THE
SEVEN DEADLY SINS GO WEST
The Pretender
By Bob Allen
“He that is of a
proud heart stirreth up strife.” (Proverbs
28:25)
“Pride goeth
before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
(Proverbs 16:18)
Deadly Sin: Pride
CHARACTERS
Samantha Rider - Rocky’s
long-time sweetheart.
The Greenhorn -
A young pretender, full of his own importance
SCENE
AN OLD
FASHIONED ICE CREAM PARLOR WITH A TABLE AND TWO CHAIRS. UPSTAGE IS A COUNTER WITH BAR STOOLS. ROCKY AND SAMANTHA ARE SEATED AT THE TABLE
SHARING A SODA WITH TWO STRAWS.
SAMANTHA: Rocky,
dearest. Would you buy me a frosty Root
Beer to wash down this delicious malt shake?
ROCKY: Anything
you wish, darling. (ROCKY STANDS AND
MOVES OVER TO THE COUNTER WITH HIS BACK TO
THE TABLE.)
GREENHORN: (ENTERS
AND MAKES HIS WAY DIRECTLY TO THE CHAIR WHERE ROCKY HAD BEEN SITTING.
DROPS THE BURLAP
SACK HE IS CARRYING ON THE FLOOR AND SITS
DOWN.) Well, well you pretty little
filly. I see you been saving
a place just for me. And a right smart choice.
I just happen to
be the best looking dude in this entire territory.
SAMANTHA: No,
really?
GREENHORN: (WAVING
TOWARD ROCKY AT THE COUNTER) Hey, waiter, how about some service? (TO SAMANTHA)
That’s right, little
lady. You don’t know what pleasure is
until you’ve had the pleasure
of my company.
ROCKY: (BRINGS
SAMANTHA’S ROOT BEER TO THE TABLE.)
Did
you want to order something, sir?
GREENHORN: Not
yet. But I’m thinking about it. I’m
thinking about it. You just mind your own business. You don’t want to tangle with the greatest
cowboy west of the Rio Grande.
SAMANTHA: Don’t
you mean north of the Rio Grande?
GREENHORN: Did
they change the direction of that confounded interstate again?
ROCKY: (RETURNS
TO COUNTER AND LEANS AGAINST IT.) The greatest, huh?
GREENHORN: You
heard of Wyatt the Kid, Roy Earp and Billy Rogers? City slickers. All of them.
ROCKY: Nope! Never heard of them.
GREENHORN: Well,
then. You heard of Rocky Rhodes?
SAMANTHA: That’s
him right….
ROCKY: (CUTTING
HER OFF) Yeah, reckon I have heard of
him once or twice.
GREENHORN: Yeah! Well, everyone says he’s the greatest. But they don’t know what
side of the bedroll has butter on it.
You ever hear that story about
him and the rattlesnake?
SAMANTHA: You
mean the time Rocky grabbed a rattler by the tail to keep it from striking his girl? The time he
got bit right on the arm to save her
and almost lost his life?
GREENHORN: Yah,
something like that. Well, that was
nothing. See this bag here? (PICKS UP THE BURLAP BAG.) Inside this bag are three of
the biggest diamondback rattlers this side of the Alps.
SAMANTHA: (SLIDES HER CHAIR AWAY FROM THE
TABLE.) And just what
do you plan to do with them?
GREENHORN: Demonstrate
my greatness! If Rocky Rhodes could
handle one snake, I can handle three.
ROCKY: (STARTS
TOWARD THE TABLE TO PROTECT SAMANTHA.) I wouldn’t do that if I were you.
GREENHORN: Right. You probably know that pretender Rhodes and
want to talk me out of this here little
demonstration to protect his precious reputation.
ROCKY: No,
I just think you don’t understand the risk you’re taking.
SAMANTHA: Listen
to him. For your own sake.
GREENHORN: Understand? I invented Risk. Risk is my middle name. Risk is my
first name. Risk is my last name. Risk
is my nickname. Risk is
my given name. Risk Risk Risk Risk
Risk. (REACHES INTO THE BAG
AND GRABS SOMETHING.)
ROCKY: (GRABBING
SAMANTHA AND PULLING HER AWAY FROM THE TABLE.) Please, you don’t have to do this.
GREENHORN: You
can’t stop me. I’m the greatest. (DROPS THE BAG.) Oh, I’ve
been bit.
ROCKY: (QUICKLY
TIES OFF THE BAG AND TURNS TO HELP THE GREENHORN.) We can take care of it.
Don’t panic. If you run it will
spread the poison.
GREENHORN: Poison? Panic?
(RUNS OFF STAGE SHOUTING.)
Help! Help! I’ve
been bit. Help! Help!
SAMANTHA: I
always wondered why they called pride a deadly sin.
The End
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
- Why is pride considered a deadly sin?
- What does pride cause people to do which they would not otherwise consider doing?
- Why do you think the Greenhorn called Rocky a pretender?
- Why does Proverbs 28:25 say that pride stirs up strife?
- Why did the Greenhorn’s pride fail to stir up strife in Rocky?
- What inherent quality in pride always leads to a fall according to Proverbs 16:18?
- Can you give an example from your own experience how pride leads to destruction?
- How does the fact that pride precedes destruction help in understanding why pride is a deadly sin?
- What attitude toward others will always accompany a prideful spirit?
- What is the best way to be of help to a person overcome by pride?
- How can a person begin to conquer a prideful spirit in his or her own life?
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