Script Sample:
Lay Your Hands On Me

PASTOR HOWARD BRYCE WINSTON GOODALL, a small wiry man stands before members of his “flock”, WILLIS FARMER, a young man,  and ALYCEA WILLIAMS and TRACY LIVINGSTON, two churchwomen.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

We stand before the very house of sin and negation.  A rotting cesspool of corruption and vice that has spread death and destruction for far too long in our community.  But today—I said TODAY—

 

THE FLOCK (collectively)

Amen.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Yes, Lord.  TODAY is the day we do the Lord’s work among his people.

 

WILLIS

Preach, Rev.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

TODAY is the day we clean up this dark house—

 

TRACY

Clean up this dark house, Lord.  Clean it up!

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Amen.  Wipe this street CLEAN of the evil presence of drug purveyors and those who prey on the innocent.  Have mercy.

 

ALYCEA

Yes, yes, wipe it clean, Lord.

 

WILLIS

Protect the innocent, Lord.  Protect them.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Are you READY to do the LORD’s work?

 

THE FLOCK

Yes, Lord.  We’re ready.

 

ALYCEA

Uh…Pastor?

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Yes, Alycea.  What’s on your heart?

 

ALYCEA

There’re only four of us here.  Is that enough to do the job?  I mean, you’re talkin’ about cleaning out all the crack in a crack house.  That’s a lot of money.  That’s some SERIOUS business.  Theyre liable to have more people in there than we have out here.

 

Willis and Tracy express tentative agreement.

 

WILLIS

An’ you know they probably all packin’ some heat.  They ain’t just gonna step aside an’ let us take it, are they?

 

TRACY

Packin?  Packin’ what?

 

WILLIS

Guns, Tracy.

 

TRACY

Guns.  With bullet guns?

 

WILLIS

Nobody’s questioning your judgment, Pastor.  You know I’m down with the Lord—all the way down.  But, well…she might have a point.

 

Pastor Goodall steps back, looks them over.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Mh-hmm.

 

He paces, regarding them.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

It’s not my judgment you’re questioning, my child.  It’s God’s judgment.

 

ALYCEA

That’s not what I meant…

 

PASTOR GOODALL

(Silences her with a gesture)

These are some very good questions.  But as sure as my name is Pastor Horace Bryce Winston Goodall, the Lord will not lead you where you cannot prevail in His name.  Believe that.  Now, I have good information that at this time of the day, there’s only one or two people in that house.  So, you see?  The Lord removes all obstacles for those who do His will.  Now.  Are we ready to do the Lord’s work?

 

THE FLOCK (collectively)

Yes, Lord.  We’re ready.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Then we’ll approach from the side…

 

TRACY

Well, uh…I do have just one tiny concern, Pastor…

 

PASTOR GOODALL

And what’s that, Sister Tracy?

 

TRACY

How I’m gonna tell my momma I got shot today?  That would be shameful, wouldn’t it?  “O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame?” Psalm 4:2.

 

They break out in a stream of protests one on top of another.

 

WILLIS

I don’t have no insurance, Pastor!  I can’t pay no hospital bill!  IF I don’t get shot dead.

 

ALYCEA

Maybe there’s only so much we can do.  We trying to do the policeman’s job.  Outreach isn’t supposed to be dangerous, is it?

 

WILLIS

I’m the only son of my father, Lord.  If I left this world all outta my time, it wouldn’t be long ‘ fore he came right behind me.  Have mercy!

 

TRACY

I KNOW you not trying to get Tracy Lorraine Livingston killed here today!  You don’t see them white Christians doing no shit like this!  I’m sorry Reverend, but it’s true.  Why, if I got shot up in a crack house, I would just curl up and die of the shame alone, I would.

 

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Uhm.  Uhm uhm uhm uhm.  Oh, ye of little faith.  Ye of little FAITH!  “The Lord of hosts shall defend them, and His arrow shall go forth as the lightning.”  Zechariah 9:15.  “The horse is prepared against the day of battle, but safety is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31.  I have just one other thing to say to all of you.  In the name of Jesus Christ, my savior and yours.

 

SONG:  CHRISTIAN BATTLE SONG IN WHICH PASTOR GOODALL CONVINCES THE FLOCK TO FOLLOW HIM TO VICTORY.

[PASTOR GOODALL’S FOLLOWING SPEECH IS PEPPERED WITH ENTHUSIASTIC ACKNOWLEDGMENTS FROM THE FLOCK.]

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Well all right then.  Now, we are going to go in there and REMOVE the filthy drugs with which these dealers are killing our community.  What’s going to happen is we are going to enter that house with the name of the Lord God on our lips, and we are going to proclaim his glory.  We are going to announce that the LORD has sent us to clean out this den of inequity.  And who ever is inside is going to hand all the crack cocaine in there over to us.  Without a fight.  So now you tell me if you are ready.  Are you READY?

 

THE FLOCK (collectively)

We’re ready.  Ready to do the Lord’s work in his holy name.

 

Pastor Goodall moves to the door.  The FLOCK follows.

 

PASTOR GOODALL

Sinner, your retribution is at hand.

 

PASTOR GOODALL knocks.

 

END Act One, Scene Two