So as by Fire
A Play in One Act
by
Book Cover & Preview Text
Characters:
Jake – Early Forties. Recently divorced. Well-to-do accountant for a large accounting firm.
Sabrina – Mid 30's. Never married. Moderately attractive. Spirited and rascally. Graphic Artists for a reputable advertising company. Currently lives with her boyfriend.
Melody – Mid/Late 20’s. Very attractive, if she would try. Reclusive. Lives at home. Aspires to be a writer. Bright – but rather gullible.
Josh – Early/Mid 20's. Healthy, youthful. Positive and outgoing. Sensitive to his sibling's accusations.
Mom – Mid 60's. Happily married for most of her 40+ years. At one point she was very active in her church and had a strong love for God. Tired. Searching for hope.
Dad – Mid/late 60’s. Loves his family. Very out of touch. Convinced that God can no longer use him.
Adam – pre-teen. Bright. Energetic. Oblivious to the divorce of his father and mother.
Scene Breakdown:
Scene 1: The Arrival – Early Christmas Eve day, one by one the children all arrive at Mom & Dad’s house.
Scene 2: Later that day
Scene 3: Dinner that Evening – Family Clashes
Scene 4: Late that Night – Set the Stage for Fire
Scene 5: The Fire & Rescue
Scene 6: 3 years later (epilog)
Act I
Scene 1: The Arrivals
The scene opens in the tired living room and dining room of the Watson’s residence. Dad is kicked back in his recliner watching the Noon News and trying to get a handle on today’s weather forecast. The house is set in modern times, although the attire may be antique like due to the age of the owners. To Stage Left is the entrance from outside. Upstage Center is a staircase and a pair of doors. The one door located under the stairs leads down to the basement, the other door leads to the kitchen. Upstage Right is a door to Melody’s bedroom.
TV Announcer (recorded): . . . . and here with today’s forecast is meteorologist Bob McFarlin.
Mom: (From the kitchen) Have they said whether it's going to snow or not today?
Dad: They’re just getting to it.
TV Announcer: the reason for the steady drop in temperatures is due to this rushing patch of high pressure coming in from Canada, we can be sure to expect some lake-effect snow this afternoon, somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 to 18 inches starting around mid-afternoon.
Mom: (Enters from kitchen crosses to table) So, what’s the verdict?
Dad: (Tries Shutting off the TV with the remote) Yes, there’s snow coming. What’s wrong with this remote?
Mom: Oh, I hope the kids get here before it starts.
Dad: I wouldn’t worry, they grew up around here, it’s not like they haven’t driven in snow before. (Struggling with remote – gets up and shuts TV off manually)
Mom: I’m sorry dear; I took the battery out to put with Adam’s present. I’d forgotten to pick one up, and I didn’t feel like getting out again.
Dad: (Crosses to the table) Why did you have to take the one out of the remote?
Mom: It was the only 9-volt I could find. Not many things take 9-volt batteries these days.
Dad: What about the smoke detector?
Mom: Oh, I tried that one first, but it was dead, so I threw it out.
Dad: Oh great, just wait till Josh gets here. It's bad enough I have to deal with his beliefs, now I'm going to get crucified for not keeping the battery checked in the smoke detector. (Dad goes to the Christmas tree shaking packages looking for the battery)
Mom: You worry too much. (Crosses to Dad) You can’t blame him though, as a fireman, he’s very particular about those things.
Dad: That’s your opinion. You’re not the one he will hold responsible when he finds there’s no battery in it.
Mom: Would you stop it . . . (pulls him up from the tree)
Dad: Slow, slow – you know how my back has been.
Mom: Yes, every since you’ve retired, things just aren’t quite what they used to be.
Dad: What, I’m fine, I just don’t want you to sprain anything, it’s not like I’m a pillow or anything.
Mom: (Playful) Thank you, dear.
Dad: (Crosses to the hutch and begins digging through drawers & stuff) Maybe there's another battery in here.
Mom: Sweetheart, I was thinking about taking off tonight and going to the midnight Christmas Eve service at church after everyone went to bed.
Dad: Now why would you want to go and do that?
Mom: It’s just that I’ve been thinking a lot about church, and getting involved again, and I thought this would be a good time to start.
Dad: If you think you’re up to it, go ahead. Don’t forget to take the house key with you.
Mom: I was wondering if you’d like to maybe go with me.
Dad: Me? I don’t think so.
Mom: Oh, very well.
Dad: Look. I’m retired now, and God’s pretty much done with me. There’s not much more I can do for God. It’s time for the younger ones to carry the torch.
Mom: Don’t you think that’s God’s decision?
Dad: Hold on now, you’ve not exactly been a “Mother Teresa” these last few years.
Mom: (Ashamed) You’re right. I’m sorry.
Dad: You go and have a good time; I’ll leave the light on for you.
{Jake opens the door, and steps inside holding the door open for Adam who follows shortly carrying a large stack of packages.}
Jake: Hi Mom, Dad?
Mom: Merry Christmas.
Dad: Where’s Adam?
Jake: Oh, he’s coming? He just wants to show you how big and strong he’s gotten. (Calling outside) Do you want any help with those, Adam?
Adam: (Calling from outside) I told you, Dad, I got it. (Adam slowly enters the house with a large stack of presents that extends above his head. He walks like he's performing the tight-wire act.)
Dad: Well, look’y there, it’s . . . it’s a giant stack of presents. Jake, I thought you said Adam was coming.
Adam: It is me, grandpa. (The tower of presents begin to sway back and forth)
Dad: Are all those for me?
Mom: I hope there’s at least one in there for me.
Adam: They’re for everybody.
Mom: (to Jake) Has it started snowing yet?
Jake: Not yet, but you can see it moving in on the horizon. It won’t be long.
Adam: Oh goody, can we go and play in it after bit?
Jake: We’ll see.
Dad: Here let me help you with those.
Adam: Thanks. (Dad takes several of the towering presents and sets them down on the table) They were starting to get heavy.
Mom: I’m impressed. I don’t think I could have held them that long.
Adam: Awe, it wasn’t too bad.
{They finish off loading the presents by this time}
Adam: Is Uncle Josh here yet?
Mom: No, he hasn’t made it in yet, but I’m sure he’ll be here soon.
Adam: (Crossing to the basement steps) Can I go play in the basement?
Mom: No, you’ll get all dirty. Why don’t you come help me in the kitchen? I’ve got some things I need help stirring up and you look like you’re strong enough to handle it.
Adam: (Excited) Yeah. If its cookies can I lick the bowel?
{Mom and Adam exit to the kitchen. Jake hangs his coat up and Dad heads back to his chair.}
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Book Details
About the Book
Josh is the youngest of four with two older sisters and an older brother. He is a committed Christian working as a firefighter in the suburbs. Christmas Eve has come, and Josh has returned home to spend the evening with his family, celebrating the birth of his Savior only to face ridicule. Trying to calm the situation, Josh’s father and mother step in and try to control the dialogue, but they, too, secretly harbor deep feelings of their own. At the core of the divisiveness overshadowing the family is Josh’s decision to set aside a potential career as a professional athlete for a more selfless and sacrificial career.
Jake is the oldest of the four and a well-to-do accountant who recently went through a divorce. Adam, Jake’s son, was allowed to come to the gathering and is a bright spot in the whole affair for Josh. Next in line is Sabrina. She is a graphics designer and currently lives with her boyfriend, enjoying a free-spirited and immoral life. Melody is the closest in age to Josh and still lives at home. Barely finishing high school a few years ago, she struggles to find direction in her life. Josh suspects that Melody has turned to drugs as a means of escape, but Josh’s mother and father refuse to believe it. Having spent the last couple of years working part time in a Quick Mart, Melody has grown depressed and distant from all in the family. At one time, she had aspirations to become a writer, but hopelessness has consumed her dreams.
Josh’s mother and father are retired and have been for several years. Both have at one point in their lives professed Christ as their Savior, but apathy has taken the place of a life filled with faith for many years. Josh’s mother has recently begun to reach back toward her faith, but the years of neglect have made it difficult to escape her present state. Dad’s faith is stagnant at best, and he has lost any love for the Savior that he may have once had. Simply bidding his time, Josh’s father waits for the inevitable.
About the Author
Matthew Graphman is a twenty-five year veteran in the information technology world. He studied writing and drama, as well as computers while attending Bob Jones University in the late 80’s and early 90’s. In school, he was involved in more than nine productions including the university’s production of Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew”. Since then, he has written several one act plays, a musical, numerous sketches used for vacation bible school, three novels and several children’s books. He met his wife, Wendy, of twenty-six years in college and started a family shortly after graduating in 1991. He currently resides in Bloomington, Indiana with his wife and two youngest children, Kathryn (Kat) and Ethan. He continues to write, direct and produce dramas in his local church and believes that God uses the medium of drama to encourage the saints and challenge the lost.
Matthew maintains a writer’s blog on his website: www.matthewgraphman.com