Equipment
A handful of scouts
Preparation
One short practice is all it takes
Action
The first scout walks out to the edge of the stage. Pretends it is a tall building/bridge off of which he is going to jump. He counts “1, 2, …” Just before he gets to three, a second scout walks out limping and asks him what he is doing.
Scout#1 says, ‘I’m an undertaker and business has been so bad lately. I’m afraid I’m going to lose my house, my car and everything I own so I decided to jump. Scout #2 says, ‘I know what you mean, I am a professional football player but I just injured my leg so badly that I won’t ever play again. I think I’ll jump with you.” In unison, they count, “1, 2, ….”. Again, just before they get to three, a third scout walks out holding his hand and asks what’s going on.
Scout 1 and 2 each, in turn, tell scout 3 their story. Scout three tells his story, which is, “I’m a concert pianist and I just had my hand crushed in an accident. I’ll never play again. I’ll jump with you.” In unison, they count “1, 2, …” this goes on for as many scouts as you have left. Each scout should have something that has ruined his life and left him with nothing to live for.
After you have 5 or 6 scouts up on stage and they have all told their story, they get ready to jump. In unison, they count, “1, 2, 3”. They all jump, except for the first one who is the undertaker, who acts like he is going to jump but doesn’t. He smiles and says, ‘I’m back in business!’
