Old Friends

When a chance encounter at a coffee shop reunites two women from very different places in life, one shares a heartbreaking—but hope-filled—journey through addiction, loss, and the healing power of God's love. What begins as awkward small talk turns into a powerful testimony of forgiveness, faith, and the lasting impact of God's Word.

Old Friends© is more than a skit—it's a reminder that no one is too far gone for God's grace. Let this heartfelt story stir hearts and spark healing.

Cast:

• 3 females middle age:
• Lisa
• Karen
• Sue

Bible Reference: Ephesians 1:7

Set:

• exterior of a “Starbucks”-like coffee shop with tables, plastic chairs, etc.

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: none

Lighting: standard

SFX: none

Props:

• Coffee cups with lids, paperback New Testament, purses/handbags

Costumes:

• Lisa wears clean but “no-frills” clothing, something that might have come from Goodwill.
• Karen and Sue very well-dressed, upper middle-class.

Special Instructions: none

Time: 10

Sample of script:

by Rusty Harding

(LISA sits at a table. KAREN and SUE enter, ignoring LISA as they start to go inside.)

Karen (elatedly):
Can you believe it? Tom actually got that assignment in Paris! We’re going to be there for six months!

Sue:
Wow! You know I hate you, now, don’t you?

Karen (feigning haughtiness):
Don’t hate me because I’m lucky. (a beat) Or rich.

(Both LAUGH. Karen glances at Lisa curiously, then suddenly stops.)

Karen (to Sue):
You go on in. I’ll be there in a second.

Sue:
Do you want me to order for you?

Karen:
Sure. A decaf, non-fat extra hot latte. Tall.

(Sue exits. Karen approaches Lisa warily.)

Karen:
Lisa? Lisa Kensey? I’m Karen—

(Lisa turns to look at her. Flash of recognition, then sudden embarrassment.)

Karen (continuing):
Karen Wills. From the yoga class we took, remember? It’s been what—five years?

(Lisa stares back. Obviously an awkward moment for both.)

Lisa:
Sure, I remember you. How are you, Karen?

Karen:
Good. Great—thanks. How about you?

(Lisa notices Karen staring at her clothes.)

Lisa:
Not great. But better lately.

Karen:
Are you waiting for someone? Mind if I sit down for a minute?

Lisa:
No, I’m alone. (gesturing to chair) Please, sit.

Karen:
I wondered what happened to you when you stopped coming to class. Seems like we were becoming friends, but then you kind of disappeared. I missed you. (a beat) So how’s—Bill, right?

(Lisa looks away quickly, obviously pained.)

Lisa:
Bill died. Two years ago. Liver cancer.

Karen:
Oh, Lisa, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know. What about your girls? How are they coping?

Lisa:
Okay, I guess. They’re with Bill’s family. After he died, I, uh, I lost custody.

Karen (genuinely stunned):
What!? Lisa—I know it’s none of my business, but I’m just so shocked. You had such a perfect life!

Lisa (smiling wistfully):
Perfect? Yeah, sure seemed like it. But perfect can’t last, can it? When Bill died, it was so sudden—I just couldn’t handle it. One day he complained about a pain in his stomach, and three months later he was gone. So I did what a lot of people do in that situation. I shut down. Tried to fend off the pain. First with pills. Then with alcohol. And somehow cocaine entered the mix. I ended up spending Bill’s insurance settlement on drugs. Didn’t even think about the girls or what they needed. I couldn’t. All I wanted was to block out the pain.

Karen:
So that’s why you lost custody?

Lisa (nodding):
Because I was an addict. Am an addict—in recovery. Thankfully, I admitted it to myself a couple years ago. But back then, Bill’s parents decided I was—how did their lawyer put it?—temporarily unfit for motherhood. Which I was. So they took Jill and Sandy. But there really wasn’t another option, since I’d lost the house to foreclosure.

Karen:
So where did YOU live?

Lisa:
In a homeless shelter downtown.

Karen:
Oh, how terrible! I can’t imagine losing my husband, then my kids! How in the world did you keep going?

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