Summary: Bickering with her brother, Sue learns quickly how fleeting life is and is forced to focus on what’s really important. Keywords: Fighting, complaining, bickering, cancer.
Style: Drama. Duration: 7min
Scriptures: 1 Cor 9:16-17; 2 Cor 16-19
Actors: 1M, 1F, 2M/F
Characters: Bobby – adult male
Sue – adult female
Assistant – adult male or female
Doctor – adult male or female
Scene: Doctor’s waiting room. Sue is in a foot cast or boot, arm in a sling and possibly even a neck brace. Sue and Bobby are arguing about many things, including driving skills.
Bobby: You should talk – at least I’m not in a body cast!
Sue: If you keep it up you will be when I get well.
Bobby: Whatever.
Sue: Look, all I was saying is that you need to learn to drive again. You have no courtesy whatsoever and you drive dangerously.
Bobby: Again I say – who was in the last accident? It certainly wasn’t me!
Sue: This time, but you’ve been in many more than I have.
Bobby: And whose was the worst?
Sue: It’s not a matter of worse – you have a horrible driving record and I’m just shocked that you still have your license!
Bobby: It’s a good thing for you that I do – otherwise you’d be out of luck!
Sue: You may be my only brother but I have MANY friends!
Bobby: So why don’t you have THEM take you to your next appointment?!
Sue: Maybe I will! It’d certainly be safer!
Bobby: Yeah – just look in the mirror and tell me who’s safer?!
Sue: One accident and now I’m the unsafe one. Just how many have you had?
Bobby: Who’s counting? Besides, you’re just upset that I’m doing better than you.
Sue: What? Better than me how?
Bobby: I can drive and you can’t. I can feed myself and you can’t. I can run fast and you can’t. I can pole vault and you can’t. I can… (Sue cuts him off)
Sue: Pole vault? When do you pole vault?
Bobby: Well, I don’t anymore, but I used to… in high school.
Sue: High school? What’s high school got to do with now?
Bobby: It’s just something I was better at than you – that’s all.
Sue: You are so juvenile.
Bobby: Yeah, but at least I’m not an invalid.
Sue: You just wait – you’ll get yours!
Bobby: Ooooooooooohhhh, big threats – too bad you can’t catch me!
Sue: I won’t be like this forever – but you’ll always be a simpleton.
Bobby: Oh, now who’s juvenile?! (gets cut off by the assistant)
Assistant: Sue – the doctor will see you now.
Bobby: I suppose you’ll be needing the simpleton to wheel you in there, huh invalid?
Sue: Only because I can’t!
(Glare at each other then Bobby helps Sue into the room)
Doctor: Hello Sue.
Sue: Hi Dr Adams.
Doctor: Is this your husband?
Sue: No – this is my mother’s other child.
Bobby: Well, if you need me I’ll be in the waiting room.
Doctor: Sue, unless you have any objections, I’d really like your brother to stay in the room.
Sue: Well, I guess not – after all, he did bring me.
Doctor: (Takes a deep breath) Sue, while we were running tests on you to determine whether or not you’d require surgery for some of your injuries, we discovered something much more serious.
Sue: Okay….
Doctor: Sue I’m just going to say this as plainly as I can. You have cancer and it’s inoperable.
Sue: What? Cancer? What kind – what are you talking about?
Doctor: You have a very rare but aggressive form of cancer. It’s in your bones. And when you got into your accident, it accelerated the process tremendously.
Bobby: What exactly are you saying, Doc?
Doctor: You’re in a lot of pain right now – pain that you’ve most likely associated only with the accident. But the truth is cancer is running rampant throughout your body, and very soon you’re going to physically succumb to it.
Sue: In plain English, please.
Doctor: I’m saying that you only have a month to live.
(long pause)
Doctor: My suggestion is that you get your affairs in order. Here’s a folder with things you need to consider such as life insurances, bank accounts, beneficiaries, a will – things of that nature. But Sue, there’s something more important than even all of that. I’m not speaking on a professional level right now – I’m talking to you on a personal level. Sue, where are you going to spend Eternity?
Sue: Eternity? … Heaven – I’m going to Heaven. I’m saved, Dr Adams.
Doctor: I’m glad to hear it. You’ve got a lot to absorb now, so unless you have any questions, I’ll leave you two alone. Take as much time as you’d like.
Sue: Okay – thanks.
Doctor: Listen, if you have any questions after you look through the packet – don’t hesitate to call.
Sue: Okay – thanks.
Bobby: I’m so sorry.
Sue: It’s not your fault.
Bobby: No, I mean I’m sorry – about all the other stuff - all the bickering and useless arguments. It’s kind of stupid in light of all this. It sort of makes you face what’s really important.
Sue: (starts crying)
Bobby: I’m sorry Sue – I didn’t mean to say anything hurtful.
Sue: It’s not you Bobby – it’s me! Dr Adams was concerned about my salvation and that started me thinking. You know how the Pastor’s always saying, “If you’re going to Heaven that’s fantastic, but how many are you taking with you?”
Bobby: Why are you worried about that at a time like this?
Sue: Because the answer is Nobody, Bobby! I’ve always been so wrapped up in myself, in my life, that I never shared Christ with anyone. When I see Jesus and he asks that question, I mean, He already knows. He knows I haven’t told anybody! I’m so ashamed…
Bobby: Sue – it’s not over yet. Doc says you have one month – that’s one whole month. Why not start telling people now?
(Sue looks at him questioningly)
Bobby: I mean, how perfect is this?!?! You can tell people about Jesus, and if they never talk to you again it won’t really matter. And besides, if you tell them your situation – just how mad will they get? What’s the worst that could happen at this point?
Sue: You’re right. What’s the worst that could happen?
Bobby: Better yet – what’s the best?
Sue: (big smile) That I can bring someone with me…
Bobby: Now you’re talkin’…
LIGHTS OUT
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