Do you think it was expensive?
DEMON (WHISPERS IN MUM’S EAR) She’s a spend thrift.
MUM It’s your money Val.
VAL Just because you shop at op shops doesn’t mean I have to.
MUM And what’s wrong with getting a bargain. I could have bought ten garments to your one.
VAL (LOUD) I knew it. You didn’t want to come shopping with me did you?
MUM Of course I did. I just don’t want you to spend all your money.
THEY SIT IN SILENCE VAL TURNS AWAY. THE BUS STOPS. TWO MORE PEOPLE GET ON AND SIT DOWN.
DEMON So what are you on, a coffee break or something?
ANGEL I’m just waiting.
DEMON Fine, excuse me while I create havoc.
HE WALKS UP TO THE DRIVER. LOOKS AT ANGEL
ANGEL (WHISPERS IN VAL’S EAR)
VAL I’m sorry. I don’t know what I was thinking.
MUM It’s alright love.
MUM SMILES. DEMON TURNS TO THE DRIVER
DEMON You must be tired. You got to bed at 3am. It’s a warm day. Just relax.
THE DRIVER SLUMPS SLIGHTLY. THE ANGEL WALKS UP TO HIM.
ANGEL (TO DEMON) I see what you’re up to. (TO DRIVER) You can get through it. All these people are relying on you to bring them to their stop safely.
DRIVER PICKS UP. DEMON PUSHES HER OUT OF THE WAY. SHE LOOKS UP FOR HELP.
DEMON Listen to it, that sound. The sound of the motor lulling you, calling to you.
ANGEL TRIES TO GET TO THE DRIVER BUT THE DEMON PUSHES HER AWAY. SHE COMES BACK HE HOLDS HER AT BAY.
(TO ANGEL) You have no power here he did the deed he pays the price. You know the rules. My boss plays by the rules.
DEMON THROWS HER TO THE GROUND
ANGEL (UNDER HER BREATH ANGRILY AS SHE GETS UP) So does mine. (SHE STANDS LOOKING HEAVEMWARD)
DEMON (TO DRIVER) Your eyelids are very heavy. You need rest. (PAUSE) Just take it easy. Close your eyes.
THE DRIVER IS FIGHTING THE URGE TO CLOSE HIS EYES.
Yes that’s right. In a few moments it will be all over and I’ll win the bet. That’s right it hurts to keep them open. Just close your eyes a little rest is all you need.
IT STARTS WITH ONE VOICE PRAYING THEN ANOTHER AND ANOTHER TILL MANY VOICES ARE HEARD. (O/S) THE DEMON IS AGGITATED BUT KEEPS WHISPERING. NO ONE ON THE BUS CAN HEAR IT. THE PRAYERS BUILD. THE ANGEL SPRINGS OFF THE BUS. THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES HIS EYES AND THE BUS STARTS TO VERE OFF THE ROAD. THE ANGEL STANDS WITH HER HANDS UP IN FRONT OF THE BUS AND SUDDENLY SHE IS ILLUMINATED. THE BUS DRIVER’S EYES POP OPEN HE SLAMS ON THE BRAKES. PASSENGERS JOSTLE ABOUT AS THE BUS COMES TO A SCREACHING HOLT. THE PRAYERS DIMINISH, THE ANGEL RETURNS TO INVISIBILITY. THE DEMON IS FURIOUS. EVERYONE ON THE BUS GETS BACK TO THIER SEAT. BRETT WALKS TO THE DRIVER.
BRETT Are you alright?
DRIVER I will be. (TURNS TO THE REST OF THE PEOPLE) Look, I’m sorry but I’m going to have to get another bus for you. (HE GETS HIS PHONE CALLS THE DEPOT)
ANGEL (GETS OUT A NAIL FILE) I need a manicure.
DEMON Very smooth, a bit showy but very smooth. (PAUSE) One question. What if I won huh, what if he’d had the accident how could good overcome evil then?
ANGEL It’s not a problem, there’s always plan B.
SHE WALKS AWAY FILING HER NAIL
DEMON Plan B? What plan B?
HE SLINKS AFTER HER.
(AS THEY LEAVE) How’d you do it? You know show yourself it was pretty impressive.
THE PATRONS TALK TO ONE ANOTHER AS THEY GET OFF THE BUS.
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© Copyright Christina Parker, 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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