Castles in the Sky
In Castles in the Sky, military warden for a prison camp Manuel begins his process for penetrating the mind of captured spy Arco.
Featured Monologue – Castles in the Sky
MANUEL: …I don’t like my job. But I love my country. Cannot stomach the waste I must answer to…superiors who are superior at nothing, quite frankly. They have no craftsmanship. No acquired gifts. No secret abilities. Their only positions were spoon-fed to them, from their ancestors. But as one does, I obey. I keep my most troubling thoughts to myself in order to function. As we all do, no?
I know my men have worked you over quite a bit. It always comes down to a battle of wills. (puffs his cigar)
How many times have you gone off to visit another place in your mind? Does it help? It helps me. I am no different than you Arco. I get paid to kill and you got caught for killing, but other than that, we are the same. The same kind of man.
You love your country, as do I. You love your wife, as do I. You love your children, as do I. Do you love music? Jazz? The theatre? Cinema? What about a walk through the park on a breezy night? Or the sunset from the terrace of a cafe, with a cappuccino and a side of tiramisu?
You will become the one-hundred and thirteenth man that has been killed inside these walls. An institution of death. So many lost spirits, their shadows walk the nights, still trying to escape, still crying out in anger. When I hear their shrieks I put on those records, pour myself a drink… contempt, you might call it, leaving nothing in my windpipe but promise. A promise to continue doing the work I’ve no choice to do. I promise something, I do it! As any man should. Ahh, but the excuses! Excuses! Not me. Do you think that’s a good quality for a person to have? I do. I do. I have decided that for one day and for one day only I will let you go, set you free. See that door? (pointing)
(Arco looks up.)
That door will lead you downstairs, out into the back courtyard where a car will be waiting for you. It will escort you to a secure place where you will see your wife and children one last time.
You will have the entire day with them, you can talk to them, embrace them, feel alive once more Arco.
When your time is over, you will get back into the vehicle and be driven back here. Does this sound right with you?
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Monologue Summary
Castles in the Sky features a 2-3 minute drama monologue for male actors, wherein Manuel shares his own private view of life in order to get a prisoner to ‘talk’.
- Genre:Â Drama
- Length:Â ~2-3 Minutes
- Monologue Character:Â Manuel
- Age Range: Any
- Themes:Â murder, negotiation
- Best For:Â male dramatic monologues
World of the Play
- Cast Size:Â 2 men
- Characters in Play:Â Manuel, Arco
- Time Period: Modern – Drama
- Synopsis: In the one act eplay Castles in the Sky, military warden Manuel makes an offer to prisoner Arco in order to gain information for what he signifies is valuable scientific research for his book.
FAQ
A: Monologue Blogger is known for having a series of different monologue creatives may use for free there are a few military oriented monologue that can be found here.
A: Castles in the Sky is a short play by Joseph Arnone that explores a story about a prisoner of war named Arco.
A: Burden of Being Taken, Castles in the Sky, Roads and Trenches, and Bounty of the Sun are all battle and war themed plays on Monologue Blogger.
Related Monologues
- The Data Evaluation – dramatic monologue
- Eyes of My Daughter – dramatic monologue
- Burden of Being Taken – dramatic monologue
- The Ever-Turning Wheel – dramatic monologue
Monologue Source: Castles in the Sky
Castles in the Sky, a one-act ePlay by Joseph Arnone, 2025.
