Angel announces the messiah's birth by Bob Snook

SCENE: (Shepherd dozes, Angel enters, wearing white robes with outstretched arms, shouts)

Angel: Be not afraid. I bring you good news....

Shepherd: Hey! Keep the noise down! You're scaring my sheep!

Angel: (Whispers) Oh, I'm sorry.   You see I'm kind of new to this game.

Shepherd: You can't just go up to a herd of sheep and yell at the top of your lungs.

Angel: I'm sorry. I didn't know.

Shepherd: You trying to cause a stampede?!

Angel: No. I just...

Shepherd: (raises his crook threateningly) Say, you're not a rustler, are you?

Angel: No, I....

Shepherd: Then, why are trying to stampede my sheep?

Angel: (Shouts) I'm not trying to stampede your sheep.

Shepherd: Well, then, why are you yelling at them?

Angel: (Shouts) I wasn't yelling at them.     (Whispers) I was yelling at you.

Shepherd: "Be not afraid"? You're telling ME "Be not afraid" I'm not afraid of you. You're a wimp, all dressed up in white like that and a tinsel ring thing over your head.  What are you doing, a toothpaste commercial or something?

Angel: Now look here, the boss said that there would be Shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. He said that if I appeared to you simple Shepherds at night you'd be terrified.

Shepherd: Who are you calling simple, buddy?!

Angel: I was SUPPOSED to tell you about...

Both: The birth of the messiah, God’s Son.

Angel: Huh, you knew already?

Shepherd: What, you don't think that a SIMPLE Shepherd can’t see the bright star shining over Bethlehem ?  The Bible has been telling us that this would happen for hundreds of years now.

Angel: Listen mate, they sent me here to make the announcement. I can't go back home without doing my job. Would you mind?

Shepherd: Why bother? I'm already planning to visit the baby first thing in the morning.

Angel: Please, Humour me.

Shepherd: OK,  Give me the message. Just don't yell.  Or you’ll stampede my sheep.

Angel: Be not afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the city of David , a saviour is born to you. He is...

Both: Christ, the Lord.

Angel: (tries to ignore Shepherd) This will be a sign to you, that the baby will be will be wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.

Shepherd: That's it?!

Angel: I thought I did pretty good.

Shepherd: You did fine.  Now, leave. Go back to... wherever you came from.

Angel: Heaven actually.

Shepherd: You mean, You're an...

Both: Angel.

Shepherd: (kneels, bows repeatedly) I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy!

Angel: Stop that. You're embarrassing me.

Shepherd: Why didn't you tell me you were an Angel?!

Angel: I'm sorry. I didn't think it was any big deal. (points up) There are lots of us here. (shouts) Hit it, boys. (exits)

Shepherd: (Stands, pleads) No! Not the heavenly host! (holds his finger to his lips to shush the choir.) Please don't sing! What about my sheep?!

Mormon Tabernacle Choir: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Shepherd: Now look what you did! (exits chasing his sheep) Come back! Here sheep, here sheep.

 ©2001 Bob Snook. Conditions for use: Do not sell any part of this script, even if you rewrite it. Pay no royalties, even if you make money from performances. You may reproduce and distribute this script freely, but all copies must contain this copyright statement.