A Play with Traditional Christmas Music

By Faye Couch Reeves

© Copyright 2009, by Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.

Professionals and amateurs are hereby warned that a royalty must be paid for every

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Pioneer Drama Service, Inc., Englewood, Colorado”

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DedicationFor my big brother, Jay, with love.

FCR

ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING

A play with traditional Christmas music

By FAYE COUCH REEVES

CAST OF CHARACTERS# of lines

RADIO ANNOUNCER...................pre-recorded voice-over n/aLITTLE ANGELS STAFFMRS. IRENE ..............................director of Little Angels 48MISS LOU ANN..........................her other assistant 37MISS MAY .................................housekeeper 4MISS TINY ................................her fi rst assistant 44BILLY JONES .............................handyman at Little Angels 15THE TOWNSPEOPLEEDITH HANCOCK .......................member of the board at Little 26

AngelsMR. ADAMS ..............................a perfect dad 2MRS. ADAMS ............................a perfect mom 2EXTRAS ....................................for fi nal scene n/aTHE BUS PEOPLEJANICE .....................................bus driver 11EVA MARIA ALBERGOTTI .............evangelist 21AMEN SISTER CHARITY ..............an adopted child (any age) of 9

Eva Maria; also sings backupAMEN SISTER FAITH ..................another 9AMEN SISTER JOY .....................another 9BETTY ANN ...............................Eva Maria’s song leader 3ALBERT WINSHIP

MONTAGUE III .....................actor 34

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ORPHANSBOBBY .....................................one smart orphan 21LITTLE BIT.................................one little orphan 9SWEETNESS .............................one even smaller orphan 8CAROL ......................................one playwriting orphan 11SUSAN .....................................one organizing orphan 11CATHY ......................................one practical orphan 11SALLY .......................................one star-struck orphan 17HILDA .......................................one snoring orphan 12NANCY .....................................one sarcastic orphan 7YVONNE ...................................one humorous orphan 18BONNIE ....................................one of the oldest orphans 18LILY ..........................................one pessimistic orphan 8BARBARA ..................................one encouraging orphan 7SARAH .....................................one hopeful orphan 8BLOSSOM.................................one curious orphan 8POSSUM ..................................one envious orphan 4LUCY ........................................one ornery orphan 54DALLAS ....................................one Texas-born orphan 4NOTE: Roles for children are fairly equal in size and can be easily combined for a smaller cast or added for a larger cast.

SETTime: The mid-1930s.Place: The social hall of the Little Angels Home for Orphans.The only set is the social hall of the Little Angels Home for Orphans. A fl at panel forms the back wall with two much shorter wings attached at an angle to the back panel. The covering should be a vintage wallpaper look, easily accomplished with stencils in a sepia tone on a beige background. At the top of each panel should be cup hooks so that Christmas decoration can be added to the set during one of the songs. At CENTER STAGE is an old-fashioned console radio that can be lit from within. There should be a sign on the back wall that reads “Little Angels Home for Orphans, Shortcomings, Texas: Where all God’s children have a home.” On the STAGE LEFT wing is a sign that reads “A Busy Child is a Happy Child. If You Aren’t Happy—Get Busy.” The sign on the STAGE RIGHT wing reads “Jesus wept. Did you have something to do with that?” A straggly, bare Christmas tree is UP LEFT, concealing a few bags of brightly colored knit items. STAGE RIGHT leads to the front room and outside, UP LEFT leads to the kitchen and DOWN LEFT leads to the rest of the orphanage.

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SYNOPSIS OF SCENESScenes One through Eight: Two days before Christmas.Scene Nine: Christmas Eve.NOTE: Scene breaks are for rehearsal purposes only. The play should fl ow seamlessly from one scene to the next except between Scene Eight and Scene Nine.

CHRISTMAS SONGSI Saw Three Ships ...........................InstrumentalDeck the Halls ................................Irene, May, Lou Ann, Tiny, Billy,

OrphansWe Wish You a Merry Christmas .......Irene, Tiny, Lou AnnO Little Town of Bethlehem...............OrphansWhat Child Is This? .........................IreneGo Tell It On the Mountain ................Betty Ann, Eva Maria, Amen

Sisters, OrphansAway In a Manger ............................Tiny, OrphansI Saw Three Ships ...........................Tiny, Irene, Eva Maria, Betty

Ann, Amen Sisters, Orphans, Townspeople

Jingle Bells .....................................AllO Come, All Ye Faithful .....................Lou Ann, Albert, LucyO Come, All Ye Faithful .....................InstrumentalSilent Night .....................................AllJoy to the World ..............................All

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ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING

Scene OneOn a darkened stage, a sudden LIGHT COMES ON in an old-fashioned console radio CENTER STAGE. We hear the CRACKLING sound of an old radio and the sound of TUNING to a station. We hear a CHIME TONE, then…RADIO ANNOUNCER’S VOICE: This is the voice of West Texas, here

in Shortcomings, Texas. You know our motto—We may have our Shortcomings, but at least we’re upfront about it! (ORPHANS ENTER RIGHT and DOWN LEFT. They creep quietly, listening to the announcer. They gather around the radio, some seated on the fl oor and some standing. MAY ENTERS UP LEFT and stands by the radio.) And now here is a gentle reminder. Christmas is a’coming. It’s only two days away. Are you ready? We want all those good boys and girls out there to wake up and fi nd out that they have exactly what they wished for on Christmas Day in the morning. (LIGHTS UP. SONG: “I Saw Three Ships.” MAY claps to the beat. The ORPHANS cheer, take their places for a country-style dance and dance until song ends. IRENE, TINY and LOU ANN ENTER DOWN LEFT during the song.)

IRENE: Oh, children, that was your best practice yet! As the director of this fi ne establishment, I’d like to say that I’m proud!

LOU ANN: During our Christmas Eve party tomorrow night, the entire town of Shortcomings will be here to see you perform.

BOBBY: Oh, wow! All 20 of them!MAY: Shortcomings may be small, but we are mighty.TINY: Yep, we’re mighty small!LITTLE BIT: Good things come in small packages.SWEETNESS: Really small packages are even better!CAROL: (With a pad of paper and a pencil.) We may be mighty small, but

we are mighty talented. I am writing a new play for us to perform. (ORPHANS groan.)

YVONNE: Another one? We barely survived the last one! (Recites.) “Remember the Alamo and Forget the Depression—A History of Texas in 12 Acts.” Count them—12!

CAROL: Well, I had a lot to say. It’s a big state.SUSAN: It took six hours to perform. It was a big bore!CATHY: At least you didn’t have to play Sam Houston. My tongue

was so numb by the end of the ninth act, I started calling Davy Crockett— (Lisps badly, Elmer Fudd style.) —Davffy Crwocett. Not to mention—hello! I’m a girl.

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CAROL: A good actor can rise above things like that.SALLY: Well, I loved my part. I was the singing, dancing maiden who

entertained at the Alamo.YVONNE: You could say she really killed her audience.CAROL: This one is not a big bore. This one is about orphans who

learn to sing and then dance. I’m thinking of calling it “The Sound of Singing!”

HILDA: Ohhh! That’s good!BOBBY: With these old shoes we have to wear clumping around

everywhere, you could call it “The Sound of Dancing!”NANCY: I know! You could call it “The Sound of Music!” (Beat.)ALL: (Shake their heads.) No! Nah, never, etc.YVONNE: Who would want to see something called “The Sound of

Music”?TINY: That’s enough about a new play for now.IRENE: We need to talk about your Christmas outfi ts. Please put

them on this afternoon so we can see if we need to take down a hem…

LOU ANN: …or take up a hem or rip out all the seams…TINY: …and make something brand new and fabulous.BOBBY: Like my best shirt that used to be Bonnie’s dress that used

to be a tablecloth.BONNIE: That’s just wrong on so many levels.BARBARA: (Sighs.) My dress has changed hands more times than

Texas.SALLY: It doesn’t matter what I wear. So what if my dress has a big

patch on it? I think I shine in whatever I have on, just like Shirley Temple. (Strikes a pose.)

MAY: Try to think of your clothes as nice and broken in. (BILLY ENTERS RIGHT.)

LILY: Right, as opposed to everything else around here—it’s nice and broken down!

BILLY: Not broken down while I’m around. I’m the best handyman in the state of Texas. The Little Angels Home is in good hands.

BONNIE: In just one year, I’ll be too old for the Little Angels Home. I’ll be out on my own.

BOBBY: (Alarmed.) You’ll still be my sister, won’t you?BONNIE: Sure! I’ll come and visit you. I’ll be great! I’ll be living big.

Every time you see me, I’ll have a new dress.CATHY: First, you’ll have to rob a bank or strike oil.

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BARBARA: Well, it is Texas. Dream big, Bonnie!SARAH: I’ll bet Lucy will be getting a new dress for Christmas now that

she’s been adopted from here.BLOSSOM: I’ll bet it’ll be a beautiful dress with a big, pink bow!POSSUM: Lucky Lucy!YVONNE: Forget it. Lucy won’t stay adopted long.SARAH: Right! Lucy may not be in her new home long enough to get

a new dress.IRENE: Children—no bad thoughts! Lucy may have a history of

being adopted and then, well, un-adopting herself, but let’s stay positive.

YVONNE: Right! I’m positive that Lucy will be back before you can say “Good-bye, Lucy!” (LUCY ENTERS DOWN LEFT with MR. and MRS. ADAMS. LUCY looks a little grim.)

IRENE: Yvonne—oh, wait! Here is the happy new family now! Mr. and Mrs. Adams, congratulations! I know Lucy will have a wonderful home with the two of you.

MRS. ADAMS: We have painted her bedroom pink. She has three new dresses and shiny new patent leather shoes. What do you think of that, Lucy?

LUCY: (Dull.) Perfect.SALLY: Oh, I adore patent leather shoes. I can see my refl ection in

them!MR. ADAMS: Lucy won’t need shoes for that—I bought her a real

dressing table with a big mirror. I hope you like it, Lucy.LUCY: I’m sure it will be… perfect.MRS. ADAMS: We want everything for Lucy to be just…LUCY: Perfect?MR. ADAMS: You bet your boots!LUCY: (Brightens.) Now boots I would love. They would be…ORPHANS: Perfect?IRENE: Say your good-byes, everyone. I am sure Mr. and Mrs. Adams

want to get Lucy home as quickly as possible so their new— (To LUCY.) —permanent family can start their new permanent life. Just think—tomorrow night is Christmas Eve and it will be your fi rst Christmas as a family. Lucy, that will be something you will remember forever. (Through clenched teeth.) And I do mean forever. Good-bye and Merry Christmas! (MR. ADAMS, MRS. ADAMS and LUCY EXIT RIGHT, waving.)

ORPHANS: (Ad-lib.) Good-bye. We’ll miss you. Don’t forget about us. Etc.

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SALLY: Come back soon!IRENE: Shhhh! (Moves UPSTAGE to be with LOU ANN and TINY.)SALLY: How many times has Lucy been adopted?BONNIE: This one makes seven.NANCY: Why does Lucy keep coming back after she’s been

adopted?YVONNE: Who can resist life here at the mansion?HILDA: I like my life here! There is no sin in being poor.SUSAN: There’s no sin in being rich either. Think of it—satin and silk

and… mink! I was born to wear mink! (MAY EXITS DOWN LEFT.)BOBBY: But you were born in West Texas.CATHY: And the only furry animal that is native to Shortcomings is

the skunk!YVONNE: (Sarcastic.) Oh—stripes aren’t in this year!SUSAN: Someday I will wear mink!LITTLE BIT: Me too! Is mink pink? I like pink!BILLY: I know you do, Little Bit.SWEETNESS: Me, too!BILLY: But mink or skunk—remember, your smile is your best feature.

Right, Sweetness?SWEETNESS: Right! (MAY RE-ENTERS with a large box.)BILLY: Speaking of smiles and getting all gussied up—let’s make that

tree the prettiest sight in West Texas! (MAY opens the box and hands the fi rst sad little ornament to the fi rst child. All ornaments get handed from child to child in a line like a bucket brigade. BILLY, SWEETNESS and LITTLE BIT add them to the tree. SONG: “Deck the Halls.” When the ornaments are hung, the tree doesn’t look that much better than it did before, and the ORPHANS look at it dubiously.)

MAY: Cider for everyone in the kitchen! (ORPHANS, BILLY and MAY EXIT UP LEFT.)

End of Scene One

Scene TwoTINY retrieves plain muslin bags stuffed with brightly colored knitted items from behind the Christmas tree. She, LOU ANN and IRENE cross RIGHT.TINY: (Holds up one bag in disgust.) Mrs. Irene, this is not right!LOU ANN: Oh, you aren’t that bad at knitting. Sure, there’s a dropped

stitch or two… or three.

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TINY: No, I don’t mean my knitting. I mean it’s wrong that we can’t give these children something they really want for Christmas. Let’s face it. No child ever wrote a letter to Santa Claus and said, “I’m really hoping to get (Frowns at LOU ANN.) a rather badly knitted scarf and mittens this year… just like last year!” This mean old Depression!

IRENE: I know. At least they named it correctly. I know I’m depressed. But let’s face it, the state of Texas has its hands full just to feed and clothe these children and pay us to make this a home for them.

TINY: These children deserve so much more.IRENE: Now, Miss Tiny, the people of Shortcomings will not let us

down. There will be decorations provided by Edith Hancock…LOU ANN: (Puts her hand to her head.) Oh, you said it. That name!

Edith Hancock, the bossiest woman in West Texas.IRENE: Think Christian thoughts, Lou Ann! Miss Hancock is on our

governing board and she has a good heart.TINY: It’s not her heart that worries me, it’s her mouth!IRENE: Miss Tiny! We should not be speaking ill of a good, Christian

woman like Edith Hancock.LOU ANN: Right. Let’s go on with our planning for the holiday. You

know Mr. Barker from the hardware store gave each and every child a kite last year.

TINY: And heaven knows we don’t lack for wind here in West Texas.IRENE: And most of that wind—the hot wind—comes from Edith

Hancock!TINY: Ha! Christian thoughts yourself, Mrs. Irene! Lead us not into

temptation…LOU ANN: …and deliver us from Edith! (EDITH HANCOCK ENTERS RIGHT,

followed by BONNIE, who carries a box of Christmas decorations.)TINY: Speak of the devil!LOU ANN: We weren’t speaking of the devil. We were speaking of…

Oh, hello, Miss Hancock!EDITH: Irene, Tiny, Lou Ann. I see you have been knitting— (Disgusted.)

—again this Christmas. I’m sure the orphans will be thrilled.IRENE: We do what we can, Miss Hancock.EDITH: That is what I am here to talk to you about—doing what you

can! (To BONNIE.) Thank you for taking a break from your cider to help me, Bonnie. Just leave that box out in the hall. You’ve been a big help.

BONNIE: It was no trouble, Miss Hancock. Anytime. (EXITS UP LEFT with the box.)

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EDITH: Now there’s a nice child. But ladies, enough pleasant banter. I have serious news. The state will be doing its annual inspection right after the new year. As a board member here at the Little Angels Home for Orphans, I am again appalled at the statistics for the year. We started the year with 20 orphans. (NOTE: Adjust this number to match to your cast.)

TINY: Miss Hancock, we had seven adoptions this year.EDITH: But that can’t be. You still have 19 orphans.IRENE: We did have seven adoptions this year, Miss Hancock. It’s just

that all of the adoptions were of the same child, Lucy James.EDITH: Let me get this right. The same child was adopted seven

times?TINY: That’s right.EDITH: And she was returned seven times?LOU ANN: Oh, no! Only six! And she wasn’t returned. Oh, no! No one

would ever dream of returning Lucy. Lucy has spunk!TINY: Lucy has character!IRENE: Lucy is as cute as a ladybug’s ear.EDITH: (Frustrated.) Someone is returning Lucy.IRENE: Lucy is returning Lucy.EDITH: You mean to say that child comes back after being given a

good Christian home?TINY: Lucy is a sweet but rather particular child.EDITH: Beggars cannot be choosers, Miss Tiny.LOU ANN: Oh, Lucy is no beggar. Everyone wants Lucy.TINY: One couple came in for a boy—any boy—and they ended up

picking Lucy.IRENE: One couple wanted a baby—only a baby—and they picked

Lucy.LOU ANN: Lucy is irresistible! (ORPHANS ENTER UP LEFT, unseen.

The OLDER ORPHANS hold back the YOUNGER ORPHANS as they eavesdrop on the last of the conversation.)

EDITH: Lucy may be irresistible, but if things don’t improve around here, the state may not be able to resist closing the doors of the Little Angels Home—forever! It gives me great pain to say this (No, it doesn’t!), but I have heard rumblings that this may well be the last Christmas for the Little Angels Home for Orphans. I have done everything I can do. If the board does not start seeing adoptions—real adoptions of children who stay adopted—they will move these children to other orphanages and close this place down.

IRENE: Would they all go together at least?

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EDITH: I’m afraid not. There’s no orphanage with enough room to take all of them.

TINY: How many adoptions…LOU ANN: …would be enough adoptions?EDITH: (Shrugs.) I would say fi ve at least to really prove that you are

doing your job. Well, that said, I will be back tomorrow night for the big party.

TINY: (Sad.) Right, The big, happy, merry party.IRENE: (Sarcastic.) You’ve once again managed to make our day, Miss

Hancock.EDITH: (Misses the point.) I do what I can. What cannot be avoided

must be dealt with.LOU ANN: Oh yes, and why wait until after Christmas to share such

cheery news?EDITH: Exactly! Don’t forget the box of decorations out in the hall. I’ll

bring the rest tomorrow night, but I thought you and the children could begin to decorate a little early.

TINY: Oh, by all means. Let’s deck the halls! The soon to be empty halls! (Walks to CENTER STAGE. EDITH EXITS RIGHT.) It’s not like I’m upset or anything. This old, rundown elephant of a building. It’s hot in the summer.

IRENE: It’s cold in the winter.LOU ANN: And every room has a draft… a built-in draft. But they

couldn’t really close it. They couldn’t!IRENE: What would happen to the children? This is their home.

(Pause.)TINY: This is our home.IRENE: We will not think negative thoughts. There are people out

there—nice people—who are thinking right this very minute about adopting a child. One of our children! So we will not be gloomy! We need to shake this off! How about a song?

TINY: A song?LOU ANN: Yes! A song! Something cheerful!TINY: Cheerful?IRENE: Something happy!TINY: Happy?IRENE: (Desperate.) Well, it’s Christmas! How about something with

the word “merry” in the title at least! (SONG: “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” begins sadly, slowly, fi nally ending on a happy note.) That’s it! A Happy New Year! We’ll think about next year and be hopeful.

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LOU ANN: That’s right! Next year! (She and IRENE EXIT DOWN LEFT.)TINY: (Hands clasped.) Oh Lord, let there be a next year! (EXITS DOWN

LEFT.)End of Scene Two

Scene ThreeThe ORPHANS cross to CENTER STAGE.BARBARA: Did you hear that? They might close the Little Angels

Home.DALLAS: But where would we go?HILDA: We would go to new orphanages… alone.CAROL: Would they let me write plays for them?YVONNE: Not if they have a lick of sense they won’t.CAROL: Hey! You need to stop saying mean things about my plays—SUSAN: Stop! Don’t you see what’s happening here?SALLY: Actually, I don’t see what’s happening here. Could someone

explain it to me?CATHY: It’s like this. There haven’t been enough adoptions this year.LILY: Times are hard, and if none of us fi nds a home, they will close

this orphanage and send us to other orphanages.SALLY: Do you think they might send me to one in Hollywood?SUSAN: No, more like Amarillo. And you would be alone.BONNIE: Listen, I’m one of the oldest. I know no one adopts older

kids, but we have to try—for all of you—to fi nd you real homes.BOBBY: But this is where we live.DALLAS: My name may be Dallas, but that’s just because that’s where

I was born. I belong in Shortcomings with all of you.CAROL: No, where we really need to be is in families. We need to be

in real homes with parents and siblings.BOBBY: I don’t know about siblings, but I’d like more brothers and

sisters in addition to Bonnie.YVONNE: That’s what a sibling is, a brother or a sister, you

nincompoop.BOBBY: On second thought… I just want brothers!CAROL: I have always had a dream of family.POSSUM: I’ve always hoped for a big house with a room of my own.YVONNE: I’m defi nitely wishing for a room of my own because Hilda

snores.HILDA: I snore?

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YVONNE: Like a freight train chugging uphill.BARBARA: Wishes and hopes and dreams… that’s what you are all

talking about. But what we need is an action plan.NANCY: Reverend Hopkins would say that what we need is prayer.SUSAN: And he would be right. But we need prayer… with a plan.LILY: That’s true! Mrs. Irene always says you need to get down on your

knees to pray—SARAH: —but you might as well scrub the fl oor while you’re down

there.BOBBY: I am not scrubbing any fl oors—not even for two brothers!SUSAN: It’s just a saying, silly! It means we shouldn’t just pray. We

have to take action. God doesn’t want a bunch of puppets. He gave us good minds, and he expects us to use them.

HILDA: We’re going to use puppets?SUSAN: Okay, he gave some of us good minds. Others not so much.

But Mrs. Irene also says we have to be really careful what we pray for.

SALLY: And Lucy always says you’ve got to pray like you mean it! I wish Lucy were here. She’d know what to pray for. Lucy always knows what to do.

BONNIE: Well, Lucy isn’t here. We have to think for ourselves. We need to pray for more people to come. No one ever stops by this old house. It’s outside of town, and people on the highway go by really fast and never know we are here.

YVONNE: I know! As part of our action plan, we can put Bobby out in the road to stop traffi c. Even if they run right over him, you have to admit it would really slow them down.

BONNIE: That’s my brother you’re talking about!BOBBY: And I’m not lying out in the road!CATHY: We would put up a sign… like “Slow down—kid in the road

ahead! Big bump!”SUSAN: We could even give you an offi cial name… like a “speed boy.”BOBBY: Speed boy?HILDA: Or better yet, we could call him a “speed bump!” (Beat.)ALL: (Ad-lib.) Nah. Never work. That’s silly. Etc.LILY: Let’s be practical. We can’t—no matter how much we would like

to—put Bobby out in the road. We are going to have to ask for a little help from God on that one.

NANCY: The people from Shortcomings will be here tomorrow night. Maybe they’ve just been shy about adopting. Maybe one of them would like to adopt an orphan. An orphan like me!

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CATHY: Sure! It doesn’t hurt to try.YVONNE: Don’t forget about the guy who delivers milk every morning.

We can leave him a note that says we need fi ve gallons of milk, three quarts of buttermilk, butter, eggs and a dad. I’m sure he won’t mind.

SUSAN: You might think you’re being funny, but we are desperate here. We are so worried about ourselves—but think of Miss Tiny, Miss Lou Ann and Mrs. Irene. Where would they go without jobs? There’s a Depression going on, you know.

SARAH: We’ve heard. And we are depressed.BONNIE: We need people. We need to be ready for when the people

come, and we need—CAROL: We need to ask for help to make all our hopes and wishes

and dreams come true. I don’t need a big, fancy city. A small town would do. A town like Bethlehem. It’s always sounded so nice in the song. (SONG: “O Little Town of Bethlehem.” All ORPHANS sing.)

NANCY: (As song ends.) Amen! Come on, everyone. We have work to do helping God do His work! We need to be like bright shining stars!

SALLY: No problem. I was born to be a star. (ORPHANS EXIT DOWN LEFT.)

End of Scene Three

Scene FourTINY, LOU ANN and IRENE ENTER DOWN LEFT with BILLY, who is carrying a big box of decorations. They face RIGHT.TINY: I think we need to have a plan. We can’t let these children down.

Tomorrow night is Christmas Eve, so we don’t have a lot of time. The new year is right around the corner, and we can’t let this home close.

BILLY: We might close? Little Angels Home might close? But where would all the children go? Where would Little Bit go? Where would Sweetness go?

IRENE: We shouldn’t let ourselves get too upset. The children would still be well cared for. They would all be sent to various orphanages, bigger ones across the state of Texas. (LITTLE BIT and SWEETNESS ENTER DOWN LEFT, unseen, wearing angel costumes.)

LOU ANN: But we are not going to let that happen. (SWEETNESS taps BILLY on the shoulder.)

BILLY: (Turns, startled.) Little Bit! Sweetness! Why, you look like angels!

SWEETNESS: Well—duh!

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LITTLE BIT: That’s the part we’re playing in the Christmas play tomorrow night. The Christmas play needs lots of angels. There were a multitude of angels, you know.

SWEETNESS: It was all in the Bible.TINY: My goodness! What are we thinking! It’s time to rehearse

the Christmas play so the children can perform tomorrow night. We don’t have time to completely solve the problem of all the adoptions just now. But we will solve it!

IRENE: We have to be honest with ourselves, Miss Tiny. We haven’t got a prayer of fi nding a home for fi ve orphans by the fi rst of the year.

LITTLE BIT: That’s where you’re wrong, Mrs. Irene.SWEETNESS: Oh, ye of little faith!LITTLE BIT: You always have a prayer!IRENE: (Leans down to her.) Little Bit, you are so right. How could I

have forgotten that? Everything else may fade away, but I always have a prayer! Thank you.

LITTLE BIT: Just doing my job. I’m an angel, you know.BILLY: Come on, Little Bit, Sweetness. We’ll get the other kids in here

for rehearsal. (EXITS DOWN LEFT with SWEETNESS and LITTLE BIT.)

TINY: Little Bit is right! We always have prayer.LOU ANN: And there is no time to spare. (EXITS DOWN LEFT with

TINY.)IRENE: (Looks up.) Well, Lord, we have a problem here. Not that it’s

too big for You. We have these children, and they need a little help. But it is right up Your alley. Once the world wondered about a little child, a mysterious child, and You already had a plan. Everyone was asking, what child is this? And You gave the answer. (SONG: “What Child Is This?”)

End of Scene Four

Scene FiveLOU ANN ENTERS DOWN LEFT, carrying a shepherd costume, followed by TINY, who ENTERS with a few of the younger ORPHANS. They are mad, arms crossed, pouting.TINY: Now, no one said anything about the baby Jesus having to wear

a diaper. I know you are all too big for diapers. But someone has to play baby Jesus. You just have to think… small. (BILLY and the rest of the ORPHANS except CATHY and BOBBY ENTER DOWN LEFT.)

BARBARA: Most of us are here, Miss Tiny, but I can’t fi nd Bobby.

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MAY: (ENTERS UP LEFT. Moves STAGE RIGHT to IRENE.) Mrs. Irene! You are not going to believe this, but I went upstairs for just a moment, and when I came back down, there was a cow in the kitchen! Standing right there eating the carrots I had in the sink. Like she owns the place!

CATHY: (ENTERS DOWN LEFT.) Mrs. Irene! The Browns’ cows are loose again and one of them is standing on the back porch!

IRENE: Good heavens, we apparently have a cow outbreak!BLOSSOM: Is that something like the chicken pox?JANICE: (ENTERS RIGHT.) Billy, thank goodness you’re here.BILLY: Janice! What are you doing here? Where is your bus? You

should be making the Amarillo to Dallas run.JANICE: I have a problem, Billy. And I immediately thought of you!

I know that any problem I might have… well, if you can’t fi x it, nobody can.

BILLY: (Adopts an embarrassed “aw shucks” attitude.) Ahh, Janice. You do say the nicest things!

JANICE: It’s nice to be nice to the nice.IRENE: (Slightly irritated.) Billy, who is this?BILLY: (Comes back to reality.) Mrs. Irene, this is Janice Plum. She’s

the bus driver for the route that runs right past our door. (Shy.) We’ve been waving to each other for the last 10 years. And every once in a while…

JANICE: …only if I have no passengers…BILLY: …she makes an unscheduled stop to say a quick hello.JANICE: That’s right. Billy and I met when my old bus had a fl at right in

front of your door. I’ve never had it fi xed. It’s my lucky fl at.IRENE: Hearts and fl owers later, Janice. I have a cow in my kitchen.

Why have you stopped today?JANICE: I came over the hill and there was something… right there in

the middle of the road!YVONNE: Oh, my goodness! Bobby! I didn’t really mean he should

lie in the middle of the road! Oh, Bobby! (The ORPHANS gasp and then look relieved when BOBBY ENTERS DOWN LEFT and steps forward.)

BOBBY: What?SALLY: (Hugs him.) Oh, Bobby! (Puts her hand to her head, dramatically.)

We thought you might be out in the road, looking like a… a pancake!

BONNIE: We thought you might have actually become a speed bump just to get the bus to stop.

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JANICE: It was a cow! Just standing there! I swerved to miss the cow and broke an axle on my bus.

BOBBY: I did something a lot smarter than lying in the middle of the road.

SALLY: What did you do?BOBBY: I opened the gate on the Browns’ back pasture and let out

their cows.BLOSSOM: Bobby! That’s a sin!SUSAN: People might have been hurt!SALLY: Not to mention the cows.HILDA: But on the other hand, no one was hurt but the bus…BONNIE: …and the cows are as fi ne as cows get, and everyone on the

bus will be stopping here!LOU ANN: Oh, my goodness! Cows in the kitchen, and now I suppose

we’ll have to give the people on the bus shelter for at least a little while.

TINY: Good grief! What else can go wrong?LUCY: (ENTERS RIGHT.) I’m back!ALL: Lucy!IRENE: Oh, Lucy, please don’t tell me you have come back to the

orphanage again!LUCY: Oh, all right. I won’t tell you. But you’re going to get a little

suspicious when I keep showing up for dinner.TINY: Oh, Lucy, your timing could not be worse! What went wrong?LUCY: They were nice people. They were… perfect. But they just

weren’t my people. I try but I keep telling all of you, I’ll know my people when I see them! So I hitched a ride on the Amarillo bus and, thanks to a cow, the bus stopped right at the front door. (BOBBY gives her a thumbs up. LUCY moves LEFT to the ORPHANS.) And wait until you see who is on that bus! (ALBERT, EVA, BETTY ANN and the AMEN SISTERS ENTER RIGHT.)

EVA MARIA: Oh, thank goodness! We have been saved from what might have been a fi ery confl agration! A crash reminiscent of brimstone! Have mercy!

BONNIE: Who is that?LILY: And what is she talking about?LUCY: She means the bus almost crashed. Eva Maria believes in big

words and lots of them. Everybody, this is Eva Maria Albergotti!CHARITY: Eva Maria Albergotti, the world famous evangelist!EVA MARIA: Well, I wouldn’t say world famous.FAITH: Maybe not world famous.

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JOY: But she is well-known in the Bible Belt.SARAH: What’s a Bible belt?LUCY: It’s where they pick up a Bible and belt you with it.EVA MARIA: I am just a humble, weary warrior for the Lord.CHARITY: Amen, Sister!FAITH: Amen, Sister!JOY: Amen, Sister!BOBBY: Are they looking for siblings, too?EVA MARIA: I am just traveling on, asking not for much, just of those

who feel moved by the spirit to support the journey I am taking to bring the good news to the lonely, the abandoned and the sorry in spirit—

BOBBY: The orphan?EVA MARIA: (Moves him out of the way.) I am looking to help the little

people with their weary burden.LILY: We’re pretty little, and we have a big burden.EVA MARIA: (Moves her out of the way.) I go where the spirit moves

me and I sing! When the spirit moves me… wait! I feel something coming on right this minute.

SALLY: It could be car sickness. You did just get off the bus!EVA MARIA: (A touch disgusted.) I feel a song coming on.CHARITY: Amen, Sister!FAITH: Amen, Sister!JOY: Amen, Sister!EVA MARIA: Sister Betty Ann! (BETTY ANN steps forward.) My song

sister! Do you feel a song coming on?BETTY ANN: I believe I do.BLOSSOM: This is better than the movies!CHARITY: Tell us which song you feel coming on.FAITH: I know it will lift our hearts.JOY: And I know everyone here will want to put a small gift in the

offering plate when Sister Betty Ann is done.BOBBY: She brought her own offering plate?!LUCY: Eva Maria goes nowhere without an offering plate.BETTY ANN: “Go Tell It On the Mountain.”BOBBY: What mountain? We’re in West Texas.EVA MARIA: That’s it! I feel like it’s a gift, you know—like the kind you

place in the collection plate out of your grateful heart… a gift.BETTY ANN: I feel it! I need to sing!

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EVA MARIA: Bless you, Sister Betty Ann! Sing, my sister, sing!CHARITY: Sing!FAITH: Sing!JOY: Sing!CATHY: Is she hard of hearing? (SONG: “Go Tell It On the Mountain.”

BETTY ANN and EVA MARIA can sing solos with ORPHANS and AMEN SISTERS singing the chorus.)

EVA MARIA: I hope you all feel as moved as I do, and I hope you will consider putting a little gift in the collection plate. So, brothers and sisters, reach into those pockets and give till it hurts! (The AMEN SISTERS pass the plate.)

CHARITY: And I hope we don’t hear the vulgar clink of coins.FAITH: Just the soft crinkle of bills.JOY: Big bills!HILDA: All I have in my pocket is a button that fell off my shirt. (Puts

it in.)End of Scene Five

Scene SixALBERT steps DOWN CENTER. He speaks in a verbose, grand, supercilious voice.ALBERT: I don’t mean to be pushy, but how long will I be held up here?

I have a professional appointment in Albuquerque tomorrow. I’m playing Macbeth!

LOU ANN: (A little awed.) Who are you?ALBERT: Albert Winship Montague the third. I am an actor.ORPHANS: Oooooohhh!SALLY: Like in the movies? Do you know Tom Mix or Mary Pickford?ALBERT: (Moves LEFT to the ORPHANS.) Please! I am a Shakespearean

actor. I have played Hamlet in Sheboygan. (The ORPHANS shake their heads.) I played Lear in Schenectady! (The ORPHANS shake their heads again, so he speaks in a plain, everyday voice.) I did an Ovaltine commercial on the radio.

ORPHANS: Ohhhhhhhhh!IRENE: You are all most welcome. We will be happy to give you a place

to rest until the bus can be fi xed.TINY: When—LOU ANN: —exactly—TINY: —will that be?LOU ANN: (Looks at ALBERT.) There’s no hurry.

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JANICE: I’ll call the depot and they might send out another bus. But it will be dark soon. And this is West Texas. It’s not like those New York City bus lines where there’s another bus along every minute.

ALBERT: Ah, New York! How I miss it. The lights, the sounds… Broadway.

LOU ANN: You were on Broadway?!ALBERT: Twice! (Pause.) Once for lunch and once for dinner. But I did

play Richard the Third in New Jersey.NANCY: Richard the Third? It must have been confusing with two

other guys named Richard, too.IRENE: Enough, everyone. Janice, call the depot and do the best you

can. In the meantime, if the passengers from the bus will just follow me and Miss Tiny, we will fi nd you a place to freshen up and rest.

BILLY: Janice, I can show you the phone and then maybe I could look at your axle—I mean… (Embarrassed.) …the axle.

JANICE: I would love to show you my—the axle.CHARITY: I hope my room has a radio. I’ll miss Charlie McCarthy.FAITH: I hope my room has a balcony.JOY: I hope my room has a heavenly view.EVA MARIA: ALL rooms have a heavenly view when your eyes are on

heaven.CHARITY: Amen, Sister!FAITH: Amen, Sister!JOY: Amen, Sister!LUCY: Amen—oh, brother!LOU ANN: I can see you to your room if you will just follow me, Mr.

Montague.ALBERT: Call me Albert.LOU ANN: If you will follow me, Albert.ALBERT: To the ends of the earth.LOU ANN: Oh, my! (ALL ADULTS and the AMEN SISTERS EXIT DOWN

LEFT.)End of Scene Six

Scene SevenSALLY: Where is the end of the earth?LUCY: Roswell, New Mexico. (Note: Any very small town in your region

would work here.)DALLAS: Really?

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LUCY: I have it on the best authority.BARBARA: Lucy, why did you come back? You were adopted.CAROL: You had your family. They even had a dog.LUCY: I know they were perfect for someone. They were kind and

loving, but it wasn’t perfect for me. In fact, I did a lot of thinking on the bus, and I realized… I’m not good at perfect. (TINY ENTERS DOWN LEFT. She stops and listens.)

LILY: Well, you have just made things even worse.LUCY: Why?LILY: We have a problem here.BLOSSOM: Big!POSSUM: Huge!BLOSSOM: Enormous!CATHY: Edith Hancock was here.LUCY: Oh no, not gloomy, bad news, no party Miss Hancock. I always

say… you can’t have your cake and Edith, too!BONNIE: I don’t think Miss Hancock is so bad. I think she’s just

lonely.CATHY: Miss Hancock isn’t the problem, Lucy. If we don’t have

adoptions from the Little Angels Home—lots of them, and soon—Miss Hancock says they will close Little Angels, and we will all be sent to different orphanages across Texas.

BLOSSOM: Alone… without our friends.POSSUM: We need parents, and we need them now!BLOSSOM: That means we need people.SARAH: We have already prayed for people, and God made the bus

break down right by the front door.BOBBY: With a little help from me.TINY: Wait a minute! (Crosses DOWN CENTER.)HILDA: Oh, Miss Tiny. You weren’t supposed to know we knew what

you know. And now that you know we know what you know that you didn’t know we knew, I feel …

LUCY: Confused?TINY: None of you needs to worry about this. Mrs. Irene, Miss Lou Ann

and I have prayed about this, too and we know God has a great answer for us.

LUCY: But that’s perfect! You have your answer!BARBARA: What do you mean, Lucy?LUCY: While I was on that bus… I think God spoke to me.NANCY: Are you sure it wasn’t Eva Maria?

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HILDA: Amen, Sister!LUCY: No! I mean an idea. A great idea dropped into my head—like

right out of heaven! I had found my people… well, my person… on the Amarillo bus! It was a real surprise. Who would have thought I would fi nd my father on a bus! And it hit me. We have all been looking in the wrong place for parents.

DALLAS: I haven’t been looking at all. I was waiting for them to come looking for me.

LUCY: But don’t you see? That’s the problem. We don’t need to wait for them to come to the door. Think about— (Points.) Sweetness and Little Bit!

SWEETNESS/LITTLE BIT: Us?LUCY: Who takes the best care of you? Who is always doing special

things for you? (They seem confused.)SALLY: I can answer that one. It’s Billy! He saves treats for you. He

built a bed for your dolls. He always comes out to the yard and pushes you on the swing.

LUCY: Right! Billy loves you. Sure, he takes good care of us all… but especially you! I think he is dad material.

TINY: I’ve always thought that myself!YVONNE: And who might be mom material?SALLY: Wait! I know this one, too! I’m on fi re here! It’s that bus driver,

Janice. He looked at her like she was an ice cream sundae. With fudge sauce!

YVONNE: Billy likes Janice, there’s no doubt!LUCY: Now you’re getting it!BONNIE: So we are supposed to be looking for parents?LUCY: Exactly! We can’t wait for the usual way of being adopted. We

have to improvise.CAROL: I think Lucy is right! I knew she would know just what to do!

Christmas may be the day after tomorrow, but I believe if we listen to Lucy, we all may have a real home by Christmas day.

TINY: That would be wonderful! It probably won’t happen—but we can dream, can’t we? But think about it… Christmas is all about fi nding a way where there is no way. Mary and Joseph had that problem. They needed to fi nd a place for Jesus to be born. His parents had to improvise.

BONNIE: If we can just remember that story, perhaps we will have a happy ending of our own. (SONG: “Away In a Manger.”)

TINY: Come on, let’s get busy! I don’t know how long they may be staying, but we have a lot of people to feed!

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LUCY: And while you’re at it… think parents! (TINY and the ORPHANS EXIT UP LEFT. LUCY is the last one ONSTAGE and stops when she sees ALBERT ENTER DOWN LEFT.)

End of Scene Seven

Scene EightALBERT: Lucy, hello! I’m sorry. I think I made a wrong turn. I was

looking for the kitchen. I thought I might offer to help that very nice Miss Lou Ann. I don’t really know how to cook, but I did play a baker in “The Taming of the Shrew” in Poughkeepsie a couple of years ago.

LUCY: You didn’t make a wrong turn. You are in the right place at the right time.

ALBERT: Thank you. (A touch confused.) I think. Lucy, I was surprised when everyone here knew your name. All the time we were sitting together on the bus, you never mentioned you were coming here.

LUCY: That’s right. I was coming back here to the Little Angels Home for Children.

ALBERT: You are an orphan?LUCY: Sometimes I am and sometimes I’m not.ALBERT: To be or not to be—that is the question.LUCY: What do you want to be, Mr. Montague?ALBERT: Why… I am an actor!LUCY: But what else do you want to be?ALBERT: Whatever do you mean?LUCY: When we were sitting together on the bus, we had lots to

talk about. You made me laugh. You were very… interesting. I was thinking that you are my idea of perfect father. Have you ever thought about being a father?

ALBERT: I have thought about it and then I think again. Lucy, I would be anything but a perfect father.

LUCY: I have learned that perfect is not for everyone. I myself am looking for an imperfect father! Someone funny and interesting. Sound familiar?

ALBERT: Hmmmm, sounds a little like King Lear. He wasn’t funny, but he was interesting. He was a very imperfect father.

LUCY: I don’t know about King Lear. I don’t meet a lot of royalty here in West Texas, but I have recently met the one person who I believe I could call Father with all my heart. I know that I would be happy, and he would be a lot happier, too.

ALBERT: Really? Who is the lucky man?

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LUCY: You!ALBERT: Me?! I can’t be a father! Forget being perfect or not—I am

not married, and I think children need a mother. You are a pushy little thing, aren’t you?

LUCY: Yes, but I don’t mind.LOU ANN: (ENTERS DOWN LEFT and stops. She is wearing a new dress

that looks exactly like a tablecloth [preferably red checkered fabric with a white collar] and wears matching red lipstick and a fl ower in her hair. Waves from where she has entered.) Oh, Albert! Yoo-hoo!

LUCY: You know that not married thing? I believe I can help you with that.

LOU ANN: There you are! I have been looking everywhere for you!ALBERT: (Relieved not to be talking fatherhood.) Oh, Miss Lou Ann! My,

don’t you look lovely!LOU ANN: This old thing?LUCY: It used to be a tablecloth. We’ll talk later.ALBERT: Miss Lou Ann, thank goodness you have come. You saved

me from a most uncomfortable conversation. I was innocently looking for the kitchen so I could fi nd you and—

LOU ANN: Me? You were looking for me? Oh!ALBERT: Is there somewhere we could talk, Miss Lou Ann?LOU ANN: (Takes ALBERT’S hand.) Follow me to the kitchen. (She and

ALBERT EXIT UP LEFT. TINY, IRENE, the ORPHANS, the BUS PEOPLE and JANICE ENTER UP LEFT and DOWN LEFT. They carry ornaments, decorations, etc.)

IRENE: Since we have so many extra hands, I thought we would do a little decorating. I made a few phone calls. (DOORBELL RINGS. MAY EXITS RIGHT.) That must be them now! (MAY RE-ENTERS RIGHT followed by TOWNSPEOPLE.) Welcome! We’ll make a little party out of it.

EVA MARIA: If you would like, I can do a dramatic reading of the gospel according to Matthew.

IRENE: Which part?EVA MARIA: All of it.HILDA: Amen, Sister! (The AMEN SISTERS gather around HILDA.)EVA MARIA: Girls, did you hear that?CHARITY: She’s a natural!FAITH: I think she has real potential!JOY: I have an old robe that would fi t her! (Runs OFF DOWN LEFT.)HILDA: Do you mean it? I could be an— (Hands in the air.) —Amen

Sister?!

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EVA MARIA: Amen, Sister! (JOY RE-ENTERS with a choir robe, which she gives to HILDA. She puts it on, all smiles.)

IRENE: Children, do you feel like dancing for our guests?ORPHANS: (Ad-lib.) Yes! Sure. Etc.IRENE: Our guests are going to have to help us by singing! (SONG: “I

Saw Three Ships.” AMEN SISTERS and HILDA play tambourines. As soon as the ORPHANS fi nish the dance, EVERYONE sings the song again, and this time all the decorations are placed on the stage. When it is fi nished, the set is festively decorated for Christmas.) Thank you, everyone. We’ll see you all here tomorrow night for the annual Christmas Eve party! (As TOWNSPEOPLE EXIT RIGHT and OTHERS EXIT DOWN LEFT, ALL sing. SONG: “Jingle Bells.” BLACKOUT.)

End of Scene Eight

Scene NineThe next evening, Christmas Eve. The radio console LIGHTS UP from inside.RADIO ANNOUNCER’S VOICE: Here we are—another Christmas Eve

here in Shortcomings, Texas. Tonight all the good little boys and girls will be waiting on that man in red. But remember, folks, there is a reason for the season. Once, long ago, a little baby was born in Bethlehem. Make sure you celebrate the greatest gift of them all. As the day draws to a close and the sun sets here in West Texas—let me wish you all a happy Christmas Eve and joy on Christmas Day in the morning. (LIGHTS UP.)

EVA MARIA: (ENTERS DOWN LEFT, followed by IRENE.) I know you won’t regret letting me apply to adopt Hilda. After spending the day with her, I know she would be the perfect addition to our little family. She was born to hold a collection plate.

IRENE: I had no idea the Amen Sisters were your own children. And to think you adopted each of them.

EVA MARIA: When I see a little face of a motherless child, and I feel the spirit move, I make it happen! (Much more honest and sincere.) I know my life may seem a little strange to you—I may seem a little strange to you—but I love my children dearly, and we have a good life.

IRENE: You know… I think I feel the spirit moving, too.EVA MARIA: Bless you!IRENE: You are too late for that—I’ve already been blessed. (EVA

MARIA EXITS DOWN LEFT as JANICE and BILLY ENTER RIGHT.) Janice, Billy—any word on the bus?

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JANICE: A new bus will be out here in the morning, and we’ll be out of your hair. Well, some of the folks will be out of your hair for a while and then some of us will be back and…

IRENE: What’s going on here?BILLY: I am proud to say, Janice has agreed to make a permanent

stop here in Shortcomings, and she has agreed to be my wife.JANICE: How can a Greyhound compare to this?BILLY: And she’ll be the mother of my two children.IRENE: Billy! You have two children?!BILLY: No, I don’t. That’s where Little Angels comes in. When I heard

Little Angels might close, my heart sank all the way to my knees. I love all the kids… but Little Bit and Sweetness, well…

IRENE: I know. They are very special. This is great news! I think you’ll make a wonderful family. (BILLY and JANICE EXIT RIGHT. TINY ENTERS DOWN LEFT with BONNIE, CATHY and SARAH.)

TINY: Mrs. Irene, I have just heard about Hilda. That’s one adoption!IRENE: And then there’s Sweetness and Little Bit!TINY: I think I can guess who is going to be adopting those two!CATHY: You mean Billy and Janice?IRENE: A match made by a fl at tire.BONNIE: And don’t forget about the cow!SARAH: That’s three adoptions. Just two to go!TINY: Keep praying, everyone! (ORPHANS EXIT DOWN LEFT. TINY and

IRENE EXIT RIGHT.)ALBERT: (ENTERS UP LEFT, followed by LOU ANN.) I am so happy we

had a chance to talk! I was in a panic. Lucy is certainly a strong-willed child.

LOU ANN: But she is also a very smart child. I still think there may be something to what she said to you yesterday. Maybe she’s right. Maybe you are father material.

ALBERT: (Uncomfortable.) Yes, well… enough about that. I loved getting to know you better. I had no idea you are the director of the Christmas play. I feel an affi nity for anyone who is part of the theater!

LOU ANN: And I appreciate a man who is willing to help out in the kitchen… even one who keeps trying to change the subject.

ALBERT: Miss Lou Ann, I’m not trying to change the subject. I am trying to avoid the truth. Lucy is a smart child, no doubt about it! I love being an actor, but sometimes I do long to have a home… a kitchen of my own and someone nice to share that kitchen with me. Someone like you, Miss Lou Ann.

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LOU ANN: I wish you would call me just Lou Ann, Albert.ALBERT: Ah! What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other

name would smell as sweet… (Takes her hand.) …Lou Ann.LUCY: (ENTERS DOWN LEFT. Points.) There! That’s what I mean. You

don’t have to be a single man for long.LOU ANN: Lucy!ALBERT: Lucy, you have got to stop this!LUCY: You can’t fool me! I saw you on the bus. You were alone… and

miserable. If you had a wife to travel with you, you wouldn’t have to be alone ever again.

ALBERT: Lucy, I’m not saying I don’t see some sense in what you say, but things don’t happen— (Snaps his fi ngers.) —just like that. You can’t simply jump into marriage.

LUCY: Why not? I’ve been adopted then un-adopted seven times, so I know all about jumping in… and jumping out. Believe me, with the right person, jumping in is easy! Don’t you think it would be nice having a wife?

ALBERT: I do think having a wife would be very nice, I admit that.LUCY: And if you have a wife, you might as well have a daughter!ALBERT: But I could never be a father. That’s where I draw the line,

Lucy! I have no experience as a father. Maybe later… a year or two from now. When I’ve had time to think about it. Read a few books. I know nothing about children other than they are short and rather scary—like you!

LOU ANN: (Shy.) I don’t mean to be pushy, Albert, but one of the nice things about marriage—as I understand it—is two people come together and each has something special to teach the other person. I’ve never been married… but I have 20 children. I know all about children.

LUCY: And you should never put off a chance to be happy. The time to be happy is now. You have to go for it! You have no time to waste!

ALBERT: But you can walk, think for yourself—and heaven knows you can talk! At least with a baby you start young and grow with the child. But to be a father to any child not my own—even a baby—why, I wouldn’t know where to start. I have no example to follow.

LUCY: Yes, you do!ALBERT: What do you mean?LUCY: A long time ago in Bethlehem, a carpenter named Joseph had

to be father to a baby not his own. And I think he must have done a really good job.

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ALBERT: Oh, but Lucy—that child was special. He was God’s child.LUCY: We all are, Mr. Montague. We’re all God’s children.LOU ANN: She’s right, Albert. And God’s children have to learn to listen

and obey… because sometimes an angel is speaking. Perhaps a very stubborn, strong-willed, much adopted angel… but an angel. That’s what God asked the shepherds to do the night Jesus was born. He asked the faithful to listen to the angels and come to the stable. (SONG: “O Come All Ye Faithful.” LOU ANN starts singing alone, then ALBERT and LUCY join in.)

ALBERT: (Pause. Thinks and decides.) Lou Ann, I would get down on one knee but I’m afraid I would never get up again.

LOU ANN: Oh, Albert! To think, I’ve found you… and a child of my very own, all in one day. Lucy, will you have me as a mother?

LUCY: Mom! (Hugs her. After a moment, ALBERT joins the embrace.)SWEETNESS: (ENTERS DOWN LEFT with LITTLE BIT. Calls OFFSTAGE.)

Come on, everyone! It’s time for the Christmas play to begin! (SONG: Instrumental version of “O Come All Ye Faithful” played as the CAST ENTERS. TOWNSPEOPLE ENTER RIGHT and set a stool and manger. EDITH ENTERS RIGHT with IRENE, TINY, JANICE and BILLY. EVA MARIA, BETTY ANN and the AMEN SISTERS ENTER DOWN LEFT, looking very “angelic.” ORPHANS ENTER DOWN LEFT. SARAH is MARY. CATHY in a beard is JOSEPH. SMALLER ORPHANS are angels. MEDIUM ORPHANS are shepherds and YVONNE, SUSAN and BONNIE are the Wise Men.)

IRENE: Lucy, since you are back, would you like to begin the play as we did last year?

LUCY: (Steps forward.) A long time ago in Bethlehem, there were two people trying really hard to become a family. Their names were Mary and Joseph. (CATHY as JOSEPH and SARAH as MARY move to CENTER. SARAH sits on the stool.)

SARAH: They had no where to stay, but they had a bigger problem. Mary was going to have a baby. His name would be Jesus and he was the son of God.

YVONNE: They found a place to stay—a stable—and there the baby Jesus was born.

SWEETNESS: Nowadays folks are always saying it was a silent night.LITTLE BIT: But it wasn’t silent. Angels were singing and cattle were

lowing. (Aside to SWEETNESS.) What does lowing mean?IRENE: Shhh!LUCY: On that not-so-silent night, the world was given a gift…EVA MARIA: Amen, sister!

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LITTLE BIT: Why doesn’t she have to be quiet?LUCY: God sent His son to tell us all we were His children—all part

of the same family and all loved by the same Father in heaven. (SONG: “Silent Night.” ORPHANS are joined by the ADULTS.)

EDITH: That was wonderful, Irene. The children seem really happy.TINY: And Miss Hancock, I want you to know that we have had three

adoptions just today!LUCY: Make that four! I want you all to meet my new dad!ALBERT: Lucy, one step at a time. First a husband, then a father! I’m

getting married! (To IRENE.) Miss Lou Ann has agreed to be my wife. (LOU ANN hugs TINY.)

LUCY: And my mom!LOU ANN: (Hugs LUCY.) Oh, Lucy, it’s fi nally—perfect!EDITH: Well, I must say this is a pretty pass. We have lots of new

families. (Sigh.) I always wanted a family, too. It just never happened for me.

LUCY: What are you waiting for?EDITH: Whatever do you mean? I am not a married woman.LUCY: Miss Tiny, is there a rule about only married people adopting

children here?TINY: You know, I don’t believe there is.EDITH: Why, who would want me as a mother? I’m obnoxious and

disliked.LUCY: That’s true.IRENE/TINY/LOU ANN: Lucy!EDITH: She’s right. And besides, I would have to think about it. It

would take some time.ALBERT: Allow me to give you a little advice I have been given just

today. Hesitating is not always the right path, especially when the possibility of joy is waiting right around the corner! Remember that all these children are God’s children!

EDITH: Actually, I have seen a young lady here at the home I might like a chance to help. I’m not saying adoption. I am far too practical. Despite your advice, sir, I must look before I leap.

TINY: Oh, go ahead and leap, Edith! (Looks shocked. In an aside to LOU ANN.) That didn’t come out right.

EDITH: (Pays no attention to TINY.) I don’t know about adoption—but maybe I could help one young lady I have noticed here at the home.

YVONNE: Someone hide me.

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EDITH: Bonnie will soon be too old for the home, but I believe I can help her fi nd her way in the world.

BONNIE: Me? Why, I would like that very much.EDITH: Perhaps you could start by coming to spend time with me.

Maybe we could start to think about you going to college one day.BONNIE: College? Do you mean it? (Remembers BOBBY.) Oh, I couldn’t

go far away. I have a brother here.EDITH: A brother?BOBBY: I’m her brother. (Pointedly to YVONNE.) Also known as a

sibling.EDITH: I don’t know why you couldn’t come along, too—maybe some

weekend visits at my home to begin. Would you like to come?BOBBY: I’ll be out of here so fast—you won’t see me for the dust. And

that’s saying something in West Texas.TINY: Four adoptions and two… hopefuls.EDITH: Oh, who’s counting? The board will have to think again if they

think they can close Little Angels.TINY: Good for you, Miss Hancock!IRENE: I think it is safe to say that Little Angels will be here to see

another Christmas come around. But in a few hours we will be celebrating this Christmas! Merry Christmas, everyone!

ALL: Merry Christmas! (The CAST turns to one another to hug and wish each other a Merry Christmas.)

EVA MARIA: (Sniffl es into a hankie.) I think I feel the spirit moving.ALL: Amen, Sister! (SONG: “Joy to the World.”)

END OF PLAY

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PRODUCTION NOTES

PROPERTIESON STAGE: Old-fashioned console radio; straggly, bare Christmas tree;

cup hooks on wall panels; wall sign reading “Little Angels Home for Orphans, Shortcomings, Texas: Where all God’s children have a home”; a second sign reading “A busy Child is a Happy Child. If You Aren’t Happy – Get Busy”; another sign reading “Jesus wept. Did you have something to do with that?”; plain muslin bags stuffed with brightly colored knitted items (behind Christmas tree)

BROUGHT ON, Scene One:Pad of paper, pencil (CAROL)Large box containing Christmas tree ornaments (MAY)

BROUGHT ON, Scene Two:Box of Christmas decorations (BONNIE)

BROUGHT ON, Scene Four:Big box of Christmas decorations (BILLY)

BROUGHT ON, Scene Five:Shepherd’s costume (LOU ANN)Offering plate (EVA MARIA)Button (HILDA)

BROUGHT ON, Scene Eight:Ornaments, Christmas decorations (IRENE, TINY, ORPHANS, BUS

PEOPLE, TOWNSPEOPLE)Tambourines (HILDA, AMEN SISTERS)

BROUGHT ON, Scene Nine:Stool, manger (TOWNSPEOPLE)Hankie (EVA MARIA)

SOUND EFFECTSRadio crackle, tuning to a radio station, door chime

COSTUMESThe characters wear typical everyday clothes of the mid-1930’s Great Depression era and refl ective of their role. Special costuming is needed as follows: In Scene Four, SWEETNESS and LITTLE BIT wear angel costumes. In Scene Eight, LOU ANN wears a dress of tablecloth material, preferably red checkered and with a white collar. She has a fl ower in her hair. HILDA dons an AMEN SISTER robe. In Scene Nine, SARAH wears a simple dress depicting MARY, CATHY has a beard to depict Joseph, SMALLER ORPHANS have angel wings, and MEDIUM ORPHANS wear shepherd costumes. YVONNE, SUSAN and BONNIE wear robes depicting the Three Wise Men.

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