Small Group

Today's rough offering includes the first draft pages of a new play I have started with the working title "Small Group". It is the story of a perenial Youth Pastor who is struggling to grow into his call at his first church to be senior pastor. These opening pages are a new members small group he is treaching. The group has no idea what awaits them and Pastor Flip this evening. I would love your feedback and suggestions forward. Ken

"SMALL GROUP" ACT 1 SCENE 1
At Rise T.J. NORMAN is seated center on a sectional sofa. The room is lit primarily by a blue special with a rotating gobo that gives the effect of moving shadows from a tv downstage center. Upstage right is a lamp. SFX of sports on tv. CAROL NORMAN enters through door upstage carrying a plate of munchies.

CAROL
Why is it so dark in here?

CAROL flicks on ceiling lights and then sets plate on coffee table in front of T.J. picks up remote and turns off tv.

CAROL (CONT'D)
Don't touch these and put on that dress shirt.

A ding upstage from microwave in kitchen.

CAROL (CONT'D)
My pigs in a blanket!
CAROL exits upstage. The ding has brought T.J. out of his tv trance and he discovers the munchies in front of him. He takes a bite. T.J sees dress shirt and pulls off his t shirt as Doorbell rings.
A shirtless T.J. heads toward door stage right as CAROL enters

CAROL (CONT'D)
Freeze!

T.J. complies

CAROL (CONT'D)
Put on that shirt and sit on the couch.

Carol rushes to turn radio from rock to Christian station as doorbell rings again.

CAROL (CONT'D)
(mutters to self)
What can of person comes twenty minutes early? Probably a test
to see if I am ready or maybe someone with nothing else in their drab little life but too-

She grabs T.J.'s t shirt runs in front of sofa, hides t shirt under sofa cushion, pushes a now-buttoned T.J. down on sofa, leaps over sofa and answers door.

CAROL (CONT'D)
(faking non chalance)
Blake!

BLAKE
I'm afraid I'm a bit early.

CAROL
Early? I call it per-punctual.

BLAKE enters

CAROL (CONT'D)
T.J. this is Blake, I've spoken about so often. Blake, this is my husband T.J.

Oven dings

CAROL (CONT'D)
T.J., would you be a dear and get the chicken out of the oven?

T.J.
Oven? Okay.

T.J. exits upstage

CAROL
He is such a help around the house.

BLAKE
Your home is lovely. Did you do your own decorating or hire someone?

CAROL
I did. I hope Karen doesn't get upset. We just couldn't afford a professional right now. T.J.'s just started his new job at the-

T.J. enters holding a large chicken dish in Pyrex casserole dish and wearing one golf glove and one ski glove.

CAROL (CONT'D)
(forcing a smile)
Not in here, silly? That goes on the dining room table.

BLAKE
Oh, that looks yummy.

T.J. exits

CAROL
(calling to kitchen)
And use a trivet, sweetie.

T.J.
A what?

CAROL
He is such a kidder. That's my Grandmother's secret recipe. I just hope there is enough for everyone.

Major crash from kitchen. Doorbell rings
T.J. enters and crosses to table with his cell phone on it.

CAROL (CONT'D)
There are coupons in drawer under the toaster.

CAROL Opens door. HEIDI zooms passed CAROL

HEIDI
(on cellphone)
I can be back there in ten minutes and you do NOT want me back there. Put the sitter back on the phone.
(blows air kisses and waves to Blake and Carol)
Looked I hired you to be a warden not a clown with a pony, make them sit down, shut up and you read that note to them I left to you out loud.
It's beside the phone. The one you are talking on.
(to Carol)
Your place is gorgeous.
(back into phone)
What? Don't read it out loud to me. To them! Read it out loud to them. Put Baker on.
(to Carol))
What smells so good?

CAROL
Just something my husband threw together.

HEIDI
(on phone)
Baker, is she listening? Okay. You know she knows Voodoo, right? Well, I have given her permission to use it on you- Because you are the oldest.
If you do not do everything on the note she is going to read to you, well- Good boy. Sweet dreams, Mommy loves you. Don't forget to say your prayers. Bye.
Hangs up cellphone. (to Carol) Kids- Hope she doesn't shrink his head, I just bought him a new baseball cap.
(to Carol)
You guys have any kids? No wonder the place has that model home look. Where's Pastor Flip?

BLAKE receives text

BLAKE
Flip has been delayed.

HEIDI
How long is he gonna be? My sitter can't hold out more than two hours.

CAROL
I'm sure the Pastor won't be that long.

BLAKE
(reading text)
Oh no!

CAROL
What is it?

BLAKE
He wants me to start the Bible study and he'll finish when he gets here.

MRS. VOLMER
Why is he telling her all this?

HEIDI
I think they are dating?
MRS. VOLMER
Dating? I thought we were all new members.

CAROL
(to Blake)
Does he say what to study?

BLAKE
No. He read me the whole thing last night but I wasn't paying attention. I think it started with a J.

HEIDI
Jeremiah?

MRS. VOLMER
Jonah

CAROL
John

BLAKE
No.

CAROL
(looking at the table of contents of her Bible)
Jude!

BLAKE
No. Jealousy!

HEIDI
What about jealousy?

BLAKE
I don't know. We were at Chili's and this woman across from us was wearing the really cute top that reminded me of one one of the designers on
Project Runaway did last season and I was trying to remember his name. I must have looked interested in what Flip was saying. So I guess he thinks
I could start telling you guys.

CAROL
Should we talk about jealousy till he gets here?

T.J. comes out of the kitchen.

T.J.
What time does the clock in here have?

CAROL
The same as the one in the kitchen.
(to Mrs. Volmer)
T.J. always orders pizza from the place that gives it to you free if it doesn't get here in thirty minutes. They are right over twenty minutes away So if they hit any traffic it runs very close. He has gotten two free pizza's since we moved here in February. I'm surprised they still let him order

MRS. VOLMER
So you could probably talk about jealousy.

CAROL
Instead of getting right into the Bible study why don't we get to know a little more about each other?

BLAKE
Certainly fine with me.

HEIDI
Oho, I'll go first. Is that punch for us?