Breaking Through

In the drama monologue Breaking Through, Paula argues with her son because she cannot seem to “get through to him” as a parent.

PAULA: Why can’t you ever just listen to me? Why do you always tune me out?  I want the respect, I am your mother. I want you to pay attention when I talk.

(beat)

(SON: “What you are shouts so loudly in my ears I cannot hear what you say…”)

(line above is a reference to Emerson)

What? Don’t start spitting Shakespeare at me.  And I am not shouting, I’m talking to you.  I could shout.  Heaven knows I could shout but shouting is not the answer.  This isn’t some lifetime original movie dear.

(long pause.)

I don’t want to punish you, I don’t want to scream and yell and fly off the walls.  All I want you to know is that I love you with all my heart and soul.  You are my life and I need you to be my son, the good boy that I know you are.

It hasn’t been easy for us honey but if you need to talk I want you to know that you can come to me and we can talk about anything, like friends.  I want you and I to be friends.

Just think about that.

(she gently touches her sons face and leaves the room)