Coyote Wants Money

Written by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese for the award-winning drama Killers of the Flower Moon, this intense three-minute duologue captures a loaded interaction between Ernest and Mollie. As Ernest attempts to charm Mollie during a meal, Mollie meets his advances with calm skepticism, probing into his ambitions and his relationship with his powerful uncle. The conversation simmers with themes of courtship, manipulation, cultural difference, and quiet intensity.

Ernest is an opportunistic yet disarming figure in his thirties, blending working-class charm with casual deflection whenever his family loyalties are questioned. Mollie, also in her thirties, possesses a grounded, perceptive stillness that enables her to see straight through superficial flattery while protecting her household. Their dynamic forms a subtle duel, balancing his attempts at easygoing charisma against her guarded, observant authority.

This scene provides exceptional material for self-tapes and agent showcases because it highlights complex subtext rather than loud emotional outbursts. Both actors have ample opportunity to demonstrate active listening, emotional restraint, and tactical shifts during a high-stakes conversation. It allows casting directors to evaluate how effectively performers can hold space, build chemistry, and navigate layers of mutual suspicion within a grounded dramatic framework.

Actors in the twenty-five to thirty-five age range seeking substantial drama duologues will find this piece ideally structured for their repertoire. It is an outstanding showcase for performers pursuing Leading Man, Leading Lady, Anti-Hero, or Working Class casting profiles who want to convey vulnerability alongside underlying tension. The piece is equally valuable for rigorous partner work in general audition practice.

Resist the urge to push the tempo, allowing the natural beats of the meal to reveal what remains unsaid between the characters. For Ernest, lean into an authentic warmth and relaxed posture so that the manipulative elements feel earned and disarming rather than overtly calculating. For Mollie, ground your performance in steady physical stillness and razor-sharp observation, making deliberate choices with your eye contact rather than playing passive detachment.