The Eye of the Needle

By Trevor Fletcher

Summary

Reuben is trying, with much heaving and grunting, to push an overloaded camel through a narrow gate. The camel is an optional extra!

Scripture

Mark 10:17-31. ‘How hard for the rich man…’

Script

Reuben: Come on (push, grunt) Jehoshaphat you (push, grunt) lazy good-for-nothing, (push, grunt) get through there!
Bystander: What are you doing?
Reuben: Making Spanish omelettes!  What does it look like I’m doing?!  I’m trying to get this fat (push, grunt) idle (push, grunt) camel through this gate.
Bystander: You’ll never get that through there.
Reuben: Yes I will.
Bystander: No you won’t.
Reuben: Listen, Smart Alexander, I got him through here (push, grunt) last week so he’s going through here now! (push, grunt)
Bystander: Not this time, he isn’t.  Trying to squeeze him through that gate is like a mouse trying to give birth to an elephant; just ain’t going to happen.
Reuben: And what makes you think that, since you’re so clever?
Bystander: Stands to reason; he’s overloaded.
Reuben: Overloaded?
Bystander: That’s what I said.  Look at those packs – they stick out so far at the sides you’ll never get them through those narrow gateposts.
Reuben: So what do you suggest, O Wise One?
Bystander: Easy!
Reuben: Easy right? Oh yeah, dead easy.
Bystander: That’s right.  Just take off those packs and leave them outside the gate then the camel can just walk though, no problem.  Just like an elephant giving birth to a mouse.
Reuben: What, and leave all this valuable merchandise outside the city?  You’ve got to be joking.
Bystander: Just making a suggestion.  You carry on if you like.
Reuben: I will!  (push, grunt) Come on Jehoshaphat, you lazy good-for-nothing camel, get… (push, grunt) through… (push, grunt) there!
Watchman: Sunset!  Close the gates!  Close the gates!
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Copyright Trevor Fletcher, all rights reserved.
This script may be used without royalty payment, provided no charge is made for entrance to the performance. In return, the author would like to be told of any performance. He may be contacted at: tpfletcher@blueyonder.co.uk