FREE MONOLOGUES FOR BLACK ACTORS
by Audrey Cefaly
I LOVE YOU, MAN
Benny (M)
A young soldier attempts to record a video for his brother back home.
Title: I Love You, Man
By Audrey Cefaly
(A young Black soldier, DEMARCUS, crouches inside a dimly lit concrete bunker. The walls rattle with distant shelling. Rapid gunfire crackles outside, close enough to feel in the bones. He speaks quickly into his phone, trying to sound casual but breathless with adrenaline.)
DEMARCUS
Yo. Dre. I don’t know what happened with the FaceTime—
signal’s trash out here—
so I’ma send this real quick ‘fore they cut us off.
(Gunfire erupts outside—he drops instinctively.)
Shit—We inside now, but it’s hot, bruh. Like—for real hot.
I’m talkin’ lean-your-head-too-far-out-you-don’t-get-it-back hot.
(Another burst outside. He’s coming apart, slow and quiet.)
They said travel light. But this? Bruh.
Some heavy-ass shit. These dudes ain’t playin.
(Fighting tears.)
I’m scared, man. Real scared.
Like... what if I get blowed up?
get shot, get my dick blowed off—
How in the entire fuck did you deal with this, bruh?
I can’t even believe you went BACK. Whaaat!?
Second tour??? Fuuuucck, bruh!
(Laughs—sharp, unraveling.)
Renata’s gon’ leave yo ass—
or kill you, if these motherfuckers don’t.
(The shelling draws closer—louder now, rattling the walls.)
FUCK, BRUH!
They are right on top of us.
(He breathes in—slow, shaky. Focus. He’s got to push through.)
I’ma keep it one hundred with you right now.
You ‘member that time I shit myself in third grade—
I can’t even believe I’m—
(On the edge of breaking, but determined to speak.)
You ‘member you drove to school
and got me home and cleaned me up and shit
‘fore pops got home?
Cried like a motherfucker,
I ain’t never been so scared.
But ‘member you tol’ me it ain’t matter?
You said it was ok to be scared,
sound just like pop,
you said a man who knows fear… knows his-self.
(Tenderly.)
I ain’t never forgot that.
(Lost… disoriented… at the breaking point.)
Is it snowing up in Brooklyn?
Or down in Brooklyn...
Whereverthefuck Brooklyn?
(Falling apart.)
I love you, bro.
(Shelling closes in—his voice splinters.)
I don’t think I’ma make it back, bruh.
Little man ain’t even gon know my face.
Just—take care of Boo for me, yeah?
Make sure she got what she need.
Take the truck. Take the J’s.
Shit, take all my dumbass shit.
(He shuts his eyes and rocks, slow and small.)
I love you.
I love you, man.
(The shelling grows louder. And louder.)
Lights fade.
End of play.
Copyright 2025 Audrey Cefaly
BATH TIME
YoYo (F)
A security guard calls home at bath time.
(Upbeat CAR RADIO MUSIC is heard. Lights shift to YOYO, a local security officer, sitting alone in her patrol golf cart listening to the radio, eating M&M’s, and hiding from the world. YOYO’s cell phone rings. SHE lowers the volume on the stereo and answers. )
AJ, why you callin? Hold up, who’s drownin? You do not sound like a drownin’ child, I asked big brother to give you a bath, you need a bath. Put ya brother on. Put him on, go find ya pajamas. No, Imma see you in the mornin, ask Mimi. Ask aunt Mimi, lemme talk to ya brother. Let. Me talk. To him!
(DuJuan, AJ’s older brother, picks up the line. YOYO takes a much stronger tone with the older child. )
DuJuan! Why you trynna drown your lil brother?! I have not got time for this drama!
(Words tumbling.) Well, welcome to the real world, things will be required of you, boy, why you do this to me, go deal with him, where’s Mimi, why are you callin me when you know I’m at work?
SUPPLIES?! What school project?! Tomorrow, boy I know you fuckin lyin! You are lyin! Well, I can’t do nothin, I’m here til 4 in the mornin. I love you too and love ain’t got nothin to do with it, I can’t do nothing about no poster board, can I?
No… no… no… no, you are learning consequences and this is what that feels like. No, we are not goin to no dollar store for poster board, they are closed, they don’t stay open all night for little bad kids. That’s ok. I’m fine. I’m fine with it, you tell Mr. Wilson you are learning consequences. (Repeating) Con-se-quen-ces. You don’t know that word? Consequences, F around and find out? Oh, so you do know it.
(Over it. Shutting it down. )Gotta go, bye. I’m hanging up. Hanging up. HANGING UP!
(YOYO hangs up. SHE eats a few more M&Ms and turns the music back up to full blast. )
Bye!
Copyright 2024 Audrey Cefaly