BACK FORGIVE 5'3m0f The parable of the unforgiving servant (all dressed as gangsters, have Brooklyn accents) VINNIE -- (sly weasel, enters, crosses tip-toeing as if trying to sneak away) BENNIE -- (hard, authoritative, enters carrying Bible in upstage hand, follows) Vinnie, you slime ball. VINNIE -- (freezes, doesn't turn) Oh, ah, hi, boss. I didn't know you was here. BENNIE -- (approaches) Yeah, right. And professional wrestling is lejit. VINNIE -- (turns) No, really, I was, ah,... (looks at watch) Oh, geez! Look at the time! I have to be somewhere! (turns to exit) BENNIE -- Freeze, hair ball! VINNIE -- (freezes, doesn't turn, cringes) Listen, boss, I... I... BENNIE -- I know what you're going to say, dirt bag. You were going to tell me that you're gonna pay me the money you owe me. Right? VINNIE -- (turns) Yeah, boss, real soon, real soon. BENNIE -- Vinnie, do you know why they call me "Bennie the Breaker"? VINNIE -- Because if people don't pay their debts, you break their knees. BENNIE -- Vinnie, you owe me twenty five large. And you haven't paid me a dime. Do I have the facts correct so far, slime bag? VINNIE -- Yeah, but I can get it for you, boss, if you just give me a little more time. BENNIE -- That's what you said last week. VINNIE -- Yeah, but this... BENNIE -- ...And the week before that. VINNIE -- Yeah, but listen, boss, this time I have a line on some really big money. BENNIE -- (steps toward Vinnie) Vinnie, do you own a wheelchair? VINNIE -- (steps back) Oh, please, boss. Don't do that. I'll get your money, I swear. BENNIE -- (steps foreward) You swear. Your word and fifty cent will buy me a cup of coffee. I think I'll break your knees just so I don't have to hear nomore of your lies. VINNIE -- (kneels, folds hands, begs) Please, boss, I'm begging ya. Don't hurt me. BENNIE -- You make me puke. (raises Bible to strike Vinnie) VINNIE -- (cringes, notices Bible) Say, boss, is that a Bible in your hand? BENNIE -- (freezes, ponders Bible) Yeah, my wife's got me going to Bible study. VINNIE -- So, hows about a little Christian kindness, huh, boss? What do you say? Huh? Just give me one more week. I'll get you your money, I swear. BENNIE -- (Bible still in air, does repeated takes to Bible, Vinnie and audience until audience chuckles, clutches Bible with both hands) You're a lucky man, Vinnie. VINNIE -- (stands) You mean you'll give me more time?! BENNIE -- No. I mean, I'm cancelling your debt. VINNIE -- You are? BENNIE -- Yeah. VINNIE -- My whole debt? BENNIE -- Yeah. VINNIE -- All twenty-five grand? BENNIE -- All twenty-five G's. VINNIE -- Gee, thanks, boss! BENNIE -- Do you know why I'm forgiving your debt, hair ball? VINNIE -- Because you're married to my sister? BENNIE -- No, scum bucket, because my Bible lesson this week says that I'm supposed to forgive others just as Christ forgave me. VINNIE -- That's nice, boss. That's real nice. BENNIE -- (passes by Vinnie, pats his shoulder) Don't make me regret this, Vinnie. VINNIE -- No sir, boss. BENNIE -- (exiting) I can't believe I just blew off twenty-five large. VINNIE -- (pumps arm, whispers) Yes! TONY ---- (young, inexperienced, enters) Hiya, Vinnie, how's it going? VINNIE -- Tony, boy, you're just the man I wanted to see. TONY ---- Oh ya? Why? VINNIE -- You got my twenty bucks? TONY ---- Twenty bucks? You told me I didn't have to pay it back until Monday. VINNIE -- Well, I changed my mind. Cough it up. TONY ---- You know I don't have it, Vinnie. I didn't borrow it to keep it in my pocket. I spent it. VINNIE -- (grabs Tony by throat) I said cough it up. TONY ---- I told you, Vinnie, I don't have it. I spent it. VINNIE -- Then, what do you have on you that's worth twenty bucks? How about that watch? Give me your watch. TONY ---- This was my papa's watch, Vinnie. Don't do this. BENNIE -- (reenters) Hey, Vinnie, what are you doing? VINNIE -- (pulls away) Ah, nothing, boss. We was just... (starts to exit) I was just leaving. BENNIE -- Freeze, dirt bag. VINNIE -- (freezes, turns while talking) Listen, boss, I can explain. I... BENNIE -- (holds up had to silence Vinnie) Tony, what was Vinnie shaking you down for? TONY ---- He loaned me twenty bucks and told me I could pay it back Monday. But now he wants my papa's watch in payment. VINNIE -- Listen, boss, I... BENNIE -- Button it, hair ball. I forgave you for twenty-five big ones. And now you can't forgive Tony a measly twenty bucks? What are you, dense? Didn't you get the message? I should have known better than to cast pearls among swine. VINNIE -- What does that mean? BENNIE -- (grabs Vinnie's ear, pulls him to exit) Come with me. I'll show you. VINNIE -- (displays obvious pain) Where are you taking me, boss? BENNIE -- (exiting with Vinnie in tow) Vinnie, my boy, I'm going to buy you a wheelchair. VINNIE -- A wheelchair?! TONY ---- (flees to opposite exit, looking over shoulder) ©2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |