Prodigal Son

Setting:
Timeframe: modern age
Theme: Even if you reject me and ignore me, I always love you. Inspired by Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32)
罪びとが悔い改めるなら大きな喜びが天に、神の御使たちの前に、（父なる神に）ある。
There will be more rejoicing in heaven, in the presence of the angels of God (and father-god) over one sinner who repents.

Narrator:
Prodigal Son Phillip:
Father: 
Brother Andrew:

Script flow)
Scene 1: Son’s heart is far from his father. He decided to leave his home.
Scene 2: At first it's a lot of fun, sometimes he remembers it, but he is preoccupied with the pleasure in front of him and escaping reality.
Scene 3: My brother was invited to play by his friends, but he refused because he had to help his father with his work. Father's letter, brother's jealousy and dissatisfaction
Scene 4: Things go wrong, he tries to do his best but it doesn't work out
Scene 5: He goes back to his father and father welcomes him warmly.
Scene 6: Brother's dissatisfaction, father's response to brother

Scene1:
The stage is dark
Son, Brother, and Father sit around the dinner table.
Narrator (try not to be seen): There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my part of your money.’
Turn on the light
Son: Dad, give me my inheritance.
Brother: ...What?
Son: I want to leave this house and live in the big city.
Brother: Leaving home?! How are you going to survive?
Son: I'll get a job over there. I want money to live on until then.
Brother: Do you even know what you're talking about? You have to help dad with the store too!
Son: I’m not talking to you! I’m talking to dad!
Father: (a little sigh)...why do you want to leave home?
Son: I want to be free and live the way I want, and to live on my own terms.
Father: You're not free here?
Son: I'm not. I have to follow your rules. I'm an adult now—Why should I be restricted? Every single day, you tell me, 'Do this, do that' It’s so annoying! Don’t tell me what to do! Maybe I’d actually enjoy my life if I wasn’t stuck with you, Dad.
Father: …Well, give it a try and do what you think is right.
Brother: Dad!?
Father: I'll share my inheritance with you (brother) too. To be fair.

Narrator: Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, and set off for a distant country.
Brother and Father left the stage.
Son takes the bag pack and comes to center stage.
Scene 2:
Play sound of city
Son: This is where my new life begins! I'm finally free!
Turn off the light.
Narrator: Son spent money like water. He tried to find a job but was unsuccessful, so a friend persuaded him to start gambling at the local casino to earn some money.
Turn on the light. Play sound of the stadium?
Son: Come on, number 7! roll roll! I can win this!
… Oh my god, I actually won! Drinks are on me tonight!
Turn off the light.
Turn on the light.
Son drinks alcohol and checks the money he has. It’s only 50 euro.
Son: There’s only 50 euros left… No, no, it’s fine. I can work with this… Haha, yeah, totally fine!
Turn off the light.
Narrator: He started gambling more and more after that. The more he gambled, the more his money disappeared, yet the thrill of winning was absolutely intoxicating.
But for some reason, it left him feeling empty inside.
After a while, he ran out of money to bet. The people he thought were his friends disappeared as soon as they realized he had nothing left.

Scene 3:
Turn on the light.
Brother is on the phone. He has just finished cleaning his father’s shop.
Brother: Hello, oh, hey Jonathan...are you guys going to the movies?　Sorry, I can’t. …Yeah, I'm helping my dad. haha, invite me next time, yeah, bye,
(Brother hangs up phone, sighs a bit)

Brother heads to dad's place, talk to him, dad is on the phone
Brother: Dad, I cleaned up for you.　(Father has his own business and older son is helping it)
Father: Oh, thanks,
Brother: Who are you calling?
Father: your brother
Brother: Ah…(disappointed)
Father waits for brother to pick up, but he doesn't.
Leaves a message on missed call
Father: Hi, Phillip, it's me. How are you? Are you taking care of yourself? ...call me when you have time, I love you, bye.

Scene 4:
Play music (Direction)
there’s one chair on the center stage
Drunk son comes to the center and sits down on the chair, staring in the despair
Son drinks alcohol and sits around in a daze.
Son: Why did I get into this mess? I'm sooo hungry.
...Oh yeah…! Dad has lots of food and many people work for him.
Can't I just go there, apologize, and ask to be made one of his employees?
... No, but I'm sure he won't forgive me for taking his inheritance and cutting ties with him.
..But I have no choice but to go back.
He gets up and goes to his father.
Gradually reduce the sound of music.
Turn off the lights.

Scene5:
Turn on the lights.
Son: (stop walking) It’s impossible… He will just turn me away! Should I go back? or not..
He stops and retreats. Back and forth. And back.
Father:Phillip…? Phillip...!!!
Son stops and looks back
Narrator: But even though it was still a long way home, his father found him, felt sorry for him, ran over, and hugged him.
Father run over to his son and hugs him
Play music (10,000 reasons)
Father: Phillip...! I’ve been waiting for you!
Son: …Dad...I'm sorry, I left you and lived my life the way I wanted to. But I was wrong.
I don't deserve to be called your son anymore.
Stop hugging. Father keeps putting his hands on the son’s shoulders.
Father: Phillip, what are you talking about? You are my son. At all times. No matter what.
Son: But father, I have sinned against you.
Father: But you came back. That makes me happier than anything else.
Hug again
Gradually reduce the sound of music

Narrator: But when older brother saw this, he was angry and did not rejoice with father.
Brother glared at his younger brother with a mix of frustration and sadness, then walked away.

Turn off the light.
Son and Father left the stage.
Brother sits in the chair at the centre stage.
Scene 6:
Turn on the light.
Father brings a chair nearby and sits next to him. Calm, gentle, slow.
Father: What's wrong? (Asks gently and slowly)
Places hand on shoulder
Brother shrugs it off

Brother: ... I've always listened to you, I've always been here for you more than him. But you never gave me anything so I could hang out with my friends! And all you do is love Phillip who wasted your money!
Play music (Love of God)
Father: Andrew, I love you too. You are always with me. Everything I have is yours.
Your brother was lost and has been found. Can’t you celebrate his return together?
Brother nods
Brother looks at his father and hugs each other.

Son comes to them and sits with them
Father: You said I was restricting you, didn’t you? But following me doesn’t mean you’re being restricted. I want you to be free, truly free. And I hope you’ll choose to stay with me—not because you have to, but because you want to.
Turn off the light.