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The F Words

MAIN POINT
Birthdays are hard for some people, especially when they hit the big 5-0. Why? It is often a time of reflection and questioning of one's purpose in life and the legacy one will leave behind. Some deal with the recognition that earlier dreams and goals are never going to be accomplished. Others are dealing with their sense of morality. This monologue takes a look at one man's struggle with where he has been and where he is going.

CHARACTERIZATION
The man should be about 50. He is dressed in vacation clothes (shorts and Hawaiian shirt) and at least at the beginning, he is rather lighthearted. He gradually becomes more introspective, but he is not a whiner. His friends and colleagues have no idea that he is unhappy. He hides it well from everyone except his wife.

The group of extras should all be dressed in cruise ship attire and be having a great time. But be careful not to make them appear intoxicated.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES
Make good use of pauses in this monologue. The man is on a cruise ship. There is lots to look at while he is in between thoughts. Help the audience get a sense of the sea air, the wind or sun in his eyes and the other people off in a distance on the ship. Music should be playing quietly in the background during most of the scene. It can be louder just before the "group" dances by, as if a door has opened and they are coming out on deck from a party. If a "group" is not used or available, the man can just make reference to them off in a distance by waving. He should refuse their offer to join at first and at the end act as if they have called him over again and this time he has decided to join them.

RELATED SCRIPTURES
Philippians 3:13-14 is a great Scripture reference for this script. The man is obviously struggling to both leave behind his past record and press on to the future. To approach this sketch from the sense of not having achieved or of futility, consider Proverbs 30:1-4 or Ecclesiastes 1:1-11.

RELATED THEMES
This script would work well with a sermon on determining your spiritual gifts or God's calling in your life. It can also be used to address the stages of life and the sense of futility, emptiness or missed opportunity that can accompany midlife and later.