Friday, October 3, 2014

Monologue Mania Day # 233 by Janet S. Tiger Thud (version 2) Oct. 3, 2014

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Monologue Mania Day # 233 by Janet S. Tiger  Thud (version 2)Oct. 3, 2014  
    Note- Thud (version 1) is on Day # 232 - I like to see which version works best - please let me know if you have a preference- thanks!


                                                     Thud (version 2)
                         A monologue by Janet S. Tiger   © all rights reserved
                                                     tigerteam1@gmail.com

             (The man who walks out is holding a piece of clothing in his hands.  He rubs it on his face)

Yes, doctor, I know why I'm here.  Everyone says I need help. 

            (He sniffs the clothing again, then puts it down)

Who knows, they may be right.

They say I'm still obsessed with Jody.  But that's not true.  'Still' means that I was obsessed with her the whole time we lived together.  Thirty-two years.  No one is that obsessed.

We had our ups and downs, fights and battles and everyday arguments over important things like how to tie up the garbage.

           (He illustrates what he now discusses)

Jody was a strict proponent of the twist and tie method, where I firmly believe twist and ties allow leakage, so the only real way is tying up the top loosely, then squishing out the air, with a final tightening that prevents all odor and bugs from entering.

That was one of biggest ongoing battles.  (Thinks)  How much time did we spend on that vital part of life!  Okay.   Maybe I was a bit obsessed about that.  But once Jody and I passed the honeymoon stage, passed the children and money troubles times...... then we were friends and lovers, but not obsessively so.  We traveled together, but also apart.  We worked together, but we each had our own friends.  It was a perfect life.

          (He sighs deeply, then rubs the clothing on his face again)

And then she got sick.  At first no one knew what it was.  We went to a million doctors, all told us the tests were fine, and then they basically told us it was all in her head.  That's always a delight to hear.  Until she collapsed on that cruise to Alaska, and we had to air lift her out, back to Los Angeles.

And then we found out that the doctors had really been right, it was all in her head.......specifically (says this very carefully) .....malignant glioma, inoperable and not particularly pleasant.

The last year was a nightmare, but every minute together suddenly became precious. (Hard for him to say)   I have such guilt that I didn't appreciate all those other minutes!  All those other years!

But the hardest part was the very end.  We knew it was close, and it was hard to keep Jody at home, but she wanted that, and so did I.

           (He holds the clothing to his heart)

It was a Monday morning....ooh, how I played 'Monday, Monday' for weeks afterwards!  Can't trust that day!

I was getting breakfast, and Jody was slowly walking in from the bedroom.  Not that she ate very much at that point.  She spent her whole life on a diet, but this was the time she got thin.... so very thin......

         (He is reliving the moment)

I don't know which I heard first, her gasp......(He gasps loudly)......or the thud.....

         (He falls to his knees)

But in that instant, I knew.  By the time I got to her.......she was gone.  My beautiful Jody!  ....(Trying not to cry)...... I didn't even call 911.....saved myself the cost of the ambulance!  Wasn't that clever!

It's funny....I'm guilty about not appreciating the time we had, but now...now I have lots of time to think about all the things I'd saved money on....not getting the cabin with the terrace.....Jody wanted to sit outside and watch the sunsets, but that extra would have cost another $1500!.....or the fancy faucets when we redid the kitchen..  Who needs Waterworks when they cost an extra $3000?

I don't.  But I wish I'd gotten them for her.  What do I need with that money now?

But I need her.  I miss her.  And I will never forget that last moment, with all the regrets of a lifetime.

          (He holds out the clothing)

See this shirt?  It was Jody's, of course it was Jody's. It still has a tiny bit of her smell on it.  Her perfume.....Chanel number 5 .....and a bit of her makeup from when it rubbed off when she was playing tennis.......

So. if I'm obsessing now, I'm sorry it bothers everyone.  They'll just have to get used to it......In some ways, I think I'm a bit better.

     (He turns to exit, stops, looks back)

You see, I used to carry around her old underwear.....

      (He exits, laughing, the end for now)
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Janet S. Tiger    858-736-6315
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983
Playwright-in-Residence
Swedenborg Hall 2006-8
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