Four-Ninety

By: Ray Deck III

www.ministryLIVE.org

Premise:

As believers, we are obligated to forgive regardless of the offense because of the way
that Christ forgave us.

Characters:

Brooke Jones—17 year old girl; regularly abused by her step-dad

Momma Martin—Mother of Brooke; re-married to Tom Martin
Tom Martin—Step father to Brooke; abusive
Jordan Timms—best friend and neighbor to Brooke

Background:

This production is a spin-off of The Kry in which Jordan is the main character and sexual
temptation is the theme. Scenes 1 & 2 are extracted from the piece.
 Introduction

Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive
him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy
times seven.”

(LIVE PERFORMANCE: “East to West” by Casting Crowns)

Scene1: Jordan and Brooke

Jordan: So what happened with you and Alex? Scott told me that you broke it off.

Brooke: Yeah… it wasn‟t working out.

Jordan: And you didn‟t tell me because…?

Brooke: I don‟t know, I haven‟t seen you in a while I guess… sorry.

Jordan: It‟s alright… What went wrong? He didn‟t hurt you did he, because if he did, I‟ll—

Brooke: No… nothing like that.

Jordan: What happened then? I thought that you really liked him?

Brooke: I did. What was not to like? He‟s a really good guy. He‟s smart and funny, and pretty
cute too—

Jordan: Spare me, please.

Brooke: (glare at him) He just kept pressuring me.

Jordan: What do you mean pressuring?

Brooke: He wanted more of me than I wanted to give away.

Jordan: Yeah, I know what that feels like.

Brooke: I guess I‟m just not ready for something so serious, and he couldn‟t handle that, plus,
with all that‟s going on I didn‟t need that too, so I broke it off. Oh, Jordan it was so hard!

Jordan: Yeah, I‟m sorry Brooke. You know that if there‟s anything that I can do…

Brooke: Yes, I know.

Jordan: So… Scott is trying to get me to go out this weekend with some girls that he knows.
Brooke: Woo… wait a second… Scott wants you to go out with him and some girls? Jordan, you
know how shady that sounds. You remember the last guy went with Jordan on one of his blind
double dates didn‟t come back to school.

Jordan: Yeah, I know. I haven‟t decided yet.

Brooke: Just, don‟t do anything that you will regret.

Jordan: I won‟t. You know me… I won‟t. So, what else is bugging you? I mean, you just seemed
really distracted lately.

Brooke: um… nothing.

Jordan: Brooke, come on. I know you, you‟re not telling me something. Are you and your mom
fighting again?

Brooke: No, she‟s fine… I guess that ever since my mom married Tom things have been… I
don‟t‟ know… off.

Jordan: I understand.

Brooke: They fight sometimes, and it‟s just not good. I think that Mom has come to realize how
bad of an idea it was for her to re-marry a guy who isn‟t a Christian.

Jordan: Hm.

Brooke: I just wish it was just me and my mom again, that sounds terrible.

Jordan: No, I know what you mean… So… you‟re feeling depressed, then?

Brooke: yeah, major.

Jordan: Aight, I feel a movie night coming on.

Brooke: Sure, as long you you‟re buying this time!

(Jordan and Brooke move to exit; spot on Brooke)

Scene 2: Brooke’s Monologue

Why? Why, when Jordan asks me what‟s wrong do I freeze up like this and make some lame
excuse so I don‟t have to tell him? I know that it would break his heart if he knew, and I just can‟t
do that. But I need to tell someone… I cannot live with this alone anymore.

Do I deserve this? What did I do wrong? I always had good grades, and I don‟t do most of the
things that everyone else does… so, I guess… why me?

This thing started when my Mom met Tom at the garage and they decided to get married all in the
same year. You know she never even asked me what I thought about the whole thing. I barely
knew him at all when he moved in.
I was almost thirteen and I was so excited about finally becoming a teenager. I was ready to
experience all the things that my sister had when I was younger. I used to watch her in the
bathroom for her dates, or talk on the phone for hours making plans for the future. She was
everything that I wanted to be-- beautiful and free. She moved out and went to college about two
months before the marriage. I was so excited because I got her room! It was bigger and had a
walk in closet… the only problem was that the bathroom connected to my mom‟s room. Tom told
my mom that he would close the wall between my room and theirs and he would make the closet
across the hall into my bathroom… but he never did. Now… I know why… he wouldn‟t cut off
access to my room, because that would mean cutting off access to me.

There I said it. Now what? Are things going to change? Will he ever stop? Yeah right, that‟s what
he says every time. I don‟t understand… I just want it to stop!!! I can‟t tell my mom, she‟s never
seen that side of him, and I don‟t think that she would believe me. Tom is like a totally different
person when he comes through that door, and into my room. I can‟t tell Jordan because… well, I
can‟t even imagine what Tom would do if he found out that I had told someone else.

You know there was a time when I thought that this was the way thins were supposed to be? I
know crazy, right? But that‟s what life was for me… normal life… coming home from school
dreading what would happen there. Pretty twisted, huh? But you know; now I know better. That‟s
not normal, and I‟m scared! I just want to understand what I did wrong? Is there a God out there
that wants to watch me cry alone?

What is going to happen when I move out, and Natalie is the only one home? Will he go to her
then? I can‟t let that happen, but what can I do, I am just so confused!

Transition 1

Therefore, the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with
his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand
talents. And since he could not pay, his mater ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children,
and all that he had and payment be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, „Have
patience with me, and I will pay you everything.‟ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant
released him and forgave him the debt.

Scene 3: Home with News

(Tom and Mom enter the living room; Brooke is pre-set on the couch)

Mom: Hi Brooke!

Brooke: Hi Mom! How was the counseling?

Mom: um… Honey, why don‟t we talk for a minute? (M & T come in and take a seat; long
awkward pause as Mom and Tom look at each other, each waiting on the other to start)

Brooke: What‟s going on?

Mom: (starts and re-starts several times awkwardly; elated but unsure of exactly what to say)
Well hon, actually we have— Well Tom has some— There‟s something that you should— um…
Brooke, I don‟t really know how to tell you this, but in our meeting with the Pastor today, um…
well, Tom he— ah, Tom, do you wanna?...

Tom: (breaks) Brooke, I am so sorry.

Brooke: What?

Mom: Honey, I think that what Tom is trying to say, is that he trusted Christ as his Savior.

Tom: You must think that I am a monster. I know that what I have done to you is unforgivable. I
am just, I‟m so sorry. I need you to know that I want to change. I am so sorry for what I‟ve done to
you, Brooke.

Mom: WHAT?! Tom, what are you talking about?

Tom: Brooke, I am so sorry.

Brooke: (jumps up from her seat and moves as far away from Tom as she can) Get away from
me!

Mom: (talking over scripted dialogue; demands an explanation)

Tom: I understand why you feel that way. Brooke, today Pastor Bob made things so clear— um…
Brooke, I believe. Jesus is my Savior, and my sins have been forgiven by Him. I need you to
know that, and that I am so sorry for what I‟ve done to you.

Brooke: Sorry!? You‟re sorry? Do you know how cheap that word is? After all that you have
taken from me, and all you give back is “I‟m sorry?” You can‟t be serious.

Tom: Brooke, I know. I know and you‟re right. I have been awful to you, and sorry just doesn‟t cut
it, but I am… I am, so sorry. (broken; he pauses and then moves to leave; stops and returns) I
just want you to know that it is going to change. I am moving out—

Mom: TOM!

Tom: Just for now. Until the remodel on the bathroom is done, and until Brooke says it‟s okay.

Brooke: (hesitantly) You got saved.

Tom: Yes.

Brooke: I can‟t believe that…This is going to take me some time to get used to.

Tom: I know.

Brooke: You‟re serious? Things are going to be different? I mean, finally, really different?

Tom: (broken) I‟m sure going to try.

Brooke: I just find that really hard to believe. (bitter)

Tom: I understand… Good night?

Brooke: Good night?

Mom: (as the lights Crossfade to Brooke outside of the living room set) TOM, WHAT IS GOING
ON? TELL ME RIGHT NOW!!!

Scene 4: Brooke’s Monologue II

So that‟s it? He‟s sorry. He‟s sorry, and I‟m… I‟m what? I‟m a virgin again? I don‟t think so. God
must be really cruel to let someone like him get off scot-free because he asked for my
forgiveness, and I‟m just supposed to say “okay”? He gets to sleep with a clean conscience and
I… I can‟t because I feel so dirty. I can‟t. I can‟t… forgive? Can I?

What he did was… AH! I‟ve got Pastor Bob‟s voice inside my head! What he did was sin. Plain
and simple, it was sin, and I‟m a sinner too. My sins are just as sinful as his are, and if we both
got was we deserved for our sin, we would find ourselves in the same place, paying the same
price for our sins. If God forgave me…

But, what kind of God can he be to let it go so deep, and then just let it go? What if I can‟t? that
man took everything good about me.. I‟m empty, and so tired of believing that life can be
different.. so.. tired of trying to hope. Ahh! Everything inside of me is screaming! I want to see him
hurting! Does he even know? Does he know that I‟m ruined, and that it‟s HIS FAULT!? But…
Jesus forgave him. Jesus forgave him, so I NEED to. Right?

What if I do? What if I forgive him right now, and never hold it against him. Then what happens?
He just gets away with it, and I am left… (broken) What am I good for now!? Who would want to
be my friend? Who would want to be my HUSBAND now, after what I have become? How can all
of the pain, the memories and the scars just go away?

I need to call Jordan. Yeah, Jordan can help.

Oh God! Help me! I can‟t do it! I can‟t forgive that man! I need your help!

(Voices together in seamless transition)

Scene 5: Jordan’s Monologue

Oh God! Help me! I can‟t do it! I can‟t forgive that man! I need your help!

God I‟m going to tear him apart for what he did! Brooke didn‟t deserve that! She is so… so
innocent. How dare he touch her, and take away the only pure thing left in that house! First, he
sweet talks his way into her mother‟s life and then…

When Brooke told me, I didn‟t believe it. I couldn‟t! But now I get it. All those times that she
seemed down. I just wanted to know what was wrong. I wanted to… I wanted to help, but she
was too embarrassed, and she made up some excuse.

God, I am going to make him pay for what he has done! Somebody has got to. Right? If nobody
does anything about it, then he‟s just going to get away.

(LIVE PERFORMANCE: Forgiven by Relient K)

 Scene 6: The Aftermath

Scene 6 will begin as a silent scene until the very end, and then there is a small exchange
between Tom & his wife, and then Tom and Jordan. The key to this scene is: don’t rush!!

Pre-set are Tom and Mom; Tom sitting on the couch where he was earlier. Mom is standing with
her arms crossed on the far side of the stage staring at him. The silent scene follows a seven
step progression before the silence is broken.

1.) Mom looking at Tom, disgusted; hold for long enough to have effect
2.) Mom is clearly upset and Tom goes to her
3.) She refuses and turns her attention to the state of the house (busy work)
4.) He watches for a moment before giving up (temporarily); he turns on the TV
5.) She stops & looks at him, again disgusted (that he could watch TV at a time like this);
returns to her work
6.) He turns to look at her just after she has turned away
7.) He turns off the TV and makes his move—straight for her; he places his hand on her
shoulder, and she stops turning to face him

Mom: How could you? How could you come into this house and…

Tom: What am I supposed to say?

Mom: Do you actually expect us to recover from this?

Tom: Can you still love me?

Mom: Are you serious? ... What do you think? …

TOM: Can you ever forgive me?

Mom: What is forgiveness? …What am I supposed to do now?

Tom: I don‟t know.

(knock at the door; hard and fast as if angry; Tom hesitates and then goes to answer; when he
opens the door, Jordan flies into the scene and punches Tom. He falls; Lights fade as Mom
screams pulling Jordan off of Tom)

Transition 2

But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a
hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, „Pay me what you owe,‟ So his
fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, „have patience with me, and I will pay you.‟ He
refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants
saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their
master all that had taken place. Then his mater summoned him and said to him, „you wicked
servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should you not have had
mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you? And in anger his master delivered him to
the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of
you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.
 Scene 7: Help Me!

(Scene opens with Jordan sitting on the couch; Mom is attending to Tom who shrugs her off and
picks up the phone)

Mom: (to Tom) What are you doing?

Tom: Calling the police. That was assault, son.

Jordan: (explodes off the couch) Don‟t call me that, you—

Mom: Jordan! Both of you, stop it!

Tom: (returns to dialing)

Mom: Tom, don‟t.

Tom: And why not?

Brooke: (appearing suddenly) Because I didn‟t.

Tom: (takes a minute to asses, and then slams the phone down & shouts)

Brooke: (moves to Jordan) What did you do?

Jordan: starts to respond, but lowers his head in shame) I was—I thought that if I didn‟t—

Brooke: Jordan, what Tom did to me was wrong. It was awful, but so is every sin that I am guilty
of. Jesus died on the cross to forgive me, and Tom. Now, I don‟t know if I can forgive him— (to
Tom) you took so much away from me— but Jesus did so I have to try. And so do you. (turning to
mom) And you too, Mom. (silence; no one dares to respond) I don‟t know what‟s next, (Jordan
starts to protest but Brooke raises her voice over him) but I‟m going to need help and you aren‟t
helping me by punching him!

Mom: Honey.

Brooke: “All things work together for good”, doesn‟t mean that everything is nice and neat! It
doesn‟t mean that life is easy! It means that God loves me, and he has not lost control of my life,
or anything that‟s going on. That is the truth. It‟s what I know in my head, but I don‟t know if I can
actually do it, or even if I actually believe it. Right now I don‟t feel anything less than dirty and
useless. (no one responds) I need help!!!

(Live Performance: Karalie Gray)

(Music begins on the last line, and the lights stay up on the living room set until the chorus)