Murphys Law Exposed

Pessimism in the church when a pastor leaves . Remembering what a shepherd is, and who the ultimate shepherd is.

Sample of script:

Terry, Larry and Donna enter stage as a group from one side while Bobbie enters from another side

Terry: So anyhow Matthew said that he was going to find a new . . .

Larry: Hey guys, quick, let’s get outta here . . . .

Donna: What’s wrong? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost!

Larry: Worse! I’ve seen a black cloud!

Donna: A black cloud?

Terry: Where’s the black cloud?

Larry: Black Cloud Bobbie! And he’s right there, coming into the church!

Donna: You mean . . .?

Larry: Yup! Black Cloud Bobbie Benson! Only person I know who thinks that the silver lining in a black cloud is a sign of bad news to come.

Terry: So let’s get outta here before old Bobbie sees us!

Terry, Larry and Donna move toward exit just as Bobbie comes on stage and sees them

Bobbie: Hey guys, rushing off are you? Can’t say I blame you. Likely you heard the, (overemphasizes), news!

Terry, Larry and Donna stop, look back, move slowly back on stage, sheepishly

Larry: Uhhhhhhh, oh, hi Bobbie, didn’t see you there coming and all, and, what’s this about . . news?

Bobbie, annoyed: Oh way big deal! City has decided that they don’t need to collect any more taxes for the rest of the year. So guess what now . . . everyone has to not pay taxes any more for the whole rest of the year! Wonder whose brain wave that one was down at city hall?

Terry: “Has to not pay taxes”? My guess is that will make people all over town pretty happy.

Bobbie: People! Think of it! No taxes to pay? Duh! Just exactly what’s that gonna mean to the average Joe on the street?

Donna: Let me take a running leap at this. Let’s see, no taxes to pay. My top of mind would be: joy. . . pleasure . . relief . . . unbridled thanksgiving?

Bobbie: People! Think not in the now!

Larry: “Not in the now”?

Bobbie: Exactly! (to Terry and Donna) See, Larry here has grasped the moment! Now then, Terry, Donna, stride! Stride!

Donna: “Stride”?

Larry: I know I have, like, grasped the moment, but . . . exactly what is the moment I have, like, grasped. . . which, of course, I am real pleased I have grasped, you understand.

The complete script, plus all 1,600+ other DramaShare scripts, are available at no charge to DramaShare members, non-members may purchase the individual script.

Pastor has left the church, what will happen, and now pessimism is running rampant.
Remembering what a shepherd is, and who the ultimate shepherd is.

Cast: 4 m or f

• Terry
• Larry - tends to go along with other's thinking
• Donna
• Bobbie - someone who others try to avoid, always sees the dark side

Bible Reference: Jeremiah 31:10

Set: bare

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX: none

Props: none

Costumes: standard

Special Instructions: none

Time: 11

Sample of script:

Terry, Larry and Donna enter stage from one side, Bobbie enters from other side

Terry: So anyhow Matthew said that he was going to find a new . . .

Larry: Hey guys, quick, let’s get outta here . . . .

Donna: What’s wrong? Looks like you’ve seen a ghost!

Larry: Worse! I’ve seen a black cloud!

Donna: A black cloud?

Terry: Where’s the black cloud?

Larry: Black Cloud Bobbie! And he’s right there, coming into the church!

Donna: You mean . . .?

Larry: Yup! Black Cloud Bobbie Benson! Only person I know who thinks that the silver lining in a black cloud is a sign of bad news to come.

Terry: So let’s get outta here before old Bobbie sees us!

Terry, Larry and Donna move toward exit just as Bobbie comes on stage and sees them

Bobbie: Hey guys, rushing off are you? Can’t say I blame you. Likely you heard the, (overemphasizes), news!

Terry, Larry and Donna stop, look back, move slowly back on stage, sheepishly

Larry: Uhhhhhhh, oh, hi Bobbie, didn’t see you there coming and all, and, what’s this about . . news?

Bobbie, annoyed: Oh way big deal! City has decided that they don’t need to collect any more taxes for the rest of the year. So guess what now . . . everyone has to not pay taxes any more for the whole rest of the year! Wonder whose brain wave that one was down at city hall?

Terry: “Has to not pay taxes”? My guess is that will make people all over town pretty happy.

Bobbie: People! Think of it! No taxes to pay? Duh! Just exactly what’s that gonna mean to the average Joe on the street?

Donna: Let me take a running leap at this. Let’s see, no taxes to pay. My top of mind would be: joy. . . pleasure . . relief . . . unbridled thanksgiving?

Bobbie: People! Think not in the now!

Larry: “Not in the now”?

Bobbie: Exactly! (to Terry and Donna) See, Larry here has grasped the moment! Now then, Terry, Donna, stride! Stride!

Donna: “Stride”?

Larry: I know I have, like, grasped the moment, but . . . exactly what is the moment I have, like, grasped. . . which, of course, I am real pleased I have grasped, you understand.

Bobbie: People! Think outside the box! What happens next year when everyone has to start paying taxes all over again?

Terry: Uhhhhhhhhh, they have more money in their pockets?

Bobbie: Wrongo! People, people! What do they always say? . . . (looking at Donna) Well, don’t just stand there, Donna, tell me, what do they always say?

Donna: They? Who are “they”?

Bobbie: “They”! The masso populoso!

Donna: “Masso populoso”?

Larry: Is that Latin?

Bobbie: Not exactly . . . but the point still sticks! The masso populoso, the people, will be unhappy, discontent, forever jaded by this one time tax holiday.

Terry: So let me get this straight, Bobbie. What you are saying is they oughta just go rescind the tax holiday?

Bobbi moves quickly to put hand over Terry’s mouth hushes everyone, looks around furtively

Bobbie: People! People! Surely you realize such comments could start riots in the street. (points off-stage) See there, in the town square, those citizens could well take the law into their own hands if they thought tax relief once offered could be rescinded!

Donna: “Those citizens in the town square”? But there’s only one person out there, and that’s old Gramps Mullen and he’s deaf as a post, couldn’t hear if we were yellin’ top of our lungs. Besides, ol’ Gramps Mullen doesn’t seem to me the one most likely to lead a riot.

Bobbie: Judge not the weave of the fabric by the height of the sun, I always say!

Larry, looks at Bobbi as though he has lost it: The . . . weave of the fabric. . . nope, can’t argue that, no sirree, not me!

Bobbie: People! What can go wrong will most certainly go wrong!

Terry: I take it you studied Murphy's law huh?

Donna: If you did I am here to tell you it rubbed off.

Bobbie: Murphy? Not too likely! Murphy was an optimist.