(young boy wearing oxygen mask, sitting in wheelchair, parked at a table, wearing PJs, reading Bible and jotting in notebook -- a big old-fashioned music box sits near him on the table)
JOSHUA:
(engrossed in reading, muttering to himself occasionally) This is incredible! (reading, oxygen mask slips from his face but he doesn't notice) Man! How come people just don't KNOW this stuff?
(gets so excited he starts to breathe too fast and hard, and forces himself to sit back and relax, closing his eyes, realizes he has dropped his mask and lifts it to his mouth and nose, breathes deeply)
MARIA:
(entering, tidying with feather duster, she studiously ignores boy) Oh this place is a mess. (dusting) If I hired an army to help me it would STILL be impossible to keep this place clean! But why I care with that Uncle of yours, I don't know.
JOSHUA:
(opening eyes, removing oxygen mask) Mom? You think maybe you could bring some more dust in here? Pretty please?
MARIA:
(finally looking at the boy) Oh, I'm sorry, Joshua. I didn't see you there.
JOSHUA:
Didn't know I was here, huh? You didn't hear this wind machine? Probably like living close to Niagara Falls, after a while you can't hear the explosion right next to your ear! But that's okay, Mom. I LOVE dust. Maybe after dinner you can go out to the garden and get some dirt to dump on my head.
MARIA:
(smiling) Now THAT's a tempting offer, kiddo. (she comes to him and moves the hair off his brow, slyly checking his temperature with her wrist)
JOSHUA:
(irritated with her fussing, pushes away her hand) I feel FINE, Mom. No need to check under the hood, okay?
MARIA:
(raising her hands) Hey, I wasn't checking on you! I'm just nervous -- I can't believe I'm allowing the gorilla into my house...
JOSHUA:
Mom. Cool it on Uncle Joe, okay? He's MY guest, remember that. I want you on your best behavior. (looming up mock-threateningly in his wheelchair) No pulling hair or biting or scratching -- you kids had better behave yourselves, if you know what's good for you!
(they laugh together, and Joshua finally begins to weaken)
MARIA:
Okay, kiddo. I promise to be on MY best behavior, but I sure can't speak for your Uncle. Maybe we can get him to be on his best ZOO behavior . . . but you take it easy now, Josh. You look all tuckered out. Why don't you sit back and listen to your music box?
(she winds a key on the bottom of the music box and then opens the lid -- a beautiful, haunting and sad melody rises from the box)
JOSHUA:
(instantly calmed and lulled by the music box, getting sleepy) I think I'll just listen to the hamsters in the box, playing their tiny pianos, okay? (eyelids getting heavier, but he fights sleep for a few more moments) I'm . . . not really -- sleepy you know. I'm... (he drifts off into sleep)
MARIA:
(she tenderly places the oxygen mask over his face) You're a brave kid, Joshua.
(turns, addresses audience in soliloquy -- music box fades)
What exactly IS Christmas? Deck the Halls. Presents. Santa Claus? Or is it about the most beautiful gift of all, ever, to this world, to us, to me -- to you?
How do you think the Father felt, sending His Son, to this world -- knowing what was going to happen to Him? I mean, even when a special child is sacrificed for the most precious reason in the world, that sacrifice must still be the most difficult decision in the universe.
I'm not God. I'm just a mother. But this Christmas -- I understand . . . if only just a little . . . what God must have felt like, losing His Son . . . to this world...
(COMES A KNOCK)
(looking to the side, very uncomfortable) Oh. Just wonderful. The gorilla. I have to tell you, I haven't seen my brother, Joe, in seven years.
If it wasn't for Joshua, I would never see my brother Joe again. Never. Never ever NEVER. (she covers face with hands)
(COMES A KNOCK)
Oh well. (pulling herself together) This is for Joshua. This is what HE wants.
(opens door for Joe)
UNCLE JOE:
(lugging duffel bag) Yo! Maria! (tossing duffel aside, opening arms wide) Man, Sis, you've gained some weight!
MARIA:
(stands staring, not amused)
UNCLE JOE:
Come on, Maria! Give me a big wolf hug!
MARIA:
You know how I feel about you being here, Joe. But Joshua adores you, even after seven years. And it's his . . . well-it's-his-Christmas- wish-to-spend-time-with-YOU. BUT. You are NOT to bring any alcohol into this house. Do you understand?
UNCLE JOE:
(rushing forward, grabbing her up in a big hug) It's GREAT to see you too, Baby Sister! (Maria remains straight as a board in his arms -- he swings her around like a little child, then kisses her on the mouth -- she does not flinch or bat an eye, but remains frigid as an ice statue) Come on, Maria, I know you're happy to see me!
MARIA:
(resolute, not at all charmed or amused) Put me down. (long pause) I'm serious.
UNCLE JOE:
Well, okay, but if I put you down without you giving me a kiss I'm going to have to tickle you...!
MARIA:
(a little anger showing) Put me down. PUT ME DOWN. (he complies) Now I want you to promise you will not bring even a DROP of alcohol into this house.
UNCLE JOE:
(he leans forward and with great relish and exaggeration breathes directly into her face, she turns green and nearly faints) SEE? (he grins) I'm completely dry. Of course, as you might be able to tell, I DID stop at Einstein's and enjoy the rudest garlic bagel -- if you have any cockroach problems in the house, just aim me att'em! One breath accomplishes what a nuclear bomb could NEVER manage!
MARIA:
(unblinking) PROMISE, Joe. If you want to stay here, in my house, PROMISE. If you want to see Joshua. Promise.
UNCLE JOE:
(solemnly) ross-my-heart-and-hope-to-die-stick-a-needle-in-my-eye.
MARIA:
(deadpan) It's best not to tempt me. (stepping back) The guest bedroom is where you remember it. Why don't you put your stuff away. Joshua is napping right now, but you can peek in at him in a while... (she retreats)
UNCLE JOE:
(hefts duffel, marches to guestroom, chucks the duffel rudely inside -- returns and faces audience -- speaks in soliloquy) Maria is not being tough on me. No way. I deserve every bit of her hatred -- and I deserve NONE of Joshua's love. (paces, uncomfortable)
Me? Hey, I'm the worst of the worst. Maria, my Baby Sister, she looked right through me. She knows I haven't been dry even for a day in the last seven years.
Me? I'm the worstest of the worstest. And at this time of the year, Christmas, I'm the proverbial sore thumb -- I'm the guy who doesn't have a Savior. Yeah, right, if there IS a God, that is. (he's telling the truth, and it isn't easy, every word hurts)
God, or Santa Claus? In the last seven years I haven't gotten anything nice from either of them. (looking up) God? If you could spare me even just one lightning bolt, I would appreciate it. And Santa? From him I don't even get a lump of coal.
Oh, you say: "How can someone be THAT bad? I mean, come on Joe! So you're a DRUNK! You never MURDERED anybody, did ya?"
(drops head, thoughtful) Well, my friends, let me tell you a terrible story...
JOSHUA:
(waking) Uncle Joe? Uncle Joe? Are you here, Uncle Joe? I dreamed you were here... (looking sad as he realizes he was only dreaming)
UNCLE JOE:
THERE's my little man! (coming forward to snatch the boy out of his wheelchair)
JOSHUA:
(delight quickly zapping into horror) Uncle Joe! Uncle Joe! DON'T PICK ME UP, UNCLE JOE!
UNCLE JOE:
(pausing, confused) What?
JOSHUA:
(embarrassed) Uh. I'm kinda plugged in, here. No big deal. But I don't want to, uh, come unplugged and start flying around the room like a deflating balloon.
UNCLE JOE:
(stroking chin thoughtfully) Hmmm. The Bionic Boy, hmmm? (begins circling chair, sizing up the wheels, mentally weighing the chair, the boy, both put together) So you don't want to give your Uncle Joe a hug... Sad day, really...
JOSHUA:
Well, you know, Uncle Joe, I DO. But it's kinda . . . unpractical...
UNCLE JOE:
Well, you maybe just underestimated your poor old broken-down uncle, now didn't ya? (he swoops down and begins racing the chair around the room, making race car noises and nearly crashing the chair into EVERYTHING, but somehow hitting nothing)
JOSHUA:
(screaming, half in terror, half in delight) Whoa! Cut it out! Don't spill me! Watch out! Don't hit that -- AAAAAAARGH!
UNCLE JOE:
What? You think this mountain of an uncle is ALL blubber? Let me assure you, I have AT LEAST a pound of muscle in here somewhere . . . ooops, I seem to be falling... (fakes like they're going to topple)
JOSHUA:
(delight-terror) AAAAAAAAHHHHHhhhh!
UNCLE JOE:
So ya still remember your old poor Uncle Joe, huh?
JOSHUA:
(beaming) OF COURSE I remember you! You've always been my FAVORITE uncle!
UNCLE JOE:
(through one eye) You mean your ONLY uncle? Well, that's okay, because you've ALWAYS been my FAVORITE nephew...
JOSHUA:
(emulating the one-eyed delivery) You mean your ONLY nephew?
UNCLE JOE:
Okay-okay, truce -- pal?
JOSHUA:
Yeah, yeah, truce. Now put me down...
UNCLE JOE:
(fakes dropping the wheelchair over backward) Geronimo!
JOSHUA:
(delighted terror) AAAAAAAAHHHHHhhhh!
UNCLE JOE:
(delicately placing the chair down and tousles the kid's hair) Great to see ya -- whoa! I'm not sure you're the same kid, even, I mean you've practically got a BEARD! (he rubs the back of his hand across his nephew's cheek, all the while very impressed)
JOSHUA:
(out of breath, but smiling with nearly insane joy, places mask over nose and mouth and gulps air, but never stops smiling) It's GREAT to see you, Uncle Joe.
UNCLE JOE:
(spying the music box) Hey! Isn't this that old hunk of junk I gave you when you were just a rug-rat? (he closes lid, winds)
JOSHUA:
Yup! And the little hamsters are still alive, still playing on their tiny pianos!
UNCLE JOE:
(he opens lid and music begins to play) Incredible -- why, in combined hamster years, they must be about 200 years old!
Uh oh! It looks like one of the hamsters just suffered a stroke! Don't worry, I'm certified for just this kind of situation! (begins to mime cardiopulmonary resuscitation into the music box)
JOSHUA:
(looking on in delight, laughing, breathing heavily into mask) Save him, Uncle Joe! You can do it!
JOE:
(bends down, places face in music box, begins to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation) Uh oh -- this looks like -- (huff huff, puff puff) we're going to need desperate measures!
JOSHUA:
Shock him, Uncle Joe! Shock him!
UNCLE JOE:
(stepping back away from table) Charge! (begins rubbing feet on carpet, moving toward music box -- extends his fingers to administer life-saving electrical charge) CLEAR! (zap!)
JOSHUA:
Again! Again!
UNCLE JOE:
(stepping back) CHARGE! (rubs feet) CLEAR! (zap!) Wait! Listen! (he puts ear near music box) Do you hear that? (pause) He's alive! We've saved the hamster, Nurse!
JOSHUA:
(wiping sweat off forehead with arm) Whew! That was close, Doctor Joe! (then, a little sadly) It's too bad . . . you can't do the same kind of thing on me... (he begins wheezing, and has to bury his face in his oxygen mask)
UNCLE JOE:
(kneeling beside wheelchair, placing arm about boy's shoulders) Hey, Josh-Josh-Needs-a-Good-Wash...
JOSHUA:
(through mask) Hey! I remember you used to call me that!
UNCLE JOE:
Yup, (looking behind one of the boy's ears) and it still looks like you need a good wash! (they keep talking, chatting, but slip into MIME MODE -- silence, as Maria enters)
MARIA:
(entering, in a different room from the boy and the man) I guess I shouldn't be so hard on Joe. Even after everything, he is STILL my brother. He will always be my brother. And I guess I will always love him -- deep down.
But with what happened in Joe's life, and now what's happening in MY life, in Joshua's life -- I think all my faith is gone.
I mean, it's not like I ever went to church or anything. Or ever read the Bible. But, you know, I learned about Christ and Christmas, and Easter too, of course.
But with what's happening in our lives, how can I believe in a God? I mean, what hope IS there? (retreats)
UNCLE JOE:
(switching back into volume) So what did you want to talk to me about, Josh?
JOSHUA:
(getting a piece of folded paper out of his Bible, hands it to his uncle) I have a special request for you, Uncle Joe. It's my special Christmas Request. (gets a little sad, but smiles bravely) It's the last Christmas present I'll ever ask you for. Read this.
UNCLE JOE:
(suspicious, not opening the paper at first) Oh boy. What? A furbie? Or another computer game? I know -- a PONY! (shaking folded paper) What exactly is this?
JOSHUA:
(lifts his eyebrows and nods for his uncle to go ahead and open it)
UNCLE JOE:
(finally unfolds paper) Oh no. Josh. What's THIS? You didn't let them Jehovah's Witnesses in again, did you? Or the Latter-Day Saints?
JOSHUA:
(proudly) NOPE. That's all mine. I mean, it's all God's. I started studying the Bible last year, by myself, and it's really shocking, all the incredible stuff in there. But go ahead, read it.
UNCLE JOE:
(begins reading, silently)
JOSHUA:
NO! I mean out loud! Read it out loud!
UNCLE JOE:
You, know, Buddyroo, I'm not exactly a Bible-thumping kind of guy, I've never even --
JOSHUA:
(overly excited, has to go behind oxygen mask) JUST READ IT! (yelling) NOW!!
UNCLE JOE:
Okay! OKAY! Calm down, Buddyroo. Okay! (reads Bible verses out loud, this could be a partial reading, or a verbatum reading, depending on how long you want the drama to be)
John 3:16 // John 1:29 // Ps 85:2 // John 3:18 // 1 John 5:5 // 1 John 5:13 // 1 John 1:9 // Ephesians 2:8 // 1 John 2:1-2
(*INTERRUPTS READING) Joshua! This is JUST TOO MUCH! Why are you having me read all of this --
JOSHUA:
(glowers at uncle, and jabs a finger at the paper to continue reading)
UNCLE JOE:
Okay! Okay! (continues reading)
(begins growing emotional as he reads about the Lord coming back, and the dead rising, and death losing its sting)
John 14:1-3 // 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 // 1 Corinthians 15:55 // Revelation 21:4
(*FINISHES) (greatly moved) Joshua. I . . . don't . . . uh, I'm afraid I just don't understand.
JOSHUA:
(removes oxygen mask, is calmed) It's for YOU, Uncle Joe. All of that. It's all for you.
UNCLE JOE:
(shaking head, turning his back on boy, covering face) No, I'm sorry, kiddo, but you just don't understand. You don't know what I've DONE! I'm a MURDERER!
(SILENCE, heavy, pregnant pause)
(woman and boy enter and seat themselves in "car," woman in front passenger's seat, and boy in the backseat, they are mere shades, quiet, faces down, grim)
LITTLE JOHN:
(suddenly smiles and "comes to life," bouncing in rear seat) Mama! Where's Papa? Honk the horn! Honk the horn, Mama!
LIZ:
(smiles and comes to life happily) Hold on! Just calm down, your Papa's on his way out. He's been working in his study all day and probably just needs to get the kinks out of his spine. He yelled he'd be here any second!
LITTLE JOHN:
(turning on seat to face out "rear window") Papa! Hurry Papa! We're waiting for you!
UNCLE JOE:
(removes hands from face, and is now smiling, "in the past," engulfed by this memory, seeing and experiencing everything as if he were really there) Keep your pants on, Little John! I'll be there in a second!
(steps to side and lifts wine bottle, removes stopper, and pours himself a little glass, and drinks, his expression a shade guilty, but licks lips and enjoys wine)
LITTLE JOHN:
(jabbering away as "Papa" drinks wine) Okay, now you remember! Papa said we were going to the zoo today AND to the House of Pancakes!
LIZ:
(facing forward in seat, looking content, she begins to examine her belly, which is swollen -- she's about 4 months pregnant, and speaks to Little John automatically, not really listening) Yes, John.
LITTLE JOHN:
Listen up, world! Today is the day of Little John! I decree that Little John shall eat 45 pancakes, all by himself! Right Mama?
LIZ:
(counting the months in her head, thinking about the birth of her new baby) Yes, John.
(MEANWHILE, "Papa" is finishing his third glass of wine, smacking his lips, blinking his eyes a little blearily)
LITTLE JOHN:
Okay, Mama! When my little brother or sister is born, THEN you can pay more attention to them -- but right now I'M HERE, YOUR SON, RIGHT HERE IN THE BACK SEAT! So you have to listen to ME!
LIZ:
(snapping out of her reverie) Oh, of course, John! I'm listening, but this is one of my first full weeks without any morning sickness, so it's hard for me to concentrate!
LITTLE JOHN:
(twisting around in seat) Where IS that husband of yours, Mama?
UNCLE JOE:
(corking wine bottle, checking his breath, then bustling out to "car") Here he is!
LITTLE JOHN:
Yea! It's about time! Onward, to the House of Pancakes!
UNCLE JOE:
(get into car) Okay! Let's make like jelly, and JAM!
LIZ:
(sniffing, smelling wine) Oh no. Joe. Not again.
UNCLE JOE:
(smiling, affable) Don't start, woman! This is Little John's Day, and we're ready to roll! (starts car)
LITTLE JOHN:
Just drive carefully, Papa. We don't want to get stopped by the cops AGAIN...
LIZ:
Come on, Joe, just let me drive. You know this isn't safe...
UNCLE JOE:
But you drive tooooooo slooooooow...
LITTLE JOHN:
(throwing his arms around "Papa's" neck) Yeah, we have that need for deadly speeeed! Come on Papa! Make like a banana and PEEEEEEEEL!
UNCLE JOE:
But you're Mama wants to make like bread and LOAF...
LITTLE JOHN:
Go on, Papa! Punch it!
(the car takes off and all are thrown back into their seats by the force, tires squealing, and even Little John looks a little frightened)
LIZ:
JOE! Are you crazy? Think about the BABY! And you almost killed Johnny!
UNCLE JOE:
(a little mortified, but joking louder to cover) Uh, sorry about that! Guess my foot doesn't know its own strength!
(he takes his eyes off the road to look at his wife, but she stares straight forward and her eyes grow huge in terror --)
LIZ:
Watch out! (then screams)
UNCLE JOE:
(looks forward but too late, jams on the brakes, but too late) Oh no! I'm --
(brakes screech, and car crashes -- Liz crashes forward into dashboard and freezes and at the same time Little John crashes forward into front seat and freezes)
(SILENCE . . . pregnant pause -- Joe finally stands away from "car wreck," and backs away, his hands covering his face...)
(the "accident scene" vanishes)
UNCLE JOE:
I'm sorry. Oh. I'm. So. Sorry... (he is now standing where he was originally standing when FLASHBACK began, with his hands over his face in the same way)
(Liz and Little John slowly walk away, never looking back, hanging their heads, their eyes half-closed)
(opens eyes, finally, looks at Joshua) See, that's why there's no hope for me. I knew better. And could of done better. But I'm a drunk and a murderer...
JOSHUA:
(clunking himself on the head) Uncle Joe! That's the good news! For everything horrible you've done -- THAT's WHY HE DIED FOR YOU. Don't you know? That's what Christmas is really all about!
UNCLE JOE:
It's no good, Joshua. It's too late for me. (waving paper with verses) This is talking about BELIEVING. I don't think I ever can...
JOSHUA:
Well you're going to have to believe. Because THAT's what my Christmas Request is.
UNCLE JOE:
What?
JOSHUA:
I want you to BE there.
UNCLE JOE:
(pause, thinking, what in the world is this brat talking about???) Be WHERE?
JOSHUA:
(pointing at paper with verses) Like it says right there. That's right out of the Bible, Uncle Joe.
UNCLE JOE:
I'm sorry. I just don't know what you're talking about, Kiddo. I just don't understand.
(at this point Maria enters room, but neither Joe nor Joshua hear or see her -- she's about to speak, then decides to listen to what they're talking about)
MARIA:
(cocking head to listen)
JOSHUA:
Do you want to break my heart? (Joe doesn't know what his nephew is talking about, stares with confusion) Answer me, Uncle Joe. Do you want to break my heart?
UNCLE JOE:
OF COURSE I DON'T! (begins pacing) You should know I could never hurt you. I love you, Joshua. You're about all I have LEFT in my entire life...
JOSHUA:
Well, that's just what you're going to do -- break my heart -- if you're not standing there, when Jesus comes. When Jesus comes, and I come up out of the grave, you and Mama are the first people I better see!
UNCLE JOE:
(heartstricken, speachless, stands in torment, unable to look at the boy)
MARIA:
(shocked by what she's hearing -- she never knew anything about it! She clutches her heart, and sits down to continue listening, extremely moved, extremely upset, choking back tears)
JOSHUA:
Don't you want to see Aunt Liz and my cousin, Johnny, again?
UNCLE JOE:
(weeping, lifting his face to search for God) Oh . . . God . . . if you're really there, YES!
JOSHUA:
Don't break their hearts, Uncle Joe. You just gotta be there. For me. And for them. You are the first person they are going to be looking for!
UNCLE JOE:
What do I gotta DO?
JOSHUA:
Believe in Jesus. If you believe in Him, you will be saved! That's why He came here in the first place! That's why there's a Christmas! So that you would believe, and be saved, and see us all again, very soon!
UNCLE JOE:
Is that ALL? Just believe in Him?
MARIA:
(listening through her tears, amazed by what she hears, wanting to BELIEVE, as strongly as Joe -- begins, hesitantly at first, to nod her head, slowly, nodding her head)
JOSHUA:
Well, Uncle Joe. You just gotta forgive yourself! For Aunt Liz, and Cousin Johnny. Forgive yourself, and then God will forgive YOU!
UNCLE JOE:
Oh, I want to believe. I want to see them again. And I want to be there with you, Joshua. I do.
JOSHUA:
You don't have long to wait, Uncle Joe! I really think it is going to be soon! And guess what? For the first time ever, I'll have a GREAT body! And I can race you! And I bet I'll be able to BEAT YA, too! The three of us, you, me and Johnny -- racing across heaven! Won't that be great?
UNCLE JOE:
(smiling a little bit for the first time) Oh, Josh, that'll be so great.
JOSHUA:
So you accept this Christmas Request of mine?
UNCLE JOE:
I do!
JOSHUA:
It's the best present anyone's EVER given me. (he picks up another folded piece of paper) Wow! I'm so glad I got to use THIS piece of paper! Okay, Uncle Joe, I want you to kneel, because we're going to talk to God.
(Joe kneels, closing his eyes sincerely -- then Joshua sees his Mom for the first time)
Mom! What about you? Will you give me this Christmas Present too?
MARIA:
(getting to her feet, wiping her eyes) Yes, my son! Yes! (she joins Joe on her knees -- for the first time in seven years, they hold each other's hand)
JOSHUA:
(reading off piece of paper) Uncle Joe, repeat after me: "Dear God, my Heavenly Father (allows time for repetition) I don't know You very well yet (pause) but I want to know You (pause) and I accept Your Son as my Savior (pause) I accept His blood to cover me (pause) please come into my heart, Lord Jesus (pause) and make me into a new creature (pause) I forgive MYSELF, God, for all the terrible things I've done (pause) and I accept Your forgiveness. (pause) please fill me with the Holy Spirit (pause) Thank you, Lord (pause) and I'll be talking to You REAL soon (pause) In the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
Mama, repeat after me: "Dear God, my Heavenly Father (pause) I accept Your Son, Jesus, as my Savior (pause) I believe in Him (pause) and I accept His covering blood to make me right to meet you, Lord (pause) please come into my heart, Lord Jesus (pause) and make me into a new creature (pause) I forgive my brother, Joe, for being a gorilla for so many years (pause) and I accept Your forgiveness (pause) please fill me with the Holy Spirit (pause) Thank you, Lord (pause) in the Name of Jesus, I pray, Amen.
UNCLE JOE / MARIA:
(open eyes, smiling hugely, and they hug each other)
JOSHUA:
Hey! Don't forget the bionic boy over here!
(they move in and embrace, forming a clumsy group hug)
UNCLE JOE:
Merry Christmas!
JOSHUA:
Merry Christmas!
MARIA:
Merry Christmas!
(they all stand, including Joshua, and face audience, smiling)
UNCLE JOE / MARIA / JOSHUA:
He's coming soon, in the clouds! Every eye shall see Him! And He shall pick us up to meet Him in the air! Those that are sleeping, first, and then those that are alive! And we shall go home with Him!
(raising hands in victory, holding hands, and shout)
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
__________________________________________
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Always a parable. Storytelling making the difference.
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