Cast: Mary, Joseph, three Shepherds and three Kings. The shepherds may be of either gender.

Length: 15 minutes

MARY and JOSEPH are seated together on stage. There are three other stools near them, two on MARY's right and one on JOSEPH's left. There is a cradle on the floor next to them.

MARY: Joseph, I want to tell you how grateful I am that you were with me during the birth of the child. I really don't know what I would have done without you.

JOSEPH: I was glad to do what I could, but I'm afraid it was far from adequate. You should have gone through this in better surroundings, with women from your family to assist you.

MARY: That would have been nice, but everything turned out fine. God in his mercy saw to that.

JOSEPH: Yes, I know. But still, I feel I let you down.

MARY: In what …