“The Monologue Sonata” – Number 5

Photo Courtesy ERIC MAGNUSON

{HERBERT sits behind a wooden table – black – centerstage – facing the audience. A white light embodies him with a tint of yellow. A small sized coffee container 40% full is surrounded by Herbert’s hand. He lifts the cup an inch above the table before letting it deliberately slip through his grip – making a CLUCK! sound. The sound of the CLUCK! occurs in a rythmn every 6 seconds.}

{72 seconds pass – 4 RAPID knocks at door}

{CLUCK!}

{Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!}

{CLUCK!}

{Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!}

{CLUCK!}

{Knock! Knock! Knock! Knock!}

{Herbert slams the palm of his hand down to the table and looks at the door}

{10 seconds pass – he turns back to looking forward – he grips cup of coffee and sips – he holds it one inch above table and lets it slip through his grip every 6 seconds…CLUCK!}

{6 seconds}

{CLUCK!}

{lights begin to fade black}

{6 seconds}

{CLUCK!}

{6 seconds}

{CLUCK!}

{lights completely out}

“The Monologue Sonata” – Number 4

Photo Courtesy ERIC MAGNUSON

{THE ROOM – white walls, white floor, white table and white overhead light – BRIGHT. MAN sits on one side of table – RENE sits on the other. Light above occasionally flickers 4 times every 7 seconds. Upon each flicker of light is a hum of lose wires.}

RENE: I have a daughter. The father, he, he split, left when she was born. Her name is Amalia – it means soul. Everything I do, I do for her; I would never be caught dead doing this…never. If I tell you what you want to hear, than I worry about the safety of my daughter – obviously, I don’t have the money to go to court with a lawyer – if I had money, I wouldn’t be in this mess – look, I know you are used to dealing with low life trash but I don’t fit the description. I come from a good family, was raised right and I just got caught up with making some really lousy choices; I live my life for my child, she is my world, my life, my heart and soul – I was fired from work, a company I worked for, for five years. They cut back due to the economy and I haven’t been successful freelancing. {sighs} …I’m embarrassed and I just want my life to be back on track. I thought this would – haven’t asked my family for help cause of my pride. Listen, please, I can’t give you a name, I’m so sorry, so sorry. {Pause.} PLEASE, for my daughter, I’m not a bad person, please, can you let me go?? {beat} I’m just in a really screwed up situation…can you help me somehow??? {beat} No, right? Yeah, I figured…{she runs her fingers through her hair} I figured.

“The Monologue Sonata” – Number 3

Photo Courtesy ERIC MAGNUSON

{JEFFREY is chilling out with a buddy of his outside a bar in the cold, smoking a cigarette, drunk off his ass. A street light illuminates him in white. The moving sound of car traffic is heard throughout.}

JEFFREY: Whas it all about man? No, seriously, seriously, what the ffuu; this shit all ’bout man…ssssso sick a thdis shit man…arh ffua man. Standing here, you’re standin’ here and I’m like, like; shouldn’t we be doing somethin’?? hahahahahaha—{inhales deeply}—hahahahahahaha…man. {puffs cig} …man…{puffs cig}

{pause.}

Been goinround in circlez man…callin all these places, goin’ on all these stupid interviews…feel like a guy who can’t get laid man…just a—you know? {half beat} Nobody’s hirin’, nobody’s hirin’, nobody’s nobody man, you know? Fuckwe spposed do man? You know? WHAT?! You know? Ain’t shit in those papers man…calling, calling, calling…gonna find a job, I’m gonna find a job, gonna get the job…sleepin’ on—no heat no electric no lights no phone no—I got a cat! Yeaaaaaa I gotta cat. She’s more fed than me man. Yeah…she’s more fed than me…

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