“The Junk Man’s Christmas Dinner”
Written by Frederick Passmore
Copyright 2016 Sheep Laughs Studios
Synopsis: A hermit that lives by a junkyard is spending Christmas Eve feeling sorry for himself. But his solitude is interrupted by a visitor worse off than him, and he learns that the key to the joy of the season is giving what you can. Includes a reading of the Nativity Story, also! Approximately 15 minutes and only needs four people to do it. Could be done with several run-throughs in one rehearsal session if needed!
(Soundtrack key: NO LINES TO LEARN, the Skit Trax supply the narration, background music and sound effects.)
Length of play: 15 minutes.
Number of cast: four: Two main parts, two minor parts.
Category: Christmas, Dramatic, Shorter Skits. No Lines To Learn
Price of script PDF & Skit Trax MP3: $9.99 – Add to Cart
Price of script PDF and Physical CD: $14.99 plus shipping – Add To Cart
YOU MAY ALSO ORDER THE SCRIPT AND SOUNDTRACK AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE.
(Note: this particular soundtrack also comes with the background music and effects track so that you can do your own narration over them, if you wish.)
Characters: Andy Freeman, the “Junk Man,” is an older man anywhere from middle-aged to elderly, depending on the cast you have to choose from. Frank, the visitor in need of help, is in the same age range, which can vary. The other two minor characters are the man and woman who are Frank’s son and daughter-in-law. They can be portrayed by younger adults.
Setting: the interior of an old shack where the Junk Man lives beside the junkyard. If desired, you could hang an old window frame up on the wall, with curtains.
Furnishing: A floor lamp. There is a small table with an old radio and a hotplate on it. An old patio recliner with a blanket on it. In the corner is a small beat-up artificial Christmas tree with old decorations on it. There is a single chair at the table. An old space heater. Anything else that you can find to decorate the shack to make it look as if it is furnished with old items would be good.
Props: A bag with faded and scraggly garland. A plate and silverware, with tea kettle and cup. Everything should be as old-looking as possible. A can of unopened Vienna sausages and a pack of crackers. Candle and matches.
Costumes: An old and shabby coat and hat for the Junk Man. He wears old clothes or coveralls over his plaid shirt. Boots would be good or just old shoes, possibly mis-matched. The visitor Frank’s clothes are normal but he has no coat. His son and daughter-in-law are nicely dressed and have warm coats, and are carrying an extra coat.
(A general description of the script; not all details or scenes are here, but it gives you an overall picture of what it is like.)
As the narrator on the soundtrack sets up the scene, we see the main character, Andy Freeman, come onto the set carrying a small bag, and he is bundled up in a threadbare coat against the cold. We learn that he lives in a shed by the town dump, where he used to work. Now that the position has been eliminated due to lack of funds, the city let him remain in the shed, as he would have been homeless otherwise. He ekes out a living scavenging the dump and selling what he can at a flea market. We see him take out some old decorations and he begins to put them on a small artificial tree that he has recovered as he listens to a Christmas song on a beat-up old radio. As he tries to get in the holiday mood, the reality of his situation weighs him down, and he kneels in prayer, asking the Lord to send him someone that can help him, and provide better food than the little he has.
Preview a PDF page of the script that contains the scene above by clicking here:junkmans_christmas_dinner_preview_01
Preview the section of the soundtrack that is heard during the scene above by clicking on the player below.
When he is done praying, he leans back on the rusty outdoor lounge chair that serves as his bed, and listens to the Christmas Story as it is read on the radio. Encouraged and blessed by it, he gets up when it is over and begins to take out his meager meal, and prepares to eat his Christmas dinner, which is a can of Vienna sausages and a pack of crackers.
Preview a PDF page of the script that contains the scene above by clicking here:junkmans_christmas_dinner_preview_02
Preview the section of the soundtrack that is heard during the scene above by clicking on the player below.
As he is giving thanks over his food, there is a commotion at the door, and when he opens it fearfully he finds an elderly man dressed only in thin clothes with no coat, weak and cold. Helping him in, he assists him in getting to his lounge chair and lying down on it, and covers him with a blanket. He finds out that the man, whose name is Frank, got lost in the woods around the junkyard after trying to take a shortcut to his children’s home, whom he wanted to visit for Christmas. During the conversation, Andy begins to wish he could be reunited with his own family, whom he had been estranged from for years.Preview a PDF page of the script that contains the scene above by clicking here:junkmans_christmas_dinner_preview_03
Preview the section of the soundtrack that is heard during the scene above by clicking on the player below.
Seeing the man’s weakened state, Andy realizes that here is someone worse off than he is, and determines to help him, even if he himself has nothing to eat for Christmas. So, in a moving scene, he gently serves the unexpected guest his small meal, helping him eat, and pouring him some hot tea. Strengthened, the man shares with Andy that this is turning out to be the best Christmas he has had in a long time, being with someone that cares enough to help. Andy decides that in the morning he would help the man find his family, and then he would go to visit his own, and try to make amends.
Preview a PDF page of the script that contains the scene above by clicking here:junkmans_christmas_dinner_preview_04
Preview the section of the soundtrack that is heard during the scene above by clicking on the player below.
As they enjoy their Christmas Eve together, telling each other about themselves and remembering past Christmases, there is a knock on the shed door. Andy opens it to find a nicely-dressed couple there, and they ask if he has seen an older gentleman who was lost. Inviting them in, he witnesses an emotional reunion as the old man embraces his son and daughter-in-law. The newcomer explains to Andy that his father had some memory lapses after an accident last year, and had been staying in a nursing facility not far away. They were going to get him and take him home for the holidays when they discovered he had left the facility and gotten lost, looking for a way to get to them in his confused state. Frank was feeling better now, and thinking clearly again, and was ready to go home with his family. The woman whispers to her husband, and they invite Andy to come home with them, and share a big Christmas Eve dinner with them all. Frank begs him to come, and recognizing an answer to prayer, Andy happily accompanies them, looking forward to seeing his own family on Christmas Day.
Preview the section of the soundtrack that is heard during the scene above by clicking on the player below.
Read some of the testimonials about the script from just some of the many users:
Dear Mr. Passmore,
The Rock of Ages Missionary Baptist Church in Hephzibah, GA did your play “The Junk Man’s Christmas Dinner” on December 11, 2014.
Just wanted to let you know what a resounding success our church had in presenting your 15 minute skit to a group of developmentally and physically disabled adults in our local state hospital. The fact that all the dialogue was on a CD made our skit seem like a real production because no one had to strain to hear what the actors were saying. We ended up only having 4 adults in the cast and with time to change our costumes all the characters were covered. We will definitely be using your CD’s again at Easter, Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Thank you for making even the very smallest churches have access to quality productions through your website. Sincerely, Judy Lawson, Christian Education Minister
Frederick,
We did your excellent short play “The Junkman’s Christmas Dinner” at the Reidsville Church of God in Reidsville, GA last year, and it was the highlight of the evening’s program! The script was moving, and reminded us that being compassionate and generous with what he have is more important than the amount we have to give. Thanks for writing this play.
-Linda Prince, Associate Pastor
Okay, if you liked the story breakdown, and enjoyed the Skit Trax previews, and were encouraged by the testimonials of those that have done it, buy the complete script and soundtrack here!
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