Lillenas®
Drama Presents
The Last Will
and Testament of
Percy T. Henderson
From Walk A Mile In His Truths
E
L
By Martha Bolton
Cast
RUPERT MCCLINTOCK, Attorney at Law
ALLISON HENDERSON
HARRY HENDERSON
MAX HENDERSON
THERESA WHEATON
S
M
A
P
O
T
PR
IN
T
Setting
The Law Offices of Rupert McClintock and Assoc.
D
O
N
Props
Sign, “Law Firm”
Desk
Four chairs, one behind desk, three in front
File and papers
Box of tissues
Costumes
Modern-day wear with business suit for MCCLINTOCK.
(Sketch opens with MCCLINTOCK sitting behind the desk, reading through a file.
ALLISON, HARRY, MAX, and THERESA enter.)
MCCLINTOCK (looking up from papers): Please, sit down. Thank you for coming.
(All sit.)
“The Last Will and Testament of Percy T. Henderson” is taken from Walk A Mile In His Truths. Copyright © 1994 by Martha Bolton. All print rights administered by Lillenas® Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.
ALLISON (sniffling): I only wish it was for a happier occasion.
HARRY: It’s hard to believe my dear uncle is gone.
MCCLINTOCK: As you know, the reason I’ve called all of you here today is for
the reading of the last will and testament of Percy T. Henderson. Before
we begin, however, allow me to offer my condolences. (A few more sniffles
can be heard among the surviving family members.) As relatives and friends
of the deceased, I’m sure this is a most difficult time for you. (More sniffles) In handling Mr. Henderson’s estate, I learned a lot about the man
you call brother, uncle, friend. He was a hardworking man with a sharp
business sense. He knew how to invest his money. He knew how to increase his net worth. He knew how to save. Unfortunately, he never did
any of that and died penniless. (THERESA lets out a much louder cry.) Go
ahead. Let it out. (He starts the box of tissue passing from person to person.) I
know you miss him terribly. Just remember, though, it will get easier
with time.
HARRY: Percy was a wonderful uncle.
ALLISON: I’ll never forget him.
M
A
MAX: He was one of a kind.
P
E
L
PR
IN
T
THERESA: Uh . . . can we go back to that “penniless” part again?
T
O
MAX: We just have to find comfort in the
N fact that he’s in a much better place.
O
ALLISON: No more worries.
D
S
MCCLINTOCK: It’s never easy to say farewell to our loved ones.
HARRY: No more cares.
THERESA (tearfully to MCCLINTOCK): No more money? Are you sure about that?
MCCLINTOCK: Yes, but he did mention each one of you in his will.
THERESA: Whew . . . (wipes her forehead with the tissue) I hope he left me his art
collection.
MCCLINTOCK: Sorry. He gave that to a museum before he died.
THERESA: That’s all right. I’ll be just as happy with his antique car collection.
MAX: He donated that to a charity over a year ago.
THERESA: Well, the least he could have done is leave me his (Name an item that
someone in the congregation would absolutely love to have, i.e., Michael W.
Smith posters, a favorite restaurant, whatever. The person’s passion for the item
should be widely known.)
“The Last Will and Testament of Percy T. Henderson” is taken from Walk A Mile In His Truths. Copyright © 1994 by Martha Bolton. All print rights administered by Lillenas® Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.
MCCLINTOCK: Its says here (reading file) that he gave (item) to (Name the person
in the church who would love the item.)
THERESA: (Repeats name)! How’d [he or she] get it? [He or she’s] not even in this
sketch.
HARRY (shaking his head, a bit embarrassed of THERESA, then to MCCLINTOCK):
Please, go on.
MCCLINTOCK: Thank you. (Reading) I, Percy T. Henderson, being of sound
mind . . .
THERESA: . . . and empty wallet . . .
MCCLINTOCK (continuing): do hereby leave my most treasured possessions to
my surviving heirs.
E
L
THERESA: Cut to the chase, Perry Mason. What’d he leave me?
MCCLINTOCK: To Harry Henderson, I leave my caring heart.
P
THERESA (laughing): I’d like to see you try and cash that at the bank.
M
A
T
MCCLINTOCK (continuing): I always tried to put others before myself. I hope
you saw this in my life and will carry it on in yours.
PR
IN
HARRY: His caring heart . . . I couldn’t have asked for a better gift. (Looks up as
if to heaven) Thank you, uncle.
T
O
THERESA (bored): How touching. (Anxious)
N Now, what does it say about Theresa
Wheaton?
O
MCCLINTOCK (continuing): And D
to Allison Henderson, I leave my boldness.
S
THERESA (sarcastically): Good. Now you can boldy ask why he didn’t leave you
something better.
MCCLINTOCK (continues reading): I felt it was important to speak out against
wrong and defend what’s right. I hope you can continue my mission.
ALLISON (looking heavenward): I’ll do my best, Percy.
THERESA: I’m all choked up. Now, what about Theresa Wheaton?
MCCLINTOCK (continuing): And to Max Henderson . . .
THERESA: He better have left me his patience because I’m running out of all of
mine!
MCCLINTOCK (reading): To Max I leave my joy. There’s joy in living your life
walking with the Lord. I hope you’ll give it a try.
“The Last Will and Testament of Percy T. Henderson” is taken from Walk A Mile In His Truths. Copyright © 1994 by Martha Bolton. All print rights administered by Lillenas® Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.
MAX (reverently, toward heaven): Uncle Percy, I just may do that.
THERESA (anxiously to MCCLINTOCK): I know . . . he was just saving the best for
last!
M C C LINTOCK (continuing): And finally, I come to my dear niece, Theresa
Wheaton. Theresa knows I’ve always been a very generous person . . .
THERESA (excited): This is it! He left me something fabulous! What if he had a
fortune in stocks and bonds that nobody knew about? What if he buried
boxes of Krugerrands in his backyard? I’m going to retire on the French
Riviera! I’m going to cruise down the Mediterranean! I’m going to . . .
MCCLINTOCK (reading): To Theresa Wheaton I leave my generosity.
E
L
THERESA: I’m going to be sick. (Pause) His generosity? Why didn’t he leave me
something I could use?
HARRY: Oh, I think generosity is something you could definitely use, Theresa.
P
THERESA: But isn’t that like giving to others, putting another person’s needs
above my own?
MAX: Exactly.
M
A
PR
IN
T
THERESA (to MCCLINTOCK): Then I want to contest the will!
S
T
ALLISON: If you ask me, what Percy left each of us is better than all the money
in the world.
N
O
O
D
THERESA: So, you really think I need a little more generosity in my life?
MAX: He gave us his most valued treasures.
MAX: A little more generosity? That’s like asking if Phyllis Diller could use a
hairdresser.
HARRY: Theresa, you were charging to park the cars at Uncle Percy’s funeral!
THERESA: I was providing a service. Besides, how else was I going to make
money? They wouldn’t let me set up the snack bar.
MAX: Yes, Theresa, I’d have to say Uncle Percy left you the perfect gift.
THERESA: You’re right. After all, real wealth is having a generous heart. (Pause)
Hey, wait a minute! Did I just say that? (They all nod.) I guess Percy’s example of Christlike generosity is rubbing off on me faster than I thought.
All (looking upward): Thanks, Percy.
(Blackout.)
“The Last Will and Testament of Percy T. Henderson” is taken from Walk A Mile In His Truths. Copyright © 1994 by Martha Bolton. All print rights administered by Lillenas® Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.
The purchase of this sketch entitles the purchaser to make photocopies of this material for use in their church or nonprofit organization. The sharing of this material
with other churches or organizations not owned or controlled by the original purchaser is strictly prohibited. The contents of this sketch may not be reproduced
in any other form without written permission from the publisher. Please include the copyright statement found below on each copy made.
Questions? Please write, call, or E-mail:
Lillenas® Publishing Company
Drama Resources
P.O. Box 419527
Kansas City, MO 64141
Phone: 816-931-1900
Fax: 816-412-8390
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site: www.lillenasdrama.com
The sketch collection Walk A Mile In His Truths (MP-751) is available for purchase from Lillenas® Drama or from your local Christian bookstore.
For a full description of the rest of this collection, or to purchase other individual sketches, refer to
www.lillenasdrama.com
S
M
A
D
O
N
P
O
T
E
L
PR
IN
T
“The Last Will and Testament of Percy T. Henderson” is taken from Walk A Mile In His Truths. Copyright © 1994 by Martha Bolton. All print rights administered by Lillenas® Publishing Co. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States.