Story:  Dramatic reading based on Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 8.
Theme:  Time
Two readers required

(lights fade up with actresses facing away from each other; blue light on one, red on another)

(read slowly and deliberately, enunciating clearly and loudly)

#1: There is a time for everything
#2: and a season for every activity under heaven
#1: a time to be born
#2: and a time to die
#1: a time to plant
#2: and a time to uproot
#1: a time to kill
#2: and a time to heal
#1: a time to tear down
#2: and a time to build.

(both turn in place at the same time to face audience)

#2: a time to weep (as #2 speaks, #1...arm over forehead) and a time to laugh (as #2 speaks, #1...look up and laugh silently)
#1: a time to mourn (as #1 speaks, #2...cross arms and hold shoulders)
and a time to dance (as #1 speaks, #2...spread arms)
#2: a time to scatter stones
#1: and a time to gather them
#2: a time to embrace (as #2 speaks, #1....reach forward as if greeting)
and a time to refrain (as #2 speaks, #1....hands extended in ãstopä)
#1: a time to search (as #1 speaks, #2....hand shading brow) and time to give up (as #1 speaks, #2....slowly lower hand)

(both turn in place at the same time to face each other)

#1: a time to keep
#2: and a time to throw away
#1: a time to tear
#2: and a time to mend
#1: a time to be silent
#2: and a time to speak

(#2 turns away from audience, #1 turns toward audience in place at same
time)

#1: a time to love
#2: and a time to hate
#1: a time for war
#2: and a time for peace.

(both face each other at same time)

#1: There is a time for everything, and everything has its time
#2: the seed germinates
#1: and the plant grows
#2: and produces flowers
#1: and dies
#2: There is a time for everything, and everything has its time

(both face the audience at same time)

#1 & #2: We all...
#1: ...have our time
#2: one time
#1: one life
#2: one time through

(both face each other at same time)

#1 & #2: Is it enough?

(both face away from each other)

#1: It is all we have
#2: Make it count.

(Lights fade out)