We’re not complicated. Actors, men, all we want is a girl who can play the part. Is that too much? Naturally she has to be attractive. Even the ugly parts are played by attractive girls. You know that. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know. Not so attractive that it doesn’t read right, you understand. Reasonably attractive, but decidedly more reasonably attractive than we are, and by that I mean a nine, nine-and-a-half tops. I don’t make these rules. Men want to see their wishes fulfilled. Women want to be the better man. I tell you, they’ll go looking for a guy they can stupefy; they’ll ignore his flaws, lavish him with love, and every day go out of their way to stroke his ego by staying with him, and all they ask in return is that the stupid schmuck act lucky. Yeah, I miss her. She had a way of looking at me that felt like applause. Smartest girl I ever got. I never had to dumb-down my material. She misses me, too, of course, but she’d never hurt me by letting on. We talk. She’s helped me grow as an actor and a man. I don’t think I’d be this mature about leaving her if she hadn’t. No, wait, that doesn’t read right. One minute he’s drawing blueprints of the female mind and the next minute he’s a witless fathead? No, it doesn’t scan. It’s unplayable. Maybe if it didn’t transition so quickly. I mean, are you married to this script? I’ll tell you what. You get a re-write and find me a leading lady who doesn’t look like my mother and I’ll come back and maybe audition. The way things stand, what makes you think I’d want this lousy part? Thank you for your time.
Copyright © August 09, 2007 David Hodges
Two-Minute Monologue by davidbdale is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at davidbdale.wordpress.com.
12 comments
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August 10, 2007 at 3:56 pm
briseis
I really, really enjoyed this piece, David. It’s ferociously clever.
Thank you, Briseis. I’m fiercely appreciative.
–David
August 10, 2007 at 7:07 pm
Kathleen Maher
“She had a way of looking at me that felt like applause.”
Great line. The character’s interesting as always, but this one packs a really complicated set of punches. Maybe it’s because the focus is so tight on this one guy. But as I’ve said before, I haven’t a clue how you do this. And I’ve been writing seriously longer than not.
Thank you, Kathleen. I’m glad you keep coming back to figure it out.
–David
August 11, 2007 at 2:01 pm
neoauteur
Very thoughtful and clever.
Thanks, neoauteur, and Welcome to Very Short Novels.
–David
August 12, 2007 at 12:21 am
gigi
Hi David,
You are very masterful in the way you manage the dexterity of the actor’s mind in the story; it’s grandly impressive. There is something about the relentless, singular passion of his train of thought that reminds me of tight Mamet dialogue. AND I can’t quite figure out if it’s an actor reading a part for a role, or having a heart-to-heart with his agent (or other intimate).
Most enjoyable – thank you!
I am very happy about everything you say, gigi! Thank you.
–David
August 13, 2007 at 12:51 pm
Valentin
“We’re not complicated. Actors, men, all we want is a girl who can play the part. Is that too much?”
I know a blog where the blogger would answer to you :
Yes, that is too much! Because: We’re not complicated. Actresses, women, all we want is a guy who can play the part.
http://howtotellifaguyisajerk.blogspot.com/
(first read the top right-sidebar first phrase :-P)
Thanks, Valentin. Just so you know, this collection is full of jerks
–David
August 14, 2007 at 10:37 am
litlove
I’m trying to figure out whether it’s fair to call this a shell of a narrative with two interpolated stories. Or perhaps it’s a story (an old story of gender) that gets subjected to two rewrites, and you can take your pick as to which you think is the ur-story of gender. Or maybe it’s two role plays whose jarring distinctions get pointed out to us by the narrator, precisely because they are roles and not reality. Whichever it may be, this transition between three different voices in the same voice is masterfully done, and with an economy I would never have dreamed was possible.
Thank you, Litlove. That’s beautifully done. For me the real fun won’t begin until an actor who needs a Two-Minute Monologue for an audition chooses this piece and performs it for his would-be director. Then we’ll really see how many layers there are!
–David
Oh—and by shell I presume you mean “shell-game of a narrative,” the point of which is to guess which shell hides the marble.
August 16, 2007 at 4:26 pm
grantman
I’m seeing a young Woody Allen here…. and somewhere, the word jejune keeps popping up…
grantman
That is a fascinating comment, grantman. I’ll try to hear it in his voice. As for jejune, you’re on your own there. I don’t really sense the jejunosity.
–David
December 17, 2007 at 12:05 am
writersambition
This piece is purely brilliant. It made me sit back and reread a few times, especially this line, “She had a way of looking at me that felt like applause.” very unique. It amazes me how so much character may come across in such a short eloquent piece.
Thanks, writersambition, and welcome to Very Short Novels. Try it out the next time you read for a part and let me know if it works.
–David
January 9, 2008 at 6:16 am
wailin
“She had a way of looking at me that felt like applause”
If anything can sum up how a woman can make you feel, that’s it right there. This one line is a masterpiece in itself. I am stealing it. When someone asks why I loved someone, this is what I will say. And in the air, with my right finger, I will draw the little copyright logo and cite you as the creator. What I will not do is send you a dollar.
You may consider your dollar prepaid. Thank you, wailin.
–David
June 17, 2009 at 6:44 am
mark waterfield
Genius – You made me roar with laughter. I must come back for more
Hey, thanks, Mark! I’m still waiting for the day someone will report to me he used this monologue to land an acting job.
–David
July 21, 2009 at 12:17 am
Smita
Like everybody said I loved the same lines “She had a way of looking at me that felt like applause” What a dream you are giving to some women. I enjoyed it very much.
Why, thank you, Smita! And welcome to Very Short Novels. My own favorite line is: Women want to be the better man.
–David
October 28, 2009 at 3:33 pm
jason
dumb
Thanks, Jason. You’re the 11,410th reader of that story, and the first with the nerve to tell me the truth. Welcome to Very Short Novels!
–David