BACK SHEPHERD 3'1m1f An angel announces the messiah's birth (Shepherd dozes, Angel enters, wearing white robes with outstretched arms, shouts) ANGEL -- Be not afraid. I bring you good news.... SHEP -- Hey! Quiet down! You're scaring my sheep! ANGEL -- (Whispers) Oh, I'm sorry. I'm kind of new at this. SHEP -- You don't just go up to a herd of sheep at yell at the top of your lungs. ANGEL -- I'm sorry. I didn't know. SHEP -- You trying to cause a stampede?! ANGEL -- No. I just... SHEP -- (raises his crook threateningly) Say, you're not a rustler, are you? ANGEL -- No, I.... SHEP -- Then, why are trying to stampede my sheep? ANGEL -- (Shouts) I'm not trying to stampede your sheep. SHEP -- Well, then, why are you yelling at them? ANGEL -- (Shouts) I wasn't yelling them. (Whispers) I was yelling at you. SHEP -- "Be not afraid"? You're telling ME "Be not afraid" I'm not afraid of you. You're a wimp. ANGEL -- Look, the boss said that there would shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks by night. He said that if I appeared to you ignorant shepherds at night you'd be terrified. SHEP -- Who are you calling ignorant, buddy?! ANGEL -- I was SUPPOSED to tell you about... BOTH -- The birth of the messiah. ANGEL -- Huh? SHEP -- What, you don't think an IGNORANT shepherd can't see the star over Bethlehem? The prophets have been announcing it for four hundred years since Isaiah. ANGEL -- Listen, they sent me here to make the announcement. I can't go back home without doing my job. Would you mind? SHEP -- Why bother? I'm already planning to visit the baby first thing in the morning. ANGEL -- Humor me? SHEP -- Knock yourself out. Just don't yell. ANGEL -- Be not afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David a savior is born to you. He is... BOTH -- Christ, the Lord. ANGEL -- (tries to ignore Shep) This will be a sign to you, that the baby will be will be wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. SHEP -- That's it?! ANGEL -- I thought I did pretty good. SHEP -- You did fine. Now, leave. Go back to... wherever you came from. ANGEL -- Heaven. SHEP -- You're an... BOTH -- Angel. SHEP -- (kneels, bows repeatedly) I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! ANGEL -- Stop that. You're embarrassing me. SHEP -- Why didn't you tell me you were an angel?! ANGEL -- I'm sorry. I didn't think it was any big deal. (points up) There are lots of us here. (shouts) Hit it, boys. (exits) SHEP -- (Stands, pleads) No! Not the heavenly host! (holds his finger to his lips to shush the choir.) Please don't sing! What about my sheep?! MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR -- Hallelujah! Hallelujah! SHEP -- Now look what you did! (exits chasing his sheep) Come back! Here sheep, here sheep. ©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 |