Written by Frank M. Farmer

Imagine that Jesus returned to a present-day college campus on the morning after a  typical fraternity party. Upon his arrival, he encounters three coeds with whom he engages in a lively and revealing conversation. What would they say to each other? What would they learn from one another, and about each other?

Sisters of the Sun is a contemporary retelling of the "Woman at the Well" story from the Gospel of John. It is meant to be sometimes funny, sometimes serious, but always (and hopefully) illuminating.

Run Time: 22–25 minutes
Cast: 6 actors — 3 female, 3 male

Cast Breakdown

• Jesus — Son of God, Son of Man
• Martha — A college student who feels rejected and considers herself an outcast
• Tiffany — Martha's friend
• Kelley — Martha's friend
• Peter — Disciple of Jesus
• Thomas — Disciple of Jesus

Setting: Contemporary college campus / fraternity-house backyard
Style: Contemporary Christian drama with humor
Biblical inspiration: Primarily John 4, particularly Jesus and the Samaritan woman/living water theme, adapted into a modern college setting.

Sample Script

• Download Sisters of the Sun sample script

Jesus enters stage right, gazing upon the surroundings. He notices a sandal and smiles to himself.

JESUS:
What’s this? . . . . Oh my, my, my. So many things they lose, so many things they leave behind. (Places the sandal on a nearby table, then moves to the beer keg). And this too? What might this be? A work of art perhaps? An idol of false worship? No, could it be some— (Suddenly, Martha arrives downstage left, hurried and somewhat frazzled. She stops suddenly when she sees Jesus).

MARTHA:
Oh. . . . Oh, I’m. . . . I’m so sorry. I thought you’d still be in bed.

JESUS:
In bed? It’s nearly noon, sister.

MARTHA:
I know, I know. But. . . . But shouldn’t you still be in bed? You know, sleeping off last night’s party?. . . . . And hey, just for the record, I’m not a sister. Lord knows I tried but got dropped during pledge week. Turns out I wasn’t a good fit. At least, that’s what the sisters at Delta Phi told me.

JESUS:
Delta Phi? Is that an Essenian cloister of some sort? A retreat? A community of purity?

MARTHA:
(Laughs) You mean like a nunnery? Oh, heavens no. Some parents might wish that were the case, but no, Delta Phi could, uh . . . . never be mistaken for a nunnery.

JESUS:
Little matter, my friend.

MARTHA:
To be honest, kind stranger, and just between you and me, I don’t mind it all that much that the Delts rejected me. . . . I’m not sure I was cut out to be a Greek anyway.

JESUS:
Me neither. . . . But tell me, do you have a name?

MARTHA:
Yes. I’m Martha.

JESUS:
And I am the Son of Man.

MARTHA:
(Laughs) Right. You and every other son, huh? That really doesn’t tell me much now, does it?

JESUS:
Why are you here, Martha?

MARTHA:
You know, I seem to ask myself that question a lot these days. . . . But I’m guessing you mean something different than what I do. I’m guessing you mean, Why am I here in this place, right now. Is that what you’re asking?

JESUS:
Yes.

MARTHA:
Well, the short answer is, I’m thirsty.

JESUS:
Thirsty? I don’t understand.

MARTHA:
Really? I figure you’d have put two and two together. . . . Look, last night’s party was a major blowout, so I knew there’d be plenty of leftover suds, and that the fellas would be busy sleeping off their final big blast of the year. . . . And. . . . And, well. . . .Well, I thought I might be able to help myself to some of the leftover brewski, stale as it may be. . . . (Martha walks to the keg). Come over here, please. (Martha grabs a cup, then pumps the keg to draft some of the remaining beer. Then, to herself after a sip or two). Not bad. Not bad at all. . . . Can I pour you a draft?

JESUS:
No thanks. I prefer wine.

MARTHA:
Is that right? Really?

JESUS:
You seem surprised.

MARTHA:
Never met a dude that liked wine more than beer. . . . Now look, since you feel free to ask me questions, can I ask you one?

JESUS:
Yes.

MARTHA:
What’s with the get up? I mean, c’mon now. Why in the world are you dressed that way?

JESUS:
Does it offend you?

MARTHA:
No, not at all. Actually, it’s kinda cute—I mean, in an old timey sorta way. . . . Way old timey.

JESUS:
Well, why do you think I’m dressed this way, Martha?

MARTHA:
Whoa!. . . . Easy, easy now. Are you challenging me to a guessing game? Fine. Well, that’s just fine. Okay, I’ll play.

JESUS:
So I ask again: Why do you think I’m dressed this way?

MARTHA:
Okay, then, let’s see. . . . I’m guessing you’re a new pledge, and this is part of your hazing, your initiation. I wouldn’t be surprised if the brothers of Sigma Epsilon Chi made you walk around campus dressed like that for a whole day. Sheesh! How embarrassing that must have been! You get what I’m sayin’? Must be part of that weird “bonding by ritual humiliation” thing you fellas seem so fond of.

JESUS:
I’m not sure I understand, but I am sure this is not what you call a hazing. I can tell you, verily, I was baptized some time ago, but that was an event of saving grace, not indignity.

MARTHA:
Did you really say verily? Whew, You talk as weird as you look. . . . (Martha moves next to Jesus to get a closer look at his clothes). Let me try this then. You’re dressed like that because last night’s party was one of those special themed romps you guys have occasionally. You know, a dress up party—cosplay, I think it’s called—where everyone comes as someone else, maybe someone from another time and place. Judging by your costume, I’d guess that last night’s invitation read something like, “Come as an ancient, middle eastern refugee.” Am I right?

JESUS:
You’re getting warmer, but still not quite right.

MARTHA:
OK, you’re dressed this way because you’re a Theatre major, and you just left a dress rehearsal.

JESUS:
I am not sure I know what that means.

MARTHA:
Oh, never mind. Never mind. . . . Why don’t you just tell me the truth? Why are you dressed that way? What’s up with your duds, dude?

JESUS:
I am appareled in the clothes of my time and place, in the manner of my people and of those who love and follow me.

MARTHA:
Uh-huh. Right. Well, I guess I could say the same. . . . But I still don’t get it. I mean, if you come from a different joint altogether, how in the world did you get here? In this place, right now?

JESUS:
I am here and I am everywhere. All at the same time. All at once.

MARTHA:
There you go again. Please stop.

JESUS:
What?

MARTHA:
Messin’ with me. I mean, really. C’mon, man—or should I say, Son of Man—must you?

JESUS:
It’s what I do. I mess with people. I mess with their wayward ways, their vanities, their pride, their self-satisfactions, and sometimes the bad choices they make with their lives. It’s what I do.

MARTHA:
Uh. . . .Okay, but why mess with people you don’t even know? People like me, for instance?

JESUS:
What makes you think I don’t know you?

MARTHA:
We’ve never met, that’s why. . . . At least, I don’t think we’ve met. . . . Wait a minute. Were you in my English 360 class? There was someone there who looked an awful lot like you.

JESUS:
No, that wasn’t me.

MARTHA:
Are you sure? His said his name was Jimmy. Played on the Lacrosse team, I think.

JESUS:
No, that wasn’t me.

MARTHA:
Alright, alright. Whatever. I guess it’s settled then. You don’t know me, and I don’t know you.

JESUS:
Well, that’s not exactly true. It would be more accurate to say that you don’t know me, but I know you very well.

MARTHA:
Right. Sure you do. . . . You know me, huh? Okay then, so what’s my favorite color?

JESUS:
Turquoise.

MARTHA:
Good guess. . . . Um, alright then, what’s my lucky number?

JESUS:
Five.

MARTHA:
Another good guess. . . . Let’s change the groove, why don‘t we?. . . Instead of silly stuff, why don’t you tell me something personal about myself?

JESUS:
You are hurting.

MARTHA:
Too easy! Too easy, my friend! . . . . Who, after all, isn’t hurting?

JESUS:
But. . . .But you hurt for reasons you think are yours alone.

MARTHA:
Oh, is that right? Such as?

JESUS:
You feel yourself to be an outcast.

MARTHA:
I don’t feel myself to be an outcast. I am an outcast.

JESUS:
Shunned.

MARTHA:
Yes

JESUS:
Refused.

MARTHA:
By many.

JESUS:
Forsaken?

MARTHA:
Yes, forsaken.

JESUS:
And why do you think this is so, Martha?

MARTHA:
I am. . . . well, in a word, I am. . . . I am different.

JESUS:
Different from. . . . ?

MARTHA:
From all the people who think they are not different. Normies, my friends call them. People like you, for all I know.

JESUS:
That’s just the thing, isn’t it? We’ve already decided that you do not know me at all.

MARTHA:
If you say so, I suppose. But. . . . But I’m guessing you still think you know me. Right?

JESUS:
Yes. I know you better than you know yourself. . . . And by the way, I am an outcast too. Your sufferings, Martha, are my own.

MARTHA:
Sure. Uh-huh. . . .You know me better than I know myself, huh? So, Jesus, tell me something else about myself.

JESUS:
Well, I know you’ve dated five of the young men who live in this house. Brothers, I believe they call themselves.

MARTHA:
(Irritated) How do you know that? Tell me! Tell me! Have you been talking to Tiffany?

JESUS:
I have spoken to no one about you. . . .And by the way, who’s Tiffany?

MARTHA:
She’s my chiquita, my bestie. A member of my posse.

JESUS:
Is your posse some kind of sorority?

MARTHA:
(Laughs) I guess you could call it that. It’s more of an anti-sorority, really. In our sorority we allow dudes to hang with us. And disabled folks too. Even homeless students. Anybody who wants to can join. The only membership requirement is that, at some point, you had to be rejected by the kind of people I told you about earlier.

JESUS:
The ones you call Normies?

MARTHA:
Yes.

JESUS:
Does your group have a name?

MARTHA:
Yes. . . . It’s Sippa Kegga Beer (Laughs hysterically). But our close friends call us the Pilfers of Pilsner. Sometimes we call ourselves Love’s Losers. At least, that’s what my tattoo says. Ha!

JESUS:
Now you are messing with me, aren’t you, Martha?

MARTHA:
Hey, what’s fair is fair, mister. (Pause, then to herself) Did I just say Mister? . . . . That doesn’t sound quite right.

JESUS:
It’s Jesus.

MARTHA:
Yeah, okay then. Jesus. . . . Look Jesus, no offense, but has anyone ever told you your name sounds mmmm. . . . kinda. . . .kinda ethnic. You must be an international student.

JESUS:
Really? You think I’m an international student? Come to think of it, that’s not a bad description.

MARTHA:
Maybe you haven’t noticed, Jesus, but I’m kinda ethnic too. And no, I’m NOT an international student. I came here from Akron. . . . Maybe we have more in common than I thought?

JESUS:
We do and we don’t.

MARTHA:
There you go again. Messin’ with me.

JESUS:
Forgive me.

• Download Sisters of the Sun sample script

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