Tv
duologue
Drama
2 Characters

The Price of Ambition

from Happy Valley

Written by Sally Wainwright

Happy Valley

Kevin expresses his deep-seated bitterness and feelings of inadequacy to his wife, Jenny, regarding his career and financial status. He vents his frustration over being passed over at work and the perceived unfairness of their social standing compared to his boss, Nevison.

Scene PreviewExcerpt — subscribe to read full scene

KEVIN: We have no luck.

JENNY: We have a nice house. We have two fantastic children.

KEVIN: Nevison says people make their own luck.

JENNY: Well maybe that’s easy for Nevison to say.

KEVIN: It’s a stupid thing to say. It isn’t like anyone sets out to be unlucky. Is it? We all take opportunities. If

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
CharactersKevin, Jenny
Duration00:01:30
Age Range40s
GenderMale
GenreDrama
PeriodContemporary
Formatduologue
SourceHappy Valley
ToneFrustrated, resentful, bitter, desperate
AccentNorthern English
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 Happy Valley

Tv
duologue

Catherine's Frustration with the System

from Happy Valley

Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood reports evidence tampering to her superior, Mike Taylor, suspecting corruption involving the District Commander. Mike advises her to ignore the discrepancy and 'drop it' for the sake of her career, leading to a tense confrontation about professional integrity and systemic blind spots.

200:02:30
Tv
duologue

The Aftermath of Release

from Happy Valley

Catherine and her ex-husband Richard discuss the bleak reality of drug abuse in their community after a dangerous police call-out. The conversation shifts from Richard's personal anxieties to Catherine's obsessive search for the whereabouts of the recently released criminal, Tommy Lee Royce.

200:03:00
Tv
duologue

Catherine Confronts Tommy Lee Royce

from Happy Valley

Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood is confronted by Tommy Lee Royce, the man she believes is responsible for her daughter's death. Catherine attempts to intimidate him with a criminal investigation while Tommy tries to claim a connection to his biological son, Ryan, leading to a high-stakes exchange of threats and accusations.

200:03:00
Tv
duologue

Kevin's Confession to Jenny

from Happy Valley

Kevin, consumed by guilt and panic, proposes a plan to his wife Jenny to shift the blame for a kidnapping and the murder of a police officer onto his accomplices. Jenny remains skeptical and terrified, questioning Kevin's ability to maintain the lie while reminding him of the devastating consequences for their family.

200:04:00

Similar Scenes

Film
duologue

Ephialtes's Betrayal

from 300

Xerxes tempts the rejected Spartan outcast Ephialtes with promises of wealth, pleasure, and status in exchange for the location of the hidden path behind the Spartan lines. Driven by a lifetime of resentment and a desire for the validation denied to him by Leonidas, Ephialtes agrees to betray his people and kneels before the Persian King.

22 min4.0
Film
duologue

The Interview — Frank T.J. Mackey

from Magnolia

A high-stakes interview between a charismatic pick-up artist and a journalist turns cold when she confronts him about his fabricated past and his mother's death. Frank's bravado crumbles into a defensive silence as his carefully constructed persona is dismantled.

24 min5.0
Film
duologue

Lester and Angela

from American Beauty

A middle-aged man and his daughter's teenage friend share a tense, intimate moment in a living room. The scene explores themes of obsession, insecurity, and the fear of being ordinary.

22 min5.0
Film
duologue

Mother's Disappointment, Daughter's Defiance

from Wonder Woman

Queen Hippolyte reprimands her daughter Diana for her reckless behavior and disobedience during a trial of combat. Diana argues that she is ready to face the world of men, but her mother insists she lacks the wisdom to handle the ancient dangers that once destroyed Atlantis.

22 min4.0