Accountability/Responsibility Skit
(For Middle School and High School)

Director Hints: 

• Help the insurance agent to use sarcasm well, speaking as if he's going along with the people, but using subtle sarcasm.
• The agent could show more irritation with each excuse. 
• The "victims" will be more fun and interesting the more animated and personable they are. As they tell their stories, they could use the seat as a car, make sounds and show swerves with their hands and arms. One could be very proper. Another very country. Their personalities make for interest. 

Narrator: "Most of us would rather blame others than take responsibility for our actions. And it's not just students. This skit gives actual accident reports that drivers told their insurance agents in real life. It shows how silly excuses look to people, and how we get better respect by taking responsibility and telling the truth."

(Curtain opens to find one student sitting at a large work desk with stacks of papers, a cell phone, a land line phone, etc.)

Insurance Agent (A student in a microphone imitates one of those interesting ring tone sounds.) Agent answers: "Acme Auto Insurance - you crash; we give cash...Sorry to hear that...are you okay?... Sure, just drop by and fill out an accident report. (Hangs up)

(Student makes sound like beeping from secretary to his land line.)

(Agent picks up land line phone.) 

"Sure, just start sending them in one at a time. Should I record their stories in case we want to write a book?...Yes (laughing) definitely fiction."

(The sound effects student makes a door knocking sound.) "Come in!" 

First Accident "Victim": "Mr. Smith, you'll never believe what happened!

Agent: "Try me!"

First "Victim": "So I was driving along, minding my own business when a pedestrian hit me and went under my car."

Agent: (With mild sarcasm): "I hate it when pedestrians do that! But that's one reason we buy insurance...protection against ...dangerous pedestrians. Well, just go to the lobby and fill out the form. 

(Leaves, with sound effects student making a door closing sound. Then, another knock.)

Agent: "Come in!" 

Second "Victim": (This guy could be very redneck.) "Mr. Smith, the guy was all over the road. I had to swerve several times before I hit him."

Agent: (Picking up a report): "The police report says you'd just downed a six pack of beer at your buddy's house. But I'm sure you're one of those who can drive fine while...er...dead drunk. 

Second "Victim": "You got it! It don't affect me at all!"

"Hey, just fill out the form in the lobby and we'll mail it in." 

(Leaves, with sound effects student making a door closing sound. Then, another knock.)

Third "Victim":  "Mr. Smith, it was a horrible night."

Agent: "I'll bet it was. I hear so many tragic stories, even today. Now you just sit down and tell me about it."

Third "Victim": "So I was driving along, minding my own business, when an invisible car came out of nowhere, struck my car and vanished."

Agent: "Invisible cars...I think I've read about those hazardous vehicles in the newspaper. Ghastly dangerous! Just fill out this form in the lobby and we'll mail it in."

(Leaves, with sound effects student making a door closing sound. Then, another knock.)

Agent: "Come in!"

Fourth "Victim":  "Mr. Smith, here's how it happened. As I approached the intersection, a stop sign suddenly appeared in a place where no stop sign had ever appeared before; I was unable to stop in time to avoid an accident."

Agent: "I think I'm seeing a pattern. I've heard of cars appearing and disappearing. Now we've got stop signs appearing out of nowhere. It's a dangerous world out there! Maybe an alien conspiracy!" (Becoming more disgusted each time.) 

"Just explain it on this form and I'll turn it in."

(Leaves, with sound effects student making a door closing sound. Then, another knock.)

Agent: "Come in!"

Fifth "Victim": "Mr. Smith, I've had the worst luck this week. Then I got in my car...and I could see it coming. The power pole was approaching fast. I was attempting to swerve out of its path when it struck my front end.

Agent: "Ahhhh...those blasted power poles! We've been pushing the government to restrain them for some time. Until then, I'll have to continue hearing these tragic stories. Just fill in the form in the lobby."

(Leaves, with sound effects student making a door closing sound. Then, another knock.)

Agent: "Come in!" (By this time, he's slumped down in his chair, hardly even looking at the next person.)

Sixth Person: "Hi Mr. Smith. How's your family?" 

Agent: (Rather startled by the question, he looks up.) "Okay. Thanks for asking. Tell me about your accident."

"I was following too close, okay, tailgating, when the person in front stopped suddenly." Agent perks up and says, "That's all? No invisible cars or malicious telephone poles?"

Sixth Person: (confused) "Huh?"

Agent: "You're the first person all day who's taken responsibility for his part of the accident. I'm sick of all these story-tellers who can't take responsibility for their part in the accident. I have no respect for them at all."

"Your collision insurance covers you. I'll have yours processed before those whiners, so you'll get your money back quickly."

"Can I buy you lunch?"

(All students and teachers involved stand out front and bow to the audience.)

Wrap-Up

Discussion