Tv
duologue
Comedy
2 Characters

The Parenting Competition

from Outnumbered

Written by Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin

Outnumbered

A weary mother and father reflect on their parenting failures while getting ready for bed. They discuss their daughter's stubborn nature and debate whether they are truly 'bad' parents or just mediocre ones as they struggle with exhaustion.

Scene PreviewExcerpt — subscribe to read full scene

MUM: Alright, let’s call it a draw, shall we?

DAD: Hm?

MUM: The ‘I’m more tired than you’ competition.

DAD: [yawns]

MUM: Do you think Jake’s right? About us losing the plot as parents?

DAD: He’s hit that self-righteous phase. At his age I was absolutely convinced that my parents were totally wrong a

Scene Preview

Unlock the full scene

Sign up free to preview, Go Pro to read full scenes

Sign Up Free

Create a free account to explore more

Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month

Director's Notes

🎯 Character objectives🎭 Emotional beats💡 Audition tips
Unlock Director's Notes
Get Feedback
Coming Soon

Want expert coaching on this scene?

Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.

Find a Coach

Need representation?

Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.

How well does this scene match you?

Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.

Try Headshot Analyser
CharactersMum, Dad
Duration2:00
Age Range40s-50s
GenderFemale
GenreComedy
PeriodContemporary
Formatduologue
SourceOutnumbered
ToneWeary, reflective, slightly anxious
AccentBritish
Suitable Foragent showcase, self tape, general practice
No ratings yet
Sign in to rate
Rehearse with AI Reader
Self-Tape Challenge
Coming Soon

Go Pro

£6.99/mo

  • ✓ Unlimited scene reading
  • ✓ PDF downloads
  • ✓ Director's Notes
  • ✓ Headshot Analyser
  • ✓ Cover Letter Generator
  • ✓ Practice Mode
  • ✓ Agent Connect
  • + 1,000+ scenes
Upgrade Now

More from Outnumbered

Tv
duologue

Angela's Royal Visit

from Outnumbered

A mother and father discuss their son Ben's pathological lying and the upcoming visit of a judgmental relative. They navigate the stresses of parenting with dry wit and mutual exhaustion.

200:01:00
Tv
group

The Swimming Pool Confrontation

from Outnumbered

A father gets into an increasingly absurd and public argument with another parent at a swimming gala after being baselessly accused of suspicious behavior. The situation escalates into a shouting match involving Jimmy Savile and social commentary, much to the embarrassment of his daughter who is watching from the pool.

42:30
Tv
group

The Driving Lesson Debacle

from Outnumbered

A family gathers in the kitchen as Dad recounts the terror of giving Jake a driving lesson, while Ben expresses a sudden, manipulative interest in psychology. The scene highlights the chaotic domestic friction between parents and their teenage children over life skills and academic frustrations.

43:00
Tv
duologue

The Racist Complaint

from Outnumbered

Pete attempts to downplay a formal complaint filed against him at work for making an insensitive joke to a student. His wife, Sue, becomes increasingly frustrated as she realizes he has been hiding multiple disciplinary incidents from her under the guise of not wanting to worry her.

200:02:00

Similar Scenes

Film
duologue

The Manifesto Critique

from The French Dispatch

A seasoned journalist discovers a young revolutionary hiding in her bathtub while he attempts to write a political manifesto. The scene explores the awkward but intellectual bond between the two as they navigate personal sadness, youthful idealism, and the rigors of editorial criticism.

200:03:305.0
Play
duologue

Act I, Scene 1 — The Course of True Love

from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Hermia and Lysander lament the difficulties of their forbidden love before Lysander proposes a plan to flee Athens and marry in secret at his aunt's house. They exchange vows of loyalty and agree to meet in the woods the following night.

22 min
Film
duologue

The Fake Sex Plan

from Easy A

Olive Penderghast proposes a deceptive plan to help her friend Brandon improve his social standing by faking a sexual encounter. They discuss the mechanics of high school popularity and the power of rumors to reshape one's identity. Brandon eventually agrees to the scheme, setting the stage for a complicated social experiment.

22 min
Play
duologue

Act II — The Engagement Diary

from The Importance of Being Earnest

Algernon, posing as the fictional 'Ernest', attempts to woo Cecily in the garden. He is bewildered to discover that Cecily has already documented their entire romance and engagement in her diary long before they actually met.

22 min