Saint Fred

SAINT FRED:

 Reflections on 1 Timothy

A Play in Six Episodes

by

Delvyn C. Case, Jr.

Saint Fred: Reflections on 1 Timothy
 Copyright 2003  
by  Delvyn C. Case Jr.
All Rights Reserved
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CHARACTERS
(in order of appearance)

Fred, a businessman, 30’s–40’s.  Mild-mannered.

Matt, a businessman, friend of Fred, 30’s–40’s.  Moderately gruff.

Scene:  A office hallway.  Present.  The action takes place over three            years.


SYNOPSIS

    Episode I.  Instruction.  Fred has just become a Christian and has brought several books to read for personal study.

    Episode II.  Worship.  Fred is preparing to attend a Promise Keepers meeting.

    Episode III.  Leadership.  Fred is helping his friend Matt who is facing a crisis at work regarding the qualifications for promotion.

    Episode IV.  Gifts.  Fred is struggling about how he can help his sister-in-law.

    Episode V.  Service.  Fred helps his friend whose life is falling apart.

    Episode VI.  Life.  Matt decides to attend church with Fred on the basis of the life he has seen Fred living.

 

Themes

    Episode I.  Salvation.  Instruction.  Evangelism.

    Episode II.  Family life:  men’s roles.  Prayer.  Work.
    
    Episode III.  Qualifications for leadership.  Truth.  Friendship.
    
    Episode IV.  Gifts of the Spirit.    
    
    Episode V.  Service to others.  Love of neighbor.
    
    Episode VI.  Living a real life.  



SAINT FRED


Episode I

    Scene.  An office hallway, Monday morning.  There is a table with a lamp and two chairs right of center stage.  Fred and Matt are dressed in business suits.  Fred enters from stage right, carrying a Bible and several other books.  He reaches the table and drops the books onto the table.  He picks up the books one-by-one, looks at each, and and them back onto the table.  Fred is happy and begins whistling.  Matt enters from stage left.  He is weary, not happy to be back at work after the weekend.
    Matt:  Hi, Fred.  (Notices his happy demeanor)  What’s gotten into you?  Pretty happy for a Monday, especially coming back to ye ole sweatshop.
    Fred:  Oh hi, Matt.  (Genuinely) I had a great weekend!
    Matt:  (Not interested) Really.  (Reaches Fred and picks up several books individually) What’re you reading?  (Picks up the Bible) The Bible (Looks at Fred) (Puts down the Bible).  (Picks up book) “Born Again” (Looks at Fred) (Puts down book).  (Picks up book) “Where Is God When It Hurts?”
(Looks at Fred) (Puts down book).    (Looks mystified)  Where did you get these?
    Fred:  At church.  I thought I could look at them during lunch.
    Matt:  You’ve gone nuts or something?
    Fred:  (Shakes his head and smiles) No.  I just want to learn some basics.
    Matt:  Sure.  
(Matt turns and starts to walk toward stage left.)
    Fred:  You’ll never quess what happened to me yesterday?
(Matt turns around and listens.)
    Matt:  Go ahead (Motions to him), I’ll bite.
    Fred:  I was “born again”.
    Matt:  (Doesn’t know how to react.  Reaches over and picks up book “Born Again”) Like this book (Shows him the book) , I suppose (Looks at front cover trying to figure it out).
     Fred:  Just like it.
    Matt: (Lightheartedly)  Fred, how can you (Puts hands over his abdomen)…
    Fred: …It’s not physical, Matt.  It’s spiritual.
    Matt:  Spiritual, huh?
    Fred:  Yeah, I accepted Jesus as my savior.  
    Matt:  Really.
    Fred:  And my sins have been forgotten.
    Matt:  I thought you said that God couldn’t ever forgive you for some of the sins in your past.  Remember?  You’ve told me that, a bunch of times.
    Fred:  But He has, and I’m clean.
    Matt:  Where?  At your church?…
(Fred nods.)
    Matt: …yesterday?
(Fred nods.)
    Fred:  Maybe you might like to come to church with us sometime.
    Matt:  Oh, I don’t think so.  Sunday’s pretty full for me.  First, “The Today Show” is on Sunday’s now.  Then I have about three or four inches of newspaper to plow through:  the “Maine Sunday Telegram” and then of course the Globe.  And this Sunday…well, I’ve to think of something to do with my kids–they’re coming over at noon.  Got any ideas?  
    Fred:  I’ll think about it.
    Matt:  Thanks…well (Looks at his watch), we’d better get to that staff meeting (He straightens his tie).
    Fred:  Sure.  I’ll put these away (He picks up the books).
    Matt:  You’d better.  The PC patrol will be around soon (He looks around like a spy).
    Fred:  C’mon.
(Fred and Matt walk toward stage left exit.)
    Matt:  Seriously.  Just trying help.
    Fred:  Sure, Matt.
(Fred and Matt exit stage left.)

End of Episode I


Episode II

    Scene.  An office hallway.  There is a table with a lamp and two chairs right of center stage.  Fred and Matt are dressed in business suits.  Fred enters hurriedly from stage left carrying a raincoat over his arm and an attache case.  He crosses to the table, opens the attache case, and takes out airline tickets.  He studies the tickets.  Matt enters leisurely from stage right with a cup of coffee.
    Fred:  (Dropping the tickets into attache case and closing it) I’m out of here, Matt.
    Matt:  To the computer show in Dallas, Fred (Sips coffee) ?
    Fred:  Nope.  I’m taking a couple of days and going to a Promise Keepers meeting.
    Matt:  That’s not a business meeting?
    Fred:  You’re right.
    Matt:  During the week?
    Fred:  Yep.
    Matt:  That’s when we should be working.
    Fred:  Not always (Puts on his raincoat).
    Matt:  (Thinking) Now isn’t that the outfit that wants to put down women?–(Cups his hand and puts it up to his mouth to tell him a secret) like we used to have ‘em?
    Fred:  (Mildly indignant) No. And who told you that?
    Matt:  My wife, my first wife.  I quess she didn’t like my style of running the home, at least when I was there.
    Fred:  Yeah.  By the way, where is she now?
    Matt:  (Takes sip of coffee and puts down cup) Cleveland.  She wanted to live near the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, I think.
    Fred:  Sure.  Well, Promise Keepers isn’t about that.  It’s about husbands becoming better husbands, like listening to their wives.  And it’s about being part of family life–not just corporate life.
    Matt:  (Waves his off)  Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before.  It’s like (Cuping his hands yelling like a horn) “Women and children in the life boats”, right?  You know, “Titanic”.
    Fred:  (A little shocked)  Why… yes, I agree.
    Matt:  (Skeptical, wrinkles his face) Not with the women in my life (Shakes his head) !
    Fred:  And men praying.
    Matt:  Is that what you’re going to do there?
    Fred:  Yeah.  
    Matt:  On a Thursday and Friday?
    Fred:  (Smiling) Right.
    Matt:  In a church?
    Fred:  Actually not.
    Matt:  That’s even weirder.  Well, have a good time anyway.  Remember I’ll be back here, slaving over a hot fax machine.  That should be enough to make you feel guilty.
    Fred:  OK. (He picks up the attache case)
    Matt:  I’ll walk you out (Picks up cup of coffee)…
(Fred and Matt walk toward stage right exit.)
    Matt: …It’ll probably be the only break I’ll have ‘til nine or so tonight.
    Fred:  It doesn’t have to be that way.
    Matt:  (Defensively) Sure it does.
(Fred and Matt exit stage right.)

End of Episode II
Episode III

    Scene.  An office hallway.  There is a table with a lamp and two chairs right of center stage.  Fred and Matt are dressed in business suits.  They enter from extreme right of auditorium and walks down the right side to the stage.
    Matt:  That’s why I wanted you at the meeting, Fred.  I can’t believe some will vote against me.
    Fred:  What did they say?
    Matt:  That because of my divorce and trouble with my second wife, I shouldn’t get that promotion.
    Fred:  Do you think that should be true?
    Matt:  Of course not.  What I do at home has nothing to do with my ability to be a vice-president.  I know I’ve had some problems; but I can compartmentalize my life.  Home is one thing (Holds right hand up) ; work is another (Holds left hand up).  (Looks at right and then the left) They’re separate.
    Fred:  You don’t think that how you act at home affects how you act at the office?
(They walk onto the stage.)
    Matt:  Absolutely not.  Everybody’s like that–it’s the way of the world.
    Fred:  (Sheepishly) I don’t know.
    Matt:  (Holds Fred’s arm)  Well anyway Fred, I need your support.
    Fred:  I understand.
(Matt takes his arm away.  They stop at the center stage.)
    Matt:  Look, I won’t twist your arm to get your help like I would one of my wives.
    Fred:  (Amazed) Thanks, thanks alot.  But Matt, I think character shows wherever you are.  
    Matt:  You know I’ve never…
    Fred: …Do you think they’ll ask about problem about the overdue account?
    Matt:  (Defensively) Hey, the supplier let me down.  That’s why the books were off.  That was all.  I have nothing more to say about it…
    Fred:  …OK, OK.
(They walk toward stage left exit.)
    Matt:  You’ll come and listen anyway, won’t you?
    Fred:  I’ll be there.  I’m your friend.
    Matt:  Thanks.
(Matt holds Fred back.)
    Matt:  Here goes nothing.
(Matt and Fred exit stage left.)

End of Episode III


Please order the script to read the rest.

Saint Fred

Author: Delvyn Case
Delvyn served as Director of Drama at First Baptist Church in Portland, Maine for 20 years, and is now Director of Drama at First Presbyterian Church in Bonita Springs, Florida. At the churches he has written and directed a large number of his one-act and full-length plays developed in connection with the church services and holidays. Delvyn is also passionate about international social justice. Several of his plays concerning the Rwandan genocide have been commissioned by Central Africa Vision U.S.A. and have been performed under Delvyn’s direction in Rwanda and Burundi. Delvyn’s plays have been performed in a number of churches and festivals including The Maine Playwrights Festival, Karitos Conference, Art of the Play Festival, Northern Writes, Crowbait Club, Snowlion Repertory Company Playlab, Maine Restaurant Week, Boston Theater Marathon, Northport One-Act Play Festival, the Samuel French One-Act Play Festival, THE SEVEN One-Act Play Festival, and Stage It! 10-Minute Play Festival. He has won the Maine Literary Award for Drama, Writer’s Digest Writing Award (Drama), and the Christians in Theatre Arts Play Award. Most recently Delvyn has studied Drama and Literature in summers at the University of Oxford. Delvyn is a full member of the Dramatists Guild of America and Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers (SDC). He has been designated as an Emerging Artist by the SDC. Delvyn is published by Drama Source.

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