Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

Fargo

by Noah Hawley

Loy Cannon and Doctor Senator pitch a revolutionary 'credit card' concept to a dismissive bank president in 1950s Kansas City. Despite the immense potential for profit through interest, the banker rejects the idea based on racial prejudice and a short-sighted view of consumer behavior. The scene highlights the systemic barriers faced by Black entrepreneurs and the irony of a billion-dollar idea being dismissed by a mediocre authority figure.

Long Day's Journey Into Night

by Eugene O'Neill

A tense confrontation between a father and son regarding the younger brother's failing health and the family's history of denial. Jamie accuses his father of being a miserly provider who prioritizes real estate over his son's medical care, while Tyrone retaliates by attacking Jamie's lack of ambition and reliance on his father's influence.

Sorry, Baby

by Eva Victor

Agnes speaks to an infant, Jane, offering a brutally honest and darkly comedic perspective on the hardships of life. She promises to be a non-judgmental confidante for Jane's future struggles while grappling with her own lack of maternal instinct and the existential weight of bringing a child into the world.

The Color Purple

by Marcus Gardley

Sofia confronts Celie after discovering that Celie advised Harpo to beat her into submission. The scene explores the cycle of domestic abuse and Sofia's fierce refusal to be broken, contrasting her defiant spirit with Celie's submissive survival. It marks a pivotal moment of realization and empowerment for both women.

Poltergeist

by Steven Spielberg

Dr. Lesh and her colleague Farrow examine physical evidence teleported from a haunted house, transitioning from a moment of professional camaraderie to a chilling realization. Farrow identifies a mortician's jaw clamp among the items, prompting him to suggest they bring in a more powerful medium to handle the escalating supernatural threat.

Only Fools and Horses

by Steven Cragg, Brian Bradley

Del Boy tries to convince Rodney that pursuing a corporate career is a mistake, using a local regular as a cautionary tale. He argues that their status at the bottom of the economic ladder is actually a competitive advantage during a recession.

Punch-Drunk Love

by Paul Thomas Anderson

Barry corners his brother-in-law, Walter, in a private moment to desperately seek professional help for his emotional instability. The scene highlights Barry's profound isolation and his fear of being judged by his overbearing family.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward confesses the deep, obsessive influence Dorian Gray has had on his life and artistic vision. He explains why he was originally hesitant to exhibit the portrait, fearing it revealed too much of his own soul and his 'idolatry' of his muse.

The Picture of Dorian Gray

by Oscar Wilde

Basil Hallward confesses his deep-seated anxiety regarding the tragic fate of those blessed with extraordinary beauty or intellect. He warns Lord Henry that their unique gifts—wealth, brains, and Dorian's beauty—will ultimately lead to their suffering and ruin.

The Duchess of Malfi

by John Webster

Antonio and Delio stand among the ruins of an ancient abbey where Antonio is haunted by a supernatural echo that sounds like his murdered wife. Despite the echo's dire warnings and Delio's pleas for caution, Antonio resolves to face his fate and confront the Cardinal. The scene highlights Antonio's grief and the atmospheric, gothic dread preceding the play's final tragedies.

Vincenzo

by Vincenzo Cerami, Roberto Benigni

Guido practices the art of waiting tables under the strict but philosophical guidance of his uncle. The scene balances the physical comedy of service techniques with a deeper lesson on dignity and the distinction between serving and being a servant.

The Apartment

by Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond

Dr. Dreyfuss confronts his neighbor Bud about his perceived hard-partying lifestyle and constant stream of visitors. Bud awkwardly attempts to deflect the doctor's medical concerns and jokes about his stamina, hiding the fact that he is actually lending his apartment to his superiors.

The Apartment

by Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond

A married executive tries to usher his mistress out of a borrowed apartment as quickly as possible while she playfully teases him about his infidelity. The scene highlights the transactional and cynical nature of their affair against the backdrop of corporate office politics.

The Pillowman

by Martin McDonagh

In a high-stakes interrogation, Ariel attempts to extract a confession from Michal, a man with a child-like intellect. Michal reveals the disturbing logic behind his crimes, linking them to his brother's macabre stories and their shared history of parental abuse.

A View From the Bridge

by Arthur Miller

Alfieri, a lawyer and narrator, introduces the setting of Red Hook and the cultural tension between ancient Sicilian codes of honor and modern American law. He establishes a sense of impending doom, reflecting on his role as a powerless observer to the 'bloody course' of human tragedy.

The Father

by Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton

An elderly man suffering from dementia is confronted by a stranger in his own home who claims to be his daughter's husband of ten years. The scene depicts the terrifying disorientation of memory loss as Anthony tries to reconcile his conflicting realities while the stranger remains calmly assertive.

The Help

by Tate Taylor

Aibileen reflects on her life as a domestic worker and the generational cycle of servitude during a clandestine interview. The scene highlights the emotional toll of raising white children while grieving her own son, culminating in a tender moment where she instills self-worth in her young charge.

The Glass Menagerie

by Tennessee Williams

Amanda Wingfield regales her son Tom with stories of her youth as a Southern belle, obsessively recounting the day she received seventeen gentlemen callers. Her objective is to assert her past social status and importance, while the emotional stakes reveal her deep dissatisfaction with her current impoverished reality.

The Legend of 1900

by Giuseppe Tornatore

During a violent storm at sea, the protagonist 1900 invites a seasick trumpet player to join him at a grand piano. By releasing the instrument's brakes, they glide across the ballroom floor, turning the ship's chaotic rocking into a poetic and surreal dance. The scene highlights 1900's eccentric genius and his unique, fearless relationship with the ocean.

The Legend of 1900

by Giuseppe Tornatore

A down-on-his-luck trumpet player attempts to sell his beloved instrument to a cynical shop owner, only to be moved by a mysterious recording. The scene explores themes of lost glory, the intrinsic value of art versus its market price, and the haunting power of a forgotten musical genius.

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

Prospero questions Ariel about the magical shipwreck he orchestrated, seeking confirmation that his enemies have been safely but terrifyingly dispersed. The scene shifts from a celebratory report of magical prowess to a tense power struggle as Ariel demands the freedom Prospero promised. The emotional stakes involve the balance between master and servant and the beginning of Prospero's final plan for justice.

Sunset Boulevard

by Charles Brackett, Billy Wilder, D.M. Marshman Jr

A struggling screenwriter accidentally stumbles into the decaying mansion of a forgotten silent film star who is mourning her dead pet. Joe Gillis attempts to navigate Norma Desmond's volatile delusions of grandeur and her intense resentment toward the evolution of the film industry. The encounter shifts from a hostile eviction to a potential business opportunity as Norma realizes Joe's profession.

Shakespeare in Love

by Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard

Viola expresses her deep dissatisfaction with the superficiality of courtly life and the limitations placed on women in the theater. She confides in her Nurse, articulating a passionate desire for a transformative, 'ungovernable' love and a life filled with poetry and adventure.

3rd Rock From the Sun

by Joe Fisch

Sally experiences a crisis of confidence before a date, fearing she will embarrass herself and be rejected. Dick attempts to offer a bizarrely worded pep talk rooted in their shared alien identity, while Harry points out the hypocrisy in Dick's own romantic anxieties.