61106 MISSING PERSONS
by Kris Rasmussen

GENRE: Drama
TIME: 4-5 minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: 1M, 1F
THEME: Reconciliation; Loss; Grief; Death of a Parent
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Any
SUGGESTED USE: Bible Study; Worship Service; Small Group

SYNOPSIS: A brother and a sister face an awkward reunion after their mother's funeral.
CHARACTERS:
PAUL-male in his 30s or 40s
SARAH-Paul's sister, also in her 30s or 40s

PROPS: Stools, counter, dishes, food, phone
COSTUMES: Something that would be worn to a funeral
SOUND: 2 cordless mics; sound of phone ringing offstage
LIGHTING: General stage
SETTING: Kitchen
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Proverbs 17:17; Matthew 5:24

DIRECTOR'S TIP: This is a scene where there is as much communicated in silence as there is with dialogue. As a rehearsal technique, have the actors work through the "beats" (the moments in the scene) without using their lines. Actors must rely on gestures and responses to each other to get their points across. This will help inform their emotional life the next time they run through the scene with dialogue.

SARAH is in the kitchen. The counter looks like a mini potluck-casseroles, cakes, and so on, everywhere. The phone rings; SARAH ignores it. She covers the food with plastic wrap, but in an agitated manner. The phone stops ringing. PAUL enters, clearly uncomfortable. He waits for SARAH to say something. The phone starts ringing again.

PAUL: Want me to get that?

SARAH: No.

PAUL: Sorry, I... (Trails off lamely)

SARAH: No problem.

PAUL: I needed to get away...after.

SARAH: Sure.

PAUL: (Phone still ringing) I could get that.

Phone stops ringing.

SARAH: Every relative whose name I don't remember because I haven't seen them since I was in diapers has called or visited this house today.

PAUL: Yeah, I saw the last Dodge Dynasty pull out of the driveway as I pulled in.

SARAH: I can take you to the airport tomorrow. When does your plane leave?

PAUL: It doesn't. I'm not leaving for a while. I thought…

SARAH: I don't need your help. But you can take some of these leftovers.

PAUL: Don't we have lawyers to see…stuff to pack up?

SARAH: Mom lived right here with me and Dan the last few months. Her house is pretty much empty.

PAUL: Oh. Right.

SARAH: I'm the only one listed as executor of the will anyway.

PAUL: I know. You've told me that twice already. Go ahead. Get it off your chest and stop being such a hag.

SARAH ignores PAUL and continues to put food away. PAUL sits down on a stool at the counter.

PAUL: You haven't seen me in years. I didn't even show up at Dad's funeral. And I bailed on you today. What else? I hid a snake in your room when you were six. I could say I'm sorry about a lot of things, but you don't want that. It's more fun being bitter and angry. Would you stop moving around so I can talk to you?

SARAH: (Also sitting) What do you want, Paul? Just tell me and get it over with. I meet with the lawyer tomorrow at one. So just let me know. I'll take care of it.

PAUL: Just let me help. With something.

SARAH: It's been a long day. Just—

Phone starts ringing again. PAUL reaches for it.

SARAH: No, don't.

PAUL: Where are Dave and the kids anyway?

SARAH: At a movie. Something fun. They needed it.

PAUL: So do you. Oh, no, wait, you're fine.

PAUL and SARAH nibble in silence on some food left out on the counter. The phone stops ringing.

PAUL: So. Heather and I aren't together anymore.

SARAH: And she would be?

PAUL: The one I divorced Chris for.

SARAH: And was she wife two or three?

PAUL: Very funny. I lost my business. (Off of SARAH'S surprised look) Yeah. I had a business. Little gourmet shop in Aspen. Overhead killed me. Went bankrupt.

SARAH: Oh. Well…too bad.

PAUL: I'm not drinkin'. I thought I'd look for a job around here and I'd like to stay in the house for a while until I—

SARAH: I knew it. I knew that's why you were here.

PAUL: No, it's not that. It's—

SARAH: Sure it is. You need something, so here you are again.

PAUL: Sarah…look. No, I'm not going to waste my breath. (Beat) I've been going to church for a few months now.

SARAH: Yeah? Really? Great.

PAUL: I am. I mean, nothing else has been working for me so—

SARAH: So you'll be there with Dave and me this Sunday, huh?

PAUL: Maybe. Remember that Bible you gave me years ago?

SARAH: I guess.

PAUL: I found it in some old boxes when I was putting stuff in storage. I even found the letter that you left with it. You know, the one you wrote from college all preachy and self-righteous and stuff.

SARAH: Don't remember that. Sorry.

PAUL: So, I read it. The Bible, not the letter. Sometimes. It helps.

SARAH: Good. But I don't think you can stay at the house. We're trying to sell it.

PAUL: Just a couple of weeks.

SARAH: Fine. A couple of weeks.

PAUL: I'm sorry about today and running out on you at the funeral.

SARAH: You always are. There's always next time, right? Oh, wait, that was our last parent, so I guess not.

PAUL is clearly wounded by this last remark and SARAH realizes she has gone too far.

SARAH: Sorry. I'm just so tired.

PAUL: Didn't you quit your job?

SARAH: No. I took a leave of absence the last few months. Before that I did both.

PAUL: You couldn't hire someone in to help?

SARAH: Mom wouldn't let me. She hated strangers. She changed a lot.

PAUL: It was really painful for her, wasn't it? Forget it. I shouldn't even-

SARAH: It could have been worse. That's what everyone says. She was on a lot of drugs.

PAUL: I'm so glad she had you. I couldn't have done it. (Beat) And I have to live with that somehow.

SARAH: I would say terrible things to her. Awful things. And I hated having her in this house. But I could never say that to anyone. It was hard. I shouldn't have been like that with her.

PAUL: I'm sure you weren't that bad.

SARAH: Yes. I was. It was twenty-four/seven and I just lost it, and I was… Anyway, that's how it ended. And I have to live with that.

PAUL: You did your best.

SARAH: I know, and my best was…really horrible. I tried to get a hold of you over and over again.

PAUL: So what do we do now?

SARAH: Well, I'd like to sleep for a week.

PAUL: We can forgive each other. (Off SARAH'S look) Yes, me, your brother just said that.

SARAH: So you're really going to church? Mom wouldn't believe that.

PAUL: I know. I love you, Sarah.

Phone starts ringing again.

SARAH: Please take it off the hook.

Light fade.

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 © 2003 by Kris Rasmussen