A New Star, Page 2

  But not to him.

  NARRATOR

  Some people never learn.

  MUSICIAN 1

  (re: Musician 2)

  Stop picking on him. We're supposed to be friends.

  (Musician 2 humphs)

  NARRATOR

  Or do they?

  (MUSICIANS exit)

  NARRATOR

  Later in the evening, shepherds arrived in a nearby field.

  (SHEPHERD 1 and SHEPHERD 2 enter, they sit [or kneel] down)

  MUSIC 5: "HOPES AND FEARS"

  SHEPHERDS

  WE'RE LONELY SHEPHERDS

  TENDING SHEEP

  WE HAVE OUR

  HOPES AND FEARS,

  LIKE EVERYONE.

  UPON THE HILL IT'S

  HARD TO KEEP

  FROM DREAMING

  AS NIGHT APPEARS

  THAT JUST FOR A MOMENT

  THE WORLD WILL TURN

  AND WE'LL WAKE TO LEARN

  THAT A NEW LIFE

  HAS BEGUN.

  [end of Music 5]

  (Shepherds remain on stage)

  NARRATOR

  In the heart of Bethlehem were many places where people could stay. One place in particular, this one...

  (CURTAIN OPENS)

  NARRATOR

  ... proved to be very important.

  SCENE 4

  SETTING

  Bethlehem; the stage is divided roughly into three.

  AT RISE

  INNKEEPER and INNKEEPER'S WIFE (and any additional STAFF as deemed necessary) are rushing and fussing in and around in The Inn.

  (Mary and Joseph, without the hobby-horse/donkey, stand looking very weary)

  JOSEPH

  (to Innkeeper)

  Excuse me, sir. Do you have a room for us?

  (Innkeeper would like to help, but is very stressed)

  INNKEEPER

  A room?

  JOSEPH

  Yes, sir. Somewhere for my wife, at least.

  MUSIC 6: "BETHLEHEM IS BUSY"

  INNKEEPER

  BETHLEHEM IS BUSY,

  IT'S NEARLY OVERFLOWING

  WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE COMING

  INNKEERER'S WIFE

  AND NO ONE WHO IS GOING.

  CHOIR

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM, OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM, OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  INNKEEPER

  BETHLEHEM IS BUSY,

  INNKEEPER'S WIFE

  THE CENSUS, AND THE TAXES,

  INNKEEPER

  IT'S GOING TO TAKE FOREVER,

  BEFORE MY WIFE RELAXES.

  CHOIR

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM, OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM, OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  INNKEEPER

  BETHLEHEM IS BUSY,

  AND ALL OUR ROOMS ARE TAKEN.

  WE ONLY HAVE A STABLE,

  INNKEEPER'S WIFE

  WHERE LUXURY'S FORSAKEN.

  CHOIR

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM,

  OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM,

  OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  CHOIR

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM, OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  BETH-LEE-EE-HEM, OH BETH-LE-HEM.

  ALL

  BETHLEHEM IS BUSY.

  [end of Music 6]

  JOSEPH

  May we have the stable then, please.

  INNKEEPER

  Certainly. My wife will show you where it is.

  WIFE

  (sighs)

  Me, again. I do everything around here.

  (Innkeeper's Wife bustles out, followed by a hobbling Mary, and Joseph [exit])

  NARRATOR

  Mary and Joseph were shown to the stable.

  (Innkeeper and all staff exit)

  (Innkeeper's Wife enters [The Stable], with Mary and Joseph with hobby-horse/donkey)

  WIFE

  It's not much, but it is dry.

  JOSEPH

  Thank you, ma'am.

  MARY

  Yes, thank you.

  WIFE

  (to Mary, "woman-to-woman", as she holds Mary's hand)

  God bless you, my dear.

  (Innkeeper's Wife exits)

  (Joseph helps Mary to sit down, then sits down himself. Joseph comforts Mary)

  NARRATOR

  Mary and Joseph were in need of a sit down, but Joseph was restless inside.

  JOSEPH

  Try to get some sleep.

  MARY

  It's not easy for me.

  (Mary falls asleep immediately, does one quick snore)

  (JOSEPH stands)

  (ANGELS, except ANGEL 3, quietly enter [each side of The Stable] and stand near to the sleeping Mary. NOTE: Angels cannot be seen by Joseph)

  ANGEL 1

  (re: birth of Jesus, to Angel 2)

  Has anything happened yet?

  ANGEL 2

  No. Not yet.

  ANGEL 1

  (disappointed)

  Oh, dear.

  MUSIC 7: "THE WONDER OF THE NIGHT"

  JOSEPH

  WAITING IN THE WONDER OF THE NIGHT

  AND WITH FATHERHOOD IN SIGHT,

  I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO.

  ANGELS

  JOSEPH, YOU'RE A VERY SPECIAL MAN

  NO ONE CAN DO THE THINGS YOU CAN,

  AND GOD HAS FAITH IN YOU.

  JOSEPH

  (turning to Mary)

  I SEE MY MARY

  WITH THE HEAVY WEIGHT SHE BEARS

  THEN LOOK WHERE WE ARE,

  IT'S LIKE NOBODY CARES

  ANGEL 2

  (spoken)

  I care.

  ANGEL 1

  (spoken)

  And me.

  JOSEPH

  IS THIS REALLY HOW THE BIRTH

  IS GOING TO BE?

  ANGELS & CHOIR

  JOSEPH, EVERYTHING WILL BE ALL RIGHT,

  IN THE WONDER OF THE NIGHT.

  [end of Music 7]

  ANGEL 2

  (to Angel 1)

  He can't see us, can he.

  ANGEL 1

  No.

  NARRATOR

  The angels didn't reveal themselves to Joseph.

  (ANGEL 3 enters)

  ANGEL 3

  (to Angels)

  We have to go now.

  ANGEL 2

  (disappointed)

  Aw. Why?

  ANGEL 1

  Yes, it must be any moment now. Can't we stay?

  ANGEL 3

  Gabrielle needs us on the hillside.

  ANGEL 1

  (reluctantly)

  OK.

  (Angels exit)

  NARRATOR

  Then... the moment came.

  (Mary stirs, now holding Baby Jesus)

  MARY

  He is born!

  (A bright light appears over the stable)

  JOSEPH

  I love you, Mary.

  MARY

  And I love you, Joseph.

  (Joseph helps Mary to wrap the baby in white clothing)

  (Shepherds are becoming alarmed by the growing brightness of the light)

  NARRATOR

  The star above the stable could be seen easily from where the shepherds were camped.

  SHEPHERD 2

  (re: distant star, to Shepherd 1)

  What do you think that is?

  SHEPHERD 1

  I don't know.

  NARRATOR

  But it frightened people who didn't know what it meant.

  SHEPHERD 2

  Do you think it's coming towards us?

  SHEPHERD 1

  No. But I'm scared all the same.

  (Gabrielle enters, and stands before Shepherds)

  SHEPHERD 2

  (taken aback)

  Oh.

  SHEPHERD 1

  (to Gabrielle)

  Who are you?

  (Gabrielle smiles benignly at Shepherds)

  GABRIELLE

  Do not be afraid.

  (Angels enter
, grouping themselves behind Gabrielle)

  MUSIC 8: "DON'T BE AFRAID"

  GABRIELLE & ANGELS

  DON'T BE AFRAID, SHEPHERDS!

  WE BRING YOU NEWS OF JOY.

  THE PRAYERS OF YOUR GENERATIONS

  HAVE BEEN REALISED,

  BEEN REALISED IN A BOY.

  SHEPHERD 1

  (spoken)

  What should we do?

  GABRIELLE & ANGELS

  NOT FAR FROM HERE IS A STABLE,

  WHERE THERE'S A BABE DRESSED IN WHITE.

  FOLLOW THE STAR TO A MANGER

  AND THE MIRACLE BORN,

  MIRACLE BORN OF TONIGHT.

  SHEPHERD 2

  (spoken)

  But we have nothing to give Him.

  GABRIELLE

  TAKE YOUR HOPE, TAKE YOUR FAITH.

  ANGELS

  THAT'S ALL GOD IS ASKING OF YOU.

  GABRIELLE & ANGELS

  THEN TELL THE WORLD WHAT YOU'VE FOUND;

  GABRIELLE, ANGELS & CHOIR

  TELL THEM THAT DREAMS CAN COME TRUE.

 

  SO, DON'T BE AFRAID SHEPHERDS!

  WE BRING YOU NEWS,

  BRING YOU NEWS

  OF JOY.

  ANGELS

  OF JOY, OF JOY.

  OF JOY, OF JOY.

  OF JOY, OF JOY.

  CHOIR

  DON'T BE AFRAID,

  DON'T BE AFRAID,

  DON'T BE AFRAID.

  [end of Music 8]

  SHEPHERD 1

  Should we go there now?

  GABRIELLE

  Yes.

  SHEPHERD 2

  What about our flock?

  ANGEL 1

  Don't worry. We'll look after them.

  (Shepherds exit)

  (Angels take the books they've been holding from behind their backs; we see that the title of each book is "SHEEP FOR DUMMIES")

  (Gabrielle and Angels step backwards to be behind curtain, as:)

  (CURTAIN)

  SCENE 5

  SETTING

  In FRONT OF CURTAIN.

  (WISE MEN enter carrying gifts [in cotton bags]. In addition, Wise Man 1 carries a map)

  (Narrator watches them arrive)

  NARRATOR

  (curiously)

  Ooh, hello.

  (Wise Men stop)

  WISE MAN 1

  (to Wise Man 2)

  Did you bring the myrrh?

  WISE MAN 2

  No. I thought you brought the myrrh.

  WISE MAN 1

  I didn't bring it.

  NARRATOR

  You won't believe who these three are.

  WISE MAN 3

  It's all right. I brought it.

  WISE MAN 1

  Phew!

  WISE MAN 3

  And I cancelled the milk.

  (Narrator, with arms folded, turns to look on at the Wise Men as the music starts)

  MUSIC 9: "THE PENNY DROPS"

  WISE MEN

  WE ARE WISE MEN

  TRAVELLING EAST

  WISE MAN 2

  (spoken)

  West.

  WISE MEN

  WEST.

  OUR COMPASS SKILLS

  PUT TO THE TEST.

  BUT WE'LL COME THROUGH

  (long intake of breath)

  WE ALWAYS DO.

  (Wise Man 3 straightens the map that Wise Man 1 carries, as:)

  CHOIR

  NOT 'TIL THE PENNY DROPS.

  WAIT 'TIL THE PENNY DROPS.

  WISE MEN

  OH. OH-OO-WOH.

  DIGGA DIGGA DOOM-CHA.

  WISE MAN 3

  (spoken)

  I like this bit.

  (Wise Men do short, soft-shoe dance for two bars)

  WISE MEN

  OH. OH-OO-WOH.

  DIGGA DIGGA DOOM-CHA.

  CHOIR

  WAIT 'TIL THE PENNY DROPS.

  WISE MEN

  WE ARE WISE MEN

  SEEKING A STAR

  WISE MAN 2

  (spoken)

  King.

  WISE MEN

  KING.

  WE'VE ASKED AROUND

  NOT HEARD A THING.

  WE CAN'T DECIDE

  (long intake of breath)

  IF HEROD LIED.

  (Narrator, arms still folded, looks at audience over his shoulder; nods a knowing "Yes," as:)

  (Wise Men nod "No" to each other to convey "I don't think he did," as:)

  CHOIR

  NOT 'TIL THE PENNY DROPS.

  WAIT 'TIL THE PENNY DROPS.

  WISE MEN

  OH. OH-OO-WOH.

  DIGGA DIGGA DOOM-CHA.

  (Wise Men do short, soft-shoe dance for two bars)

  WISE MEN

  OH. OH-OO-WOH.

  DIGGA DIGGA DOOM-CHA.

  CHOIR

  WAIT 'TIL THE PENNY DROPS.

  [end of Music 9]

  WISE MAN 1

  Right then.

  WISE MAN 2

  Onwards.

  (Wise Man 1 and Wise Man 2 make ready to exit. Wise Man 3 looks dumbfounded)

  WISE MAN 3

  Actually, it's this way.

  WISE MAN 1

  Ah.

  (Wise Man 3 leads off; Wise Men exit)

  (Narrator shakes his head in disbelief, and returns to face audience)

  NARRATOR

  With its charm and its beauty, the inn attracted the musicians...

  (CURTAIN OPENS)

  NARRATOR

  ... who had just arrived in Bethlehem.

  SCENE 6

  SETTING

  As SCENE 4.

  AT RISE

  Shepherd 1 and Shepherd 2 are in The Stable with Mary and Joseph. Innkeeper's Wife is at the desk.

  (Musicians enter [The Inn] with their cases)

  MUSIC 10: "KERFUFFLE NUMBER 3" (INSTRUMENTAL)

  (Innkeeper enters, clearly unhappy with the racket being made. Musician 3 tings his triangle)

  INNKEEPER

  (re: desktop bell, to Musician 3)

  Don't play with the bell.

  MUSICIAN 3

  (timidly)

  I, um...

  MUSICIAN 1

  (interrupts Musician 3)

  It was his triangle.

  INNKEEPER

  Oh.

  MUSICIAN 1

  We're musicians.

  INNKEEPER

  Right.

  MUSICIAN 2

  I'm going to be a star.

  (Musician 1 mimes "No, it's me" and points to himself)

  (Innkeeper looks on, unimpressed)

  INNKEEPER

  Well, we have no room.

  WIFE

  Nobody has any room.

  MUSICIAN 1

  I know. We've tried everywhere.

  INNKEEPER

  And it's the same story here.

  NARRATOR

  Yet still the people came.

  (Wise Men enter. It's almost all too much for Innkeeper)

  INNKEEPER

  Good grief!

  WISE MAN 3

  Hello.

  (Wise Man 1 raises his arms, proud of his resplendence)

  WISE MAN 1

  Da-nah!

  WISE MAN 2

  We're here.

  INNKEEPER

  (to Wise Man 1)

  You must be joking.

  WISE MAN 3

  Close.

  INNKEEPER

  Even if we were completely empty I wouldn't be able to fit all of you in.

  WISE MAN 3

  It's OK.

  WISE MAN 1

  We're here to...

  WISE MAN 2

  We're here to see a baby.

  WISE MAN 1

  A new-born.

  WISE MAN 2

  We each have a gift for Him.

  WISE MAN 3

  Thanks to me.

  INNKEEPER

  Very well. This way.

  (Innkeeper exits [The
Inn], followed by Wise Men and Musicians)

  (Shepherd 1 and Shepherd 2 are in adoration of Jesus)

  (SHEPHERD 3 and SHEPHERD 4 enter [The Stable]; initially they are unseen by Shepherd 1 and Shepherd 2)

  SHEPHERD 2

  (re: Jesus)

  He's beautiful.

  (Musicians enter [The Stable] with their cases. They quickly become humbled in the presence of Jesus. Musician 2 is noticeably contemplative)

  (Shepherd 1 and Shepherd 2 notice Shepherd 3 and Shepherd 4)