Wheres This Baby Headed

Modern day "Dickens-like Christmas Carol" look at corporate America.

The executive of a "successful" software company express their opinions, and fears.
Sometimes our success becomes more than we can handle.

This drama is entirely fictional, any similarities to people, places, situations or events is purely coincidental.

Cast: 7 m or f

• Jeff and Jim carry the bulk of the drama
• Jeff This character is a fictional character, a brilliant and successful entrepreneur, the head of a huge hi-tech company
• Jim Jeff’s partner and employee, a trusted employee who has been with Jeff from the
  beginning.
• Jeff(2) Jeff character in the scrim set (will be younger version of Jeff)
• Jim(2) Jim character in the scrim set (will be younger version of Jim)
• Morley Jeff’s former partner
• Sarah Jeff’s ex-wife
• Voice over

Bible Reference: Luke 2

Set:

• There is a split stage format with the two main actors performing on one side of the stage, while at the other side a scrim covering is used to display the past time frames
• there is main stage area plus an acting area behind scrim, in order to display or hide the action in the past scenes
• A very large gaudy garish Christmas set with flashing lights for opening scene
• for details and assistance on scrim sets contact DramaShare

Sound: wireless mics if available

Song: Away In A Manger

Lighting:

• single spotlight for main actors, plus lighting in front of and behind scrim to hide and expose the past scenes

SFX: none

Props: large extension cord

Costumes:

• very little specific costuming is necessary, past time frame could use dated costuming

Special Instructions:

• This drama is entirely fictional, any similarities to people, places, situations or events is purely coincidental.

Time: 70

Sample of script

Scene: A dimly lit stage.

(Jeff walks on stage, looks around, glances toward the shadows at upstage left, smiles, and picks up a large extension cord lying noticeably on the floor. He plugs it into an outlet. Immediately, garish Christmas lights flash on. "Away In A Manger" plays softly in the background.)

Jeff (visibly proud): Excellent, simply a breakthrough! Yeppers, this will do just fine! Another world-wide first for SoftSolutions Computer Systems! And I wonder where this baby’s headed?

Voice Over: Christmas greetings from SoftSolutions Computer Systems! And to help you celebrate the true meaning of the Christmas season, SoftSolutions introduces our NuNoel In-home Computer System, featuring a 96” SoftSolutions low radiation screen so family and friends can watch and play together; the world’s most advanced 512 meg SoftSolutions memory bank; six independent SoftSolutions 96X CD drives; six independent SoftSolutions ergonomically designed Phase 3 keyboards allowing up to six friends or family members to simultaneously interact or compete, each with their own SoftSolutions Eagle Majestic 38 page-per-minute laser printer. And, of course, the feature of this, as with all SoftSolutions computing systems, is the exclusive patented SoftSolutions OS SoftSecure Operating System, available only on SoftSolutions hardware.

(Jim enters at downstage right, watching from the shadows.)

Voice Over: Just think of it—celebrate Christmas together the old-fashioned way! A family working and playing together, enjoying time-honored family values, gathered around the SoftSolutions NuNoel In-Home Computer System. And here are just a few of the built-in choices you have to celebrate the exciting news of Christmas:

• SoftSolutions Abundant Selection #1: Christmas Values with Fonzie and the Family. Be challenged and blessed with the traditional Christmas message as the "Happy Days" gang enjoys a Christmas break on SoftSolutions’ tropical paradise, Security Island!

• SoftSolutions Abundant Selection #2: A Christmas dream experience based on the time-treasured Father Knows Best TV series. Relive and experience firsthand the excitement and family closeness of a more restful time.

• SoftSolutions Abundant Selection #3: Star Wars Christmas! Captain Kirk embarks on a personal mission to bring the Christmas message to the Disasteroids on the newly discovered planet R92B.

• SoftSolutions Abundant Selection #4: Our all-new interactive animated option, where you and your friends can assume the roles of shepherds, wise men, Joseph, Mary—even the Baby Jesus! Think of the learning experience as each family member interactively creates their own ending to the original tale.

(Jeff punches a button. The voice-over stops, leaving only a few flashing lights.)

Jeff: Excellent, simply a breakthrough! Yeppers, this will do just fine! SoftSolutions NuNoel In-home Computer System! All you computer giant wannabes, react to this! SoftSolutions Computer Systems! First off the mark again! And I wonder where this baby’s headed?

Jim (stepping forward): Yes, Jeff, where indeed?

Jeff (startled): Jim! Didn’t see you there. Come on in! Got somethin’ to show ya! You simply won’t believe this! Excellent, simply a breakthrough! Yeppers, this will do just fine! Watch here—somethin’ new! We call it the SoftSolutions . . .

Jim (interrupting): . . . SoftSolutions NuNoel In-Home Computer System. I heard.

Jeff: What’d’ya think, Jimmy boy?

Jim: Jeff, you really don’t want to hear what I think.

Jeff: You know that’s not true, Jim! You and me, we’ve been together, right from the beginning. You and me, and . . .

Jim: . . . and Morley, and Sarah. Yeah, from the very beginning.

Jeff: Yeah, well, anyway, this here is an exciting time! What we’ve got on our hands is a winner! No way to know where this baby’s headed! So, what’d’ya think, Jimmy ma’boy?

Jim: Like I said, Jeff, you really don’t want to hear what I think.

Jeff: What are you sayin’? You know full well how I regard your opinions. Don’t I always say, "Send in Jim"? Don’t I?

Jim: Yes, you do, Jeff. But we both know you don’t like when anyone says anything negative about your projects—your "babies."

Jeff: What’s this? You sayin’ you don’t like the SoftSolutions NuNoel In-home Computer System? I tell ya, Jimmy, what we’ve got on our hands is a winner! No way to know where this baby’s headed! Make us millions, is my guess! So, tell me then—what’d’ya think, Jimmy ma’boy?

Jim: I have no doubt that you may have a winner again, Jeff. And seems like everything you do makes millions, so why wouldn’t this one as well?

Jeff (grinning): Good to hear you so excited! What’s this "everything I do"? Thought we were in this together, right from the beginning. You and me and . . .

Jim: . . . and Morley and Sarah.

Jeff: Yeah, well, mainly it’s been you an’ me. Ever since . . . since . . .

Jim: . . . since Morley died and since you and Sarah separated?

Jeff (defensive): What gives with you, Jim? Lighten up a bit! It’s Christmas, for Pete’s sake! Aren’t you the one always pushing your religion thing? Here I’ve put together a program that’ll give a boost to your religion thing, and it’s as though I’ve committed some crime, for Pete’s sake! You’re a SoftSolutions employee, for Pete’s sake! You know full well what I always say: "On the team or . . ."

Jim: . . . yes, I know, Jeff. "On the team or turfed!" But, doesn’t really matter, Jeff. That’s why I came here tonight—to tell you that I’m resigning from SoftSolutions.

Jeff (stunned): You’re what? Resigning? You can’t resign! Why, you’ve been here from the beginning! It was you and me and . . .

Jim: . . . and Morley and Sarah. Yes, I know, but time has come for me to do
something new. I have felt God’s calling to be a missionary in Russia, and . . .

Jeff: . . . a missionary? In Russia? What kinda cockamamie idea is that? (pause)
Oh, it’s money, isn’t it? Look, I’ll double whatever you’re gonna make in
Russia. . . .

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