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**Author's note: A couple of visitors have expressed confusion over the bits of extraneous dialogue from secondary characters that I've included in my monologues. "Aren't monologues supposed to be just one person talking?" Yes. They are. The extra dialogue is included, mainly, to provide context so that the performer knows what happened just before, and what is going on during his or her speech. It is also included for completion's sake (this is how the monologue appears in the actual play). When this dialogue appears in the middle of the monologue it can usually be fairly easily ignored in performance (sometimes requiring some minor re-wording) or (my preference) the dialogue can be responded to as if the other actor were actually on stage with you. The monologue will be more dynamic and interesting that way, and the audience will still understand perfectly well what's going on. Hope that clears things up. Feel free to e-me with any other questions or comments.
[A man has confessed his love for a long time friend and been rejected]
[SHE: I'm sorry.]
HE: Yeah, so am I. [turns to leave. Stops short. Pause] You know.--I know this was bad timing. I know you guys... I know you just broke up. I do. But ever since I've known you, you've always been in a relationship. You always have. Always. And in the few, brief times when you weren't in a relationship, I was, so we... We just never...
And I know I've had too much to drink, but I just need to finish this now, and say what I need to say, because--the way things... The way it looks now, we're not going to be spending so much time together anymore.
[SHE: We will...]
HE: [cutting her off] And I just need to say this. I need to say this. I need to get this out. [pause]
I'm sorry--that I put you through this. But for as long as I can remember, since--as long as I can remember, I've been settling, you know? I remember-it must have been seventh or eighth grade-my first girlfriend. I mean, we'd talk to each other in the halls, and sit by each other in study hall, and, next thing I knew, she was calling me at home, asking what I though she should wear to the dance that I hadn't actually asked her to. So I guess she was my girlfriend. But I remember walking home from school one day, and thinking I don't, really, even like her. I mean, she was nice, you know? I liked her. But I didn't--like her. She bored me when we'd talk. But I remember, even then, that long ago, in junior high school, thinking, what if I never meet anyone else? What if--no one else ever wants to go out with me? Because, believe me, the offers weren't pouring in any better then than they are now. And I really didn't think I would meet anyone else. [pause] And then I met you. [pause] I mean, you know, several years later, but... [pause] You remember the first time I saw you?
[SHE: Um...The party. For the...]
HE: [shaking his head] That's the first time we met. The first time I saw you was in the park about--a month before that, on the swings.
[SHE: Oh, god!]
HE: [slight smile] You remember?
[SHE: I didn't think anyone ever saw me.]
HE: I thought I told you. It was really late at night, and I couldn't sleep, so I was walking. And you were--sailing back and forth in the moonlight with your eyes closed--your hair blowing... Even now, when I think about it, I can remember every detail. And then, when I actually met you at the party, we were so good together. We were just so--good.
But you were with someone. And you've been with someone ever since. And we've gotten to the point, now, where I really can't imagine not being your friend. I can't... I just can't imagine my life without you. [pause]
You asked me why I never stayed very long with the women I've dated; it's you. Because of you. Because I didn't want to settle any more. I've been doing it all my life, and I didn't want to settle. And every woman I met, every one, I would compare them to you, and they weren't you. They just weren't. And I refused to settle until...until I knew one way or another.
So don't tell me that I'm just drunk, or that I don't really feel the way I feel, because I've had four years to think about this, and I know how I feel.
Mail me.