BACK PSALM23M 7'3m?f Psalm 23 - Peace and provision in adversity (all characters dressed in army fatigues) LEU -- (enters wearing headphones, carrying radio) Roger that. Let me know when the comm link is established. All units stand by for instructions from the General. GEN -- (enters carrying binoculars, scans audience back wall) All units in place, Lieutenant? LEU -- That's affirmative, General. Our forward reconnaissance unit has planted listening devices throughout enemy headquarters, we should have the comm link up and running momentarily. GEN -- Have you had a chance to count noses, Lieutenant? LEU -- Recon says we outnumber them by six to one. GEN -- Six to one?! Well, that's a pleasant surprise! LEU -- Recon says the comm link is in place, General. (adjust radio) GEN -- What do you hear, Lieutenant? LEU -- It sounds like the enemy's general is talking about... sheep herding. GEN -- Sheep herding?! LEU -- That's what it sounds like, General. Here, listen for yourself. (removes headphones, offers them to General) GEN -- (puts on headphones) DAV -- (enters opposite) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,... GEN -- (removes headphones) Green pastures?! Quiet waters?! What do you make of this, Lieutenant? LEU -- I don't know, General. This is highly unusual language for a general who knows he's outnumbered and knows he's about to be attacked. GEN -- Maybe he knows we planted listening devices in his head quarters. Maybe he's using code talk. LEU -- Not likely, General. The forward recon team said they got in and out without being detected. GEN -- Then what do you make of all this sheep herder talk? LEU -- Well, the intelligence report said that the enemy general was a shepherd before he became a soldier. GEN -- That could explain it. But who is he talking to? LEU -- Recon says the enemy general is alone in the room. GEN -- Maybe he's got his own comm link to another General. LEU -- Recon did an electronic scan of enemy headquarters. They tapped into all enemy comm lines, but they didn't detect any secret comm links, General. GEN -- I heard him use the name of the Lord. You don't suppose he's wasting precious battle preparation time praying, do you? LEU -- Well, intell hasn't been able to come up with any explanation for his success on the battlefield, General. But they say he hasn't lost a single battle yet. GEN -- That worries me. He sounds way to calm for a general on the verge of certain defeat. (puts on headphones) DAV -- he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. (exits) GEN -- (removes headphones, offers them) He sounds much too calm and collected. He have must an ace up his sleeve. If we attack now, we could be walking into a trap. LEU -- Shall we call off the attack, General? GEN -- No. We'll just postpone it for awhile. We'll starve him out. We'll completely encircle his troops. Nothing goes in and nothing comes out. If his reinforcements don't show up within thirty days, he and half of his army will be dead from starvation and the other half won't be in any shape to fight a battle. (exits) Keep me posted. LEU -- Yes, General. (to radio) Stand down from the attack. We will surround the enemy and lay siege for thirty days. (exiting) We're going to starve them out! (optional light cue: lights out, lights up) LEU -- (enters, talks into radio) All stations, prepare for battle. Stand by for the order from the general. GEN -- Give me an update, Lieutenant. How many of the enemy have died of starvation? (scans back wall with binoculars) LEU -- None, General. GEN -- None?! LEU -- Not a single fatality, General. GEN -- That's got to mean there's a secret supply line. Somebody has been smuggling in food. LEU -- Negative, General. Not even a cockroach could have gotten in or out of their encampment. GEN -- Strange. Did forward recon ever find the enemy's secret comm link? LEU -- No, General. I don't think a secret comm link exists. Intell has been searching diligently for a second army, but there is no second army anywhere. GEN -- Then, who is this general talking to? LEU -- I wish I knew. He's been talking this sheep herder talk for the last thirty days, General. (offers headphones) Listen. DAV -- (enters opposite with tray piled high with brightly colored fruits and vegetables) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. GEN -- It sounds like the enemy general is having a banquet! LEU -- Apparently, he is. GEN -- He what?! LEU -- Recon says our siege hasn't done anything to reduce the flow of food and water to enemy troops. Somehow they're getting fresh fruits and vegetables every day. GEN -- He must have infiltrated our lines and bribed some of our sentries! LEU -- That was my thinking too, General, but I sent an intell unit to our siege force. They confirm that nothing is getting in or out of the enemy camp. GEN -- Then why have we not starved them out?! LEU -- I wish I could tell you, General. DAV -- You anoint my head with oil. GEN -- What's this about oil? LEU -- Recon says that the enemy not only has enough olive oil for food and fuel, they also have enough to use for hair dressing. GEN -- That's ridiculous! DAV -- My cup overflows. (drinks from ornate goblet) GEN -- They're even drinking wine with their meals. I can't even get wine in the officers mess hall! Something is going on in there! And I'm going to get to the bottom of it! DAV -- Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (exits) GEN -- (takes off headphones) There it is again! (hands headphones to Leu) LEU -- What's that? GEN -- He's talking about the Lord again. LEU -- Maybe the god who created the universe is on the side of the enemy. GEN -- Are you sure there is no secret comm link anywhere? LEU -- I had forward recon reenter enemy headquarters twice since we laid seige. If there was a secret comm link or another army waiting somewhere, we would have found it by now. Shall I give the orders to attack, General? GEN -- No. Retreat. LEU -- Retreat?! GEN -- Yes, retreat. LEU -- But why? GEN -- (exiting) Because we only outnumber them by six to one. LEU -- (follows) Six to one used to mean a sure victory before... before he brought the Lord into it. ©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 |