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Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day Day # 240 by Janet S. Tiger The Ruler Oct. 10, 2014 The Ruler A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (A character comes onstage wearing a suit made of....yes, numbers starting at one by the feet, up to 12 on the head. Very perky) Yes, my friends, you guessed it. I am.....a ruler. Not the king-y kind, but the number kind. Some call me other names, but numerically, I am always the same. I am a constant in a changing world. Well, that's not true. I have been many different lengths throughout history. I started out as a way of everyone agreeing on at least one thing - how long I was. So, I have been all sorts of lengths, from fingers and toes and feet and cubits, but one thing I have had to be is....consistent. Please remember that when you are yelling at me because you measured incorrectly - as if it was my fault! Or banging me on the table because you think that might improve the measurement- wrong again! I represent the best in our world - the ability for everyone to agree on even one thing for awhile - and with me comes the keeping of a dream and a hope - that agreement can grow throughout the world. That instead of fighting over silly things, like pieces of earth, and who has a better God.....people will be able to agree about many things - and maybe, I could measure.....instead of pieces of paper....maybe I could measure ....peace. (Turns to leave, stops, looks back) So, I guess you could say....I'm hoping to be the ruler....of the world. (Exits. Not the end for peace) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 239 by Janet S. Tiger Body of Evidence Oct. 9, 2014 Body of Evidence (from CRIME) A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (The detective comes out onstage, he has a piece of chalk in one hand) We all take different paths in life, but they all come to the same end. Some of us will die in our own bed, others in the wrong bed, some will die in hospitals, others will be helped to die. Killed. That's where I come in...... Numbers. Bodies. Numbers of bodies..... (He takes the chalk and draws an outline on the floor) Most people never have to deal with a murder in their entire lives. Now, if you watch TV, you would think that's an impossible statistic, but....just like serious fires, and major catastrophic events, in a lifetime, it's usually not gonna happen. Now, a car accident, and a related death or injury, almost everyone has to deal with that. But a murder.....unless you're in the criminal justice business, odds are the only killings you will see are on the favorite show.....or the news. We are fascinated by death, and, unfortunately, by murder. I think that's why people love mysteries so much. Life is a big mystery, but in a TV show, the problem is solved in an hour, or, if they want, they candrag it on through a few shows, maybe a season. But solved it is, or no one watches. Take this, though, here in the real world...... (He kneels by the chalk figure) Last night, this was a human being...... breathing, thinking, eating......living....hopefully loving. Now...... (He takes a rag from his pocket and erases the chalk) Now they are gone......and my job is to figure who the perpetrator is......perhaps why, although sometimes you never know. And sometimes we never know who the killer is.....or we know, but can't do anything about it. (He rubs his foot where the chalk was) And all that person was becomes information on paper, on a computer. The body is now a body of evidence. (He takes out a pad from his pocket) This body has no name yet....John Doe. Time of death....within the last three to four hours. Stabbed, shot, strangled......poisoned, electrocuted, pushed down the stairs, run over, drowned, bludgeoned...or maybe just scared to death. Somewhere, probably, hopefully, a family member is watching, waiting, wondering when this person will come home. And either I, or another police officer, will let them know....this person will never be coming home again. Why did I pick this profession? Because I fit the character mold for a detective......loves fairness and justice, and wants to protect people. (He turns to go, stops, looks back) And I love donuts. (He takes a donut from another pocket, starts eating it as he exits. End of scene) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 238 by Janet S. Tiger Why You Are Losing....Money Oct. 8, 2014 Why You Are Losing.....Money (from the movie Radio Row) A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (The narrator is seen waiting for his brother, who is closing the door for the last customer of the day. He waits, then goes to his brother and puts his hand up.) Stop! Before you say anything else, I just want you listen, okay? Because it's important for you to know that I'm about to tell you is the truth, I made sure of it.......you know how you asked me why you are losing money when we sell more radios and parts than anyone in a three block radius, and how come there is never enough cash left to send to the suppliers? Well, I put out a trap.....and I set it up without telling anyone, but let me show you what I did.... (While he talks, we see what he is describing happen onscreen) First, I talked to some of my old buddies from the unit, back during the war. They were coming into town for some convention, and I met them and got them to help out. No one here in the store knew what I was doing, not even you, Georgie, so you wouldn't spill the beans....... (We see him giving some bills to his friends while they're at dinner together, the bills are marked, not obviously, but once you know where, it's easy to find) And they came down over the last two days, while things were busy, and we were doing a lot of business, right? (His friends come into the store, and they buy a few items using the money, giving it to different people there, including George.) And then, we have to go through the bills, George, and we'll know exactly what happened.... (He takes out a list and shows it to George. Then he opens the cash box and removes the twenties, looking at them carefully.) Here's the bill they gave to you, because you put everything in, and here's the twenty that Tommy got....and the one that Joe got.......and...... (He looks at the list, points) But the twenty that Eddie got......it isn't here, George, and it wasn't here yesterday either. And you know what that means, George.....one day can be a mistake, maybe he gave it in change. But we don't get a lot of bills big enough to use twenties for change, do we, and we know what they are, right? You know what I'm saying, right? (George just takes out a cigar and lights it and when he does, the smoke comes out of his ears. George starts screaming, but the smoke obliterates the sound, and the narrator looks into the camera as George's head - and the smoke - get bigger) I knew my brother was not going to take it well when he found out that his son was the thief......actually, that's not really accurate. He knew his son had been robbing him for years, but now, now there was irrefutable truth, proof......because even though he had looked the other way when his son -who earned the same as I did -bought a brand new Cadillac.....and all I could afford was....an old Ford. It was over, the lying, the cheating....there was nothing George could do now.....so he did what he knew he had to do....he fired..........me! (The narrator is seen being thrown out of the store. He is shaking his head sadly.) But it turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me..... (The owner of a nearby shop has been watching George thrown out, and he runs out to talk with the narrator, leading him to his store, and we see them shaking hands. George is watching from the window.) I didn't talk to George for five years......until Eddie was caught stealing from his second job as a night watchman and was sent away to jail...... (Eddie is seen being chased out of a building into the path of two policemen. Then George is seen crying in court as Eddie is sentenced. The narrator is sitting with George, watching) I never understood why George protected Eddie.....until I found out for myself.......about children..... (The narrator is seen with his first child, a son, and the look on his face says it all. End of scene) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 237 by Janet S. Tiger A New Home for Irv Oct. 7, 2014 Note - Need a better title - please send me your suggestions, thanks! A New Home for Irv A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (A man comes on, he is older, dressed in construction clothes, carrying a shovel. He smiles broadly) Hello again! Aren't you the same reporter from earlier today? Did you bring a camera this time? Great! I dug the hole a bit deeper, and was just about to go wash up before they close the bathrooms. (Listens) Yes, I think that it's going very well - I plan to have the foundation is tomorrow, and with my solar powered lighting and computer, I can actually watch some TV and get news on the Internet! What an amazing world it is! Think about it, just a few weeks ago, I was effectively homeless, now look at me! I have effectively homesteaded my property! Do you like that? I think it makes a good sound bite! Speaking of which, I am getting hungry, want to join me for dinner? (Listens) I have some delicious peanut butter sandwiches, and my ice chest allows me to offer you some milk and fruit. I am truly prepared for just about anything! You know, it's funny, after I lost my job, and my wife passed away very suddenly from what they call an aneurysm.....but I think it was the thought of losing everything after all these years.....so I was all alone, and then someone suggested (imitates friend’s voice) 'What about family, Irv? Maybe someone can take you in' and I had the brainstorm that you are covering now! This is my only family! (He points to the side) My wife and I bought these matching grave sites years ago, and I know she probably will love the company! I never thought that I would end up here so soon....but why not? It's paid for....and I have my car so I can go to the library and the beach and visit friends......why can't I put down new roots.....in a place where I'll end up anyhow! I'm just saving time is all.....with my Social Security, I can eat well and even put up a lovely headstone.....so tell me exactly who am I hurting? (He listens) Excuse me, do you really think the cemetery is going to call the police on me? Why should they? Look at all the free publicity! (He lifts up a tablet) And I even have a blog.......so people can follow all the exciting events of my new home......look.... (He holds up the tablet to show the reporter) Last night, I was asleep and a raccoon came nosing around...and I got it on my grave cam! So you could say, I even have a pet! (He turns to go, looks back) You are right, I think I've made the best of.....a grave situation! (He exits. End of scene) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 236 by Janet S. Tiger Oct. 6, 2014 Note- This started back in 2010, but I've expanded it now. It is part of HOW TO WRITE A MONOLOGUE IN 10 EASY LESSONS (Well, Maybe Not so Easy) The Secret A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (The actor comes onstage, carrying a book, waving at the audience) Thank you, thank you....you are very kind! Thank you all for being here tonight. It's no secret that I love to read to adoring crowds! (Deep breath) Secrets....I think that secrets are why everyone loves a good mystery. Life is a mystery. Life is full of secrets that, by their very nature, create mystery. In what I read next, the hero confronts what is at the basis of his entire life....a secret that his family sowed and cultivated for years. This passage is one of the reasons I am a writer...... (Picks up the book and reads) When I was 5, I heard a secret that changed my whole life. Maybe I wasn’t five, when I think about it, I may have been 6 or 7, but who cares? I was too young to understand everything, and that’s what changed my life. I was listening at my parent’s door when they thought I was asleep. Ok, they were screaming. I hated when they screamed. I didn’t have to listen at their door – I could’ve been in the next house and heard them. Why did they do that? Did they want me to know these things? They were talking about getting a divorce. It wasn’t just a divorce, it was something worse. And it took me years of therapy to figure out that I always knew in my heart........ that something was very wrong between them. And I never should have known. And they didn’t want anyone to know. Our family was built on this secret, on this foundation made of quicksand, and I spent a lifetime trying to crawl out.... Now that I think about it, maybe..just maybe they did want someone to know. Maybe it was cruel what they did. No, not maybe. It was cruel. So when I told Aunt Mary, I was telling a secret, and I could never understand why she looked so sad. I never admitted this to anyone, but I guess I always knew why my father and Aunt Mary were so cold to me, and why my Uncle Andy always treated me differently....so nicely...... Because I am his child. He and my mother.......(he shivers).....even now the thought makes me......disgusted. Angry. And most of all....so very, very sad..... (The actor wipes eyes, closes the book, and turns to walk off, stops, looks back) And now...now that he’s dead, I’m sorry I never told him that I knew. (The actor exits. End of scene) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 235 by Janet S. Tiger Day of Atonement (2) Oct. 5, 2014 Day of Atonement (2 - not from the play) A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (An older woman comes out, she is carrying a bird cage, which is empty. She looks at the cage, then sets it down, looks up) Yom Kippur. I never thought I'd see another one, did I? Written into the Book of Life, was I? I guess...you just never know. (She looks at the cage) I miss Mushke, she was a sweet bird. Stupid, but sweet, like all of them.....She was not written into the Book of Life....I guess her death reminded me of all those years ago.... (She looks up again) I just wanted to talk with you again, Beryl, and you, too, Dovid......oh, I know you wanted to be called Barry, and David, but you're both dead thirty years, so who cares? I'm almost dead and I don't care. But I do care about one thing. Amazing, all this water under the bridge, and here I am, worried about a stupid bird. Not Mushke......she was the latest, I'm talking about your bird, Beryl. Your little parakeet......Tweety bird. Remember her? Remember how you loved her so much, and how you warned Dovid that he must never ever open the cage, because she could get out, and that would be it......what am I asking if you remember, of course you remember. Once you die, you remember everything. So you must remember when Tweety escaped and you blamed Dovid, and he denied it....which he always did whenever he did something wrong, he was very convincing, too, maybe that's why he became a lawyer, I don't know. But you beat him up because the bird was gone, and I was little, and you, Beryl, you knew it had to be Dovid. But maybe, you don't know everything. This was back when I was four years old. And I was alone in the room with Tweety.....(remembering) Tweety the sweetie, you used to call her. (Remembering) And I knew you loved that bird, you would come home from that office you worked in, and you'd be so tired from the subway, and that bird would sing as soon as you came in the door! And you used to tell Dovid, (imitates) Don't you go near Tweety! If anything happens to Tweety, I'll kill you! (Hard for her to say, she pantomimes what she is telling) I climbed up on a chair and opened the cage, and Tweety flew out, and out the window.....and I was so scared I hid in the closet. And then you came home and saw Tweety was gone, and you beat up Dovid.....for what I did. (She takes a handkerchief out and dabs at her eyes) And no one suspected me, because I was so little, and I had moved the chair back, and no one thought I could do anything like that......and I watched you hit Dovid and I was afraid, you might hit me.......you never did, for anything, and I always felt bad that I never told, so that's why, on this day, today, I'm telling you both.....that I'm sorry. (Sighs deeply) I never meant to have Tweety get away, and for you to get beat up, Dovid. I just wanted to hear her sing....for me. That's why, I guess, I've had birds my whole life. (Takes a deep breath) And so today, that's why I wanted to ....what would the word be? Apologize? Confess? Make amends? I am sorry, Dovid, and Beryl.......I hope you both forgive me. I figure, I'll be with you in person soon, so I wanted to clear this up before I join you. How is up there? I hope we all get along better than we did down here. If we don't, maybe I can visit cousin Yankel and the Gallagher boys down below. (She laughs) I'm sure they're not up there with you! (She touches the cage) I'm not sure if I should get another bird. What if I'm not sealed into the Book of Life and the bird has to go to a new home? Is that fair? Does a bird care what's fair? (She picks up the cage and starts to walk out, stops, looks up, smiles.) All the troubles in the world, and here I am, worried about a bird that's been dead for over 60 years! Thank you, God, for a life that had such boring problems! (She exits. The end of Yom Kippur for this year.....L'shanah Tovah) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or.... To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 234 by Janet S. Tiger Day of Atonement Oct. 4, 2014 Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement in the Jewish year. The following monologue is from my play DAY OF ATONEMENT. It is adjusted a bit so that is can be a monologue - so technically, it is a new monologue! For those interested in getting the entire play, please click here to purchase. Wishing all a Happy, Healthy and Successful New Year! Day of Atonement (from the play) A monologue by Janet S. Tiger © all rights reserved tigerteam1@gmail.com (Frieda and Molly are in their sixties, old friends through marriage. The play concerns a special Yom Kippur that brings up old memories. Although Frieda is giving the monologue near the end of the play, this section involves Molly's inability to accept her daughter's choices.) FRIEDA - We’re not in Poland anymore, Molly - you can let up a little. (Listens, laughs) FRIEDA - You say it was easier? Ha! You mean dying from typhoid and starvation and easier having the Poles have their dogs chase us down like animals? Which easier do you mean? (Imitates Molly, taunting her) Easier because we knew who we were. Everyone was born and they knew what they were going to be. If you did something wrong, against God’s law, no one talked to you. You knew who you were going to marry and what your children would be when they grew up....and it was easier! (Now she is getting mad) No one knew that everyone was going to grow up to be dead! No one knows now, either, Molly, that’s why each day is so precious! (Quiet) What do you think life is about, Molly? What are our lives? We’re not rich or famous like Madonna. We never got Nobel Prizes or invented a cure for cancer! What are we here for? We avoided the hell in Europe, we had children and raised them and only because God blew over a candle? Are we the minutes like the fire - fast and gone in ashes and smoke with just a breeze? Or are we the decisions we make that last us a lifetime? Do you think God is so bored that he has time to worry that you ate a chocolate eclair on Yom Kippur? Do you think God is sitting up there today ready to sign you into the Book of Life because you haven’t spoken to your own flesh and blood for 6 years? Don’t you see that we are the last of our town and you are the only one who can tell your grandchildren what it was like to live back then! God didn’t have us go through all of this just to watch it die out! You must choose life, Molly! Choose life! Call up your daughter! Call up Susan! You don’t have to do anything except say hello! Please, Molly! (She bows her head. Lights down) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.com Member Dramatists Guild since 1983 Playwright-in-Residence Swedenborg Hall 2006-8 -------------------------------------------------------- Welcome to Monologue Mania- one new free monologue a day
- for a whole year! 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. If you just started this blog and want to read the earlier monologues, please scroll down for the previous days or go to http://www.monologuestore.com/ -click on the Monologue Mania button please scroll down. To start at the beginning - Feb. 13, - click here. For a list of the blurbs from each day, click here Help a playwright and get more great award-winning monologues - MonologueZone.com Thank you for your comments - and for liking and sharing this site --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Monologue Mania Day # 232 by Janet S. Tiger Thud Oct. 2, 2014 Thud 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 him the whole time we lived together. Thirty-two years. No one is that obsessed. We had our ups and downs, affairs with others, 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 move-in stage, 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 he 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 his head. That's always a delight to hear. Until he collapsed on that cruise to Alaska, and we had to air lift him out, back to Los Angeles. And then we found out that the doctors had really been right, it was all in his 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 he 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 he ate very much at that point. He got so very thin...... (He is reliving the moment) I don't know which I heard first, him gasp......(He gasps loudly)......or the thud..... (He falls to his knees) But in that instant, I knew. By the time I got to him.......he 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 extra long bed.....Jody was tall, but that extra long would have cost another $500!.....or the fancy speakers when he got his new car. Who needs Bose speakers when they cost an extra $300? I don't. But I wish I'd gotten them for him. What do I need with that money now? But I need him. I miss him. 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 his smell on it. Sweat and a bit of his favorite Ralph Lauren aftershave that he would splash everywhere. 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 his old underwear..... (He exits, laughing, the end for now) -------------------------------------- Janet S. Tiger 858-736-6315 www.JanetSTiger.weebly.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.
AuthorJanet S. Tiger’s award-winning plays and monologues have been produced internationally and are currently in popular anthologies in the United States and Canada. Archives
November 2015
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