Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free* monologue a day- for a whole year-and still going!
If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues-
For a list of the titles and blurbs from each day, click here There are now over 760!
Get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com
first year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2015
second year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2016
********* third year - Feb. 13, 2016 - today!
I've continued with a monologue a day until the spirit moves me to stop, so if you have any ideas for a monologue you want me to write, please let me know at tigerteam1@gmail.com.
second year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2016
********* third year - Feb. 13, 2016 - today!
I've continued with a monologue a day until the spirit moves me to stop, so if you have any ideas for a monologue you want me to write, please let me know at tigerteam1@gmail.com.
If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues-
For a list of the titles and blurbs from each day, click here There are now over 760!
Get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com
If you'd like to write your own monologues, I happen to have a book for that -
Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site. Wishing you much success!
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Monologue Mania Day #764 Decisions by Janet S. Tiger (c) Mar. 17, 2016
For those who are asking about the one monologue a day - yes, I sometimes bring back popular monologues for certain holidays, which gives me time to write longer pieces like the one below. Decisions is a mini-one-act written for a contest, with a prompt that includes the specific characters and a prop and line that needed to be in the script. (They are - and I have them mentioned at the very end)
Decisions
(Not) A monologue by Janet S. Tiger
© 2016 all rights reserved
© 2016 all rights reserved
Time -– now
Characters - JEFFREY
- 50s
BRIAN - 30s
13 year old girl (no
lines)
Simple set - Library in nice home, with bar and barstools,
chairs, end table, sofa if possible
(Lights up - a girl of about 13 comes
in, looking for a place to hide. She hears someone coming and finds a place quickly. A man
comes in - this is Jeffrey, and he is very nicely dressed, suit, maybe a
hat. He is upset and goes to the bar and gets himself a drink, which he
swallows in one gulp.
As he is finishing and starting to pour
another, a younger man comes in, in his 30s, more casual, running shoes, T
shirt. This is Brian, and he, too, is upset, but less tightly wound.
Jeffrey knows Brian is there, but barely turns
his head, Brian comes up and takes a water bottle)
BRIAN - Hope
what’s about to happen doesn’t mean you start drinking again…..
(Jeffrey deliberately takes the open
bottle and drinks)
BRIAN - Well, that’s a
very adult response.
JEFFREY - Well I guess you’re getting to be the adult in this relationship…right through
to the
end…..
(Jeffrey goes to stop Brian from another swig,
and Brian moves as if to hit the other man, when Jeffrey grabs his arm and
stops him. Jeffrey almost collapses)
JEFFREY - Okay, I got it, you win…..what do you want
from me?
BRIAN - You know….and you have no intention of
changing, so…. all we have to do is the
final split …..
JEFFREY - The final split! It sounds like an item at a Divorce Ice Cream
social! We’re talking
about people here!
BRIAN - That’s the problem, Jeff, nothing is ever
enough for you, not enough wine, or
booze,
or trips to the
casino…..or other men….
JEFFREY - You said it didn’t bother you!
BRIAN - I lied……it all bothered me…..which is
why…..this has to be goodbye…..for real, for
now….you can take
the booze if you want….
JEFFREY - That’s sweet….I can have my own booze! Well, you can rant and rave and show
the judge drunken, naked videos – actually, I
think he liked those…… but I don’t believe in stooping that low….I never told
anyone about some of the things you’ve done……
BRIAN - (Less easygoing) Like what?
Do I smell a threat? Or did you
have too much bean dip
with the martinis?
JEFFREY - Funny…you think you’re so funny.
(Thinking back) I remember when I thought you were
funny.
How we used to laugh? Remember?
(Darker) And do you remember
other things….like that big company you run, with all the fancy stock options
and hidden bank accounts….the company that is so dear to you……so important
…..that only I know about the real backers….the people you originally….what’s a
good word….were in bed with?
BRIAN - So that’s it….you’re going to use what I told
you in confidence….
JEFFREY – In bed you
mean, not the same thing!
BRIAN - I thought it was for me….and for you, too….I
didn’t realize…..I just wanted the
best….for you, for
me…..for us…….
JEFFREY - But it was all consuming! It took you away, to every corner of the
planet, and I had
to stay here…
BRIAN - That was your
choice! You had to be the big star of
this little pond! You had to
headline all the local theatrical events! You couldn’t miss a single rehearsal! And you couldn’t miss all the…talent. The young men who needed ‘help’ with their
lines….and how to ‘loosen up’ for their parts……don’t you think I know about all
your help with their…(very arch) ….private parts!
JEFFREY - I suppose we both had….our weaknesses…..I
just thought….
(Brian goes over to the bar and
takes a drink himself)
BRIAN - Maybe….
JEFFREY - I gave you everything! You got this house, all my artwork….all the
money…..
BRIAN - (Annoyed) Don’t make it sound like I did
nothing here….I helped renovate this
place….I was there when you bought every
painting! And I have my own money……you
know the real thing is…..we have to make the last choice, because .....we have a
child……
JEFFREY - Well, you can’t have her! We chose her together, we raised her
together….you
have to let me have at
least half!
BRIAN - You went to church when you were a kid….you
remember King Solomon and the
baby….you can’t split children, not at age
13….she needs to stay here, in her school, with her friends….you can visit on
holidays…..for a month in the summer….
JEFFREY - It’s not enough! I don’t want to be an insert…..like that …oh,
what’s that called
when you have a
missing word?
BRIAN - A caret….
JEFFREY - Caret….that’s me, I have become…..a caret…..
(He picks up a piece of art, turns
it upside down so it looks like the punctuation sign)
JEFFREY - A forgotten word, inserted at the last
minute….. to be looked at but not really part
of the family!
To be forgotten, or ignored…always a mistake…..it’s funny…. you never
wanted children, but now, that’s your whole life….funny…..can one desire be too
much of a good thing?
BRIAN - I guess….we know that answer too…..
(The two men hug and they hear the girl
crying, realize she has heard everything.
Brian goes to take her out as she continues to sob. Jeffrey and Brian hold her)
JEFFREY - I know this is the worst way to do this, but
Brian, why don’t we let her decide….
(Brian sighs and looks at the
girl, who is trying to stop crying)
BRIAN - All right, you can choose……who do you want to
live with? We’ll abide by your
choice…..
(The girl looks between them and then slowly
takes one hand and points at Jeffrey, then takes the other hand and points at
Brian, so she is pointing at both. As
the lights dim, they all lean together and hug.
Blackout)
------------------------------------------------ Line to include - Can one desire be too much of a good thing?
Prop - a carrot, or a carat or karat or caret - I chose caret because it was the most difficult to include!
------------------------------------------------
Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315
JanetSTigerMonologueMania.blogspot.com
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983
Playwright-in-Residence
Swedenborg Hall 2006-8
* 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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