The Hollow Hearted Heart

By Betty Jean Cleland

In a dark and lonely prison cell, a broken man wrestles with the weight of his failures, abandonment, and shame. Mocked by others and overwhelmed by despair, he cries out for a God he isn’t sure is even listening. What he finds in the silence is something more powerful than he ever imagined — a Father's touch of redemption and healing.

Through a moving blend of narration and expressive mime, The Hollow Hearted Heart captures the raw pain of isolation and the breathtaking grace of restoration. Inspired by Psalm 68:6, this 6-minute dramatic piece is perfect for worship services, special events, or messages on forgiveness, grace, and hope.

Cast: 3

• Narrator
  
• Person in prison
  
• God

This could have three speaking parts, but we recommend a monologue spoken by narrator, with mimed actions by a man in prison and God.  Ensure that mimed actions are “large” and expressive.

Narrator will be like an observer or journalist “looking closely” into all mimed actions, and himself expressing and reacting with appropriate mimed actions

Sound: piano mood music, (very low), would be useful throughout the piece

Costumes: narrator dressed along the lines of the poor ladies in the “Oliver” movie, dress and ragged shawl with boots
Man in prison wears torn jeans and shirt
God may be dressed in black so you can see only his hands, (or you may prefer white robe covering all but hands, face fully hidden).

Sample of script:

Lights: Dim stage lighting. Quiet, solemn atmosphere.]

(Narrator slowly walks onto the stage, gazing at the man in prison. The Man is rolled up on the floor, visibly in pain.)

Narrator:
(whispers)
“What happened?
How did he get there?”

(Pauses, observing the scene.)

There imprisoned in the darkness...
The darkness of shame and dirty deeds.

(Narrator takes a small step forward.)

“The giant has fallen,” they proclaim.
“He looked so strong?
What went wrong?
What went wrong?”

(Echo effect or pause, allowing the words to linger.)

Their words echo in the pain...
The pain and loneliness of his hopes and dreams.

(Narrator moves closer to the Prisoner.)

Everything he once believed,
Now seems like a desolate illusion.
Truth alludes him,
Darkness secludes him.
Words bring no comfort.
He’s lost in the rhetoric.
The empty rhetoric,
As empty as his hollow-hearted heart.

(Prisoner mimes a silent scream, clutching his head in anguish.)

Narrator:
(louder, urgent)
“Where are you, God?” he screams.

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.