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Director's Notes The Dream Cast Gabriel Narrator Daughter Gossip 1 Gossip 2 Voice of God Scene A single chair up center stage. (Gabriel enters SL, looking like he’s trying to keep from crying. When he gets just in front of the chair, he falls and starts crying. During his opening monologue, he moves gradually to a sitting position in the chair.) Gabriel: Oh Lord. God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I did it again. Lord, I didn’t want to do it. You know I didn’t want to do it. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stop? Lord, I was going to straighten my life out. I was going to stop this. And I have been growing Lord. I know that. I can see it. You have been leading me closer to you. But this sin, it just keeps coming back. How many times have I been here, asking you for forgiveness for the same thing. (Angry) The SAME THING! Lord, I know your Word says you are faithful to forgive me when I ask for you forgiveness. But... how can you love me? How can you forgive me? I keep stabbing you in the heart. I keep turning away. God,... Jesus... over and over and over. I know I keep hurting you. How can you love a sinner like me Lord? How can you love a sinner like me? You must hate me Father. I don’t want to, but I just keep sinning. You must hate me. (Head slowly falls as Gabriel falls asleep) You must. How can you love me Father? How can you love me? (Repeat “How can you love me?” as often as feels comfortable to feign falling asleep) (Pause) Narrator: I dreamt I was sitting in a yard. (Gabriel slowly comes up from his sleep and looks around somewhat confused at first.) I would realize only after I woke later that it was a dream. While I dreamt, I believed everything as if it were real. I knew I was in my yard although I did not recognize it. I was sitting in my lawn chair although I didn’t own a lawn chair. Straight ahead of me there was an alley behind my lawn. I was orienting myself with my surroundings when I saw her. (Daughter enters singing and skipping. She stops to pick flowers and look at the grass at times.) I had never seen her before, but somehow I knew she was my daughter. She was only 3 or 4. I watched as she danced and sang and picked flowers. I was mesmerized by her and I instantly knew what every parent feels that short of Jesus Christ, my child was God’s greatest gift to His creation. Daughter: (Loudly) DADDY! (Daughter sees Gabriel. Smiles and runs to him. During this period both characters can speak while they interact. Keep the speaking and any noise down to a secondary level so it does not interfere with the narrator.) Narrator: She came to me and we began to play. We did Daddy/Daughter things. I pretended to grab her nose. I sniffed her flowers. I just wanted to be near her. I was consciously aware that I could easily spend the rest of eternity right here with her. I loved her with everything that I was and I would have given anything, even my life just to keep her smiling. Everything was perfect. (Daughter notices an imaginary butterfly and wanders off eventually making it to Down Center Stage leaning over looking at something on the ground.) She noticed a butterfly and moved to follow it. I sat back and watched her. I was perfectly content just to watch her explore her world. She moved around examining different things on the ground until she had made her way to the end of the yard next to the alley. She was leaning over something in the alleyway, when I saw it. (Gabriel looks immediately to DSR. Daughter doesn’t move. If possible have truck sounds slowly building to sound like truck picking up speed.) An ugly, large, black truck. I would realize when I woke up that this represented my sin. But right now it was pulling into the alley and was a threat to my Daughter. (Quickly look at Daughter.) I looked quickly to my Daughter, (Daughter turns only her head to face Stage Right.) And was relieved to see that she saw the truck coming. She would get out of the way. She would be ok. But she stayed where she was. The truck kept coming and before I knew what had happened... (Truck sounds suddenly stop if you’re using them. Daughter gets up never looking at the audience, moves Up Stage Right, and stands with her back to the audience. Gabriel freezes until she’s gone, then his expression turns to pure horrified shock.) She was dead. (Gabriel gets up slowly and goes to spot where Daughter was. He’s in obvious anguish.) I was shocked. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. She was gone. My Daughter was dead. I would never hold her again. I would never hear her laugh again. I looked to God and thought, “Why? Why did I only get such a short amount of time to spend with her?” I was conscious of the fact that I couldn’t cry but I didn’t know why. (Enter two gossips from opposite sides and appear to be consoling Gabriel.) Two people who apparently had witnessed what happened ran up to me. I couldn’t believe the horrible things they were saying all the while acting like they were trying to console me. Gossip 1: Did you see that? Gossip 2: She just stood in the way? Gossip 1: She never even moved. Gossip 2: She had to have seen it coming. Gossip 1: (To Gabriel) Are you alright? Gossip 2: How could she put you through that? Gossip 1: Some people just don’t care for other people’s feelings. Gossip 2: She knew you were watching and she knew how much you loved her and she still just stood there and allowed herself to be killed. Gossip 1: You really are better off without such a hideously stupid child you know. Gossip 2: Stupid? She knew exactly what she was doing. She did it on purpose. Both together: Good riddance to her. (Gossips are completely focused on themselves as they continue to bad-mouth the Daughter. Gabriel’s expression changes to extreme anger.) Narrator: I was getting more and more enraged the more and more they talked. That was my Daughter they were talking about. She was wonderful and I would have given my life to get her back. How dare they talk about her that way. My rage was nearing uncontrollable, and I was almost ready to lash out at them when suddenly... Gossip 1: (Daughter turns and faces the audience not looking directly at anything. She’s silently sniffling and crying. Gossip 1 notices her.) Look! Narrator: My Daughter. She was alive. How? Oh, I didn’t care how. I ran to her and held her. This is when I started to cry. (Gabriel runs to Daughter. They embrace so both are visible to the audience and one is not behind the other. The gossips look frustrated and irritated as they leave SL.) I was vaguely aware that my neighbors left. I was so overjoyed that my Daughter was back. I suddenly had the thought that she might be hurt. Gabriel: (Checking her out for injuries) Are you ok? Are you alright? Narrator: (Daughter is now looking directly at Gabriel silently sniffling and crying in fear.) As I was checking her out for injuries I knew something was wrong. I looked into her eyes and I realized what it was. She had been crying, of course, but I thought it was because she was afraid of what she’d just gone through. When I looked into her eyes, I realized it was because she was afraid of me. (Gabriel closes his eyes and drops head in disbelief.) She was afraid that I hated her. She was afraid that because she had allowed herself to be hit by the truck that I didn't love her anymore. I couldn’t believe it. Gabriel: (Looking up at Daughter) Listen to me. I love you. There’s nothing you could possibly do that would make me stop loving you. Do you understand me? I could never stop loving you. Do you understand? (Grabs Daughter) I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Narrator: Finally, I could feel that she knew it. Somehow I could feel that she knew that I meant it. That I really did love her. I held her out and looked at her. She was still crying a little, but the fear was gone. So I grabbed her nose again just to make her laugh. When she laughed, the world was perfect again. I knew everything was going to be alright. (Daughter takes Gabriel’s hand and lead him back to the chair. Gabriel sits down and the Daughter skips off Stage Left.) We played for a little longer, (Gabriel’s head falls. He is asleep again.) and then... I woke up. (Gabriel snaps up to attention, a little disoriented.) And I swear I heard the audible voice of the Lord saying... Voice of God: I love you. I love you. There’s nothing that you can ever do that can make me stop loving you. Do you understand? I love you. Gabriel: (Smiling and crying.) Thank you God. Thank you. Back to the top. Director's Notes.

The Dream

Cast

Gabriel
Narrator
Daughter
Gossip 1
Gossip 2
Voice of God

Scene

A single chair up center stage.

(Gabriel enters SL, looking like he’s trying to keep from crying. When he gets just in front of the chair, he falls and starts crying. During his opening monologue, he moves gradually to a sitting position in the chair.)

Gabriel:
Oh Lord. God, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. I did it again. Lord, I didn’t want to do it. You know I didn’t want to do it. What’s wrong with me? Why can’t I stop? Lord, I was going to straighten my life out. I was going to stop this. And I have been growing Lord. I know that. I can see it. You have been leading me closer to you. But this sin, it just keeps coming back. How many times have I been here, asking you for forgiveness for the same thing. (Angry) The SAME THING! Lord, I know your Word says you are faithful to forgive me when I ask for you forgiveness. But... how can you love me? How can you forgive me? I keep stabbing you in the heart. I keep turning away. God,... Jesus... over and over and over. I know I keep hurting you. How can you love a sinner like me Lord? How can you love a sinner like me? You must hate me Father. I don’t want to, but I just keep sinning. You must hate me. (Head slowly falls as Gabriel falls asleep) You must. How can you love me Father? How can you love me? (Repeat “How can you love me?” as often as feels comfortable to feign falling asleep)

(Pause)

Narrator:
I dreamt I was sitting in a yard. (Gabriel slowly comes up from his sleep and looks around somewhat confused at first.) I would realize only after I woke later that it was a dream. While I dreamt, I believed everything as if it were real. I knew I was in my yard although I did not recognize it. I was sitting in my lawn chair although I didn’t own a lawn chair. Straight ahead of me there was an alley behind my lawn. I was orienting myself with my surroundings when I saw her. (Daughter enters singing and skipping. She stops to pick flowers and look at the grass at times.) I had never seen her before, but somehow I knew she was my daughter. She was only 3 or 4. I watched as she danced and sang and picked flowers. I was mesmerized by her and I instantly knew what every parent feels that short of Jesus Christ, my child was God’s greatest gift to His creation.

Daughter:
(Loudly) DADDY! (Daughter sees Gabriel. Smiles and runs to him. During this period both characters can speak while they interact. Keep the speaking and any noise down to a secondary level so it does not interfere with the narrator.)

Narrator:
She came to me and we began to play. We did Daddy/Daughter things. I pretended to grab her nose. I sniffed her flowers. I just wanted to be near her. I was consciously aware that I could easily spend the rest of eternity right here with her. I loved her with everything that I was and I would have given anything, even my life just to keep her smiling. Everything was perfect. (Daughter notices an imaginary butterfly and wanders off eventually making it to Down Center Stage leaning over looking at something on the ground.) She noticed a butterfly and moved to follow it. I sat back and watched her. I was perfectly content just to watch her explore her world. She moved around examining different things on the ground until she had made her way to the end of the yard next to the alley. She was leaning over something in the alleyway, when I saw it. (Gabriel looks immediately to DSR. Daughter doesn’t move. If possible have truck sounds slowly building to sound like truck picking up speed.) An ugly, large, black truck. I would realize when I woke up that this represented my sin. But right now it was pulling into the alley and was a threat to my Daughter. (Quickly look at Daughter.) I looked quickly to my Daughter, (Daughter turns only her head to face Stage Right.) And was relieved to see that she saw the truck coming. She would get out of the way. She would be ok. But she stayed where she was. The truck kept coming and before I knew what had happened... (Truck sounds suddenly stop if you’re using them. Daughter gets up never looking at the audience, moves Up Stage Right, and stands with her back to the audience. Gabriel freezes until she’s gone, then his expression turns to pure horrified shock.) She was dead. (Gabriel gets up slowly and goes to spot where Daughter was. He’s in obvious anguish.) I was shocked. I was stunned. I couldn’t believe it. She was gone. My Daughter was dead. I would never hold her again. I would never hear her laugh again. I looked to God and thought, “Why? Why did I only get such a short amount of time to spend with her?” I was conscious of the fact that I couldn’t cry but I didn’t know why. (Enter two gossips from opposite sides and appear to be consoling Gabriel.) Two people who apparently had witnessed what happened ran up to me. I couldn’t believe the horrible things they were saying all the while acting like they were trying to console me.

Gossip 1:
Did you see that?

Gossip 2:
She just stood in the way?

Gossip 1:
She never even moved.

Gossip 2:
She had to have seen it coming.

Gossip 1:
(To Gabriel) Are you alright?

Gossip 2:
How could she put you through that?

Gossip 1:
Some people just don’t care for other people’s feelings.

Gossip 2:
She knew you were watching and she knew how much you loved her and she still just stood there and allowed herself to be killed.

Gossip 1:
You really are better off without such a hideously stupid child you know.

Gossip 2:
Stupid? She knew exactly what she was doing. She did it on purpose.

Both together:
Good riddance to her. (Gossips are completely focused on themselves as they continue to bad-mouth the Daughter. Gabriel’s expression changes to extreme anger.)

Narrator:
I was getting more and more enraged the more and more they talked. That was my Daughter they were talking about. She was wonderful and I would have given my life to get her back. How dare they talk about her that way. My rage was nearing uncontrollable, and I was almost ready to lash out at them when suddenly...

Gossip 1:
(Daughter turns and faces the audience not looking directly at anything. She’s silently sniffling and crying. Gossip 1 notices her.) Look!

Narrator:
My Daughter. She was alive. How? Oh, I didn’t care how. I ran to her and held her. This is when I started to cry. (Gabriel runs to Daughter. They embrace so both are visible to the audience and one is not behind the other. The gossips look frustrated and irritated as they leave SL.) I was vaguely aware that my neighbors left. I was so overjoyed that my Daughter was back. I suddenly had the thought that she might be hurt.

Gabriel:
(Checking her out for injuries) Are you ok? Are you alright?

Narrator:
(Daughter is now looking directly at Gabriel silently sniffling and crying in fear.) As I was checking her out for injuries I knew something was wrong. I looked into her eyes and I realized what it was. She had been crying, of course, but I thought it was because she was afraid of what she’d just gone through. When I looked into her eyes, I realized it was because she was afraid of me. (Gabriel closes his eyes and drops head in disbelief.) She was afraid that I hated her. She was afraid that because she had allowed herself to be hit by the truck that I didn't love her anymore. I couldn’t believe it.

Gabriel:
(Looking up at Daughter) Listen to me. I love you. There’s nothing you could possibly do that would make me stop loving you. Do you understand me? I could never stop loving you. Do you understand? (Grabs Daughter) I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

Narrator:
Finally, I could feel that she knew it. Somehow I could feel that she knew that I meant it. That I really did love her. I held her out and looked at her. She was still crying a little, but the fear was gone. So I grabbed her nose again just to make her laugh. When she laughed, the world was perfect again. I knew everything was going to be alright. (Daughter takes Gabriel’s hand and lead him back to the chair. Gabriel sits down and the Daughter skips off Stage Left.) We played for a little longer, (Gabriel’s head falls. He is asleep again.) and then... I woke up. (Gabriel snaps up to attention, a little disoriented.) And I swear I heard the audible voice of the Lord saying...

Voice of God:
I love you. I love you. There’s nothing that you can ever do that can make me stop loving you. Do you understand? I love you.

Gabriel:
(Smiling and crying.) Thank you God. Thank you.

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Director's Notes.