The Children's Chapel
A Ministry of Lorain Country Free-Net Chapel



                         The Long Night on the Lake
                    A Play or Puppet Script Text Version
                            by Jennifer Edwards

          CHARACTERS:           Narrator - 8 lines
                                James - 9 lines
                                Peter - 14 lines
                                John - 11 lines
                                Nathanael - 9 lines
                                Thomas - 6 lines
                                Jesus - 3 lines
                                Other disciples without speaking parts can be used.

          *******************************************************************

          NARRATOR:           Scene One - Around 2:00 p.m. In Market Square

          JAMES:    "Hey, Peter, What are you doing tonight?"

          PETER:    "IÕm going fishing with John. Why? Do you want to come along?"

          JAMES:    "Yeah! You know how much I enjoy a warm day on the waves!"

          PETER:    "IÕm leaving about 3:30 so be at the dock ready to go."

          JAMES:    "Great! Thanks! I canÕt wait!"

          *******************************************************************

          NARRATOR:           Scene Two - One Hour Later at the
          Dock

          NATHANAEL:  "Hey Peter, are you going fishinÕ again?"

          PETER:      "A manÕs gotta get food somehow!"

          NATHANAEL:  "IÕll go with you."

          THOMAS:     "Yeah, IÕll help too."

          PETER:      "IÕve already got James, and John going with me. Are you
                      sure you donÕt have anything else to do?"

          NATHANAEL,
          and THOMAS: "Nothing that canÕt wait, so we might as well go with you."

          THOMAS:     "You know, ever since that Sunday when Jesus resurrected,
                      there just arenÕt enough things to do in a day! I miss all 
                      the time we spent with Him!"

          NATHANAEL:  "I agree."

          *******************************************************************

          NARRATOR:           Scene Three - Several Hours Later in the Boat

          JOHN:       "Hey Peter, donÕt you think weÕve been fishing long enough?"

          JAMES:      "Yeah, weÕve been out here all night long, and we havenÕt
                      caught any fish!"

          PETER:      "But you both know that if we donÕt get any fish, we donÕt
                      have any food, and we donÕt have any money."

          JOHN:       "I guess Peter is right, but IÕm so tired out here!"

          JAMES:      "Did you guys notice the clouds? It sure does look like it
                      will rain soon!"

          PETER:      "If it starts to rain, we may have to pull in the nets a little
                      early, but I really want to get some fish first."

          THOMAS:     "I doubt if weÕll catch anything tonight. WeÕve already been
                      out here much longer than usual and havenÕt caught even one
                      tiny fish!"

          NATHANAEL:  "But Thomas, you must have a little faith! You always doubt
                      everything you canÕt see, hear, touch, or taste! DonÕt give
                      up so easily!"

          PETER:      "Can we get back to the nets please?"

          JOHN:       "Ha! As if we have anything now?? WeÕve been out here all
                      night. Do you really think 15 minutes of talking is gonna
                      make us miss the Big Catch of the night?"

          PETER:      "Can we all please stop complaining? Nobody wants to stay
                      out here. But we donÕt have any choice!"

          JAMES:      "Yeah, how else are we gonna eat tonight?"

          THOMAS:     "I doubt if weÕll get anything, and itÕs getting late.
                      IÕm sleeping in the back."

          NATHANAEL:  "Remember the time Jesus slept in the boat in the storm?"

          JAMES:      "Yes, and I wish he was here now. Then maybe weÕd
                      catch something."

          NATHANAEL:  "Well I feel like Thomas right now. IÕm gonna take a nap.
                      Wake me up if we get anything."

          JAMES:      "O.K. But it will be morning soon. Hopefully we wonÕt have
                      to be out here much longer."

          JOHN:       "IÕll stay out here as long as it takes! IÕm getting hungry."

          PETER:      "DoesnÕt look like weÕre gonna get anything for a while, so
                      if you all want to rest, IÕll stay up."

          *******************************************************************

          NARRATOR:           Scene Four - Early the Next Morning

          JOHN:       "Well, weÕve been here all night. The sun is rising. I guess
                      we didnÕt get anything, huh?"

          PETER:      "No, I kept trying, but there was NOTHING to be found."

          NARRATOR:   "Meanwhile the others start waking up."

          PETER:      I think I see someone walking on the beach."

          JOHN:       "I donÕt see anything. You stayed up all night, and now
                      youÕre tired and imagining things."

          PETER:      "No . . . IÕm sure I saw someone!"

          JOHN:       (giggling) "Well, since we didnÕt catch any fish, weÕll
                      just have to live by bread alone! Remember what Jesus
                      used to say about that?"

          PETER:      "I donÕt think thatÕs funny! We spent all that time out
                      there, and got nothing, and now you have the nerve to
                      joke about it!"

          JOHN:       "Sorry, I didnÕt know youÕd take it so seriously."

          PETER:      "ThatÕs O.K. Hey! Look at the beach! There really is someone
                      there! I TOLD you I wasnÕt just imagining!"

          JOHN:       "I wonder who it could be so early in the morning?"

          NATHANAEL:  "I donÕt recognize him."

          JESUS:      "Children, have you caught any fish?"

          PETER
          and JOHN:   "No!"

          JESUS:      "Cast your nets to the right side of the ship and you 
                      will find plenty of fish."

          NARRATOR:   "They cast their nets, as Jesus said, and they brought
                      up so many fish that the net couldnÕt hold them all."

          JOHN:       "Hey Peter! ItÕs the Lord Jesus!"

          NARRATOR:   "Peter put on his coat, and jumped into the water without
                      saying a word."

          JOHN:       "Well guys, letÕs go see Him, too!"

          ALL in unison:  "Yeah! LetÕs go! What are we waiting for?"

          NARRATOR:   "They brought the boat to shore, with nets hanging off
                      the back filled with fish. When they arrived on the beach,
                      Jesus already had bread and fish roasting on the fire."

          JESUS:      "Bring up some of the fish you just caught."

          NARRATOR:   "Peter carried out this order, bringing up a net full
                      of 153 fish! There were SO many, the disciples were
                      surprised that the nets did not break. What a
                      WONDERFUL time they had as they ate and
                      talked with Jesus."

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