Discover The Word

Thursday, November 19, 2009, Part 1

Luke 15:11-32

FORMAT: Play by Kenneth Bailey, “Two Sons Have I Not,” scene 4, from the book The Cross and the Prodigal.

CAST: 5 male characters-Shaluk, the family steward
Adam, the older son
Abu-Adam, the father
The Mayor of the home village
Abuna, the village priest

Bailey writes: “This play is an attempt to read between the lines of the story of the Prodigal Son. Scene Four puts an ending on the parable. As Christ told the story, the ending is missing. I have tried to add detail with a sanctified imagination, reading in only what is felt to be justified on the basis of Middle Eastern village life.”

This is Bailey’s script with his alternate ending. The scene shifts back and forth between Abu-Adam, the mayor and priest inside the house and Adam/Shaluk/Abu-Adam outside.

Time: nearing sundown
Place: the father’s home

FATHER: Shaluk! Is everything ready?

SHALUK: All is ready, Abu-Adam.

FATHER: What about the meat? Is it done? Was the calf big enough?

SHALUK: It will be ready in half an hour. And there will be plenty for all of us.

FATHER: [sees the table] I will sit with the mayor and the priest. Bring in the food when Adam arrives. He will stand as usual and serve us to show honor to our guests. [Loud, firm knock on door] Shaluk! The door! [Shaluk opens door to priest and mayor. The father greets them first]

MAYOR: Congratulations! A thousand congratulations, Elder!

FATHER: Thank you, indeed, Mayor. You have honored our house! Greetings, Priest!

PRIEST: The house is blessed tonight, Abu-Adam!

FATHER: May God give you safety, Priest. We are honored that you have come. I know you are busy with the synagogue service tonight. We have troubled you.

PRIEST: Not at all! We are your servants, Elder. I am honored to come. Indeed, this is a great day for the whole village.

FATHER: Actually we thought Obed was dead. He was gone for nearly a year. But our hope never died. Now at last it has been fulfilled.

[Adam is heard outside the window]

ADAM: What’s going on here? What is all this noise? Why have I not been consulted? Shaluk! Shaluk!

[inside the house]

FATHER: Shaluk, go out and speak to him. Tell him the story of his brother’s return. Tell him that his father and his father’s guests await him. You know – explain everything.

SHALUK: Yes, sir. [exits]

ADAM: [outside] What’s the story, Shaluk? What’s going on? It seems there is a banquet. Why have I not been consulted?

SHALUK: Yes, there’s a banquet tonight. You see, Adam, your – brother – has returned. He came unexpectedly.

ADAM: [slowly] My – brother! Whom do you mean?

SHALUK: Your brother – Obed!

ADAM: [stunned] Obed! Go on! What happened then? [slowly, reflectively] Did he bring back much wealth? Did he lead a long camel caravan of cloth and spices? Is this it? Did HE pay for this great banquet?

SHALUK: No, Adam, I’m sorry to say he didn’t.

ADAM: [somewhat relieved] I see! [Thinks, then speaks impatiently] And then? Finish, you fool! Can’t you see I’m in a hurry? I have to get dressed for the evening service.

SHALUK: Well – if you must know – he came back in rags. He had nothing.

ADAM: [trying to conceal his delight] Just what I expected! What happened then? Did my father beat him? Yes! Yes! My father beat him, of course!

SHALUK: No, he didn’t! Your father saw him at a great distance, for he was watching from the balcony. He hurried down. He took the edge of his robe in hand and ran through the village down the road. Half the village ran after him. Then he fell on your brother’s neck and kissed him right in front of all of us. [pause] Are you listening to me, Adam?

ADAM: Of course I’m listening, you old fool! But I don’t believe you. My father is strict and honorable. He wouldn’t do such a thing. Tell me the truth, or I’ll beat you!

SHALUK: I AM telling you the truth, Adam. And not only this, but your father gave him his own best robe, new shoes, and the ring.

ADAM: The ring! You mean the signet ring?

SHALUK: That’s right.

ADAM: Ridiculous! I’m getting sick and tired of the irresponsibility around here! With that ring Obed will probably try to sell my share the same way he sold his own. Why, that ring is a free ticket to more debauchery! He took his share! Now why should he come here and expect to live off of mine?

SHALUK: We killed the fatted calf.

ADAM: Yes, I expect you did! That figures! None of my rights are safe here! That calf was mine, you know. Everything left in this house is mine by right!

SHALUK: The banquet is in Obed’s honor. The mayor and the priest have arrived. They are waiting in the reception room for you. Your father wants you to come and greet his guests. He needs you to serve the banquet. We can start when you are ready.

ADAM: I will not enter!

SHALUK: Adam! Don’t be childish! Your father will sit with the guests. You must go in and serve them. You know the customs.

ADAM: So I’m childish, am I? I’ll overlook the insult! Mind you – I am willing to serve the mayor and the priest, but shall I take the choice pieces of meat in my fingers and offer them with compliments to this – this filthy beggar?

SHALUK: Such honorable thoughts!

ADAM: Someone has to care for honor in this house!

SHALUK: [sharply] Adam! Don’t insult your father in this way before his guests! You must at least go in and greet them.

ADAM: [firmly] It has been a struggle to hold up my head with honor in this village ever since that beggar left. Now father has made a HERO out of him! I won’t go in! That’s final! [pauses] I said that’s final!

SHALUK: [sadly admitting defeat] You’re the older son. [enters house] Abu-Adam, may I have a word with you?

FATHER: You can speak up, Shaluk. We heard everything from the window. The story is clear. Adam won’t come in. What’s the trouble now?

SHALUK: You heard what he said!

FATHER: Well, hold up the banquet while we see what can be done.

SHALUK: Very well, sir. [pauses] I am sorry, Abu-Adam.

FATHER: We have been through this before, haven’t we, Shaluk?

SHALUK: [sadly] Yes – we have.

MAYOR: But why is he angry, Abu-Adam?

FATHER: This time it’s because I have welcomed Obed home.

PRIEST: Well, well! Does that anger him?

FATHER: I’m afraid it does. But actually his real problem is much deeper. What he really wants is to be master of the house.

PRIEST: But that’s impossible.

MAYOR: How can he expect such a thing?

FATHER: How? I’ll tell you how. A clump of mud falls into a water jar. Soon all its water has the color of the earth. Pride has entered his heart and has become a consuming passion that colors all his life. After all, he is the older son!

MAYOR: But he is not obedient!

FATHER: Obedient? Outwardly, officially, he is obedient. But inwardly he obeys only his own pride and ambition.

PRIEST: [confused] But how can he be head of the house? You are head of the house!

FATHER: [slowly] Yes, as long as I am alive.

PRIEST: [warily] What do you mean?

FATHER: If I were dead, then he could rule. He does not know this, but this is really what he wants. He has rebelled against me as Absalom rebelled against David. Absalom wanted the throne. It is the same with Adam.

MAYOR: This is too much! This is too much! He must be punished! This is rebellion! I am a mayor! I understand these things! Order must be preserved! The honor of this house must be preserved!

FATHER: Is this what you think, Mayor?

MAYOR: Yes, indeed. He must learn to respect his father. The boy is mocking you. You must not endure it. Every father must have obedience. He has disobeyed. He must be punished. Is he not your son?

FATHER: Only by nature. In spirit he is not my son. Everything I tell him to do, he does. But he always seeks one thing: to be first! To be the master!

MAYOR: You must beat him! This is the only answer. You must beat him. Then you will get from him what you want.

FATHER: [exploding] Get what I want? Do you understand what it is I want? I am not angry. HE is angry. I don’t want revenge. I want a son – a son who will return my love.

MAYOR: Do not confuse me! I understand one thing: if there is disobedience, there must be punishment. Why don’t you punish him?

FATHER: Can you beat a man into loving you?

MAYOR: But he deserves punishment.

FATHER: Yes, he does! But, Mayor, he does not KNOW he is guilty. He thinks he demands only his rights. He will cry, “Why do you strike me? I have done nothing!”

MAYOR: But the honor of the father must be preserved. The honor of the house must be preserved.

FATHER: Yes, honor must be preserved, but I want more than this. I want a son. [with great fervor] I can punish him, but this will not CHANGE HIM.

MAYOR: Well! You must give him strict discipline. Give him rules and make him follow them!

FATHER: But, my good friend, all this we have done since he was a boy. Every rule I give him he obeys, but without love. He is proud that he obeys. More rules would mask more pride. If he were a servant, I could punish him and be finished. But I do not want a cringing servant. I want a loving son.

PRIEST: If that’s the case, Abu-Adam, you need only to love and forgive.

FATHER: Always I have loved. Many times I have forgiven. When he was small, he would disobey, and at times I would show him mercy. But now he is a man, and this is not enough. He will answer, “Forgiven for what? I have done nothing. I ask only for my rights.”

PRIEST: Can you not say to him, “Never mind, it doesn’t matter”?

FATHER: No, Abuna! Can’t you see? If I say, “Never mind,” nothing is changed. He is still in the courtyard in rebellion. I am still without a son.

MAYOR: If you do this, Abuna, the boy will think disobedience is a very little thing.

PRIEST: But you must show him your love.

FATHER: I am ready. But, Priest, what if your young son took oil and poured it on the back of your water buffalo. Then he lit the oil and stood laughing while the buffalo burned to death. Would you say, “Never mind, son”?

PRIEST: Of course not.

FATHER: Would this be love?

MAYOR: No, indeed, this is weakness. This is not love. This is weakness.

FATHER: What if he insults you before your guests – say, in the synagogue as you are expounding the Scriptures. Would you say, “Never mind”?

PRIEST: No, no. Of course not.

FATHER: If you did, would it be love – or weakness?

PRIEST: I think – yes, indeed, this would be weakness.

FATHER: Very well. Now, my son has insulted me before my guests. He refuses to love and welcome his brother or to serve the banquet. Shall I go and tell him, “Never mind, this is nothing”?

MAYOR: Never! It is the same. This is weakness, not love.

PRIEST: [backing down] Yes, I think I see what you mean.

FATHER: Priest, I am ready to forgive. But I must offer forgiveness in a way that will CHANGE HIM. I want to restore our fellowship. Forgiveness is not just letting the man who has done wrong go free.

PRIEST: What is it then?

FATHER: Forgiveness is the return of fellowship.

PRIEST: Then – you want reconciliation.

FATHER: Of course! But this is impossible until he stops disobeying. He cannot stop disobeying until he gives up his rebellion and pride. Forgiveness that does not stop his rebellion is meaningless. [calling] O Mayor!

MAYOR: Yes, Abu-Adam.

FATHER: What if a gang of thieves attacks our village. We fight them. Then, in the middle of the fight, you as mayor cry out and say to them, “I forgive you.”

MAYOR: Ridiculous! I would never say such a thing.

FATHER: Why not?

MAYOR: It would be meaningless. They would laugh at me.

FATHER: Would they not stop fighting?

MAYOR: Of course not. They would think I was weak. They would fight all the more.

FATHER: Priest, it is the same with Adam. Forgiveness means nothing if it does not bring the REBEL to surrender.

MAYOR: What will you do then?

FATHER: I will humble myself before him and go out to him.

MAYOR: But you can’t do this. It – it’s not right! It’s too much to expect! He may strike you.

FATHER: [softly] I know.

MAYOR: [firmly] That settles it. Then you must not go.

FATHER: [with intensity and exasperation] Discipline will bring more rebellion. Forgiveness will change nothing. What is it you want me to do? It is necessary that I do this. If he strikes me, maybe then he will see his rebellion for what it really is. I believe this is the only way.

MAYOR: But you must not do this. You may get hurt.

FATHER: [very intensely] Will my suffering then be any worse than that which I now endure? Is my heart at rest with him in rebellion far from me? I go, my friends.

MAYOR: Surely there must be some other –

PRIEST: Abu-Adam –

FATHER: Do not interfere with what I must do.

[The play continues in the next program with the father’s encounter with his elder son.]