Who's Your Neighbor
Drama
Lectionary Scenes
56 Vignettes For Cycle C
Theme
Being of service to others no matter who they are.
Summary
A modern retelling of the Good Samaritan parable in the form of a game show.
Playing Time
10 minutes
Setting
A TV studio
Props
Scripts
Signs -- "Cheer" ;"Hello Milton" ; "The End"; "Applause"
Road map
Masks
Raiment
First aid kit
Bandage
Costumes
Costume pieces to be added to street clothes
Time
Prime time
Cast
ANNOUNCER
MILTON WHITESTEIN (HOST)
RUPERT WILLIES
GEORGE SCRIMSHAW
WILLIAM BRANDIOGGAN
CERTAIN MAN
WIFE -- of Certain Man
THIEVES
(A TV GAME SHOW. AN "APPLAUSE" SIGN IS HELD UP AND AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
ANNOUNCER: And now the show that everyone should play all the time ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Yes, the contestants act out the parts in a classic story and are judged by our studio audience as they decide ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! And now, here's the host of WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR!, that good neighbor, Milton Whitestein.
MILTON: (RUNNING ON WITH LOTS OF ENERGY) Thank you, Johnny, and hello, neighbors. ("HELLO MILTON" SIGN IS HELD UP. AUDIENCE RESPONDS) Well, that's great. The audience is ready, I'm ready, so Johnny, who are the lucky contestants today?
ANNOUNCER: Milton, our first contestant, chosen from our studio audience, is Rupert Willies.
MILTON: All right, Rupert Willies, where are you? (MAN IN AUDIENCE STANDS, WHOOPS, AND RUNS DOWN FRONT)
RUPERT: Oh, I never thought ... Why, why, why, Marsha had to drag me here, almost.
MILTON: Johnny, how about contestant number two?
ANNOUNCER: Milton, contestant number two is George Scrimshaw. (A MAN JUMPS UP FROM AUDIENCE AND RUNS DOWN. WHEN HE REACHES THE FRONT HE JUST JUMPS UP AND DOWN)
MILTON: And here comes George.
GEORGE: Oh golly. Oh golly. It's me. It's me. I've never won anything.
MILTON: Johnny, who is number three?
ANNOUNCER: Milton, contestant number three is William Brandioggan. (ANOTHER MAN FROM THE AUDIENCE JUMPS UP AND RUNS FORWARD)
MILTON: And that's the last contestant for this week. (TAKING MICROPHONE TO EACH CONTESTANT) All right, your name is ...
RUPERT: Rupert Willies.
MILTON: From ...
RUPERT: Peoria, Illinois. Milt, we're just out here on a vacation.
MILTON: Great, Rupert. Are you ready to win the grand prize?
RUPERT: I sure am, Milt.
MILTON: Fantastic. And, now, for our next gentleman and second contestant. Mr. ...
GEORGE: George Scrimshaw, from Tipoffe, Maine. Vacationing, too, Milt.
MILTON: All right, great. And now, number three is ...
WILLIAM: William Brandioggan.
MILTON: And where's your hometown, William?
WILLIAM: I'm from right here in L.A., Milt. And I'm ready to play.
MILTON: Well, I guess if you're ready, so am I. Audience, how about it? ("CHEER" SIGN IS HELD UP AND AUDIENCE CHEERS) It looks like we're ready to play WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! As usual our story is a classic. Gentlemen, you must act out the parts assigned to you. The other parts will be played by professional actors. Here are your scripts. Let's begin. (THE THREE CONTESTANTS WALK TO THE SIDE OF THE STAGE, LOOKING AT THEIR SCRIPTS)
ANNOUNCER: (IN A STORYTELLING VOICE) A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho ... (THE "PROFESSIONAL ACTORS" ENTER AND ARRANGE THEMSELVES FOR THE SKIT)
WIFE: Are you certain?
CERTAIN MAN: Yes, of course, dear. I'm always certain. After all, I'm a certain man, aren't I?
WIFE: You certainly are.
CERTAIN MAN: Certainly.
WIFE: (KISSING HIM) Since you're certain you have to leave, good-bye.
CERTAIN MAN: Bye. (WIFE EXITS. MAN CROSSES STAGE, THUMBS A RIDE BUT IS NOT PICKED UP. HE CONTINUES WALKING)
ANNOUNCER: He fell among thieves. (TWO OR THREE THIEVES ARE SHOOTING DICE ON THE FLOOR. CERTAIN MAN, WITH HIS NOSE BURIED IN A ROAD MAP, STUMBLES OVER ONE OF THE THIEVES AND FALLS AMONGST THEM)
CERTAIN MAN: Oops! Pardon me. I'm terribly sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going.
ANNOUNCER: They stripped him of his raiment ... (THIEVES ARE BENDING OVER CERTAIN MAN)
THIEF: Look, he has a raiment.
CERTAIN MAN: (RISING) Not my raiment! Don't touch my raiment! Anything but my raiment!
ANNOUNCER: They wounded him ...
ANOTHER THIEF: (HITTING HIM) Shadap!
ANNOUNCER: They departed ...
THIEF: Let's get out of here. (THIEVES EXIT)
ANNOUNCER: Leaving him half dead.
CERTAIN MAN: (PRONE ON HIS BACK. HE MAKES A FEEBLE MOTION WITH HIS ARMS) Half dead. Half dead. (THIEF RETURNS)
ANNOUNCER: What are you doing? You departed.
THIEF: I forgot the raiment. (HE PICKS IT UP AND EXITS)
ANNOUNCER: And by chance, a priest came down the road ...
PRIEST: (ACTUALLY THIS IS THE FIRST CONTESTANT, RUPERT WILLIES. HE IS READING THE SCRIPT AND NOT AT ALL SURE OF HIS LINES. HE DELIVERS HIS LINES MECHANICALLY AND WOODENLY) Oh, my. Oh, my. What must I be doing here? I've lost my way. Oh, dear me. What's this? Goodness. It's a dead man.
ANNOUNCER: No, just half dead.
CERTAIN MAN: Half dead. Half dead.
PRIEST: Yes, well, I'd better be going. Although I'm sure I don't know which way. (THE CERTAIN MAN HANDS HIM A ROAD MAP) Oh, here's a map. Yes, yes, I see now.
ANNOUNCER:
And he passed by on the other side.
PRIEST: Thanks ever so much for the map. Toodles. (HE EXITS)
ANNOUNCER: And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him ...
LEVITE: (THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND CONTESTANT, GEORGE SCRIMSHAW) Pardon me, is a Levite one of those guys who makes jeans?
MILTON: (RUNNING ON STAGE) No, no. A Levite is a temple worker.
LEVITE: Well, I just wanted to know. It will help me to interpret the character.
MILTON: Yes, yes. May we continue now?
LEVITE: By all means. (HE LOOKS AT CERTAIN MAN WITH MAGNIFYING GLASS) Hmm, yes, I see. Interesting. Quite interesting. Yes, yes. Obviously dead.
CERTAIN MAN: Half dead. Half dead.
LEVITE: (TAKES OUT NOTEPAD AND MAKES SOME NOTES) I must remember all the details. Yes, yes. This will make an interesting story. Hmm, yes.
ANNOUNCER: And he passed by on the other side.
LEVITE: Wait a minute. Which is the other side?
ANNOUNCER: I don't know.
LEVITE: Well, you said the other side. I just wondered. Is it this side or that one?
MILTON: (RUNNING ON) What's the trouble? What's going on?
ANNOUNCER: I'm sorry, Milt, but contestant number two wants to know which way to exit.
MILTON: Well, it doesn't matter.
LEVITE: I just wanted to make sure. He said the other side and I didn't know ...
MILTON: The priest went over that way.
LEVITE: Over here? This way?
MILTON: Yes, that's right.
LEVITE: Is this all right, then?
MILTON: Yes, that's fine.
LEVITE: Good, then. I'd better be going. I suppose if it's all right for a priest ... (HE EXITS)
MILTON: Let's get on with it, Johnny.
ANNOUNCER: But a despised Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where the man lay dying. (SAMARITAN IS ACTUALLY CONTESTANT NUMBER THREE, WILLIAM BRANDIOGGAN. HE ENTERS) And when he saw him, he was moved with pity and sympathy for him.
SAMARITAN: The robbers have done this, I guess ..
ANNOUNCER: He went to him and bandaged his wounds ... (THE SAMARITAN WHIPS OUT A FIRST AID KIT AND BANDAGES THE CERTAIN MAN) ... then he set him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (THE SAMARITAN TRIES TO LIFT THE CERTAIN MAN AND ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH HIM. THEN HE STRUGGLES OUT) And the next day as he was leaving he gave the innkeeper two days wages and said:
SAMARITAN: Take care of him and whatever more you spend I will repay you when I return. (A SIGN IS HELD UP THAT READS "THE END" AND THEN THE "APPLAUSE" SIGN AGAIN)
MILTON: Fantastic acting. What do you think, audience? And now it's time to find out ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Johnny will remind our audience of the actors and which parts they played. Then the studio audience will decide ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Johnny.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Milton. The first contestant, Rupert Willies, played the part of the Priest. (SOME OF THE AUDIENCE RESPOND) And then we had George Scrimshaw as the Levite. (VERY LITTLE RESPONSE AND A FEW BOOS) And then we had William Brandioggan as the Samaritan. (THE AUDIENCE REALLY LOVES HIM)
MILTON: Thank you, Johnny, and thank you, audience. Well, it looks like the Good Samaritan is the winner. I wonder why? Let's ask the man who made it all possible with such good acting. William, what's the answer? Why was the Good Samaritan chosen as the good neighbor?
WILLIAM: Because he was the one who showed him some mercy and pity.
MILTON: Well, it looks like our time is up for this week, folks. So, until next week, this is Milton Whitestein saying good night for WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Johnny ...
ANNOUNCER: WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! is a Three in One Production. Remember, folks, go and do likewise. Good night, neighbors! ("APPLAUSE" SIGN IS HELD UP AND AUDIENCE EXPLODES WITH LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
Being of service to others no matter who they are.
Summary
A modern retelling of the Good Samaritan parable in the form of a game show.
Playing Time
10 minutes
Setting
A TV studio
Props
Scripts
Signs -- "Cheer" ;"Hello Milton" ; "The End"; "Applause"
Road map
Masks
Raiment
First aid kit
Bandage
Costumes
Costume pieces to be added to street clothes
Time
Prime time
Cast
ANNOUNCER
MILTON WHITESTEIN (HOST)
RUPERT WILLIES
GEORGE SCRIMSHAW
WILLIAM BRANDIOGGAN
CERTAIN MAN
WIFE -- of Certain Man
THIEVES
(A TV GAME SHOW. AN "APPLAUSE" SIGN IS HELD UP AND AUDIENCE APPLAUDS)
ANNOUNCER: And now the show that everyone should play all the time ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Yes, the contestants act out the parts in a classic story and are judged by our studio audience as they decide ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! And now, here's the host of WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR!, that good neighbor, Milton Whitestein.
MILTON: (RUNNING ON WITH LOTS OF ENERGY) Thank you, Johnny, and hello, neighbors. ("HELLO MILTON" SIGN IS HELD UP. AUDIENCE RESPONDS) Well, that's great. The audience is ready, I'm ready, so Johnny, who are the lucky contestants today?
ANNOUNCER: Milton, our first contestant, chosen from our studio audience, is Rupert Willies.
MILTON: All right, Rupert Willies, where are you? (MAN IN AUDIENCE STANDS, WHOOPS, AND RUNS DOWN FRONT)
RUPERT: Oh, I never thought ... Why, why, why, Marsha had to drag me here, almost.
MILTON: Johnny, how about contestant number two?
ANNOUNCER: Milton, contestant number two is George Scrimshaw. (A MAN JUMPS UP FROM AUDIENCE AND RUNS DOWN. WHEN HE REACHES THE FRONT HE JUST JUMPS UP AND DOWN)
MILTON: And here comes George.
GEORGE: Oh golly. Oh golly. It's me. It's me. I've never won anything.
MILTON: Johnny, who is number three?
ANNOUNCER: Milton, contestant number three is William Brandioggan. (ANOTHER MAN FROM THE AUDIENCE JUMPS UP AND RUNS FORWARD)
MILTON: And that's the last contestant for this week. (TAKING MICROPHONE TO EACH CONTESTANT) All right, your name is ...
RUPERT: Rupert Willies.
MILTON: From ...
RUPERT: Peoria, Illinois. Milt, we're just out here on a vacation.
MILTON: Great, Rupert. Are you ready to win the grand prize?
RUPERT: I sure am, Milt.
MILTON: Fantastic. And, now, for our next gentleman and second contestant. Mr. ...
GEORGE: George Scrimshaw, from Tipoffe, Maine. Vacationing, too, Milt.
MILTON: All right, great. And now, number three is ...
WILLIAM: William Brandioggan.
MILTON: And where's your hometown, William?
WILLIAM: I'm from right here in L.A., Milt. And I'm ready to play.
MILTON: Well, I guess if you're ready, so am I. Audience, how about it? ("CHEER" SIGN IS HELD UP AND AUDIENCE CHEERS) It looks like we're ready to play WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! As usual our story is a classic. Gentlemen, you must act out the parts assigned to you. The other parts will be played by professional actors. Here are your scripts. Let's begin. (THE THREE CONTESTANTS WALK TO THE SIDE OF THE STAGE, LOOKING AT THEIR SCRIPTS)
ANNOUNCER: (IN A STORYTELLING VOICE) A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho ... (THE "PROFESSIONAL ACTORS" ENTER AND ARRANGE THEMSELVES FOR THE SKIT)
WIFE: Are you certain?
CERTAIN MAN: Yes, of course, dear. I'm always certain. After all, I'm a certain man, aren't I?
WIFE: You certainly are.
CERTAIN MAN: Certainly.
WIFE: (KISSING HIM) Since you're certain you have to leave, good-bye.
CERTAIN MAN: Bye. (WIFE EXITS. MAN CROSSES STAGE, THUMBS A RIDE BUT IS NOT PICKED UP. HE CONTINUES WALKING)
ANNOUNCER: He fell among thieves. (TWO OR THREE THIEVES ARE SHOOTING DICE ON THE FLOOR. CERTAIN MAN, WITH HIS NOSE BURIED IN A ROAD MAP, STUMBLES OVER ONE OF THE THIEVES AND FALLS AMONGST THEM)
CERTAIN MAN: Oops! Pardon me. I'm terribly sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going.
ANNOUNCER: They stripped him of his raiment ... (THIEVES ARE BENDING OVER CERTAIN MAN)
THIEF: Look, he has a raiment.
CERTAIN MAN: (RISING) Not my raiment! Don't touch my raiment! Anything but my raiment!
ANNOUNCER: They wounded him ...
ANOTHER THIEF: (HITTING HIM) Shadap!
ANNOUNCER: They departed ...
THIEF: Let's get out of here. (THIEVES EXIT)
ANNOUNCER: Leaving him half dead.
CERTAIN MAN: (PRONE ON HIS BACK. HE MAKES A FEEBLE MOTION WITH HIS ARMS) Half dead. Half dead. (THIEF RETURNS)
ANNOUNCER: What are you doing? You departed.
THIEF: I forgot the raiment. (HE PICKS IT UP AND EXITS)
ANNOUNCER: And by chance, a priest came down the road ...
PRIEST: (ACTUALLY THIS IS THE FIRST CONTESTANT, RUPERT WILLIES. HE IS READING THE SCRIPT AND NOT AT ALL SURE OF HIS LINES. HE DELIVERS HIS LINES MECHANICALLY AND WOODENLY) Oh, my. Oh, my. What must I be doing here? I've lost my way. Oh, dear me. What's this? Goodness. It's a dead man.
ANNOUNCER: No, just half dead.
CERTAIN MAN: Half dead. Half dead.
PRIEST: Yes, well, I'd better be going. Although I'm sure I don't know which way. (THE CERTAIN MAN HANDS HIM A ROAD MAP) Oh, here's a map. Yes, yes, I see now.
ANNOUNCER:
And he passed by on the other side.
PRIEST: Thanks ever so much for the map. Toodles. (HE EXITS)
ANNOUNCER: And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him ...
LEVITE: (THIS IS ACTUALLY THE SECOND CONTESTANT, GEORGE SCRIMSHAW) Pardon me, is a Levite one of those guys who makes jeans?
MILTON: (RUNNING ON STAGE) No, no. A Levite is a temple worker.
LEVITE: Well, I just wanted to know. It will help me to interpret the character.
MILTON: Yes, yes. May we continue now?
LEVITE: By all means. (HE LOOKS AT CERTAIN MAN WITH MAGNIFYING GLASS) Hmm, yes, I see. Interesting. Quite interesting. Yes, yes. Obviously dead.
CERTAIN MAN: Half dead. Half dead.
LEVITE: (TAKES OUT NOTEPAD AND MAKES SOME NOTES) I must remember all the details. Yes, yes. This will make an interesting story. Hmm, yes.
ANNOUNCER: And he passed by on the other side.
LEVITE: Wait a minute. Which is the other side?
ANNOUNCER: I don't know.
LEVITE: Well, you said the other side. I just wondered. Is it this side or that one?
MILTON: (RUNNING ON) What's the trouble? What's going on?
ANNOUNCER: I'm sorry, Milt, but contestant number two wants to know which way to exit.
MILTON: Well, it doesn't matter.
LEVITE: I just wanted to make sure. He said the other side and I didn't know ...
MILTON: The priest went over that way.
LEVITE: Over here? This way?
MILTON: Yes, that's right.
LEVITE: Is this all right, then?
MILTON: Yes, that's fine.
LEVITE: Good, then. I'd better be going. I suppose if it's all right for a priest ... (HE EXITS)
MILTON: Let's get on with it, Johnny.
ANNOUNCER: But a despised Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where the man lay dying. (SAMARITAN IS ACTUALLY CONTESTANT NUMBER THREE, WILLIAM BRANDIOGGAN. HE ENTERS) And when he saw him, he was moved with pity and sympathy for him.
SAMARITAN: The robbers have done this, I guess ..
ANNOUNCER: He went to him and bandaged his wounds ... (THE SAMARITAN WHIPS OUT A FIRST AID KIT AND BANDAGES THE CERTAIN MAN) ... then he set him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of him. (THE SAMARITAN TRIES TO LIFT THE CERTAIN MAN AND ENDS UP ON THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH HIM. THEN HE STRUGGLES OUT) And the next day as he was leaving he gave the innkeeper two days wages and said:
SAMARITAN: Take care of him and whatever more you spend I will repay you when I return. (A SIGN IS HELD UP THAT READS "THE END" AND THEN THE "APPLAUSE" SIGN AGAIN)
MILTON: Fantastic acting. What do you think, audience? And now it's time to find out ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Johnny will remind our audience of the actors and which parts they played. Then the studio audience will decide ... WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Johnny.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Milton. The first contestant, Rupert Willies, played the part of the Priest. (SOME OF THE AUDIENCE RESPOND) And then we had George Scrimshaw as the Levite. (VERY LITTLE RESPONSE AND A FEW BOOS) And then we had William Brandioggan as the Samaritan. (THE AUDIENCE REALLY LOVES HIM)
MILTON: Thank you, Johnny, and thank you, audience. Well, it looks like the Good Samaritan is the winner. I wonder why? Let's ask the man who made it all possible with such good acting. William, what's the answer? Why was the Good Samaritan chosen as the good neighbor?
WILLIAM: Because he was the one who showed him some mercy and pity.
MILTON: Well, it looks like our time is up for this week, folks. So, until next week, this is Milton Whitestein saying good night for WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! Johnny ...
ANNOUNCER: WHO'S YOUR NEIGHBOR! is a Three in One Production. Remember, folks, go and do likewise. Good night, neighbors! ("APPLAUSE" SIGN IS HELD UP AND AUDIENCE EXPLODES WITH LAUGHTER AND APPLAUSE)
