100 Monologues – Monologue #30: Running

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 “Running” monologue. 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: #30 Running

Every day at 6am, I throw on my running clothes, tug on my tennis shoes, and I get to it. I run for a good twenty minutes, maybe longer, all depends on how much I desperately need that time of calm and peace and serenity. Running is the only time when my mind is blank and in a meditative state. All I can do is focus on my steps and breathing. I’m too preoccupied with running the right way and figuring out what path to run, that I don’t have time to deal with the busy mess that inhabits my brain most of the time. And that’s what I love about it – all that matters is running, and staying true to that rhythm. When that twenty minutes is up –it’s back to the grind and back to reality. Back to dealing with the strains and stresses of every day. But at least I have that slice of time, every morning, when I am free.

100 Monologues – Monologue #29: Close Your Eyes and Pretend

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 “Close Your Eyes and Pretend” monologue. 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: #29 Close Your Eyes and Pretend

Have you ever wished that you were someone else? That you could just leave behind your old life, and start all over again? Completely different. Who doesn’t? Sometimes I close my eyes and pretend that I’ve gone down a different path. Instead of growing up a shy, timid young thing, I’m fearless and unafraid. I take chances. I say “I love you” without knowing what I’ll hear in return. I stand up for myself when someone pushes me, or says something awful and cruel about the way I look. I don’t quietly ignore the negative and ugly comments that are directed at me. I confront them, rattle them up a bit, let them know who’s boss. And then I feel that wonderful feeling of accomplishment, of relief. That I’ve taken care of something, addressed it. I smile, and then I open my eyes and realize I haven’t lived out all those gloriously brave things I imagined. But you know what? Even though it isn’t real, it makes me realize that I have a chance to turn those actions into reality.

100 Monologues – Monologue #28: Upset at Myself

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 “Upset at Myself” monologue. 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: #28 Upset at Myself

Why do I always do this to myself? I don’t understand why my mind works this way. Why do I keep telling people what’s on my mind? Can’t I filter anything? I’m always putting my foot in my mouth. I’ve turned awkwardness into an all-new art form. No one else can fail as beautifully and tragically as I can. You’d think I’d learn by now…but years of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time always gets forgotten. And before I know it, I’m back to my old ways. Ugh, one of these days I just gotta change. I can’t keep turning moments into horrifically awkward nightmares that follow me for years. I’ve got to do something…I just got to.

100 Monologues – Monologue #27: Constant State of Confusion

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 “Constant State of Confusion” monologue. 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: #27 Constant State of Confusion

I’m always in this constant state of confusion. I walk around, move about, lost in my own world. I get lost in my thoughts a lot, which is probably why I’m always disoriented and confused if someone interrupts my inner monologue. I momentarily forget what I’m doing, where I am, and who is talking to me. It takes me a minute to adjust, to realize that I’m no longer in my own sea of thoughts – that someone has dipped their feet in the waters to see how the surface ripples. And even though I get thrown at first, I’m always pleasantly surprised to see who has interrupted my silent dialogue this time around. Whoever felt the need to say hello, to extend a hand in my direction. It makes me smile, you know, because someone took the time to turn away from their world…to say hello to me in my world.

100 Monologues – Monologue #26: It’s not easy finding work

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 “It’s not easy finding work” monologue. 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: #26 It’s not easy finding work

Yeah, it’s soul crushing – you know, looking for work. Job interviews and the never-ending copies of resumes and cover letters. The fake smiles and fake enthusiasm. The showmanship. The conversational tap-dancing. The pretending that you want a job even though it’s below you. It gets embarrassing.

One time I went to an interview where the minute the interviewer met me, I could tell she instantly didn’t like me. She dismissed me as a person. And then I proceeded to sit through an entire thing, just fake smiling and trying to be likeable. It was a disaster. I just ended up being an awkward mess. I would have been better off if after I shook her hand and introduced myself, I had just said, “You know what? This isn’t going to work. You clearly don’t like me, so let’s not waste each other’s time.”

Instead it was fake conversational tap dancing. And then a week later, a rejection email. What a waste of time…

100 Monologues – Monologue #25: A Mess

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 “A Mess” monologue. 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: #25 A Mess

I’ve been a mess. And when I say I’ve been a mess, I’m not using that word loosely at all. It’s been a rough month. My friend…she died in a car accident. And then two weeks later, my three-year relationship ended. And then my body just started to revolt. First, I couldn’t sleep at all. Then next all I could do was sleep. I’d sleep through meals and life…In a couple of days I would lose seven pounds and gain the weight back in another two days. I was…I am just a mess of neuroses. Just all this emotion…it’s hard to handle. It’s hard to handle tragedy and heartbreak so close to each other. And despite how I’ve been feeling, I’m hopeful that things will get better. I just have to wait through this. Right now it’s a mess, a storm. I feel broken inside. But if I just power through it, you know, before I know it, I’ll feel whole again. Put back together. I just have to wait and see.

100 Monologues – Monologue #24: Unmotivated

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 “Unmotivated” monologue. 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: #24 Unmotivated

I just don’t know anymore. I used to have passions. I loved making my own clothes. I was obsessed with fashion and design. But then one day it left me. I woke up uninterested and unmotivated. And that was that. I became an expert at doing nothing. Sitting and watching TV. Sleeping. I dunno….everything just seems uninteresting and uninspiring. I hope I get over this whatever it is. I don’t want to be a zombie, passively living life. I want to actually live life. I don’t want to feel like I’m sitting back, watching someone else’s life unfold before my very eyes.

100 Monologues – Monologue #23: Rejection

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 “Rejection” 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: #23 Rejection

Damien caught my eye in class one day. I thought he was enchanting and charming. I loved his smile and his witty sense of humor. And I loved talking to him. Biology class became the highlight of my day. I even started dressing up a little more for those days we saw each other – wore a little more make-up. Seemed like everything was great, that there was definitely a strong attraction between us. So one day I thought, “The hell with it!” I’d take a leap. I saw him walking to class one morning, and I just popped the question. The “would you like to go out with me sometime” question. The “do you think we should start seeing each other” question. He nervously laughed and said he didn’t think it was a good idea. And then I had to sit through an entire hour and a half lecture with him, just wanting to melt into the floor and disappear. I think I ruined it. I can’t be my self around him anymore. Every time I see him, it feels like my stomach has fallen out of my body and hit the floor – I get this nervous jolt and then my body fills with dread. And I just want to flee the scene – get away from him before he notices I’m even there.

100 Monologues – Monologue #22: Island

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 “Island” 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: #22 Island

I used to dream about living on an island – just me and mother nature. I’d build a tree house from driftwood and climb up into the trees every night to go to sleep, just listening to the waves murmuring in the distance. I would live off the land, scavenge for food in tide pools and shrubs in the wilderness. I would make bonfires to cook my food and fashion together necklaces with shells from the beach and make clothing from leaves stitched together. I would be one with nature.

I think I read too many adventure stories of protagonists that survived on their own in the wild. I loved those stories as a kid. And now my sense of adventure has drifted away. These days the furthest I’ll travel with nature is a long walk home after work. That’s as “one with nature” as I can get.

100 Monologues – Monologue #21: Cubicle

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 “Cubicle” 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: #21 Cubicle

I work in an office and I do a lot of paperwork and administrative work and…I mean it probably doesn’t sound that fascinating but I’m confident that it’s going to turn into something better. Right now I’m working away in a cubicle every day. And that whole cubicle environment seems kind of silly. It’s almost like a zoo for people. We have these fake walls, florescent lights beating down on us…It’s kind of like we’re in all these different separate fish tanks or fish bowls. And you don’t see any other creature living this way. You don’t see some other animal scurrying away with a briefcase to go to work where they sit around for seven hours a day at a desk every day. It’s strange how people ended up doing this. But I mean for now it just seems like my days are filled with so much routine. But there has to be a starting point for everything and I’m confident that it’s going to turn into something bigger and better. I just have to keep moving forward and looking ahead. And things are going to go brilliantly.