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Chosen

Scene 1

(The scene opens in the stable where Mary and Joseph have just arrived.)

Joseph: (Stands and surveys their accommodations—lets out a huge breath.) I’m sorry, Mary.

Mary: (Pushing past him.) What are you sorry for? I’m certain this wasn’t your idea.

Joseph: No, but I should have…

Mary: (Turning back to face him.) What? Gotten here sooner? The slow pace was my fault, I’m afraid. (She turns to look around the space.) It will only be the one night, won’t it?

Joseph: (Moving on in.) I hope so. It depends on the lines tomorrow. The whole town is bursting at the seams. (He shakes his head as he swings a pack off of his shoulder.) I can’t believe we travel miles to register for the privilege of paying our taxes, and what do we get in return? A night in the stable.

Mary: Like you said, the town is full. I imagine there just isn’t room for them all.

Joseph: (Waving a hand across the space.) Which would you prefer—snuggling up for the night with a cow or a donkey?

Mary: I’ll take whatever you’re not snuggling with.

Joseph: I guess I’ll take the cow… unless, of course, the cow and the donkey might like to snuggle, in which case, that would leave you and me.

Mary: But I thought you preferred the cow.

Joseph: I’d be willing to make the sacrifice… You know, I’d wager that innkeeper has room for those who have a little extra silver to slap in his fat, greedy hands.

Mary: Joseph! How can you say that? You know nothing of the kind, and you shouldn’t make such accusations. He’s probably a very good man who just happens to have a small inn. He may even be poor with a large family to feed. I know he looked very well fed, but— (Looking around at the ground.) Goodness, the man must not have any sons, or surely this stable would be better taken care of.

Joseph: Don’t move, or you’ll regret it. (He picks up a pitchfork and begins to scrape at the ground) At least our donkey feels at home; he and the cow seem to be hitting it off. I wonder if our gracious host would like a bed of—

Mary: Joseph! At least we have a roof overhead, and who knows, stables all over Bethlehem may be filled with more than animals tonight. (She awkwardly tries to sit on the spot Joseph cleaned.)

Joseph: Hold on a minute. Surely our host won’t begrudge us a bit of fresh straw. (He pantomimes scooping some from the far side and dumping it behind Mary. Then he rolls out the blanket roll he brought in and helps to lower her down on it. He stands looking down at her with a peeved expression.) I’m sorry, Mary.

Mary: (Laughing.) It’s all right. You know I’d rather have a nice room somewhere in a nice inn, but we don’t have one, so we may as well just accept it. (She suddenly wrinkles her nose and looks to the animals.) And get used to the smell.

Joseph: (Sitting next to her.) It’s been a long day… You must be exhausted. Why don’t you lie down and try to get some sleep. I’ll keep an eye on everything.

Mary: I’m only a bit tired, and you shouldn’t have to rely solely on the cows for conversation.

Joseph: I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m quite fluent in cow. (He pats his thigh) Lie down, and I’ll be your pillow. (She reluctantly complies) Taxes. Who would have thought we’d have to travel all this way just to give our money away. Why couldn’t they come and get it themselves if they want it so badly. (Mary laughs) What are you laughing at?

Mary: Just you.

Joseph: Oh? (He acts as though he is about to tickle her.)

Mary: Joseph, you wouldn’t tickle a pregnant woman would you?

Joseph: I’m seriously considering it.

Mary: Joseph!

Joseph: (He holds the pose for a moment, then relaxes.) No, I suppose not. If you start screeching, no telling who might come to your rescue. I don’t want to have to explain that one.

Mary: And it would be best not to shake up the baby. While I don’t mind a night here myself. I’d rather he’d hold out for better accommodations.

Joseph: (His hand on her side moves around her belly.) God in heaven, I certainly pray that is the case… I shouldn’t have brought you along.

Mary: You said it was best.

Joseph: It seemed like the better plan than to leave you with people I couldn’t trust. If you had only—never mind.

Mary: (Turning to look up at him.) You’re talking about my time with Elizabeth. You think I should have come to you first.

Joseph: Yes, earlier would have been better.

Mary: Joseph, it had to be this way. People who know us need to know that this is not your son.

Joseph: That’s why I couldn’t leave you behind. They don’t believe that he is from God, Mary. They just think that you—

Mary: (Turning her cheek to his thigh again.) I know what they think. (After a pause.) What do you think our son will be like?

Joseph: Oh… I don’t know… Will you really feel as if he is “our” son? You just said—

Mary: (Suddenly sitting up.) Of course he will be our son. You will be the only father he’ll know. Promise me you won’t treat him any differently than—

Joseph: No, of course not. (He urged her back down.) Now relax. (Stroking her hair.) I imagine he’ll look like you, and I’m sure he will be well-behaved.

Mary: Well-behaved? This is a son we’re talking about!

Joseph: Oh, you think a boy can’t be well-behaved?

Mary: I suppose he can be, but if he’s anything like my brothers, he will do his share of throwing rocks and swinging in trees. And someday, when he’s supposed to be working, he and his friends will sneak off to the waterhole and come home late, soaked, and covered in mud.

Joseph: And then what will you do, Mother?

Mary: I’ll scold him and tell him to hurry and get cleaned up. But after he’s gone, I’ll laugh and try to store in my mind exactly how he looked with his hair tousled and mud dripping off the end of his nose… There will be so many things to teach him, and I know he’ll be bubbling over with questions about everything. That’s when I’ll refer him to you.

Joseph: (Laughs.) Well, I can teach him carpentry. I’m afraid I don’t know much more than that.

Mary: I’m glad of that; I’m not very good with a hammer.

Joseph: I’d be happy to loan you mine so you can practice.

Mary: No, thank you. I think I’ll be quite busy for a while. Carpentry is not all you know, Joseph. You know the scriptures. You can tell him the stories of Abraham, Elijah, King David and Solomon!

Joseph: Let’s not forget Moses and Jonah.

Mary: Oh, won’t his eyes get big when we tell him how Jonah got swallowed by a fish and lived, even after three days!

Joseph: I have a feeling Jesus will love them all. (Mary goes suddenly quiet. After a pause, quietly…) Mary, did you fall asleep?

Mary: No, I’m awake.

Joseph: You got quiet all of a sudden.

Mary: I just… you know I’m not really fond of that name.

Joseph: Mary, we’ve been over and over this. You know it’s not a matter of what I want or what you want. That is the name the angel said to give the boy… You truly didn’t like it from the very beginning?

Mary: (She sits and uses Joseph’s shoulder to get to her feet and wanders toward the “animal side” of the stable.) I’ve just had an uneasy feeling about it. I don’t know… kind of a foreboding. Hannah had to give her son up—leave him at the temple when he was just a young child. (She turns to face him.) Moses’ mother had to give her son to the Pharaoh’s daughter. What if God wants this baby too?

Joseph: (Rising. Tenderly.) Mary, mothers have been sending their children off into the world to make their own way since the beginning. We can’t keep them forever. And God has every right to do with his son what he wills.

Mary: Yes. That is what I’m afraid of.

Joseph: The angel told you not to be afraid. (She nods, but still doesn’t look reassured. Joseph wraps his arms around her.) Everything will be all right, Mary. “For the Lord’s eyes roam the earth to strengthen the hearts that are fully committed to him.” Whatever comes, he will strengthen you for it.

Mary: As this baby has grown inside me, I couldn’t help dreaming of his life, and I found myself hoping that he could have an ordinary, happy existence, free from the opposition and turmoil that often accompanies those chosen of the Lord.

Joseph: I can see those hopes and dreams in your eyes—that’s one of the reasons I love you so much— but sometimes dreams aren’t meant to be anything more.

Mary: More than what?

Joseph: Just dreams.

Mary: (Trying to convince herself as much as him.) They’ll come true, Joseph… You’ll see.

FADE TO BLACK

24 productions, programs, and skits

autographed paperback

13.00 (shipping included)

Get it at Pikes Peak Unique on Etsy

Or buy it on Amazon