House On Sand
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
57 Vignettes For Cycle A
Theme
The family that fails to build its house on the Rock, Jesus, is heading for some stormy weather.
Summary
Shirley, the daughter, had a bad day at school. Mom had a hard day at home, and Dad comes home tired and out of sorts. There is bound to be an explosion.
Playing Time: 3 minutes
Setting: Shirley's home
Props: School books
Costumes: Contemporary, casual
Time: The present
Cast: SHIRLEY -- a teenager
MOTHER -- her mother
FATHER -- Shirley's father
SHIRLEY: (ENTERS AND SLAMS HER BOOKS ON THE TABLE)
MOTHER: (SINCE SHIRLEY HAS SPOKEN NO GREETING, MOTHER ACTS IF SHE IS SHIRLEY SPEAKING) "Hello, Mother, how was your day, Mother?" (SHE RESPONDS TO HER OWN QUESTION AS HERSELF) Oh, my day was fine, Shirley. How was your day? (PLAYING SHIRLEY AGAIN) "My day was lousy, Mother."
SHIRLEY: Mom, cut it out. I had a bad day. I flunked my test.
MOTHER: You flunked your test! Didn't you study?
SHIRLEY: Of course I studied.
MOTHER: With the television on.
SHIRLEY: I always study with the television on.
MOTHER: When I was young I got good grades and I didn't try to study with the television on.
SHIRLEY: Well, good for you.
MOTHER: Don't you talk to me in that tone of voice, young lady.
SHIRLEY: Lay off, Mother! I've just about had enough. I've had a hard day.
MOTHER: You poor thing. I had a hard day, too. I washed the clothes, mopped the kitchen floor, washed the dishes, which is your job, and to top it off I burned dinner.
SHIRLEY: Knock it off, Mom. I'm going to my room. (SHE BEGINS TO EXIT) Oh, by the way, Mom, have a nice day. (SHE EXITS. MOTHER IS NOW MORE ANGRY THAN SHE WAS)
FATHER: (ENTERS. ALSO IN A BAD MOOD. LOOKING IN POT ON STOVE) What kind of slop is this?
MOTHER: Did you have a bad day, too, dear?
FATHER: Just answer my question. I put up with the dingbat students and the dingbat principal all day. I never get a straight answer to my questions, then I come home to you ...
MOTHER: Are you calling me dingy?
FATHER: Well, you qualify. Now, what is it?
MOTHER: It's chicken.
FATHER: (MOCKING HER) "It's chicken." We had chicken last night. We had chicken at school today. I'm up to here with chicken.
MOTHER: Well, the Lord giveth.
FATHER: Well, the Lord can take that away. (LOOKS IN CUPBOARD) Where's the scotch?
MOTHER: You don't need any scotch.
FATHER: Just leave me alone. All I want to do is relax with a little drink and watch some TV. And I don't want to be bothered.
MOTHER: Sure, that's your answer to everything -- get a little drink and watch TV.
FATHER: Bug off! (FATHER IS NOSE TO NOSE WITH MOTHER GLARING ANGRILY AT HER. SHIRLEY STEPS OUT OF THE BEDROOM AND STARES AT THEM)
The family that fails to build its house on the Rock, Jesus, is heading for some stormy weather.
Summary
Shirley, the daughter, had a bad day at school. Mom had a hard day at home, and Dad comes home tired and out of sorts. There is bound to be an explosion.
Playing Time: 3 minutes
Setting: Shirley's home
Props: School books
Costumes: Contemporary, casual
Time: The present
Cast: SHIRLEY -- a teenager
MOTHER -- her mother
FATHER -- Shirley's father
SHIRLEY: (ENTERS AND SLAMS HER BOOKS ON THE TABLE)
MOTHER: (SINCE SHIRLEY HAS SPOKEN NO GREETING, MOTHER ACTS IF SHE IS SHIRLEY SPEAKING) "Hello, Mother, how was your day, Mother?" (SHE RESPONDS TO HER OWN QUESTION AS HERSELF) Oh, my day was fine, Shirley. How was your day? (PLAYING SHIRLEY AGAIN) "My day was lousy, Mother."
SHIRLEY: Mom, cut it out. I had a bad day. I flunked my test.
MOTHER: You flunked your test! Didn't you study?
SHIRLEY: Of course I studied.
MOTHER: With the television on.
SHIRLEY: I always study with the television on.
MOTHER: When I was young I got good grades and I didn't try to study with the television on.
SHIRLEY: Well, good for you.
MOTHER: Don't you talk to me in that tone of voice, young lady.
SHIRLEY: Lay off, Mother! I've just about had enough. I've had a hard day.
MOTHER: You poor thing. I had a hard day, too. I washed the clothes, mopped the kitchen floor, washed the dishes, which is your job, and to top it off I burned dinner.
SHIRLEY: Knock it off, Mom. I'm going to my room. (SHE BEGINS TO EXIT) Oh, by the way, Mom, have a nice day. (SHE EXITS. MOTHER IS NOW MORE ANGRY THAN SHE WAS)
FATHER: (ENTERS. ALSO IN A BAD MOOD. LOOKING IN POT ON STOVE) What kind of slop is this?
MOTHER: Did you have a bad day, too, dear?
FATHER: Just answer my question. I put up with the dingbat students and the dingbat principal all day. I never get a straight answer to my questions, then I come home to you ...
MOTHER: Are you calling me dingy?
FATHER: Well, you qualify. Now, what is it?
MOTHER: It's chicken.
FATHER: (MOCKING HER) "It's chicken." We had chicken last night. We had chicken at school today. I'm up to here with chicken.
MOTHER: Well, the Lord giveth.
FATHER: Well, the Lord can take that away. (LOOKS IN CUPBOARD) Where's the scotch?
MOTHER: You don't need any scotch.
FATHER: Just leave me alone. All I want to do is relax with a little drink and watch some TV. And I don't want to be bothered.
MOTHER: Sure, that's your answer to everything -- get a little drink and watch TV.
FATHER: Bug off! (FATHER IS NOSE TO NOSE WITH MOTHER GLARING ANGRILY AT HER. SHIRLEY STEPS OUT OF THE BEDROOM AND STARES AT THEM)
