No Room At The Inn

“There’s no more room at this Inn!” — Or is there?

**Step into Bethlehem and see the Nativity from an unexpected perspective—**the Innkeeper’s wife.

In this powerful and surprisingly humorous 6-minute monologue, we meet a woman who’s just trying to survive the chaos of a census crowd, endless laundry, and a husband who just can’t say no to business. But one unexpected knock on the door changes everything. A tired young couple. A birth in the stable. A story she almost didn’t witness—and will never forget.

No Room at the Inn© reveals the Nativity through the eyes of someone who nearly missed it all. A story of transformation, humility, and unexpected grace, told with grit, wit, and heart.

Cast: 1 monolog woman, mid-age
Bible Reference: Luke 1-2
Set: Bare
Sound: wireless mic
Song: none
Lighting: as available
SFX: none
Props: none
Costumes: likely traditional
Special Instructions:
Time: 6

Sample script:

[INNKEEPER’S WIFE enters, wiping her hands on her dress.]

INNKEEPER’S WIFE:
Now you kids—go play outside! If you can’t find anything to do, I have lots of floor you can sweep—ha ha, that always gets ’em running.

Oh, hi there. Nice to see you! Will you be needing one room— (looks out, counting) —or two? Three?! Well, your timing is just right. You can have as many rooms as you want. It’s good you came today.

Why? Well, we’ve had a lot of excitement around here, and it all started with that silly old census.

Now I’m not complaining about the business—we were full to the rafters every night for a week. That’ll keep us out of the poor house... at least this month. But boy, these poor hands were red and raw with all the cleaning and cooking I had to do.

Yeah, yeah, I know—that’s an innkeeper’s wife’s job: keep the rooms clean and cook the best food on the block. And if I say so myself, my lamb stew has won awards! Heck, that’s probably why my husband married me! (laughs)

What? Oh yeah, back to the rooms. They’re all clean, fresh linens and everything. Took a lot to get them that way, let me tell you—with the baby and all.

Huh? Baby? Oh, I didn’t mention the most exciting thing that happened?

Well, sit down. Take a load off while I tell you a story of a lifetime—at least my lifetime.
[She sits.]

Like I told you, everyone was in town for the census. That’s the only reason anyone would want to come to this dusty place. Every room was full. Great for business—not so great for my back.

At first, I was excited! I could see the money just pouring in. And when we ran out of rooms, I thought my husband would finally say, “No, move along to the next inn.” But does he? Noooo.

He says, “Well, all our rooms are full... but how badly do you need a space?”
How badly do you need a space? HA! Not once did he think of my poor hands. All he saw was the money.

Anyway... it’s nearly midnight, I’ve just finished cleaning my last dish, when I hear this knock on the door. Let me tell you—I just about cried. We had no space. None! People were sleeping everywhere, even in my room! I didn’t even know where I was gonna sleep. But honestly? I was so tired they could’ve propped me up against a wall and I’d sleep like a baby.

Well anyway, back to my story...

There’s that knock again. I’m whispering, “Don’t answer it, maybe they’ll go away.” But noooooo—my money-hungry husband had to open the door.

When I saw that young couple, I knew I didn’t want to give them anything. Not food, not space, not even my time.

But then... I saw her waddle up to the door. She stuck out to here! I got a closer look and changed my mind—I did want to give her something...
A piece of my mind.

I wanted to yell, “Don’t you know you’re too young to be bringing a child into this world? You’re ruining your life! You’ve got your whole life ahead of you!”

And of course, my husband’s standing there trying to figure out how to get their money. I didn’t want her in my house. Who knows when she’d pop—and that would be double the work for me. I just wasn’t having it.

I pulled my husband aside, shut the door, and gave him a piece of my mind. And yep, he listened sooooo well.
I stormed off and told him, “There’s no more room at this Inn,” then went to find somewhere to sleep.

I was out cold—until around midnight when a loud scream nearly scared me to death. I ran outside in my nightclothes, and there it was again—from the stable.

It sounded human.

I crept over and peeked in...
Well, what do you know. Old Money Bags did it again—he stuck that foolish young couple out in the stable.

And then it happened again—a scream so loud it near broke my ears. I walked in and saw that young girl in agony, and her husband just standing by, twiddling his thumbs.

Men are so useless when it comes to the down-and-dirty part of childbearing. I sent him off to stir the fire and get some bedding.

I guess I was gonna have to guide this child... in having a child.

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