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LAURA'S BILL
MAIN POINT
This sketch presents to us some of the life choices two women have made after each one
loses a child in the same accident. While this situation is very difficult to deal with,
God can and will provide a way through. Some people live their whole lives, or the rest of
their lives after a tragedy, hiding behind a barrier of grief, anger and resentment.
Others choose to pass through the barrier and experience growth, healing and new
opportunities in life.
CHARACTERIZATION
Mary is very likable and energetic. Her pain has fueled her desire for
justice. Her pain has also made her compassionate. She really does understand what Lee is
feeling, and therefore grants her anger a wide berth.
Lee is a woman racked by pain and resentment. When she first appears, it
is subtle. The more she speaks, the more curious the audience should become about what her
"story" is. She breaks down once, but catches herself from going too far.
Crying, really crying, would be too revealing, too "freeing" for Lee.
Larry is Mary's supportive husband who has put in a great deal of time
and money toward the Laura Bill as well as into helping Mary. Sensing an attack on his
already fragile wife, he instinctively and, as it turns out, unnecessarily, jumps to her
defense.
DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1) Ideally, a group of five to six actors start the scene huddled around Mary to wish her
well, etc. They should exit one at time or in groups of two. If the actors aren't
available, then Mary needs to talk to people offstage and not "mime" talking to
them. Otherwise it won't make sense that we see Lee, but not them.
2) Lee remains pretty much stationary from the time she enters the scene until she exits.
Mary can move around the lectern and toward Lee when she tries to show compassion.
3) Larry should try to edge between the two women before he's pulled aside by Mary.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
Matthew 2:13-23 shows a number of people who had tough choices to make. Herod, the Magi
and Joseph take some pretty drastic measures when a crisis arises. The story of Hannah in
1 Samuel 1 shows a godly response to the crisis of infertility. John 16:33, 1 Peter
4:12-14 and 1 Peter 2:19-21 all discuss having a godly attitude and persevering during
difficult times.
RELATED THEMES
This script would also work well for themes related to grief and why bad things happen to
good people.
