A CHRISTMAS DREAM

Julio César García Rodríguez

ACT I

Scene 1

The curtain rises and the SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS appears on stage singing the melody 'White'
Christmas.” Two young people from the street (El Rafa and La Adelina) also appear, asleep and covered with newspapers.
The scenography is a wall full of graffiti. The stage will be decorated with papel picado and will be dropped down.
unicel snow while the EN sings the melody.

The scene takes place on the night before December 24th. As the melody ends, the EN turns to Rafa.
with the intention of waking him up.

Rafa, Rafa, wake up, today is a great day for all of humanity. Come on, wake up, the time has come.
to celebrate the birth of the Savior of the World.

RAFA: What, what is happening, who dares to disturb my sacred sleep.

Rafa, wake up, today is Christmas, the most special day of the whole world.

Slowly backing away until leaving the stage, the angel murmurs.

Rafa, today is your day, don't sleep, Christmas has arrived, you just have to follow the star... you just have to
to follow the star.

Almost awake, Rafa wakes up La Adelina.

RAFA: Adelina, Adelina, wake up, please wake up.

ADELINA: What do you want Rafa, why are you waking me up at this hour, if it's still midnight, there's still a long way to go.
for it to dawn.

RAFA: Don't get mad, all I want is to tell you what I just saw.

ADELINA: Is it very important?

RAFA: Yes, you won't believe it.

ADELINA: Hey, tell me what is so important that you even interrupt my sleep.

RAFA: Adelina, I just saw an angel!

ADELINA: What, an angel, no way... you must have had a dream and thought it was real.

RAFA: No Adelina, that's exactly what I was thinking, but look, I clearly saw him going over there (points to the place)
where the EN went away). At first, he sang with a very beautiful voice and then he woke me up and told me something very
strange.

ADELINA: What is that strange thing she told you.

Rafa: He said to me: Rafa, wake up, Christmas has arrived, you just have to follow the star.

1
ADELINA: I'm coming, I'm coming... I think you're hallucinating about the Christmas dinner, right? But you don't even...
Emotions my Rafa, you already know that every year we only eat the leftovers that the rich leave in the trash.
So we better keep sleeping because we have to wake up early before the scavengers arrive.
the trash (yawns and covers itself again with the newspapers).

Rafa is still awake.

RAFA: Something tells me this wasn't a dream. What could the angel have meant with the darn star that
we have to keep going, in fact, here in the city, the stars can't even be seen because of the pollution. Come on, it would be better if I
sleep, soon this strange dream I had will pass.

The lights go out, there is a change of scenery.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scene 2

José and Mary (pregnant) appear on stage. The scenery is a landscape of the town of Bethlehem.

MARÍA: Oh José, I can't take it anymore, I'm very tired, we've looked for shelter everywhere and not
We couldn't find anything. And the donkey that escaped from us, where could it have gone, it must have been very tired.
the poor thing. I hope he has found a good place to rest and spend the cold nights of this
winter.

JOSÉ: Calm down María, have a little patience, you will see how we find a good place to spend this.
night, it is still early and the neighbors of this town say that there are two more inns over there, almost arriving at
the outskirts.

MARÍA: I hope so, as the pains are increasing and I wouldn't want our son to be born in
precarious conditions. If it weren't for the fact that there's little time left until her birth, at this very moment I would tell you that
let's return to our home.

JOSÉ: María, my faithful wife, let us continue on our way, perhaps we will find a place to eat before
let the night come.

In that, they encounter a shepherd returning from the field. José stops him on the way and asks him.

JOSÉ: Good man, could you tell me if there is a place nearby where we can eat something? Look, we come from
very far and we are very tired, we are heading to the inn that is on the outskirts of the village, but first
We would like to have food.

WALKING PASTOR: Oh, there is no place here, since we all dedicate ourselves to the countryside and there is none.
need to buy food. But this year, the harvests have not been very good, otherwise, we would be happy to
I invited them to my house to have something to eat.

MARÍA: Thank you very much, good man, don't worry, we will continue on our way, who knows, and God will help us.
let's find a place. Let's go, José.

The three move away and exit the stage. Satan (disguised as a pastor) enters, talking with another pastor.
ambitious.

SATAN: Look friend, it's a good deal. If you promise to help me, I will give you all these silver coins that
I have it here. You will be rich, very rich, the richest in the whole town (makes the sound of coins).

AMBICIOUS PASTOR: But I don't know if I can do what you're asking me, I've never killed anyone. That is
forbidden by God and the Law of Moses.

2
SATAN: Don't be a coward, let it not be said that the shepherds of Bethlehem are some scaredy-cats. It's all very easy.
You just have to prevent the child from being born, the one that the carpenter's wife is carrying in her womb, that outsider.
What are you looking for, inn in the town? You don't necessarily have to kill; you can use other means.

AMBICIOUS PASTOR: Alright, give me the coins and I will do what you ask.

SATAN: Just a moment, I'll give you half, I'll give you the other half once the job is done.

AMBITIOUS PASTOR: Well, remember that you owe me 50% (exits the stage).

SATAN: Ha, ha, ha, go and good luck my friend. You'll see that I will make you powerful, very powerful.
You will be my faithful disciple, thanks to Jesus, the one who comes to save them (speaking to the audience) will not be born... ha, ha, ha.

He leaves the stage laughing. A group of shepherds (three or four) enters.

PASTOR 1: I think this is a good place to let the sheep graze.

PASTOR 2: Yes, it's getting dark, I don't think we should walk any further. Let's find some firewood instead.
to prepare the bonfire, the cold will soon intensify.

They start gathering firewood for the bonfire.

PASTOR 3: Look, you have seen. It is the star that has been announced to us for many years.

PASTOR 1: To me, it seems like a UFO.

PASTOR 2: I don't believe it, its brightness is very special, I have never seen a star shine like that before. This
yes, it is the star of Bethlehem.

PASTOR 3: It's true, today is the great day, we have been waiting so long for the coming of the redeemer of the world and finally...
has fulfilled. Well, it is said: in poor swaddling clothes the son of God will be born, on a cold night and under the shelter of the
more poor.

PASTOR 1: I feel a great burning in my heart, beating ceaselessly, like the ringing of bells announcing that the
The Son of God has come to save us. Let us go, brothers, let's announce the good news, that the Son of God is
here, let everyone know.

The melody "Adestes Fideles" begins to be heard, sung by the shepherds. The shepherds gather firewood and
They light a campfire. The melody ends, the lights go out, and there is a change of scenery.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Scene 3

On the morning of December 24th, Adelina and Rafa wake up. The backdrop is the wall with graffiti.

ADELINA: Rafa, wake up, come on, we have to go out to find our daily bread.

RAFA: But it's a holiday, today we don't work Adelina.

ADELINA: Look Rafa, we don't have vacations or days off. Because otherwise, we would not ...
we eat.

RAFA: You know Adelina, something tells me that we're not going to work today.

ADELINA: That is already known, we never work, but we do collect.

RAFA: No Adelina, this day we are going to have Christmas. I thought about the star all night and I swear that what
I saw it was not a dream.

3
ADELINA: Come on Rafa, don't get so carried away, wake up and let's go.

RAFA: Wait, wait, wait... my little vinyl antennae are detecting the presence of a friend (touches himself)
You know, look, there she is (points towards an old woman coming in from one side of the...
scenario.

ADELINA: Hey Rafa, but she's just a little grandma, come on, let's go (she pulls him and he resists).

GRANDMA: Good morning, kids, what a beautiful Christmas morning it is, right? It almost seems like it
God child would be present in the streets.

ADELINA: Yes ma'am, it's a nice morning...but you will excuse us...we have to leave.

RAFA: Wait a moment Adelina... Good morning ma'am, tell me, what brings you here? This place is very...
dangerous, this neighborhood is the refuge of the homeless, wrongdoers, gangs, and criminals who could harm you
damage.

ADELINA: They already know us, that's why we live here without any worries.

GRANDMA: Oh my children, what can they do to a poor old woman like me? You know, every year I go out to the
streets during these dates. With this, I remember my only son who died precisely in the street, shot to death by
very wicked and unscrupulous people. He was so good and was the only one who made my life happier. When he died,
I was left alone, very alone.

RAFA: Tell me, ma'am, why do you like to remember the death of your son? Doesn't it make you very sad?

GRANDMOTHER: No, my son, when I understood the true meaning of Christmas, I realized that the death of
my son had given life to someone else. His death was caused by an assault, the money they took from him helped
to feed the one who took his life.

ADELINA: But you are crazy! What a stupid thought!

RAFA: Shut up Adelina, don't interrupt the lady.

GRANDMOTHER: Every year I go out in search of those in greatest need, this way I remember that the Baby Jesus
came to earth only to save us, that child who died as he grew, just as my son died. They know the story.
truth?

ADELINA: Of course, who wouldn't know such nonsense, because at this time, the most in need...
we are the most forgotten. The richest squander money everywhere, while the poorest,
we beg for small crumbs of bread that we collect from the trash.

GRANDMA: Soon you will understand all of this, my daughter. This time is for forgiving and forgetting everything that...
it torments us, to let go of grudges and think that the one who is about to be born has already paid for our sins. Come on,
You are still young, don't waste your life. Oh, how I remember when I used to lull and sing to him/her.
lullabies for my son.

The melody "Maria's Diary" begins, and the grandmother sings it as if telling the story to the boys.
During the melody, that old lady starts to shed her clothes and becomes a beautiful young woman.
full of life. With a veil, she begins to lull them to sleep, as if putting them into a dream.
awake. At the end of the song, she leaves the boys and departs, on the floor lies the bag that barely
could hold with his hands. The curtain closes.

4
 ACT II

Scene 1

With a melody in the background, the curtain rises and Rafa and Adelina appear on stage, sleeping, just like the
the young woman had left. They are gradually waking up. Only now the scenery is a landscape of the
land of Bethlehem.

ADELINA: Rafa, Rafa, where are we?

RAFA: What, where did grandma go?

ADELINA: I don't know, but please, can you tell me where we are. This is not the street we...
the grandmother found.

RAFA: You see, we're in the countryside and it's very cold.

ADELINA: Yes, and this is making me very scared.

RAFA: Hey, did you see grandma? Suddenly it seemed to me that she was transforming, don't you think?

ADELINA: Yes, she started to shine like a star.

RAFA: It seemed that he was regaining his youth.

ADELINA: This is all very strange, I don't like it at all. Rafa, what's happening, I'm very...
scared.

RAFA: Don't worry Adelina, something tells me that this grandmother wasn't just any grandmother, I feel that this
It has to do with the star that the angel of my dreams announced to me. Did you notice with what tenderness we...
he told the story of Jesus.

ADELINA: But where did he go? Why did he bring us to this place?

RAFA: I don't know, look, over there in the distance you can see a village, let's walk. Maybe we'll find the answer there.

Suddenly, they become distracted by noticing the bag that Grandma left on the floor.

RAFA: Look Adelina, the bag that grandma was carrying, she forgot it.

ADELINA: Let's see what she brings.

RAFA: Yes, yes, open it, maybe it's our Christmas gift.

Adelina desperately searches inside the bag.

ADELINA: Rafa, it's food.

RAFA: I knew it, it's the gift that grandma left us, I knew it was something very good that she was bringing us.
Adelina, now we are really going to have Christmas, we will dine as God commands. Do you realize, the Lord does not...
he abandoned, the grandmother was right. Thank you God, thank you for this wonderful gift.

ADELINA: Yes, yes, let's find a good place to eat. Tonight is fortunate for us.
Rafa. Grandma left us a great delicacy.

They leave the stage. Satan enters with the ambitious pastor.

5
Scene 2

SATAN: But how is it possible that I always have to do everything myself. They are all a bunch of
stupid, nowadays you can't trust anyone.

AMBICIOUS PASTOR: Do not be angry my lord, I swear I did everything you asked and even though I put the
abortive pill in a glass of water that I offered her on the way, nothing happened to her.

SATAN: You are an idiot, get lost, I will find someone else to help me.

AMBICIOUS PASTOR: And what about the money I'm missing?

SATAN: You have no shame, go away, before I get angrier.

He kicks him off the stage and is left alone.

SATAN: It's all me, all me and always me, clearly there are no honest people in this world anymore.

She notices that Adelina and Rafa are coming, very happy with their food. They enter the stage and head towards
Satan

ADELINA: Good afternoon, Sir, are you from here?

SATAN: Of course, beautiful maiden. I am a humble little shepherd who is in search of the birth of baby Jesus.
to adore him.

RAFA: So we are in...

SATAN: That's right, they are in the land of Belen. But tell me, what do you have in that bag?

RAFA: It's a gift that an old lady gave us when we met her in the morning.

SATAN: And how was that old lady.

ADELINA: Well, you could see her age, she walked almost hunched over and was really nice to us.
even though at first it gave me a bad feeling.

SATAN: And didn't you notice something strange about her?

RAFA: Yes, suddenly he started to transform and told us the whole story of Jesus, the baby God.

SATAN: No, no, no and no. Shut up already, I don't want to hear anymore (he touches his head with his hands and covers it)
the ears). I knew it, I knew it... (he approaches them)... Little friends, it is very likely that you find yourselves in this
two humble pilgrims on their way asking for shelter and food, but this great gift that they have
received is from you, as God knows that you almost never have food to eat, he sent the old woman so that in this
Christmas would feed them.

RAFA: You see Adelina, I told you, that grandma was a messenger from God to make us live this Christmas.
as He wants, that’s why that character from my dreams indicated to us that we should listen to Him.

SATAN: That's right, my friend, God has rewarded you today. But remember, this food belongs to you and not to anyone else.
Don't give it to anyone, okay? Otherwise, you will end up with no Christmas gift. See you later, I will continue along the path in
search for the baby Jesus (moves away).

RAFA: Hey Adelina, now that we're here, why don't we go see the birth of the child too?
Jesus, maybe that is another of God's designs.

6
ADELINA: Oh Rafa, how could you think that? If this is just a dream, you'll see, soon we'll wake up and not even
we are going to have this food bag. Come on, let's better enjoy the dream and keep looking for a place to
the Christmas dinner.

Scene 3

They find María and José there, about to faint.

JOSE: Good afternoon to you all. We are a couple of foreign pilgrims, who are wandering in search of
for home and food, as my wife is about to give birth and we haven't found anything. Could you please
mercedes help us.

Adelina murmurs to Rafa. They try to hide the bag of food by any means possible.

ADELINA: Let's take into account what the pastor told us.

ADELINA: What a pity dear pilgrims. We don't have anything to share with you right now.
You all. We are in such a bad situation that it is likely we will die of hunger tonight. Right, Rafa?

RAFA: Uh, this, umm... yes, that's right... you don't know how sorry we are, because we have nothing to offer you, well...
We are outsiders just like you.

JOSÉ: Well, with your permission, we will continue on our way. I hope God does not abandon us, nor
neither us nor you. Let's continue, María.

MARÍA: Yes José.

Adelina and Rafa stay.

RAFA: Adelina, I don't feel very good about having done this. We have food and it's likely that
Those two won't be able to stand the hunger soon and will truly die.

ADELINA: Yes my Rafa, remember that this is our gift and just as God remembered us, have...
for sure He will not abandon them. Don't be discouraged and let's go eat, come on, it will be soon
darken. I’m going to get some water to clear our throats, while you gather firewood for the
bonfire.

The melody 'Nobody Loves You Like I Do' by Martín Valverde is playing, Rafa is looking for firewood to light a bonfire.
It starts to snow. Sitting around the fire, Rafa prepares to eat in light of Adelina's lateness.

Take out the food little by little, first a piece of bread and when it is about to give the first
bite...he observes someone from the audience, their eyes fill with tears and he goes and gives the bread to the person
from the audience, returns to his place. He does the same with everything he has inside the bag, but with people.
different.

There is only one thing left to take out, upon looking inside the bag, his crying intensifies, he does not want to give it up.
the last thing he has left, for he knows that then he will be left with nothing. However, when thinking of others, he does not
there is another alternative... with all the pain in his heart, he takes out a small child God that is inside
from the bag and gives it to a member of the audience... it is the symbol of God's love that is given to the
men.

All of the above occurs while the melody plays, if it doesn't reach the melody's time it can be repeated.

Adelina arrives searching for food.

ADELINA: Rafa, what happened, why are you crying, where is the food?

7
Rafa replies crying.

RAFA: Adelina, today I discovered the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus is nothing more than
Remember that the love of God, manifested in His Son, must be shared with those around you. It is not a
a celebration that we must celebrate like any other, rather, it is the greatest manifestation of love that exists in
the entire history of humanity... God delivers Jesus to us as a savior and invites us to share it
wonderful of his love for others.

The shepherds enter jumping and shouting... background music can be heard.

PASTORS: Let the whole world rejoice, let the entire globe rejoice, tonight is Christmas because the
child Jesus, our king and redeemer. He is the son of God and was born of the Virgin Mary, wife of Joseph, the
carpenter from Nazareth.

José and María enter with the child in their arms, everyone bows to him and worships the baby Jesus.
melody 'The Little Drummer Boy' and Mary with the child held high, makes a tour of the auditorium, along with Joseph and
all the characters on stage. Upon returning to the stage and with background music, it is an opportunity to give the
reflection of Christmas, to announce that Jesus must be born in the heart of each one of us and not in the
excesses of parties and celebrations that only lead us to stray from the right path.

Ending the reflection. The melody "Pequeño" by Martín Valverde is sung by a man and a woman.
signal of praise to Jesus. It is later concluded with the melody 'Come to Sing', which everyone sings.
participants of the play.

MAY THE LORD BE BORN IN YOUR HEART THIS CHRISTMAS,

FIN