Give Him An Inch

The triumph of good over evil

"Give Him An Inch" is a short comedy about the struggle between good and evil, and the ultimate triumph of God.

Keywords: good, evil, Satan, devil, Heaven, Hell, struggle, spiritual warfare.
Well written by DramaShare friend Rusty Harding.

Cast: 2 m

• 2 males, any age (starting from mid/late teens)
• The Devil
• St. Peter

Bible Reference: Ephesians 6:11

Set:

• Open stage – no special background
• The scene is the boundary between Heaven and Hell, divided by a series of parking cones.

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting:

• One side of the stage should be brightly lit (Heaven), the other side dark (Hell).  “Eerie” red glow (firelight) could emanate from “Hell” side, but not required

SFX:

• Muted “screams” and “wails” coming from “Hell” and proceeding the “Devil’s” entrance, but not required.

Props:

• Parking cones, tape measure/yardstick, earbuds, “official-looking” document

Costumes:

• Street clothes okay, although “Devil” could wear outlandish clothing (wild-patterned surfer shorts, backwards cap, t-shirt -- perhaps of a locally-disfavored sports team; the more comic the better).  Robe okay for St. Peter, but not required

Special Instructions:

• Stage should be “divided” by the parking cones.  It would add to the effect if the “Devil” sings either off-key or in a voice completely antithesis to Mick Jagger (i.e., Bob Dylan).
• Skit should be played as broadly camp as possible – the funnier the better.

Time: 15

Sample of script:

Devil emerges from "Hell" side of stage, wearing earbuds, holding tape measure, dances happily, sings horribly OFF-KEY

DEVIL:
Please allow me to introduce myself,
I'm a man of wealth and taste….
(at center stage measures imaginary line slightly past Hell's boundary, continues to sing)
I've been around for a long, long year,Stole many a man's soul and faith…

PETER emerges from Heaven side, trudges wearily towards Devil, look of pained frustration.  Peter has obviously been here many times before.  Devil is oblivious as Peter approaches, still dancing with his measure and singing.

DEVIL:      Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name...

Peter stops nearby, frowns at Devil briefly, waiting to be acknowledged, finally waves a hand in front of Devil's face.  Devil jumps back with look of alarm.

DEVIL:      Doggone it, Pete!  Don’t sneak up on a guy like that!  You scared the me out of me!

PETER, wearily:
What are you up to now, Lou?

DEVIL, gestures to tape measure:
What, this?  You know that little boundary dispute we’ve been having?

PETER:      You mean the one we’ve been having for the last what, twelve millennia?  It does ring familiar, unfortunately.  What about it?

Devil pulls piece of paper from his pocket, hands to Peter with flourish.

DEVIL:      Well, I finally had a survey done, and I was right.  My border is too far off.  I'm adjusting it even as we speak.
(pointing towards Heaven)
That way.

Devil puts earbuds back on, continues to dance and sing, moving one of the parking cones further towards Heaven. 

DEVIL, sings: I can’t get no satisfaction…

Peter reads paper, frowns in obvious disbelief, looks back up at Devil

PETER:   Six inches?

DEVIL smiles, nods:
Uh-huh.

ST. PETER, more incredulous:
Six inches?

DEVIL:  You got it.

PETER, completely unhinged:
SIX INCHES...!!!???

DEVIL, pulls off earbuds:
Hey, it may seem paltry to you, but I need every single bit of space I can get.
(jerks thumb toward "Hell")
I'm overwhelmed back there.  I got tons of new souls pouring in every day, the furnace is going 24/7, I’ve had to hire more imps, and don't even mention the cost of brimstone -- it's worse than oil!

PETER, rolls eyes:
What do you want, sympathy?

DEVIL, grins, taps earbuds:
Why not?  I get it from the Stones.

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.