OFFICE PRAYER

OFFICE PRAYER

SYNOPSIS: 5 corporate executives discuss business in a morning meeting. The skit serves as a reminder not to forget, or be reluctant to include, the power of prayer in every aspect of your life.

SETTING: Executive office boardroom. Characters are well-dressed, business-like. They sit around a table during a meeting.

THE SKIT BEGINS WITH SMALL TALK AS THREE OF THE FIVE CHARACTERS ARE ALREADY IN THE ROOM. TWO ARE SEATED NEXT TO EACH OTHER. THE THIRD IS GETTING COFFEE.

LISA: So, did you have a good weekend?

PHIL: Yah. Marge dragged me to the church picnic yesterday. We had a pretty good time.

LISA: Sounds fun.

GIL: ( SITTING DOWN, WITH  COFFEE IN HAND.) Sure, as long as you don't eat any spoiled potato salad. I remember one church potluck when we got so busy singing we'd forgotten how long we had left the foot out in the sun. I have never been so sick in all of my life.

WALTER ENTERS THE ROOM CARRYING A BRIEFCASE.

WALTER: OK, what are we waiting for? It's 9 AM. Let's get started.

LISA: Susan is not here yet.

WALTER: (SITTING.) So what? That's her loss. I've got work to do. Let's gt this show on the road.

GIL: Yah, you're right. Besides, she'll probably be here any minute. I call this meeting to order. First item, we've got the Hershberg presentation this Friday. How is it coming?

SUSAN: (HURRIEDLY ENTERS THE ROOM.) Sorry I'm late. I got tied up at the copy machine. What's up?

SUSAN SITS DOWN AROUND THE TABLE.

PHIL: We're discussing the Hershberg project. I'm supposed to meet with Mr. Hershberg Friday to make the final presentation. Unfortunately, I can't seem to get all of my materials together. It's gonna be a close call.

WALTER: (IRRITATED.) Oh, come on Phil! We can't keep delaying this. We gave you this project because we thought you could handle it.

SUSAN: Hang on, Walter. Give him a break. Let's at least hear him out.

LISA: Yah. What seems to be the problem, Phil?

PHIL: I'm not really sure. There seems to be a personality conflict between our firm and Hershberg's accounting department. I've contacted them several times to request the financial projection sheets, but I get nowhere. Now they won't even return my calls.

LISA: I don't understand.

PHIL: Well, the way I see it, there may be some resentment between Mr. Hershberg and his people. They may be bitter because he chose to come to us, an outside consulting firm, instead of letting them handle the project.

GIL: Well, that sounds like an internal problem. It's out of our hands.

WALTER: (STANDS UP.) Oh no it's not. We've got to take charge of the situation. What are you Phil, some kind of a wimp or something? You gotta go over to Hershberg's office and have it out with the head of the accounting department. One on one. Put this guy in his place.

SUSAN: I disagree Walter. There's got to be a diplomatic solution to this problem.

PHIL: I've tried everything I can think of. I even had my secretary call over and make the request a few times, just in case it was me they didn't like.

GIL: What about approaching Hershberg? Have you told him of your difficulties?

PHIL: I may have to on Friday. He is out of town until then. You see, when I first met with Hershberg to discuss the project, he pulled in the head of his accounting department. Joe...something or other is his name. Mr. Hersberg told Joe to cooperate with us and give us anything we need. Well, Joe was all smiles and promises then, but none of it has materialized. Mr. Hershberg is a hands-off owner. He's not going to be pleased if we complain of some kind of petty problem between us and his people.

LISA: Well, I don't know that we have any other option.

SUSAN: Have you prayed about it?

WALTER: (LAUGHINGLY.) Has he what?

SUSAN: Have you prayed about it?

PHIL: Well, no, I haven't.

WALTER: Of course he hasn't. This isn't a church thing. We're not missionaries or preachers, we're business people!

SUSAN: I believe God is interested in every aspect of our lives. If you have a personal relationship with Him you tell Him if your kids are sick. Or you pray if you're having marital problems. Why shouldn't you pray about problems at work?

WALTER: (ANGRILY.) This is ridiculous. You can't sit back and let these people walk all over you. You gotta take the bull by the horns. You know where I stand. I'm outta here. You'll have to resolve this problem without me. (WALTER BEGINS TO STORM OUT OF THE ROOM.) (SARCASTICALLY.) Pray about it!

WALTER EXITS.

SUSAN: (STANDING.) Listen, I'm sorry that Walter left the room. I didn't mean for that to happen. I just feel like prayer is an honest way to deal with the problem.

LISA: Well, honestly, I don't have much experience praying. But I kind of like the idea. I think we should pray at all of our meetings.

GIL: OK. Maybe we should pray at the end of our meetings so Walter can leave if he'd like.

SUSAN: Sure. Is that OK with you, Phil?

PHIL: You bet. Now I'll be reminded to pray about it on my own and as a group we can ask God for help to continue to prepare and act diplomatically through Friday. And for a spirit of cooperation to surface between us and the accounting department.

GIL: OK. This meeting is adjourned. Let's pray.

ALL FOUR CHARACTERS BOW IN PRAYER AS SKIT ENDS.