232
Cast: Herod (Adult Male) Sherlock StoryTeller Librarian 3 Shepherds 3 Wise Men 3 Angels Vinny (Innkeeper) Innkeeper s Wife A Rockin Royal Christmas! 1. A ROCKIN ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! STORYTELLER: Come with me now and let s take a peek at an old story that you thought you already knew. But I m sure there are some things that you ll be surprised to hear. It may change some things for you like Who you are celebrating this Christmas and Who rules and reigns in your life. (Music begins) 2. BRING THEM TO ME It s Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and a Child has been born. His name is Jesus. Most people were thrilled to hear the news, but some weren t so thrilled. One of them was a king. His name was Herod. STORYTELLER: See, I told you King Herod was mad. (To the audience) But not mad at me. Herod called ME to get to the bottom of this mystery and find out some information on this Baby and see why those wise men didn t come back like he ordered them to do. See I m Sherlock Watson, chief investigator for (looks both ways carefully before he says the words) the FBI. Ssshhhhhhh! That s From Bethlehem Investigations. Yes, Judea s finest. Never lost a case and I don t plan to lose this one. So, being the investigator I was trained to be, I did two obvious things; I went and got a donut, and then I headed straight over to the Bethlehem Public Library (music begins)... did a little snooping around. 3. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE (Over measures 34-38 [twice through]) 233
STORYTELLER: This is the first time Sherlock thought he might be in just a little bit of trouble. What have I gotten myself into? First rule of investigation: Find a source in the know. And I found one, but this one seems to be the HOLY SCRIPTURE! So I ran a little background on this Baby and found out that He might be the King of the Jews! I may be in over my head! (After song ends) STORYTELLER: So Sherlock was afraid that... (To STORYTELLER) I m afraid of NOTHING! STORYTELLER: So Sherlock thought... I don t THINK, I KNOW! STORYTELLER: (Frustrated) OK, OK... so Sherlock KNOWS that... SHERLOCK / STORYTELLER: Herod s not gonna like this. (To LIBRARIAN) Excuse me, miss. Shhhhhh! Lower your voice! (Trying to make his voice sound lower) Excuse me miss. Not lower, I mean quieter. This IS a library. I m Sherlock Watson and I have a huge case. A huge case of what? Measles? The Flu? As loud as you re speaking, I wish it was laryngitis. I mean, I m ON a case!... (Looks both ways to make sure no one is listening)... FBI! (Loudly) FBI? SHERLOCK and SHHHHHHHH! Now you re shushing ME? (Flashes his badge) I m on a case, for the BIG GUY. The big guy? You know, the most main man in town, the sassy sovereign... Who? 234
SHERLOCK and Herod!!! Oh... right, right, right. So, what can I do for his Royal Craziness? Well, I m investigating the birth of a Child that took place here in Bethlehem. Which one? There are a lot of children born in Bethlehem. Yes, but this was a Child that was supposed to be the King of Jews. Oh, yeah. I remember that. There was an article in the Bethlehem Star a couple of years ago about that. Why don t we step over to the computer lab and search for it? (Loudly) OK! Now we re talking. Shhhhhhh. Lower! (Whispering in his bass voice) OK. OK, here s the article. (Reading from the article) And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby keeping watch over their flocks at night. Wow! Can you send me this article? Of course: you want me to e-mail and fax it, too? Just the fax, ma am. Hey, how DID the shepherds find out about this Child? Elementary, my dear Watson. 4. UNFORGETTABLE, INCREDIBLE NOT SO SILENT NIGHT! with ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH SHEPHERDS: SHEPHERDS: Shhhh!!! Lower your voices people! (Whispered in bass voice, clears throat) OK! (CD:31 SHEEP SFX) (To SHERLOCK) I wonder why the angels appeared to shepherds and not to me? Cause they didn t want to get shushed! (CD:31 SHEEP SFX) SHEPHERD 1: All right already... SHEPHERD 2: I m outta here... SHEPHERD 3: I ve got sheep to tend... (CD:31 SHEEP SFX) (SHEPHERDS exit) 235
ANGELS: Angels, did this article say something about angels? New Google search: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Fear not! SHERLOCK / (Screaming) Arggggh!!!!! ANGEL 1: ANGEL 2: Shhhhhh! Ah, What part of fear not do you not understand? Yeah, exactly what part What part of shhhhhh... ANGELS: Everybody! Stop! I ve only got one sundial revolution to get all these facts about this Baby and find out exactly why those wise men didn t return to Herod. Uh, we know? (Music begins) You do? Then tell me... ANGEL 3: ANGEL 2: It was so exciting; we finally got our orders to break through the skies with good news that would change the world! 5. WHEN THE LITTLE BABY BOY WAS BORN STORYTELLER: Now you do realize that I m no FBI agent, but it s quite clear that Mr. Sherlock Watson is starting to perspire a bit. Do you think right about now he s wondering... I never wonder! STORYTELLER: Then what are you doing? I m... pondering... STORYTELLER: Pondering what? SHERLOCK / STORYTELLER: Why did I ever take this case? Herod ordered you! I KNOW! I KNOW! Shhhhh! Lower! 236
STORYTELLER: (In best bass voice) Oooo... someone s getting (stops bass voice, realizing it s silly) I mean someone s getting a little testy don t you think? Let s listen as Sherlock goes over his evidence... My background check proves that the Baby has the royal bloodline of the King of the Jews. Check! And the shepherds were actual eyewitnesses of the child s birth in Bethlehem. Check! And the angels confirmed that the little Baby boy was sent from heaven s throne and was indeed... KIDS and CAST: The Savior of the world! Check! Oh boy... Herod s not gonna like this... I AM in trouble. STORYTELLER: Poor Sherlock. You can just tell that his nerves are getting frazzled. He knows that the good news of this baby s birth was going to be bad news for Herod to hear. He thinks... KNOWS! STORYTELLER: He knows... SHERLOCK / STORYTELLER: It s time to find those kings! WISE MAN 1: WISE MAN 2: WISE MAN 3: WISE MAN 1: WISE MAN 2: Why don t you just Google wise men? (Looking on computer) Nothing. It just showed a song. Look at the words! The words! Of course. Glad I thought of it! We three kings of Orient are, bearing gifts we travel so far. Hey I wonder what gifts they brought the Baby? Gold! Frankincense! Myrrh! Really? Gold, frankincense, myrrh? Sure doesn t sound like gifts for a baby. Well for THIS Baby, these are the perfect gifts. For a Baby who was born the King of kings! 237
WISE MAN 3: WISE MAN 2: WISE MAN 3: Well why didn t you three return and tell Herod where he was? Really... Are you asking for real?? Yes for real! If you three guys had returned like you said you would, I wouldn t be in this awful position. Herod wants to worship the Baby... He said so... He wasn t the worshipping type, if you know what I mean! Clearly, he wasn t. STORYTELLER: Ladies and gentlemen, I think we can all agree that these were three very wise men. And even today we would all be wise to follow their example. 6. A WISE MAN S LIFE FOR ME! Is it hot in here or is it just me? My heart s pounding out of my chest! My pulse is racing and I m feeling very dizzy. (Fanning himself) Shhhh! Now calm down. Just breathe! I know you re under a lot of pressure. Sherlock, I think I know someone you should talk to. Yeah. Who? Dr. Phil? Nancy Grace? No, silly it s my cousin, Vinny. You see, he and his wife run a little inn on the opposite side of town and well... it s the inn where the Baby was born. Well, not actually in the inn but in their stable. What? Why didn t you tell me this earlier? Well... it s because all Vinny ever says is, Well, if I knew then what I know now. And I never understood what he meant until... well, until... now. After seeing all the evidence it makes sense. Wait a minute, don t jump to conclusions! How do I get in touch with this Vinny? Time s running out. His royal meanness is probably blowing his stack right now and I m going be toast! STORYTELLER: So, you ll notice then that Sherlock and the Librarian have become (music begins) partners in crime solving. Their next search would be for Cousin Vinny, the innkeeper, and his wife. Their story will touch Sherlock in a personal way. 7. IF I KNEW THEN (Over measures 46-53) CHILD 1: And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in cloth and placed Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 238
CHILD 2: CHILD 3: CHILD 4: TOGETHER: There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them. Do not be afraid, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born. He is Christ, the Lord! STORYTELLER: (Over long hold chord at the end of song) The question is, will the miracle of heaven be born in Sherlock tonight? (Music begins) 8. A HIGHER CALLING TO A HIGHER KING with I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS (Over measures 22-30) STORYTELLER: Sherlock found the facts. He studied the prophecies in the Holy Scriptures. He reviewed the first-hand stories of the shepherds and the innkeeper. The angels announcement amazed him and he marveled at the wisdom of the wise men and now it was time for him to make a choice. What will he do? (Music begins) 9. A ROCKIN ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! (UNDERSCORE) STORYTELLER: So tell me, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls... after watching Sherlock s investigation... Well, I was wondering if some of you might be ready to make a decision? Do you have a higher calling to a higher King? This could be your very first real Christmas... For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given... STORYTELLER: And He will be called... KID 1: KID 2: KID 3: KID 4: EVERYONE: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. JESUS... THE KING OF KINGS! (Cheers over first few bars) 10. A ROCKIN ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! (REPRISE) with GLORY BE TO GOD 11. A ROCKIN ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! (BOW MUSIC) 239