Author: Dale Boyer

Word on the Street
Written by Ingrid De Sanctis and Aaron Reynolds
SCENE ONE: OPENING- ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Emily: Her name was Mary.
Jonah: She was one of a kind.
Craig: His name was Joseph.
Stephanie: A quiet simple kind of guy.
Kat: Oh little did they know the plans God had for them! They were picked. For the job…to bring the hope into the world…the thing we were waiting for.
Christine: They had no idea what they were in for. If they did know, they’d be scared to death.
ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Jonah: Not many of us can say we have been married for fifteen years. Not many of us can say we have been married for twenty years.
Emily: But how many of us can say we’ve been married for 45 years???
(The CROWD cheers)
Rachael: We are here tonight to celebrate two people who can say they have been married for 45 years.
Emily: Known to all of us as Uncle Zach and Aunt Liz…Here they are: the couple of the evening!
Aunt Liz: Thank you. Thank you all for coming.
(UNCLE ZACH hands her a note.)
Aunt Liz: Uncle Zach thanks you. He has a bad case of laryngitis so I’ll just do all the talking. That is probably better anyway. Right, Honey?
(ZACH works feverishly on his note as AUNT LIZ keeps speaking)
Aunt Liz: Let me say a few things about marriage.
(ZACH hands his note to AUNT LIZ. She is reading the note as she talks)
Aunt Liz: Marriage is like a long boat ride, the longer you’re paddling…
(ZACH interrupts AUNT LIZ.)
Aunt Liz: No, no, dear. You don’t want to say that…Marriage is like an endless circus, one minute you feel like you’re flying on a trapeze…
(ZACH hands her another note. Interrupting her again.)
Aunt Liz: Yes. Yes. That is a good idea, dear. Tonight we also want to celebrate the marriage that is about to start its own 45 –year journey, our niece Mary and her Joseph.
(MARY and JOSEPH are standing together and AUNT LIZ and UNCLE ZACH signals to them.)
Aunt Liz: Come on up Sweetie pies!
(MARY and JOSEPH join ZACH and LIZ on the platform and help AUNT LIZ and UNCLE ZACH downstage)
Joseph: We have a toast for you.
Mary: To the sweetest aunt and uncle in the world. (Clapping/ Cheering) You know, Uncle Zach would always tell the story how when he was young he believed he would never find some one he could love.
Joseph: He thought that love was only true in fairy tales.
Mary: But all that changed. The afternoon he met dear Elizabeth.
(CROWD cheers and awes; EVRYONE mingles with each other creating activity. EVERYONE leaves stage left.)
SCENE TWO: THE CONVERSATION
Lindsey: Mary didn’t sleep too well. She had a visitor last night. She got some unexpected news. News that she didn’t know what to do with.
Joseph: (referencing his painting) You like it?
Mary: I like it.
Joseph: Purple seemed like your color.
Mary: I like it.
Joseph: Have you ever seen a purple rose? I wanted to find you a purple flower.
Mary: Violets are purple.
(MARY crosses up from left stairs to platform level.)
Joseph: And roses are red.
Mary: I like violets and roses.
Joseph: (singing) And I can’t get you out of my head.
Mary: I like it.
Joseph: My poem or your house?
(MARY laughs.)
Mary: Both.
Joseph: Your purple house?
Mary: Both.
Joseph: The right purple is a perfect mix of red and blue. Too much blue and it loses its purity. Too much red and it loses its nobility. (Testing to see if she is listening) Too much green and it loses everything. Mary.
Mary: Mmm?
Joseph: Where are you?
(JOSEPH really looks at her for the first time)
Mary: Here. I’m here.
Joseph: (Rambling as he works on mixing his paint) Not here. You’re somewhere else. But if it’s the color, I can change the color. I can give you any color you want. What about fuchsia? It needs to be full of life, like you. Fuchsia may be perfect.
(JOSEPH keeps working on the house as he talks)
Mary: How many rooms in the house?
Joseph: One for now.
Mary: Two rooms may be better.
Joseph: Whatever you want, Mary. Ten rooms is you want.
Mary: Joe?
(JOSEPH keeps working.)
Joseph: Yeah?
Mary: I need to tell…to tell you something. Can you look at me for a second?
(JOSEPH crouches down next to her.)
Joseph: Yeah.
(JOSEPH looks at MARY.)
Mary: I’m pregnant.
Joseph: You’re what?
Mary: I know it sounds funny. Well, not “Ha Ha” funny. Strange funny. (she tries again) I know it sounds strange. But it’s not like that.
Joseph: It’s not like that…
(JOSEPH leans away from her)
Mary: No, Joe. I saw…You’re not going to believe this. I saw an angel last night. He was in my room.
Joseph: He? There was a ‘he’ in your room?
(JOE stands up on his platform and then Mary stands trying to convince him)
Mary: It was an angel. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t know what to do. Or say.
Joseph: I’m feeling pretty speechless myself.
Mary: I finally just told myself…this is an angel. I need to listen to what he is saying. And he spoke.
Joseph: The angel? The angel spoke?
Mary: He said I had been chosen.
Joseph: You’ve been chosen…?
Mary: We. We’ve been chosen. To carry his son. God’s son.
(JOSEPH stands just looking at her. Trying to figure things out)
Joseph: You’re serious?
Mary: I am.
Joseph: Pregnant!?!
(Pause. MARY tries to explain and stands up)
Mary: I’m not totally sure why us or even how it’s happening, but God is sending his son down here and he’s sending it to you, to me. To us.
Joseph: I don’t understand, Mary.
Mary: This baby, this is what we have been waiting for, this is the promise.
Joseph: The promise?
Mary: God’s promise of a savior.
(JOSEPH is starting to put the pieces together)
Joseph: What about our promise?
Mary: Joseph…
(JOSEPH is putting away his paint and brushes as he speaks and MARY kneels down next to him as he does that)
Joseph: I know you, Mary. I’ve known you for years and never have you…….But this, this, is impossible. You’re asking me to believe something absolutely impossible.
Mary: But it’s true. The Angel told me God is giving us his son because He loves us, Joseph and is trusting us with His only son.
(JOSEPH standing up and getting his paints)
Joseph: I’m sorry, Mary. I can’t believe you.
Mary: This is what the angel said. I know this is a lot. But…try, Joseph, please try to believe.
(JOSEPH steps right toward the steps)
Joseph: No.
Mary: Joseph. Please believe me.
Joseph: I’m sorry. I can’t.
(JOSEPH is walking away from her. And stops and turns to her.)
Joseph: I’ll keep this quiet, for your sake.
(JOSEPH exits stage right and Mary sits on platform until lights go off; then she exits off to stage left.)
SCENCE THREE: THE DOOR
(Knocking starts immediately. CHRISTINE and JESSICA enter onto the upper platform. MARY is outside AUNT LIZ’s house. She now bangs on the door. AUNT LIZ comes to the door.)
Mary: Aunt Liz.
Aunt Liz: Mary.
(MARY and AUNT LIZ cross to steps stage left.)
Aunt Liz: Well, who broke your sweet little heart?
Mary: I don’t understand what’s happening to me.
Aunt Liz: Settle yourself girl. Let me get you a cup of tea.
(MARY stops her with her voice)
Mary: No. No thank you, Aunt Liz.
Aunt Liz: Well, at least look me in the eys. I can’t see your face.
Mary: I can’t.
(AUNT LIZ puts the hair out of her nieces’ face.)
Aunt Liz: Well, Well. You’ve been crying. Your eyes are nearly swollen hut.
Mary: I’m fine. (She is nearly not.)
(AUNT LIZ sits down and signals MARY to sit with her.)
Aunt Liz: Sit yourself down now. Let me go and get your Uncle Zach.
Mary: (Stopping her) No. No, Please, Aunt Liz. I don’t want Uncle Zach to know.
Aunt Liz: Know what?
(MARY just breaks down and sits down with AUNT LIZ)
Aunt Liz: Come on, love, you can tell.
Mary: I can’t.
Aunt Liz: Sure you can.
Mary: Something crazy has happened Aunt Liz.
Aunt Liz: I like crazy. I understand crazy. In fact I have a strange feeling I may understand what you are about to say.
Mary: A baby.
(AUNT LIZ understands all of it and just wants to hear MARY explain the miracle to her.)
Mary: (Rambling, talking quickly) an angel. It came to me. I was home. By myself. I thought, I thought I was dreaming. It, this angel told me, it told me that I was going to have a baby. A baby.
Aunt Liz: A Savior.
Mary: Yes. His name would be…
Mary/ Aunt Liz: Jesus.
Mary: I am so (looking for the word) I am so not the right person for this kind of thing.
(MARY jumps up and is pacing back and forth)
Mary: But I didn’t dare fight with the angel.
Aunt Liz: Good idea.
Mary: But I was thinking it was a dream. I was thinking it couldn’t be true. I was thinking when I woke up this morning it just couldn’t be true. But it is true. I’m pregnant. And then the angel told me that you were going to have a baby. (MARY is smiling, then she looks at her AUNT LIZ) But that just couldn’t be true.
(AUNT LIZ smiles so big her face seems to almost break)
Mary: Could it? Could it?
(AUNT LIZ laughs from sheer joy. MARY crosses back to her and sits down next to her)
Mary: This isn’t funny.
Aunt Liz: You’re Aunt Liz isn’t just getting fat in her old age. Your Aunt Liz is six months pregnant!
Mary: But you’re 63 years old.
Aunt Liz: Almost 64.
Mary: How is it?
Aunt Liz: God gave me this baby. Like He gave you your baby.
Mary: I don’t understand.
Aunt Liz: Let me tell you something, Mary girl.
(AUNT LIZ stands up and crosses down right taking MARY with her as CHRISTINE speaks from another part of the stage where she has been watching the whole time)
Christine: Have you ever believe when nothing made sense?
(AUNT LIZ really tries to get through to her niece)
Aunt Liz: God chose you, girl. Not cause of anything you can understand. But of your faithful heart. He knows your heart. You must believe me when I tell you this: Your baby- God’s precious baby- This is the savior.
(JESSISCA speaks from another part of the stage where she has been watching the whole time)
Jessica: Have you ever trusted when trust seemed so crazy?
Mary: How can I raise this baby? Joseph may not marry me now.
(AUNT LIZ crosses left and MARY follows her.)
Aunt Liz: Yes he will. Don’t worry about Joseph.
Mary: No. He said he wouldn’t.
Aunt Liz: Men don’t grasp these things. Look at your Uncle Zach. He can’t say a word and it’s not because of a bad case of laryngitis. He didn’t believe that angel would give this old woman a child. But God had a plan. So that angel got mad and took your Uncle Zach’s voice.
Mary: Really?
(AUNT LIZ nods and takes MARY down center)
Aunt Liz: What is inside your belly now is the miracle and you must dance. The moment I heard the sound of your voice, the moment, we (referring to her belly) we knew. And the babe in my belly danced for sheer joy.
Mary: Aunt Elizabeth.
Aunt Liz: You need to dance now too.
(AUNT LIZ puts MARY’s hand on her bell.)
Aunt Liz: Feel this. My baby is dancing. The world depends on you. Don’t lose faith now, Mary. Not now. You need to dance.
(AUNT LIZ and MARY leave the scene on stage left)
SCENE FOUR: THE VISIT
Alex: Congratulations, Joseph!
Craig: Heard there is a baby on the way!
Joseph: It’s not true!
Craig: Okay. Sorry.
Joseph: Look, whatever you’ve heard, it’s not true!
(The ANGEL enters)
Angel: Yes, it is.
Joseph: No, it’s not…hey!
(JOSEPH jumps up.)
Angel: Relax Joe.
Joseph: Relax? You don’t have any idea the day I’ve had, so unless you’ve got a really good reason for being in my apartment….
Angel: I do.
Joseph: And what’s that?
Angel: I’m making a delivery.
Joseph: I didn’t order a pizza.
Angel: I’m not delivering a pizza. I’m delivering a message. But it’s a spicy meatball.
(JOSEPH crosses back to his bed area.)
Joseph: (interrupting) So, what’s the message?
Angel: Temper, temper. Okay, here it is. Mary’s for real.
Joseph: What?
Angel: She’s telling the truth.
Joseph: Are you kidding?
Angel: No. I’m not.
Joseph: Who put you up to this? Mary?
Angel: Mary doesn’t even know I’m here.
Joseph: I don’t believe you.
(JOSEPH lies back down. CROWD begins to get ready and stands of a platform to become SINGERS.)
Angel: It’s always the same with you people. No one ever believes me the first time. I’ve always got to prove it to you. It should be enough that I say ‘I’m and Angel. And I bring you a message from God.’
Joseph: Okay, Angel-boy.
Angel: The name is Gabriel.
Joseph: Thanks for the message. You can lock the door on your way out.
(LIGHTS change and come up on the SINGERS platform where they are standing.)
Singers: Hallelujah!
(LIGHTS on Angel, now glowing filled with awe and splendor)
Angel: (Voice reverberates) I am an ANGEL, and I bring you a message from God.
(JOSEPH is dumbstruck and sits up)
Angel: Mary is telling you the truth!
(LIGHTS go back to singers.)
Singers: Hallelujah!
(CLAP of thunder and then CROWD exits stage left)
Joseph: You’re really an angel!?
Angel: Picking up on that now, are ya?
Joseph: Are you the same Angel that came to Mary?
Angel: That’s me. I haven’t delivered a message in 500 years and then boom, boom, boom! What are the chances? But big things are brewing.
(ANGEL leans down to talk to JOSEPH)
Joseph: Big things?
Angel: You have no idea.
Joseph: What big things?
Angel: Not too bright, though, are you? Do you remember anything Mary told you?
Joseph: The baby!
Angel: You got it.
Joseph: Wait a minute. This has got to be a dream. Is this a dream?
(JOSEPH is standing up)
Angel: Okay, technically, yes. But that’s not the point. Don’t change the subject. Don’t be afraid to take her as your wife, Joseph. Everything she said is true.
Joseph: Mary?
(JOSEPH sits on the edge of the elevated platform)
Angel: Who are we talking about here? Yes, Mary.
Joseph: Sorry, I’m just…
Angel: I know. I have that effect on people.
(Pause. JOSEPH is still sitting and trying to get his arms around this. ANGEL sits down next to JOSEPH.)
Angel: Do you love her?
Joseph: Mary?
Angel: Again…who are we talking about here?
Joseph: Of course I love her. I wanted to marry her…I can’t think of anything bigger than my love for her.
Angel: I can.
Joseph: What?
Angel: You think you’ve got goo-goo eyes for ea other. You have no idea, no idea about love until you’ve looked into the face of God. His love knows no bounds. And no matter what’s ahead for the two of you, God’s crazy in love with you both.
Joseph: Yeah.
Angel: He’s trusting you two lovebirds with his only SON. Believe me. He’s got your back. Go to her.
Joseph: But everyone will think it’s mine.
Angel: Let them think what they want.
Joseph: Or they’ll think it’s someone else’s.
Angel: It is. It’s God’s. And you can tell them I said so.
Joseph: People are gonna think we’re nuts.
Angel: Let them think you’re nuts. You think God hasn’t thought this through?
Do not be afraid to take her as your wife.
Joseph: But I am afraid. There’s a lot to be afraid of here.
Angel: Like what?
Joseph: Like what>
(JOSEPH jumps up and moves about on the platform)
Joseph: You. All that (Referencing all of his angel glow and explosion) I got nothing. I’m afraid of being a parent. I’m not even a husband yet. I don’t know how to be a father. I’m afraid of what people will think. I’m afraid of the future. Of the bills that are ahead. I’m afraid… (He can’t say it)
Angel: what?
Joseph: I’m afraid.
Angel: (pressing him) What?
Joseph: I’m afraid you’ve got the wrong guy…
(ANGEL gets serious and stands up and crosses to JOSEPH.)
Angel: God is trusting you with his son. He is giving you the honor of being a parent to his son Jesus. Can you trust? Joseph, can you trust him?
(JOSEPH doesn’t say anything)
Angel: Well, I don’t have time to wait for your answer. But think about it. Gotta go.
Angel: Gotta go.
Joseph: Where are you going?
Angel: Rehearsal. We’ve got a gig with some shepherds in about nine months.
Gotta get ready.
(JOSEPH confesses to the ANGEL.)
Joseph: You know… (Gets the ANGEL’s attention) You have the wrong guy.
(ANGEL really looks at JOSEPH and steps toward him.)
Angel: You have no idea, no idea until you have looked into the face of God.
(ANGEL exits off of elevated platform and JOSEPH sits back down on bed area. After lights go off JOSEPH exits.)
SCENE FIVE: ENDING- MARY AND JOSEPH
Mary: (humming) Silent Night. Holy Night. All is calm. All is bright.
(JOSEPH enters from up center and sings the next line of the song. When he does start to sing with her, she doesn’t turn around, thought we see what it means to her in her eyes.)
Joseph: (signing) Round yon virgin.
Mary: (singing) Mother and child.
Joseph: (singing) Holy infant so tender…
(JOSEPH stops singing. They both are looking at the same sky. Nice, full pause. Then JOSEPH speaks.)
Joseph: Such a beautiful night.
Mary: I was thinking the same thing.
(They both keep looking up. The silence is full of tension.)
Joseph: A falling star.
Mary: I saw that.
Joseph: I’ve never seen one before.
(There is silence between them. JOSEPH is looking into the sky.)
Joseph: (Talking to himself and remembering the words of the Angel) You have no idea, no idea…until you’ve looked in the face of God.
Mary: What?
Joseph: I was just thinking.
(MARY can’t take it anymore and talks about the letter)
Mary: I got your letter.
Joseph: Yeah.
Mary: I understand.
Joseph: I don’t.
(Silence)
Joseph: I’m not leaving, Mary.
(MARY really looks at him for the first time)
Mary: (relieved) Good. We’ll need you, Joseph.
Joseph: I’m staying. For good.
(There is a relief for MARY and they really look at each other.)
Joseph: I forgot how green your eyes were.
(Smiling face. JOSEPH down with MARY)
Joseph: I like his name.
Mary/Joseph: Jesus.
Mary: Me too.
Joseph: I can’t wait to meet him.
Mary: It’ll be a miracle.
Joseph: For him to meet us.
Mary: Us.
Joseph: Yeah.
(JOSEPH and MARY continue to look at each other until lights go down and then they exit stage right.)

3 Lapel Mics:
Mary, Joseph, Liz
Cast enters singing
“Deck the Halls”
ANNIVERSARY PARTY
Zach & Elizabeth Introduced

Mary & Joseph Introduced
ALL EXIT
2 Lapel Mics:
Mary & Joseph

Pastor Corey:
“Unexpected News”

2 Lapel Mics:
Mary & Aunt Liz

Carrie Flo sings
“O Come,
O Come Emmanuel”

2 Lapel Mics:
Gabriel & Joseph

Pastor Corey:
“God’s Little Surprises”

SOUND EFFECTS
Reverb
Echo
Thunder

Jenee Bigelow sings
“Breath of Heaven”

2 Lapel Mics:
Mary & Joseph

Pastor Corey:
“Conclusion”

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