Browse Acting Monologues & Scenes

The Father

by Florian Zeller, Christopher Hampton

Anne attempts to tell her father, Anthony, that she is moving to Paris and will no longer be able to care for him daily. Anthony struggles to comprehend this news, revealing his increasing confusion and vulnerability, leading to a tense and heartbreaking conversation about his future care.

Kick-Ass

by Jane Goldman, Matthew Vaughn

Dave breaks into Katie's bedroom in his superhero costume to reveal his secret identity and confess his feelings. After a chaotic and violent misunderstanding, he admits he has been lying about his sexuality and his life, leading to a moment of genuine vulnerability and romantic connection.

Sleepy Hollow

by Andrew Kevin Walker, Tom Stoppard

Following a traumatic nightmare, Ichabod Crane finds comfort in Katrina Van Tassel's arms as he reveals the dark origins of his cynicism and the death of his mother. The two share an intimate moment of vulnerability where Ichabod struggles to reconcile his dedication to logic with his growing feelings for Katrina.

Safety Not Guaranteed

by Derek Connolly

After a prosthetic ear malfunction causes Kenneth to spiral into a panic attack, Darius follows him to his car to offer comfort. Kenneth reveals his deep-seated insecurity regarding his physical appearance, leading to a rare moment of genuine vulnerability and connection between the two outsiders.

Groundhog Day

by Danny Rubin, Harold Ramis

Phil watches over a sleeping Rita, finally dropping his cynical facade to confess his genuine love and admiration for her. Knowing she won't remember the conversation the next day, he expresses a vulnerability and selflessness he has never shown before.

Central Intelligence

by Ike Barinholtz, David Stassen

Following a bar fight where Bob displayed unexpected combat skills, he reveals to his high school friend Kevin that he is actually a CIA operative. Bob expresses vulnerability about his past while Kevin is thrilled to discover his friend is essentially a real-life action hero.

Sing Sing

by Greg Kwedar, Clint Bentley

Inside a prison theater, Divine G and Divine Eye share a rare moment of vulnerability while watching a chaotic rehearsal. They discuss the redemptive power of the arts and the painful reality of their estranged relationships with their children on the outside.

Bad Santa

by Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

While in the middle of a sexual encounter, Willie is interrupted by the Kid, who presents him with a handmade Christmas gift. The unexpected gesture of genuine affection and the sight of the blood-stained 'wooden pickle' causes the cynical, alcoholic Willie to have an emotional breakdown. The scene juxtaposes crude situational comedy with a moment of surprising vulnerability.

Avatar

by James Cameron

Jake prepares for a dangerous Na'vi vision quest while Grace attempts to dissuade him due to the physical and psychological risks. In a moment of vulnerability, Jake confesses his original mission as a double agent for Colonel Quaritch, revealing the moral conflict of being caught between two worlds.

Before Midnight

by Richard Linklater, Ethan Hawke, Julie Delpy

In an attempt to reconcile after a volatile argument, Jesse pretends to be a time traveler delivering a letter from Celine's future self. He uses humor and vulnerability to remind her of their connection and the potential for their future together.

Brooklyn

by Nick Hornby

Eilis waits for Tony outside her college, fearing he has stood her up, only for him to arrive breathless with a comedic excuse about a plumbing emergency. The tension shifts from Tony's fear of a breakup to a tender moment of vulnerability as Eilis finally reciprocates his feelings of love. The scene balances the awkwardness of new romance with the high emotional stakes of a cross-cultural relationship in 1950s New York.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

by William Goldman

Trapped at the edge of a high cliff by a relentless posse, two outlaws debate a desperate leap into the rapids below. The tension breaks when one reveals a secret vulnerability, leading to a leap of faith that cements their legendary partnership.

Wild at Heart

by David Lynch

Bobby Peru corners Lula in her motel room, using psychological intimidation and physical proximity to exert power over her. He subjects her to a terrifying verbal assault, forcing her into a moment of total vulnerability and submission before abruptly leaving. The scene is a high-stakes power struggle centered on predatory behavior and fear.

King Lear

by William Shakespeare

An aging king, recovering from a descent into madness, awakens to find his estranged daughter Cordelia by his side. He struggles with his fading memory and deep-seated guilt, eventually begging for her forgiveness in a moment of profound vulnerability.

Richard III

by William Shakespeare

Richard uses manipulative rhetoric and high-stakes vulnerability to woo Lady Anne over the corpse of her father-in-law. He offers her his sword and invites her to kill him, claiming his murderous actions were driven entirely by his desperate love for her beauty.

White House Down

by James Vanderbilt

While hiding in the tunnels beneath the White House, Cale must perform emergency field surgery on President Sawyer. As they bond over the difficulties of fatherhood and political differences, the high-stakes situation reveals their mutual respect and vulnerability.

Analyze That

by Peter Tolan, Harold Ramis, Kenneth Lonergan

A powerful mob boss seeks urgent psychiatric help from a reluctant therapist after suffering from sudden impotence and emotional outbursts. The scene explores the clash between the gangster's hyper-masculine world and the vulnerability required for therapy, as the doctor tries to maintain professional boundaries while being intimidated.

Vertigo

by Alec Coppel, Samuel Taylor

Scottie visits his long-time friend Midge as he recovers from the physical and psychological trauma of a rooftop chase that left him with severe acrophobia. They discuss his decision to leave the police force and his lingering guilt, while Scottie attempts to mask his vulnerability with playful banter about her career in lingerie design.

Valentine's Day

by Katherine Fugate, Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein

Reed shares the news of his engagement proposal with his close friend Julia, revealing that while his girlfriend said yes, she didn't like the ring. Julia offers support and contemplates making a grand romantic gesture of her own by surprising her boyfriend in San Francisco. The two friends share a moment of vulnerability and encouragement regarding their respective romantic lives.

Vanishing on Seventh Street

by Anthony Jaswinski

Trapped in a world of encroaching darkness, Luke and Maya share a rare moment of vulnerability discussing their families before a supernatural threat forces them into a desperate fight for survival. They must rely on failing light sources to keep mysterious shadow entities at bay.

The Real Thing

by Tom Stoppard

Henry delivers a profound meditation on the nature of intimacy and the vulnerability of being truly known by a partner. He explores the devastating shift from the security of shared 'carnal knowledge' to the agonizing pain of betrayal where every mundane object becomes a trigger for grief.

Luther

by Neil Cross

On Westminster Bridge, Alice Morgan confronts DCI John Luther at knifepoint to reclaim an urn she believes contains incriminating evidence. The scene shifts into a psychological power struggle as Luther reveals he has manipulated Alice's obsession with her own crimes to expose her vulnerability. The emotional stakes peak when Luther threatens to frame an innocent man to protect his wife, proving he is willing to corrupt the law he serves.

A Very British Scandal: Duchess of Argyll

by Sarah Phelps

Margaret visits her mother, Helen, who uses her physical frailty and sharp tongue to undermine Margaret's confidence and judge her affair with the Duke of Argyll. The scene highlights a toxic mother-daughter dynamic where affection is withheld and replaced by critiques of appearance and moral standing. Margaret attempts to assert her happiness but is ultimately silenced by her mother's manipulative vulnerability.

Blue Moon

by Michael Cristofer

Elizabeth recounts a painful and humiliating romantic encounter to her friend Hart, detailing the emotional fallout of a failed sexual experience on her 20th birthday. As she describes the vulnerability of unrequited love and the subsequent coldness of her suitor, Hart listens with a mixture of fascination and deep empathy, reflecting on his own romantic struggles.