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Description
Cast
Mother
Father
Child (no lines)
Jimmy
Mom
Vet
Gus (puppy)

Scene: The opening scene is of a softly lit bedroom. The center of the stage is occupied   by a large bed. The headboard is against the back wall. A child, around five or six years old, is laying in the bed, his head propped up with pillows so the audience can clearly see his face which is staring forward blankly and unblinking. On the back wall, above the bed, the shelves. The door is opened and Mother moves L to C to the side of the bed. She checks the child’s temperature by touching his forehead, then tucks his covers in tighter at his sides.

Mother- O.K. sweetie, it’s time for bed. Which story would you like tonight?

Mother moves UL to the night stand, bends over, and picks up a book. She then moves DL to the rocking chair. She sits down, puts on a pair of glasses that were hanging by a cord around her neck, crosses her legs, then opens the book on her lap.

Mother- How about ‘Jimmy’s Angel?’ You always liked that one… She begins to read. There was once a boy named Jimmy…

A gauzy, yet semi-translucent curtain falls in front of the bed, leaving about ten feet between it and the edge of the stage. A yellow, sunny, light shines down upon this space, but a dim light, focused on Mother, still emanates from the previous scene, so it is still partially visible. Jimmy, a boy of about six years old, skips DC onto the stage from R, pulling a small puppy on a leash. He is frolicking around in circles and playing with the dog.

Mother- Jimmy had a puppy named Gus. Jimmy loved Gus very much, but one day, Gus became very sick…

Jimmy stops playing, and Gus lays down. Jimmy kneels, picks up the dog, then faces R offstage.

Jimmy- Yelling. Mom!

Mom rushes on stage from R, moves DC to Jimmy and stands on his right.

Mom-  Yes? What is it, dear?
Jimmy- Looking scared, voice shaking a little. Gus is acting funny… I think he’s sick.
Mom- Hmm… *Bends down and looks at Gus.* I’m sure he’s fine, sweetie, but why don’t we take him to the vet, just in case?
Jimmy- Looking worried. O.K.

The yellow light dims, then goes out entirely. All that the audience can see is a dim glow illuminating Mother and the child in the bed. An examination table is brought DC from R. The vet, wearing a white lab coat and holding a clip board stands behind it, facing the audience. Gus is placed on the table while Mom stands to the right of it. Jimmy takes his place to the right of Mom, holding onto her leg. A bright white, fluorescent light shines down upon them.

Vet- What seems to be the problem?
Mom- Gus has been acting strange. Jimmy just noticed it this morning.

Vet pets Gus while inspecting him with a stethoscope. He writes something on his clipboard, then looks at Mom with a grave expression.

Jimmy- What’s wrong with him, Dr. Simmons?
Vet- Gus is a very sick puppy, Jimmy. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. We’re going to have to put him down.

The lights dim and the examination table, along with Jimmy, Mom, and the Vet move L offstage. The curtain lifts, and the fluorescent light goes out while the light from the first scene (the bedroom) returns.

Mother- Jimmy was very sad after Gus died, but his mom explained to him that the puppy was in a better place now. He was an angel; Jimmy’s very own guardian angel. The end.

Father comes through the bedroom door, moves over to Mother, kisses her on the cheek, then moves UC toward the right side of the bed.

Mother- How was work today, dear?
Father- I suppose it was alright, but I was so worried all day. After what Dr. Simmons said… He pauses, then sighs. How is he doing?
Mother- Better. The coughing has stopped completely, and he has been resting all  day… Not much of an appetite though.

Father checks the child’s temperature, just as mother did when she came in.

Father- He feels rather cold…
Mother- Yes, I noticed. I think his fever broke around noon. I put an extra blanket on him earlier.
Father- Good… good. *Looking troubled.* His skin… maybe I am just tired, but does it look a little… gray… to you?
Mother- I see nothing unusual. It is dark outside. Must be the lighting. I’m sure he’ll look better in the daylight tomorrow morning.

Both fall into silence. Mother’s chair creaks slightly as she gently rocks back and forth. Father smooths the child’s hair absently.

Father- Well, I suppose it’s time for bed.
Mother- Yes, you go on. I’ll be right here.

Father kisses the child on the head, then walks L out the door. Mother begins humming a lullaby, rises out of her chair, and walks over to the bed. She kisses the child on the head as well, straightens his covers, then closes his eyelids with her fingers. She turns the lamp on the nightstand off, then moves L to the door. Before fully exiting, she pauses…

Mother- Goodnight, my little angel…

Finis.

Description
Cast
Mother
Father
Child (no lines)
Jimmy
Mom
Vet
Gus (puppy)

Scene: The opening scene is of a softly lit bedroom. The center of the stage is occupied   by a large bed. The headboard is against the back wall. A child, around five or six years old, is laying in the bed, his head propped up with pillows so the audience can clearly see his face which is staring forward blankly and unblinking. On the back wall, above the bed, the shelves. The door is opened and Mother moves L to C to the side of the bed. She checks the child’s temperature by touching his forehead, then tucks his covers in tighter at his sides.

Mother- O.K. sweetie, it’s time for bed. Which story would you like tonight?

Mother moves UL to the night stand, bends over, and picks up a book. She then moves DL to the rocking chair. She sits down, puts on a pair of glasses that were hanging by a cord around her neck, crosses her legs, then opens the book on her lap.

Mother- How about ‘Jimmy’s Angel?’ You always liked that one… She begins to read. There was once a boy named Jimmy…

A gauzy, yet semi-translucent curtain falls in front of the bed, leaving about ten feet between it and the edge of the stage. A yellow, sunny, light shines down upon this space, but a dim light, focused on Mother, still emanates from the previous scene, so it is still partially visible. Jimmy, a boy of about six years old, skips DC onto the stage from R, pulling a small puppy on a leash. He is frolicking around in circles and playing with the dog.

Mother- Jimmy had a puppy named Gus. Jimmy loved Gus very much, but one day, Gus became very sick…

Jimmy stops playing, and Gus lays down. Jimmy kneels, picks up the dog, then faces R offstage.

Jimmy- Yelling. Mom!

Mom rushes on stage from R, moves DC to Jimmy and stands on his right.

Mom-  Yes? What is it, dear?
Jimmy- Looking scared, voice shaking a little. Gus is acting funny… I think he’s sick.
Mom- Hmm… *Bends down and looks at Gus.* I’m sure he’s fine, sweetie, but why don’t we take him to the vet, just in case?
Jimmy- Looking worried. O.K.

The yellow light dims, then goes out entirely. All that the audience can see is a dim glow illuminating Mother and the child in the bed. An examination table is brought DC from R. The vet, wearing a white lab coat and holding a clip board stands behind it, facing the audience. Gus is placed on the table while Mom stands to the right of it. Jimmy takes his place to the right of Mom, holding onto her leg. A bright white, fluorescent light shines down upon them.

Vet- What seems to be the problem?
Mom- Gus has been acting strange. Jimmy just noticed it this morning.

Vet pets Gus while inspecting him with a stethoscope. He writes something on his clipboard, then looks at Mom with a grave expression.

Jimmy- What’s wrong with him, Dr. Simmons?
Vet- Gus is a very sick puppy, Jimmy. I’m afraid there’s nothing I can do. We’re going to have to put him down.

The lights dim and the examination table, along with Jimmy, Mom, and the Vet move L offstage. The curtain lifts, and the fluorescent light goes out while the light from the first scene (the bedroom) returns.

Mother- Jimmy was very sad after Gus died, but his mom explained to him that the puppy was in a better place now. He was an angel; Jimmy’s very own guardian angel. The end.

Father comes through the bedroom door, moves over to Mother, kisses her on the cheek, then moves UC toward the right side of the bed.

Mother- How was work today, dear?
Father- I suppose it was alright, but I was so worried all day. After what Dr. Simmons said… He pauses, then sighs. How is he doing?
Mother- Better. The coughing has stopped completely, and he has been resting all  day… Not much of an appetite though.

Father checks the child’s temperature, just as mother did when she came in.

Father- He feels rather cold…
Mother- Yes, I noticed. I think his fever broke around noon. I put an extra blanket on him earlier.
Father- Good… good. *Looking troubled.* His skin… maybe I am just tired, but does it look a little… gray… to you?
Mother- I see nothing unusual. It is dark outside. Must be the lighting. I’m sure he’ll look better in the daylight tomorrow morning.

Both fall into silence. Mother’s chair creaks slightly as she gently rocks back and forth. Father smooths the child’s hair absently.

Father- Well, I suppose it’s time for bed.
Mother- Yes, you go on. I’ll be right here.

Father kisses the child on the head, then walks L out the door. Mother begins humming a lullaby, rises out of her chair, and walks over to the bed. She kisses the child on the head as well, straightens his covers, then closes his eyelids with her fingers. She turns the lamp on the nightstand off, then moves L to the door. Before fully exiting, she pauses…

Mother- Goodnight, my little angel…

Finis.