RACHEL: Someone said praying isn’t really
RACHEL: talking to God, it’s acknowledging
RACHEL: the despair, to throw yourself on
RACHEL: the ground because that’s all you
RACHEL: can do... not unlike lying with
I Want a Home — Sentimental Value 2026
Rachel recounts a moment of absolute rock bottom where she finally surrendered to her despair. She describes the transition from the pain of a broken heart to a spiritual plea for stability and belonging.
Format: Monologue · Genre: Drama · Source: Sentimental Value 2026 · Author: Joachim Trier · Characters: RACHEL
About This Scene
This one-minute dramatic monologue, "I Want a Home," from the film Sentimental Value 2026, features the character Rachel. The scene captures a profound moment of vulnerability and spiritual awakening, as Rachel recounts hitting rock bottom and finding an unexpected release through prayer. It explores the universal human experience of despair, loneliness, and the deep-seated longing for stability and belonging.
Character Analysis
Rachel is a woman experiencing immense emotional turmoil, grappling with a broken heart and profound loneliness. Her journey in this monologue transitions from intense personal pain to a desperate, almost spiritual, plea for solace and connection. She possesses an Everyman quality, making her struggles relatable, yet her vulnerability also hints at a deeper sensitivity and an outsider perspective. Her admission of crying in bed, followed by a self-conscious smile, reveals her attempts to maintain composure even while baring her soul.
Why This Works for Auditions
This monologue is an excellent choice for auditions because it offers a wide emotional arc within a short timeframe, allowing actors to showcase significant depth and range. The contemporary setting and relatable themes of loneliness and the search for belonging resonate strongly, providing fertile ground for authentic performance. Its focus on internal struggle rather than external conflict allows an actor to truly command the stage and draw the audience in.
Best Suited For
This monologue is particularly well-suited for female actors aged 25-35, especially those aiming for roles requiring vulnerability, emotional depth, or a leading lady presence. It's an ideal piece for drama school auditions, agent showcases, and self-tapes where demonstrating a capacity for profound emotional honesty is key. Actors comfortable with exploring themes of despair, longing, and spiritual awakening will find this a powerful vehicle for their talents.
Performance Tips
When performing "I Want a Home," focus on Rachel's journey from internalizing her pain to a vocal, raw expression of need. Allow the initial embarrassment to inform your delivery before fully committing to the deep-seated despair. Pay close attention to the shift in her thought process as she connects her personal heartbreak with the broader concept of prayer as an acknowledgement of absolute helplessness. Let the final lines, "I want a home," resonate with profound desperation and unwavering longing, showcasing her ultimate surrender and heartfelt plea.