The Fragrance Of Love

By Tom Birch

The Fragrance of Love is a deeply moving stage play that brings to life the powerful transformation of Mary of Bethany—a woman marked by trauma, judgment, and shame—into a bold follower of Christ. Through a series of dramatic scenes woven from eight biblical accounts, this story reveals the tender compassion of Jesus and the courageous faith of a woman whose love would be remembered throughout history. This redemptive journey is a beautiful portrait of grace, forgiveness, and belonging.

Approximately 30 minutes

Cast Size

Minimum 14 actors (can expand to 20 or more with additional roles)

Biblical References

• Casting out of demons from Mary Magdalene — Luke 8:2
• The woman caught in adultery — John 8:2–11
• First anointing of Jesus — Luke 7:36–50
• Mary at Jesus’ feet — Luke 10:38–42
• Death and resurrection of Lazarus — John 11:1–46
• Second anointing of Jesus — Matthew 26:6–13, Mark 14:3–9, John 12:1–11

Set Description

The play takes place in three primary homes:

1. Maggie’s Home – Plain décor with a small table and four benches.
2. Simon’s House – Luxurious with colored tapestries, a long table, and ample seating for a banquet.
3. Lazarus’s Home – More upscale than Maggie’s but simpler than Simon’s.

Sample Script:

ACT ONE: SCENE ONE
(Lights up on Maggie’s plain home. A small table with four benches sits center stage. A counter is upstage. A large kitchen knife lies on the counter. Mary is holding Maggie, trying to keep her away from the knife.)

Maggie: Let go! You can’t stop me! I just need the knife!
Mary: NO! I can’t let you cut yourself again.
Maggie (slumping): You don’t understand. The pain is the only way I know I’m still alive.
Mary: Come, Maggie. What you need is rest.
Maggie: Mary, you’re the only one who cares. You’re my only friend.
Mary: And you are my dear friend too. We have each other. Come now. It’s going to be a long night.

(Mary leads Maggie offstage. She returns slowly, sits, and looks upward.)

Mary (to God): I know you must hate Maggie and me for what we do, but she’s all I have. The screaming, the cutting… People say she has a demon. Maybe they’re right.

(Now to the audience)

It wasn’t so long ago that I would never have even spoken to someone like Maggie. But that was before the city…

(Spotlight on front apron. Two teenage girls—Child Mary and Child Martha—enter.)

Child Mary: Martha, look at all the shops!
Lazarus (offstage): Stay with Martha, Mary. And be back by noon!
Child Martha: Let’s get some ribbons for my hair.
Child Mary: I want sweets, not ribbons. I’m going exploring.
Child Martha: You’re not the boss of me!
Child Mary (stepping into red spotlight): I think I’m lost...

(A man’s voice calls from offstage left.)

Man 1: Lost? A fancy girl like you? Come in here a minute. I can help you.
Child Mary (exiting): Excuse me, can you tell me the way back to the market?
Mary’s Voice (offstage, building to a scream): What are you doing?! Stop! NO!

(Lights shift back to adult Mary.)

Mary: I didn’t know what “have his way with me” meant back then. But I soon found out. That day is burned in my mind forever...

(Mary slowly puts on jewelry—necklace, earrings, bracelet—as she speaks.)

After that… nothing was the same. My family was ashamed. I heard my mother say no one would ever marry me—and because of me, Gideon wouldn’t marry Martha. So I left. I thought maybe if I were gone—or dead—my family could be happy.

(Knock on the door. Mary rises.)

Everyone has to eat, right?

(She opens the door to Man 2.)

Man 2: Would you like some company?
Mary: Please, come in. I just got some new Egyptian cotton sheets. Want to feel how soft they are?

ACT ONE: SCENE TWO
(Lights rise on Mary, alone, pouring water into a wooden cup.)

Mary: I wonder where Maggie is. Maybe she went to the shops—we’re out of bread.

(Maggie bursts in the door, radiant and joyful.)

Maggie (embracing her): Mary, I’m free! I’m alive again! I could feel the sunshine!

Mary: What are you talking about? Sit down. Tell me what’s going on.
Maggie: I met Jesus—the teacher.
Mary: What? Rabbis don’t speak to women like us!
Maggie: He’s not like the others. I cursed at him… and he looked at me with love. He cast out seven demons. I collapsed, and he reached out and touched me.

Mary: He touched you? A rabbi?!
Maggie: He said, "You are God’s child. You are forgiven." Mary, you have to meet him. Come with me.
Mary (backing away): No! What if this is a trap? What if he raises a mob? You go—if he loves you so much.

(Pause. Maggie’s face falls.)

Maggie: I thought you’d be happy for me... I need to go and think.

(Maggie exits. Mary sits again. Lights down.)

Want to see how the story unfolds? DramaShare members get this complete script— and access to our entire library—free! Not a member? You can still grab this individual script and bring it to life.