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 Features
The Cast
THE SETTING: The home of Noel, and out on the highways of his town. THE TIME: Christmas Eve. Or is it? The Script of "If Christ Had Not Come" SCENE ONE Noel: (Enters by front door. Sets down briefcase or lunch pail.) I'm home. Anybody here? Joy: (Seated with Joy at the dining room table) In here, Dad. Noel: Hi, kids! (Begins to enter dining room.) How are... Phil: (Warning.) You can't come in! Noel: Oh, you're wrapping presents. There's nothing there for me, is there? (Chuckles.) Joy: (Sarcastically.) No, nothing at all. But we don't want you to tell Mom what we got for her. Noel: Where is Mom? Joy: She's at church helping with last minute decorations for the Christmas Eve service. Phil: My new birthday watch says church starts in three hours. (Almost shrieking) I can't wait! Joy: Me neither! Noel: (Yawns) Well, being a grownup, I'll need a nap to stay awake for all the festivities tonight. So I'm gonna to stretch out for a while on the "Lazy Bum." (Relaxes in recliner.) Phil: I'll set my watch alarm so you can pick up Mom in half an hour. Noel: Thank you, Mr. Time Keeper. Joy: Oh. Speaking of navy stuff, Brad called to accept our invitation to spend the evening with us. Noel: That's super! He told me he hadn't been to church since Viet Nam. (Starts to rise from recliner.) Should I be helping get dinner ready? Joy: No prob, Dad. Everything's A-okay. Noel: A-okay. (Surveys the room.) Everything is A-okay. All the decorations are up. Candles and holly in the windows. Stockings on the entertainment center. Six-foot Christmas tree. Aaah! Smell that pine scent. Presents brightly wrapped. And the manger scene spread below. A-okay. (Closes eyes and naps.) (Lights fade. Joy and Phil exit. Christmas decorations and props are removed. Lights up.) SCENE TWO Noel: (Still asleep, makes movements and sounds of gaining consciousness. Without opening his eyes, Noel sniffs, wiggles his nose, then sniffs again.) Why don't I smell pine? (Opens his eyes and stares at the spot where the tree had been.) Where's the tree? What did you kids do with the tree? Joy and Phil: (Enter by front door. Put school books down and take off coats.) Noel: Why are you coming home from school? Joy: (Surprised) We always come home from school this time of day. Noel: I know that. But there's no school today. It's Christmas vacation. In fact, it's December 24th, Christmas Eve itself. Phil: What do you mean? We always go to school on December 24th, unless its a Friday or Saturday--the weekend, you know. Joy: And what's this "crimson sleeve" you're talking about, Dad? Noel: I said Christmas Eve. (Enunciates.) Joy and Phil: What's that? Noel: (Raises his voice.) You know! (Tries to compose himself, then speaks deliberately, trying not to yell.) It's when everyone decorates their homes in anticipation of... (Halts and surveys the room slowly.) Wait a minute? (Paces around the room, searching for decorations.) All the decorations are gone... no candles and holly... no stockings... no presents... no Christmas tree... no manger scene. (Rubs eyes and looks totally confused.) What's happening here? (Turns attention back to children.) Weren't you just wrapping presents in the dining room a few minutes ago. Joy: Nope. Why would we be wrapping presents? Phil: (Excited.) Hey, is it somebody's birthday or somethin'? Noel: (Grimaces and shouts.) What day is this, anyhow? Joy: What's wrong with you, Dad? Noel: (Grabs newspaper and reads.) "December 24." Yeah, okay. (Keeps reading.) "2740 R.E."? (Turns to the kids.) What is 2740 R.E? [Note: Add one year for every year beyond AD 2000.] Phil: Come on, Dad. You're kidding, aren't you?" Noel: No, I'm not! Joy: R.E. is Roman Era. It's two thousand, three hundred thirty-six years since the start of the Roman Empire. You know that! Phil: Everybody knows that! Noel: I don't know what's going on here! (Grabs coat and heads for the door.) I'm going to church to talk to your mother about this. Maybe the pastor will be there too. (Joy and Phil follow to door, staring at their lunatic father.) Phil: What's a church? Joy: (Shrugs.) Uh-uh-uh (meaning, I don't know). What's a pastor? Phil: (Shrugs.) Uh-uh-uh SCENE THREE Noel: (Walks to car, starts engine, drives into street.) It sure is dreary out here. No one's turned on their Christmas lights yet. (Drives a bit further. Then stops and rolls down window to get a better view.) What happened to Mr. Murphy's life-size Santa Claus, sleigh and reindeer? He put them up the day after Thanksgiving. Did somebody steal them? (Continues driving.) Well, at least the traffic is lighter than I expected. (Gazes out the window.) Even the mall isn't near as parked up as I thought it would be. (Drives a block further.) Well, here's the church. Maybe, Christine can tell me what's happening. Noel: (Pulls into parking lot. Mouth open, stares through windshield.) A church has stood on this corner for over a hundred years. So what is a strip mall doing here?! Have I got the right corner? (Cranes his neck to read the street sign.) "Sixteenth and Maple." That's right. But a pharmacy, a video store, and a beauty salon are all wrong. (Pulls out and drives home. Lights down.) SCENE FOUR (Lights up. Noel enters by front door, shaking head in consternation. Phone rings. He answers.) Noel: Hello. Charlene: (Appears on opposite side of stage holding telephone.) Why did you just drive off and leave me here? Noel: All I found was a strip mall, so I left. Charlene: But I was in the beauty salon! Noel: You were? Charlene: Where else would I be? (Angrier.) Noel: At church. Charlene: What's that? Noel: I was afraid you were going to ask that? Something strange is going on around here, Christine. Charlene: What did you just call me? Noel: Huh? Charlene: You just called me a "krizteen." I don't know what that means, but you don't have to insult me. Noel: Christine is your name--Isn't it? Charlene: (Builds toward irate.) The woman you married is named Charlene. So, who is Krizteen? Tell me, Noel! Who is she?! Noel: (Speechless and confused, gives no answer.) Charlene: I'm taking the bus home. You'd better have some answers when I get there! (Slams receiver down.) Noel: (Winces at slam. Hangs up sadly.) This has to be the worst day of my life. Phil: (Phil and Joy enter from kitchen munching on snacks.) Dad, you're back home. Did you see the note we left by the phone? (Noel goes and picks it up.) The hospital called. The nurse said Brad next door had an anya.... anyer... Joy: Aneurysm. A brain aneurysm. Phil: Yeah, that. Noel: Poor Brad. Joy: It's real serious. But when he regained consciousness, he asked to see you. Noel: I'll go right now. Which hospital is it, St. Luke's or General? Joy: What do you mean? General Hospital is the only one in town. Noel: Forget I even asked. (Heads for the door.) Tell Mom where I've gone. Phil: Isn't she here? Joy: I thought you went to pick her up. Noel: She's coming on the bus. Phil: Why? Noel: I wish I knew. (Exits. While he walks to car, starts engine, and drives on to street, the children look at him leave.) Joy: A hospital named "Sane Luke's." I never heard of it. Phil: Sane Luke's. It must be a place for nut cases. Joy: Well, there goes one. (Lights down.) SCENE FIVE Noel: (Driving.) What am I going to say to Brad--if he's still alive. He doesn't have a church or a pastor. (Pauses.) Of course, I don't know if I have a church or a pastor. Noel: (Notes traffic.) I've gotta make this intersection. (Accelerates.) Nuts! (Brakes and stops. Waits, tapping fingers on steering wheel.) I wish I had a flashing red light on the roof to get me through this traffic. Noel: (Thinks. Face brightens.) I forgot. There's a little Bible in the glove box. (Reaches for it.) I don't need a red light, so much as I need red letters, the words of Jesus to comfort Brad. I know, I'll share with him where Jesus says: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies." Noel: (Flips pages.) Where is it? Where's the Gospel of John? No! (Hunts desperately.) This Bible is missing the entire New Testament! Where did it go? (Cars honk behind him. Looks in rearview mirror.) All right, already. Can't you see I'm in the middle of a Bible study? (Honking continues.) I sound like a card-carrying lunatic? I've gotta pull over for a second. (Pulls over, puts car in park. Returns to Bible.) Noel: All right, no New Testament. But there still have to be promises of the Savior in the Old Testament. (Flips to several locations. Face darkens.) Nothing. The promises are gone. What's left to share with Brad? Noel: (Looks up and notices surroundings.) That's ironic. I've stopped by a cemetery. Brad could soon be buried here amid acres of gravestones in the snow. (Looks intensely at the stones, one by one.) Gravestones... without a single cross or statue of Jesus. (Despairs.) Gravestones without a shred of hope, because apparently Christ has never come. (Leans on steering wheel and sighs. Lights down.) SCENE SIX (Lights up on house scene. All Christmas decorations and props are returned. Noel is snoozing on recliner. Children are wrapping presents in dining room. Enter Christine through front door.) Christine: (Bubbles cheerfully to no one in particular.) Well, the church looks festive for the service tonight. (Noel wakes up. Christine looks at him.) I'm glad I got a ride, so that you could enjoy your Christmas Eve forty winks. (Approaches the recliner.) What's wrong, Noel? You've got tears in your eyes." Noel: (Rising from the recliner.) I'm not sure, Christine. I just woke up from the worst dream ever. (He hugs Christine. Then releases her and steps back.) Your name is Christine, right? Christine: (Smiles quizzically.) Of course. (He embraces her again, tightly.) Why are you squeezing me so tightly? Noel: Thank God, my dream wasn't true. Thank God, this is reality! Joy and Phil: (Sing.) Joy to the world, the Lord is come! (Allow an extra quarter note on "is".) Let earth receive its King. SCENE SEVEN (Lights up on house scene. The family and Brad are seated at the dinner table. Brad wears a Notre Dame sweat shirt.) Noel: (In mid -sentence.) ... and then Christine walked in the door and brought me back to reality. Brad: Whoa, that was a heavy dream. Heavier than some of my drug trips back in the '60s. Christine: (Looks at her kids with concern and changes the subject.) But the dream makes sense, though. If Christ had not come, there wouldn't be any Christmas trees, no lights, no decorations. Phil: No Christmas presents? Brad: Sorry about that, Phil. Noel: Luckily, no shopping for gifts. Christine: At the last minute. (Winking at Noel.) Joy: No Christmas cards. Noel: No letters from people you haven't heard from in a year. Phil: No Christmas seals to stick. Joy: No Christmas vacation from school. Brad: No Christmas bonus at work. Noel: But no Christmas bills to pay. Christine: Bing Crosby never would have sold a gazillion copies of "White Christmas." Phil: No kids would sing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth." Brad: Would there be a Santa Claus? Joy: Nope. No elves at the North Pole. No Rudolph or other reindeer. Brad: The Grinch would have had nothing to steal. (Everyone laughs.) Noel: (Thoughtful.) No one would be named Christian or Christine. Phil: People born on December 25th wouldn't have an unusual birth date. Christine: Our calendars wouldn't say A.D., anno domini, the year of our Lord. (They all pause, as though out of breath from the brainstorm.) Noel: But none of those things really matter. Brad: They don't? Noel: No. We could live without them. But they do demonstrate that even though not everyone believes in Christ, for at least one day a year, most people pay some attention to the greatest miracle ever--God becoming a human being. Christine: So many things wouldn't exist if Christ had never come. Brad: Like what? Christine: For starters, there would be no manger scenes. Phil: No Christmas pageants. Joy: No "Silent Night" or other Christmas carols. Noel: And later on in the year, no Holy Week. No cross of Calvary. No Savior who paid the price of our sins. No certainty of God's love and forgiveness. Christine: And no Easter. No singing with trumpets, "Jesus Christ is risen today!" Joy: No hope of seeing Grandpa again in heaven. Noel: No missionaries taking the Good News to the whole world. Phil: No churches. No pastors. No Christian schools. Brad: (Joking in an attempt to change the subject.) No Notre Dame football? Noel: 'Fraid not. No Christian universities. No Christian hospitals, either. Brad: So tell me, Noel--how did I wind up in your crazy dream? Noel: (Speechless.) Christine: I think we tend to dream about the people that really matter to us. Noel: Yeah, I guess it shows I'm concerned about you. Brad: Concerned about what? Everything's going fine. I've got no problems. Noel: Remember our conversation last October after we installed your fence? Brad: Yeah. Noel: What did you tell me when I shared with you about faith in Christ? Brad: (Pauses.) I think I said, "If you believe that, you gotta be dreamin'." Noel: Well, I was dreaming just an hour ago, dreaming you were dying without faith in the Savior. I lost hope of ever seeing you again, Brad, because--in that nightmare--Christ had not come. Brad: But wouldn't we be better off without religion? Because then we wouldn't have any guilt. Christine: Are you sure about that, Brad? You haven't gone to church for ages. If anyone ought to feel free of guilt, it should be you. Brad: (Thoughtful, with chin in hand.) Hmmm... Noel: My dream revealed what the world would be like without Christ. But the dream isn't true. The reality is that Christ has come, born in Bethlehem. He is your long-awaited Savior. Phil: Jesus died for you and me, Brad. Joy: And He rose from the dead. Really! Christine: And even today, people like you, Brad, are still repenting of their sin and finding mercy in Jesus. Noel: All this is the reality. Unbelieving people may tell us we Christians "must be dreaming" to accept all this. But who is really dreaming? Brad: (After a pause.) You've given me a lot to think about. But can you give me more time? Christine: You'll have to ask God that question. Brad: What do you mean? Christine: Brad, you're our friend, and we aren't going to pressure you. But you asked us for more time. Sorry, but we can't give you time. Only God can. How much time remains for you, know one knows but the Lord. Noel: But we do know one thing? Brad: What's that? Noel: So you could hear about the love of Christ, God has given you today, with my wacko dream, this chat at the table, and the Christmas Eve service coming up. Phil: My new birthday watch says church starts in five minutes. Noel: Five minutes! Christine: (She starts to clear table, and the others join in. She changes her mind.) No, leave the dishes. We just need to grab our coats and scoot. (Everyone stands and rushes for coats. But Brad, deep in thought, does so at a slower pace. As they all gather at the door, he speaks up.) Brad: Thanks for the dinner and for the food for thought. You know, I'd been worried about dozing off during this church service. But who knows? I just might wake up. To Perform "If Christ Had Not Come" If you wish to perform this drama:
Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. |