PLAYHOUSE OF THE DAMNED
"A Dybbuk for Chanukah"
by Richard Nathan
The spotlight is up on our host, GUS THE GHOUL while the set is prepared for the
next story. The set is the living
room of the Cohen Family, who are celebrating Chanukah.
GUS THE GHOUL
When the year draws to a close, and the
holidays approach, here at the Playhouse
of the Damned, our thoughts turn to our
families. For if thoughts of
our families
can’t inspire nightmares, what can?
This
next nightmare is called, “A Dybbuk for
Chanukah.”
Gus exits as the lights come up on the living room of the Cohen family.
A menorah has two candles in it.
The center candle (called the shammes candle) and one on the far right
are lit, signaling that this is the first night of Chanukah.
Seated on the floor are the two Cohen children, DAVID and his little
sister BRENDA. Their mother DIANE
and father MICHAEL are standing by the door.
DIANE
I hope this works, Brenda.
Your father and
I have been studying the Kabbalah for months
so we could get this for you.
BRENDA
Thanks, Mom, Dad. I really
appreciate it.
MICHAEL
We’re going to go down to the basement and
cast the spell now. Keep
your fingers crossed.
She exits.
DAVID
What’s she talking about?
BRENDA
My Chanukah present.
DAVID
What did you ask for?
BRENDA
A dybbuk.
DAVID
A dybbuk! Are you nuts?
BRENDA
No.
DAVID
Do you know what a dybbuk is?
BRENDA
Sure. It’s a powerful giant
monster that
does whatever you tell it.
DAVID
That’s a golem! You’re such
a moron.
BRENDA
Then what’s a dybbuk?
DAVID
It’s the spirit of some dead person who comes
and possesses the living!
BRENDA
Oy gevalt!
Suddenly Brenda is possessed by the spirit of her dead Uncle Morty.
For the remainder of the piece, Brenda goes back and forth between being
herself and being possessed by Uncle Morty.
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Hey! What’s this?
I’m out of the
hospital? Did I get better?
I don’t
feel so bad!
DAVID
Brenda?
BRENDA
(as Morty)
You! You look like my nephew
David, only older!
DAVID
Uncle Morty?
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Have I been in a coma?
DAVID
You’ve been dead. But now
you’re
possessing my sister Brenda!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Little Brenda?
BRENDA
(as herself)
Get out of my body!!!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Hey. I didn’t ask to be
here.
DAVID
It’s her fault! She asked
for a dybbuk
for Chanukah.
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Looks like she got her wish.
BRENDA
(as herself)
I wanted a golem! I made a
mistake.
BRENDA
(as Morty)
And how is this my fault?
BRENDA
(as herself)
I didn’t say it was your fault!
I just said
get out of my body!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
And go back to being dead?
Is that how
you treat your uncle?
BRENDA
(as herself)
Is this how you treat your niece?
David runs out of the room yelling!
DAVID
Mom! Dad!
You brought back Uncle
Morty.
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Hey! Pull my finger!
BRENDA
(as herself)
You haven’t got a finger!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Then pull your own finger!
BRENDA
(as herself)
No!!!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Why not?
BRENDA
(as herself)
You’ll fart! I mean, you’ll
make
me fart!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Can I even do that?!
BRENDA
(as herself)
Get out of my body, you creep.
Enter David, Diane and Michael!
DAVID
See! You brought back
Uncle Morty!
DIANE
Morty! How nice to see you -
or hear you - again!
MICHAEL
And just in time for Chanukah!
BRENDA
(as Morty)
Hey! Pull Brenda’s finger!!!
BRENDA
(as herself)
Get him out of my body!!!
DIANE
We can’t force him back to his grave!
At least not until after dinner!
Brenda makes a farting sound.
BRENDA
(as Morty)
I did it!
Brenda looks mortified.
DAVID
This is the best Chanukah ever!!!
Blackout!
The lights come up on GUS, as the actors exit and clear the set.
GUS
Lucky for them, they have candles lit
in that room.
THE END
© 2007 by Richard Nathan. All rights reserved
The author grants all internet users the right to print these scripts for their own, personal, non-commercial use. No other use may be made without the author's permission. Without limiting the foregoing, the plays may not be staged without the author's express permission.
Send e-mail to the author at Richard-Nathan@att.net.