Summary: An older woman living on her own has difficulty remembering things, which leads her to worrying. A friend who calls round has some suggestions to ease the worrying.
Style: Light drama. Actors: 2F
Duration: 5min Scripture: Matthew 6 v. 34
Props -2 chairs and a table, a tray with tea things and a plate of biscuits.
(Feel free to change date and those in the news as appropriate to current time)
Script
A: (Talking to herself ) Another New Year, Where does time go ? It only feels like last week since it was New Year 2025 – Well - maybe not last week, but al least only A: few months ago. It can’t be A: whole year since I was last looking for my new calendar!..(Looks round helplessly).... I know I bought one in October ……. or was that last year?...... ….. Maybe I didn’t buy one this year….. Oh well I can buy one when I go to the Market …(happily) they might even be half price!
(Knock on door) Who can that be.? … I wasn’t expecting anyone. Who could be knocking on my door? I am not expecting A: parcel – at least I don’t think I am?... am I? No I don’t think so.
(Loud knock on door) Oh well there is only one way to find out who it is! I had better go and open it,…… and really must stop talking to myself.
(Gets up, goes to the door, opens it a crack)
A: Who’s there? If you are selling something or wanting to repair my roof I am not interested- definitely not! (Aside) You can’t be too careful these days – there I go talking to myself again… Who’s there?
B: Its me!
A: who’s me?
B: It’s me (gives name) of course.
A: (surprised) Oh its you! (opens door a tiny bit more) I wasn’t expecting you.
B: I know,… but aren’t you going to let me in?
A: Oh Yes of course (opens door and B comes in), Yes do come in. What can I do for you?
B: Nothing. I just came to wish you a happy New Year 2026. I know we don’t see much of each other, but New Year is such an important time that I thought I would come round and wish you a really Happy New Year.
A: That’s nice … and happy New Year to you too of course. Would you like to sit down . I could put the kettle on. Would you like a cup of tea? I even have some really nice biscuits someone gave me for Christmas.
B: That would be nice.
(A: disappears – sound of rattling crockery … reappears with A: tray after A: few minutes., and then goes back for the teapot. Sits down and pours the tea) Do you take milk? (B: nods, takes tea,. and an offered biscuit. From now on both take a sip of tea when you can)
B: what are your plans for 2026?
A: Plans?… I haven’t really thought about it - I expect I shall go on doing what I did in 2025—that is If I can?
B: What do you mean “If I can” ?
A: Well it all depends doesn’t it?
B: Depends on what?
A: Well on how I am .. I’m not getting any younger , my arthritis isn’t very good – and who knows what I might get!! - and what is going on in the world – it seems to get worse and worse.
B: That’s sad. I hope you don’t get anything. Why not look on the bright side?. I find New Year quite exciting – 365 days when anything could happen!
A: It probably will…….. And it will probably be bad. Look at the world. I don’t know who to be most frightened of ….. Mr Trump – it worries me what he is going to say next -– or President Putin, the world getting hotter, or the electricity price going up… or of course all the things I don’t know anything about… they could be really frightening!
B: But you don’t know what they are! They may never happen …. whatever they are – so why worry?
A: But I do!
B: You need to make a New Year’s resolution.
A: You mean something like “not to eat too much”, or “be nice to animals or people” How would that help? I don’t eat too much, and I think I am nice to most people, and to animals – unless they are dogs that jump up and lick …Ugh I don’t like that, …..though I know some people do!
B: No I don’t mean resolutions like that – as you say, you already do those things more or less . I think a good resolution for you would be not to worry.
A: Not to worry, but I’ve always worried – you never know what is waiting round the corner!
B: Well the Bible says “don’t worry”.
A: Does it really?
- B: Yes, Jesus said: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own".
A: Well that is true Each day does have enough trouble of it’s own.
B: So concentrate on today and don’t worry what might (but probably won’t) happen tomorrow!
A: I wish I could,…… I suppose I could try not to worry so much.
B: That sounds A: good start. You could make your new year’s resolution for 2026 “not to worry…..or even “not to worry so much” .. (You could keep “not to worry “ for next year, or even the year after, when you have got better at not worrying so much).
A: ( Laughs)That sounds a good thing to do – I think I will give it a go – though I am not sure how long it will last –
B: Oh, I expect you will find yourself worrying sometimes , but if you make this your New Year’s resolution it will remind you not to do it – and when you find yourself worrying about something you can’t do anything about -like President Trump or President Putin, you can think about something else or do something else instead!
A: I don’t usually make a New Year’s resolution but I will this year. I think I would enjoy life more if I didn’t worry so much.
B: And if you find you need a bit of help, just remember that it is Jesus who says “Don’t worry”. And when he tells us to do something– or in this case not to do something, he is always willing to help us if we ask him. I find praying about it really helps.
A: Well that is my New Year’s resolution. Have you got a New Year’s resolution?
B: Yes I have, I have two!. One is a much more mundane one – Not to eat so much chocolate – I eat too much of it! . The other is to be more patient. I know which is going to be the easiest to keep….. ……Oh look at the time. I must be going. Thank you for the tea, and it has been so interesting to talk to you. You must come and see me before too long.
(B gets up and goes to the door followed by A)
………………………
© Copyright Jean Herrick, all rights reserved. The script may not be reproduced, translated or copied in any medium, including books, CDs and on the Internet, without written permission of the author.
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