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About the Author…
Konrad Rogowski has worked in community theatre for more
than 40 years as an actor, director, and playwright, and as
president and publicity manager with the Suffield Players, at
historic Mapleton Hall in Suffield, CT. He is the recipient of the
MCC Career Achievement Award and numerous ACT/CONN
awards for acting and direction. His works have been produced
locally, with his drama “Being of Sound Mind,” winning the
ACT/CONN Best Connecticut Production Award. His current focus
is on writing and marketing his plays to a wider audience, and he
is delighted to have his work included in the Drama Notebook.

Credit Konrad Rogowski and Drama Notebook in your program and advertising.
You must also write Konrad to let him know you are using his play!
Contact Konrad at: sptmode@charter.net

About the play…

A SIMPLE ACT OF KINDNESS is a one-act Christmas
play that takes its audience through a tension-filled evening
that tests one family’s bond when the specters of personal
ethics, profit, and peer pressure arrive at their door. Their
challenges include how we role model for our children, and
how our simple acts of kindness may impact the lives of
others in ways we may never know. In a warm and
uplifting conclusion, this family emerges stronger, more
resilient, and more focused on the true and meaningful
values of life.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com A Simple Act of Kindness pg. 3

 A Simple Act of Kindness
A Christmas Play in One Act

By Konrad Rogowski

CHARACTERS

Nabal, An Inn Keeper

Abigail, His Wife

Elizabeth, Their Daughter

Thomas, A Neighbor

Micah, A Traveler

SETTING
The front room of an Inn, late in the day, some time ago.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com A Simple Act of Kindness pg. 4

 A Simple Act of Kindness
A Christmas Play in One Act

By Konrad Rogowski

Setting Suggestion: The set is a basic “black box” with a rustic table and three chairs down-
stage right and a working doorway up-stage left, which is the front door of the Inn. To the right
of that is a small, curtained window facing the street. Up-stage right is a hutch or sideboard
with dishes and mugs. At rise, ABIGAIL is arranging items on the hutch as NABAL paces back
and forth.

ABIGAIL
Are you going to pace the floor like that all night? What is your problem?

NABAL
The problem is, I have one more room to fill and the last of their party has not yet arrived.
They’re all here except him. Where is he? Maybe he got lost. Who knows? How long should I
wait? What if someone else comes by and wants that room? What do I do then? (He looks out
the window and mutters to himself.) Just one more room to fill.

ABIGAIL
You’re nervous as a cat. It will all work out. There are loads of people crowding into the town
for the census decree. Maybe he’s still on the road somewhere, two days away, who knows.
And if not him, then yes, maybe we will get someone else to take the room. There are plenty of
folks in need of shelter tonight.

NABAL
But these are paying customers. That’s the difference. Not like the rest of that riffraff, clogging
the streets looking for a handout. No, when that first one came in and asked if we had four
rooms, I couldn’t believe it. What a windfall. All four rooms booked at once! And at a very fine
price to boot.

ABIGAIL
Yes, and that’s been bothering me too. (He looks at her.) The price that you gave him for each
room. Nearly double what we would charge on any other day. What possessed you to do
something like that?

NABAL
Opportunity, that’s what! One look at him and I could see he had money. The way he was
dressed, and that he was willing to hand over cash for the first three rooms in advance. I had
to think quickly and go high enough on the price without scaring him off. And it worked.

ABIGAIL
Yes, and I’m ashamed that it did, and you should be too. All these years, day in and day out,
we’ve never done badly charging a fair price for what we offer. But now with the census,
suddenly you doubled our price. It’s just not right. We’ve gotten by all right.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com A Simple Act of Kindness pg. 5

NABAL
Yes, that’s just it. That’s all we’ve ever done is “just gotten by.” So, for once, why not us? And it
worked! All the other innkeepers out there are doing it, so why not? What’s the harm? Supply
and demand, that’s business. If I didn’t up the price, folks might wonder what’s wrong with our
Inn, when everyone else’s prices are sky high. We’d look like we couldn’t compete. Weren’t
good enough. And besides… (There is a knock on the door.) Oh, that could be him now, so
hurry, tidy up, quick, quick. (He goes and opens the door. It is their neighbor, another
innkeeper. NABAL is disappointed.) Oh, Thomas, come in, come in. (He quickly looks outside,
scanning for the last lodger.)

THOMAS
Well, that’s a fine welcome. You expecting someone else, Nabal?

NABAL
Yes, yes, one last traveler to fill the house. He’s running late and I’m worried.

THOMAS
Ah, then I’ve beaten you already… it’s a full house at our place. (Laughs.) Not a room left.
You’d better hope he shows up, or you’ll be out the price of a room.

ABIGAIL
We’re not worried Thomas, there are lots of folks in the streets looking for a warm room.

THOMAS
Sure, but have you looked out there? Most of them are without a penny in their pockets,
looking for a handout. You’ll never make a cent from them.

ABIGAIL
And sometimes that’s all right. Money isn’t everything. Being able to sleep with a clear
conscience knowing you’ve done the right thing is a reward in itself.

NABAL
You see what I have to live with, Thomas? A wife satisfied with a kind heart, a clear conscience,
and empty pockets. What can I say?

THOMAS
Nothing, but I say I sleep better knowing I’ll wake up in the morning having to count my money
all over again. (He and NABAL have a laugh over that.) And that reminds me, speaking of
money, don’t be looking for any from the two I spotted across the courtyard as I came in.

NABAL
Why, who are they?

THOMAS
Strangers. A couple of young charity cases if I ever saw one. Not two coins to rub together
between the two of them. Wandering the town with nothing but a sad old mule, and her big as
can be, in a family way. (He holds out his arms demonstrating her size.) Talk about trouble
come to the doorstep. The two of them came by my place a while ago, and I chased them off
as fast as I could. The last thing I needed was them hanging around, scaring away paying
customers. Now they’re camped out across the way. (NABAL goes to the window and peeks
out.) Good luck if they come to your door.

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com A Simple Act of Kindness pg. 6

NABAL
I see what you mean. (Laughs.) What a pair. Thanks for the heads up.

THOMAS
Any time. Well, I’ve got to get back and see to my “full house” of guests. And you’d better
finish cleaning up around here if you intend to impress yours. (He bends down, picks up a white
feather from the floor, and hands it to NABAL.) Really Nabal?! They’ll be wondering whether
you’re running an Inn or a chicken coop. (He laughs and goes out.)

NABAL
Look at this! Feathers on the floor, and we’ve got a house full of paying guests. They’ll think
we’re running a barn, not an Inn. Where did this come from? Since when do we have chickens
roosting in this house?

ABIGAIL
(Coming over and looking at the feather.) Dove, not chicken.

NABAL
What?!

ABIGAIL
It’s a dove’s feather, not a chicken feather. (He just looks at her in disbelief.) Elizabeth was
looking for it. Or don’t you remember? She found that dove with an injured wing last week. She
kept it in a box in her room for a few days until it was well enough to fly again. She found this
one feather afterward and kept it as a memento.

NABAL
And that “memento” is now cluttering up our floor! Making us a laughingstock in front of our
neighbors and our guests. We’ll look like fools. Elizabeth! Elizabeth, get in here now!

ABIGAIL
Now Nabal, don’t take it out on the child, she’s… (ELIZABETH comes in.)

ELIZABETH
Yes, father? Oh, you found my feather, thank you! I’ve looked all over for it. (She reaches out
for it, but he does not give it to her.)

NABAL
Elizabeth, do you know how important it is to make a good impression on our new guests,
especially with all the big goings on, the decree? Well, do you?

ELIZABETH
Yes.

NABAL
Well, how can I do that when you leave things like this lying around on the floor? It makes us
look like we don’t take care of our home, our business. What will people think? It’s
embarrassing. You’ve got to be more responsible!

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com A Simple Act of Kindness pg. 7

ELIZABETH
I didn’t do it on purpose. I just… lost it. I didn’t mean to spoil anything.

NABAL
Well, it’s too late now, isn’t it? What’s done is done and can’t be undone. How I’m supposed to
keep everything going around here without any help is beyond me. You’ve got to be more
responsible. Never mind taking in sick birds, and foolishness like that! We’re not running a
haven for every sad case that comes to our door. Now you… (ELIZABETH starts to cry and runs
out the front door.) Elizabeth?! Wonderful, just wonderful! What am I supposed to do now?
How do I make all this work tonight? What’s the answer?

ABIGAIL
(After two beats.) Maybe you’re holding it in your hand.

NABAL
What? This silly feather? This is the answer to my problems? Really? How? Tell me, please.

ABIGAIL
Think. Why do you think that feather means so much to Elizabeth? (He just looks at her and
shrugs.) Because it reminds her of the charity and care she showed to that poor injured dove
and the satisfaction she took when it healed and was able to fly away again. She neither sought
nor gained anything from that simple act of kindness. No money. No recognition. Just the peace
that comes from a good and selfless deed. And where did she learn that? (He shrugs again.)
From us. From you! How many times has she seen you lend a hand to our family and friends
with no thought of repayment or recognition? And now how confused do you think she is to
see you so consumed by profit, and so upset by one small white feather that represents so
much to her?

NABAL
You see all that in this one feather?

ABIGAIL
And more, believe it or not. Think about what a feather is and what it can do. (Confused, he
gestures “What?”) Each of us is like a feather. Alone we don’t seem like much, but gather us
together like a family and what can we do? Like the feathers, we protect one another, we
provide warmth and comfort, and when we work together, we can all fly! Fly above the trials
and everyday problems of the world and see life from a whole new perspective. High enough to
see hope, a better way to live, and a way to salvation.

NABAL
(NABAL is moved by this and thinks.) But how am I supposed to…

ABIGAIL
(She goes to him.) You are our white feather. Our foundation. We’ve never asked any more
from you than your love, your support, and comfort. That bond with you is beyond any riches
that one night’s financial gain can bring. Why worry over more when you have all that? Why
sacrifice our unending bond as a family for the pittance of one night’s profits? (He just looks at
her.) What?

© Drama Notebook www.dramanotebook.com A Simple Act of Kindness pg. 8

NABAL
I… I never realized how much that means to you. I was just trying to provide for you and
Elizabeth. I thought that was my job. What I didn’t realize is that I somehow lost sight of what
is really important… your love and respect. And no amount of money can buy that. And no
amount of money must ever jeopardize that. So, how do I make it right then?

ABIGAIL
You could start by calling your daughter back in.

NABAL
Yes, let me see where she is. (He looks out the window and sees her. He turns back to ABIGAIL
unsure what to do.) She’s out there talking to those two young travelers that Thomas warned
us about. What should I do? (ABIGAIL just looks at him. He hesitates for a moment, then goes
and opens the door.) Elizabeth, come here, please. (ELIZABETH comes in the door, and NABAL
hands her the feather.) Here, I’m sorry I spoke so harshly before. I was wrong. I know how
much this means to you. Go find a safe place for it in your room. (She takes the feather, gives
him a hug, and runs off. Just as he is about to close the door, the last customer appears,
rushing in the door.)

MICAH
Greetings. Oh, I’m glad a caught you. I hope you haven’t given my room away. I’m Micah, have
my friends arrived yet?

NABAL
Yes, yes, they have. Come in, come in. Your room is open and ready for you.

MICAH
Thanks so much. It’s been a long and hard day’s travel, and I just want to settle in if that’s all
right. (He starts to move, then stops.) Oh, sorry, here, before I forget. (He starts to drop coins
into NABAL’s hand.) That’s the right amount, isn’t it? (NABAL hesitates, and then…)

NABAL
Oh, no, no there must be some mistake, that’s too much. Here’s your change. (He hands
MICAH back some coins.) And here… (He digs in his pocket.) is the same amount for each of
your fellow travelers. If you’d be so kind as to give it to them. I believe I quoted them the
wrong amount when they booked their rooms. This should make that right.

MICAH
Why, thank you then. I’m sure they will be pleasantly surprised. Thank you! (He exits out to his
room. NABAL is about to close the door, when he hesitates, looks out, and calls to the two
strangers.)

NABAL
Hello! You there! I understand you’re looking for lodging. Well, our rooms are all filled, but if it
will do, I can offer you a place in our stable. It’s warm and safe, and you can have it for as long
as you need. No one should be out on the streets on a night like this, and it looks as though
you’re certainly in need. It’s just around the back to the right. You can’t miss it. All right? Good.
Sleep well!

CURTAIN

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