Go and Do Likewise -- The Good AGbero in OSHODI

 Caution: If you are using this play with youth carefully go over the scene with the Area Boys making sure the youth understand how to appear to do injury without taking any chance of actually hurting each other. Go over this again making sure they all understand this before the each practice and before the play is performed. Be careful of furnishings, etc., in the area to avoid injury and/or breakage.

 Scene: A road path under the bridge stacked with trash cans and boxes. As the scene opens, the Area Boys are hidden behind the boxes and trash cans.

 Actors:

Jesus - In clothing from NT Bible times. Everyone else will be in modern clothing.

Business Man - In dress clothing with a watch, wallet and some things that can be stolen. Try using a white undershirt with (dried) shiney red paint on it under his shirt to look like he has been kicked around.

Area Boys - The script calls for three but could easily be adapted for one or two. Should look threatening.

Religious Leader (Preacher or Priest) - In suitable clothing

Judge - In clothing suitable for profession

Agbero - Dresses in old, stained work clothes. Wears a back pack or carries a sack of some sort containing some extra clothing and a canteen or water bottle.

Person sitting in the audience - Make sure that this person can be clearly heard throughout the room.

 Jesus enters the scene from the right and walks across to a microphone on the left side of the scene or central and above the action. He should remain very prominant in the scene but out of the way of the action.

 As Jesus speaks, the business man walks across the stage. As he goes past the Area Boys, they leap out and begin the attack. Pretend to knock the man down and kick and/or punch him. Then grab coat, shirt, shoes, cash, watch, credit cards, etc.

Jesus: A certain business man took a shortcut back to the office and fell among theives who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him and ran away leaving him half dead.

 Area Boy 1: Hurry, get the pockets. Any cash?

 Area Boy 2: Dude's loaded. Credit cards, too. Get the coat and shoes.

 Area Boy 3: Get the watch.

 Area Boy 1: Run! Somebody's coming!

 Area Boys run off stage (either direction is ok) leaving the man groaning in the road path.

 As Jesus speaks, the religious leader walks on stage from the right, notices the man, goes out of his way to avoid getting close to him.

 Jesus: Now by chance a certain religious leader came down that road path. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

 Religious Leader: Probably drunk! There should be a law against people like that! (Looks at his watch, looks back at the man, shakes his head). There's no way I'm going to touch him. (He continues offstage to the left.)

 As Jesus speaks, the judge walks on stage from the right. He notices the man and goes out of his way to keep clear of him.

 Jesus: Likewise, a judge, when he had arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.

 Jesus: Likewise, a judge, when he had arrived at the place, came and

 Judge: What a sorry sight that is. He's passed out on drugs or alcohol right in plain sight. He ought to be in jail but I'm not going to get involved. (Continues off stage to the left)

 As Jesus speaks, the Agbero walks on stage from the right. He sees the man, goes to him and gently helps him sit up. He takes a water bottle out or canteen of his back pack and gives the man a drink.

 Jesus: But a certain Agbero, a man of questionable reputation, as he came through the path, saw the man and had pity on him.

 Agbero: Aw, man! You are a mess! Here, we'll use my shirt to cover up that blood and I'll help you get to that clinic at the end of the road path. I'd call an ambulance but I'd get arrested and sent back home. I've got a sick kid back there and I need to make some more money before I can leave.

 Businessman: I can't go to the clinic. The Area Boys took all my money and credit cards. I'm from out of town.

 Agbero: Don't worry. I can pay them enough to get them to take care of you and call someone to help you. Here, let me help you up.

 As Jesus speaks, Agbero gently helps businessman up and they walk off with the businessman leaning on the Agbero.

 Jesus: So he brought him to where he could be taken care of and paid the clinic fee and made sure that his family knew he needed help.

 Jesus stops and looks searchingly at the audience.

 Jesus: So which one of these three do you think was neighbor to him?

 Person in audience: (stands and answers) The one who showed mercy and helped him.

 Jesus: Go and do likewise.