Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

Salomé

by Oscar Wilde

Herod, the Tetrarch of Judea, desperately pleads with his stepdaughter Salomé to dance for him, ignoring the protests of his wife Herodias. In his feverish state, he promises Salomé anything she desires, up to half of his kingdom, eventually swearing a sacred oath that seals a grim fate.

The Father

by Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton

Anthony and Anne discuss the latest caregiver who has left. Anthony accuses the caregiver of stealing his watch, while Anne tries to reason with him and suggests he might have misplaced it. The conversation reveals Anthony's deteriorating memory and Anne's desperation.

The Duchess of Malfi

by John Webster

The Cardinal, weary of his mistress Julia, decides to eliminate her by revealing his involvement in the Duchess's murder. After testing her resolve and forcing her to swear secrecy on a poisoned Bible, he watches her die as she confesses to having already betrayed him to Bosola. The scene is a high-stakes power struggle involving manipulation, lethal secrets, and cold-blooded murder.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

by James Cameron, William Wisher

John Connor discovers that the Terminator must obey his direct commands, leading to a dangerous confrontation with two bystanders. The scene shifts from John's excitement over his new 'bodyguard' to the sobering realization that he must teach the machine the value of human life.

The Bungler

by Molière, Richard Wilbur

Lélie confesses to his servant Mascarille that he has accidentally ruined their latest scheme by returning a purse of money to its owner. Mascarille, exhausted by his master's constant incompetence, humorously refuses to help any further, even as Lélie melodramatically threatens to take his own life.

Iron Sky

by Johanna Sinisalo, Energia Productions

Renate confronts Klaus after discovering the truth about their society's propaganda, only to find that Klaus has discovered her own perceived 'deviance' through a loyalty test. The scene quickly escalates from a verbal confrontation about ideology into a violent physical struggle as Renate chooses to reject her upbringing.

Outlander

by Matthew B. Roberts

Jocasta Cameron confronts Roger MacKenzie about his intentions toward her niece Brianna and the parentage of baby Jeremiah. She offers to make the child her heir as a test of Roger's character, leading to a heated confrontation where Roger must defend his love and integrity against her cynical assumptions.

The Butler

by Danny Strong

After years of estrangement over their differing political views, Cecil joins his son Louis on the front lines of an anti-apartheid protest. The two men finally reconcile as Cecil chooses his relationship with his son over his career and past convictions.

Buried

by Chris Sparling

Trapped inside a coffin underground, Paul records a final video message for his family as his oxygen and hope run out. He attempts to distribute his meager belongings while expressing deep regret for his perceived failures as a father and husband.

Blade Runner

by HAMPTON FANCHER, DAVID PEOPLES

Holden, an investigator, administers a psychological test to Leon, a suspected replicant, to measure his emotional responses. The tension escalates as Leon's literal-mindedness and growing agitation clash with Holden's clinical detachment, leading to a violent outburst.

Water for Elephants

by Richard LaGravenese

August subjects Jacob to a cruel prank involving a toothless lion to assert his dominance and test the young vet's nerves. The scene shifts from sadistic humor to a chilling threat as August demands Jacob keep a dying star horse performing at any cost, reminding him that the circus operates under its own ruthless laws.

The Wizard Of Oz

by Noel Langley, Florence Ryerson, Edgar Allen Woolf

Dorothy and her companions finally face the Great and Powerful Oz to ask for their hearts' desires, only to be met with a terrifying display of fire and booming authority. The stakes are raised when Oz demands the broomstick of the Wicked Witch of the West as payment for his help, forcing the fearful group to confront their greatest enemy.

VIRTUOSITY

by Eric Bernt

A criminal psychologist interrogates a former police officer turned convict following a violent virtual reality simulation. Dr. Madison Carter attempts to break through Parker's defensive walls to understand his psychological triggers, while Parker struggles with the trauma of his past and the dehumanizing nature of being a test subject.

Veronica Mars

by Rob Thomas, Diane Ruggiero-Wright

Veronica Mars interviews for a position at a prestigious law firm, where she is grilled about her past as a teenage private investigator. The tension rises as the interviewers bring up her father's legal troubles and a scandalous personal video to test her composure. Veronica must demonstrate that her investigative instincts are an asset rather than a liability while maintaining her professional cool.

The Real Thing

by Tom Stoppard

Brodie, an uncouth political activist recently released from prison, confronts Henry and Annie about the play Henry wrote based on Brodie's life. The tension peaks as Annie reveals the pathetic truth behind Brodie's 'heroic' protest, leading to a violent outburst that shatters the illusion of his political martyrdom.

Shakespeare in Love

by Marc Norman, Tom Stoppard

Will Shakespeare confides his desperate love for Viola to her male alter-ego, Thomas Kent, while traveling by boat. Viola, disguised as Thomas, tests the depth of Will's devotion and questions whether love can truly bridge the gap between their social classes. The scene culminates in a passionate declaration of love's power over rank and a sudden, revealing physical moment.

The Honourable Woman

by Hugo Blick

Nessa Stein confronts the man responsible for the most traumatic events of her life, including her kidnapping and the death of her brother. Zahid Al-Zahid tests her morality with a knife while Nessa reveals her deep-seated guilt and sense of deserved suffering. The scene culminates in a high-stakes negotiation for the release of a child, highlighting Nessa's newfound resolve.

The Life & Adventures of Nick Nickleby

by Joy Wilkinson

Maddy returns home to find her ailing father awake and worried about their financial situation. Despite his protests, she decides to proceed with an illegal arranged marriage to secure their future and pay for his medical care.

Wolf

by Megan Gallagher

Detective Jack Caffery visits a severely injured domestic abuse survivor in the hospital to persuade her to testify against her husband. He uses a graphic, visceral description of her potential death and autopsy to break through her silence and fear. The scene is a high-stakes emotional confrontation where Jack's professional frustration clashes with his desperate desire to save a victim's life.

Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps

by Susan Nickson

Gaz confides in Jonny about a medical concern he discovered, leading to a tense conversation about health and mortality. Jonny attempts to offer supportive, mature advice about testicular cancer, only for Gaz to reveal the unexpected and crude location of his ailment.

Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps

by Susan Nickson

David reveals that his request for Louise to care for a plant was actually a psychological 'trust exercise' designed to test her honesty. Louise, unimpressed by his pretension, admits she only told the truth because she didn't care about the plant and prefers her own immaturity.

The Bear

by Joanna Calo

Carmy and Sydney test a new dish in Carmy's cramped apartment kitchen, only to realize the flavor profile is a disaster. After a moment of levity, Carmy introduces Sydney to a sign language gesture for 'I'm sorry' used to maintain professional focus during high-stress kitchen service.

Ex Machina

by Alex Garland

Caleb confronts Nathan about the ethics and intentions behind giving the AI Ava a gender and sexuality. Nathan challenges Caleb's understanding of consciousness and attraction, suggesting that Caleb's own preferences are as 'programmed' as the machine he is testing.

Ready Player One

by Zak Penn, Ernest Cline

James Halliday, the eccentric creator of a massive virtual reality universe, delivers a pre-recorded video message after his death. He announces a global contest to find a hidden Easter egg within the OASIS, promising his entire fortune and control of the simulation to the winner.