Summary: The Innkeeper’s Wife tells the story of Tikvah, an exhausted innkeeper’s wife in Bethlehem who struggles to care for an overcrowded house during the Roman census. When a young pregnant couple, Mary and Joseph, arrive with nowhere to stay, Tikvah reluctantly allows her husband to shelter them in the stable. After the baby is born, news spreads that the child is the promised Messiah, and shepherds arrive after being visited by angels. Seeing Jesus for herself, Tikvah’s doubts and bitterness are replaced by renewed faith as she realizes that God has not abandoned His people.
Style: Drama. Duration: 8-10 minutes
Actors: 3W, 2 girls (teens or older children), 3M, 2 shepherds (either gender, can be played by teens or older children)
Scriptures: Luke 2:1-20 (the primary source for the Nativity events); Micah 5:2 (Messiah born in Bethlehem); Isaiah 9:6 (Prince of Peace); 1 Kings 17:2-16 (Elijah provided for by God); Genesis 50:20 (God turning evil into good through Joseph)
A video of a performance of the script can be seen at https://vimeo.com/1042188175?fl=pl&fe=sh
Characters
Anna – the innkeeper’s daughter. She’s mischievous and always seems to be hungry.
Tali – A young girl staying at the inn with her family. She’s the responsible one.
Tikvah – the innkeepers wife. She’s stressed out about the 40 people staying in her house and bitter about the Romans precipitating this event.
Judah – a man staying at the inn and trying to care for his family.
Dina – a woman staying at the inn. She’s helping Tikvah handle the situation and offers words of wisdom.
Simeon – The innkeeper. He is ruled by his kindness rather than practical considerations.
Shepherd 1
Shepherd 2
Mary
Joseph
Setting: A kitchen in Bethlehem and the stable
Script
(Scene opens on a kitchen upstage center. There is a low oven/stove on stage right, a table in the center, and a shelf stage left. Clay jars and wooden dishes are scattered throughout. A drying rack for fabric stands upstage. Tikvah is wiping down the table and cleaning up from the evening meal. Then she begins to make/knead bread, which she does throughout the following scene.)
Tikvah: Anna, put that down. We just ate dinner.
Anna: But mom –
Tikvah: No. You do not need another snack. Go and help your Aunt Salome.
Anna: Okay …
(Anna turns to leave, keeping two of the rolls with her. Tali enters carrying a few dirty bowls. She places them in a wooden bucket with other dishes.)
Tikvah: Anna, put the bread back before you go.
(Anna puts one roll down and turns to leave again.)
Tikvah: And the other one.
Anna: But I’m still hungry!!
(Anna exits.)
Tali: My mother asked if you have more blankets. And Miriam needs another basin for water.
Tikvah: (stressed out and frustrated) There should be one more blanket in the chest in the upper room. I don’t have another basin. Salome and Joanna were using one to wash up. Miriam will need to share with them. Speaking of washing up, Tali, please take these dishes out to Salome and Joanna. Then bring the blanket to your mother. I need to bring this stew to Matthew’s father.
Tali: Yes, Tikvah. (Tali exits and bumps into Judah who’s on his way in. Anna sneaks back in just after him)
Judah: Look out there. Tikvah, have you seen your husband?
Tikvah: I believe he’s helping Michael and Shira unpack and settle in with the others. He might be in the stables.
(Anna has maneuvered herself behind Tikvah and is trying to help herself to a snack. Dina enters carrying some laundry and proceeds to hang it up)
Judah: Thank you. Oh, and do you have a spare leather strap? I need to make a repair on Ananias’s sandal.
Tikvah: Yes, we have some spare leather in the stable.
(Judah Exits)
Dina: Thank you so much for your hospitality, Tikvah. I know having all of these relatives at your house is difficult. Can I help you with anything else?
Tikvah: Not unless you can eliminate the Roman filth that created this whole mess.
Dina: Unfortunately-
Tikvah: Did you hear what they did to Jonathon yesterday? (She spots Anna who is attempting to sneak out) Anna, you can put that back.
Anna: (Hastily hiding the food behind his back.) Put what back?
(Tikvah gives her a look)
Anna: It’s just a little snac,k and I promise I’m going to share. (Tikvah continues to stare. Anna puts some of the food back.)
Tikvah: All of it.
Anna: How do you always know?!?
Tikvah: You’ll get breakfast tomorrow with everyone else, and you won’t starve.
Anna: But anything could happen between now and then. (She puts the rest back pouting all the while.)
Tikvah: Now, why don’t you go find something useful to do instead of skulking about. If Aunt Salome doesn’t need you, I think the stables need cleaning out.
(Simeon enters)
Simeon: Tikvah, we have two more at the door. They say they’re Levi’s cousins.
Tikvah: I don’t think we can squeeze even one more person in.
(Anna has moved to leave, but is lingering near the door, hoping to hear some interesting news)
Simeon: But Tikvah-
Tikvah: Simeon. No. You have to turn them away.
Simeon: The girl is pregnant. She’s in labor now. We can’t turn them away.
Tikvah: And did you tell them that?
Simeon: I haven’t told them anything yet. But there has to be some room in the house.
Tikvah: There isn’t. Especially not if she’s going to give birth. What do you want, Simeon, a child to be born in the upper room while 25 other people look on? Or maybe next to Matthew’s dying father. She and the baby could get his illness. Or perhaps she could have the child here on the kitchen table while I make tomorrow’s bread.
(Simeon starts to clear the table as if that last suggestion were a good idea.)
Tikvah: (Tikvah stares for a moment in disbelief and then stops him) Simeon! No. I would love to help them. But it’s just not possible. Tell them to ask at Micah’s house.
Simeon: They already asked there. They’re even more full than we are.
Tikvah: What about Illa and Bartholomew?
Simeon: The same. Everyone’s house is full. Besides how is she supposed to make the journey across town in her condition? She barely made it here.
Tikvah: Maybe they should ask the Romans. Those buffoons should take some responsibility for this horde they’ve brought down on us.
Simeon: You know the Romans would never help. Listen, it’s us or nothing for them. Surely you don’t want the baby of one of God’s chosen people to be born in th-
Tikvah: Since God has supposedly chosen our people, He should do a better job taking care of us. He should find them a place to stay.
Simeon: (Frustrated) Maybe he already has. Here. With us.
Tikvah: Simeon, it’s impossible. There isn’t room.
Anna: (jumping in) What about the stables?
Tikvah: The stables?!?
Simeon: (Considering) We could clear out one of the stalls, bring in some fresh straw and blankets-
Tikvah: We don’t have blankets left. And you want a baby to be born in the stinking air of the stables, with the animals? What about the animals that are in there now?
Anna: We could set something up outside for the animals.
Tikvah: I thought I told you to leave a while ago.
Simeon: No, Anna is right. It won’t kill the animals to be out for a night, but it might kill this girl. You should see her, Tikvah. She needs this. You would change your mind if you saw her.
Tikvah: Fine! You want to put them up so badly, you deal with it.
Anna: I could help!
Tikvah: But I had better not hear a word from them or about them. I’m already pulled too thin as it is.
Simeon: We’ll take care of everything. Thank you, Tikvah.
(Simeon turns to leave. Anna grabs a snack and sprints out.)
Tikvah: Anna! You put that back!
Dina: Simeon, I think Salome has some experience as a midwife. She might be willing to help them.
Simeon: Thank you, Dina. I’ll ask her.
(Simeon exits)
Tikvah: I suppose you’re on his side.
Dina: I’m –
Tikvah: Never mind. I’m going to take this stew up to Matthew’s father. Then I’ll see to everyone else’s problems. Maybe catch a few seconds of sleep. And then I’ll be back down here in the middle of the night heating the oven for the daily bread. Before it all starts over again.
Dina: God will see us through.
Tikvah: (scoffs) I’m leaving. I’ll see you in the morning.
(Tikvah takes the bowl of stew and exits.)
Dina: God, please bring Tikvah...bring all of us peace.
(Dina grabs a jar and exits. Lights down. Nighttime sound effects, the cry of a baby. Music. Lights fade back up. Tikvah enters yawning and uncovers the bread. As she works to get the fire started in the oven, Anna rushes in and begins to gather up some food)
Anna: Mom! You’ll never believe it! The baby – he – The Messiah!
Tikvah: (Stands) Anna, get out of my kitchen.
Anna: I’m just getting some food.
Tikvah: (Moves to block her) You will eat with everyone else later.
Anna: (trying to get around her) I know. I know. But it’s not for me this time. I promise.
Tikvah: I’ve heard that before. Now get out.
Anna: Sure thing, Mom, just as soon as I (Anna fakes her out, grabs some food and sprints back out the door) get some food for Mary and Joseph.
Tikvah: Anna! You bring that back!
(Simeon rushes in.)
Simeon: Tikvah!
(Simeon grabs her and spins her around laughing)
Tikvah: (Let go!) or (Put me down!). What’s going on?
Simeon: The Messiah! He’s here. That baby, he’s not just any child. You must see. He’s the messiah! He’s the one we’ve been waiting for!
Tikvah: Simeon, you need sleep.
Simeon: He’s the Messiah! Go and see. I’m going to tell the others!
(Simeon exits. Tikvah stands confused for a moment before starting to work again.)
Shepherd 1: (In a hurry) Shalom. Is the Messiah here?
Tikvah: What?
Shepherd 2: We were in the fields-
Shepherd 1: A brilliant light-
Shepherd 2: They were angels –
Shepherd 1: They said the Messiah-
Tikvah: The Messiah?
Shepherd 2: The Messiah, he’s here in Bethlehem. We’re going to find him.
Shepherd 1: Have you heard of a baby being born in stable tonight?
Tikvah: A woman did give birth in our stables. What does this have to do with-
Shepherd 1: We’ve found him!
Shepherd 2: Tell the others he’s here. I’ll find the stable.
(The shepherds rush out excitedly. Tikvah looks even more confused, and turns back to her work. Dina enters carrying a basket of recently washed fabric.)
Dina: Tikvah! you’ll never believe-
Tikvah: Not you too.
(Dina pauses.)
Tikvah: (sarcastically) What? Am I really to believe that the poor couple with nowhere to stay last night had a baby who is the Messiah?
Dina: But he is the Messiah. Come and see.
Tikvah: I don’t have time. I need to get-
Dina: The bread can wait for 5 minutes. This is far more important. The messiah. He’s here.
Tikvah: No.
Dina: Tikvah, I know that you are overwhelmed. But at least come and see. This won’t take very long, and you know I’ll help you keep the house together today. (Pause. Tikvah is still giving her a disbelieving look) If I’m wrong about this child, you will at least get a break from the kitchen to see an adorable newborn. But if we’re all right, you will be a witness to the fulfillment of God’s promises. You will meet the Prince of Peace.
(Tikvah’s barriers are breaking, but she’s still reluctant)
Come with me.
Tikvah: Fine. I will go with you. (Unwilling to give in completely) But this had better not take long.
(Music fades in. Dina grabs a pitcher and some towels. Tikvah and Dina exit the kitchen, and go to the stable. As they exit, a light comes up on the stable. Mary sits on the ground, leaning against a bale of hay. Joseph sits next to her on the hay bale. They are eating the bread that Anna grabbed for them. Anna, sits before the manger playing with baby Jesus. Dina goes in and begins pouring them some water. Tikvah slows as she sees the stables then pauses looking in at the door. A change comes over her, but she can’t make herself go in. Simeon comes from the house and stands beside her.)
Simeon: It’s amazing, isn’t it? (Kisses the top of her head or gently embraces her)
Tikvah: It’s just a baby.
Simeon: The messiah.
Tikvah: I-
Simeon: Those shepherds from earlier confirmed what Joseph was telling me. Angels appeared to them and told them that the savior, Christ the Lord had been born here in Bethlehem in a stable. The messiah has come. (pause) You should go to Him.
Tikvah: I… I don’t know if I can.
Simeon: (Gently) Why not?
Tikvah: God left us.
Simeon: God has not left us. He tested us. Like the Prophet Micah we have waited for our savior and God has answered us.
Tikvah: But the Romans -
Simeon: God can handle the Romans. He has always provided for his people. Think of Elijah in the wilderness. God fed him and gave him rest. Think of Joseph in Egypt. His brothers meant his slavery for evil, but God meant it for good. Through Joseph, God saved his people.
Tikvah: I … God… He … I doubted him... How can I go – how can I see this great thing - when I am not worthy?
Simeon: I’ll go with you. Come and see what God has done.
(Simeon and Tikvah enter the stables. Joseph stands.)
Simeon: Joseph, Mary, this is my wife Tikvah.
Joseph and Mary: Shalom.
Joseph: Thank you for letting us stay with you.
Tikvah: (Tikvah can’t take her eyes off the manger.) I- It was Simeon and Anna’s idea.
Joseph: We’re grateful. I was starting to think we’d have nowhere to go. But Mary kept telling me that God would provide.
Mary: Would you like to hold him? Anna, could you bring him over?
(Anna brings Jesus to Tikvah and then stands next to Dina)
Tikvah: He is the Messiah. God didn’t abandon us.
Simeon: No. The proof of his faithfulness to you, to us, to our people, is right here.
Dina: Mary, can I get you anything else?
Mary: No, but thank you. Anna was kind enough to bring us some breakfast.
Anna: I told you it wasn’t for me, Mom.
(Tikvah laughs and the lights fade.)
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© Kelly Nupson, All rights reserved. This script may be used free of charge, on the condition that copies are not sold for profit in any medium, nor any entrance fee charged to a performance. In exchange, the author would appreciate being notified of any occasion the play is used in public performance.
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