Every Boy's Dream

60670 AMONG FRIENDS
by Tom Bennardo

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Synopsis:
Three friends meet to watch the March Madness NCAA basketball tournament. Despite the distractions, one notices another is struggling and chooses to spend time being a friend rather than merely a sports companion.

Setting:
Family room

Time:
4 minutes

Characters:
Three adult males, longtime friends and basketball fans.

Al — a likable, boisterous slob. He fixates on the screen during most of the conversation. He’s shoveling in popcorn constantly and talks with his mouth full at times.

Ted — it’s his house. Equally a basketball nut, but shows more sensitivity to Mitch’s nonverbal clues and pursues them.

Mitch — also a big fan; he’s distracted by some struggles at home and doesn’t want to let on.

Props:
1) Couch
2) Popcorn in a couple of bowls
3) Basketball broadcast sound effects

Lighting:
General Stage

Sound:
Three wireless mikes. Low-level sports noise going on in the background will add a nice effect.

Lights up on family room scene. Al and Ted are seated on or in front of the couch, watching a mock TV screen as basketball broadcast sound is heard; knock at door.

AL: (calling over his shoulder) Come in. Come in.

TED: (gets up as if to answer door as Mitch enters) Hey. Come on in.

AL: Hey, Mitchy! It’s about time, buddy. You missed the opening tip. This is March Madness, baby. (broadcast sound fades out)

MITCH: What’s happened so far? (all turn attention to the TV as they talk)

TED: Not much. Syracuse has been launching three pointers left and right.

MITCH: How does ___________’s (local favorite) offense look?

AL: Lousy! I’m telling you, they’re overmatched. They’re gonna get run right off the court today.

MITCH: (they settle in to watch; Mitch and Ted behind; Al front and center, focused on TV and eating popcorn) Yeah? We’ll see. I think they might surprise some people.

TED: (looks at his watch) What took you so long? I thought you said 1 o’clock.

MITCH: Aw, I got hung up.

TED: What? Traffic?

MITCH: (he’s brushing it off) Nah, just some stuff at home.

All: (simultaneously reacting to screen) Oooh!

MITCH: Nice slam.

AL: Look at him hanging on the rim. What a showoff. (back toward Mitch) So, what? Lisa didn’t wanna let you out today? Getting a little soft, are we Mitchy?

TED: Listen to YOU. (to Mitch) When I called him this morning he had to ask Sheila how long he could stay.

AL: Like heck I did.

TED: Al, with that voice, if you don’t want to be heard, you’ve got to do a lot more than cover the mouthpiece.

AL: (trying to cover himself) I was ... you know, building her self-esteem. Creating the ILLUSION of needing to ask permission. Making her THINK she’s in charge.

TED: (sarcastically) Ohhhh.

MITCH: Well THAT, you’ve accomplished.

AL: (reacting to a play) Oh! What a backdoor pass! (through a mouthful of popcorn) Hey, you guys wanna get a pizza?

MITCH: Yeah, sure. I didn’t get any dinner. (Ted looks curiously at him)

AL: There’s a coupon by the phone if you wanna call. Domino’s, I think.

TED: (more quietly, to Mitch) Something up, Mitch?

MITCH: (nervously) What? No. (pauses, looks at screen; senses Ted still looking at him) What?

TED: At home?

MITCH: No ... no.

AL: (in frustration) Ah!! Threw it away. Think they should take a timeout?

TED: (looking over momentarily) Nah. Too early. (looks back to Mitch; he wasn’t satisfied with the answer)

MITCH: What?! It’s nothing. (pause) We just ... got into it again this morning, that’s all.

TED: (softly) Bad?

MITCH: (waving it off) I don’t know. Just the same old, stupid stuff. (he obviously doesn’t want to talk more about it; shifts attention to the play) Nice give-and-go. Who’s got ___________ (same local favorite team) in the office pool?

AL: (still fixated to screen) Uh, Pete I think. Doesn’t matter. They’re going nowhere, I’m telling you.

TED: Mitch. Come on, I know you well enough to know when something’s not right.

MITCH: (opening up a little) I don’t know, Ted. It’s just ... Lori and I, well ...

AL: (cheering) Woo!! _________ (popular player) for three!   That guy is money.

MITCH: (taking advantage of the opportunity to change the subject) Yeah. What are they, down by four?

AL: Five. Hey, see that move? That’s just like the move I used to make in high school. Remember, Teddy?

TED: Uh, yeah. (patronizing) For a second there, I thought it WAS you out there, Al. (back to Mitch) So ... you want to talk about it?

MITCH: (still somewhat nervous; feigns not knowing what he’s referring to) What? (looks back and forth from screen to Ted). It’s no big deal. It’ll blow over. And hey, we’re here to watch some hoop.

TED: The games is not that important. (pause) Okay, it’s important. But not that important. Hey, you’d do it for ME, right?

AL: (cheering a big play) Yes!! The steal, and the slam! (momentary pause, watching) And another steal!! Johnson for three ... YES!! (stands up, spilling popcorn bowl off his lap; begins dancing in celebration with arms up) Downtown, baby!! (he high-fives the others; bellows and hoots, then points at the screen). That's right; you better call timeout! Ha! Look at those idiots in the stands; bunch of slobs dancing around making fools of themselves. (still excited, he dances and hoots some more before sitting again)

TED: (realizing no kind of serious conversation could take place here) Come on. (stands) Let's take a walk.

MITCH: What, now?

TED: Yeah

MITCH:You sure you want to?

TED: Absolutely.

MITCH: What about the game? And ... (nods toward Al, who is picking a piece of popcorn off the floor, examining it, and eating it).

TED: The game'll be here when we get back. We wouldn't be able to hear ourselves think in here. (they stand and move toward door). We'll be back in a few Al. (they exit)

AL:
(mindlessly, still looking at the screen) Yeah, sure. Hey, make it sausage, all right? Or get half sausage and half supreme.

                                                                  Lights Out.

Performance and photocopying rights:
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.

Copyright © 2002 Drama Ministry

                                           RESOURCES FOR SCRIPT 60670
                                                   AMONG FRIENDS

MAIN POINT
“Friend” is a word used — and perhaps overused — to describe an array of relationships, describing everything from casual acquaintances to soul mates. But true friendship as God describes it goes beyond simply contact or shared experience to a heart-level care and connection that involves sacrifice for another.

CHARACTERIZATION
These are three lifelong pals. They are relaxed and comfortable around each other, even exchanging jabs in a way that is endearing. If you can find actors who are also good friends, play to their natural connection by casting them together.

Al is the likable, boisterous slob. He fixates on the screen during most of the conversation. He shovels in popcorn constantly and talks with his mouth full at times.

Ted is the central role model. He’s as much a sports fan as anyone, but with the added quality of being able to sense and pursue need in those he cares about.

Mitch is the typical male going through some tough times. He’s struggling at home, but has no intention of letting it show.

DIRECTOR'S NOTES
1. Timing is a key element in the exchanges. The shifts back and forth between talking about the game, and the more personal discussion, should be well-practiced so that they can be done seamlessly.

2. The popcorn is a prime prop for humor in the sketch. Experiment with best times to have a character (especially Al) eat it, pass it, toss it up and catch in his mouth, talk with it in his mouth, or spill it.

3. Try shifting the blocking so that the TV is watched in the direction of the audience, with the actors’ focal point being front-row-center when watching the game.

RELATED SCRIPTURES
The beauty of true, biblical friendship is described in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12, with elements of its character highlighted in Proverbs 17:17; 18:24; and 27:5-6. The greatest picture and description of friendship in God’s definition is found in John 15:12-17.

RELATED THEMES
The sketch can illustrate a number of dynamics in human relationships, including listening, bearing each other’s burdens, serving, sacrifice, and preferring one another. Try it in a training setting with small group leaders to study examples of how people relate to one another.

                                           MUSIC LINKS FOR SCRIPT 60670
                                           AMONG FRIENDS

Performance Songs
“Take My Hand”
(friendship) As performed by Russ Taff, from the album, The Way Home (on Myrrh Records)
Musical Style: medium;country

“All By Myself”
(loneliness; desire for friendship) As performed by Celine Dion, from the album, Falling Into You (on 550 Music/Epic Records)
Musical Style: ballad; adult contemporary; pop

“Let Me Show You the Way”
(friendship; bearing each other’s burdens) As performed by Michael W. Smith, from the album, Live the Life (on Reunion Records)
Musical Style: medium ballad; pop

“Suffer in Silence”
(friendship; bearing each other’s burdens) As performed by Susan Ashton, from the album, Wakened by the Wind (on Sparrow Records)
Musical Style: medium; adult contemporary

Choruses
“Face to Face” *
(friendship; godly relationships) (B. Owens; B. Batstone)
Musical Style: medium upbeat

“Let The Walls Fall Down” *
(friendship; godly relationships) (B. Batstone; A. Barbour; J. Barbour)
Musical Style: upbeat; celebrative

“Bind Us Together” *
(friendship; godly relationships) (B. Gillman)
Musical Style: mellow; reflective

“Make Us One”
(friendship; godly relationships) (C. Cymbala; from the songbook, Songs For Praise & Worship — Word )
Musical Style: mellow; reflective

Hymns
“Blest Be The Tie That Binds” ‡
(friendship; godly relationships) (Fawcett)
Musical Style: mellow

“We Will Stand”
(You’re My Brother, You’re My Sister) à (friendship; godly relationships)
(R. Taff; T. Taff; Hollihan)
Musical Style: medium

“They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love”‡
(friendship; godly relationships) (author unknown)
Musical Style: mellow

“Our God Has Made Us One” ‡
(friendship; godly relationships) (Borop; Webber)
Musical Style: medium

Chorus and Hymn Resources (unless otherwise designated)
* from the songbook, Praise Chorus Book - Maranatha!
Ý from the songbook, Come and Worship - Integrity
‡ from The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration - Word

Performance and photocopying rights:
Your purchase of this script grants your church unlimited use of these sketches within your programs and worship services. You may photocopy the script for each cast member in your church. Scripts and performance rights are not transferable between churches and cannot be resold. You may not use the sketches for any commercial or fundraising purpose, and usage rights do not extend to video, radio, television or film.

Copyright © 2002 by by Tom Bennardo