. all rights belong to Tanis Harms –
. refer to www.church-skits.com
GIVE THANKS TO THE GIVER – written by Tanis Harms
TOPIC: being thankful, sharing
SCRIPTURE: Gen.1:27-30, Ps.92:1-4, Zech.10:1,
. Phil.4:19
Style: allegory/conversation: someone
. tries to introduce other people
. to the one who is supplying
. all of their needs
Cast: PERSON 1-5 (1 and 5 are dressed in rags)
Set & Props: bench, ten big bags or baskets,
. 2 small bags, one sandwich
SCRIPT:
(PERSON 1 sits on a bench at center stage.
PERSON 2 enters from stage left and sees PERSON 1.
PERSON 2 approaches, carrying a basket.)
P 2 Thank you for always being right here
. where I can find you. And I must thank you
. for all the food that you have given us.
. I have brought at least a tenth of it back -
. to thank you. I mean, really, thank you, so much.
P 1 You are most welcome.
(PERSON 1 takes the basket and PERSON 2 walks away
towards stage left only to notice PERSON 3 and PERSON 4
enter from stage left and walk toward PERSON 1.
PERSON 3 and 4 stop to talk, so they are standing
in between PERSON 1 and PERSON 2.)
P 4 I am so hungry.
P 3 So am I!
P 4 Just don’t tell me that there are others
. who have it worse. I really don’t care about them.
P 1 (holds out basket) I have some food for you.
. As well as a job, a house, and some clothes.
(PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 completely ignore PERSON 1
and continue to complain.)
. 2
P 3 Right now, I’m really not concerned
. with anybody else. We just have to figure out
. a way to survive.
P 4 Doesn’t anybody care, anymore? I mean,
. what are we supposed to do?
(PERSON 1 walks a little distance away and sets
the basket on the floor where PERSON 3 and PERSON 4
can see it. PERSON 1 returns to the bench
while PERSON 3 checks it out.)
P 3 Oh, look what I all got.
P 4 It’s about time! I haven’t eaten in 6 hours.
(PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 exit stage right proudly
carrying the basket with them.
PERSON 2 shakes head in disbelief then exits,
returning with another two baskets. Approaching
PERSON 1, PERSON 2 sets the baskets on the bench.)
P 2 You have blessed me so much,
. and give me way more than I need.
. I am truly thankful.
P 1 I love people – I love you - and I enjoy giving.
(PERSON 2 begins to walk away toward stage left
and sees PERSON 5 enter from stage left.
PERSON 2 watches PERSON 5 look around.
PERSON 1 holds out a basket to PERSON 5,
who does not see this. PERSON 2 approaches PERSON 5.)
P 2 Do you see that person on the bench?
. He is holding out a basket of supplies for you.
. And in there is the best food a person
. could ever find, anywhere-
(PERSON 5 is scared, but still tries to look around,
never really looking in that direction.
PERSON 5 then shrinks back from PERSON 2.)
p 5 So you say. But I have found that
. you just can’t trust anything anyone says.
P 2 I can tell you from my experience 3
. that you can trust that person.
P 5 How do I know that I can trust YOU?
P 2 You could spend some time in getting to know us.
. You will see the evidence in my life.
P 5 I have other things to worry about.
(PERSON 2 sadly walks away, but stops to observe as
PERSON 1 places a basket on the ground close to PERSON 5.
PERSON 5 eyes the basket suspiciously.
PERSON 1 then places a basket more to stage right’s side
as PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 enter. Seeing the basket,
PERSON 4 picks up their basket.)
P 4 Can you believe our luck these days?
P 3 It’s NOT luck. It’s all our hard work.
. I always wanted to be this rich.
P 4 I actually want to be richer.
P 3 Me too! Hey, look, another opportunity!
(PERSON 3 sees the other basket and snatches it up
just as PERSON 5 is about to take it.
PERSON 2 gasps.)
P 3 (to P 5) What? Are you expecting handouts?
. Go get a job!
(While PERSON 5 sadly sinks to the floor to sit there,
PERSON 2 approaches PERSON 3 and PERSON 4.)
P 2 (speaking nicely) Don’t you know
. that all of what you have,
. comes from this person over here?
P 4 (without looking) I don’t see any person.
P 2 Without him, you would have nothing.
P 3 We work very hard to collect all of this.
. And it’s all ours.
P 4 I think someone here is just jealous. 4
P 2 I am truly content with whatever I have.
. And I am very thankful for the one
. who supplies all my needs.
P 3 (patting P 2’s shoulder patronizingly)
. And you just have fun with that.
P 4 We’re good. We don’t need anybody’s help.
(PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 exit stage right.
PERSON 2 looks at PERSON 5 with compassion
then exits stage left. PERSON 2 enters with
2 more baskets and brings them to PERSON 1.)
P 2 I cannot stop thanking you for what
. you all do for me. I only hope
. that I can be just like you.
P 5 (loudly) Who are you talking to?!
(PERSON 2 walks over to PERSON 5.)
P 2 Can you not see him?
(PERSON 5 continues to face forward and talk.)
P 5 You keep bringing stuff to that bench.
. What good does that do?
P 2 It does a lot of good.
(PERSON 1 places a basket on the floor at stage right
and then places 2 baskets near PERSON 5.
PERSON 2 motions to the baskets nearby.)
P 2 Look. If you would just acknowledge
. the person on the bench
. and all that he gives you-
P 5 I don’t see him giving me anything!
(PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 rush on and grab all 3 baskets.)
P 5 All I see is injustice.
(PERSON 2 pulls a smaller bag out of their pocket 5
and gives it to PERSON 5.)
P 2 Let me give you something from my portion.
. Just know, that this has all come from
. that person over there.
(PERSON 2 exits stage left. PERSON 5 opens the bag
and finds a sandwich. PERSON 5 carefully bites into it
and discovers that it is very tasty.
PERSON 5 begins to eat with more and more passion,
then glances over their shoulder at PERSON 1,
then goes back to the sandwich. PERSON 2 enters again
with 4 baskets this time and gives them to PERSON 1.
PERSON 1 then goes to hold out a small bag to PERSON 5.
PERSON 5 takes the bag slowly, gratefully, thinking.)
P 5 Thank you. I, ah-
(As PERSON 5 now looks up at PERSON 2, PERSON 5 now
sees PERSON 1 holding up a basket to them.
Quickly getting up, PERSON 5 rushes over to PERSON 1.)
P 5 Thank you.
(PERSON 5 holds out the small bag. PERSON 1 accepts it
with a smile.)
P 5 This is everything I have, and it’s probably
. not enough. I want to give you everything
. I do have - myself. How can I help?
P 1 These baskets can be delivered to the
. following addresses.
P 5 Thanks for letting me help out.
(PERSON 2 rushes over.)
P 2 I would like to help, as well.
(PERSON 2 and PERSON 5 take three of the baskets and
exit stage left. PERSON 1 takes the small bag and
places it on the ground as PERSON 3 and PERSON 4
enter from stage right. Looking around, all they see
is the small bag. PERSON 3 picks it up with distain.)
P 3 What is this? That’s it? 6
P 4 Wait, what happened to all our riches?
P 3 Don’t ask me!
P 4 Did your luck run out?
P 3 I don’t understand this at all.
(PERSON 1 holds out the basket to them, but
PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 refuse to acknowledge this.)
P 4 Well, if that guy on the bench really DOES exist,
. then I really hate him!
P 3 Same here! Come on!
(PERSON 3 and PERSON 4 storm off stage.
PERSON 1 continues to hold the basket out.)
LIGHTS FADE.