Easter Morning Draft

(The service begins with all of the sanctuary lights are off, except for stage)

Characters:
Thomas, John, Peter, eight other deciples and Mary

The scene opens with those in the upper room coming on stage and sitting or standing in their assigned places. Nothing is said for a while; maybe a little whispering to each other would be all. The congregation will be still coming in, latecomers etc. The usual hub bub of noise. Possibly, most likely rather loud.

Thomas: Quiet!
Two: Why? What?
Three: Sshh!
John: Did you hear something?
Thomas: Quiet! I think, (pause) maybe, maybe I did.
Five: Look we can't just stay here!
Two: I've got to get out of here!
Thomas: Quiet you'll give us all away.
Three: He's right you leave now and they'll catch you and it will be the death of us all. (Two storms away angry)
John: Let's stay calm. We hide here till things blow over, and then we can slip away at night, maybe in a couple of days or so. (Five walks over to two)
Thomas: And if they catch any of us what then?
Three: Well it's our word against theirs. We should just deny that we ever (his words trail off) knew him. (Those who are talking, look over at Peter who sits despondent and alone)
John: (Talking to one and three, or he could step forward and ask the question to the congregation) Well what would you have done? Would you have denied him like Peter? (If the question was asked to the congregation then there would be a pause before the next line)
Thomas: No!.....Well
Two: I, I can't say, maybe.
John: I thought no, certainly not, but I'm so confused. It seems hopeless. Why didn't he save himself?
Five: (Walks back over) This isn't really happening. Jesus wouldn't have abandoned us. I know, I'm going to wake up soon. I know it(starts talking louder) It's like when you're falling, I know ( almost shouting now) I know I'm going to wake up soon!
Thomas: Sshh!
Five: You Sshh! I'm going to wake up! This nightmare will be over. (Storms over to two)
….There is a pause in the dialogue, all is quiet then;
Peter: I denied him (stands up and walks towards one, three, and four) but I didn't kill him. I tried to save him. It was I that drew a sword, only I. I tried to defend him but he wouldn't let me.
Two: (walks over to the group with Peter) Let's go.
Peter: Yes, let's go. If they capture us, they'll kill us. It's just as well.
Two: Are you crazy, I want to go. I want to escape I want to live.
Thomas: They'll catch us and we'll surely die.
John: What, What are you talking about?
Peter: Its Mary, She's coming John.
John: Quickly come in.
Mary: John, Peter he's gone! He's not there, he's gone.
Peter: Calm down Mary, what are you saying.
Mary: Calm down! How can you ask me to calm down when the body of my Lord Jesus is no longer in the tomb?
John: What are you saying?
Mary: We went to the tomb with the myrrh and frankincense to anoint His body and He was gone!
Peter: No! It can't be
Mary: He is gone.
(Peter pushes past one and three and runs out of the sanctuary)
John: Peter!
(John runs after them, the other nine start to mumble and talk loud to each other about what has just happened)
Thomas: He can't be gone, they had placed temple guards at the tomb entrance.
Mary: I tell you Thomas He's gone!
Thomas: You must have been at the wrong tomb.
Mary: No I tell you. We knew which tomb it was, it was sealed with a large boulder and we were wondering if we'd have to bribe the Temple guards to open it for us, but when we got there, the stone was completely rolled away and the tomb was empty.
Thomas: But the guards at the entrance how could he be gone?
Mary: He's gone, we were at the right tomb!
Five: The stone?
Mary: I don't know how the stone moved and it doesn't matter to me. What matters is that we were looking for the living, among the dead.
Thomas: What nonsense.
Mary: Wait you have to hear all my story, I know I'm babbling but it's just too much. We were standing there crying. The stone was moved, His body gone. We didn't know what to do. Then suddenly two men in radiant clothing were standing there, we were so scared we fell to the ground. I dropped the oil, it smashed. I was trembling. But they said “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, he has risen!”
Thomas: Dreamers! We saw him die! Crucified, Nailed to a cross. Jesus is dead.
Mary: Yes he died, but he has risen.
Thomas: Impossible, it's over. It's time to go home. Give him up Mary.
Mary: It's not over, it's just beginning.
Two: Peter's coming back!
(Peter and John run back on stage)
Five: Peter, what did you see?
Peter: Mary was right, I went into the tomb before John and there were strips of linen but that's all.
John: I saw it too, no body, just the cloth.
Five: What can it mean?
Peter: I don't know.
John: (smiling) What can it mean?
Mary: (excited) John you know!
John: What can it mean? Don't you see? He is alive! He has risen!
Peter: Can it be?
John: It has to be. He is alive! Rejoice the Lord has risen!
(At this point I suggest a pastor should quickly come on stage to dismiss the characters and itroduce a suitable song)