Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Written by Kleber Mendonça Filho for the contemporary drama The Secret Agent, this three-minute duologue takes place inside a car moving through Recife. Marcelo drives his young son Fernando through the night streets, offering comfort while fielding innocent yet heavy questions. Their conversation addresses the boy's immediate fears, encounters with racial bias at school, and the lingering absence of his late mother. It is an intimate, deeply human exchange centered on family protection and quiet grief.

Marcelo is a working-class father in his thirties navigating personal loss while trying to create stability for his young son. Fitting the everyman casting type, he carries a delicate balance of emotional exhaustion and fierce paternal dedication. Rather than deflecting Fernando's difficult observations about society and mortality, Marcelo chooses clarity, honesty, and gentle guidance. His vulnerability lies beneath a composed exterior, showing an everyday man processing grief while stepping up to protect his child's spirit.

This piece provides an exceptional showcase for naturalistic dramatic acting and active listening. Because the physical setting is restricted to a moving vehicle, the actor cannot rely on broad gestures and must communicate through tone, micro-expressions, and internal life. The material maneuvers through complex emotional topics—including casual racism, physical danger, and bereavement—giving performers an opportunity to demonstrate emotional agility, vocal warmth, and mature restraint in a brief running time.

This contemporary dramatic scene is tailored for male actors aged twenty-five to thirty-five looking to demonstrate grounded sensitivity and emotional depth. It works brilliantly for self-tapes, agent showcases, and general audition practice where casting directors seek authentic parent or working-class types. Performers wanting to show subtlety and quiet inner strength will find this text especially effective.

Establish the driving action with subtle, believable focus so that handling the vehicle never distracts from the emotional reality of the scene. Keep your vocal delivery grounded, warm, and conversational, resisting any urge to play the heavy themes with melodrama or self-pity. Listen intently to the boy's prompts, allowing Marcelo's reactions to register internally before offering measured comfort. Trust the pauses in the text, using the quiet spaces to let the shared grief and unspoken protection resonate naturally.