Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Monologue Mania Day #840 My Fault (shortened) by Janet S. Tiger (c) June 1, 2016


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Monologue Mania Day #840 My Fault (shortened) by Janet S. Tiger (c) June 1,  2016
                               
                            My Fault   
                           (c) Feb. 17, 2014  all rights reserved                                                     by Janet S. Tiger
                                                tigerteam1@gmail.com
       
 Please note -Shortened for my upcoming book - 30 Monologues Under 30 Seconds
This is the revised version under 30 seconds -original is below- first posted Feb. 17, 2014

All the monologues for this book have been timed - but your performance will determine the length.  Usually between 30 seconds and one minute is acceptable for auditions preferring short monologues.  Use a stopwatch for best results - video for even better.  Good luck!


        (A man is thrown onto the stage - literally falling from the side and taking a moment to get up.  He is disheveled, obviously stoned - not for the first or even 101st time - hair long and stringy - and dirty.  His clothes are dirty - we can almost smell them.  He is not in great shape, maybe even a little bloody from this fight.  He stands with difficulty, shaking a fist at the person who did this.)

I don't think that was very nice, Mom......

        (He wipes his nose on his sleeve, stumbles)

All of this was your fault - 

        (He holds his head as if there is some terrible noise within)

You loved Jimmy more!  You know you did!  I.....

          (He now has trouble following the thought, sits on the ground.)

I need something to drink....

(Shouting)  I need you to let me back in so I can get my stuff!

           (He turns - he has heard something.  He ducks to avoid something thrown at                      him. He hears another noise, ducks again.   Listens to someone calling, his mouth                drops open.  He's really mad now)

(Shouting)  I'm not gonna thank you for throwing my own shoes at me!

          (Listens)


Call the cops!  What do I care? 

         (He turns and his shoulders heave)

It wasn't my fault!  Jimmy was a better rider - he was older... I was following him!  

         (This is hard for him to talk about, but he is trying.)

(Quieter)  The ground was so slippery..........we shoulda had helmets, but no one had helmets then!  That's why I don't ride anymore, Mom! ......  If I could do anything to get him back, I would!

          (He is almost crying)

But it wasn't my fault!

          (He shakes his head, something coming through the fog.)

Maybe....maybe I shoulda gone first that day,..maybe I wouldn't have died - or if I did, maybe I'd be better off........maybe you're right mom, maybe it is my fault......

          (He stands there, stunned by this revelation.  Then he hears something.)

So you did call the cops...thanks Mom.......

          (He walks off, staggering a little.)

Thanks a lot.......


       (The end)









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Original -  about 1 minute


(A man is thrown onto the stage - literally falling from the side and taking a moment to get up.  He is disheveled, obviously stoned - not for the first or even 101st time - hair long and stringy - and dirty.  His clothes are dirty - we can almost smelly them.  Torn, not too new, he is not in great shape, maybe even a little bloody from this fight. He stands with difficulty, shaking a fist at the person who did this.)

I don't think that was very nice, Mom......

         (He wipes his nose on his sleeve, stumbles)

It was your fault - all of this was your fault!

And you know it!

(He holds his head as if there is some terrible noise within)

You loved Jimmy more!  You know you did!  You made me into what I am, and I just...I just....

(He now has trouble following the thought, sits on the ground.)

What was I saying?

I need something to drink....

(Shouting)  I need you to let me back in so I can get my stuff!

(He turns - he has heard something.  He ducks to avoid something thrown at him.)

Thanks a lot!

Whadda my gonna do with one shoe?

(He hears another noise, ducks again.   Listens to someone calling, his mouth drops open.  He's really mad now)

(Shouting)  I'm not gonna thank you for throwing my own shoes at me!

If you just took care of me the way you took care of Jimmy - or the damn house, I wouldn't be like this!

Call the cops!  What do I care? 

(He turns and his shoulders heave)

It wasn't my fault!  Jimmy was a better rider - he had a newer bike!  I was following him!  

(This is hard for him to talk about, but he is trying.)

(Quieter)  I didn't know the rain would make the ground so slippery.....I didn't know that when he fell and hit his head on those rocks...he would die.  He was older...he shoulda known better........we shoulda had helmets, but no one had helmets then!  That's why I don't ride anymore, Mom!  Why I only walk or take the bus!  If I could do anything to get him back, I would!

(He is almost crying)

I know it destroyed you, Mom, and Dad, and....maybe our whole family, but it wasn't my fault!

(He shakes his head, something coming through the fog.)

Maybe....maybe I shoulda gone first that day, maybe my bike was smaller, maybe it wouldn't have skidded.....maybe I wouldn't have died - or if I did, maybe I'd be better off........maybe you're right mom, maybe it is my fault......

(He stands there, stunned by this revelation.  Then he hears something.)

So you did call the cops...thanks Mom.......

(He walks off, staggering a little.)

Thanks a lot.......


(The end)
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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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Note: A few words about 'free' -  all these monologues are protected under copyright law and are free to read, free to perform and video as long as no money is charged. Once you charge admission or a donation, or include my work in an anthology, you need to contact me for royalty info.  

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