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Monologue Mania Day #481 Clara's opening (from Wheelie) by Janet S. Tiger June 8, 2015
Monologue Mania Day #481 Clara's opening (from Wheelie) by Janet S. Tiger June 8, 2015
This is from a full-length play Wheelie that will be finished one day
Clara's opening (from Wheelie)
A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights
reserved 2009
tigerteam1@gmail.com
Act 1 Scene 1
(The lights focus on an older lady in a wheelchair who
is wheeling herself into position in front of the curtain stage right. This is CLARA WILBEY, in her sixties, and very lively. She handles the
wheelchair well and is very excited when she sees the
audience.)
Oh, thank you for coming. I knew you folks from the Enquirer would be interested in my story, I just knew it! And it’s a wonderfulstory, if I must say so myself, and it all happened
because of me and my wheelchair and it’s got a love story and violence and
sex - not at the same time, thank goodness, but it’s just the kind of thing
your readers will just love! And it’s
because I read your paper every week, well, actually I read the Globe
every week, but you publish that, too, so it’s your paper, really. I mean, the Enquirer is a little too
truthful now, if you know what I mean.
It’s kind of like THE NEW YORK TIMES, but the GLOBE , that still has all
the great alien baby stories and....(pauses to listen) Oh, yes, I was just
getting to the story. This is part of
the story, don’t you see? I always go to
get the GLOBE the very first day it comes out, so I have a whole week to enjoy it
before I give it to the ladies at the hair shop. (Listens)
Thank you, I like this blue rinse myself. Mr. Wilbey used to say it made me look like a juicy
plum! That was before he passed, though, now he doesn't say anything at all....... Anyhow, I went down to the gas
station market because it’s just around the corner from me and I can get there
with no curbs to worry about. And I was
just rolling up when.........
CLARA-
And I was rolling up, and he just came
barreling out of the door
and he smashed into me full strength (she indicates the
collision with her hands) and I went crashing down and he went flying over me
and he hit his head on the six-pack of beer and he was out like a light until
Sergeant Thompkins arrived.
(Listens)
(Annoyed) How did it affect me? Haven't you been listening? I told you, I was so scared because he
came barreling out of there and he smashed into me (indicates again with her
hands) and....rolled over me like a barrel and....
Don’t make fun of me Chester, I remember before you were a judge, from when you were a
little boy and you used to make jokes in church and you
would laugh until you wet yo....
(Listens, shakes head)
What did it cost me? Outside of my dignity, which is irreplaceable......Well, I gave you the receipts for the
repair of my chair, and the new sweater and the new....
Mental distress? Well of course I have trouble going to the store again, for God’s sake, I have trouble going everywhere in this chair! Talk about a nightmare! If this city would spend some money on ramps....And when it comes to eating out, well! I could tell you....
(Stops, listens)
But I have more to say....
(Listens, a little disappointed, but also relieved)
Well, I am getting a little tired. Where’s Mrs. Rodriguez?
(Mrs. Wilbey wheels out, but stops before a young man and
looks him up and down.)
Jason, I know you can do better. At least if you’re gonna take something, make it worth your time, boy! What is a six-pack worth? $2.00? Didn’t they teach you anything at that college? If you're gonna be a thief, make it a million!(She listens, get annoyed, she gives him a long look and he is finally embarrassed.)
What do you mean (mimics) You're sorry things turned out this way'.....They didn’t turn out this way! You stole the beer - you made this happen!
Thank God I wasn’t hurt or I’d be suing you and your sister for that
house your folks left you! It’s time
for you to grow up! Be a man! Take responsi.......
(Listens, starts to roll off, stops, looks back)
I guess I do have to be getting home - it's almost time for Judge Judy.
(She exits.)
I guess I do have to be getting home - it's almost time for Judge Judy.
(She exits.)
-------------------------
Am not sure if this will work as a monologue, would love your feedback!
For those interested in the entire opening scene, including the other characters -it's here below.
There's more - but this gives an idea.
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Am not sure if this will work as a monologue, would love your feedback!
For those interested in the entire opening scene, including the other characters -it's here below.
Act 1 Scene 1
Setting - smaller town, mid-1980s - BCC- before computers/cell phones
(The lights focus on an older lady in a wheelchair who
is wheeling herself into position in front of the curtain stage right. This is CLARA WILBEY, in her sixties, and very lively. She handles the wheelchair well and is very excited when she sees the
audience.)
CLARA - Oh, thank you for coming. I knew you folks from the Enquirer
would be interested in my story, I just knew it! And it’s a wonderful
story, if I must say so myself, and it all happened
because of me and my
wheelchair and it’s got a love story and violence and
sex - not at the same time, thank goodness, but it’s just the kind of thing
your readers will just love! And it’s
because I read your paper every week, well, actually I read the Globe
every week, but you publish that, too, so it’s your paper, really. I mean, the Enquirer is a little too
truthful now, if you know what I mean.
It’s kind of like THE NEW YORK TIMES, but the GLOBE , that still has all
the great alien baby stories and....(pauses to listen) Oh, yes, I was just
getting to the story. This is part of
the story, don’t you see? I always go to
get the GLOBE the first day it comes out, so I have a whole week to enjoy it
before I give it to the ladies at the hair shop. (Listens)
Thank you, I like this blue rinse myself. Mr. Wilbey said it made me look like a juicy
plum! Anyhow, I went down to the gas
station market because it’s just around the corner from me and I can get there
with no curbs to worry about. And I was
just rolling up when.........
(At this, the curtain rises and we hear running
footsteps and shouting voices. A neon
sign indicates the front door of the gas station market. Mrs. Wilbey has now rolled into
position. The running feet burst from
the door attached to a young man carrying a six-pack of beer. This is JASON and he is in his early 20s, not
bad looking, but a little seedy. He is
looking behind him at the voices yelling ‘stop thief’ so he doesn’t see Mrs.
Wilbey and we see he is about to crash into her when there is a flash of light
and we hear the crash complete with screams and ‘Oh, my Gods’ and the bright
light dims to show Mrs. Wilbey and Jason
are in a courtroom with Mrs. Wilbey on the witness stand
explaining what happened. JUDGE GALLAGHER
is in his fifties and trying to maintain his calm throughout the proceedings.
JASON is with his attorney, CATHY ,who is also his sister. She is in her late twenties, attractive,
clearly upset about her brother and late for another appointment.)
MRS. WILBEY - And I was rolling up, and he just came
barreling out of the door
and he smashed into me full strength (she indicates the
collision with her hands) and I went crashing down and he went flying over me
and he hit his head on the six-pack of beer and he was out like a light until
Sergeant Thomkins arrived.
JUDGE - Thank you
Clara, but as I explained before, this is a sentencing hearing, and what I need to hear from you
is how all this has affected you.
MRS. WILBEY - I told you, I was so scared because he
came barreling out of
there and he smashed into me (indicates again with her
hands) and....
JUDGE - (Cuts her off) I know it must have been very
frightening when he came
barreling out of there and barreled into you and rolled
over you like a
barrel....
MRS. WILBEY -
Don’t make fun of me Chester, I remember when you were a
little boy and you used to make jokes in church and you
would laugh until you wet yo....
JUDGE - (Cuts her off again, but this time with respect)
Sorry Clara, but I’m just trying to get an idea of what this has cost you.
MRS. WILBEY - Well, I gave you the receipts for the
repair of my chair, and the
new sweater and the new....
JUDGE - I mean mental distress, Clara, Any nightmares? Trouble eating?
Trouble going out to the store again?
MRS. WILBEY - Well of course I have trouble going to the
store again, for God’s sake, I have trouble going everywhere in this chair! Talk about a nightmare! If this city would spend some money on
ramps....And when it comes to eating out, well! I could tell you....
CATHY - I think this line of questioning is leading the
witness, Judge.
JUDGE - Of course I’m leading the witness, Cathy, and I
think it’s time I led you
and your brother into my office. Clara, you may go home now,
MRS. WILBEY - But I have more to say....
JUDGE - Not to me.
Thank you for coming in, Clara.
MRS. WILBEY - Well, I am getting a little tired. Where’s Mrs. Rodriguez?
JUDGE - I saw her go down the hall to see her sister at
the desk. You take
care, Clara.
(Mrs. Wilbey wheels out, but stops before Jason and
looks him up
and down.)
MRS. WILBEY - Jason, I know you can do better. At least if you’re gonna
take something, make it worth your time, boy! Didn’t they teach
you anything at that college?
(She gives him a long look and he is finally
embarrassed.)
JASON -(Truly sorry)
I never meant to hurt you, Mrs. Wilbey.
I’m sorry
things turned out this way.
MRS. WILBEY - They didn’t turn out this way! You stole the beer - you made
this happen!
Thank God I wasn’t hurt or I’d be suing you and your sister for that
house your folks left you! It’s time
for you to grow up! Be a man! Take responsi.......
JUDGE - Okay, Clara, we’ll see you later. Have fun watching Judge Judy.
(Mrs. Wilbey leaves and Cathy and the Judge thank her as
the Judge leads them to his chambers, delineated as another part of the stage
by lighting)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------There's more - but this gives an idea.
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Janet S. Tiger
858-736-6315
JanetSTigerMonologueMania.blogspot.com
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983
Playwright-in-Residence
Swedenborg Hall 2006-8
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