Title of the play: “The little liar”
Author: Manuel Martínez
4 characters:
- JESUS.- 12 year old boy. He is always faking illnesses and ailments to avoid going to school. He has a dog named Bobby and both are inseparable.
- JESUS’ MOTHER: A 40-year-old woman who is always worried about her son.
- FATHER OF JESUS- 42-year-old man, father of Jesus, is more suspicious of his son’s pain.
- ANDREW, DOCTOR OF THE FAMILY – Man of 50 years old, doctor used to treat lying children.
ACT I
Jesus, a 12 year old boy, has a total rejection of school and the obligation to go to school every day.
(Characters that intervene in this act: Jesus, Susana, Jesus’ mother and Fermín, Jesús’ father).
Jesus in his room holds a thermometer in his hand next to the bulb of his night lamp. Jesus’ dog follows him with his eyes, lying at the foot of the bed. When he hears his mother approaching the door, Jesus puts the thermometer in his mouth and jumps into bed. Jesus’ mother enters the room.
JESUS: Mommy?
MOTHER OF JESUS: Yes, my boy. It’s been a few minutes, show me the thermometer so I can see if you have a fever.
The mother looks at the thermometer in amazement.
MOTHER OF JESUS: My God, a fever of forty. Quickly go to the bathroom and take a cold shower.
JESUS: So I’m not going to school tomorrow?
MOTHER OF JESUS: Of course not. I’m going to call the doctor right now, my God, he has a fever of forty. Fermín (Jesus’ father), come on, run, bring me the phone.
Jesus’ father enters the room in a panic.
FATHER OF JESUS: What’s the matter?
MOTHER OF JESUS: The child has a fever of forty.
Jesus’ Father puts his hand on Jesus’ forehead.
FATHER OF JESUS: Well, I don’t think he’s hot at all.
MOTHER OF JESUS: Quick Jesus, go to the bathroom, I’m going to prepare a cold bath for you right away. Give me the phone Fermin.
The boy leaves the room. The mother picks up the phone.
MOTHER OF JESUS: Doctor?… yes, that’s the one.
ACT II
(Characters that intervene in this act Susana the mother of Jesus, Fermín the father of Jesus and Andrew the doctor of the family)
In the hallway of the second floor of the house of Jesus, are gathered, the Father of Jesus, the Mother and Andrew the family doctor. On the other side of the hallway the door to Jesus’ bedroom remains closed.
ANDREW: You can relax. I just examined him and he has nothing at all.
MOTHER OF JESUS: But what about the fever?
ANDREW: He has fooled you again.
FATHER OF JESUS:I told you. You don’t have a fever and still be so happy in your room playing the console.
ANDREW: Fermín is right, he’s fooled you again. Next time don’t leave him alone when you put the thermometer in.
FATHER OF JESUS: He won’t cheat on me again, next time he’ll get a slap.
MOTHER OF JESUS: Don’t say that Fermin, you know you’re incapable.
ANDREW: Besides, that’s not the solution. You have to scare him. Look, I have an idea. Jesus has a dog, right?
MOTHER OF JESUS: Yes, and he and the dog are together all day long.
ANDREW: Well, look, we have to give him a really good scare. This is the plan, and please don’t back out, think you are doing it for the good of your son, as I was saying the plan I usually recommend for children like Jesus is….
ACT III
(Characters that intervene in this act Susana the mother of Jesus, Fermín the father of Jesus and Jesus)
In the living room of the house, Jesus’ father and mother are gathered. Jesus enters the scene with his school bag.
JESUS: Mom, I’m feeling sick again, I don’t think I’ve fully recovered. At school I felt again how my legs were weak….
JESUS’ MOTHER: Come on, Jesus, sit down, we need to talk to you.
JESUS: What is it?
JESUS’ FATHER: We talked to the doctor and he told us that all your illness is because of Bobby (Jesus’ dog).
JESUS: What about Bobby?
MOTHER OF JESUS: You are allergic to dogs, hence all your fevers and your ailments.
JESUS’ FATHER: So we’re very sorry, but we had to give Bobby away. We couldn’t keep him here in the house.
JESUS: (With tears in his eyes) No, no, no. My dog, where’s my dog? My dog, where is my dog, Bobby, Bobby!
JESUS’ FATHER: Don’t bother to call him, Jesus, he’s not here anymore.
JESUS: No, no. Mom, Dad i was lying. Everything about the fever and the sickness, it was all a lie, he is not making me sick. Don’t take him away, please.
Jesus weeps inconsolably as he hugs his mother. Father and Mother smile at each other. Fermín gets up from his seat and leaves the scene. He enters a few seconds later with Bobby, who rushes up to Jesus and they embrace.
MOTHER OF JESUS: I hope you learned something, Jesus.
FATHER OF JESUS: Don’t fool us again Jesus.
JESUS: I won’t do it again, I promise. Jesus embraces Bobby again.
THE END