“DEATH AT WATER TOWER” (drama) 2 Minutes

Photo Courtesy JAKE LIEFER 

Monologue Description: “DEATH AT WATER TOWER” is a drama about a friend thinking back on a tragic incident that cost his friend his life.

Character Description: In this monologue, Dusty remembers and shares a telling story of how his friend Charlie died.  He tells this story to his wife, while they wait for a train to come. 

DUSTY: 

One time, I must have been sixteen or so, I was with a couple of buddies of mine and we were all hanging out by the tracks…the railroad tracks.  We always used to go there to smoke pot and shit.  We used to hide underneath the concrete platform, everytime a train would whoosh by.  It was dangerous but freeing in a way…especially when the train would pass by…you were kind of left with this feeling, a relief kind of feeling but a good feeling, none the less.  We were alway doing crazy stunts but my friend Charlie, he was the craziest, most daring one out of the bunch…he was also the most athletic, he was always able to do some really cool things, like jumping over a fence with no hands, or leaping over an entire hood of a car…amazing, amazing agility…

My friend Charlie, he climbed up the side of the 7Up water tower.  He made it halfway up—than slipped.  We all watched him scream as he felt and smacked to the Earth.  He hita dirt mound and bounced, TWICE.  I was the only one who had the guts to go over to him and when I reached him, he was on his back still alive but barely.  Blood was oozing out from his mouth and he was staring at me in shock but he knew it was me…I could tell in his eyes, he knew it was me.  I kneeled beside him and I said, “Charlie, oh my God, Charlie,  you’re fucked up bro, but listen, Vinny already called the cops, help is on the way.”  I watched a tear roll out from his right eye, followed by a gasp of breathe, an exhale…a final exhale and then sort of a gurgle or two and then more air came out of his lungs…and he died.

My friends started shouting from a distance if he was okay but I couldn’t answer them.  I was shocked myself.  Charlie’s eyes remained fixed on me and I was stunned…I felt like part of me died with him.

It was the very last time any of us went back there…