Outer Limits of Love - The Parable of the Prodigal Son

OUTER LIMITS OF LOVE

By Bob Allen

Based on the parable of the prodigal son – Luke 15:11-32

Characters

                        Harold McManus                    Head of the family.

                        Betty McManus                      Harold’s wife

                        Janice McManus Tyrone         Daughter

                        Bruce  Tyrone                         Son-in-law

                        Joyce McManus Conrad         Daughter

                        Thomas Conrad                       Son-in-law

                        Judd McManus                       Son

Synopsis:         Harold McManus has been given only weeks to live by his physician.  The family has gathered to say their farewells when old hatreds surface.  Harold is determined that love for all his children will survive even when he has passed on.

Costumes:       Everyday clothing would be appropriate for each of the characters.  No special costumes are needed.

Setting:            The dining room of the McManus estate.  Harold sits at the head of the table with the rest of the family gathered around.

Time:               The present.

HAROLD:                  Good meal, Betty.  Get’s better every time you feed me, even after all these years.

JANICE:                     That’s right, Mom.  With I could cook half as good as you.

THOMAS:                  So does Bruce.

BRUCE:                     Hey, she does all right.  After all, her mom’s had fifty years to practice.

HAROLD:                  Fifty years, and it seems like yesterday.

JOYCE:                      Bruce!  Bruce is sorry, Dad.  He didn’t mean to remind you…

HAROLD:                  It’s quite all right.  I want to be reminded.  They have been good years.  No sense mourning a wonderful memory.

BETTY:                      Well, we don’t have to set here, we could go into the living room.

HAROLD:                  No.  Let’s stay here around the table.  This may be our last supper.

JANICE:                     Dad!

JOYCE:                      Don’t talk that way.

HAROLD:                  I don’t know any other way to talk.  The doctor gave me three weeks to live and there’s nothing anyone can do about it.  So why pretend?

BETTY:                      I’m just glad you were all able to come back to say goodbye.  Do you realize it’s the first time we’ve all been together since Joyce and Tom’s wedding ten years ago?

JOYCE:                      And whose fault is that?

JUDD:                         I suppose you mean me.  I’ve been back, just not when the two of you happened to be here.

HAROLD:                  Well, we’re all here now and that’s what matters.  I want to tell you about my will.  We’re dividing everything equally among the three of you.

JANICE:                     You’re what?

HAROLD:                  It won’t happen until your mother dies, of course.

JOYCE:                      Equally?

BETTY:                      You all remember dad’s lawyer friend, Neil Gorsuch.  He’s agreed to continue working on it even after…

HAROLD:                  It won’t be easy trying to figure out the exact worth of all the property and such, but I know Neil.  He’ll be fair.

JANICE:                     Fair?  You call that fair?  Giving him anything after what he has done?

BRUCE:                     Let me handle this, Janice.  Sir, with all due respect, it seems clear that one of your children has forfeited any right to an inheritance.

JUDD:                         Judd!  The name is Judd!  If you can bear to say it.

THOMAS:                  Bruce is right, sir.  I know Joyce would never say this, but you are rewarding  betrayal.

JANICE:                     Betrayal?  It was murder.

BRUCE:                     Sure, he didn’t pull the trigger, but he might was well have.

JUDD:                         I don’t need to sit here and listen to this.

JOYCE:                      Yeah?  Well maybe it’s time you did.  If you think you can show up after all these years with blood still on your hands and pretend like nothing happened, you’ve got another think coming.

BETTY:                      Children, please.

JUDD:                         I’m out of here.  As far as I’m concerned you can keep your money.  And you can keep your name too.  I don’t want any part of it.  (Exits).

BRUCE:                     Well, good riddance, is all I can say.

JANICE:                     He should never have come back in the first place.

JOYCE:                      It’s better this way, Dad.  He didn’t deserve anything.

HAROLD:                  When you come right down to it, I guess none of us deserves anything, do we?

THOMAS:                  What do you mean, sir?  Your daughters have been loyal to you all their lives.

BRUCE:                     They’ll take care of mother after you’re gone.  That’s more than he would have done.

HAROLD:                  I know.  I know.  And they’ll get their inheritance.  One-third for each of them.

JOYCE:                      But, Dad.

JANICE:                     You heard him. 

BRUCE:                     He doesn’t want it, sir.

THOMAS:                  He denied even being a part of the family.

HAROLD:                  Neil will put it into a trust.  No matter what he’s done, he’s still my son and I still love him.  If he’s ever willing to accept the gift, it’s his.

JANICE:                     But there must be a limit. 

BRUCE:                     It’s only reasonable, sir.

HAROLD:                  No limit.  It’s there, waiting for him.  Unto the end.

THE END