NOTE: If the words in the first few lines are considered inappropriate for the actors or audience, please us the alternative words below:
“She’s not good!” “She’s so bad!” “She is evil!” “She has no heart!”
ACCUSER 1
She’s a trollop!
ACCUSER 2
She’s a floozy!
ACCUSER 3
She’s trash!
ACCUSER 4
She’s a tart!
ACCUSER 1
We literally had to prize them apart!
ACCUSER 5
It’s depravity!
ACCUSER 6
It’s corruption!
ACCUSER 7
It’s degenerate!
ACCUSER 8
It’s perverse!
ACCUSER 5
From what I’ve seen,
there’s nothing worse!
ACCUSER 9
She’s immoral!
ACCUSER 10
She’s devious!
ACCUSER 11
She’s repellent!
ACCUSER 12
She’s tainted!
ACCUSER 9
When we opened the door,
I almost fainted!
ACCUSER 12
What a disgrace!
ACCUSER 11
What dishonour!
ACCUSER 10
What a shock!
ACCUSER 9
What a scandal!
ACCUSER 8
Debauchery is more
than we can handle!
ACCUSER 7
She’s guilty!
ACCUSER 6
She’s shameless!
ACCUSER 5
She’s a sinner!
ACCUSER 4
She’s unclean!
ACCUSER 3
She deserves to die
after what we’ve seen!
ACCUSER 2
No loose woman is ever reformed.
ACCUSER 1
A heart like hers,
can’t be transformed.
ACCUSER 8
We caught her!
ACCUSER 9
We saw her!
ACCUSER 10
There she was on the bed!
ACCUSER 11
She had no escape,
and now should be dead!
ACCUSER 12
In my book of the law,
which for years, I have owned,
It says women like her,
deserve to be stoned.
ACCUSER 1
That’s true. We should stone her!
Let’s aim for her back.
As they hit the centre,
Let’s watch her spine crack!
ACCUSER 2
No, I think we should aim them
at her brazen face,
for, what she has done,
is such a disgrace!
ACCUSER 3
Oh, what does it matter?
Wherever they hit,
it will be joy to see
her grubby skin split.
ACCUSER 4
At first, she’ll go blue,
like one big bruise.
Then after ten stones,
the blood will ooze!
ACCUSER 5
I’d like to aim one
right in her eye,
then watch it pop out
and fly to the sky!
(They all laugh)
ACCUSER 6
It’s her own fault.
This woman must pay.
Adultery’s unforgivable.
Jesus…what do you say?
(Jesus continues to stare at the woman for a while then closes his eyes and moves his head upwards towards the crowd of accusers.
He opens his eyes and looks at them for a moment then turns his back on them and crouches down. He starts writing on the ground with his finger.)
ACCUSER 7
What’s he doing?
ACCUSER 12
What has he found?
ACCUSER 11
Why is he stooping
on the dusty ground?
ACCUSER 10
Didn’t he hear us?
ACCUSER 9
Oh, he heard us alright.
At last, he’s defeated.
He’s lost the fight.
ACCUSER 8
Ha ha! We’ve got him!
What a joyful day.
He really doesn’t know
what to do or say.
(Jesus gets up and stares at them one by one. Accusers 7,8 and 9 are at the
back talking amongst themselves.)
ACCUSER 7
Oh, look at his eyes,
they’re so piercing and still
ACCUSER 6
They make me feel guilty.
ACCUSER 5
(Leaving the stage.)
I’m going to be ill.
(As Jesus begins to speak, they all jump in surprise)
JESUS
Who is he among you
that is without sin?
Let him throw the first stone.
Well, go on. Begin!
(The accusers begin talking to themselves and slowly turn around and walk away with their heads bent in shame. They exit the stage UP RIGHT.)
ACCUSER 1
I beat my wife,
so I’d better run!
ACCUSER 2
I’m feeling convicted!
ACCUSER 3
I’m feeling undone.
ACCUSER 4
It really feels awkward
to make this admission…
But I’m cocky and proud
and have selfish ambition.
ACCUSER 5
When it comes to food,
I have no self-control.
I’m a glutton who’ll devour
all the meat in the bowl.
ACCUSER 6
I’m a gossip who has
too much air in my lung.
I spread poison with my,
uncontrollable tongue.
ACCUSER 7
I am a hypocrite!
ACCUSER 8
I envy them next door.
ACCUSER 9
I swear at my mother.
ACCUSER 10
I steal from the poor.
ACCUSER 11
I’ll throw away this stone,
For, I cannot start…
I won’t forgive my brother
and there’s contempt in my heart.
(The remaining accusers walk away with their heads down.)
JESUS
So…where are your accusers?
They were so frenetic!
(He puts his hands on his hips, shakes his head and laughs.)
The bold in speech,
are often so pathetic!
(He bends down in front of the woman.)
Has no-one condemned you?
Has no-one thrown a stone?
WOMAN
No, my Lord, they’ve gone
and left us all alone.
JESUS
Everything you’ve done,
I already know.
But I don’t judge you either,
so, you’re free to go.
God has a plan for your life,
so, get up from the floor.
You are not worthless,
so, go and sin no more.
I am the Light of this world,
and those who follow me,
Will come out of darkness,
have the light of life and see.
Sin just drags you down,
but I can raise you higher.
Those who know they need me,
will get what they desire.
Forgiveness.
(The woman gets up and places her hands inside the hands of Jesus. She looks into his eyes and smiles. They walk off stage with his arms around her waist and her head resting on his shoulder.)
-The End-
