A Cat Has Only Nine Lives

Blame, Lies, and Family Ties – A Powerful Two-Act Drama

Liberty Bible Church in Indiana staged this excellent Karl Wagner script.

Family wounds cut deep, and old grudges don’t die easily. Blame, Lies, and Family Ties is a raw and emotionally charged drama exploring the chaos, deception, and dysfunction that can poison family relationships.

In the wake of their mother’s funeral, four sisters—Patricia, Hayley, Michelle, and Emily—along with their daughters and a friend, gather under one roof. But what should be a time of healing quickly erodes into conflict as past grievances, bitterness, and accusations resurface. From clashing personalities to deep-seated resentments, the tension simmers until it threatens to boil over completely.

Drawing inspiration from C.S. Lewis' The Screwtape Letters, this gripping drama exposes the subtle ways deception and division creep into family life. Through sharp dialogue and tense confrontations, the play challenges audiences to ask: Is peace possible when truth comes to light, or will the cycle of blame and brokenness continue?

Perfect for dinner theater, church drama ministries, or family enrichment events, this thought-provoking and relatable play highlights the dangers of lies, the power of truth, and the struggle to find real forgiveness.

Quote: "One of the most striking differences between a cat and a lie is that a cat has only nine lives." Pudd'nhead Wilson, written by Mark Twain

Biblical Reference – John 8:44

"You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies." (John 8:44, NIV)

This scripture directly connects to the theme of the play, emphasizing the role that lies, deceit, and division play in tearing apart relationships. Just as Screwtape’s techniques in The Screwtape Letters show how manipulation works in everyday life, this drama reveals how the enemy thrives on keeping families trapped in cycles of resentment and falsehoods.

Download Sample Script - A Cat Has Only Nine Lives

Cast:  7 females

CHARACTERS:

• PATRICIA, (PATTY, TRISH) 40’s. Oldest sister,“thinks she’s Mom"
• HAYLEY, 40’s. Second sister Tries to avoid conflict, sometimes
• MICHELLE, (CHELLE) Late 30’s. Third sister. Black sheep, “free spirit”
• EMILY, Late 20’s. Youngest sister
• CRYSTAL, Early 20’s. Hayley’s daughter
• JESSICA, (JESS) Early 20’s. Crystal’s roommate

ALICIA High School. Patricia’s daughter is attracted to freedom of Michelle

Run-Time: 80 minutes
Bible Reference: John:8:44

SETTING
The home of Patricia, somewhere in the midwest. Not a showplace, but comfortably inviting. There is a cozy kitchen, and a relaxing deck. The funeral of their mother is over, family and friends have left and only the children (PATRICIA, HAYLEY, MICHELLE, EMILY) remain, along with Crystal, her roommate JESSICA, and ALICIA. TIME
Evening of the first day continuing into the morning of the second day.

Scenes

• ACT I SCENE 1 Living Room
• SCENE 2 Kitchen
• SCENE 3 Back Deck
• SCENE 4 Kitchen
• SCENE 5 Living Room
• ACT II SCENE 1 Living Room
• SCENE 2 Living Room to the Kitchen
• SCENE 3 Kitchen

Sample of Script:

ACT I SCENE 1

(The setting is PATRICIA’s home. SR, a living room, USR is the front door. Stairs lead up to the bedrooms. DC is the kitchen, medium size, cozy, separated by a small wing wall. SL is a door leading to a back deck. At RISE, HAYLEY, and EMILY ENTER from the kitchen, and sit down on the couch, exhausted.)

HAYLEY (kicks off her shoes) Finally…

EMILY Mine, too. (let’s her shoes fall to the floor) I never knew a funeral involved so much walking and standing.

HAYLEY The price we pay to look good…

EMILY For other women. The men don’t even care.

PATRICIA (ENTERS speaking) Have either of you seen Alicia?

EMILY She went to the store with ‘Chelle to get some things for breakfast. They should be back any minute.

PATRICIA With Michelle? One of you should’ve told me.

HAYLEY Patty, she just went to the store, not on spring break. Besides, Crystal and Jessica went along too.

PATRICIA I just wish she’d ask me first.

(MICHELLE, ALICIA, JESSICA, CRYSTAL ENTER, carrying grocery bags)

MICHELLE You should’ve seen how those four women tricked that poor guy into giving away immunity. They lied to him, right this face, and he fell for it. That’s classy work.

PATRICIA Doesn’t sound classy to me.

MICHELLE Uh, oh. Looks like Aunt Michelle’s tribe has spoken.

ALICIA Jess, Crystal, let’s go put these groceries away.

(ALICIA, JESSICA, and CRYSTAL move into the kitchen)

PATRICIA Michelle, I’m trying to teach Alicia right from wrong. It’s hard enough without you trying to lead her astray.

MICHELLE (drops her purse and moves to a chair) Astray? We just went to the store. There was nowhere near enough time to go astray. But, maybe… if I took her shopping tomorrow…

PATRICIA You may find deceit funny, Michelle, but I do not. Your carefree, do anything I want to attitude, is the kind of trait I don’t want my daughter to get.

MICHELLE How dare you lecture me on deceit. Anyway, I was just telling them what happened on Survivor last week. I wasn’t giving them life lessons in evil.

HAYLEY We’re all tired, and emotionally stretched to the limit. For heaven’s sake, we just buried our mother.

PATRICIA You’re right. You’re right. I… I’m sorry, Michelle. I think I’ll go up and get some sleep. I’ll see you all in the morning.

HAYLEY and EMILY (together) Good night. (urging MICHELLE)

MICHELLE ‘night Trish.

EMILY That was a close one.

MICHELLE   Yeah, but you know what’s comin’. If I stay here verylong, it’s gonna hit like a tornado.

CRYSTAL (calls from kitchen) Anybody want anything to drink. We have Diet Coke, hot chocolate, tea…

MICHELLE How about coffee? Can you make coffee?

CRYSTAL I can’t, but Jessica probably can. She’s a barista.

MICHELLE A what? An officially trained professional coffee maker… I work at Starbucks.

MICHELLE (To HAYLEY) Oooh, a professional… I gotta see this in person.

Download Sample Script - A Cat Has Only Nine Lives

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