Too Late: A Dramatic Play Read online



  Too Late

  A Dramatic Play

  Laura Shinn

  Too Late

  Copyright © 2012 by: Laura Shinn

  Cover Design Copyright © by: Laura Shinn

  Too Late is a work of non-fiction. All rights are reserved under copyright law. This book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without express written permission of the author.

  Any names or characteristics similar to any person past, present or future are coincidental. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Dedication:

  To the loving heart of our heavenly Father,

  this play is respectively dedicated.

  List of Characters:

  Jim: ___________________________________

  Patti: __________________________________

  Rick: ___________________________________

  Karen: __________________________________

  Billy: ___________________________________

  Jesus: __________________________________

  Two male angels:

  Angel #1: ________________________________

  Angel #2: ________________________________

  Character Descriptions:

  Jim, Rick, Patti, Karen

  {High School teens: 2 boys, 2 girls, graduation night}

  Billy

  {Christian teen: graduation night}

  Jesus

  {Traditional appearance: white robe, sandals, semi-long hair, beard, mid-30‘s}

  Two male angels

  {Tall, powerful in appearance, semi-long hair, white robe with gold belt, barefoot}

  FADE IN

  INT: 5 chairs on stage, 2 in front (Jim-driving; Karen-passenger seat), 3 in back(Rick, Patti, Billy); front left character imitates driving, recklessly, all have a beer and are drinking, except Patti and Billy in the back.

  JIM

  Whooo! That was some party, man. School is

  finally out!

  KAREN

  I thought my Senior graduation day would never

  come, Jim. No more school—at least for a while!

  Everyone cheers. Billy leans forward from the back seat.

  BILLY

  What college you going to, Karen? You’re still looking

  at four more years—

  Rick reaches around the back of Patti to thump Billy on the back of the head.

  RICK

  Yo, Billy—don’t remind us. This is party time,

  man. Jim and me…we got football and baseball

  scholarships, so we already got the ticket for the

  ride. We just gotta wait for the train to arrive!

  Jim and Rick crow and slap hands between the front and back seats. Jim swerves and tries to right the car with one hand, the other still holding his beer. Everyone leans in the same direction as Jim swerves.

  Patti glances at Billy before looking forward again.

  PATTI

  {To Jim}

  Jim, watch it! At least use one hand to drive.

  PATTI (CONT.)

  {To Billy}

  Maybe I should drive.

  JIM

  Chill out, Patti. We’re almost home.

  JIM (CONT.)

  {To Karen}

  My sister worries too much. Patti reminds me of

  Mom, always cranked about every little thing I

  do. Worrying’ll give you a heart attack, ya know?

  Karen looks at Jim with a blank face.

  KAREN

  I know.

  Billy leans forward again in his seat.

  BILLY

  Listen, Jim…I didn’t drink tonight, so maybe I should—

  Jim blows out a hard breath then glares at Billy quickly over his shoulder.

  JIM

  Man, not you, too. Patti, he’s perfect for you.

  You’re both a couple of goodies, better

  than us sinners. Right, Billy?

  BILLY

  I’m just your friend, Jim. It wouldn’t hurt to pull

  over and let one of us drive. You could just sit

  back and relax, enjoy your beer and enjoy the ride.

  Patti speaks softly to Jim.

  PATTI

  Please, Jim.

  Jim makes a growling face.

  JIM

  Shut up, Patti. You ain’t God and you ain’t Mom.

  This is my car and I’ll drive it!

  Everyone exchanges worried looks. Jim puts in a CD and loud music starts to play. Patti covers her ears and Billy puts a comforting arm around her. No one speaks. About a minute goes by. Karen leans forward and squints, looking past the windshield.

  Jim turns down the music to talk.

  JIM

  What? You got a problem now?

  KAREN

  {To Jim}

  No, I just thought I saw something in the middle…

  Karen squints again then her eyes pop open wide.

  KAREN (CONT.)

  Jim, look out!

  Karen and Patti scream. Billy tucks Patti into his arms. Rick throws out his hands in front of him. Karen covers her face with her arms. Jim drops his beer and grabs the wheel with both hands, yanking it hard left, then right.

  House lights go to black. Tires screech before we hear a loud crash. The car’s music stops as everyone screams.

  FADE OUT

  {Props are removed, new ones put in. Heavenly gate on right side, still in darkness.}

  FADE IN

  The five teens are standing on the left side of stage in a bright light, disoriented. A cloud-like fog surrounds their feet.

  RICK

  Man, what just happened?

  KAREN

  And where on earth are we?

  PATTI

  I don’t think we’re on Earth, Karen. I think…

  Patti turns to Billy.

  BILLY

  We’re dead. We all died in that car crash.

  JIM

  So…what gives now? Do we, like, go back as

  other people, or go back and be somebody’s

  inspiration, like in that movie?

  Karen smiles, liking the idea.

  KAREN

  Yeah…we can like go back and see inside people’s

  heads and influence them to do good stuff.

  Karen turns to Billy.

  KAREN (CONT.)

  Billy, you’re the Christian. Is that how it works?

  Billy looks around, as if searching for something.

  BILLY

  Ugh, no, not exactly. In fact, not at all. Once

  you die, it’s ov—

  FADE IN

  A large golden arched gate is on the right side of the stage. Jesus stands in front, offside of the golden gate. Two large angels slowly appear from the blackness to stand behind the teenagers.

  Jesus raises one hand toward Billy.

  JESUS

  Billy, come before me.

  Billy approaches, recognition on his face, falls to his knees, head bowed.

  Jesus smiles warmly.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Arise.

  Billie stands.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  My blood has purchased you and made you

  clean. You are mine. Enter into Paradise, my

  good and faithful servant.

  Billy hesitates only a moment then hugs Jesus. Both smile. Billy approaches the gate, then remembers his friends and turns his head, waiting in front of the gate. He slowly loses his smile.

  Jesus is no longer smiling. He raises one hand toward Jim.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Jim, come before me.

  Jim looks unce
rtain, but comes forward and kneels on one knee, his eyes raised.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Arise.

  Jim stands. His expression shows suspicion.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  My blood has not touched your soul. You are

  unclean and unknown to me. Depart from me;

  I never knew you.

  JIM

  What, you kiddin’ me? There ain’t no Hell!

  The two large angels firmly take Jim under his arms, kicking and fighting. Offstage, in darkness, he screams then silence.

  Jesus raises one hand toward Rick.

  JESUS

  Rick, come before me.

  Rick runs forward, falls to his knees, hands clasped and begins to openly weep. There is pity on Jesus’ face.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Arise.

  RICK

  No, please. I can make it right, I can! I’m sorry,

  okay, I really am. I wanna go to Heaven. Please…

  The angels come forward and take Rick under the arms, lifting him to stand. Karen goes down to her knees, overcome with grief. Jesus shakes his head sadly.

  JESUS

  Naught can you do, Rick. My blood was shed for

  you in vain, for unclean and unknown are you to

  me. Depart from me; I never knew you.

  RICK

  No!

  Rick’s crying becomes hysterical. He sees Billy at the gate, also crying and points an accusing finger in his direction, clearly angry.

  RICK (CONT.)

  This is all your fault, man! You said nothing to me, nothing!

  Angels begin to forcefully drag him away.

  RICK (CONT.)

  {To Billy}

  You’re supposed to be my friend! See what

  you’ve done…

  RICK (CONT.)

  {OS – in the darkness}

  See what you’ve—

  Rick screams then silence.

  Karen is on her knees with head bowed, crying softly. Gently, the angels lift her and walk her over to Jesus. Jesus has tears in his eyes.

  JESUS

  Karen, have you no words for me?

  Karen is struggling to speak around her crying. She can’t look Jesus in the eye.

  KAREN

  I know I wasn’t the best person. I didn’t go to

  church, except during Christmas and Easter. But

  I was never mean to anyone and I always tried

  to be honest and fair. I’m not perfect, just human.

  I don’t want to go to Hell just because I couldn’t

  be more than I am.

  Jesus lovingly touches the side of her face, shaking his head in sorrow.

  JESUS

  All have sinned, Karen, and all are human. My

  gift of eternal life was given freely to all mankind.

  You chose not to seek it, or me. Though my blood

  was shed to purchase you, you have refused me

  and are not mine. You are unclean and unknown

  to me. Depart from me; I never knew you.

  KAREN

  {To Billy}

  You never told me about Jesus or eternal life. I

  could’ve had this all along, but you didn’t say

  anything! Why? Why, Billy? It was free; all you

  had to do was tell me!

  The angels begin to drag her away toward the darkness.

  KAREN (CONT.)

  I don’t want to burn… Oh, no, please…

  The angels enter the darkness with Karen.

  KAREN (CONT.)

  I wanna li—

  Karen screams then silence.

  Patti walks toward Jesus and kneels with head bowed and hands clasped.

  JESUS

  Arise, my beloved creation.

  Patti stands, her head still lowered.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Look upon me.

  Patti looks up.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Have you anything to say?

  Patti smiles with tears in her eyes.

  PATTI

  Yes, Lord. I’m so happy to be here, and to see

  You. I’ve been faithful and giving, doing my best

  to serve you. I prayed almost every day and

  served in my church…with Billy.

  Patti and Billy exchange a smile.

  PATTI (CONT.)

  Billy and I were in the youth group together. He

  encouraged me to start going to church several

  years ago and I’m so happy he did. I loved

  singing about You and I loved helping out where

  I could. This is so wonderful, Jesus, and I’m so

  glad to be here with both of you.

  Jesus takes her face into both of his hands and openly weeps. Patti loses her smile, her face and Billy’s reflecting confusion.

  JESUS

  How quickly they cry unto me, yet do not know

  me! For by grace alone are you saved, and not by

  works. Your prayers fell short because you never

  invited me into your heart, to be your Savior and

  friend. How long I waited for your call, beckoning

  to you over and over, desperate for a relationship

  with you. Oh, Patti, how many believe they have a

  place in Heaven, yet they have not believed on me?

  My blood would have cleansed you as white as

  snow, but you remain unclean and unknown to me.

  Jesus opens his mouth, but has difficulty speaking. He tries again, forcing himself to release her face and take a step back.

  JESUS (CONT.)

  Depart from me; I never knew you.

  Billy cries out a denial, rushing forward, but is unable to move after two steps. He jerks forward, desperate to reach Patti. The two angels grasp Patti under her arms, pulling her toward the darkness. Patti’s arms stretch out toward Billy.

  PATTI

  Please, Billy. Save me! I didn’t know…I promise!

  I’ll start again, do it right this time. Please, save

  me, Jesus!

  Jesus’ head is lowered, unable to help her. Billy is stretching out his arms as far as they’ll go toward Patti.

  PATTI (CONT.)

  {OS – in the darkness}

  Oh, no, please, it’s so hot!

  Patti screams then silence. The two angels disappear back into the darkness.

  Free to move, Billy jerks forward and falls to his hands and knees. He weeps openly, shaking his head. Jesus walks over to him, helps him to stand, keeping his arm around Billy’s shoulder for support. They stand stationary, facing the darkness.

  Billy is gasping for breath, struggling to speak.

  BILLY

  It’s all my fault, all of it. I should’ve said more.

  I should’ve told them. It was so easy; all they

  had to do was believe in You. Now…it’s too late.

  Jesus embraces Billy. They turn and slowly walk through the golden gate.

  FADE OUT

  House lights remain down for CD or DVD presentation of salvation (optional).

  House lights come up.