The Song of Mary(Musical/30Min)

The Song of Mary

By John McNeil

Summary

The inside story of Christmas, told by Mary to the doctor and historian, Luke.

Characters

Production Note: A number of songs are indicated in the script. However, it may easily be performed without these. The songs indicated were chosen for their lyrica content, and the fact that they advance the narrative. Therefore, please use care if you substitute these songs with others. Unless otherwise indicated, they may be found in the Oxford Book of Christmas Carols.Video content may similarly be omitted; however, the horse scene near the conclusion of the play is very powerful, and I would recommend that you obtain a copy if at all possible.

Script

Choir: This is the Truth Sent From Above

Video: (During the last few lines of the choir's song, we see village scenes representative of rural Greece/Israel. Superimposed during the last 5-10secs are the words, "Ephesus, Greece, AD45")

(Scene: The interior of a house in Ephesus in the year AD45 or thereabouts. Mary, the mother of Jesus - now an elderly woman - enters, attended by Dr Luke.)

SFX: In the background can be heard typical village sounds.

Mary: It is good of you to come and visit me, Luke. Though whether it is out of concern for me or for your history...

Luke: Both, dear lady. They are equally entwined, and equally precious.

Mary: You speak as handsomely as you write. But there is no need to butter me with fine words. The old have as much need to be heard as to be seen. (Mary reclines. Luke helps adjusts cushions.)

SFX: Begin to slowly fade out background sounds.

Luke: You are kept well occupied here, in John’s household?

Mary: (Tenderly, but still the Jewish momma) He needs someone to look after him properly. If a man is not married, he needs a mother ... and he is certainly a dear son to me.

Luke: You don’t lack for those! (Sits, begins to take out writing gear)

Mary: Since we moved to Ephesus, I don’t see much of them. Less now that my health does not permit me to travel to Jerusalem. Even there, they are busy with the affairs of the church - I would see James at festivals if I was lucky. I need to keep busy, but I would have been a thorn in Rachel’s side. Joses and the others are scattered. No ... Jesus knew what he was doing passing me into the care of John.

Luke: A lot of things make more sense in hindsight.

Mary: Perhaps they would have made more sense at the time if we had truly understood the prophets.

Luke: (Ready to write) How much of what happened did you understand at the time?

Mary: So much, and so little. (chuckles) No-one ever had it more clearly spelled out to them, did they! But though the words were sweet to the mouth, there were many times they proved bitter to the soul. Who could know the full meaning, except in hindsight? It was better that I didn’t.

(Enter Esther with refreshments.)

Mary: Thank you, Esther.

(Esther begins to pour a glass of wine for each. When she gets to Luke's, however, she accidentally spills some over him. Luke reacts accordingly. Mary is all solicitous. Esther hands Luke a cloth, and exits in confusion.)

Mary: I'm terribly sorry, Luke.

Luke: It is all right. I will soon dry in this heat. (Regaining his composure) Where were we? Oh yes. How did you feel when the angel appeared to you and announced that you were to be the mother of the Messiah?

Mary: A little like Sarah when the angel told Abraham she would have a baby - a bit sceptical at first. Wondering what on earth was going on. (Chuckles) But a bit forward for my age, too, I think.

Luke: Oh!?

Mary: A girl of 14 should answer back to an angel!? I have to admit, I was a bit proud of having been chosen by God for such a special task ... for all of, maybe, five minutes.

(Fade to front)

(The young Mary enters, carrying a basket. She looks around for her mother.)

Mary: Mother, I have the bread. (Puts down the basket) Mother! Where would you like ... (she breaks off as Gabriel enters) Who....?

(Gabriel gestures towards Mary, drawing her close. Mary takes a step or two, then realises that this is no ordinary visitor. She kneels in awe as the angel delivers its message.)

Song: "Hail O Blessed one" (from "Pat Boone and Family in the Holy Land")

Dance: (During the song, Gabriel dances.)

Mary: Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it happen to me just as you say. (Exit Gabriel)

(Mary remains kneeling in thought.. Enter mother, carrying a bowl of vegetables. She is engrossed in preparing a meal. Mary jumps up.)

Mother: Mary, bring me some oil. Quickly. The men will be here any time now, and dinner is nowhere near ready.

Mary: Mother! I have seen an angel!

Mother: And some flour. You can start making the cakes. (Mary quickly brings a stool, presses her mother into it.)

Mary: Mother! It was a real angel. He had a message for me.

Mother: (Doesn’t look up) And will you tell Naomi to make sure all the jars are filled, this time. Goodness knows, they will be expecting us to turn water into wine, or somesuch.

Mary: (Kneels in front of her mother, takes her hands in her own.) Mother! I have just been visited by an angel. He said I am to have a baby.

Mother: (Still distracted) I’m sure Joseph will be delighted to hear that. But with him a sturdy man, and you a fit young girl, I’m sure it didn’t need an angel to tell you that.

Mary: But mother, it is not going to be Joseph’s ... (suddenly realises what she is saying, breaks off.)

Mother: Pardon, what was that you said?

Mary: (The implication starting to hit home) Nothing.... (Stands, draws towards rear)

Mother: (Goes and draws Mary to her.) A fine man, a good catch, if not a great one. He may not be rich in the world’s wealth, but you both are descended from King David, and that is something to hold your heads up for.

Choir: Hail to you Mary, Daughter of David (copyright John & Claire McNeil; copies of this song may be obtained from the author)

(During the 3rd verse, fade to the older Mary and Luke.)

Mary: I began to realise that while I might be blessed among women, it was a very mixed blessing.

(Fades to young Mary and her mother, who enter in confrontation. This scene is very physical.)

Mother: How could you bring disgrace on our family like this? The shame of it! And your father an elder in the synagogue. Who did this? Your father will beat him to within an inch of his life.

Mary: Mother, it’s not like that. It was no man. Do you remember when I told you three months ago an angel visited me?

Mother: You’re going to blame an angel? How can you be so blasphemous? Next, I suppose, you’ll be claiming the Lord Almighty was responsible.

Mary: But that’s what he did say.

Mother: You wicked girl. (Slaps her) Joseph may not be a young man, but he did not deserve to be betrayed like this. How will we face him? What is to become of us? You can’t keep that belly hidden.

(The two freeze as the lights fade slowly, during which the voices of townspeople are heard. During the voices, mother exits.)

Voices:

She won’t say who the father is!
I bet it’s Jacob - he’s had eyes on her.
He laid more than eyes on her!
She should be stoned, the adulteress.
Her mother says she’s hearing voices in her head.
It took more than voices to do that.
Maybe she and Joseph just anticipated the marriage day. I wouldn’t blame him.
She should be stoned...
It’s broken her father’s heart.
She should be stoned ...

(Fade to Mary and Joseph, in confrontation. Joseph is sad, almost angry; both for himself as well as for Mary. For him, this is not only shame, but the end of a dream he had been eagerly looking forward to.)

Mary: Joseph, will you turn away from me, too? Will you not believe me?

Joseph: I tried hard not to believe the voices in the market place, Mary. I know how malicious they can be without cause. I wanted to trust you, because up to now I have known you to be only a woman of trust.

Mary: If you have known me to be so, then why can you not trust me in this?

Joseph: Because I have the evidence of my eyes. (Indicates Mary's belly.)

Mary: Do you genuinely believe that I would sleep with another man when I am betrothed to you?
(Joseph turns away in silence.)
Joseph, do not turn! I love you. It did not matter to me that you are older. You are a good man, and I believe God has chosen us to be husband and wife. (Goes around to face him.) This child will need a man such as you for his father.

Joseph: (Turns again) But it is not my child.

Mary: Who could be the father of the Messiah but God alone?

Joseph: (Turns to Mary) Then perhaps God had better wed you!

(They both freeze in horror at what Joseph has said.)

(Young Mary runs out weeping. Joseph freezes)

(Fade to Mary and Luke)

Luke: You must have wondered where to turn, with everybody against you, dear lady.

Mary: I felt utterly abandoned. Even by God. I could not understand why he had supposedly chosen me for the highest honour ever bestowed on a woman, only to be totally rejected by all around me. I would have doubted the whole thing - imagined I was going insane - if it were not for the evidence growing daily inside me. Both the baby and I seemed to be in grave danger.

(Fade to Mother and Joseph.)

Mother: (Enters in consternation) Joseph! Why have you... Shall I call ... allow me to offer you ... no, no, what am I ... ?

Joseph: (With suppressed tension) Anna, again, the Lord’s shalom be with you. Please just call Mary. I have something important to tell her. I think you and Joachim should also know. Perhaps you would be good enough to call him, too.

Mother: (Still flustered) Oh, dear, Joachim is at the house of his brother in Cana. Can what you have to say wait until his return?

Joseph: It will not be less newsworthy for a day’s wait, but nonetheless I think Mary should hear now.

Mother: If you say so. (Calls) Mary! Mary! (Exits in a flurry. Joseph paces, concerned at how he is going to give his message.)

Mother: (Voice off) Quickly child, compose yourself. Joseph is here, asking for you. Take off that apron, and tidy your hair. You want that you should appear before him looking a total vagabond.

(Enter Mother and Mary. Mary has been crying. Mary stops, kneels before him.)

Mary: Joseph!?

Joseph: (Takes her hand and lifts her to her feet. Looks with tenderness at her.) Mary! It should be me who kneels before you. (Both women stare, uncomprehending.) I have come to ask your forgiveness, for doubting you. (The two women are astonished.)
You know in what state I left you yesterday. I felt betrayed, yes, but also sad at the state to which you appeared to have fallen and at the way in which my own dreams had crashed around me. But even in my hurt, I did not want to further your shame, so I resolved to quietly divorce you. (Mary turns in shock.)
I was awake for many hours last night, considering all this. I must have gone to sleep at last, though, for an angel appeared to me also, in my dream. (He turns Mary back to him.) The angel told me not to be afraid to take you as my wife. And he told me it is true, the baby has been conceived by the Holy Spirit, not by any man, and shall grow to be the Messiah. The angel even gave me the name by which the child is to be called.

Mary and Joseph: (In wonderment) Jesus! (They embrace)

Choir: Hail, Mary, Full of Grace.

(During the song, Anna exits. Mary and Joseph mime to the song. They exit during the 3rd verse.)

(Fade to Mary and Luke)

Mary: It was one thing to have the support of Joseph. But it did little to still the viperous tongues of the village. My father had occasion to sell some of our animals at that time, and the rumour spread that the money was used to buy Joseph’s silence. As if we had so much money, or he so little integrity!

Luke: Nonetheless, you went away for a time.

(The servant girl, Esther, brings in a plate of refreshments. Luke reacts to her entrance, moves out of harm's way in case of another spill.)

Mary: It was largely Joseph’s doing. When I mentioned that my cousin Elizabeth was also having a baby - (you recall, the angel Gabriel broke the news to me at the time of my own announcement) - Joseph thought it would be wise, and safer, for me to visit her. I could assist her during her own preparations - after all, she was not exactly young - and the companionship would do us both good. Joseph supplied a donkey and two servants to escort me, and I travelled with a caravan heading down to Judea. You can imagine Elizabeth’s surprise when I arrived.

(Fade to the home of Elizabeth and Zechariah. Mary is welcomed at the door by Elizabeth.)

Elizabeth: Mary! What a blessing to see you, my dear!

Mary: And you, also, Elizabeth. Adonai sar shalom. Blessing be yours, and God’s peace within your walls.

Elizabeth: He has certainly granted his blessing. Wait till I tell you the news.

Mary: How the Lord has blessed you with child, you mean?

Elizabeth: You know!? Distance is no barrier to gossip, I see.

Mary: If an angel can be said to gossip, I suppose not.

Elizabeth: An angel! You too!?

Mary: Gabriel himself.

Elizabeth: The same that appeared to my husband, Zechariah!

Mary: To tell me that I am also to be a mother. Elizabeth, I am to bear the Messiah.

(Elizabeth winces.)

Mary: (Quickly goes to support her) What is it, Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: He is a vigorous one, this. Definitely wants to run before he can walk. (Pants) But today, more than I have known. (Gathers herself, exclaims) Mary, my dear, you are blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! How fortunate I am to have the mother of my Lord come to me. The babe that kicks within me is leaping for joy to hear your voice.

Mary: Sings the Magnificat.
Alternatively: Choir sings, and Mary dances/mimes to the words. (Music for a version of The Magnificat by Delwyn McKenzie may be obtained from the author)

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my saviour, for he has looked upon the low station and humiliation of his handmaiden.

Now I know that from now on all generations will call me blessed, for he who is almighty has done great things, and holy is his name.

He has mercy on the miserable and afflicted when they fear him with godly reverence. He has shown the strength of his arm, and scattered those who are proud and haughty in the designs of their hearts.

He has put down the mighty from their thrones, and raised up those who are lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, but the rich he has sent away empty-handed.

(Begin to fade to Mary and Luke)

Two Marys: He has come to the help of his servant, Israel, as he promised our fathers, Abraham and his descendants, for ever.

(Complete fade)

Luke: (writing) ... Abraham and his descendants, for ever. (To Mary) Powerful words, my lady. It is a good thing they did not come to the ears of King Herod. The life of someone making such a prophecy would have been short indeed.

Mary: (wryly) I may have been innocent, but I was not stupid. There were some things I figured God did not need my help to bring to pass.

Luke: Nonetheless, many prophecies did come to pass through you.

Mary: I was just the channel ... an innocent bystander, if you like. But all too often not a very comfortable one!

Luke: Oh?

(During the following, Joseph and young Mary enter, miming what is being narrated.)

Mary: Take that trip to Bethlehem. Can you imagine what it was like to be nine months pregnant, and have to ride a hundred miles on the back of bony donkey? I felt like a sack of badly loaded cabbages, tossed and jolted from one step to the next. Actually, I walked as much as I could, but that was slow going because I got tired easily. It took us 10 days - thank goodness we had a kind autumn that year.

Luke: Autumn!? For some reason I thought Jesus was born in December.

Mary: Augustus Caesar might have been a tyrant, but he wasn’t a fool. Imagine trying to conduct a census in the middle of winter, especially one requiring everybody to travel to their home town, with half the roads impassable. And I assure you Jewish shepherds aren’t so crack-witted as to expose their flocks on the Judean mountains in winter. Winter!? The whole deal was uncomfortable enough without that.

Luke: You must have been glad to get to Bethlehem.

Mary: I was glad for the rolling to stop, believe me. But we hadn’t counted on the rooms being double booked. Joseph had arranged for us to stay at the home of a cousin - although he was of David’s line, we had virtually no family there. But we arrived to find a closer relative had arrived unexpectedly ahead of us and claimed the space. We trudged from place to place, everything full to overcrowding, and I was getting more and more desperate, knowing my time was near.

(Exit Joseph and young Mary)

Luke: So where did you put up?

Mary: (Enter innkeeper's wife, with blanket, which she spreads over a bale of straw/hay) An innkeeper’s wife took pity on us when she saw my condition. She made her husband sweep out the stable at the back, and gave us room there. Fortunately, the animals had not yet been brought in for winter, so it was empty, and with a bit of clean straw it was not too bad. I was glad of the peace and quiet, away from the drinkers around the front.

(Bring up Mary & Joseph. The innkeeper's wife settles Mary, then leaves.)

(The older Mary continues speaking, while the younger Mary, Joseph and (shortly) the Innkeeper’s Wife mime the action.)

Mary: We were settled in none too soon. My labour pains began almost immediately. Joseph, bless him, did his best to make me comfortable, but he was no midwife. (Enter innkeeper's wife) I don’t know what I would have done if the Innkeeper’s wife had not returned. She had obviously delivered many babies in her time, and this was just another one to her, a break from routine before she hurried back to her guests out front.

(The innkeeper's wife and Joseph bring Mary to a kneeling birth position, with her head on the shoulder of Joseph, who also kneels. Mary goes into contractions, and the innkeeper's wife mimes delivery of the baby, which she holds while Joseph helps Mary back to the blanket-covered bale. She hands the baby to Mary.)

Older Mary: To hold that baby - how can words describe the wonder. Every baby is a miracle, but suddenly all the pain, the discomfort, the ordeal vanished as I held Jesus. But you know what was almost more of a miracle? After Joseph and I married I could not shake a great fear - had he done it only out of duty, and how would he react to the child?
So when he asked to hold Jesus, I could scarcely breathe. His big, calloused carpenter hands reached down and took the baby and brought it up to his face. And then the miracle happened. A look of mingled wonder, awe, love spread across Joseph’s face as he cradled Jesus. And then that big man wept. Tears of joy fell without shame, and Joseph knelt beside me, put the baby back in my arms, and held the two of us in his strong embrace. And I knew it was going to be all right.

Choir: Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (Joseph and Mary exit during the song)

(Fade to just Mary and Luke)

Mary: There were other comings and goings that night. You’ve heard about them - those rough shepherds from the hillside who came at the angels’ bidding. Angels sure had a big part to play in this whole story!

Luke: And I have heard tell about Magi.

Mary: Well yes, but not then. Not till several weeks after. We’d been up to Jerusalem to present Jesus in the temple and have him circumcised, and come back to Bethlehem ready to start for home when they turned up. With trouble in their train.

(Enter Joseph and Mary holding Jesus. Again, miming to narration. Joseph is packing saddle bags, ready to depart for Nazareth.)

Older Mary: This was an unlooked for visit. It wasn’t till later that I realised what this represented. The gentile nations coming to worship the Son of God. Oh I know it’s all through the prophets, but we didn’t see it then.

SFX: Middle East market sounds, mixed with music.

Mary: Goodness knows what the people of Bethlehem thought when these three and their retinue turned up. It was like a circus parade. Horses and servants everywhere. They could have a travelled a bit more discreetly, but no, they had come to honour a king and so they did the whole king-honouring performance. Very impressive. I just wish they had not impressed Herod quite so much on their way through Jerusalem.

Song: The Three Kings (from Pat Boone Family in the Holy Land)

(Enter Magi, who dance, present gifts, and exit)

Mary: As soon as they turned up we knew trouble was ahead. God confirmed that in dreams to ourselves as well as the Magi. Get out, fast, he said. We hid the Magi's gifts as best we could in our baggage, and Joseph was able to locate a caravan heading down to Egypt that night. We fled, and just in time. Herod sent his soldiers to kill all the children under two years old. We heard horses coming as we left town, but it wasn’t until later that we learned the full horror of that night - the deaths of all those children. 200, someone estimated. Those poor mothers.

Video: (The horses scene from the video "Matthew", or similar)

(Bring up Mary and Luke only)

Mary: Oh Luke, how many times since then have swords pierced my heart? God has given us women a strange role in history, my dear physician. We bear those who bring the pain and suffering, and we then nurse those who fall its victims.
But for all that, I would not change places with any other. And it will not be long, I think, before I meet my son and Lord face to face again. I am tired, Luke.

Luke: I can see that, dear lady. I apologise - I have kept you talking far too long. I have a draught here - drink it, and it will help you sleep. (He stands) Rest in the knowledge that you have done all that our Father required of you, and because of your obedience, the world has been changed for ever. (Exits, as Mary sleeps.)

Choir: Hills of the North, Rejoice

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