61107 A SLAVE TO EMOTIONS



GENRE: Comedy
TIME: 5-7 minutes
CAST BREAKDOWN: 1M, 3 M or F
THEME: Balance; Faith before emotion
CHURCH YEAR SEASON: Any
SUGGESTED USE: General Use; Sermon Illustration

SYNOPSIS: Jim is beset and overwhelmed by his emotions
until he puts them in their place.
CHARACTERS:
JIM—a guy in his 30s
ANGER—actor, any age (over 20) or gender
SADNESS—actor, any age (over 20) or gender
HAPPINESS—-actor, any age (over 20) or gender


PROPS: Newspaper, chair
COSTUMES: JIM: Casual; "Emotions": clothing style and colors to denote their characteristics ( ANGER: red, etc.)
SOUND: Four wireless mics
LIGHTING: General stage
SETTING: General stage; Jim sits on a chair
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE: Romans 2:2-11, Galatians 5:16-26

DIRECTOR'S TIP: This is a great sketch to go over the top on; for the piece to work, Jim has to completely give himself over to each new emotion. However, to make as many moments work as possible, make sure the emotion characters do not speak over Jim's lines, or interrupt his movements. The trick of this scene is to rehearse enough to make movements and lines clear and sharp while not being distracting.

JIM sits in a chair, reading a newspaper, when ANGER approaches.

ANGER: (Angry) Doesn't that make you mad? (Pointing to the newspaper) Doesn't that just boil your blood?

JIM: The weather report?

ANGER: No, you idiot! The way your tax dollars are spent! The article right above the weather. I mean, they take all your money and then spend it on nice cars for government officials. Why can't you have a nice car?

JIM: That's certainly not fair.

ANGER: Not fair! They're robbing you blind, Jim! Wake up! Can you imagine all you could have if you didn't have to pay all those taxes?

JIM: (Getting angry) You're right! That's not fair! Not at all!

ANGER: That's right...let it just rip you to pieces, Jim. Dive right in…swim in your anger, Jim, let it consume you.

JIM: Man, am I angry! (Face growing red) I am so mad! (Stands, jabbing his fists into his hips) This makes me want to go beat somebody up.

ANGER: Well do it! Go ahead. It'll make you feel so much better.

JIM: (Punching one hand into the other palm) I think I will!

JIM turns and starts to walk away, and runs right into SADNESS.

SADNESS: Hey. I just wanted to remind you about Wilbur.

JIM: (Still angry) Wilbur?

SADNESS: Yeah, you know, your dog that died when you were five. Wilbur. You cried and cried over that dog.

JIM: I did?

SADNESS: Don't you remember? He was so cute! He looked like a little pig, and that's why you named him Wilbur.

JIM: Oh yeah…

SADNESS: But then he had that unfortunate incident with that car...

JIM: (Tearing up) Oh yeah...

SADNESS: And you and your mom had that funeral for him out in the back yard...broke my heart, I'm telling you, when you laid that flower on his grave...

JIM: (Bawling hysterically now) Yeah...Wilbur...my precious Wilbur....

SADNESS: That's it, Jim, cry your eyes out. We all need a good cry every once in a while...

JIM: (Still crying hard) WILBUR...OH WILBUR!!!

ANGER: Hey! Jim! Stop your sobbin'! Remember what we talked about? You were going to go beat somebody up because you're angry...

JIM: (Wiping the tears away) What?

ANGER: Listen, I know you're sad and everything about Wilbur, but wouldn't it make you feel better if you went and say...punched out the guy who put Wilbur in his grave?

JIM: But...how would I find him?

ANGER: Look, any older man driving a blue pickup would do, don't you think?

JIM: (Growing angry) That's right! It was a blue pickup!

ANGER: Come on! Let's go kick his tail end into tomorrow! What do you say?

JIM: (Angry) YEAH!

ANGER and JIM turn around to leave and JIM runs into HAPPINESS.

HAPPINESS: (Grabbing him by the arm, singing) Put on a happy face! Put on a happy face! Don't be sad, just be glad! Put on a happy face!!!

JIM: (Angry) I'm not sad! I'm angry!

HAPPINESS: Whatever. The point is, show me them dimples, cutie!

JIM: (Less angry) What?

HAPPINESS: Let them teeth sparkle! (Laughing boisterously) Let's get giddy with your big, bad self!

JIM: (Smiling) Giddy?

HAPPINESS laughs out loud several times, trying to get JIM to join in. After a moment, JIM starts to laugh a little.

HAPPINESS: Laughter is the best medicine!

JIM: (Laughing) That's funny!

HAPPINESS: (Laughing, too) I know. I'm hysterical. That's my job! Why'd the chicken cross the road?

JIM: (Rolling with laughter) Why?

HAPPINESS: To get to the other side!

JIM and HAPPINESS are doubled over with laughter when SADNESS taps JIM on the shoulder.

SADNESS: Maybe I'm just a moron, but will you tell me what's so funny about Wilbur's death?

JIM: (Crying) WILBUR...

ANGER: Stop being a baby! The only thing that's going to make you feel better is to punch someone in the nose... (JIM turns and swings at ANGER, missing) Whoa there, big boy. Not me.

JIM: Oh, sorry...

ANGER: Don't be sorry! What are you? A wimp? Let me hear you growl!

JIM growls furiously.

HAPPINESS: You are so cute when you do that!

JIM: (Laughing) Thanks.

HAPPINESS gets him on a roll, and they begin laughing together. SADNESS chimes in.

SADNESS: Wilbur...

JIM cries.

ANGER: Taxes!

JIM growls.

HAPPINESS: Chickens!

JIM laughs.

ANGER: She just called you a chicken! Doesn't that make you mad?

JIM growls.

SADNESS: Didn't you have a pet chicken that tragically met death in a deep fryer?

JIM cries. Suddenly, he is being shoved between each emotion, almost going insane as he bounces back and forth between his feelings. The emotions are having a ball. Finally, JIM throws his arms out and stops the madness.

JIM: Wait a minute! Wait! Wait just a minute!

The emotions come to a halt.

JIM: I may be paranoid, but I'm thinking you three emotions have me wrapped around your little fingers.

ANGER: Well, doesn't that make you angry?

JIM: Yes! Wait! No! (Gathering himself, then pointing his finger in ANGER'S face) I got money back on my taxes last year! It was a blessing from God!

ANGER: Oh...

JIM: (To SADNESS) And YOU! I never had a dog named Wilbur! Or a pet chicken!

SADNESS: Whoops. Sorry, probably thinking of someone else.

JIM: (Turning to HAPPINESS) And you know what? You're not that funny. That chicken joke was stupid. I mean, I don't mind having you around a lot, but we're going to have to get you some new jokes, because that's desperation in its most pathetic form.

HAPPINESS: Yeah, I guess you're right.

JIM: Now...are you all going to behave? I need all of you, but when you're out of control then I am, and that's no way to live life.

ANGER: (Sort of like a child in trouble) I'll behave.

SADNESS: Me, too.

HAPPINESS: So will I.

JIM: Good.

JIM starts to walk off, and they all follow. JIM stops and turns around, causing each of them to run into the person in front.

JIM: Why don't you three stay here for a while? I'll come back and get you when the time is right.

They all express their emotions.

Lights fade.

 

 

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