Summary: A short sketch based on the thought that you have to take the medicine to get better rather than concentrating on the illness, with the underlying idea, how can we know what we can trust. It was developed originally as part as an apologetics course but can be used in a variety of situations.
Style: Light-hearted. Duration: 6min
Actors: 2M
Characters
1 and 2
Script
1: You look depressed.
2: Been to the doctor, haven’t I?
1: What about?
2: That thing with my arm. You know that mark, the red line going up it. Creeping inexorably.
1: In what. What’s with the big words?
2: Don’t know. Just sounds dramatic. Inexorably. It means…well never mind what it means. All I know is I’ve been feeling pretty lousy lately.
1: Lately?
2: You know what I mean. And the doc says I have blood poisoning.
1: Wow. That’s dodgy. Real dodgy. You gotta watch that. I know someone who died of that. One moment he was there, the next…
2: Yes, thank you. Spare me the graphic descriptions. You are not helping a lot…
1: Well, I’m just trying to be realistic. What did the doc say? Is there any hope?
2: Penicillin..
1: Great. Let’s go and get some.
2: Already got a bottle of tablets…
1: All right. Job done then. Does the business, I guess. No more blood poisoning.
2: I suppose so.
1: Suppose? Suppose? What do you mean? The expert opinion is definitely saying it, so your problem is over.
2: Yes, but I’ve been sitting here struggling with the whole thing.
1: Why?
2: Well, I think I’ve got over it now but it took me some time to come to terms with it.
1: With what?
2: Whether the bottle of penicillin existed.
1: What, you numbskull. Of course it does. It’s there on your dresser. Touch it. Shake it. It’s there.
2: Yes, I came to that conclusion too. But then I worried if the tablets would really do the job. Would the penicillin cure me?
1: Well I imagine if the doctor had thought you’d be better off with a can of WD40 he would have prescribed that. As it is, because he’s a rational and qualified human being he prescribed penicillin. So stop being a numpty.
2: Well yes, I’d reasoned that out too. So I’ve progressed. I now accept that the bottle of penicillin tablets exists and that the tablets will cure my blood poisoning.
1: Great. So why the depression, old mate?
2: I’m still suffering with the illness.
1: Ever thought of taking the tablets?
2: Oh.
………………………………………………….
© Andy Lund, 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.
He may be contacted at: