BACK GOODSAM 5'?m3f The parable of the good Samaritan (Note: Tramp can be either a bag lady or a prostitute, depending on the audience) (phone rings) CLERK -- (enters, stands at podium, picks up phone) Good evening, Wayside Hotel. Yes, we're right on the highway between Jerusalem and Jericho. Take the Wayside off ramp. Yes, this being a week day, we have plenty of rooms available. Will you be arriving tonight, sir? Your name? And how many in your party, sir? Very good, we'll see you tonight. (hangs up) SAM ---- (enters near beginning of Clerk's phone conversation, helping a limping Tramp, with bloody bandage on her head and many cuts and bruises, sets her in chair DC, pulls tissue from purse, blots some blood from Tramps leg wound, until Clerk finishes phone call) Can you give us a hand here, please. CLERK -- Oh, dear! What happened?! SAM ---- This woman will need room for the night so she can wash off these wounds and get some rest. CLERK -- Listen, I don't mean to sound insensitive, but this accident didn't happen on hotel property, did it? SAM ---- Oh, this was no accident. CLERK -- It wasn't? SAM ---- No. She was attacked out on the Jericho road. CLERK -- (backing away) Oh. SAM ---- What's the matter? CLERK -- The pastor of our church said he passed by a tramp on the way into town. He said she was lying in the gutter. I had no idea... SAM ---- ...he passed by... TRAMP -- (nods) SAM ---- ...but he didn't even stop to ask if you needed help? (looks to both Tramp and Clerk for an answer) TRAMP -- (shakes head) CLERK -- You can't blame him. Look at her. What self-respecting woman would be out on the road alone. SAM ---- (continuing to blot her bleeding wounds) What difference does it make what she looks like? This woman needed help. (to tramp) Didn't he do anything for you? TRAMP -- He told me that when he got back to his church. He would say a prayer for me. SAM ---- He didn't even help you stop the bleeding from your wounds? TRAMP -- He didn't get close enough to see if I was bleeding. He passed by on the other side of the road. CLERK -- You can't be too careful these days. TRAMP -- The other one didn't stop either. SAM ---- Other one? What other one? CLERK -- That would be Fred Smith, one of the deacons in our church. He came by and told me he saw her in the gutter too. SAM ---- But he didn't do anything either? TRAMP -- (shakes head silently) CLERK -- Well, he came in and asked if he should call the police. SAM ---- For all he knew she could have bled to death out there. What's the matter with you people?! CLERK -- Well, we were all praying for her. We're all Christians, you know. SAM ---- I didn't see any policeman out on the road. Did you call the police? CLERK -- Well,... SAM ---- Well, did you or didn't you? CLERK -- Well, Fred and I decided not to get involved. I mean who knows what a woman like THAT is involved in? SAM ---- I can't believe Christians would let a thing like this happen and not move a muscle to help her. CLERK -- What denomination are you? SAM ---- I'm not a Christian. I'm a Samaritan. CLERK -- A Samaritan!? That's unbelievable! SAM ---- What's so unbelievable about it? CLERK -- As much of a low-life as this woman obviously is, she's not from YOUR side of the tracks. SAM ---- (busy blotting wounds, looks in purse) Well, I'm running out of kleenex. Let's get this woman into a room, so she can use the bath tub to wash her wounds and then get some rest. CLERK -- I'm sorry, all our rooms are booked. SAM ---- I just overheard you tell that customer on the phone that there were plenty of rooms here in the hotel in midweek. CLERK -- Well, that was before SHE came along. SAM ---- (sighs, stands, opening purse) Look, whether you're a Christian or a non-Christian, we all speak the same language, here's my American Express Gold card. CLERK -- (takes card) A gold card, huh? SAM ---- Yes. I have to go down to Jericho on business. You can charge any room charges and any room service food on this card until I get back. CLERK -- Well, I don't know. (hands the card back) SAM ---- You're obviously not the owner of this hotel. CLERK -- Well, no, I'm not. SAM ---- (pulls a wad of money from purse) Then, this should help you in your prayers for our friend here. CLERK -- Wow! Look at all that money! (hands key to Sam) Room 101 is the first room on the right (points). SAM ---- (helps Tramp to her feet) Thank you so much for your Christian hospitality. (they both exit) CLERK -- (looks down at money, follows) Listen, if you need anything else.... anything at all. You let me know. I'm always here to help. �2013 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement. http://www.bobsnook.org email: [email protected] BACK |