By Alden Frye
A short vignette, of the time Mary tells Joseph the child she is carrying is not his.
Mary
Joseph
(Mary and Joseph enter and sit down together)
JOSEPH -- My love, you seem so quiet today. Are you ok?
MARY -- No... I'm afraid.
JOSEPH -- Afraid of what? We have a wonderful life ahead of us--together. (pause, Mary starts to cry, he puts his arm around her) What is it Mary? Please tell me so I can bring back your smile.
MARY -- (sobbing) Joseph... (collects her thoughts) Joseph, we're going to have a a child.
JOSEPH -- Yes, we will have many children! We will have a great big loving family, and your smile will light up every room--
MARY -- (interrupts him) Joseph... I am with child... now!
JOSEPH -- (stands) Mary? How? How can that be? (she reaches for his hand, but he draws away from her)
MARY -- Joseph, I've done nothing wrong! It's not what you think! Please trust me! I would do nothing to betray you.
JOSEPH -- (deeply hurt) Trust you? How? How can this be? As the LORD is my witness, I have never--
MARY -- No, Joseph, no man has ever touched me. I promise you this with all my heart. This child is from the LORD. (he starts to walk away, but she grabs his hand) Joseph, my beloved, my betrothed, please listen to me! I'm begging you, please listen to me. Please hear me. (a calm settles over them) This child is from the LORD. An angel of the LORD appeared to me, Joseph! An angel! He told me that I have found favor with the LORD, and that I will bear a son, that we will name him Jesus! Joseph... he said our son will be a King and will reign forever! He said that, since I have known no man, the Spirit of the LORD will accomplish this in me! It's true! I know it in my heart that it's all true--! (long pause) Joseph... please speak to me. Don't walk away. Don't leave me!
JOSEPH -- I have to have time, Mary! Time to think, time to try to understand this thing... this thing that can't really be happening. (walks to end of stage and sits, head in hands)
MARY -- Joseph, please don't leave me. I am faithful to you... and to the LORD. (kneeling, she cries out to God in anguish) LORD, you are my God! Please don't desert your faithful servants now! (as Joseph sobs, she stands, walks behind him, touches his shoulder, then leaves; he watches her go, then returns to his grief)
NARR (1) -- "Because Joseph... was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.'" (Matthew 1:19-21 NIV) (Joseph stands, looks in the direction of Mary's departure, pauses for a long moment, and exits in that direction)
NARR (2) -- "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son..." (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
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Copyright Alden Frye, all rights reserved.
This script may be used free, provided no charge is made for entrance to the
performance. In return the author would like to be told of any performance.
He may be contacted at pandafrye@yahoo.com