The Buymore Shopping Mall has a contest - tell what the best Christmas gift is, and WIN that gift! The shoppers have many unique gift ideas - toys, candy, new teeth, slippers, and baking. But it's the Charity Bell Ringer that has the best gift idea - a Christmas meal for the homeless. The best gift is one that brings hope, peace and joy to all.

Setting: The Best Gift Ever is set in the Buymore Shopping Mall. Hang a sign at the entrance to your gym/theater with the name: "Buymore Shopping Mall" Create storefronts decorated for Christmas inside the gym. Use store names that you have where you live. The mall administration office is on stage right in front of the curtains. A desk and a sign indicates that this is the mall office.

The scene opens with Mr. Sellmore, Mr. Buymore and Miss Perky entering the mall administration office and having a business discussion.

Mr. Sellmore: (pointing to his business statement) Look at these figures!
It's already September 15 and our Christmas Sales are looking glum.

Mr. Buymore: The Buymore Shopping Center takes pride in being the Mall with the MOST! We always have the best Christmas sales in town. Come now Mr. Sellmore - surely we can come up with a marketing campaign that will bring the shoppers in.

Miss Perky: Let's have a contest! Shoppers LOVE contests!

Mr. Sellmore: Miss Perky - you're brilliant! .....uh...what kind of contest?

Miss Perky: Let's have a Christmas gift contest - have the shoppers tell us....in 50 words or less....what the best Christmas gift is. I'll judge the entries, and the best entry wins the gift that they want!

Mr. Sellmore: Little ones can enter by visiting our Shopping Mall Santa.

Mr. Buymore: Stupendous idea Miss Perky! Start advertising right away!

Curtain opens onto shoppers. Everyone on stage holds shopping bags & boxes, some gift wrapped. Some shoppers can enter through the audience. The shopping mall Santa is seated in the center of the stage. The charity bell ringer stands on Stage left. Mr. Sellmore, Mr. Buymore and Miss Perky exit through the stage.

(Shoppers) Give Us A Gift
Start tape

Give us a gift for Christmas A gift that will last all year
Something to treasure, something to hold A gift that will keep your love near
A toy that will brighten the eyes of a child And bring out the child in us all
Everyone tries it to make sure it works And finally the child gets his turn

Give us a gift for Christmas A gift that will last all year
Something to treasure, something to hold A gift that will keep your love near
Some candy and chocolates for Grandma Almost as sweet as her smile
As soon as she opens the box disappears Her smile will be there for a while

Give us a gift for Christmas A gift that will last all year
Something to treasure, something to hold A gift that will keep your love near
A sweater, a scarf or or a warm pair of mitts For mother or father or friend
They warm the heart they warm the hands With the message of love that they send
Give us a gift for Christmas A gift that will last all year
Something to treasure, something to hold A gift that will keep your love near

Shoppers exit, except for Ashley and Mom. Kindergarten enters.

*stop tape

For an extended script sample of this play, please click here.