61008 THE CHECK'S TAKEN CARE OF

by   Jennifer Clark

GENRE: Comedy

TIME: 8 minutes

CAST BREAKDOWN: 5M,4F

THEME: Easter; Substitution of Sin; Christ ’s Fulfillment of the Law

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34; John 19:28 –30; Romans 6:3 –11

CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Easter

SUGGESTED USE: Worship service; Bible tudy; youth group meeting

PURPOSE: To portray the payment of our sin by Christ on the cross

SYNOPSIS:
In this series of vignettes, we meet four couples, all having dinner at a nice restaurant. Each
couple is unable to pay for the meal, and each, in turn, is surprised to hear from the waiter that
an anonymous benefactor wants to take care of the check. Each couple, that is, except Ralph and
Virginia, who have come to “rely upon the kindness of strangers. ”There are many lessons to
learn from the various couples’ reactions to this outlandish offer.

CHARACTERS:
Waiter ~Proper and professional
Steve ~Age 25;Melissa ’ husband;they ’re celebrating a special occasion
Melissa ~Age 25;Steve ’s wife
Jim ~Age 35;Sonya ’s husband
Sonya ~Age 35;Jim ’ wife
Kyle ~Age 38;Lisa ’ husband
Lisa ~Age 38;Kyle ’ wife
Ralph ~Age 63;Virginia ’ husband
Virginia ~Age 63;Ralph ’s wife

PROPS: 1)Glasses and napkins to suggest end of dinner
2)Check holder for Waiter 3)Three small tables
4)Credit card 5)Business cards

COSTUMES: Contemporary clothing,appropriate to character

SOUND: Nine wireless mikes,or one wireless mike for Waiter and area mikes on the tables

LIGHTING: General stage (specials on tables if possible)

SETTING: A fancy restaurant

Scene opens on three tables in a fine restaurant. The table
on the left has a young couple: STEVE and MELISSA. The
middle table has a group of four: JIM and SONYA, and
KYLE and LISA. The table on the right has an older couple:
RALPH and VIRGINIA. A special comes up on STEVE
and MELISSA.

STEVE
(Sitting back) Oh, stick a fork in me—I am done!

MELISSA
I have achieved maximum capacity. There is no way. That was so
wonderful. We have to eat here next year for our anniversary, don’t
you think? I loved the tiramisu. And the veal parmesan, and the
mushroom appetizers …

STEVE
The breadsticks, the Caesar salad …

MELISSA
The calamari, the pasta with the Alfredo sauce …

STEVE
The velvet cake …

MELISSA
The cappuccino …

STEVE
The heartburn …

MELISSA
The fat grams …

STEVE
Did you bring any Zantax?

MELISSA
Did you bring the Thighmaster?

STEVE
We overdid it just a little.

MELISSA
You think? It was worth it, wasn’t it?

STEVE
(Burping to himself) I guess we’ll find out any moment; here comes
the check.

WAITER ENTERS and places check on their table.

STEVE picks up check, opens folder and gasps audibly.
He is flabbergasted.

MELISSA
What is it? It can’t be that bad, honey … I mean, we knew it would
be expensive coming here, but we have enough, don’t we?

STEVE
(Nervous) Uh, hmmm, well … I … we got so carried away with
this place that I think we may be over a bit …

MELISSA
How much is a bit?

STEVE
Well, Melissa, I think it might be a good thing you work for
the bank, because we could really use a low-interest loan right
about now …

MELISSA
You’re serious? I thought you brought plenty of money …

STEVE
I thought so, too. But I guess we lost track of it. We got swept up
in a kind of gastrointestinal euphoria or something. Maybe they put
something in the food …

MELISSA
I just assumed you would be able to cover it, so I didn’t bring any
of my extra money. Can I see the bill?

STEVE
Uh, okay. You’re used to looking at large amounts of money on
paper all day, right?

MELISSA
(Looking at bill) Oh, Steve, this is … well … (She is at a loss for
words. Her mouth is working, but nothing is coming out.)

STEVE
I can’t use any of our cards … we’re maxed out …

MELISSA
This is so embarrassing … what will we say when he comes back?
Oh, no, here he comes. Just stall him or something …

STEVE
Uh, okay …

WAITER
(Smiling) Did you enjoy your meal?

STEVE
Yes, well, but you see …

WAITER
Oh, good. The gentleman at the private booth in the back wanted
you to know—he is taking care of your bill this evening.

STEVE
What? Who is he? Where is he?

WAITER
He prefers to remain unseen. But here is his card.

STEVE
How did he know that we didn’t have …

WAITER
If I were you, I would take him up on it. He is truly a generous
man, and it is nothing for him to pay your bill … he does this quite
a bit, you know.

STEVE
Well, I don’t know what to say …

WAITER
Say thank you.

MELISSA
How can we say thanks if we can’t see him?

WAITER
You can write him at that address. He might send you a note or
letter the next day express mail or he might get back to you later,
but he always writes back. Shall I tell him you accept his offer?

STEVE
Well, I …

MELISSA
Yes!! Tell him yes!

STEVE
Well, okay … sure. Why not?

STEVE hands WAITER the folder. STEVE and MELISSA get
up to EXIT. Lights crossfade from STEVE and MELISSA’S
table to the middle table. The two couples there have had a few
drinks with their meal; the evidence is on the table and heard
in their raucous laughter.

KYLE
So then I told him, if you don’t move your car, I will have to move
it for you …

JIM
And did you?

KYLE
Remember that dent in the front of my Explorer? I didn’t get that
from an accident, I gave the guy a little nudge …

SONYA and LISA laugh.

JIM
You hit him?! You are bold, boy! Bet he thought twice before he
tried to steal a parking space from you again …

KYLE
Well, you can’t let people take advantage of ya. You have to show
them who’s in control of the situation at all times, or you’ll be a
victim all your life. I’m a man who likes to be in the driver’s seat
at all times.

JIM
I hear ya, man. This world is a brutal place, and you have to bare
your teeth and use your claws every now and then to get your way,
right, Lisa? (He bares his teeth and growls at her.)

LISA
(Giggling) Yeah, Jimmy. Um, how many drinks do you think we’ve
all had tonight?

SONYA
I have had enough to know that I should stay seated … (giggles) or
else I will be a victim of gravity … and I don’t want to be a victim
… right, Kyle ? (She snorts.)

KYLE
So, you don’t think we scared off the waiter, do ya? He was kind
of a weird-lookin’ dude, wasn’t he? I mean, he was right there the
whole night and gave us all what we asked for, but I almost felt,
like, this whole disapproval vibe coming from him … I think when
he comes back, I’m gonna mess with him a little, have some fun …

WAITER ENTERS from behind, smiling.

WAITER
Did you enjoy your meal?

KYLE
Not really …

The others laugh.

WAITER
Oh, what was wrong? I will take care of it immediately …

KYLE
It’s too late. The food was awful. You were terrible … don’t expect
a tip, there big guy—we just want our bill.

The group giggles.

WAITER
I see. (Placing the folder on the table) Well, you will be happy to
know at least your check is paid. The gentleman in the private
booth has offered to pay your bill tonight.

KYLE
Let me see that check … (He grabs it from the table, looks at it and,
for one moment, is startled. He quickly tries to cover it up.)

WAITER
Shall I tell the gentleman you will take him up on his offer?

KYLE
Offer? What kind of a man is he, anyway? Do I look poor to you?
Do I look destitute or pitiful to you? Tell him I said no, I can take
care of it myself …

WAITER
Very well. (He EXITS.)

KYLE
The nerve. The absolute nerve.

LISA
Aw, Kyle, it’s probably some rich guy who’s just feelin’ generous …
you should at least think about it …

KYLE
Are you nuts? Don’t you know anything about how the world
works? That loon in the back will probably end up wanting
something in return. Nobody gives you anything for free in
this world.

JIM
Kyle is right. I mean, this guy is probably some lunatic … he
doesn’t know us …

SONYA
Yeah, imagine some stranger trying to pay your bill for you … he
probably works for some insurance company and wants us to come
to some seminar …

KYLE
Or else he’s selling condos or …

JIM
Maybe he’s a politician, and he’s trying to buy our votes …

LISA
Or worse, maybe he’s a lawyer …

KYLE
Well, I am gonna give this “mystery man” a reality check. Where
did the waiter say he was?

KYLE gets up. At the same time, WAITER ENTERS.

WAITER
Sir, the gentleman wanted me to ask you one more time if he
could pay your bill. He has also offered to pay for a cab ride for all
four of you.

KYLE
You go tell that psychopath that I can pay this bill, and I can
drive everyone home, okay? Where is this guy, anyway? I want to
see his face …

WAITER
He doesn’t meet the public … he prefers if you write to him.
He will be happy to write you in return …

KYLE
Look, you tell this madman that I can pay … I don’t need his help
(He digs in his pockets and produces a credit card.) Just put it on my
company tab; I’m sure they won’t mind paying …

WAITER
Well, I will need to make a phone call …

KYLE
Fine, go ahead.

WAITER
Very well, sir. (He EXITS.)

KYLE
Let’s go.

JIM
Shouldn’t we wait and see if we’re okay?

KYLE
Nah, let’s just go. What are they gonna do, arrest me? Besides, I
gave him my old card that expired months ago. C’mon, let’s go
before he catches on. I never want to eat here again.

They get up and EXIT, trying to look casual. Lights crossfade
from middle table to older couple’s table.

VIRGINIA
Oh, Ralph, I can’t believe we did it again …

RALPH
Well, Virginia, that’s okay. Remember when I brought you here last
time? And I forgot my wallet?

VIRGINIA
Yes, dear, I remember … and now here we are again with more on
the bill than in our pockets.

RALPH
In the same mess we were in before …

VIRGINIA
Let’s ask the waiter if that nice man in the private booth is still
here and—

RALPH
Oh, yeah. His response to our thank you note last time was so nice:
“If you ever need help with the check again, I’ll gladly pay …”

VIRGINIA
Oh, waiter … waiter?

WAITER ENTERS.

WAITER
Yes, Ma’am. Will you be needing the check paid this evening?

RALPH
Now I remember why we like coming to this restaurant!

Lights out.

Copyright © 2001 Jennifer Clark