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A Rockin’ Royal Christmas!Cast: Herod (Adult Male) Sherlock StoryTeller Librarian 3 Shepherds 3 Wise Men 3 Angels Vinny (Innkeeper) Innkeeper’s Wife

1. A ROCKIN’ ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING!

STORYTELLER: Come with me now and let’s take a peek at an old story that you thought you already knew. But I’m sure there are some things that you’ll be surprised to hear. It may change some things for you – like Who you are celebrating this Christmas and Who rules and reigns in your life.

(Music begins)

It’s Bethlehem 2,000 years ago and a Child has been born. His name is Jesus. Most people were thrilled to hear the news, but some weren’t so thrilled. One of them was a king. His name was Herod.

2. BRING THEM TO ME

STORYTELLER: See, I told you King Herod was mad.

SHERLOCK: (To the audience) But not mad at me. Herod called ME to get to the bottom of this mysteryandfindoutsomeinformationonthisBabyandseewhythosewisemen didn’t come back like he ordered them to do. See I’m Sherlock Watson, chief investigator for (looks both ways carefully before he says the words) the FBI.

KIDS: Ssshhhhhhh!

SHERLOCK: That’s“FromBethlehemInvestigations.”Yes,Judea’sfinest.Neverlostacaseand I don’t plan to lose this one. So, being the investigator I was trained to be, I did two obvious things; I went and got a donut, and then I headed straight over to the Bethlehem Public Library (music begins) . . . did a little snooping around.

3. TAKE A LOOK INSIDE

(Over measures 34-38 [twice through])

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STORYTELLER: ThisisthefirsttimeSherlockthoughthemightbeinjustalittlebitoftrouble.

SHERLOCK: What have I gotten myself into? First rule of investigation: Find a source “in the know.” And I found one, but this one seems to be the HOLY SCRIPTURE! So I ran a little background on this Baby and found out that He might be the King of the Jews! I may be in over my head!

(After song ends)

STORYTELLER: So Sherlock was afraid that . . .

SHERLOCK: (To STORYTELLER)I’mafraidofNOTHING!

STORYTELLER: So Sherlock thought . . .

SHERLOCK: Idon’tTHINK,IKNOW!

STORYTELLER: (Frustrated)OK,OK...soSherlockKNOWSthat...

SHERLOCK / STORYTELLER: Herod’s not gonna like this.

SHERLOCK: (To LIBRARIAN) Excuse me, miss.

LIBRARIAN: Shhhhhh! Lower your voice!

SHERLOCK: (Trying to make his voice sound lower) Excuse me miss.

LIBRARIAN: Notlower,Imeanquieter.ThisISalibrary.

SHERLOCK: I’m Sherlock Watson and I have a huge case.

LIBRARIAN: A huge case of what? Measles? The Flu? As loud as you’re speaking, I wish it was laryngitis.

SHERLOCK: Imean,I’mONacase!...(Looks both ways to make sure no one is listening) . . . FBI!

LIBRARIAN: (Loudly) FBI?

SHERLOCK and KIDS: SHHHHHHHH!

LIBRARIAN: Nowyou’reshushingME?

SHERLOCK: (Flashes his badge) I’monacase,fortheBIGGUY.

LIBRARIAN: The big guy?

SHERLOCK: You know, the most main man in town, the sassy sovereign . . .

LIBRARIAN: Who?

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SHERLOCK and KIDS: Herod!!!

LIBRARIAN: Oh . . . right, right, right. So, what can I do for his Royal Craziness?

SHERLOCK: Well, I’m investigating the birth of a Child that took place here in Bethlehem.

LIBRARIAN: Which one? There are a lot of children born in Bethlehem.

SHERLOCK: Yes, but this was a Child that was supposed to be the King of Jews.

LIBRARIAN: Oh, yeah. I remember that. There was an article in the Bethlehem Star a couple of years ago about that. Why don’t we step over to the computer lab and search for it?

SHERLOCK: (Loudly)OK!Nowwe’retalking.

LIBRARIAN: Shhhhhhh. Lower!

SHERLOCK: (Whispering in his bass voice) OK.

LIBRARIAN: OK, here’s the article.

SHERLOCK: (Reading from the article) Andtherewereshepherdslivingoutinthefieldsnearby keepingwatchovertheirflocksatnight.Wow!Canyousendmethisarticle?

LIBRARIAN: Of course: you want me to e-mail and fax it, too?

SHERLOCK: Justthefax,ma’am.Hey,howDIDtheshepherdsfindoutaboutthisChild?

LIBRARIAN: Elementary, my dear Watson.

4. UNFORGETTABLE, INCREDIBLE NOT SO SILENT NIGHT! with ANGELS WE HAVE HEARD ON HIGH

LIBRARIAN: Shhhh!!! Lower your voices people!

SHEPHERDS: (Whispered in bass voice, clears throat) OK! (CD:31 SHEEP SFX)

LIBRARIAN: (To SHERLOCK) I wonder why the angels appeared to shepherds and not to me?

SHEPHERDS: Cause they didn’t want to get shushed! (CD:31 SHEEP SFX)

SHEPHERD 1: All right already . . .

SHEPHERD 2: I’m outta here . . .

SHEPHERD 3: I’ve got sheep to tend . . . (CD:31 SHEEP SFX)

(SHEPHERDS exit)

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SHERLOCK: Angels,didthisarticlesaysomethingaboutangels?NewGooglesearch:Anangel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and theywereterrified.Buttheangelsaidtothem,

ANGELS: Fear not!

SHERLOCK / KIDS: (Screaming) Arggggh!!!!!

LIBRARIAN: Shhhhhh!

ANGEL 1: Ah, What part of “fear not” do you not understand?

ANGEL 2: Yeah, exactly what part…

LIBRARIAN: What part of shhhhhh . . .

SHERLOCK: Everybody! Stop! I’ve only got one sundial revolution to get all these facts about thisBabyandfindoutexactlywhythosewisemendidn’treturntoHerod.

ANGELS: Uh, we know?

(Music begins)

SHERLOCK: You do? Then tell me . . .

ANGEL 3: Itwassoexciting;wefinallygotourorderstobreakthroughtheskies

ANGEL 2: with good news that would change the world!

5. WHEN THE LITTLE BABY BOY WAS BORN

STORYTELLER:NowyoudorealizethatI’mnoFBIagent,butit’squiteclearthatMr.Sherlock Watson is starting to perspire a bit. Do you think right about now he’s wondering ...

SHERLOCK: I never wonder!

STORYTELLER: Then what are you doing?

SHERLOCK: I’m . . . pondering . . .

STORYTELLER: Pondering what?

SHERLOCK / STORYTELLER: Why did I ever take this case?

KIDS: Herod ordered you!

SHERLOCK: IKNOW!IKNOW!

LIBRARIAN: Shhhhh! Lower!

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STORYTELLER: (In best bass voice) Oooo . . . someone’s getting (stops bass voice, realizing it’s silly) I mean someone’s getting a little testy don’t you think? Let’s listen as Sherlock goes over his evidence . . .

SHERLOCK: My background check proves that the Baby has the royal bloodline of the King of the Jews.

KIDS: Check!

SHERLOCK: And the shepherds were actual eyewitnesses of the child’s birth in Bethlehem.

KIDS: Check!

LIBRARIAN: AndtheangelsconfirmedthatthelittleBabyboywassentfromheaven’sthrone and was indeed . . .

KIDS and CAST: The Savior of the world!

SHERLOCK: Check! Oh boy . . . Herod’s not gonna like this . . . I AM in trouble.

STORYTELLER: PoorSherlock.Youcanjusttellthathisnervesaregettingfrazzled.Heknowsthat the “good news” of this baby’s birth was going to be “bad news” for Herod to hear. He thinks . . .

SHERLOCK: KNOWS!

STORYTELLER: He knows . . .

SHERLOCK / STORYTELLER: It’stimetofindthosekings!

LIBRARIAN: Whydon’tyoujustGoogle“wisemen?”

SHERLOCK: (Looking on computer)Nothing.Itjustshowedasong.

KIDS: Look at the words!

SHERLOCK: Thewords!Ofcourse.GladIthoughtofit!“WethreekingsofOrientare,bearing gifts we travel so far.” Hey I wonder what gifts they brought the Baby?

WISE MAN 1: Gold!

WISE MAN 2: Frankincense!

WISE MAN 3: Myrrh!

SHERLOCK: Really?Gold,frankincense,myrrh?Suredoesn’tsoundlikegiftsforababy.

WISE MAN 1: Well for THIS Baby, these are the perfect gifts.

WISE MAN 2: For a Baby who was born the King of kings!

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SHERLOCK: Well why didn’t you three return and tell Herod where he was?

WISE MAN 3: Really . . . Are you asking for real??

SHERLOCK: Yes for real! If you three guys had returned like you said you would, I wouldn’t be in this awful position. Herod wants to worship the Baby . . . He said so . . .

WISE MAN 2: He wasn’t the worshipping type, if you know what I mean!

WISE MAN 3: Clearly, he wasn’t.

STORYTELLER: Ladies and gentlemen, I think we can all agree that these were three very wise men. And even today we would all be wise to follow their example.

6. A WISE MAN’S LIFE FOR ME!

SHERLOCK: Isithotinhereorisitjustme?Myheart’spoundingoutofmychest!Mypulseis racing and I’m feeling very dizzy. (Fanning himself)

LIBRARIAN: Shhhh!Nowcalmdown.Justbreathe!Iknowyou’reunderalotofpressure. Sherlock, I think I know someone you should talk to.

SHERLOCK: Yeah.Who?Dr.Phil?NancyGrace?

LIBRARIAN: No,sillyit’smycousin,Vinny.Yousee,heandhiswiferunalittleinnonthe opposite side of town and well . . . it’s the inn where the Baby was born. Well, not actually in the inn but in their stable.

SHERLOCK: What? Why didn’t you tell me this earlier?

LIBRARIAN: Well...it’sbecauseallVinnyeversaysis,“Well,ifIknewthenwhatIknownow.” And I never understood what he meant until . . . well, until . . . now. After seeing all the evidence it makes sense.

SHERLOCK: Waitaminute,don’tjumptoconclusions!HowdoIgetintouchwiththisVinny? Time’s running out. His royal meanness is probably blowing his stack right now and I’m going be toast!

STORYTELLER: So, you’ll notice then that Sherlock and the Librarian have become (music begins) partners in crime solving. Their next search would be forCousinVinny,theinnkeeper,andhiswife.TheirstorywilltouchSherlock in a personal way.

7. IF I KNEW THEN

(Over measures 46-53)

CHILD 1: Andshegavebirthtoherfirstborn,aSon.ShewrappedHiminclothandplaced Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

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CHILD 2: Therewereshepherdslivingoutinthefieldsnearby,keepingwatchovertheir flocksbynight.AnangeloftheLordappearedtothem.

CHILD 3: “Donotbeafraid,Ibringyougoodnewsofgreatjoythatwillbeforallpeople.

CHILD 4: Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born.

TOGETHER: He is Christ, the Lord!

STORYTELLER: (Over long hold chord at the end of song)Thequestionis,“willthemiracleof heaven be born in Sherlock tonight?” (Music begins)

8. A HIGHER CALLING TO A HIGHER KING with I HAVE DECIDED TO FOLLOW JESUS

(Over measures 22-30)

STORYTELLER: Sherlock found the facts. He studied the prophecies in the Holy Scriptures. He reviewedthefirst-handstoriesoftheshepherdsandtheinnkeeper.Theangels’ announcement amazed him and he marveled at the wisdom of the wise men and now it was time for him to make a choice. What will he do? (Music begins)

9. A ROCKIN’ ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! (UNDERSCORE)

STORYTELLER: So tell me, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls . . . after watching Sherlock’s investigation . . . Well, I was wondering if some of you might be ready to make a decision? Do you have a higher calling to a higher King? This could be your very firstrealChristmas...

SHERLOCK: For unto us a Child is born,

LIBRARIAN: Unto us a Son is given . . .

STORYTELLER: And He will be called . . .

KID 1: Wonderful Counselor,

KID 2: MightyGod,

KID 3: Everlasting Father,

KID 4: Prince of Peace.

EVERYONE: JESUS...THEKINGOFKINGS!

(Cheersoverfirstfewbars)

10. A ROCKIN’ ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! (REPRISE) with GLORY BE TO GOD

11. A ROCKIN’ ROYAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE KING! (BOW MUSIC)