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Bob and Marcia Get Mesmerized
Characters:
BOB – Crabby “Archie Bunker” type
character
MARCIA – Bob’s curious, sweet wife
NARRATOR – Introduces
the scene and gets involved in it
Summary:
Bob and Marcia begin Thanksgiving Day with their new
television.
(Marcia is sitting on one of two comfortable chairs,
center stage. A small table
sits between the chairs.
There is an old “tube” television in front of the chairs.
Bob enters from stage-right and sits down; Narrator stands reading
his script stage left, introducing the scene.)
NARRATOR
It’s Thanksgiving Day in the U.S.A:
a time to thank God for our many blessings, a time to spend with
family and friends, a time to enjoy food, and a time to enjoy football.
MARCIA
Good Morning Bob, isn’t it just a wonderful
day?
BOB
(to himself) Family, friends, food, football…
MARCIA
What did you say?
BOB
Oh, it was nothing.
I thought I heard something.
MARCIA
Ohhhh, I see.
So what’s the surprise you have hiding in the garage?
BOB
What!?!
How did you know about that?
MARCIA
One-a my sheets was missing, and I saw it
in the garage, covering a big box.
BOB
Arrrrgh!
I’ll be right back (exits stage left, bumps into Narrator)
Get
outta my way.
MARCIA
Husbands these days, whadya gonna do, hey?
NARRATOR
While Bob is out in the garage, Marcia
gets an idea. She stands up
and moves the old television to another spot on the stage.
Just as she moves it, Bob enters the room again, rolling in a huge,
new flat screen television covered with plastic.
BOB
(to the Narrator) Get outta my way.
MARCIA
I’m sorry Bob.
BOB
I wasn’t talkin’ to you.
Here it is. (hands Marcia the bedsheet)
MARCIA
Oh, thank you Bob, I was a-lookin for that
sheet.
BOB
(mocking Marcia)
Oh, thank you Bob—no, this,
Marcia, (dramatically points at the television) this is our
new television!
MARCIA
Ohhh, Bob….that is nice, very nice. But,
Bob—
BOB
Oh, no here comes the
But, Bob—
MARCIA
I thought you wanted to keep your old
television?!? You always said
you would NEVER change from your old black and white set that has NO
remote control. In fact you
were proud of it, because you always said that the new televisions
MESMERIZE people and they turn into zombies—
BOB
Now hold on just a minute, I know I said that
in the past, but Marcia—
MARCIA
Oh, no, here comes the
But, Marcia—
BOB
These big flat TVs have come
way down in price, and I want
to watch the game with my brother when he comes over later.
MARCIA
(nodding affirmatively) Okay, Bob, I
understand. Did you get a
good deal?
BOB
Did I get a good deal?
No Marcia, I got a rotten deal!
What do you think? I
got a great deal!
We went to the “Pre-Black Friday Super Special Sale” last night.
MARCIA
Ohhh, I see.
Who did you go with?
BOB
(removes the plastic from the new television)
I went with Murray.
MARCIA
I thought you an’ Murray weren’t speaking?
He made you mad when he borrowed your truck to move his son and
they thew out the transmission—
BOB
Yeah, yeah, yeah—well we worked it out.
MARCIA
Ohhhhh, I see.
What changed?
BOB
(picks up remote and presses it, as if to turn
the television on) We forgave each other.
MARCIA
Oh, thank God…
What’s on television now?
BOB
The Pre-Game Show is on.
MARCIA
Ohhhh, I see.
Wow, what a nice
picture.
BOB
Yes, it is,
very nice.
(Bob and Marcia sit there for almost 30 seconds, just
staring, mesmerized. Narrator interrupts.)
NARRATOR
Ahem.
As you can see, Bob’s lifelong observation that the fancy new color
televisions causes people to be mesmerized.
(steps over to where Bob and Marcia are sitting and waves his hand
in front of each of their faces)
As you can see, they are sitting here, but their minds are
captured. Now, watch this.
(picks up the remote and presses it, as if to turn off the
television.)
BOB
(blinks his eyes several times) Hey,
hey—whaddya doin’? I was
watchin’ that!?
MARCIA
What’s goin’ on here?
Who are you?
NARRATOR
(presses the remote control as if to
power the television back on)
Okay, okay—here you go.
BOB
Ahhh…much better.
NARRATOR
As you can see, the communication between
Bob and Marcia has gone to almost zero. We must ask ourselves, is getting
a good deal on a new television
worth the cost?
Turn it off sometimes.
+++
Reference:
Psalm 101:3 (New King James Version)
I will set nothing wicked before my eyes;
I hate the work of those who fall away;
It shall not cling to me.
--bro. tim pickl
Saturday November 13, 2010 A.D.
Originally posted on FaithWriters -- Check it out:
http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article-level3-previous.php?id=37547
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