Summary: Mark misses the point when his wife, Lois, extols the changes in their son, who is now being a help around the house for his wife. (Suitable for a sermon on marriage.)
Style: Light-hearted (sort of). Duration: 7min
Actors: 1M, 1F
Characters
Mark – husband of many years
Lois - wife of many years
Script
(Scene opens with husband seated in a chair or on a couch reading a newspaper. His feet are up on a footstool. Wife is on the phone with a feather duster in hand.)
Lois: Would you like to go to lunch tomorrow, Cassie? I thought we could go to Mario’s for their buffet lunch. The children like it there and they could go on the play area after they eat. (Pause) Oh, Jeff is off tomorrow? I can’t keep track of his fireman’s schedule. So are you doing something special with him? (Pause) You’re what? (Pause) Why? (Pause) I see. The counselor suggested that? Okay, I’ll talk to you later in the week. Love you, bye.
(Lois hangs up and stands staring into space.)
Lois: Humph!
Mark: What’s up? (Not really paying attention – still reading.)
Lois: Well, I guess Jeff is off work tomorrow. I just can’t seem to understand his days and hours.
Mark: Yeah, it’s tough.
Lois: Anyway, guess what they’re doing tomorrow.
Mark: I have no idea. What are they doing?
Lois: Cleaning.
Mark: That’s nice.
Lois: Yes, it is; it’s very nice. They’re cleaning the house together on his day off!
Mark: Glad I don’t live there.
Lois: It seems that they’re seeing a marriage counselor.
Mark: A marriage counselor?
Lois: Oh, nothing is wrong, but they want to make their marriage better. Pastor Mike recommended this man, and they both like him and his advice.
Mark: Good.
Lois: I have noticed that Cassie has seemed pretty stressed lately. Of course, she does have a 4-year-old and a two-year-old to care for. On top of that she is 6 months along in her latest pregnancy. I guess any woman would be stressed.
Mark: Probably.
Lois: But isn't our son wonderful? I mean not many men would jump in and help their wives clean – especially on their day off from work.
Mark: Not many.
(Lois starts to clean in earnest. Mark lifts his cup as she dusts the end table. He lifts his feet for her to dust the footstool. )
Lois: I don’t remember you ever helping me clean when the children were young. (Lois grabs a broom and dust pan.)
Mark: That’s why you have kids, so they can help.
Lois: A 4-year-old and a 2-year-old aren’t very much help.
Mark: Well, aren’t you glad you don’t have little ones again? And after all, I help you now.
Lois: You do?
Mark: Sure, I’m helping you now. Here, you can get behind here. (If the chair spins he can spin around to be out of her way. If not, he can stand and pull the chair away from the wall so she can sweep behind it. He can sit again but says:) Here let me hold that dustpan for you. (When the pan is full he hands it to Lois.)
Lois: Anyway I think our son is one heck of a guy. Cassie is very lucky to have such a considerate man for a husband.
Mark: Well, Jeff has always been thoughtful. Remember how he would pick wildflowers for you?
Lois: The wildflowers were fine, but when he picked Mrs. Burbank’s prize winning roses she wasn’t too happy.
Mark: Yeah, well he didn’t mean any harm; he was trying to be nice.
Lois: You’re right, he was always thinking of others.
Mark: Yeah, well he gets that from me.
Lois: Really?
Mark: Sure. For instance, let me help you reach that crown molding.
Lois: Oh my. I guess the spiders have been busy up there. Thank you, dear. (She tries to hand him the duster but he bends over and picks up the footstool; he sets it near Lois.}
Mark: There you go. Just let me know if you want me to move it. (He resumes his reading.)
Lois: Gee, thanks!
Mark: Don’t mention it, glad to help.
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© Copyright Joanne Miller, 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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