By Andrew Jefferson and Christina Wilson
A husband and wife are tempted with big prizes to compromise their integrity in this TV game show.
Proverbs 4:10-17
Steve - game show host
Lane - his assistant
Bill - male contestant
Rosemary - his wife, female contestant
(Scene: A typical game show format. Host in formal attire, with elegant assistant. Balloons etc to give it atmosphere. Emphasis on hype and stirring up the audience.)
EFX: (Game show type musical intro)
Voice over:
Ladies and gentlemen, It's Saturday night! It's 7 o'clock. It's time to play, "Let's Compromise Your Integrity!" Yes...the show that can change your life. And here to tempt the contestants is your host, Steve Parable.
(Audience cheers and claps)
Steve:
Thank you, thank you. It's a pleasure to be with you again. It's hard to believe that a whole week has gone since Tony and Lyn from Fendalton compromised their integrity on the last show. What will our lucky couple tonight decide to do? Here to introduce them is the lovely Lana. (Sweeps arm to introduce and usher in Lana.)
Lana:
Thank you - and good evening, everybody.
Steve:
Good evening, Lana. My, you're looking great tonight (leans forward to give her a kiss on the cheek).
Lana:
(playfully) Careful, Steve, or you'll compromise your integrity. (Looks teasingly to audience.)
Steve:
Well, Lana, we couldn't have that, could we! Because that's the job of our contestants. So, who do we have tonight?
Lana:
Well, Steve, tonight we have Bill and Rosemary from Beckenham (sweeps arm to introduce Bill and Rosemary, who walk in arm-in-arm. Lana greets them and introduces them to Steve.)
Steve:
Good evening, Bill (shakes his hand) and Rosemary (shakes her hand). Great to have you both with us tongiht - we hope you'll enjoy the game. (Bill and Rosemary smile nervously.)
So, Bill, tell us what you do...
Bill:
(Nervously) Well, I'm a financial... (Steve pulls microphone away before Bill finishes)
Steve:
And Rosemary, tell us what you do.
Rosemary:
(Also nervous. Leans forward to microphone) Um, I'm a mother of three and ... (Steve pulls microphone away again)
Steve:
Of course you are. But that won't matter after tonight, will it, because tonight you are going to have the opportunity to (grand voice) 'COMPROMISE YOUR INTEGRITY', and that could change your life...forever!!
(Steve and Lana lead audience in applause).
Steve:
Moving right along... Bill, we'll start with you.
(Lana takes Rosemary's arm and moves her to the side of the stage, leaving Bill and Steve centre stage)
Steve:
To begin, Bill, a quick reminder of the rules. I'll give you a situation in which you have to decide whether or not to compromise your integrity. The right answer could win you one of tonight's super prizes. (Audience cheers) Bill, are you ready? (Bill nods)
OK - here's your situation. You're at work and a colleague of yours comes up with a brilliant new proposal for your business. Unfortunately, your colleague is off sick in the week it is to be presented, so you are asked to hand it into the boss. The boss thinks it is a wonderful proposal and is really impressed and amazed that you've managed to come up with it all by yourself. He even indicates there could be a promotion coming up for you.
What do you do, Bill: Do you tell your Boss the truth, or do you take the credit for yourself, and "Compromise Your Integrity"?
(Calls come from the audience, some for, some against)
Well, Bill, what are you going to do?
Bill:
(Looks tempted - looks back for Rosemary, then to Steve. Takes deep breath) I'd tell the Boss the truth - it's not my proposal. (Appears relieved, having said this.)
Steve:
(Mock disbelief) You'd tell the truth, with a promotion at stake? What if I introduced a little incentive - say, one hundred dollars? (Waves some notes in front of Bill).
Bill:
(Looks tempted for a moment, then shakes his head). No, I'd still tell.
Steve:
Two hundred dollars?
Bill:
(More confident in his decision now) No.
Steve:
Five hundred dollars?
Bill:
(Slight pause) No.
Steve:
Okay Bill - I see you're a man of unshakeable integrity. But since you're such a good sport, I'll give you one more chance. Let's see what's on offer as our special prize in this section tonight!
EFX: (Drum roll, or appropriate music)
Voice Over:
Tonight, Bill and Rosemary could be driving home in this fabulous new Nissan Sentra. Full of driving elegance and loaded with features, all this could be yours if you choose to "Compromise Your Integrity!".
(Lots of clapping, cheers from audience. Calls of "Take it", etc.)
Steve:
So Bill, what's it to be: the car or your integrity?
(Bill starts to look undecided. Audience cheers him on.)
Steve:
I'll even leave in the five hundred dollars, Bill. (Waves notes again)
Bill:
(Looking agitated, then becomes caught in the excitement.) I'll take it! (Looks around for approval of what he's decided.)
Steve:
You'll take it?
Bill:
That's right, Steve - I'll take the car.
(Much cheering from audience. Lana comes back on with Rosemary on her arm. Lana is clapping and Rosemary looks a little bewildered.)
Steve:
Congratulations, Bill (shakes his hand vigorously). You've won yourself a car and five hundred dollars - all because you "Compromised Your Integrity!" I hope you'll be very happy. (Passes Bill off to Lana, who escorts him to the side of the stage, leaving Rosemary with Steve.)
Now, Rosemary, how are you enjoying the show? Didn't Bill do well. I'm sure you'll both be very please with that car. (Smug grin, Rosemary still looking bewildered). Do you understand how the game is played?
Rosemary:
(Cautiously) I think so.
Steve:
Good, then let's begin. Rosemary, your situation is this. You've got the opportunity to go on a romantic date with Leonardo di Caprio, and Bill's never going to find out about it. What are you going to do? Will you go on the date, and "Compromise Your Integrity"?
(Audience calls out, lots of support for Leonardo.)
Rosemary:
I'll stay with Bill.
Steve:
You're going to be faithful to Bill? How quaint. But Rosemary, what if I offer you two hundred dollars?
Rosemary:
(Firm resolve) No!
Steve:
Five hundred dollars - that will go a long way to buying a very nice outfit for the occasion? And Leonardo's picking up the tab for the evening.
Rosemary:
No.
Steve:
(pleading) A thousand dollars?
(Audience nearly hysterical)
Rosemary:
No!
Steve:
But Rosemary, remember the deal. Bill will never find out...
Rosemary:
No.
Steve:
You're a person of integrity, I can see. But Rosemary, what will happen when I offer you the special prize for tonight's section? Remember, Bill took away a car as his special prize.
Rosemary:
I don't care what the prize is, I wouldn't be unfaithful to Bill.
Steve:
That's your final word? You don't even want to see the prize first?
Rosemary:
No.
Steve:
Well, Rosemary, that's your choice. You're turned down the money and the special prize. But hey, you've proven that you are indeed a person of integrity. (Turns to audience) But our audience is probably wondering, aren't you! Let's see just what that special prize was that Rosemary turned down...
EFX: Music, etc.
Voice Over:
Ladies and gentlemen, if Rosemary had not decided to keep her integrity, she would have been on her way on an all expenses paid trip to Hollywood to party the night away, not just with Leonardo di Caprio, but alsowith Brad Pitt. Two for the price of one!!
(Hysterical calls from the audience)
Steve:
What do you think of that, Rosemary?
Rosemary:
(Shakes head) I'd rather stay faithful to Bill.
Steve:
Okay, well never mind. (Makes a 'put-down' face for audience to see.) That's your choice, Rosemary, and you're entitled to it. (Turns back to Rosemary for a patronising smile.)
And that finishes our show for this week, Ladies and Gentlemen.
(Lana brings Bill back to centre of stage so all four are side by side).
Steve:
Well done, Bill, for taking home those wonderful prizes of the money and the car. Rosemary unfortunately goes home empty-handed, but we hope you've enjoyed playing (smiles patronisingly at her again).
Until next week, that's all from "Compromise Your Integrity!"
EFX: Game show music plays as four wave to audience and lights dim to black.
© Christina Wilson, Andrew Jefferson 1998
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 authors would appreciate being notified of when and for what purpose the play is performed.
They may be contacted christina.wilson@clear.net.nz
Or at: 36B Stourbridge St, Christchurch 2, New Zealand.