by Betty Tesh

Created on: February 06, 2009   Last Updated: April 17, 2009

Title: Morning in The Father's House

Characters: The Older Brother, The Prodigal

The Scene: The main room of The Father's house, the morning after the great feast. As the curtain rises, we see the remains of a meal scattered about on several tables. Outside the casement window, the first pale flush of dawn tints the sky. A man, descending the staircase, pauses to looke over the untidy scene. From a cot in the corner of the room comes a heavy snore. The man descends the stairs, takes a cup from one of the tables, and dribbles a stream of water on the sleeping figure.

The Older Brother: Rise and shine, little brother! Time's a-wasting, or aren't you a farmer's son any more?

The Prodigal: (Stretching and shaking off the water). What the...Ah, good morning, Brother. Oh, what a night! What a feast! It's good to be home! (He leaps up and grabs his brother in a great bear hug, which the brother quickly extricates himself from.)

The Older Brother: So you said last night. Well, the feast is over, little brother. it's time to get back in the routine. We all can't party forever, now can we?

The Prodigal: You're right. Time to take back my responsibilities. Where's my old scythe? There's wheat to be cut, I know.

The Older Brother: By Father Abraham's beard! Have you been gone so long you've lost track of the seasons? It's planting time.

The Prodigal: (Pouring water into a basin to wash his face). Of course, I wasn't thinking.

The Older Brother: Be careful with that water! The jug's nearly empty. You haven't changed, have you? Still the same old spendthrift wastral.

The Prodigal: No, no. I'll fill it. Just tell me what you want me to do, Brother. I have changed. I'll prove it to you.

The Older Brother: You've changed? Really? Okay, give me some proof. I want you to give back the property you wasted. I want you to give Father back the months he spent waiting for you to come back. Can you do that? Can you give me that kind of proof?

The Prodigal: Ah, Brother, don't you think I'd love to undo the damage I've done? Don't you think I wish I'd never asked for my part of the inheritance? Don't you think I know how stupid I've been?

The Older Brother: I don't know what you know. You leave, you come back. What's to stop you leaving again?

The Prodigal: I can't promise anything. All I know is that I was miserable away from here. I ate pig slop! That's how low I fell. I don't ever want to get to that point again.

The Older Brother: What's to stop you?

The Prodigal: Maybe it's the thought of seeing

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