|
|
The Original Cherry Lane Theater Godspell Script
Music and New Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
For "By My Side" the lyrics by Jay Hamburger, music by Peggy Gordon
Conceived and Directed by John-Michael Tebelak
Musical Arrangement and Direction by Stephen Schwartz
The setting consists of a cyclone fence enclosure, securely braced, nine feet high and open on the audience side. This enclosure sits on a bare stage. The band is visible on platforms upstage right (piano, organ) and upstage left (guitar, drums).
Over the acting area hang nine PAR bulbs in three symmetrical rows of three each. The PARs hang about ten feet off the stage and are turned on and off by the actors pulling a string.
(Enter SL: Jeffrey, Robin, Sonia, and Peggy
Enter SR: Herb, Lamar, Stephen, Gilmer, and Joanne
Stephen Xs USR sits cross-legged facing back wall.
All form tight circle USC, Gilmer in middle; humming begins and continues under
Stephen's speech.)
My name is known: God and King. I am most in majesty, In whom no beginning may be and no end. Highest in potency I am, And have been ever.
I have made stars and planets in their courses to go. I have made a moon for the night and a sun to light the day also. I have made earth where trees and grasses spring, Beasts and fowl, both great and small, all thrive and have my liking. I have made all of nothing for man's sustentation And of this pleasant garden that I have mostly goodly planted I will make him gardener for his own recreation.
I honor and love you; but I shall obey God rather than you, and while I have life I shall never cease from the practice and teaching of philosophy. For know that this is the command of God; and I believe that no greater good has ever happened in the state than my service to the God. For I do nothing but go about persuading you all, young and old alike, not to take thought for your persons or properties, but first and chiefly to take care about the greatest improvement of the soul. This is my teaching and if this is the doctrine, which corrupts the youth, then I am a mischievous person.
(As theme music is heard under the speech.)
But if anyone says that this is not my teaching, he is speaking an untruth. (Sings:)
Wherefore, O men of Athens,
I say to you
Therefore, acquit me or not
But whichever you do
I shall never alter my ways
Never adjust my approach to this maze
Never reform til the end of my days
Even if I have to die many times.
(The theme music is here again.)
God is apprehended by imagination, intuition,
reason, touch, opinion, sense, and name
(And so on)
While on quite the other hand, we find we can't begin to
Understand him, so to some it seems a shame
To go on
But he is all things in all
And he is nothing in any
He is often found in one thing small
Conversely, he is often missed in many.
God almighty has made our rulers mad
God almighty has turned our people bad
For the German nobility, with typical agility,
Have so applied their skill at egregious laws
That the people are lead astray; they feel beholden to obey
I may be just the German way, but God, it gives one pause.
(The theme music is heard again.)
|
Lamar-DaVinci |
Sonia-Gibbon |
|
The rise of man... |
|
What...
Is noble
Nowadays?
Atheistic existential-
Ism, which I represent, is
More coherent - I do believe it...
Man is a complex of patterns, of processes...
There is no such thing as human
Nature, not in all or few men,
Since there is no God to conceive it...
Man is a complex of patterns, of processes...
(Fuller continues speaking as the theme music is heard again, softly.)
I
live on Earth at present, and I don't know what I am.
I know that I am not a category
I am not a thing - a noun
I seem to be a verb, an evolutionary process-
An integral function of the universe.
So high
In my
Lovely Ivory Tower of Babel babble, babble, babble, Babble, babble, babble,
babble)
high above the
Rabble (Rabble, rabble, rabble, Babble, Rabble, babble, babble, rabble, babble)
Greatest mind of history
Solving life's sweet mystery
So listen to me (so listen to me)
Know how life should be (know how life should be)
Oh, what does it matter if they don't agree?
(All pick up garbage bags, empty the contents; Herb turns off all PARs, full stage fight, garbage thrown while TOWER OF BABEL is repeated as a fugue. Theme music is heard again, David appears at the back of the house, blows a note on a Shofar and sings, Xing down aisle to stage:)
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
Prepare ye the way of the Lord!
(General jubilant shouts, all pick up PREPARE YE forming line on-stage from UC to DC. David baptizes all individually, singing continues as all exit for quick change. Stephen and David left on stage.)
You vipers' brood! Who warned you to escape from the coming retribution? Then prove your repentance by the fruit it bears; and do not presume to say to yourselves, "We have Abraham for our father." I tell you that God can make children for Abraham out of these stones here. Already the ax is laid to the fruit of the trees; and any tree, which fails to produce good fruit, is cut down thrown on the fire. I baptize you with water, for repentance; but He who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not fit to take off his shoes. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
(He notices Stephen/Jesus is holding baptismal bucket out to him.) (To Stephen)
Do you come to me?
Yeah, I wanna get washed up.
(Kneeling)
I need rather to be baptized by you.
(brings David back to his feet)
No, no. Look, let it be so for the present; we do well now to conform with all that God requires.
(Music cue)
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
Flowers of thy heart, O God are they;
Let them not pass, like weeds, away,
Their heritage a sunless day:
God save the people!
Shall crime bring crime forever,
Strength aiding still the strong?
Is it thy will, O Father,
That men shall toil for wrong?
"No," say thy mountains; "No," say thy skies;
Man's clouded sun shall brightly rise,
And songs be heard instead of sighs:
God save the people!
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people; for thine they are,
Thy children as thy angels fair:
O save the people, from despair,
God save the people!
(Cast enters from audience, dressed in clown costumes)
When wilt thou save the people?
O God of mercy when?
The people, Lord, the people;
Not thrones and crowns, but men!
God save the people; for thine they are,
Thy children as thy angels fair:
O save the people, from despair,
God save the people!
(Cast finishes song CS, table grouping, gets make-up tubes from Peggy)
Now, do not suppose that I have come to abolish the Law and the Prophets:
(He makes up David's face; others watch)
I did not come to abolish, but to complete.
(He passes out tubes to the clowns. The clowns make each other up.)
I tell you this: so long as heaven and earth endure not a letter, not a stroke, will disappear from the Law until all that must happen has happened. If any man, therefore, sets aside even the least of the Law's demands he will have the lowest place in the kingdom of heaven.
(Jumps off the table, crosses DSR)
But he who keeps the law and teaches others so, he will have the highest place in the kingdom of Heaven. I tell you this, unless you show yourselves far better men than the Pharisees and the doctors of the Law...
Hubba, hubba, hubba.
(Imitating a bureaucrat.)
(admonishing her)
... you shall never enter the kingdom of Heaven. (Transition.)
Oompah-pah
Oompah-pah
Oompah-pah
Oompah-pah
Lalalalalalalalalalalala.
(The stage is transformed into a calliope; clowns join song with stylized marionette movement.)
There once was a judge. (He calls Joanne DSR)
Lalalalalalalalalalala
Who cared nothing for God nor man
Lala
And in the same town there was a widow
(He calls Sonia DSR to Joanne and crosses DSL)
Who constantly came before him demanding justice against her rival.
Lala
For a long time he refused. But in the end he said to himself
La (held)
True, I care nothing for God nor man, but this widow is so great a nuisance, that I will see her righted before she wears me out with her persistence.
Lalalalalalalalalalalala
(Joanne and Sonia return to group C., end of Calliope, beat, crosses to,)
(on table jumps)
You hear what the unjust judge says: and will not God vindicate his chosen who cry out to him day and night while he sits listening patiently to them?
(moving in)
Will he, Jesus? Will he, will he?
Well, I tell you, he will vindicate them, soon enough.
All
Yay! (etc.)
But, when the son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?
Oh, I'm glad you brought that up...
Shhh! (Climbing on table)
Gather round, brothers and sisters,
(All take a revivalist meeting attitude)
because two men, I said two, went off to the temple to pray. One, a Pharisee,
(Gilmer runs DSL, turns on PAR)
Boo! (General derision)
and the other a tax gatherer.
(Jeffrey somersaults off table to DSR, turns on PAR.)
Ahhh!
The Pharisee, why he just stood right on up, and praaaaayed thus:
I thank thee, O God, that I am not like other men, greedy, dishonest, adulterous, or, for that matter, like that tax gatherer. I pray twice a week - get that, twice a week - and pay taxes on all that I get."
(General derision directed at Gilmer)
But the other kept his distance and would not even raise his eyes to the good Lord in Heaven.
(to Peggy)
I said the good Lord in Heaven, child.
Amen, sister!
But beat upon his breast, saying,
Oh, God, have mercy on me, sinner that I am!
Hallelujah! Amen! (etc.)
And it was this man, I tell you...
Oh, you've got to be kidding!
... and not the other who went off and quitted of his sins for - Every man who exalts himself (Gilmer does a leap)
shall be humbled:
(He taps her on the shoulder and she collapses.)
but (Stephen Xs to Jeffrey)
Every man who humbles himself, shall be exalted.
(Stephen attempts to raise Jeffrey from his knees; fails.)
Shall be exalted. (All cheer Jeffrey)
(Stephen successfully lifts Jeffrey, then Xs USC, Jeffrey loses balance and falls, gets up.)
(Xs SL to USL corner of table)
You have learned that they were told, "Do not commit murder, anyone who commits murder must be brought to judgment." But what I tell you is this: "Anyone who nurses anger against his brother must be brought to judgment." So, anyone who abuses....
(All jump in terror.)
(cont.)
... his brother must answer for it in the court. But, he who sneers at his brother must answer for it in the fires of Hell.
(Demonic laughter from all.)
(Transition)
Now, what if you are bringing a gift to the altar, and... (Cast forms an altar SC on the table) (To Joanne)
... you suddenly remember your brother has a grievance against you.
(Joanne has picked up sneaker from USR, is Xing DSC.)
(giving a karate chop to sneaker)
Hai-yah!
(to Joanne)
No, leave your gift where it is, before the altar. Leave it!
(putting down the sneaker)
O.K.
First, go and make peace with your brother.
(Joanne Xs C to Lamar sitting under the table, pats his head; general disapproval. She pinches his nose and starts to leave. General disapproval again. Finally she bends down and gives him a kiss. General approval from everyone.)
Now go and offer your gift.
(Joanne takes sneaker to altar, gives it to Peggy, center. The altar accepts the gift, a vocal reaction cut off by Stephen's next line.)
But, what if your brother sues you...
(Still in place, altar does stylized boxing movements.)
You'd better settle with him quickly.
(Lamar grabs Joanne.)
(Cont.)
Otherwise, he'll hand you over to the judge and the judge to the constable...
(Lamar swings Joanne in a circle; she runs around to US side of table, crawls under.)
... and you'll land in jail.
(Peggy, Jeffrey, and Gilmer drop their legs off the table ; Joanne peers through.)
Unnh!
And I tell you, you'll not get out of there until you; you've paid the last penny.
(Transition)
(Stephen begins clapping in a rhythm which is picked up by all. Robin jumps on table center, Jeffrey Xs DL, All stand in places, clap hands to rhythm.)
(in rhythm)
There once was a king...
Yeah, yeah!
Who decided to settle accounts with the men who served him
Yea, yeah, yeah!
Well, at the outset there appeared, before the master a man whose debt ran into the millions.
(Joanne crawls out from under table to DSC, facing us on knees)
Whoa!
I said the millions.
Whoa!
Since the man had no means of paying the money, the master ordered him to be sold to meet the debt with his wife...
Whoa!
And his child...
Whoa!
And everything he had. Well, the threw himself down at the master's feet and went
Unh!
(clings to Robin's legs, on table)
Oh, be patient with me...
he said,
and I will pay you in full...
(breaking rhythm)
And so moved with pity was the master that he decided to free the man and remit the debt and let's hear it for the master!
(to each other and audience)
Yay! Huzzah (etc.) What a great master!! (etc.)
Wait a minute! But, no sooner had the man gone out than he met a fellow servant who owed him a few dollars. He gripped him by the throat and said:
(Joanne Xs right, encounters Herb and collars him)
Pay me what you owe me!
The man threw himself at his fellow servant's feet and begged him saying:
(falls to his knees)
B-b-b-b-b-b-be patient with me and I shall pay you.
But he refused and had him jailed until he should pay the debt.
(Joanne "kicks" Herb, he crawls under table and stands US of it)
The other servants were deeply distressed when they saw what had happened.
(All jump)
They ran and they told their master the whole story!
(jumps twice)
Accordingly he sent for... THE MAN!
(Beat on table crescendo, ending with "MAN")
(Joanne throws herself to the ground in front of Robin)
(Shirley Temple imitation)
You scoundrel!
He said to him.
I remitted the whole of your debt when you appealed to me. Were you not bound to show your fellow servant the same pity I showed you?
(Does a brief time step and salutes. Jeffrey jumps on table.)
And so fricken was the skrickpocket that he clickened the storz, and frockened the stickpocket!
WHAT????
(Bela Lugosi or Peter Lorre imitation)
And so angry was the master that he condemned the man to torture until he could pay the debt in full.
(all leaning threatening over table towards Joanne)
Unh-unh-unh.
(Sonia bangs the finger cymbals, Stephen stands up.)
And that is how my Heavenly Father will deal with you, unless you each forgive your brothers from your hearts.
(Music cue)
Day by day
Day by day
Oh, dear Lord three things I pray.
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day.
(Robin Xs DR to Stephen)
(during choreography, table and planks are moved to second position)
Day
by day
Day by day
Oh, dear Lord three things I pray.
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly
Follow thee more nearly
Day by day.
(Change to 4/4)
(Two verses unison, one verse harmony, plus extension.)
Day
by day
Day by day
Etc.
(After extension:)
day
by day by day by day by day.
End of Song
(Pantomime between Herb and Sonia begins DSR, moves DSL.)
Master, let me chastise the vixen.
Get back there.
(sliding down planks.)
Hello! Now, if your right eye offends you, tear it out and fling it away.
Oh, no!
It's better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be thrown into hell.
Yeah, but she's so.... Oh, all right.
(Xing to Sonia DSL)
Uh, if your right
(Jeffrey squeezes concertina)
hand offends you I want you to cut it off and fling it away.
Aw, c'mon!
Now look, it's better for you to lose one part of your body than for the whole of it to be thrown into hell.
(Sonia waves good-bye to Stephen, who Xs DR)
(Three Stooges bit)
Woo woo woo woo woo woo woo.
You've heard that they were told; An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But what I tell you is this: Never set yourself against a man who wrongs you.
(Stephen Xs DSL)
So if someone slaps you on the right cheek, turn and offer him your left.
Oh, Jeeesus Ch...
(Gilmer slaps her hand over David's mouth.)
Slowly I turn, step by step, inch by inch, (they do the old bit)
(Stephen slaps David across the face. David raises his hand to strike back, freezes, others freeze. David tries to get away. Finally hugs Stephen; cast follows suit.)
Aaaww.
Now, if a man sues you for your shirt
(Stephen claps twice, indicates "famous quotation".)
(gathering center around planks)
Charades! Famous Quotation! (General excitement.)
(Stephen acts out the following words: "Give", "him", "coat", last word Stephen indicates "little word", but cast can't get it.)
GIVE HIM YOUR COAT AS WELL!
Yay! (Handclapping, cheers, bravos, etc.)
Now, if a man in authority asks you to go one mile with him...
(Stephen indicates to the others to do the charades to the audience; they line up along the apron and begin acting out words.)
(Xing DC)
Wait a minute! Wait a minute! Let's hear it from the Eternal Savior of the Cosmic Consciousness!
(Stephen Xs DC with a ventriloquist's dummy.)
Now if a man in authority asks you to go one mile with him...
Go with him two!
(to audience)
GO WITH HIM TWO!
Give when you are asked to give
(they begin to X US)
And never turn your back
(All turn while Xing US)
on one who wants to borrow.
(Stephen Xs DSR, hands off the dummy, Gilmer follows him.)
Hey, you wanna see a show?
At these prices?
(He takes Gilmer by the hand SC, they lie down and watch the following scene: Sonia, SC on the table, one sawhorse, Lamar and David hold broom, others act out hand pantomime US of planks)
(Samaritan - Peggy
Man - Herb
Robber - Jeffrey
Priest - Joanne
Judge - Robin
All can be interchanged)
A man was on his way from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell in amongst robbers, who beat him, stripped him, and left, leaving him half dead. It so happened that a priest came upon the place and saw him and went past to the other side. So, too, a judge came to the place and saw him and went past to the other side.
(Jeffrey begins playing the concertina)
But, a Samaritan who was making the journey came upon him, and when he saw him, was moved to pity. He went up and bandaged his wounds, bathing them in oil and wine. Then he put him onto his own beast, brought him to an inn, and looked after him there. The next day he produced two pieces of silver and said, "Look after him and if you spend anymore, I will repay you on the way back."
(Sonia does finger cymbals.)
You have learned that you were told, "Love you neighbor, hate your enemy," but what I tell you is this,
(Lamar and David have begun fighting over the broom. They become violent.)
"Love, love, love, your enemies.
(Lamar and David put their heads together and kiss facing front.)
And pray for your persecutors.
You don't mean...?
(accompanied by a pantomime)
I do! Only so can you be called the Children of your Heavenly Father who makes the sun rise and set on good and bad alike, and sends the rain on the honest and the dishonest. Now if you greet only those who greet you, what reward can you expect? Surely the tax gatherers do as much as that and if you love only those who love you, what is there extraordinary in that? Even the heathen do as much. No, your goodness must know no bounds, just as your heavenly Father's goodness knows no limit.
(Pantomime becomes noisy; Stephen Xs USL, picks up sawhorse, slams it down for attention.)
But, be careful not to make a show of your religion before men.
(they hang their heads in shame)
Oh.
Because if you do, no reward awaits you in the kingdom of my Father.
(All gather around the table center, Stephen jumps on table; they turn the table with him on it.)
When you do some act of charity, don't announce it with a flourish of trumpets, as the heathen do in the synagogues and in the streets. I tell you they do it just to win admiration from men. No, when you do some act of charity
(Stephen takes out magic scarf.)
don't let your right hand know... what your left hand is doing.
(Stephen changes color of the scarf)
Ohhhhh. (General amazement)
Your good deed must be in secret.
(All put their heads down on table and whisper.)
(to audience)
It's a secret!
(David leaves table Xs DC.)
What the Good Master is telling us is that when God tells a little secret on us he knows that... (gets confused)
(Stephen Xs to David)
No, no, no. Your heavenly Father, who sees what is done in secret (turns to others) He will what?
REWARD YOU!
(Stephen pops a champagne popper behind David's back, Xs SL. David Xs DSL, turns on PAR)
(Lamar, Joanne, Gilmer, sit on floor above table. Jeffrey, Herb, Peggy, Sonia sit on floor below table. Robin standing C above table.)
There once was a rich man who dressed in purple and the finest linen,
That's me.
and every day feasted in the greatest magnificence. At his gate lay a poor man (uses aged voice) named Lazarus who would have been glad to have satisfied his hunger with the scraps from the rich man's table.
Oh, my God, it's good!
Even the doggy-doggies used to come and lick his open, running sores. (end of old voice) Well, one day, the poor man died
(David has heart failure, falls backwards, is caught by Stephen, who kicks him to heaven, and turns off PAR.)
and was carried away by the angels,
(Lamar and Joanne jump on table dressed as angels.)
to be with Abraham.
(David jumps onto table and kneels.)
The rich man also died
(Robin falls to floor, slides DS under the table.)
and was buried in Hades
(Jeffrey, Herb, Sonia, and Peggy become demons and begin lunching on Robin.)
where he was in torment. He looked up and there, far away, was Abraham
(Gilmer jumps on table.)
with Lazarus close beside him.
Oh, Father Abraham, have pity on me; send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water to cool my tongue for I am in agony in this fire.
(Angel noises and chimes every time Abraham speaks.)
(slightly Brooklyn accent)
Remember, my child, that all the good things fell to you while you were on earth and all the bad to Lazarus, and now it is he who has consolation here and it is you who are in agony. Nut that ain't all; there's a great chasm between us and nobody from your side who wants to cross it can, and no one from our side who wants to cross it can... either.
(Does a take to David.)
Then, Father, send Lazarus to my Father's house where I have five brothers to warn them that they too may not come to this place of torment.
They've got Moses and the prophets. Let 'em listen to them.
But if some one from the dead should rise, then they would listen.
(Gilmer gives a cut-off to the angel noises.)
Look, if they don't listen to Moses and the prophets, they ain't gonna listen to nobody, even if someone should rise from the dead.
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk, nyuk.
(Music cue.)
(Herb, Sonia, Peggy, Robin, Jeffrey pantomime various types of sinners during this verse - Gilmer refers to them during the song.)
I
can see a swath of sinners settin' yonder
And they're actin' like a pack of fools
Gazing into space they let their minds all wander
'Stead of studying the good Lord's rules
You better pay attention, build your comprehension
There's gonna be a quiz at your ascension
Not to mention any threat of hell
But if you're smart, you'll learn your lessons well.
(End of pantomime)
(leading all)
(All act as an echo for Stephen, movements are dreamlike and only involve arms and faces.)
The
lamp, lamp, lamp
Of the body, body, body
Is the eye, eye, eye
If your eye, eye, eye, eye
Is sound, sound, sound, sound
Your whole, whole, whole, whole
Body, body, body
Will be filled, filled, filled, filled, filled, filled, filled, filled
With light, light, light, light
(Gilmer closes her eyes and gropes)
But,
but, but
If your eye, eye, eye, eye
Is bad, bad, bad, bad
Your whole, whole, whole, whole
Body, body, body
Will be darkness.
If then, then, then, then
The only, only, only, only
Light, light, light, light
You have, have, have, have
Is darkness, -ness, -ness, -ness
The darkness will be doubly dark.
(he covers Gilmer's eyes with his hands)(suddenly uncovers them; her eyes are still shut)
I can't see!
What's the matter? (etc.)
(opening eyes)
Because I've got my eyes shut!
(Music cue.)
(2nd verse)
Every bright description of the promised land meant
You can reach it if you keep alert
Learning every line and every last commandment
May not help you, but it couldn't hurt
First you gotta read 'em, then you gotta heed 'em
You never know when you're gonna need 'em
Just as old Elijah said to Jezebel
You better start to learn your lessons well.
(Joanne and Lamar each grab one of Gilmer's arms, begin tug of war.)
Now, no servant shall be the slave of two masters. Either he will love the first and hate the second
(Gilmer kisses Joanne)
or be devoted to the second and think nothing of the first.
(Gilmer kisses Lamar, thumbs her nose at Joanne)
No man can serve God...
What!? (turning to Jesus)
and money!
(Transition)
Money, money,. money, guilders, rupees, (etc.)
(All go to positions for BLESS THE LORD, Joanne standing on table C.)
There once was a rich man, whose land yielded heavy crops. He debated with himself: "Oh what am I to do?" he said. "I have not the room to store my produce. Ahhh, this is what I will do," he said. "I will tear down my storehouses and make them bigger. I will collect in the all my corn and popcorn and tuna surprise, and M&Ms, and then I will say to myself, 'Man, you have a plenty of good things laid by you, enough to last you many years. Take life easy. Eat. Drink. Enjoy yourself.' But, then God said to the man, "You fool, this very night you must surrender your life. You have made your money. Who will get it now?"
(Music cue)
O Bless the Lord, my soul!
His grace to thee proclaim!
And all that is within me join
To bless his holy name!
O
Bless the Lord, my soul!
His mercies bear in mind!
Forget not all his benefits!
The Lord to thee is kind.
He will not always chide;
He will with patience wait;
His wrath is ever slow to rise,
And ready to abate.
He pardons all thy sins:
Prolongs thy feeble breath;
He healeth thine infirmities,
And ransoms thee from death.
He
clothes thee with his love;
Upholds thee with his truth;
And like the eagle he renews
The vigor of thy youth.
Then
bless his holy Name,
Whose grace hath made thee whole,
Whose loving kindness crowns thy days!
Oh bless the Lord my soul!
(End of song. Stephen crawls under table DSC, turns to others)
Therefore I bid you put away anxious thoughts about food and clothes to cover your body. Surely life is more than food...
(Sonia hops up, beckons sexily to Jesus.)
and the body more than clothes.
(indicating Sonia)
Her body is more than clothes. Look, I'll show ya!
(Herb lunges for Sonia, is pulled back to place by others.)
Consider the lilies of the field.
(makes pop up flowers appear. General reaction.)
They don't work, they don't spin, and yet I tell you, Solomon in all his splendor was not attired like one of these. Now, if that's how God clothes the grass which is here today
(tosses flowers to Peggy)
and tomorrow is thrown on the fire, will he not all the more clothe you?
(They all hang their heads, looking guilty)
How little faith you have! So don't go around anxiously saying, "What am I to eat, what am I to drink?"
What are we to eat?
(to Herb)
Don't ask that!
Set your mind where?
(pointing to heaven)
God.
God's kingdom and His justice and all the rest will come to you as well. So don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will take care of itself. Each day has problems of its own.
(Transition - all begin telling each other and audience their problems - Joanne interrupts)
Master, Master! Blessed are the poor in spirit...
(each begins getting the idea of the game, thinking of a beatitude, rhythm should build to David's line, which should top the others)
For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are they that mourn...
For they shall be comforted.
Blessed are the meek...
For they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice...
For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful...
For they shall have mercy.
Blessed are the poor in heart...
For they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers...
For they shall be called the children of God
Blessed are they who are persecuted for righteousness' sake...
For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
(pointing to Stephen with great intensity)
Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely.
(Full stage freeze. Stage goes to red. All are stunned and turn to Stephen for an explanation - he tries to change the subject)
Did I ever tell you that I used to read feet? No, it's true; some people read palms and tealeaves...