Perry Mason and the Case of the Uninvolved

SCRIPT TITLE:

Perry Mason and the Case of the Uninvolved

AUTHORSHIP:

SCRIPT THEME:

Students learn more when they are involved.

CHARACTERS:

Perry Mason, undefeated attorney for the prosecution

Steffie, a high school student and witness to the crime

Rick, a high school youth worker

Bailiff

PROPS/MEDIA:

A recording of the theme music from the "Perry Mason" television show to be played over the sound system. (If you do not have access to a recording of the music, ask a pianist to play it live. As a last resort, arrange for someone to hum it on a kazoo.)

COSTUMES:

All characters dressed professionally, ready to appear before court.

SETTING:

A court of law

DRAMA

The actor playing Rick is seated incognito in the audience. Steffie is sitting in the witness chair at center stage. Perry Mason is pacing across the stage as the "Perry Mason" theme song plays. When the music stops, he turns dramatically to Steffie and points his finger at her.

PERRY:     Please state your full name.

STEFFIE:     Stephanie Lynn Larson. But all my friends call me Steffie.

PERRY:     (with force) Now, Miss Larson, where were you on the morning of January 26, 2003 at 9:45 a.m.?

STEFFIE:     (nervously) Uh...in my Sunday school class at First Christian Church.

PERRY:     (with growing suspicion) Were you alone? And, let me remind you, Miss Larson, you are under oath.

STEFFIE:     (defensively) No. The entire sophomore class was there, too. Honest.

PERRY:     All right, Miss Larson. You insist that this court believe that you were at church that morning. But, can you prove it?

STEFFIE:     Of course, I can! I carved my initials and the date into my desk.

PERRY:     Yes, but can you prove this alleged carving occurred on January 21?

STEFFIE:     Uh...well....

PERRY:     Tell me, Miss Larson, what was the focus of the Sunday school lesson that morning?

STEFFIE:     The 'focus'?

PERRY:     (growing impatient) Yes, yes. The theme, the main idea, the point of the lesson.

STEFFIE:     (hesitantly) Well, I....I do remember it had something to do with the Bible...the New Testament, I think.

PERRY:     Think hard, Miss Larson. Is that all you can remember?

STEFFIE:     (close to breaking) I...I'm trying. It's just that it was so boring. I wasn't really listening to Rick's lecture....

PERRY:     (interrupting) Rick? Who is Rick?

STEFFIE:     (glancing furtively around the room) He's the guy who teaches our class.

PERRY:     (growing even more intense) Didn't this 'Rick' ask you any questions during the class? Didn't he ask you and your classmates to interact with the Bible text in any way?

STEFFIE:     (beginning to cry) I...I don't know what to say. I'm sure if we'd done anything fun or interesting, I would have remembered. Please, you've got to believe me.

PERRY:     No, Miss Larson. I don't have to believe you. (He points to an imaginary jury.) The ladies and gentlemen of the jury have to believe you. And, frankly, I don't think....

Suddenly, Rick stands up in the audience, obviously distraught.

RICK:     (interrupting with a frantic shout) Stop! Stop badgering that girl! I confess. I confess. I....I did it. I failed to involve my learners in the lesson. Please, don't take it out on her. She's innocent. I'm the guilty one.

PERRY:     (to Rick) Just as I suspected. Bailiff, arrest this man for the death of the 10th grade Sunday school class.

A bailiff appears and carts Rick out of the room. Perry consoles Steffie, escorting her off stage as the PERRY Mason theme music plays.