Ellen's Second Sight

Written by Robert Eggers for the film Nosferatu, this horror duologue features a delicate medical consultation between Ellen and Professor Von Franz. Ellen recounts her lifelong history of psychic premonitions and spells, sharing deeply personal memories of alienation and trauma. As she explains how her dark visions returned after her husband departed, the conversation takes on an unsettling, gothic atmosphere.

Ellen is a young woman who possesses an innate, supernatural sensitivity that has historically alienated her from family and society. Despite the disturbing nature of her memories, she speaks to the professor with surprising openness before becoming gripped by dread and anxiety. Von Franz serves as an attentive authority figure, listening dispassionately as she questions whether the evil haunting her mind originates from within herself or from an outside force.

This scene offers an exceptional vehicle for actors looking to demonstrate delicate vulnerability coupled with intense emotional shifts. The narrative arc builds naturally from calm recollection to raw trauma, giving the performer ample opportunity to show restraint rather than melodramatic indulgence. Because the stakes are intensely personal and rooted in psychological horror, it allows casting panels to observe an actor's ability to hold tension in an intimate setting.

Spanning approximately two minutes, this piece is ideally suited for drama school auditions, self-tapes, agent showcases, and general practice. It is particularly tailored for female performers in the 18 to 25 age bracket playing into ingenue, vulnerable, or dramatic casting types, while also offering a strong teacher or authority figure role for Von Franz.

Ground Ellen's early admissions in ease and clarity rather than immediate panic, allowing her vulnerability to feel earned. Resist the urge to play the supernatural horror elements too broadly; instead, let the physical sensations and shame emerge organically through your pacing and breath. When confronting Von Franz at the climax of the consultation, lean into the genuine philosophical and personal terror behind her questions.