Nardo's Plea

Written by Mike Gagerman and Andrew Waller, this contemporary comedic duologue from the film Road to Nardo captures a hilarious crisis between two close friends. Stranded completely naked at an abandoned roadside location in Mexico, Nardo places a desperate call to his buddy Jason for rescue. What begins as a casual, distracted phone chat quickly spirals into absurd panic as Jason inadvertently escalates the horror with grim theories about cartels.

Nardo is in a state of absolute survival panic, completely unmoored by embarrassment, isolation, and genuine dread. His emotional engine runs on pure urgency, requiring the actor to commit wholeheartedly to real terror within a ridiculous premise. Jason serves as the comedic anchor, beginning as relaxed and slightly exasperated before shifting into an unhelpfully imaginative friend whose bizarre problem-solving only worsens Nardo's distress.

This piece provides an exceptional balance of fast-paced banter and escalating comedic stakes across a tight two-minute duration. The dynamic contrast between a frantic character and a deadpan companion gives both performers clear objectives and vibrant comedic beats. Casting directors get to see whether an actor can play absurd dark comedy with grounded emotional truth rather than relying on caricature.

The scene is tailored for male performers aged 18 to 25 who fit Everyman, Best Friend, Comic Relief, or Young Professional casting types. It shines as material for self-tapes, agent showcases, or general classroom practice, particularly for actors looking to showcase razor-sharp comedic timing and phone-call acting technique.

For Nardo, treat the physical vulnerability and environmental dangers as life-or-death realities rather than punchlines. For Jason, deliver your unsettling theories with absolute sincerity, as if offering helpful and practical advice to a friend in need. Keep the rhythm swift and react instinctively to each new revelation, ensuring the dialogue feels like a live, volatile conversation rather than rehearsed jokes.