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"The Ultimate Gift"
by Fred Passmore Copyright 2011 Sheep Laughs Publications

This is "The Ultimate Gift" embedded skit that is done in three sections during the play "Assignment: Comfort And Joy." However, it can be done by itself in three parts if preferred, with live songs sung in between the skits if you wish, for a shorter program. The skits total about 20 minutes total (but your program could be longer if you separate the skits with songs). There are no lines to learn, all the dialog and action is related by a narrator on the Soundtrack CD, (Soundtrack CD #15) with music and sound effects.

Embedded skit parts: "The Ultimate Gift" The CEO Alan McIntyre, and his assistant (male), department head Helen Sawyer, the inventor of the Personal Atmosphere Generator (male), the inventor of the Emote-Control (female), the dinventor of The Muscle Remotivator (male), and the Christian Cleaning Lady, Jane. Smaller parts: two security guards, male and several other employees at the meeting. Helen's husband and two children (which should be a girl and boy, but it is not specified in the script, so it could be two of either).

Props: Upright vacuum cleaner. Walkman headphones. One rolling cart that can be used for the three different inventions. A laptop PC or something similar for the Personal Weather Controller. A boombox to stand in for the Emote Control. An electronic game console and joystick for the Muscle Remotivator. Pocket New Testament.

The script: Part One is 6 and a half minutes.

Play Track 4 on the soundtrack CD.

Actions during the next paragraph: Alan McIntyre and Helen Sawyer, along with a couple others, come in and chat with each other as they sit down at the table in the center of the stage. The first inventor brings in his device on a wheeled cart, putting on one side of the stage in plain view of the people sitting at the table. He then sits down at the the table also as the CEO rises and speaks. After he tells why they are here, he indicated Helen, who introduces the inventor. When she is done, she indicates him with her hand, and he moves over beside the cart. As he is telling about the device, pointing out various controls and features, the Cleaning Lady comes in the room, pulling a vacuum cleaner. She backs in, moving to the music on her headphones, and does not see the people who have stopped to look at her interruption. She plugs in the vacuum cleaner and begins to move it back and forth, never seeing them as they try to get her attention.

Narrator Steven: It was an overcast and cold December afternoon, only days before Christmas, as a meeting was convened in the main conference room on the fifth floor of the McIntyre Corporation. CEO Alan McIntyre, followed by Chief of Research and Development Helen Sawyer and several employees, are discussing the state of the economy as they come into the room and take their places at the table. The general outlook was gloomy, as fewer people were spending their money on the company's costly electronic products. The company slogan was "Empowering You To Change Your World" and each product was intended to give one control over some aspect of life. The CEO began the meeting by informing everyone of the lower-than-projected sales for this December. They don't have much time, he reminded them, as it is already the 22nd of December, and it will take working around the clock to have anything ready by the next fall. The challenge was to create the Ultimate Gift, and to that end, department head Helen Sawyer has commisioned some inventors to build prototypes of their inventions. She introduced the first, and he moved to stand beside his invention as he began to explain it. However, he does not get far into his pitch when he is interrupted by the office cleaning lady, who, listening to her headphones, is quite oblivious to the meeting.

Actions during the next paragraph: As she vacuums, the inventor tries to get her attention, but she can't hear him, as she works with her back to him. After a second try, he moves behind her and impatiently taps her on the shoulder. With a spin, she karate chops him on the neck, dropping him instantly. She pulls the headphones off her ears and shuts off the vacuum cleaner, looking around in surprise at everyone. Another assistant rushes over to her to try and get her out of the room after seeing her "attack" of the first man. As he reaches for her arm, she grabs his hand and spins him around, flipping him in the process and down onto the carpet. Alert for other attacks, she goes through some kung fu motions and ends with a stance of readiness, and, extending one hand toward the people watching, motions with her fingers to "come on." (Think of the scenes in "The Matrix" when Neo does this to his opponents.) Helen Sawyer then hurries over to the cleaning lady, motioning for her to to relax and calm down, no-one is going to hurt her. Jane drops her fighting stance, then puts her hand on her hips as Helen explains that they are using the room. As the two men get up from the floor, the first rubbing his neck and the other his arm, the inventor points to the door as he demands to the CEO that she be made to leave. The CEO, rubbing his chin in thought, stands and goes to the cleaning lady and asks her to stay. Sticking her tongue out at the inventor as she passes the inventor, she takes a seat as the CDO and Helen also sit down again. The man's face shows his disbelief, but goes back over to the cart and begins to explain it again.

Narrator Steven: Now, in her defense, Jane the cleaning woman wasn't used to anyone being in the offices this late in the evening, and she always enjoyed her Christian music as she worked. Being in her own little world, humming to the Christmas tune in her headphones as she concentrated on cleaning, she didn't hear the protests of the irate inventor, who loudly asked for her to leave. Determined to get her attention, he made the mistake of tapping her on the shoulder. You don't startle someone whose son trained her in self-defense techniques. Helen Sawyer finally called a halt to the escalating violence, saying that she recognized her as part of the janitorial staff. Apologizing for the actions of the two men, she explains to the cleaning lady that they are using the room this evening. The recovering inventor, looking to the CEO, demanded that she be made to leave... but Alan McIntyre's mind was working. As he moved over to Jane, he asked her is she would be willing to stay and observe the presentations, giving them her unbiased opinion as a consumer. She agrees to take part as a consultant, tickled over the inventor's disbelieving stare as she took her seat. As the CEO and Helen sat down, the disgruntled inventor went back to his device and started his pitch again.

Actions during the next paragraph and music scenes: As he turns on the device, he explains what it does. He sets it to "Pleasant Weather" and smiles, but nothing changes. The people at the table look around expectantly, then are puzzled. The inventor quickly changes the setting to "Cold," and everyone starts reacting to the lower temperatures. But when he is challenged, the inventor turns up the power, and everyone is suddenly freezing! They are holding themselves and shivering, blowing in their cupped hands, etc. He changes it quickly to "Heat." It begins to get hot, then hotter, as everyone is wiping their foreheads, fanning themselves, then about to pass out from heat exhaustion. Seeing the results, the inventor hurriedly switches it to "Tropical Wind," which is nice at first, but but once again it in on too high and they react to a high wind. People are shielding their eyes, squinting, and trying to stay in place. The wind increases to a hurricane, and they begin to get blown away in the same direction. They are holding on the the table, to each other, fighting the wind. It begins to rain, and they are trying to cover their heads now. Some are crawling under the table and holding onto the legs. A lightning strike shocks several of them. A tornado begins to blow them all around the room in a circle as they tumble and fall about.

Narrator Steven: Indicating his machine, the young man explained that this was what he called the Personal Atmospheric Controller, which allows the user to control the weather conditions on a very small scale. For those that have the need for control in their lives, said the fellow, this device will give them that power. Setting the controls for "Pleasant Weather," and dialing up the power a little, he stood back with a florish and a smile. But the puzzled looks of those around the table, and the lack of a discernable effect, caused him to hurriedly explain that since the weather conditions in the room were already pleasant, there was little to change. To cover his oversight, he decided to demonstrate the more visible effects and quickly changed the setting to cooler weather. As the temperature rapidly dropped in the room, the CEO looked impressed, but commented that this was nothing that a good air conditioner couldn't do. The inventor responded by increasing the power, and the room suddenly became the middle of the Arctic ice mass, in the center of an ice storm! Seeing the frostbite starting to nibble the fingers of the viewers, and the obvious displeasure on their faces, he quickly reversed the setting to emulate warmer climates. But flustered by his first misstep, he neglected to change the power level which was still set at high... and the intense heat of the Saharah desert in summer began to make everyone hot under the collar. (Pause.) The inventor was sweating profusely also, but not so much from the heat as the pressure, now on him to recover. As everyone wilted from the heat and begged him to change the setting, he switched it to generate a tropical breeze. But once again the higher setting, overlooked in his haste, cause the breeze to rapidly increase to the wind of a tropical hurricane! (Pause.) The combination of the heat and wind spawned a mini-tornado, accompanied by severe lightning and thunderstorms!

Actions during the next paragraph: The cleaning lady Jane does a "mime-walking into wind" action as she fights to get over to the machine, which the inventor is also blown away from and can't reach. She finally gets to it, switching it off, and the wind dies down. Everyone is recovering from the storm, slowly getting to their feet or crawling out from under the table. They are soaked, and shaking their arms and hands as if trying to fling off water.

Narrator Steven: As the storm buffeted everyone, one lone figure fought her way over to the machine... Jane the cleaning lady! Finally reaching it, she was successful in killing the power, and the storm died down. As everyone recovered, the hapless inventor tried to figure out what went wrong. Jane pointed out that he had neglected to turn the power levels down in between each weather setting. As he looked at her in amazement, he realized that twice now he had underestimated this lady. Taking their seats again, the group looked to the CEO, who was not pleased. Turning to Jane, he asked for her immediate impression as a potential consumer. Jane told him that, besides being dangerous, the machine only gave the illusion that one was in control. One might have some power, but not the wisdom to use it. We can never be in control of external conditions in our life, only God is on control. She then related the story from the Bible of when the disciples were on the lake at night when a storm arose, and the little boat was about to sink. But Jesus calmed the wind and waves with a word. If we want peace, we have to know and trust the Peace Speaker. Otherwise, she assured them, we will be tossed to and fro by the storms of life, and our efforts to control things will only show how helpless and clueless we are. Helen nodded thoughtfully, but the McIntyre was not convinced. However, he agreed with the insight that the invention would be more dangerous than useful. Sending away the dejected inventor, he called for a break while everyone dried out, and said they would meet again in a half hour for the next inventor to make his presentation.

End of first section.

Part 2: five minutes in length.

Play Track 8 on the soundtrack CD.

Actions during the next paragraph: The same people from the initial group come back into the room, talking with each other as the take their places at the table. We see the CEO talk to Helen, who then pushes a button the the intercom and calls for the next inventor to come in. The CEO leans closer to her as he tells her about his disappointment so far. The next inventor, a young woman wearing a lab coat, wheels in the cart with a covered device on it. Jane comments about it and the people around the table laugh. The inventor ships off the cloth cover, and when Jane comments, everyone laughs, to the obvious displeasure of the young lady. She points out features on the boom box-like device (actually just a boom box) and explains what it does, as the group looks at each other with doubtful expessions. After another humorous comment from Jane which causes another round of chuckles, the inventor turns on the machine, to the "joy" setting.

Narrator Steven: As the product review group filed back into the conference room at the McIntyre Corporation, a technology company with the slogan "Empowering You To Change Your World," they talked about the last presentation which had ended in a monsoon-like failure. Hopeful that it could be the company's next big success, the CEO Alan McIntyre told R and D chief Helen Sawyer that she could bring in the next inventor. He told her that he had been disappointed in the last one, and he hoped that the money spent on these prototypes turned out some results. As the inventor wheeled in her device, Helen introduced the young lady, who had made her mark in the electronics industry with her previous ideas. With a florish she uncovered the small device on the table, which for all the world looked like an average CD player. Jane exclaimed out loud that the woman had invented a boom box. As laughter spread around the table, the inventor defensively explained that although it might resemble a boom box, it was something never seen before. They were looking at, she explained as she switched it on, the Emote Control. The machine is for controlling emotions, she told them, either of yourself or those around you, through the use of ultra-low audio frequencies that can affect the emotional state.By varying the frequencies, she can induce and manipulate different emotions in the target. It would revolutionize the treatment of emotional disorders, she enthused, and help the average user keep his or her emotions from getting out of control. Sadness could be turned to happiness, anxiety to peacefulness, and anger to love. Seeing the look of disbelief on the faces around the table, the young woman turned up the speakers which would generate the hyper-low frequencies needed. She warned them to prepare for a range of emotions that might seem like a rollercoaster of feelings, which prompted Janes to comment that most people experienced that every day without a new invention. Amid more stifled chuckles, the woman moved behind the machine outside of its influence, angled it to point toward the group, then dialed the setting to joy and turned up the power. The effects only took a moment to manifest, as grins grew on the faces of each person in the group...

Note: instead of the narration describing actions that are being seen, the music for each part carries the scene while the performers do as described in the paragraphs.

Actions during the next piece of music: At first, we only see the start of smiles in the skeptical group... but they get bigger. In only a few seconds everyone is smiling, and some even laugh out loud. Some are high-fiving others, as a feeling of goodwill spreads among them. Everyone looks around at everyone else wearing huge joker-like grins, then everyone breaks out in laughter at they point at each other's faces. Several smack the table as if they have heard a good joke, some are holding their stomachs as they laugh, and some are wiping their eyes as they laugh so hard they cry. The CEO reaches over and pokes his assistant, then begins to tickle him, causing him to nearly fall over in laughter. Soon everyone is doubling over in laughter, with some falling out of their chairs.

Narrator Steven: As the group was gripped by gales of giggles and guffaws, the inventor looked on with satisfaction. Seeing the first demonstration was such a success, and the signals from the CEO that she let up on them, she switched the setting to "sadness." Within seconds, the mood in the room went from hilarity to despair.

Actions during the next piece of music: The laughter dies down quickly, and the smiles disappear as the sounds of the machine intensify. Each person is overtaken by sadness, that shows in their expressions. Some put their faces in their hands, and shake their head. Others begin to cry, wiping their eyes. The inventor turns up the power, and everyone bursts into tears and audible crying, and several drop their heads down on their arms on the table and sob. Several turn to another and cry on their shoulder, while the other person cries and pats their back in comfort. Some blow their noses into hankies as they weep. Smiling, the inventor changes the setting again, to "Fear."

Narrator Steven: Changing the effects before someone jumped out of the window in depression, the inventor switched the Emote Control to the "fear" setting, then stepped back to watch the fun.

Actions during the next piece of music: The group settles down from crying, wiping the tears away and sitting up normally again. But as the hum of the machine intensifies, they begin to look apprehensive. Looking around in alarm, the people are becoming afraid of something they can't see. Some are starting to shake, and someone stands up suddenly and screams.. This action startles the others, and they react in panic, some crawling under the table, some covering their eyes and cowering in their seats. Someone begins to run around the table, and the others run from him in fear, afraid he is chasing them. Most of them are running around aimlessly now, screaming in terror as they run from each person they encounter. Two of them are holding each other and trembling, as their faces are twisted in terror at the chaos. The inventor woman then switches it to "anger" with an expression of sadistic delight. She is enjoying this!

Narrator Steven: Savoring the effects of her invention with an almost sadistic glee, the inventor dropped the power down before giving someone a heart attack from sheer terror... but she was only saving the most dramatic part of the demonstration for last. Slowly turning the dial to "anger," she watched closely as the waves of subaudible frequencies begin to take effect.

Actions during the next piece of music: As the fear subsides, the group begins to take their places at the table. But once they sit, they appear agitated. They are looking at each other with irritation, and some begin talking to others and telling them off. Their voices rise as the arguments increase in intensity, and they stand as they face off. One person pounds the table in frustration at the noise, while arms are being waved and fingers pointed. Finally a scuffle breaks out, and people are wrestling with each other, some are chasing others around the room, someone is punching another repeatedly in the stomach (fake punches of course) and even Jane karate chops someone as they approach her, dropping them!

Actions during the next paragraph: Jane makes her way over to the inventor's cart, where she chops the machine and breaks it, causing the humming to stop and the anger to subside instantly in the group. The group stops fighting and yelling, and separate, apologetic to each other, and smoothing down rumpled material. They sheepishly take their seats, all breathing hard, as Jane stands with her hands on her hips by the broken machine. The inventor is upset at what she did, but with a sharp look from Jane as she approached her, she backs off. She instead goes to the CEo to complain, but he raises his hand and stops her, then tells her why they are rejecting it. He points her to the door as he tells her to leave with her invention. She goes, wheeling out the cart and looking darkly at Jane as she passes her. Helen then speaks to Jane, who then goes to the table and takes her seat, telling them what she thinks. when she is done, the CEO adjourns the meeting for a short time and they leave. As they go, Helen walks beside Jane and engages her in a conversation on the way out.

Narrator Steven: Seeing the violence that had broken out, Jane, although angry as the rest of the group, had enough powers of reason left to know she needed to stop the cause at its source... before they killed each other... which she did with a chop of her hand! As the group separated from their various conflicts with each other, the inventor went toward the CEO with a complaint about Jane's damage to her Emote Control, but she was stopped by his raised hand. He rejected the invention on the grounds that it could be both addictive to one's self and dangerous if used to manipulate others, then ordered the woman to depart immediately and take her device with her. As the downcast young lady departed with her busted invention, Helen asked Jane for her input and comments. Taking her seat at the table again, the cleaning lady shared her outlook on the matter. It was obvious, she said, that this next invention was more dangerous than the last one. Although emotions may be stimulated by outside influences, such as the pressures of life and stress, they don't have to control us. We can master our emotions, she explained, by having a solid faith in God. Trusting Him can take away anxiety, for He said. "Be anxious for nothing." Trust can relieve fear, for He said "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." We will have true joy, not by artificial means, or happiness that is dependent on our circumstances, but the joy of knowing Jesus and having His salvation. he said, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full." Anger can be overcome when we turn over others to God and not try to avenge ourselves. The Bible says "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." As a consumer, she finished, she would never buy such a product demonstrated if it was available. As the CEO stood to go, he thanked her for her input, and said that they would meet for the final product presentation in 15 minutes. In the meantime they would take a break and try to get their nerves settled down some.

Part 3, the conclusion. Eight and a half minutes.

Play Track 12 on the soundtrack CD.

Narrator Steven: Filing back into the room for the last inventor's demonstration, the workers of the McIntyre Corporation were tired and ready to go home... but CEO Alan McIntyre was determined to find a product for next year's Christmas lineup. The Personal Weather Controller and the Emote Control were not feasible, so everything was riding on this next presentation. Everyone was suprised by the youth of the next inventor... except for R and D head Helen Sawyer, who had commissioned him. Barely out of his teens, the young man was a genius at gaming and programming, already securing several patents on successful inventions. Introducing himself, he confidently presented his newest brainstorm... the The Muscle Remotivator, which, he enthused, will revolutionize the world. It takes the video game concept of movement recognition a step further. This machine, instead of being controlled by the movement of the person, actually controls the movement of the person! Noting the impressed murmers among the group, he explained that it allows the user to control the movements of another person, or a user to live out the actions seen in a videogame. When he said that he needed a volunteer to demonstrate it on, Alan McIntyre appointed one of his assistants, who nervously approached the cart. As he fitted the reluctant guinea pig with the machine's controlling device, he explained that he would first show how it could be used to control the actions of another via remote control. Switching on the main device, he puts the test subject through a series of actions to show his control.

Actions during the music: When the inventor activiates the machine, the subject stands straight with his hands at his side. When the inventor presses various buttons on the joystick controller, the subject raises first one arm, lowers it, then the other. Both arms are then raised out to his side, and made to rotate as if exercising. One leg is raised and put down, then the other, and he is then made to jump up and down several times. When the inventor moves the joystick in forward, the subject begins to walk stiffly, amazed as he looks down at this body which is no longer under his control. As the joystick is moved in different directions, the subject moves around the room. He is made to walk to the CEO, hold out his hand stiffly, and shakes his hand, to the delight of the CEO and Helen, as well as those around the table... except for Jane, who looks on sceptically. The inventor makes him walk back to stand beside the cart while he tells what he is doing next.

Narrator Steven: Having established his ability to control the muscles of the subject, the proud inventor changed the setting to tie into a series of programs he designed to work with the muscle remotivator. Each one, he pointed out, allowed the user to take on the skills and actions of the game's main character. The first to be demonstrated was titled "Dance Like John Travolta," which put the user in the shoes of the famous actor as he was seen in the movie "Saturday Night Fever."

(NOTE: When the program and music begins, the subject's entire demeanor is changed to one of confidence. They actually seem to become the character, which gives the person doing the scene a chance to really shine in the part. They should have real fun with these scenes.)

Actions during the music and narration: When the program begins, disco-like music begins also, and the actor begins to mimic some of the well-known moves from the movie. This lasts about 20 seconds, and the progam is changed. The inventor announces the next program is "Fight Like Bruce Lee," and when the music begins, the actor goes through the familiar moves of Bruce Lee fighting invisible opponents. This too only lasts a few moments, and the last program is announced by the inventor as "Rampage Like Frankenstein's Monster." When the music begins, the actor does the Frankenstien routine, with stiff-legged walk, and hands out in front menacingly. He stomps around the room, mock-threatening the members of the group at the table, as they laugh and duck his attempts to grab them. . He then moves to the CEO, grabbing him by the neck, mock choking him, but after a moment he begins doing it for real, and won't let go. It becomes apparent that he is being strangled for real. They try to pull off "Frankenstein," but he throws them back and goes back to shaking the man by the neck, causing his tongue to hand out and his eyes to bulge. Jane hurries over to the inventor and demands that he turn off the machine, but he refuses, laughing at the attack. Jane grabs the joystick device and takes control of the "monster," causing him to walk over to the inventor with his hands outstretched to grab him. Fearful for his life, the inventor does switch off the device, and the test subject collapses. The CEO, rubbing his neck, calls security, which hurries in. He points to the inventor, and they drag him away as he protests.

Narrator Steven: Next, the boy-genius loaded the game program "Fight Like Bruce Lee," and the test subject began to display the moves and martial arts prowess of the famed action movie star, fighting a room full of attackers. (The music and sound effects play as the actor performs.) Finally, the program was switched to one based on classic monster movies, "Rampage Like Frankenstein's Monster." Finally realising that the attack is for real, some of the staff tried to pull off the out-of-control creature, but were no match for his strength. Jane hurried over to the inventor and demanded that he switch off the controller, but he only laughed and said this was payback for not signing him on for a long-term contract with the company. Thinking fast, Jane grabbed the joystick controller and took over, redirecting the monster's fury toward his creator... who quickly changed his mind and broke the contact. Gasping for breath, the CEO called for security and they come rushing in, grabbing the vengeful inventor and taking him away to hold until the police arrived. Thanking Jane for her quick thinking, McIntyre asked her to sit down and share her insight on this latest and last demonstration.

Actions during the next paragraph: Sitting down, Jake speaks to them about the true meaning of Christmas. Several around the table offer what they think it is. Jane takes out a small Bible and reads a couple of passages.

Narrator Steven: The cleaning lady tells them to look to the Bible for the ultimate solution to life's troubles, not gadgets or philosophies. Concerning the inventor's anger over a perceived slight, and the desire to control the actions of others, she said that anger can be overcome when we turn over others to God and not try to avenge ourselves. The Bible says "Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold." Control in this life is an illusion, and even if we could, none of us is wise enough to be in control, only the Lord. Everything this company sells concerns controlling or influencing conditions or others. But the best way to influence others is by personal character and helping. Change yourself, not the world around you... then the world around you will see the change and want it for themselves. Let God control your life... accept his gift and his Kingship. Then, share it with your loved ones; being the best gift they could have. Then you will truly be empowered to change your world. Nodding, the CEO said he sees where she is coming from... but what does this have to do with Christmas? She asked if everyone there knew the real story of Christmas. One said that was how Ralphie gets his BB gun. Seeing Jane shake her head, another said that it was how Scrooge got happy. Another said, no, it was about how Rudolph got to lead Santa's team. Helen spoke up and sais she knew it was about the birth of Jesus, but that was about it. Jane thanked her, and recounted briefly the events of the nativity. But there was more to know that just that Jesus was born... we needed to know why He came and who He really was. Christmas, she explained, is about God the Son coming to earth to take on a physical body, which was offered in a sacrifice to pay for our sins, which we accept by faith in Him. Opening up a small pocket New Testament, the cleaning lady read a short passage from 1 John 4:9-10... "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." She then turned to Philippians 2:7-8 and read "But Jesus made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of The Cross."

Actions during the next paragraph: She and the CEO speak back forth about it. The CEO then tells Helen to keep working. Just then a couple of small children, a boy and a girl, run into the room and over to Helen. Her husband comes in behind them, trying to catch them. The kids are trying to pull Helen to go with them, they want to go home. She starts to get up to go, but the CEO puts up and hand and tells her to remain til their business is done. She replies that their business is done, and gets up to go with her family. She stops and speaks to Jane, and when they are done talking, they all walk off stage together. The little girl has put her arm around Jane's waist and is hugging her as they walk out, taking to her immediately. The CEO stands up and stares at her leaving, as if he can't believe his eyes. The other employees look everywhere but at him. He then adjourns the meeting until after the holidays. They all look relieved and get up, exiting quickly. The CEO then stops and thinks a moment before he leaves also. After the last line of narration, he departs.

Narrator Steven: McIntyre thought it was all well and good, but it has nothing to do with selling products for Christmas, which is why they were there. Turning to Helen, he assigned her department to keep working until they come up with a good idea. He expected results when he came back after Christmas. Suddenly, two small children burst into the room and ran over to Helen. Her husband hurried in behind them, trying to catch them, and apologized for the intrusion. They had been waiting outside, he explained, so they could all go home for the holidays. McIntyre says that their mother is going to have to stay and work until their business is done. This set off a round of protests from the children, who pulled at her all the more. With a look back at her boss, she told him that their business was done. She was going home to spend Christmas with her family, and if he wanted to fire her, he could. As her children hugged her, she walked with them over to her husband. She stopped as they passed Jane, and Helen asked her what she was doing for Christmas, and could they give her a lift anywhere. She responded that she was a widow, and her son was serving overseas, so she was spending it alone. With a look at her husband, who nodded, she invited her to come spend the holidays with their family. She wanted Jane to share with them all she knew about Christmas and what it really meant. It only took a moment, and the pleading look of Helen and her children --who had taken to her immediately-- for her to consider it and accept. Standing speechless, the CEO considered that he really needed Helen's experience... and that maybe she was right. With a sigh, he adjourned the meeting til after the holidays. Then, as he watched his grateful workers leaving, he thought about the things that the simple cleaning lady had said. She deserved a promotion, he decided. When she came back after Christmas, Miss Jane would find herself in charge of the building's maintanance staff. And maybe he would ask her to tell him more about this Jesus she seemed to know so well.

(Music comes up and out.)

The End

Written by Fred Passmore, copyright 2011 Sheep Laughs Publications