By John McNeil
Five unemployed people are given jobs.
Echoes of Luke 17:11-19
Employment Officer
Jane
Brigitte
Brian
Chris
Bill
Mortar board
Briefcase
Notebook
Broom
Slasher
Narr. 1: Once upon a time...
Narr. 2: ...there were five dole bl...
Narr. 1: ...unclaimed prizes...
Narr. 2: ...standing in line...
Narr. 1: ...at the Labour Department.
Narr. 2: Some standing...
Narr. 1: Some leaning...
Narr. 2: and some sitting...
Narr. 1: against the wall.
Narr. 2: There was Jane...
Narr. 1: Brigitte...
Narr. 2: Brian...
Narr. 1: Chris...
Narr. 2: And Bill.
Narr. 1: One had a university degree...
Narr. 2: One had 'O' levels...
Narr. 1: One had a £2000 overdraft...
Narr. 2: One had a nervous disposition.
Narr. 1: And then there was Bill...
Narr. 2: Who was always running late...
Narr. 1: Who had nothing much to say for himself.
Narr. 2: Bill was keen...in a low-key way.
Narr. 1: He found it hard to relate to people (others group together, shutting out Bill).
Narr. 2: Our five hopefuls had not worked in several months...
Narr. 1: But they came each day, looking for a job that always eluded them.
Narr. 2: Others got work....
Narr. 1: But somehow, employers always passed them by.
Narr. 2: Until...
Narr. 1: One day...
Narr. 2: A new Employment Officer...
Narr. 1: A keen type...
Narr. 2: wanting the best for his charges...
Narr. 1: took a special interest in our five friends.
Narr. 2: He rang round...
Narr. 1: He visited...
Narr. 2: He cajoled...
Narr. 1: He tried every avenue...
Narr. 2: until...
Narr. 1: one day...
Narr. 2: he cried...
Employment Officer: Success!
Narr. 1: He bounded out to our five hopefuls.
Employment Officer: I have jobs for all of you.
For you (handing out mortar) -; a teaching position.For you (handing out briefcase) -; a travelling salesman.
For you (handing out notebook) -; typist in a big city office.
For you (handing out broom) -; it's cleaning on the midnight shift.
And for you (handing slasher to Bill) -; Well, I did my best. Six months scrub cutting, on a farm up back-country.
Narr. 1: They all went away.
Narr. 2: The end of the story.
Narr. 1: Well, almost.
Narr. 2: Bill only got half way...
Narr. 1: Before he came back.
Bill: Sir...
Narr. 2: he said.
Bill: Thanks a lot, mate!
Narr. 1: The Employment Officer...
Narr. 2: Thoughtful...
Narr. 1: Asked...
Employment Officer: Weren't there five who got jobs?
© John McNeil 1990
All rights reserved
This play may be performed free of charge, on the condition that
copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee
charged.
In exchange for free performance, the author would appreciate being
notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed.