Respect for the Bully

A tense school-day turns when “Tough Tommy,” the bully everyone avoids, runs into Gordie—the cheerful “geek” who won’t stop being kind. As rumors, grief, and a math test swirl, the class and their teacher discover how respect can break cycles of hurt—and how God meets us in the middle of our mess. A youth-driven story with humor, heart, and a redemptive twist.

Run-Time: ~30 minutes

Cast Number: 9 (8 teens/preteens any gender, 1 adult teacher)

Setting: Plain/neutral school area (hall/classroom works)

Props: None

Costumes: Regular school clothes; Gordie in “geeky” vibe (large-rimmed glasses)

Category: Youth drama • School life • Anti-bullying • Redemption

Biblical Reference (pick your favorite; all fit the script’s arc):

• Ephesians 4:32 — kindness/compassion/forgiveness
• Romans 12:17–18 — live at peace; don’t repay evil

Sample script:

Kim, Marty, Sydney and Terry are sitting or standing around

Kim: So this guy he says, “What would you guys know, being in school all
day?”

Marty: And the moral to that story would be . . .?

Kim: Well, duhhhh, means he figures us guys in school we don’t know square
one about hard work.

Sydney: Whoa, back up the train there, did he ever meet up with Mrs. Brandt?

Kim: Now there is one teacher who knows how to stress a kid out.

Terry: Yeh, those questions on the science test were from weirdsville!

Sydney: Not one kid got a passing grade I bet!

Marty: Probably Gordie did.

Kim: Yeh, chances are that geeky Gordie for sure got like a hundred and two
percent!

Terry: Man, did you ever in your whole life see a guy as geeky as Gordie?

Kim: Them silly lookin’ glasses.

Terry: Clothes like from the eighties!

Marty: Now that is just wrong, talking about Gordie that way!

Terry: You don’t think Gordie dresses geeky?

Marty: Oh for sure, geekiest goober I ever did see, just doesn’t seem right talking
about him that way is all.

Tommy comes on stage with Morgan and Jamie, Tommy is glaring at others. As they
come on stage the other actors move away, giving Tommy and his friends more room

Terry: Oh, oh!

Sydney: What’s wrong Terry?

Terry: Don’t turn around, don’t even blink . . . It’s Tough Tommy!

Marty: Tough Tommy, meanest kid in school, always bullying other kids.

Kim: You know, he doesn’t look so tough.

Terry: That’s what Billy Miller said too.

Sydney: Did you notice Billy had lost all his front teeth?

Terry: They aren’t exactly lost. Likely still can find them in the dirt in the school
yard . . . where Tough Tommy Franklin’s knuckles put them.

Kim: Tommy Franklin, doesn’t he live with his dad in that little house just
outside town?

Terry: The same. And that’s one place I am never going trick or treating at
Halloween I tell yah!

Marty: My mom told me Tommy’s mom died, cancer I think, his dad took her
death real hard.

Kim: Maybe if we were to try to make friends with Tommy . . .

Terry: Maybe if you want to get your face rearranged . . .

Marty: Well, it’s just that somebody should try to reach out to Tommy . .

Sydney: Sure, why don’t you give it a shot Marty?

Marty: Well, yes I . .. I really . . (pauses, looks over at Tommy, thinks) . . Well, I
guess it should really be someone who knows how to handle kids with
violent tempers.

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