100 Monologues is a project where I’m writing monologue scripts, performing, and filming the pieces. Since I’m beginning to dabble in acting, the project is meant as a means for me to acquire more acting experience where I can work on refining my craft. You can find out more about the project here.

Below is the script from the “Insomnia” monologue. The script isn’t exact to my performance above, but my performance is based on it. If you’re a student who would like to perform this monologue for class, just make sure you credit me, Maggie Coyle, as the author. For any other use of the script, please contact me.

100 Monologues: #1 Insomnia

Written by Maggie Coyle

You know one week I was sleeping soundly every night and then one night I just—I couldn’t. My mind just wouldn’t shut-up. I tried closing my eyes for several minutes–still nothing. And I kept propping myself up on an elbow and looking over at the alarm clock to see how much time I’d have to left to actually get some rest. And time just couldn’t care less—it kept going on and on. 1 a.m. 2 a.m. 3 a.m.

By 5 a.m. I was just desperate. I knew I needed some amount of sleep to actually function the next day. My eyes ached, my head hurt. But my mind wouldn’t just give in and take a break for the night. I tried taking a warm shower, drinking some hot green tea, counting sheep or whatever, but still nothing. It was no use.

Before long it was morning, and I spent that entire week with insomnia. I think got a total of a half hour of sleep that entire time. I have no idea how on earth I managed to function with so little shut-eye, but I did. And then one miraculous day, I crept home from school, just dropped my bags, wandered into my warm living room, just sprawled out on the couch and closed my eyes. And the sleep just came.

And this whole ordeal with losing Shawn reminds me of that week. Right now it just feels unbearable – I’m just moving along without much rest, my body tired, fatigued, and my mind just aching with heartbreak. And I know that someday, somehow, this will all seem far behind me, and I’ll finally get some rest, relax, close my eyes, and fall asleep.

I’ve decided to tackle a monster of a project. I’m planning to write 100 original monologues that I’ll perform and shoot on camera. The purpose of this project is to help me improve my skills as an actress. By going behind the scenes and being in charge of writing the script, this project will also challenge me to tap into creating different characters, stories, situations, and so on and so forth.

If any of the monologues sound similar to something you’ve seen before, that is simply a coincidence. I’m approaching each piece without thinking about other monologue work that’s out there. I also plan to post the script for each monologue so that any students out there can feel free to use it for a class – just make sure you credit the author Maggie Coyle.

So here we go! I’m off to start writing up a storm and getting my pieces memorized and filmed as quickly as I can.