Summary: Salvation message with a setting from the Old West. In this drama the evil outlaw (Big Dirk) and his gang (Hash and Hench) control the entire territory until the Law Man shows up to put an end to all their evil. The Law Man, however, surrenders to the outlaws and is killed when they capture his child.
Style: Dramatic. Duration: 12-15min
Actors: 5M, 1M/F
Scripture reference: John 10:10-11 (NIV)
Characters
NARRATOR –Should be dressed in western clothing too.
BIG DIRK- The evil outlaw. The man who plays Big Dirk needs to seem dangerous.
HASH- This bad guy is afraid of the Law Man.
HENCH- Hench is another bad guy.
LAW MAN- The Law Man is the good guy; brave and not afraid of Big Dirk.
LAW MAN’S SON- This character is portrayed by a boy.
Setting
The setting is the Old West. On the stage is a chair facing the audience. Next to the chair is a small table.
Script
(WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS AND THEN FADES AS NARRATOR BEGINS)
NARRATOR: Welcome to the Western Theater! We bring you a live show right out of the Old West.
Today I want to talk about the Law Man who faced the West’s most menacing outlaw - Big Dirk. (DIRK ENTERS LOOKING VERY MENACING) You see Big Dirk, along with his hired gunslingers Hash and Hench, (HASH AND HENCH ENTER) controlled everything that goes on in the whole territory.
(DIRK SITS DOWN ON A CHAIR, FACING THE AUDIENCE, NEXT TO A SMALL TABLE. HE SETS HIS GUN DOWN ON THE TABLE. HASH AND HENCH STAND READY.)
Everyone in the territory lived in fear and bondage of Big Dirk. It was as if a terrible darkness had descended on the once beautiful Western lands. Then something happened. (HENCH STEPS FORWARD AND WHISPERS IN DIRK’S EAR. DIRK SAYS SOMETHING BACK AND HENCH NODS AND EXITS.) Big Dirk heard more and more about the Law Man who had come to clean up the territory and put an end to all their evil. Hold on to your seats young ones! But I must warn you- there will be some shooting before this story is over. (NARRATOR EXITS.)
HASH: I don’t like this Boss, not one bit! And where’s Hench?
DIRK: Take it easy Hash. You’re always so nervous. Hench is doing a special pickup for me. Quit worrying!
HASH: I tell you this Law Man is trouble! He is stopping our evil plans and not just that, he’s talking to everyone about truth and justice.
DIRK: I still control most of the people in the territory. Your problem Hash is that you are scared of the Law Man.
HASH: Scared? You bet I am! If you had only seen what I have; his eyes. When I looked into his eyes I thought I was going to melt away right in my boots!
DIRK: And yet here you are still very much alive, looking just fine, and your boots look just fine too!
HASH: Yeah, I got lucky that time. But what about next time? Anyway, as I recall, you didn’t make out any better when you first met up with the Law Man.
DIRK: I offered to buy him off. I told him he could have anything he wanted in this whole territory- as long as he agreed to do what I say; to recognize me as his boss.
HASH: And how did that go for you? He turned you flat down!
DIRK: Yeah, I don’t understand it. Doesn’t matter; the next time we meet I won’t be so friendly. (DIRK PICKS UP GUN) I’ll fill that Law Man with more holes than a watering can! (SETS GUN BACK DOWN)
(HENCH ENTERS)
HENCH: All done Boss.
DIRK: You took care of that for me? How did everything go?
HENCH: Just like you said. All tied up in the back.
DIRK: Good work Hench! Now you better go back and lay low. Be ready because I think the Law Man will be paying us a visit soon. (HENCH EXITS)
HASH: The Law Man is coming here?!!
DIRK: Yes, he is coming to visit. Only it is going to be his last visit!
HASH: (NERVOUS) And you’re just sitting around calm as can be?! Why the Law Man could be anywhere right now!
(LAWMAN ENTERS SUDDENLY FROM SIDE WITH GUN DRAWN)
LAW MAN: I’m already here Hash. Hands up, both of you!
HASH: (RAISES HANDS HIGH) I give up! I give up! Just don’t shoot me!
DIRK: (RAISES HANDS HALFWAY) Well, look who’s here- the big Law Dog himself!
LAW MAN: Do not move. I am going to take your guns. (LAW MAN TAKES HASH’S GUN. DIRK SLOWLY LOWERS HANDS TOWARDS HIS GUN ON TABLE. LAWMAN TURNS TO DIRK.)
Put your hands back up Dirk!! (LAWMAN REACHES AND TAKES DIRK’S GUN.)
That’s better now! (DIRK LOWERS HANDS IN DEFIANCE.)
DIRK: Who do you think you are- coming right into my territory, taking my gun?!!
LAW MAN: You don’t own this territory Dirk. You have come here only to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come so that everyone living here may have new life, free from your evil. There is a day of justice coming and that’s something even you cannot escape from.
LAW MAN: Where’s Hench?
DIRK: Who?
LAW MAN: Don’t lie to me Dirk. Where’s your other hired gunslinger? Is he in the back room? Call him out!
DIRK: Anything you say Law Man. Hench!! Come on out!!
(HENCH COMES OUT WITH HIS GUN DRAWN, CROUCHING BEHIND A YOUNG BOY WHO HAS HIS HANDS TIED IN FRONT OF HIM. HENCH IS USING THE BOY AS A HUMAN SHIELD.)
BOY: Dad!!
LAW MAN: My son! You’ve got my son!
(DIRK STANDS UP)
DIRK: That’s right! Don’t even try to shoot, Law Man! You might just miss Hench and shoot your own son! Now put up your hands or Hench will blow your precious child’s head off!!
BOY: No Dad! Don’t do it!! (HENCH PUTS ONE HAND OVER BOY’S MOUTH.)
LAWMAN: My own child’s life is at stake! I know what I must do! (PUTS UP HANDS)
DIRK: That was easy! Just as I had planned! Hash, get the guns!
(HASH GETS THE GUNS. HE GIVES DIRK BACK HIS OWN GUN AND THEN COVERS THE LAWMAN WITH THE OTHER TWO GUNS.)
DIRK: So big Law Man, let’s see how brave you are now without your gun!
HASH: Are we going to shoot him down Boss?
DIRK: In a minute. But first there’s something I want. Cover me!
(DIRK GOES UP AND TAKES OFF LAW MAN’S BADGE AND THEN STEPS BACK AND PUTS IT ON HIMSELF. THEN DIRK DRAWS GUN AGAIN.)
DIRK: What do you think boys? I’m the new law man in this territory and now no one will ever dare to oppose me again! (DIRK, HASH, AND HENCH LAUGH.)
LAWMAN: Anyone who seeks the truth will know that you are no law man!
HENCH: Hey Boss, the Law Man surrendered and we still have his kid. He gave himself up for nothing!
DIRK: I sort of feel sorry for you Law Man. You could have had anything in this territory if only you had been willing to call me Boss!
LAW MAN: Did you really think I would ever join you?
DIRK: (THINKS A BIT) No, Law Man. I don’t suppose you would. And now it’s all over for you. Ready Hash?
HASH: Ready.
DIRK: Let him have it!!!
(DIRK AND HASH BOTH START SHOOTING LAW MAN. HENCH LEAVES BOY AND COMES CLOSER AND ALSO STARTS SHOOTING LAW MAN. LAW MAN STAGGERS AT FIRST SHOTS AND THEN FALLS, FACE AWAY FROM AUDIENCE. LAW MAN’S SON YELLS OUT AND THEN COVERS FACE AND TURNS AWAY AS IF IT IS TOO TERRIBLE TO WATCH. DIRK, HASH, AND HENCH CONTINUE TO SHOOT SOME MORE AT LIFELESS LAW MAN AND THEN STOP. EVERYONE PAUSES FOR A FEW SECONDS. LAWMAN’S SON GOES AND KNEELS NEAR LAWMAN’S BODY.)
DIRK: Hash, go check him to see if he really is dead.
HASH: How could he be alive with all the lead we pumped into him?!
DIRK: I said check him! I want to be sure!
(HASH CHECKS BODY)
HASH: He’s dead. Very dead. There’s not much left of him.
DIRK: Good! Now no one will be able to stop me now!!
HASH: Did you see how the Law Man died? He was so brave. Surely, he was a good man. I don’t know know- there’s something going on here. Maybe his death did count for something.
HENCH: Dirk, what about the boy?
DIRK: Just leave him here. Who cares?
HENCH: What?
DIRK: I control this entire territory! Where is he going to go?
HENCH: Oh yeah!
(HASH LOOKS AS IF HE IS THINKING)
DIRK: OK Hash, what’s bugging you now?
HASH: Even though the Law Man is dead, what if people in this territory believe what he told them and start living their lives for truth and justice?
DIRK: What?
HENCH: He’s right Dirk. The Law Man has already said and done too much, and now he’s proved who he is by the way he died. If people everywhere start believing and following the Law Man’s example, this could be a big problem for us. In fact, killing the Law Man might end up being the biggest mistake you’ve ever made.
DIRK: (ANGRY) Let’s get out of here! We’ve got a lot of work to do!!
(DIRK, HASH, AND HENCH EXIT. NARRATOR ENTERS.)
(WESTERN MUSIC PLAYS AGAIN AND FADES)
NARRATOR: Big Dirk and his gang went to work doing evil all over the territory, but it was no use. Too many people already had their lives changed forever by the Law Man and they weren’t going to let Big Dirk control them any longer. Even though he died, the Law Man ended up doing what he set out to do: saving the entire territory from evil.
Kinda reminds me about the Law Man who came to set us all free from evil. Yes, I reckon you know who I mean. The Holy Book tells us that Jesus lived a life of truth and justice like no one else and then one day gave up His life on an old rugged cross. He died to save us and then He did something no other law man could ever do: Jesus arose from death to prove He really is the Savior.
Tell me friends, has this Law Man, Jesus, ever changed your life forever? He wants to and is waiting for you to decide to follow Him and to walk in His ways. But only you can make that choice. What will you choose?
(MORE WESTERN MUSIC. NARRATOR EXITS)
THE END
(AFTER A LITTLE BIT THE LAW MAN AND BOY GET UP AND EXIT)
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** There is no cost to use this drama. Please email me though at
Special thanks to Mark Tinner, Matt Owens, Guy Shinko, and Keith and Jacob Nitschke who helped me perform this drama as a special event at our church camp.