Sunday, March 31, 2019

Monologue Mania Day # ?? Holdback by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 31, 2019

Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free* monologue a day- -and still going!

Today is Day # ? ?  To look at the other titles - click here

  first   year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2015   - now in year 6 !      
            
I've continued with a monologue a day until the spirit moves me to stop - if you have any ideas for a monologue you want me to write, please let me know at tigerteam1@gmail.com.

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 on Facebook, Google - with friends.  Wishing you much success!
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Monologue Mania Day #  ??  Holdback by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 31, 2019
                   
                                           The Holdback

                                      a monologue by Janet S. Tiger 
                       (c)  2019  all rights reserved                                                                                                                              tigerteam1@gmail.com
  

                   (Actor enters, papers in hand)

 Holdback.

 That's what we do.

 We keep a secret.  Or we try to.....

 I mean, we don't tell the press everything.  

 We may give them this.....

         (Shows several pages)

 But not this......

          (Looks at something and shudders)

 The scene, that is .....private.  (Takes a deep breath)

 That way, if someone calls us up, and claims to be the killer, well, they have to know certain things, maybe what the murder weapon was, or how the person was killed, or where we found the body......that's what we....holdback.

 Simple.

 Like life.

 You hold back something, just to make sure that if the person really cares, they will know this very important information.  That they were inside of you all the time, part of the whole of you, not just what they read in the papers.  They have the real scoop, the true story.......

            (Turns to leave, stops, looks back)

 Because that's what love is, right?  The other person just knows us........and that my friend, is why love is a real killer.......

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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 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Janet S. Tiger    858-736-6315                CaregiversAnon.org
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983

Playwright-in-Residence


Swedenborg Hall 2006-8     
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Saturday, March 30, 2019

Monologue Mania Day # ? The Bread Not Taken by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 29, 2019

Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free* monologue a day- -and still going!

Today is Day # ?   To look at the other titles - click here

  first   year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2015   - now in year 6 !      
            
I've continued with a monologue a day until the spirit moves me to stop - if you have any ideas for a monologue you want me to write, please let me know at tigerteam1@gmail.com.

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 on Facebook, Google - with friends.  Wishing you much success!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Monologue Mania Day #  ?  The Bread Not Taken by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 29, 2019
                
                     The Bread Not Taken
                by Janet S. Tiger 
                       (c)  2019  all rights reserved                                                                               tigerteam1@gmail.com
   

A sadness comes to all.  Tonight, it came to me.

My sister

A secret

Held for years

Suddenly revealed

The shame

The horror

My sister knows I have a strange desire.

Because of this desire.....my life is different.  Better.

But she does not understand

She will never understand .....this desire  

The desire is...... for those things.....free.  

She feels that obtaining things one has no use for is useless. 

 I beg to disagree.  

Actually, mostly I argue.

But tonight, she informed me that she lives in a place where, every week, in the community room, an anonymous person deposits  ......free bread.

That's right, free!  No cost!  So what if it' s almost expired?  I don't care because free is free!

What day does it come?  I ask.  Monday?  Saturday?

She will not tell me.

She is cruel.

I will call to find out!

She says she will tell everyone not to tell me!

Do I need this bread?  No.

I tell her.....I could give it to others.

She laughs.  You are busy she says to me.  Why spend time you don't have giving away bread to other people who don't need it either?

I cry to her......You will never understand!

I am furious!  She has lived in this place for over four years and never told me!  And she knew I would have taken the bread, enjoyed the bread....ok., I would have enjoyed giving the bread to others, whether they wanted it or not....but why?  Why did she keep this valued information from me, her only sister?

We laugh until we are crying.

And then she makes me laugh more.......because she tells me......there is now, started recently.......also....free vegetables!  

I am even madder, which makes us laugh more.......

Because she tells me ....surprise twist in the story!....she did take some of the vegetables, ok, one zucchini.  

Only one!  I am horrified again !

Yes, one, she tells me, but it was a big one, and it lasted three weeks!

At least she availed herself of the free.

 But I am still mad about about the four years

And then she says it is a special poetic justice......

The bread not taken

I almost wet my pants.  


-------------------------------------------------------
ps -An apology to Robert Frost!

 For my readers, thank you for your patience, and now, a question 

Which is a better title -  The Bread Not Taken  

    or                                 The Loaf Not Taken

Thanks for input! 

 -----------------------------------------
---------------------------------------

* 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 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Janet S. Tiger    858-736-6315                CaregiversAnon.org
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983

Playwright-in-Residence

Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 
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Thursday, March 14, 2019

Monologue Mania Day # 1842-1843 Open Doors by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 12-13, 2019

Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free* monologue a day- -and still going!

Today is Day # 1842-43    To look at the other titles - click here

  first   year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2015   - now in year 6 !      
            
I've continued with a monologue a day until the spirit moves me to stop - if you have any ideas for a monologue you want me to write, please let me know at tigerteam1@gmail.com.

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 on Facebook, Google - with friends.  Wishing you much success!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Monologue Mania Day #  1842-1843 Open Doors by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 12-13, 2019

                                    Open Doors                       
   A monologue by Janet S. Tiger 
                       (c)  2019  all rights reserved                                                                               tigerteam1@gmail.com
(The man is not too old, but looks worn.  He listens, then nods his head, then shakes it.)



What happened?  Who knows?    All I can tell you is my story.

My story.

I told them I didn't do it.  Why did I tell them that?

Because I didn't do it.

I mean, me and my wife, we had disagreements.  She'd throw things at me, and slam doors, and I....I gotta admit, I did smack her a few times.  I figured, she broke stuff, I could smack her.  But hurt her, no way.    Rape her, beat her?  No Way!  ....Hurt our baby....no way......

But even though the baby died, she survived.  She was in bad shape, but she got better ....  And then, after a few months, she said she remembered what happened, and that it was me.

I told them....it wasn't me.  I went out to get something to eat.   

Somebody beat her head, and she wasn't remembering things right.  

I took a polygraph.  The test said I was telling the truth, but it didn't matter in court.  Those only matter if it looks like you lied.

And she ....she was a good witness.  I don't hold it against her, you know.  She was hurt bad by whoever did it.

Eight years.  I was in eight years before they said I could go for parole.  Hard time.  Harder than the Marines.  There was only one catch.

I had to admit I did it.  

And I couldn't do that.  I mean, I ain't no saint.  I have lied in my life.  Did I take the cookies from the cabinet?  No, Mom.....that was Toby, my little brother.......No, honey, I wasn't screwing around, I was... out with the boys......

But I never lied about important stuff.  Not this.

I didn't hurt my wife.  And even if it meant staying in prison, then......that's what I had to do.

And I thought about killing myself.  It’s not hard to do that in prison.  I was close.  And then.....one day.....

.....I get a call from a detective who's looking at some cold cases.  He thinks, maybe, that the person who killed seven other women in our state......one woman just three blocks from where we lived......maybe that person might have been the one that hurt my wife.

Why was he calling me?  Because I had refused parole.  And he felt that people who refused parole - two times - well, maybe their story should be heard.  He asked me a coupla questions, and said he'd get back to me after they ran some DNA.  

By that time, DNA testing was way more advanced.  Back in the 70s, they knew about DNA, but they couldn't test like now.  In the 70s, the only thing they tested for me was my blood type, turned out to be same as the killer.  Not good for me.

So I decided not to kill myself.  Not that week at least.  And another miracle happened.  When they ran the DNA, it turned out....the guy was already in jail, and he was on death row for killing other women.  The detective went to talk to him, and asked about my case.....the guy was quiet, and then he said.....I did that one.  I heard the guy who got sent up was a Marine, and I'm sorry about that.'

(Shakes his head)

He confessed.   Because we were brothers.

Amazing.

They had to test one more time that the DNA was his and not mine, and......four hours after the results came back.....they let me go......

        (Deep breath)

Sixteen years.  It's a long time.

But my wife....she remarried.  And I remarried, and I have two kids.  And they are amazing.  And I work at helping other guys find out if the DNA can clear them.  And that's my story......

        (Turns to leave, stops, looks back)

But it's not the whole story.    No, I didn't rape my wife.....I didn't beat my wife.....but......I still have guilt.

Why?  Because ....my wife and I....we'd just had a fight.  She'd thrown a dish at me, and I'd slapped her.  And when I left to go get something to eat, I was mad.....and I walked out....and I left the front door open.  ....and the Jack-in-the-box near our house was busy, so I kept driving, and I went and got some damn tacos

        (Hard to say)

The guy,  the other Marine.....he heard us arguing, and he waited for me to leave....and he....came to the front door, and he.....(almost crying, but not)  ....opened that front door, and he walked in.....because the door was unlocked!.......and she was in bed and the light was behind him, and she thought it was me, and he.....bashed in her head with a rock......and he.....did those things, and he killed our baby……and she thought it was me!.........

       (Deep breath)

Sixteen years.  I was mad for a lot of it, and depressed, and I didn't even know that had I locked the front door......maybe....none of it would've happened......Maybe.....

        (He exits, standing straighter as he leaves) 

This is based on a true story.  Click here for more details

---------------------------------------

* 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 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Janet S. Tiger    858-736-6315                CaregiversAnon.org
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983

Playwright-in-Residence

Swedenborg Hall 2006-8    




Posted by at No comments:

Monday, March 11, 2019

Monologue Mania Day # 1841 My Mother's Underwear by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 11, 2019

Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free* monologue a day- -and still going!

Today is Day # 1841    To look at the other titles - click here

  first   year - Feb. 13, 2014 - Feb. 12, 2015   - now in year 6 !      
            
I've continued with a monologue a day until the spirit moves me to stop - if you have any ideas for a monologue you want me to write, please let me know at tigerteam1@gmail.com.

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 on Facebook, Google - with friends.  Wishing you much success!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Monologue Mania Day #  1841 My Mother's Underwear  by Janet S. Tiger (c) for Mar. 11, 2019
                         My Mother's Underwear
   A monologue by Janet S. Tiger 
                       (c)  2019  all rights reserved                                                                               tigerteam1@gmail.com

(The actress comes out, holding a large shopping bag, which will be opened during the following to illustrate the story)

My mother loved giving gifts - and she enjoyed when the thought she put in was appreciated.  

After her death, we have received dozens of notes from people who had received her gifts and truly appreciated them - often still keeping them for years.  Wearing the clothing - scarves with a clock design the recipient loved because they enjoyed clocks.  Or the jewelry - an initial in a pretty style.  A tie with trains for a train lover, a teddy bear that was saved until it was ancient......playing cards from a special city.....a book by a favorite author....my mother had a knack for remembering details that she used well.  Not all the gifts were perfect - my siblings and I would laugh at the ones that fell short - but all of us used many of the items she gave us - still use them, now more fraught with meaning since her passing.

"I used that pen throughout college"..."I still wear the necklace"....."She was the only person who remembered my birthday..."....."When I graduated.....when I got married.....when I had the baby.....her generosity was limited only by time......you can't meet everyone or give everyone a gift, but she certainly tried.

Limited.  The tears come when I think the limit has been reached.  Death is the limit.

And I am having trouble realizing that her gifts to me will be no more - she would always be getting me earrings, and magazines, and searching out articles she thought I might like.  And now.....I will pretend the ones I saved are new.  

Plus, I get to wear her underwear.  Not what you might think - we donated her personal clothing to charity....but she bought tons of things on sale - shampoo, scarves, chocolate....and new underwear was just one of the bargain bounty.

If I was younger, the thought of wearing the size (not to be mentioned!) of the panties she bought would have been horrific.  But now, at my age.....they are perfect - all cotton, big enough to grow into as she would say!.....and in lovely bright colors - hot pink, lavender, greens and all shades of blue with flowers......just what I needed so that I can get rid of the ones I have that are filled with holes.  And I am no longer embarrassed about admitting that either.

So I will enjoy wearing my mother's underwear for years.   And remembering her every time I open a new pack......Rest in peace, Mom.......

            (Holds a pair of underwear to her cheek as she exits.  Not the end of a need for new undies!)
---------------------------------------

* 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 

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Janet S. Tiger    858-736-6315                CaregiversAnon.org
Member Dramatists Guild since 1983

Playwright-in-Residence

Swedenborg Hall 2006-8    





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