One of the dramas Steve Pederson mentions in his interview is this one dealing with unanswered prayer. This script, written by Sharon Sherbondy, is reprinted by permission from Sunday Morning Live, Vol. 2 (Zondervan, 1992).
Setting: Two women, Kathy and Deb, sitting on a living room couch. Kathy is opening a gift.
Kathy: Oh Deb, our first gift. This is so nice of you.
Deb: Hey, it’s the least I can do.
Kathy: (holding up a Chicago Bears outfit for a baby) Oh, look at this. It’s adorable.
Deb: I fell in love with it the moment I saw it.
Kathy: Can you believe that anything is this small? I just hope I know what to do with it once I get it.
Deb: It?
Kathy: It seems like a lifetime. Now after all we’ve been through, our prayers are finally answered.
Deb: If it had been me I would have given up a long time ago.
Kathy: Listen, there were plenty of low moments, plenty of doubts. But, I just had to force myself to keep thinking “someday … “
Deb: And that “someday” is here. Oh, Kathy, I’m so happy for you. Not only because you’re getting a baby but because you won’t have to see any more agencies or doctors.
Kathy: (jokingly) It’s a good thing because there’s certainly nothing left of this body that hasn’t been poked, probed, and stared at by at least 100 people. After a while I quit asking their name and just said, “Take me, I’m yours.”
Deb: And then, finally, you get the call.
Kathy: I couldn’t believe it; I was in shock. I stayed awake all night just to make sure it wasn’t a dream. (gets emotional) And it’s not; it’s real. I just can’t believe it.
Deb: How can that husband of yours work, knowing that in less than three hours he’s going to be a father?
Kathy: I don’t know, but I’m glad he’s there and not here. We would have driven each other crazy.
Deb: Do you have a name for him?
Kathy: Uh, huh. Jason. Jason Carter.
Deb: Ooo. I like that. Jason Carter. It sounds strong.
Kathy: I think so, too.
Greg: (enter smiling, but not happy) Hi, everybody.
Kathy: Oh, hi. Honey. I mean “Daddy.” Couldn’t stay at work, huh?
Greg: No.
Deb: Congratulations, Greg. I can’t tell you how happy I am for you!
Greg: Thanks, Deb.
Kathy: Greg, look what Deb bought little Jason. (showing him the outfit) Isn’t it cute? Our own little Chicago Bear.
Greg: Yeah, uhm, listen. Deb, if you don’t mind, I’d like to talk with Kathy about something.
Deb: Oh, sure. I need to get home, anyway.
Kathy: I think I’ve got a nervous father on my hands, what do you think?
Deb: I think you’re right. (hugs them) Oh, I’m so happy for you two.
Kathy: Thanks, Deb. I’ll see you tomorrow.
Deb: You better believe it. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away. (exits)
Kathy: Bye. Isn’t she a good friend?
Greg: Yeah, she’s pretty special. Uh, Honey, I want you to come sit down. I need to talk to you about something.
Kathy: (lightly) Oh, my. This sounds serious.
Greg: Kathy, it’s about the baby.
Kathy: (still lightly) Greg, I already know what you’re going to say.
Greg: I don’t think you do.
Kathy: Look, I know ever since we got the call I’ve been thinking too much about the baby, but, Honey, that will change. I promise I’m not going to become one of those mothers whose whole life revolves around her kid. It’s just that right now it’s all I can think about. I’m just too excited to see our dream finally come true.
Greg: Kathy, our lawyer called me at work a little while ago. The girl decided to keep the baby.
Kathy: (shocked) What?
Greg: She changed her mind.
Kathy: But she can’t do that. She signed the papers.
Greg: She has three days after the birth to change her mind.
Kathy: But she can’t do that. She promised.
Greg: Kathy, she can do it, and she did. Now, you knew it was a possibility.
Kathy: Where’s Taylor’s number? A lawyer should be able to do something.
Greg: Kathy, I asked him, and there’s nothing he can do.
Kathy: What do you mean, you asked. You couldn’t have or he’d be doing something.
Greg: There’s nothing he can do. It’s already been done. Now please . . . (he goes to hug her, she pulls away)
Kathy: I don’t believe you. It was all worked out. We had a baby. In just three hours, he would be ours. He is ours.
Greg: (trying to console her) There’ll be other babies.
Kathy: Other babies? I don’t want other babies. I want this one.
Greg: Well, we can’t have him, Honey.
Kathy: (pause) I can’t take this anymore. What does he want from us?
Greg: Who?
Kathy: God, that’s who.
Greg: Honey, I don’t think this is his fault.
Kathy: Well, whose fault is it, then? He’s the one I’ve been praying to for nine years asking for a child. But does he give me one? No. My body remains sterile and all the agencies just keep saying, “We just don’t have anything for you.” And now this. Dangling this carrot in front of my nose only to yank it away. Well, I can’t take it anymore.
Greg: (crossing to her) Honey.
Kathy: (pulling away) Leave me alone. (pause. Greg crosses to couch, starts to put baby outfit back in the box) What are you doing?
Greg: I’m putting this away. We’ve got to take it back.
Kathy: How can you think about taking it back now?
Greg: Kathy, what do you want me to think about?
Kathy: Our baby!
Greg: Honey, we don’t have a baby.
Kathy: Shut up! Just shut up. I don’t want to hear it. I’m tired of hearing it.
Greg: Honey, please, just calm down. (grabbing onto her)
Kathy: (struggling to get free of him) I don’t want to calm down. I’m angry. I hate that girl. I hate you. I hate me. I hate God. I hate everybody. I hate this. I hate this, I hate this. (breaks down crying in Greg’s arms)
Greg: (long pause) Come on. Let’s sit down. (they cross to couch, sit)
Kathy: Oh, Greg. Where have our prayers been going? Why isn’t God listening? Is there some sin in our lives? Are we doing something wrong? How long do we have to keep praying?
Greg: (simply, somewhat defeated as well) As long as it takes.
Kathy: But I don’t have any faith left. I’m empty. Oh, Greg, what are we going to do?
Greg: I don’t know, Honey. (slowly) We’ll just keep praying . . . keep trying. (holds her close, tearful) We’ll just keep trying.
LIGHTS FADE
55 SUMMER/93
Copyright © 1993 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal. Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.
