...Continuing as a flashback from the previous scene: a single light fades in across the main stage to the front right. Mary walks in dressed in a dressing gown and cuddling a soft toy. She sits down on a basic but comfortable chair and switches on the small table lamp before picking up a plain magazine to read.
One night (in Nazareth), Mary is approached by the angel (Gabriel). She cries in disbelief before finally accepting her destiny.
| Gabriel: | I have some wonderful news for you! You have been chosen as God's favourite. | |
| Mary: | (suddenly startled while reading her magazine) What do you mean? (staring around for someone behind the voice, before continuing softly and fearfully)...Wonderful news? ...God's favourite? | |
| Gabriel: | Do not be afraid, Mary! God has honoured you specially. God is with you. You will soon have a son! | |
| Mary: | (clearly ashamed and distressed) Impossible! I have never slept with any..one. (jumping out of her chair in indignation) | |
| Gabriel: | No man will have you before that day! Your child will be the Son of God! | |
| Mary: | (submissively) ...the Son of God? (long frozen pause) But what name could I give Him? | |
| Gabriel: | He has many names. But call Him 'Jesus' because He has come to save people from sin and death. His Name will never die! His kingdom will reign forever! | |
| Mary: | So, how can that be? But I feel so young! (bursting into tears, hands against her face) I'm not ready for this! How can I cope? | |
| Gabriel: | Nothing is impossible for God! Even now (slight laughter), your great aunt who was childless is already pregnant! | |
| Mary: | Okay (big sigh of acceptance), I accept. (more determined) So be it! |
On Mary's acceptance, conception begins, and she immediately flops to the ground. The main stage lighting fades out before Mary arises and walks gracefully off stage.
Meanwhile, on the other side of town (actually, on the left end of the stage)... Lights go on at the short end of the stage.
...Joseph (in a half-sleep) hears the angel tell him that his wife-to-be is about to have a baby before they have been married. Joseph was going to dump her (in the nicest possible way, of course) because it would have been totally unbecoming of him to marry a loose young girl. On realising it is the Lord, Joseph is persuaded to honour Mary as God has honoured her.
| Joseph: | (walks down the stage) What a day this has been? (lays down his tools, wipes his brow and removes his overalls) I'm shattered! (Aside to the audience) Well, at least Christmas is coming soon! (Joseph lies down on the hard bench and soon begins to snore). | |
| Gabriel: | (After Joseph begins snoring) Joseph! (long pause) Joseph! (pause) Your fianceé, Mary - the one you have promised to marry - is pregnant with a son! | |
| Joseph: | (suddenly awaking from his sleep) How come? No way can she be! Not at her age, surely? - she's just a child! | |
| Gabriel: | It will be as I am saying! Immanuel, God with us, is coming. | |
| Joseph: | (pre-occupied and ignoring the significance of the event) What is this world coming to? (shake his head) I mean what will people say? It's bad enough them calling me a "Cradle-snatcher!"... | |
| Gabriel: | (calming voice) There is no need to worry. Mary is a virgin. This is not your son - nor anyone else's. She has conceived - by God's Holy Spirit. | |
| Joseph: | (still stunned by the news and rambling) ...Hold on a minute! I don't think I can go through with this. (stands up but face cast down) How can I face walking up the aisle with a pregnant girl? | |
| Gabriel: | Joseph, do not be afraid of marrying Mary. | |
| Joseph: | (quickly) But others will think she has been sleeping around. (long pause) I think it would be better if we call the whole wedding off, don't you agree? (looks up) | |
| Gabriel: | Joseph! Joseph! Believe me! No man has slept with her - and no one will until after the Child is born. You are free to marry Mary as you have promised. | |
| Joseph: | (pause) I'd better start making that cradle then. |
Joseph drops back down on to the bench stunned. Lights go off at the short end of the stage.
It was just after that time, that Mary went to visit Elizabeth, and her baby (John) leapt in her womb. At first, there is a tinge of jealousy. But, after being blessed by Elizabeth, Mary sings a (modern) magnificat, as she dances. Mary praises God for his favour on the humble - that through her - the Messiah will come to save the nations. Lights fade in on the main stage.
| Elizabeth: | (standing very pregnant looking and affectionately arranging Mary's hair) So, why was a priest's wife not chosen? (she quickly stops herself and changes tone) Oh! I am so pleased for you! You're so young and yet so blessed of all women! | |||||
| Mary: | (stares forward in disbelief) But why me? That I should be the mother of our Lord! | |||||
| Elizabeth: | When you arrived, my baby jumped inside me and started doing somersaults! I guess he already knows Who is coming... | |||||
| Mary: | (bursts into dance
and singing a modern magnificat...)
|
The drama stops suddenly after the song! All stage lights come on and remain on fully!
The audience are reminded (in a follow-up epilogue?)...
After the marriage (but before Jesus is born), Joseph and Mary head towards Bethlehem "to register to vote". The question is asked: "So, where will 'Jesus' be born?".
Alan C Dougall ©2000