THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

 

 

 

by Sandy Erb

 TIME:Approximately 10 minutes. 

CAST:

GIRL: Dressed in everyday school clothes. Innocent, naive type person. Use

actress’ real name (it gives skit a more natural feel), but don’t personalize

boyfriend’s name. (It needs to represent that “special someone” in every

person’s life in your audience.)

DEVIL: Dressed in most outrageous, style possible. (Green face, spiked hair,

metallic cape, long, blood-red nails, etc.) Must be able to switch from

slimy, flattering, con artist, to intensely evil and mean, in an instant.

JESUS: In traditional, white robe. A loving, gentle, “real person”, NOT “holy”.

 

  STAGING:If there’s no wall close behind actors, carry in a hard- surfaced screen,

coming through a doorway.) Keep humor light and funny, until the moment

the Devil changes. This will increase the impact of the serious ending.

 

PAGE: 6enclosed to the floor (portable chalkboard will do), with Devil hidden smaller and less impressive (maybe silver). Second one, large, bright gold. Costumes for JESUS and DEVIL; 2 shiny Christmas ornaments. FirstBLOCKING

 

 

 

THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT

 

 

Copyright 1989 Sandy Erb

 

 

(Girl enters, looking at Christmas ornament that represents her “life”.She’sholding it up, admiring it, polishing it, etc.)

[2] walks around behind her, [3] looks over both her DEVIL: Hey ! Check it out ! And I don’t even see HIM around either.

Watch THESE moves ! (Talks to girl) “Hey _______! (Fill in name) [4]

What’cha got there?

entrance.)

 

DEVIL: [5] But I know who YOU are. I’ve had my eye on YOU for a LONG

TIME. Girl, you have POTENTIAL ! What’cha got there?GIRL: This is my LIFE ! Isn’t it BEAUTIFUL ! Look how it sparkles !DEVIL: [6] Yea ! Man, it’s GREAT ! (Looks closer) But,….. you know, that

spot right there looks just a little dull. And look at that scratch. You

know I really think you could do alot better if WE worked on it a little.

Why don’t you let ME see what I can do with it?GIRL: NO ! I can’t give it to you. This is my LIFE ! It’s everything I have !DEVIL: [7] But I can give you so much MORE ! It seems to me, I’ve heard

some of the guys saying what a GREAT cheerleader you’d be. How

about THAT?GIRL: CHEERLEADER ! WOW !!

DEVIL: Hey ! AND you know who goes for CHEERLEADERS ! FOOT BALL

PLAYERS !!!

It seems to ME, I’ve seen you checking out HAROLD HUNK

occasionally. [8] Offensive Back, isn’t he? But YOU don’t find him ..… OFFENSIVE,…… do you?

GIRL: Harold HUNK? HE would never notice ME in a MILLION years !DEVIL: [9] You just leave that to ME. I’m quite sure he’s going to notice the

HEAD cheerleader !GIRL: HEAD cheerleader !! Oh MAN ! I can’t BELIEVE it ! ……But…….my WHOLE life? I don’t know if I should give it ALL to you.DEVIL: [10] Hey ! What have you got to lose? Besides, all you have to do

is let me have it for a LITTLE while. You can have it back ANY time

you want. Baby ! This is a FREE ride !GIRL: Well,………….. I don’t know,……………….. I’m SO confused.DEVIL: (Sees Jesus slowly approaching, gets nervous.) Hey, well listen.

You think about it and I’ll be back later. Just remember, you may

NEVER get a chance like this again. Quickly exits.) [11]

JESUS: [2] ________, please don’t waste your life on things that have no

eternal value. Your life is worth so much MORE than that. I have

things prepared for you that you can’t even DREAM of. I have for

you, a life of true loving and giving, filled with JOY and Peace.

My death on the cross, BOUGHT these gifts for you.GIRL: I’m just so CONFUSED. Could I think about it for awhile?JESUS: I LOVE you too much to ever push you against your will. I’ll be waiting

for you. (exits) [3]

…..…

GIRL: How come you know my name? I don’t know you.

[2]

 

 

He SAID He’d be waiting. Let’s have FUN now ! GIRL: But……what if I DIED? I don’t want to go to HELL.

DEVIL: DIED ! You’ve got to be KIDDING !! Kids don’t DIE !

You have heard of people buying “life insurance protection” for their kids,

haven’t you ?GIRL: Well………..yes……….DEVIL: Well see, that means they’re safe.? Hey Man ! DIEING’S just for OLD

people ! Let’s talk about LIVING ! We’ll FLY together ! Anything

you want ! FIRST CLASS all the way ! Hey ! Do you know what I

saw cruising through town the other day with a “For Sale” sign on it?

A brand new, red PORCHE. I wonder what Harold would think of the

HEAD cheerleader in THAT !GIRL: (More confused) Oh WOW……..JESUS: [4] (Having slowly entered during Devils last lines.) ________,

remember these things are fun for a short time, but they don’t last.

My LOVE for you is FOREVER.DEVIL: You DO know CHRISTIANS never have any fun AT ALL, don’t you?

Can’t you just IMAGINE how exciting BIBLE STUDY must be ! How

could I LIVE with the THRILL?! Whoa ! BE STILL MY HEART !!

But,… of course, if ALL you EVER DO is sit in church with a LONG

face, I guess you don’t need pretty clothes, great cars,…… HUNKS….JESUS: ____________, when you’re alone at night, I see the tears that come

from your aching heart. I send the gentle evening breeze to dry those

tears. I see the loneliness in you, even when you’re with your friends.I LONG to fill that emptiness. Today you looked so sad. It makes my

heart ACHE, because I UNDERSTAND. My friends let me down, and

hurt me so many times, too. But my love for you is deeper than the

oceans, and bigger than the biggest want or need in you life. I want you

to know my Father, too. He sent me to die for you, that you might have

ETERNAL LIFE. (As Jesus is speaking, Devil is acting totally bored, yawning, playing violinDEVIL: But I can give you the NIGHT LIFE ! I’ve even got tickets to the rock

concert in San Francisco, next week, (with HAROLD), and maybe a little

COKE to go with it, (and Baby, I don’t MEAN Pepsi), beach parties this

summer, ski trips next winter, HAROLD, money (and I mean BIG

BUCKS), clothes, jewelry, furs, HAROLD….GIRL: Yeah ! Yeah ! OK ! I’m too YOUNG to miss all this FUN !

Devil take her life.)

[5] As He JESUS: (Calls her name softly from the shadows.) ____________ .GIRL: (Glancing back, while she hands over life.) What time will Harold pick me

up for the concert? Oh ! And there’s a PERFECT dress at the Mall.

That would be GREAT !DEVIL: (Begins to play with “life”.) You GOT it ! Just stick with ME, Baby !

You got it ALL now ! Let’s have some FUN ! (Starts to recklessly GIRL: (Begins to realize what’s happening.) Oh PLEASE ! Be careful !Don’t DO that ! DEVIL: Come ON ! LIVE IT UP ! It’s FUN !

toss and throw “life” in the air.)

(mime), checking out fingernails, etc. But don’t overact and distract from

what Jesus is saying. As Jesus finishes saying last line, Devil very smoothly

cuts Him off by putting arm around shoulders of Girl, and turning her in his

direction. His line picks up immediately on last word of Jesus’ line.)

 

 

and intimidated. She shrinks back in horror.)

DEVIL: Get your FACE out of my SPACE ! Hey Man ! You really think it’s

FREE? DO YOU ?!! Well, EVERYTHING’S got a price, and Baby….YOU JUST PAID IT !!! (Devil smashes “life” against wall or screen directly behind actors. GirlGIRL: Oh NO ! It’s GONE ! It’s ALL gone !!DEVIL: (Walking away) [13] You FOOL !! (Pauses) Hey CHEERLEADER !

Rah ! Rah ! Rah ! (Exits laughing)

presents to her.)

JESUS: Because I LOVE YOU.(Jesus and Girl freeze in position, with both of them holding “life” so audience can see it.)

collapses to her knees, crying, tries to pick up small bits of her “life”.)

..…