The Feel-Good Diner
by John Wayne Samples
Subjects:
Depression • Encouragement • Listening
Complaining • Sharing • Fellowship
Synopsis:
A man has had a real bad day and his friends at the neighborhood restaurant just don't seem to care.
(There are three possible endings given for this sketch.)
Purpose:
To make people ask themselves if they have missed
opportunities to encourage a brother or sister or...Staging:
Two diner tables with napkin holders, a flower, etc.
7 Characters:
Barney, very solid; Andy, usually solid; Flossie the waitress, just a little ditzy; Debbie, maybe a lot ditzy; Mike, pretty normal; & Larry, pretty stuck on himself.
Props:
Silverware, dishes and food. A pink-slip.
A waitress uniform and order pad.Notes:
This is a fun piece for actors. Most characters can really be hammed-up.
Andy, facing the audience, sits at a table reading the menu.
Flossie
Andy
Nah.
I think I'll splurge today, Flossie. Bring me that big New York strip I always threaten to
have. With all the trimmings.
Oh my! What's the big occasion? Get a big promotion?
Andy With feigned pride.
Actually,
Floss, so far this week, I lost my job, somebody stole my car (the insurance for which
expired last Saturday), the dentist says I need a root canal, and my furnace stopped
working this morning. And, since I've only got twenty bucks in my pocket, well, I just
decided I can't afford to fix my problems, so I'll just have that New York Strip
instead.
Flossie
Oh, Andy! You're always such a kidder. But you know what? I
got some REAL money problems. Today's my kid's birthday, ya know, and he thinks he's
gettin' some of that, oh, you know, that Mangy Teenage Turtle soup stuff. Unless I can get
an extra few bucks around here today, I'd may as well not go home.
Turning to go.
You want that steak rare?
Andy
Flossie Laughing as leaving the set...
Oh,
Andy!!
Mike
Enters past Flossie.Andy! Thought I might find you here.
Mike sits down with Andy.
Andy
Subdued.Hello, Mike. Guess you found me.
Mike
Andy Pulls
out a folded "pink slip" and puts it on the table.
Andy
I haven't had the nerve to read it yet, but, well, what else could it be.
Mike
Holy cow, Andy. I never dreamed you would get chopped. That's tough. Man,
that happened to my brother -in-law once. He was out of work for over a year! Just about
went nuts. Just about drove us all nuts! But, gee ...
Gets up to go, notices Andy reacting with growing depression.
... I bet you'll land on your feet in no time. Give me a call if I can do anything for you. I'll make sure you get on the prayer list in Sunday school, OK?
Sees some else he knows.
Yo, David. Thought I might catch you here.....
Leaves. Andy sits dumbfounded.
Larry
Enters same as Mike.Andrew! How ya doin guy? How's that nice automobile of yours holdin' up? I always did like that car.
Andy keeps trying to respond, without success.
Did you hear about that big new deal that came through for me today. Yes Sir! You're looking at the new furnace supply contractor for all the homes being built in that new subdivision. The boss is talkin' partnership.
You know, the Lord sure takes care of us, don't he. If that developer hadn't joined our church last month this never would've happened. Yep, I'm one lucky guy. When ya got it, I guess ya just got it. Right?
Sees Mike.
Lookie there. It's old Mike.
Gets up to leave.
I wonder what he's been up to lately. Nice talkin to you, Andy.
Andy
A little more dumbfounded. Getting dejected.Ah, yeah. Same here.
Debbie
Enters same as the others.Andy. Hello, anybody in there?
Andy
Debbie
Havin kind of a blue sorta day, are ya?
Andy shrugs
Tell me about it.
Andy
Debbie In na-na land.
I
know what you mean. Nothing really bad but nothing really good either. Just kind of a blue
sorta day. Don't you hate when that happens.
Gets up to leave.
Well, just remember, God loves you, and, have a nice day!
Debbie goes over to Mike and Larry, talking as she goes.
Hey, Larry, did you know Andy fired his dentist then caught a cold looking for his car?
Larry
Andy Upset, frustrated. Stomps out of
the diner; sits down on the diner steps.
That's
it! I've had it! What's the point?!
Enter Barney.
Barney
Andy
Hey, Barney.
Barney walks on by, then senses something isn't right.
Barney
Andy Snaps, then softer.
NO!
I mean, yeah. I mean, I will be.
Barney
Sits down next to Andy.You look like you've been beaten and left by the road to die.
Andy
Barney
Only if you need me to be, Andy. What's the problem?
Andy
You mean besides the guilt of just having ordered a big steak dinner when I can't
even pay my bills?
Barney
Oh. This sounds serious. Wanna talk about it?
Andy Starts, then decides against it.
Andy
So I've heard. God loves me, right?
Barney
Of course he does. But I was talking about me. You've got my number... Why don't
you go back in there, eat your lunch, and if you still feel down, give me a call. I'll
meet you anywhere.
Andy looks at him, then drops his head.
By the way. Did I tell you how much I appreciated your devotion in church last week. The Lord really used you to touch me in a special way. Thank you for letting him.
Barney pats him on the back then leaves.
Andy straightens up a little, then gets up and returns to the table just as his food arrives.
Barney pats him on the back then leaves.
Andy straightens up a little, then gets up and returns to the table just as his food arrives.
--NOTE: If the sketch is to be followed by a sermon with a direct tie-in, the sketch should end here.
Optional ending #1...
Flossie
Here you go Andy. Just like you ordered.
She turns, he bows to pray, she turns back and interrupts his prayer.
By the way... Opps, sorry. But I meant to tell you, some gentleman just left me his credit card and said to charge your meal to his account. So I guess that means you'll be having desert today, huh!
Andy
Humbled but happy.
Well,
ah, maybe. I guess so.
Flossie starts to leave
when Andy calls out...FLOSSIE! Here ...
Hands her
Hands her his $20.
Go buy your kid a turtle!
Flossie
Honest?! That's great Andy. Boy! You generous types are just too good to be true!
Optional Ending #2
Picks-up with Barney's comment about not being alone...
Andy
So I've heard. God loves me, right?Barney
Of course he does. But I was talking about...Andy
Well maybe I'm tired of hearing people talk today.Flossie Calls out to Andy as she brings in the food.
Here you go Andy. Just like you ordered.
Andy considers it, then gets up to leave, leaving his note on the table.
Andy
Maybe I'm not hungry anymore. Maybe Mr.Sunshine here would like a nice New York strip.
Andy stomps off.
Barney
What's come over him? Oh well, no sense letting a good piece of meat go to waste.
Sees Andy's pink slip, picks it up and reads it.
Well, what do you know. Andy got one of these too. I wondered who the other new department head was gonna be.
The End