DEAR CAESAR AUGUSTUS
A Christmas Play by Jewell Ellen Smith
© Copyright Jewell E.
Smith 1980. First performed at
"And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar
Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.... And
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of
Luke 2:1, 4, 5, 7
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Time: The night when Christ was born.
Place:
Purpose and theme: To tell
the old Christmas Story in a new way, and to discover with the
Background Scripture: Luke
2:1-20; Matthew 2:1-11; Micah 5:2; Numbers 22-24.
Length of play: Approximately 60 minutes.
Number of players:
14
men
7 women
5 sub-teen girls and/or boys
3 teen-age girls
20 women singers, flute players
1 very young baby (total: 50)
Music: 2 hymns (song of the angels, grand finale
hymn)
The Characters:
Eben, the prosperous
Asa, the
venerable scribe of
Tamar, the innkeeper’s wife.
Lemuel,
the innkeeper’s stable boy, cousin of the Judean Shepherds.
Kenaz,
spokesman of the Judean Shepherds.
Sons of the Shepherds:
Jo-e-lab, Son of Kenaz
Te-ma, Son of O-zam.
Gil-e-ad, Son of Mi-sham
Or-nan, Son of Hez-ron
Lah-mi, Son of Rei
Judean
Shepherds: Kenaz, Ozam, Misham, Rei, Hezron
Angel of The LORD
Choir of Angels w/Flute Players
1st Magus
2nd Magus
3rd Magus
Residents of the Kingdom of Moab:
Mithcah, the queen’s hairdresser
Queen Melzarith, the wife of King Balak
Two Fanners
Servant Girl, the queen’s attendant
Madam Bilnah, the queen’s sister
Balak, the pagan King of
King’s Guard
Balaam,
a strange Midianite prophet who sometimes deals in
enchantments
Mary and Joseph
The
Christ Child
SUMMARY OF THE SCENES
ACT I, Scene 1:
Evening,
in the living quarters of the Bethlehem Inn. As Tamar serves supper to
her husband and her uncle, the two men talk of how crowded
Eben is delighted, for his inn
is filled to capacity, and, some of the travelers have amusing tales to tell.
The turn of events pleases the old scribe, too. A gentleman from Joppa has engaged
him to write a letter.
After old Asa leaves for his home, Eben
counts his money, calls in his stable boy, Lemuel,
and directs him to hang an old and faded "No Vacancy" sign at the
front gatepost. At the same time he warns Lemuel to
quit looking at and talking about the stars, especially a new one Lemuel terms "the most beautiful star I ever
saw."
Sub-Scene 1-A
When Lemuel
goes out to fasten up the sign, he says a soliloquy to the bright new star
shining down on
(Scene 1 resumed)
As Eben
is retiring for the night, he jokingly tells Tamar: "I ought to get your
uncle to write me a letter to Caesar! I'd say 'Dear Caesar Augustus: Just any
time you want to put out another census decree, I'm all for it! It means money
in my bag!'"
Soon after Eben falls asleep, Lemuel comes
to report that a weary traveler and his wife come all the way from
Eben, much too sleepy to be
bothered, grumbles at being disturbed, turns over and goes back to sleep. Lemuel and Tamar decide to let the
`A few minutes later the man
from
Scene 2
Later in the night when
Tamar tries to tell her sleepy husband of the
The innkeeper's sleep is
disturbed again about midnight when Lemuel's cousins,
the Judean shepherds, come to the inn, saying they have been visited by a host
of angels. Eben rouses up only long enough to vow
that he should send a letter to
As soon as Tamar can get her
irate husband back to sleep, she listens to Lemuel's
Cousin Kenaz tell how it was out on the hillside when
the shepherds and their young sons were visited by a host of singing angels.
Sub-Scene
2-A
As the shepherds sit around
a campfire talking, their young sons play games, practice using their slings.
Suddenly they are all frightened almost speechless when the Angel of the Lord
appears! The Angel announces "tidings of great joy—the birth of
Christ the Lord" Then a "multitude of the heavenly host"
surround the shepherds and their sons and sing their hymn of "Glory to God
in the Highest."
As soon as the angels
depart, the shepherds hurry into
ACT
II, Scene 1
A short time before dawn Lemuel comes bursting into the room where his master sleeps
to announce that three magi from the East are at the gate, that the new star
guided them to
Tamar wakes the innkeeper
and after some difficulty gets him to understand that wise men from far away
are at their gate. Eben grabs on his best robe and
proudly receives the magi.
The magi explain how the new
star and some ancient prophecies have brought them to the city of
Then, the innkeeper is much
delighted when the Third Wise Man tells the details of a story told him in
Sub-Scene 1-A
As King Balak
of
Balaam comes. King Balak offers him high honors and "a houseful of silver
and gold," But Balaam refuses to "curse those whom The Lord has
blessed." At the same time Balaam makes a prophecy that there "shall
come a Star out of Jacob, and a Scepter (a Great King) shall rise out of
(Scene
1, resumed)
At the conclusion of the
story of Balaam's prophecy to King Balak, the Three
Magi continue their conversation with the innkeeper and his wife.
When the Third Magus
mentions that one ancient Jewish prophet said that the promised king would be
called "The Prince of Peace," the innkeeper's wife volunteers the
information that there is a newborn child in one of their stables and that
"he is as beautiful as a prince."
Scene 2
The Magi go to the stable,
behold the newborn Holy Child, wonder at his
brightness, his beauty. Each makes a prophecy; each gives a gift and kneels in
adoration. Eben, Tamar and the stable boy Lemuel also bow down to worship. (The Judean Shepherds and
their sons are at the stable, kneeling before the manger when the others
arrive.)
Scene
3
At daybreak Eben sends Lemuel to get the
scribe. Old Asa is amazed to learn that Eben actually wants him to write a letter to Caesar
Augustus! They start composing the letter, to the effect that Eben would like to have Caesar conduct a census every year
so that gold would come to Eben, again and again.
Suddenly it occurs to Eben that "It does not take the edict of an emperor to
bring God to a man's house, and his heart!" The letter gets no further
than "Dear Caesar Augustus:"
GRAND
FINALE
The entire Cast converges on
stage and sings a Christmas hymn of praise, "Ask the Child to Come."
SCRIPT
ACT I Scene 1
In the living quarters of
The Bethlehem Inn, the night when Christ was born. It is dusk. Innkeeper Eben and old Asa the scribe are
seated at a dining table, just finishing the evening meal. Tamar
is serving her husband and uncle from the cooking area of the combination
bedroom, dining room, and kitchen. She is pleased to have her uncle as
their guest. Eben, who is fond of the old man, is in
a good humor.
EBEN: Ah, Uncle Asa, this has been a big day for me! A big day! Takes an
enormous bite of bread, washes it dawn with gulp of wine.
ASA: Plenty of
business--right?
EBEN: Plenty of business! Too much business, actually. My inn is filled, and families
are still pouring into town from all directions. I had no idea Caesar's census
would bring people to
ASA: There's been nothing
like it in my lifetime! Leans back But, Eben,
if you think about it, it's kind of nice to have
something going on in
EBEN. continuing
to eat with enjoyment I didn't know our ancestor King David had so many
descendants!
ASA: This week I've noticed
that when a good many of these people get here, they seem confused over the
whole thing. They don't understand why they had to travel for miles and miles
to be counted here in
EBEN: I don't see why they'd
be confused. There's nothing complicated about the decree Caesar Augustus
issued. It says as plain as day--you read it to me yourself, remember?--It says
that every man is to go to his own city. And
ASA: It's simple to you, Eben, but not to all these poor people. Well, some are
poor; some are not so poor.
EBEN: raising his voice
Tamar, we could use a little more mutton--if you have some there.
TAMAR: hurrying to the
table with a platter of meat There's plenty,
plenty. Help yourselves!
EBEN: helping the old
man's plate to a portion of meat Here, have
another serving. Meat was made to eat!
ASA: That's enough, now!
Thank you.
EBEN: taking a thick
slice for himself You know what they say about our
ASA: No. No thank you, Eben. I've had plenty. Turning to his niece A
delicious supper, Tamar!
TAMAR: Won't you take a
little of this cheese? I made it from the milk of our own goats. Cuts slices
of cheese and places additional buns of bread on the table.
ASA: Not another bite can I
swallow tonight!
TAMAR: In that case, Uncle Asa, I'll just wrap some for you to have tomorrow.
ASA: Tamar, you grow more
and more like your mother was every day. I can half close my old eyes and-see
my dear sister as she was, years ago. But the Lord have
mercy on me. I mustn't be day-dreaming of the past! I had best get on home,
close my eyes, and do some real dreaming!
EBEN: No need to hurry.
ASA: I'll have to get on
back. Brightens tone I have a letter to write tomorrow morning! For a gentleman here from Joppa. And if I don't get a good
night's rest my old hand will be like this tomorrow! Holds up hand,
deliberately exaggerating how his hand and arm will quiver and shake And a
scribe with a palsied hand is worth about as much as a wooden shekel!
TAMAR: Uncle Asa, you're the best scribe anywhere! And we all know it!
ASA: I wouldn't say that,
Tamar. I just happen to be the only scribe in
Asa pushes stool back from table, gets up to leave; Eben also
gets up.
EBEN: Now, this gentleman
from Joppa that you're to do the letter for? Is he the same man telling the
tale about a mysterious monster sighted off the coast of
ASA: hesitating Well,
I-- I just can't-- I don't remember hear--
TAMAR: interrupting Eben, you know Uncle Asa doesn't
sit around listening to all the tall tales told in this inn! Like you do! Uncle
Asa, don't mind Eben, here!
Stories from far away are an obsession with this man! Sometimes I think the
only reason he keeps the inn open, year in year out, is to get to hear the
fantastic stories the travelers tell!
All three laugh
EBEN: Tamar, that's not so!
Though I admit I do like to hear my patrons talk. Keeps the days from being so
dull!
ASA: There's nothing wrong
with a good story, well told. I'd kind of like to hear about this mysterious
monster off Joppa, myself. It was off the coast of
EBEN: Oh, it's bigger than a
whale! You see, it was like this. Three sailors--
TAMAR: Eben!
EBEN: Talking fast for he
knows his wife is going to stop him again Three Joppa sailors swear that
twice they've seen a big black thing rise up out of the sea, and--
TAMAR: E-ben!!!
EBEN: in crestfallen,
resigned tone Oh, very well. Tell you what, Uncle Asa, we'll get the gentleman
from Joppa to tell the story again--in the morning, just before you start
writing his letter!
ASA: Fine! Fine! That suits
me. pulls his cloak closer
TAMAR: offering a bundle
of food, tied up in a cloth Here's a taste of
bread and cheese for your breakfast, Uncle Asa.
ASA: Thank you, my dear.
You're too kind.
EBEN: opens door to look
out I didn't realize it was dark already. Hadn't you better take a candle?
Better yet, I'll send my stable boy with you to hold you a light. pokes head out the door to call the stable boy
Lemuel!
ASA: No, no, don't bother
the lad. I can see fine. The stars will be out turns around at the threshold
It's a perfect night for walking. Good night!
EBEN: Good night.
TAMAR: Good night, Uncle Asa.
Eben closes the door, yawns, and
stretches his arms.
EBEN: Ah, me! I've had it
for today. I'm going to count my money and go to bed! Eben
takes out money pouch, empties it on edge of table.
Both sit down. Tamar watches as Eben stacks the coins
into several piles. Wow! What a haul! Look at the money! I ought to get
your uncle to write me a letter! A letter to Caesar! I'd say "Dear Caesar
Augustus, just any time you want to issue another census decree, I'm all for
it! It means money in my bag!"
TAMAR: I'm sure Uncle Asa would be glad to write it. Probably wouldn't charge you
either.
EBEN: Tamar, common
innkeepers like me don't send letters to the emperor in
TAMAR: laughing Oh
yes, I remember that "No Vacancy" sign! We
never used it. Not once.
EBEN: Do you have any idea
where it is now?
TAMAR: It's probably back in
the storeroom, somewhere. You know me, I never throw away anything!
EBEN: See if you can find
it. I'll have Lemuel put it up tonight--out by the
gate lamp. Where is that stable boy?
TAMAR: Maybe he didn't hear
you call him.
Tamar goes into the back
room. Eben opens the door to call Lemuel
again.
EBEN: Lemuel!
Where are you, boy?
Lemuel darts in, breathless.
LEMUEL: Here I am, Sir!
EBEN: Well, I can see that!
But where have you been? And what have you been doing? I bet you've been gazing
at the stars again!
LEMUEL: Yes, Sir, I was
looking at the stars. You know that beautiful, beautiful new star I told you
about?
EBEN: Seems like I remember
you mentioned something about it. But then a star is a star so far as I'm
concerned.
LEMUEL: But, Sir, this is
not just a plain star. It's the most beautiful star I ever saw! Tonight when I
was taking straw to the stables, I could see it high, high up in the sky,
shining straight down on
EBEN: My. advice
to you, Lemuel, is to pay less attention to the stars
and more to your work! Did you spread plenty of fresh straw in all the stables?
LEMUEL: Oh, yes, Sir! I put in lots of straw.
EBEN: What about the
animals? Did you feed and water all of them?
LEMUEL: Yes, Sir. Every one. The mangers are full of hay.
EBEN: Did you think about
the oil in the lamp at the front gate?
LEMUEL: I poured oil in the
big lamp--just like always. It's burning bright.
Tamar returns, dusting off
the crude "No Vacancy" sign.
TAMAR: I found our old sign.
But it surely is dim and faded. wipes sign again
EBEN: It'll do. takes sign, attempts to dust it off some more,
holds it out at arm's length and chuckles. The saying is that if you keep
something seven years, you'll find a use for it, We've
had this seven years and twice again! Lemuel, I want
you to fasten this up out front, right beside the gate lamp.
LEMUEL: Yes, Sir. What does
it mean?
EBEN: It means that if any
more travelers come, they may as well not stop here. My inn is filled to the
brim.
LEMUEL: Yes, Sir.
EBEN: handing sign to boy
Now, fix it so the first puff of wind won't blow it
down. Then you get to your bed. There'll be plenty of work for you tomorrow.
And don't you forget what I've told you about listening out for any interesting
stories the travelers tell. If you hear anything amusing, or unusual, you're to
come get me right away! You remember?
LEMUEL: When anybody starts
telling a story, I'm to come get you! Yes, Sir, I remember that, 'cause you've
told me and told me!
EBEN: I don't want you to
ever forget! I might miss a good story.
LEMUEL: I like stories, too.
But I don't like stories as much as I like stars--especially my new one!
EBEN: Lemuel,
boy! If you so much as mention that new star again, I'll send you back to the
hills where you came from! And you can stay with your cousins and tend sheep
again, instead of being my stable boy!
LEMUEL: distressed Yes, sir! No, Sir! Yes, Sir! I mean please don't do that! I
like being your stable boy!
Lemuel darts out the door. Eben puts away his money pouch, eases off his sandals and outer
garment, dons his nightcap, and lies down on the couch. Tamar is still busy
with the leftover food.
TAMAR: Eben,
you ought not speak so rough to the boy--especially
about his looking at the stars every night. Gazing at the stars comes natural
to Lemuel.
EBEN: yawns I don't
see why.
Eben flops himself over, turning
his face to the wall. Before Tamar can finish explaining Lemuel's
fascination with the stars, he is snoring.
TAMAR: Because his people are shepherds, that's why! And you've got to remember that
this time of year they stay out in the fields at night, keeping watch over
their flocks. Before Lemuel came to us he was fight
out there with all his cousins—watching the sheep, watching the stars.
Spotlight takes audience
attention to Lemuel at the gatepost.
Sub-Scene
1-A
At the gatepost of the inn, Lemuel hangs up the "No Vacancy" sign, adjusts
the lamp, and then gazes up into the sky. He says a soliloquy to the new star.
LEMUEL'S SOLILOQUY:
New
Star! New Star! Why are you there?
Why do you shine this night?
Your beams come down on
Why did God give you light?
Did God make you for the
owls of the night? The hawks? The
beasts of prey?
Oh
no! I think not so! Not for the beasts of prey!
You
are not their star!
Did God make you to light the way of those who
travel far, those who come to
You
could be a guiding star.
Or, did God make you for a
great, great king who rules on a golden throne?
You
could be a Great King's star.
Ah,
new star, I think I know why you are there, Why God gave you light.
You
shine for the shepherds, out in the fields, keeping their flock by night.
You
shine for the sheep, safe in the fold, their young
lambs need your light.
I
can see you shining on a little lamb, newborn this very day.
And him asleep, on the hay, beneath your soft, soft light.
But
would God make a star for one little lamb? Even if it were His own?
Oh,
yes, I know He would!
You could be the star of the Lamb of God!
New
Star! New Star! Why are you there?
Why do you shine this night?
Your beams come down on
Why did God give you light?
At the end of the soliloquy,
spotlight shifts back to Tamar and her sleeping husband. There is no break
between Sub-Scene 1A and the remainder of Scene 1.
Resume scene 1
TAMAR: spreading a light
blanket over Eben. Ah, Eben,
bless you! You miss so much in this life! You run the inn, you count your
money, and you listen to all those tales the travelers tell. But there are
important things you never see or think about. turns
and picks up cup of wild flowers on the table Lilies of the field. They
grow wild, under your feet. But you never see them; you never look down. And
the stars! You never look up!
And Lemuel!
You see him just as a stable boy--not as a lonely shepherd lad trying to
please, trying to do his best!
Tamar sets the flowers aside
and sits down to brush and braid her hair. Ebon snores, louder and louder. Just
as Tamar leans over to blow out the flame of the candle, Lemuel
knocks. She lets him in, motions for him to speak quietly.
TAMAR: Shh,
Lemuel! What do you want?
LEMUEL: It's more people!
They need a place for tonight.
TAMAR: We don't have any
more places. How many people are there?
LEMUEL: Just two. A man and a lady. pauses
They look very tired. Their little old donkey is about to fall in his tracks!
TAMAR: They've probably
traveled far.
LEMUEL: The man said they
came from a place called
TAMAR: That is a long way.
LEMUEL: Ma'am, the husband
is very worried about the lady. She is great with child.
TAMAR: Great with child! Oh,
goodness! I hate to wake your master, but I don't know what else to do.
Tamar shakes Eben's shoulder, gets him
half-awake. He mumbles and grumbles.
Eben, I'm sorry to wake you, but
there's a couple at the gate. Come all the way from
EBEN: mumbling Show
'em the sign! Can't they read? turns
over to go back to sleep
TAMAR: But, Eben, these people have to have a place!
EBEN: still groggy
What am I supposed to do? Give 'em
my bed?
TAMAR: No, Eben, but--
EBEN: Tell 'em to go somewhere else. And don't bother me; I've got to
get some sleep. voice trails off and he
begins to snore again
LEMUEL: whispering
Mistress, I know what we'll do! The man and the lady can have my place in the
big stable! My bed's not so good--just a stack of straw--but the straw is fresh
and soft.
TAMAR: I suppose that's
about the only thing to do--let them sleep in the big stable. Tell them we're
sorry we don't have a better place.
LEMUEL: Yes, Ma'am, I'll
tell 'em. starts
to leave
TAMAR: Wait a minute, Lemuel. Let me get those poor weary people some cover.
Tamar hurries in and back
out of the storeroom, hands Lemuel a blanket. He
leaves, and she sits back down to finish braiding her hair. Then, just as she
removes one sandal, Lemuel knocks again. She hurries
to the door, one shoe on, the other in her hand.
Lemuel! What is it, now?
LEMUEL: The lady from
Nazareth-- She-- Her husband said please come! Right away! And-- and, he said
maybe you might have something to use for swaddling clothes?
TAMAR: Swaddling clothes? Of
course! Tell him I'll be right there!
Lemuel leaves. Tamar straps her
sandal back on, gabs on her head shawl. Quickly she opens a chest, rummages
through it, and takes out some white cloth. This she tears into several strips
about three inches wide and into one square, about as big as a baby's receiving
blanket. She drapes the cloth over her arm, picks up one of the candles, and
hurries out. Eben sleeps on.
CURTAIN
If there is no curtain, use
a few seconds of darkness to indicate the end of Scene 1. Then, bring light
back up for Scene 2. If the director likes, the pianist could play a measure or
so of music between these scenes.
Scene 2
Same as Scene 1. It is almost midnight. Eben is alone in the room, still asleep, still snoring. He
becomes restless, turns over, rouses up slightly, and discovers that Tamar has
not yet gone to bed, that she is not in the room.
EBEN: Tamar? Now where could
she be? Tamar?
Tamar hurries in, goes over to Eben's couch; she
is fairly beaming.
TAMAR: Yes, Eben?
EBEN: When are you ever
going to bed? It must be nearly midnight!
TAMAR: Oh, Eben! You ought to see the baby! A beautiful, beautiful
baby! He's the most beautiful baby I ever saw!
EBEN: with no real
interest What baby?
TAMAR: The people from
EBEN: snuggling farther
down into his covers There's nothing I can do
about it. Go to sleep, Tamar, so I can get some rest!
TAMAR: You just can't
imagine how beautiful the little child is!
EBEN: still grumbling
That's what you say about all babies.
Tamar again prepares to go
to bed. This time she gets as far as sitting down on her couch and removing
both sandals.
TAMAR: This baby is
different! Different from any other child ever born in
EBEN: Tamar, hush talking
and go to sleep! That baby will be there in the morning when you wake up!
TAMAR: Yes, Eben. murmuring half
to herself, half to Eben
Ah, truly, he is the most beautiful child I ever saw. Looks like a little
prince.
EBEN: completely out of
patience You and Lemuel
talk just alike! Tonight he rattled on and on about "the most beautiful
star" he ever saw. And I can't get you to hush about "the most
beautiful baby" you ever saw. What I say is this, "This Is the
most dreadful night I ever saw!"
There is a rather loud
rapping at the door. Disgusted, Eben raises himself
up on one elbow, starts to fling the covers aside.
Oh, no! Not more census people looking for lodging!
So help me, I ought to send a letter to Caesar! Say "Dear Caesar Augustus:
If you ever take another census, I'll come to
TAMAR: getting her
husband to lie back down Go back to sleep, Eben.
Don't get up! That's it. Lie back. Get your rest. I'll send these people on.
Tamar opens the door. Lemuel runs in, much excited. He
is followed by Kenaz.
LEMUEL: Mistress?
TAMAR: Quiet! Quiet! Lemuel, you know your master's asleep. And you know there
aren't any more rooms for rent.
LEMUEL: Ma'am, this is my
Cousin Kenaz! He doesn't need a room.
TAMAR: Well? Is something wrong?
LEMUEL: No, Ma'am! No,
Ma'am! Everything's fine! Cousin Kenaz and my other
cousins just came from the fields, and they've got a good story to tell!
TAMAR: A story to tell?
LEMUEL: Master Eben has given me strict orders that every time I hear a
story I'm to come get him right away! And this is a real good one! I know he
wants to hear it!
TAMAR: Lemuel,
child, we don't dare wake up Master Eben again
tonight! He would be furious!
LEMUEL: disappointed,
almost to the point of tears But, it's a story
about angels! And I've already made Cousin Kenaz
promise he'd tell it to Master Eben. Let's wake him
up! He would listen!
TAMAR trying to comfort Lemuel, and, keep him quiet No, no, Lemuel.
We mustn't. But, both of you, come over here in the comer, and tell me the
story. I'll listen. Lemuel, bring the stools.
The three gather in the
corner, as far away as possible from Eben. Tamer and Kenaz sit on the stools.
Lemuel sits on the floor, close to his cousin.
LEMUEL: Cousin Kenaz, tell my mistress. Just like you
told me.
KENAZ: Ma'am, it was a
strange thing! A wonderful thing! It happened about--maybe two hours ago--out
on the hillside where we were watching over our sheep.
A bunch of us shepherds were
sitting around the fire--a little fire, 'cause it's not cold tonight--and we
were talking among ourselves, like we always do. We had the sheep in the fold,
and they were quiet.
My brother Mi-sham, who likes to tell jokes, had us
men laughing...
Our young sons were there,
playing at being shepherds; two or three of them were bleating like sheep... voice
trails off
Medium bright light is
turned on hillside Scene. There is no break between Scene 2 and Sub-Scene 2-A
Sub-Scene 2-A
Five shepherds are sitting
in a semi-circle around a small fire, on right stage, near the gate of their
sheepfold. Mi-sham is entertaining the other shepherds with an anecdote about
Hezekiah, an old ram be once had. The other men laugh now and then. At the same
time the five shepherd boys play and romp on left stage. Audience hears what
the boys are saying but only snatches of the ram tale.
The boys have slings and
individual bags of smooth stones. And they have borrowed three staffs and a
shepherd's rod (a club) from their fathers.
Lahmi and Ornan
are sitting on the ground laughing at the antics of Tema,
Jo-e-lah, and
Tema, Jo-e-lah
and
TEMA and JO-E-LAH: Baa--
Baa-- Baa-- continuously
TEMA: refusing to
budge Baaa-- Baaaaa--
Baaaaaa--
TEMA and JO-E-LAH: plaintively
and long and drawn out Baaaaaaaaaaaaa-- Baaaaaaaaaaaaaa--
Tema and Jo-e-lah keep bleating
ORNAN: to Lahmi, as he points to
TEMA: Baaa--
Baaa-- lifts up head Gil, not so
fast! Baaa-- Baaa--
TEMA and JO-E-LAH: louder
than ever Baaaa-- Baaaaa--
Baaaa-- continuously, until Shepherd Kenaz calls out
SHEPHERD KENAZ: calling
out to the boys Hey, boys! Not so loud over there! You'll wake up the whole
flock! Besides, we can't hear ourselves think--much less talk!
Boys get quiet for a second
or two.
OZAM: to Mi-sham
Go on with your tale, Misham.
You were saying your old ram Hezekiah got his head hurt.
MISHAM: Yeah, old Hezekiah
got a bad gash on his head--how I never could figure out--it was right between his
horns. So, I rubbed oil on it, and it soon healed up. But old Hezekiah loved
that oil! Ever' evenin' he'd come to me and rub his
head up against me--wanting me to put more oil on him!
So I would! I'd dab on a
little bit of oil and rub Hezekiah's head! And that went on for weeks! Why I
bet I wasted a gallon of oil on that old ram! All shepherds laugh
Did I ever tell you all
about the old ram I had named Nebo? Now old Nebo... voice trails off
Boys and "sheep"
begin laughing and bleating again
Tema stops abruptly, sits
upright, removes the crook from around his neck. Jo-e-lah
also sits up.
TEMA: It's your turn now,
Gil! You be the sheep! I'll be the shepherd!
JO-E-LAH: Yeah, Gil, you be a sheep and let Tema
be the shepherd! Or, me! I'll be the shepherd!
JO-E-LAH: Suits me!
Gilead, Tema,
and Jo-e-lah plop themselves down near Lahmi and
LAMHI: One, two, three,
four, five, six, seven-- stops counting to watch Ornan
ORNAN: making his sling go faster and faster When I get to be a shepherd, I'm gonna be the best slinger in ail of
GILEAD:
ORNAN: stops twirling
sling Ah, Gil, there's not but one way to hold a sling!
Now, you take your loop and
slip it over your little finger, and you don't let it go too far down, just to
the crook in your finger--like this. demonstrates,
holding hand so audience can see fingers.
And, you hold the other end
like this. folds up other end of sling,
making the two ends even
Then, you place your stone
in the center and start whirling. starts
whirling, without a stone 'Course the farther you want your stone to go,
the faster you whirl! Then, you simply let go of the loose end! It's simple!
But you gotta know how!
ORNAN: Well, I know how!
TEMA: getting up to
demonstrate how be will use a rod. Lifts rod, handling it much like a baseball bat. When
I get to be a real shepherd, I'm not gonna depend on
a sling! When I see a wolf coming, I'll draw back my rod and--
Draws back arm as if to
strike with rod, but stops abruptly when an extremely bright light floods the
hillside and the ANGEL OF THE LORD suddenly appears.
Father!
Father! runs toward shepherds
There is much confusion as all
the boys run to their fathers, crying out as they go. The actual shepherds jump
to their feet, scramble backward. Each man grabs his son to protect him. They
all huddle together as the ANGEL OF THE LORD comes nearer and nearer.
ALL SHEPHERD BOYS: crying
out, but not in unison Father! Father! What's happening? Father! I can't
see!
ALL SHEPHERDS: call to
their sons, at the same time
Misham: Gil, come here!
Re-i: Lahmi! Lahmi! Are you all right?
O-zam: Tema!
Hezron: Ornan, where are
you!
Kenaz: Jo-e-lah! Stay with
me, son!
ANGEL OF THE LORD: coming
close to group Shepherds, don't be frightened! I bring you
good tidings!
MI-SHAM: stuttering
T-t-t-tidings? G-g-g-good tidings?
ANGEL: Good tidings! Of
great joy! Which shall be to all people!
MI-SHAM: Joy to all people?
We-- We don't understand!
ANGEL: "Unto you is born this day in the city of
Choir of angels appears,
singing even before they come on stage. (see below,
"Glory to God in the Highest.") They almost surround the shepherds.
Awe-stricken, the shepherds kneel down. The angels sing to the shepherds, not
to the audience. As soon as the angels disappear, the men and boys leap to
their feet. They are elated, joyous!
MISHAM: Let's go to
RE-I: Come on! The angels
said: "Find Him! Find Him!"
O-ZAM: The Lord our God has
made this thing known to us! He wants us to see our Saviour!
MISHAM: Of course he wants
us to see Him! God even gave us a sign! A babe in a stable! Wrapped in
swaddling clothes!
HEZRON: There are lots of
stables in
RE-I: You're right! Lemuel will know exactly where to find Him! Let's hurry!
O-ZAM: But what about our
sheep? We can't just leave them!
RE-I: Oh, the boys can look
after the sheep! looks at boys
Can't you, boys?
LAHMI: coming closer to
his father, Rei But, father, I want to go see the
Holy Child!
TEMA: Me too!
ORNAN: I want to see Him, too!
JO-E-LAH: So do I!
GILEAD: going to
Misham Father, please let us go to
MI-SHAM: loudly and in a
tone settling the whole matter Come! All of you! The Angel of the
Lord did say the Holy Child is born for all people!
Shepherds and boys leave
hurriedly. The boys are especially joyous. Tema and
Gilead go off arm in arm, with Lahmi,
Spotlight shifts audience attention
back to Innkeeper's room.
There is no break at the end
of Sub-Scene 2-A. Kenaz resumes his narrative.
KENAZ: addressing Tamar
So, Ma'am, we hurried into the city as fast as we could walk. And came straight here to Lemuel. hesitates Ma'am, Lemuel
says there is a newborn babe, right in the stable where he always sleeps!
TAMAR: There is! There is! Born here in a plain stable. But he is as beautiful as any
little prince ever born in a king's palace!
KENAZ: Would it be all right
if we go to the stable and see the babe?
TAMAR: Of course!
LEMUEL: jumping up
Come on! I'll show you which stable!
Kenaz and Lemuel
leave hurriedly. Tamar walks over to the couch and looks down at her sleeping
husband.
TAMAR: Oh, Eben, you slept through the best story ever told in
blows out light of candle
CURTAIN,
end of ACT I
If a curtain is not being
used, dim lights very low. Pianist may play several measures of the Song of the
Angels between ACT I and ACT II.
ACT II, Scene 1
That
same night, about 2:00 a.m., in the living quarters of the Bethlehem Inn. Eben
is still asleep. Tamar is on her couch, propped up by
pillows. She is very restless. She opens her eyes, closes them, and opens them
again. Finally, she eases out of bed, finds a wrap, and begins talking to
herself.
TAMAR: I just can't sleep.
There's no use trying. I keep thinking about that baby! And
the young mother. Maybe I ought to take her some food. Now, before daybreak. Yes, that's what I'll do! I'll fix her
something to eat, and take it to her.
Tamar busies herself in the
kitchen area. Just as she gets a bowl of fruit and other food covered and is
ready to go out the door with it, Lemuel knocks and
rushes on in more wide-eyed and excited than ever.
LEMUEL: Mistress, there are
three of 'em! With a whole caravan--lots of servants!
And their camels are fat! And they have long beards! And--
TAMAR: Camels with long
beards? Lemuel?
LEMUEL: The magi have
long beards! The new star brought 'em here! They told
me so! And they said--
TAMAR: Child, what are
you talking about?
LEMUEL: Three magi have
come! They're at the gate, right now!
TAMAR: Magi?
LEMUEL: Three of 'em, mistress! We've got to wake up Master Eben!
TAMAR: You must be mistaken,