A CHRISTMAS DREAM

By

Janet Elaine Smith

Script by

Billie A. Williams

(A 3-Act Play for Small-Medium Theatrical Groups)

Approximate performance time: 1 hour

This entire script is copyrighted and may not be duplicated in any way. It can not be sold to another theater group. It may, however, be re-produced by the same theater groups if they retain their original copies. There is no charge for the production of the play. It comes with the blessing of both Janet Elaine Smith and Billie A. Williams for sharing Christmas Dreams with the people in your community and their hope that it will inspire Christmas miracles for the many who watch it.

CAST

Susan Quincey…30-something single mother, widow

Jeremy Quincey…4-year-old son of Susan and Mark Quincey

Kevin Dockter…30-something boss of Susan Quincey

Mark Quincey…deceased husband of Susan; died in Desert Storm

Mrs. Dockter…Kevin's mother; lives in historical Victorian house

Emma Lou…older lady, helper for Mrs. Dockter

Santa Claus…proprietor of a Christmas shop in North Pole, Colorado

Mrs. Claus…wife of Santa

Nicholas Kloss…plays Santa in Duluth, MN. Father of deceased Desert Storm soldier

Mrs. Kloss…wife of Nicholas Kloss

Mrs. Matt Kloss…daughter-in-law of Mr. & Mrs. Nicholas Kloss

Young girl and mother…in line to see Santa at the mall

Extras:

Various aged people shopping in the mall

Miscellaneous people at McDonald's

People milling about at Mrs. Dockter's Holiday House Tour

A CHRISTMAS DREAM

By Janet Elaine Smith

Script by Billie A. Williams © 2005

ACT I

THE SETTING: Darkened stage, all that is visible is a 30-something woman sitting in a recliner with a small reindeer Christmas ornament in her hands.

(She slowly turns the ornament round and round, then clutches it to

her heart as her area of the stage darkens)

SETTING CON’T: Lights come up on a Christmas shop, stage right. Mountains are visible through the window; obviously winter. The marquee/sign over the checkout counter says THE NORTH POLE. Two young lovers enter, hand-in-hand, the woman very pregnant, the soldier in uniform. Delight over the various ceramic and hand-crafted Christmas things is obvious.

MRS. CLAUS

Welcome to the North Pole

            (She passes a platter of sugar cookies to the young couple.)

                          MRS. CLAUS (CON’T)

I’m Mrs. Santa Claus. If I can help you find what you want, please ask. Would you like some milk to go with your cookies?

            (Susan, one hand on her very-pregnant belly, takes a cookie from the platter and smiles at Mrs. Claus.)

SUSAN

Thank you Mrs.—um—Claus. Is that Santa Claus?

         MRS. CLAUS

Seriously, my husband’s family name is Claus, and yes his first name is Santa—true and legal.

              SANTA CLAUS

            (Enters stage left, dressed all in his Santa suit, a broad smile on his face)

My parents had a great sense of humor and named me Santa. All through school I was Sam, though.

SUSAN

And you named your child…

            (Susan hesitates, not wanting to offend in case the Clauses weren’t religious.)

          MRS. CLAUS

            (Eyes downcast, turning from the young couple to put the platter back on  the small table beside the entranceway.)

We could never have children.

SUSAN

            (Wriggling nervously, shifting from foot to foot, obviously embarrassed by her insensitive comment to two complete strangers, rubs her hand over her bulging belly.)

I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…

        MR. CLAUS

Not to worry, dear. We just decided we’d do what we could for other children. Adopting other people’s children, sort of. Instead, we do what we can for the children in the nearby orphanages—and the rest—at least at Christmas time.

(Hours pass as the Clauses entertain the young couple with tales of their philanthropic adventures. A stream of characters come down the aisle and cross the stage as the two couples sit, talking and listening to Santa’s tales. Tiny tots through grade-school children of all ages, high school, and generally people of various ages pass across the stage until a very old man hobbles across the stage. A howling wind blasts the windows with snow—a blizzard has begun while they were engrossed in Mr. Claus’s storytelling.)

   MARK QUINCY

We better get on the road. The weather is starting to turn nasty, Susan.

                    MR. CLAUS

I’m afraid in this blizzard you’d be traveling on treacherous roads. The avalanche potential is serious when we get one of these storms. We have plenty of room. Why not spend the night here?

                        (He glances at Mrs. Claus for approval, and she nods her head.)

                       MRS. CLAUS

Oh, yes. I would love to have you stay. You can help us wrap toys for the orphanage. It would be so nice to have someone to cook for instead of just the two of us.

(A broad smile on her face, she takes Susan’s hands in hers. Lights darken. Lights come up bright and the snow has stopped.)

SETTING:  The next day, bright sunshine streaming through the windows. 

(Mark and Susan shop in the Christmas shop for gifts for friends back home.)

                     MR. CLAUS

It’s time to go feed the reindeer. Mark, would you like to join me?

            SUSAN

And me, too. Oh please! I would love to see the reindeer.

           MARK

                        (Resting his hand on her stomach, his arm around her.)

Perhaps you shouldn’t. I mean the deep snow, walking through that. What about the baby?

                        (Santa and Mrs. Claus nod their heads in agreement)

            SUSAN

Mark, I’m not an invalid. The walk would do me good. We’ve been sitting, and then sleeping, with no activity for hours. You know I'm supposed to get some exercise. It won’t hurt the baby. I’ll be fine. Please, Mr. Claus.

                        (Santa, Susan and Mark walk offstage left and the lights dim as Mrs. Claus begins arranging ceramic figures on the shelves in the shop. In the background, music begins to the tune of "Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer."  The audience is asked to join in, singing “Buford, the Misfit Reindeer.” Lyrics have been supplied for that and the other songs in the play in the program handouts, given to each patron as they entered the theater, and the narrator informs the audience they are encouraged to sing along as the play continues.)

SETTING: Back inside the North Pole shop, Susan holds a tiny reindeer ornament, examining it, turning it around and around.)

            SUSAN

I want this one. Yes, this is the one. So tiny, so precious. This will be my reminder of our wonderful time here every Christmas when I put it on our tree.

(She wraps an arm around Mark, smiling up at him. He bends down and kisses her forehead.)

                      MRS. CLAUS

Oh no! Not that one. How did that get out here? Here, dear, take this one instead.

                        (She hands Susan another reindeer from the shelf and retrieves the other from her hands.)

            SUSAN

But, it—it’s so perfect, so precious. Why can’t I buy that one?

                       MRS. CLAUS

He’s imperfect. See?

                        (Mrs. Claus places the deer on the counter and it tilts badly to one side)

One leg is shorter than the rest. I can’t imagine how that could have happened. I can’t sell you an inferior piece.

            SUSAN

Exactly! That is precisely why I want him. He's just like Buford. Please let me buy him. I love him.  He’ll be a reminder of you and Mr. Claus and your wonderful shop every time I look at him. Oh please!

           MRS. CLAUS

(Picks up the small reindeer. Gives it a hug and hands it to Susan.)

If you’re positive you want him.

            SUSAN

                        (Grabs Mrs. Claus and gives her a big hug)

I’m sure. Absolutely sure!

                        (Scene darkens and returns to light, with Susan still sitting in the recliner, no longer pregnant, with the reindeer. Two men, dressed in uniforms, walk through with a letter, covered in black gauze cloth. They hand the letter to Susan, along with a folded American flag.  Susan clutches the flag, letter, and envelope to her breast. She drops the reindeer to the floor. A little boy retrieves it and hands it to her. She pulls him onto her lap and hugs him.)