Monologue Week! Monologue #3

This one is merely a simple, straightforward conversation a man has on the phone... nothing weird or odd about this one at all.

PINS AND NEEDLES

by: Joel Petrie

ETHAN: Give me two good reasons I shouldn't roll you into traffic: you're crippled? Ya- aaand? A- uh- priest? How the hell did you become- never mind. Being handicapped and a man of god still doesn't give you the right to talk about my mother that way! I don't even care if she was the one that put you in that chair- she's my mother, and you're going to treat her as such. Uh huh... ya... no... ya... uh huh... you know- for a priest you've got a mouth on you... oh okay- so tell me this! did you or did you not try to... uhm... you know... YOU know... did... did...did you try to fondle her butt cheek!? (getting a sickly look on his face) Okay... that's it... you've crossed the line- (indicating with hand) I'm coming to find you your holiness and I bring with me a wrath! "Vengeance belongeth unto me, I WILL recompense, saith the Lord!" ... Right... well you'll find out exactly when I'm shoving that wheelchair so far up your- hello? (drops phone to side) son of a- (calls off stage) Mom! Do you know a Father Roberts!?

Monologue Week! Monologue #2

This is a monologue from my phone written play- I kind of enjoy it- I'm not really exploring anything with this except that the character may be hiding something while being questioned about the disappearance of a girl who had stayed at her house while in this small town on the coast of Ireland.

CHURCH BELLS
by: Joel Petrie

SYNTHIA:Its a touch spooky in here, isn’t it? Uhmm... every time I meet someone new, I uh- well I try to befriend them- that isn’t so wrong is it? If someone is hungry, I feed them. They need a place to stay I have more than enough room. Both in my house and my heart... She was no different than anyone else... well she was. She was more than different. She was- uhm... I am not quite sure why I was so compelled to help... She was different.

Monologue Week! Monologue #1

So, I'm on a monologue writing kick for the time being- so, starting today- I'm going to be posting monologue's I am writing...

This first one I wrote while at IHOP- don't know where it came from. I just wanted to explore a little into a person's psyche- to me its much more scary to not know why someone is doing something than it is to see what it is they are doing. (a slasher film will usually lose me the moment they explain why the killer is killing- I'm guessing they tell us to make us feel more at ease about what just happened)

Anyway- it might just be my inner villain coming out... or maybe... my inner hero... something to think about.

VIGILANT
by: Joel Petrie

GREGORY: What do you think it is? What motivates me? Money? Girls? Maybe a childhood tragedy- "Uncle Gerald and I played doctor and now I'm so messed around upstairs I can't control my actions..." Maybe I'm lashing out at society for all the shit she gave me! Oh- that's the second time I mentioned the opposite sex! It must be that- broken heart, picked on by the girls, unloved, jealous a manic depressive who's up shit's creek without a paddle and begging for MORE! AAH! aah...It doesn't matter what I say though- you'll draw your conclusions, if you haven't already- you NEED the answer. You need to understand so as not to end up like me. Except- I know precisely why I do what I do. Listen- before you go- I want to present you with one more inquiry... What exactly is it that I do? If you can explain that to me... I'll tell you why.

Nosferatu

I'm Tech. Directing a production of F.W. Murnau's Nosferatu at Utah Valley University and they have started a sort of production blog for the actor's and crew to write about their experiences thus far on the show- you should check it out and learn more about this landmark production (something that has never been done on this continent)

Check it out! UVU's Nosferatu

Update on a phone play...

Remember how I said I was writing a play- entirely on my phone...? I do.

Well- here's a sample of how its goin': Tentatively I'm calling it "A Priest, A Widow and A Foreigner..."

SCENE ONE

A hot light hits a square, metal table that is holding a tape recorder, a lamp and an ashtray. Smoke wafts from that ashtray- wafts into the eyes of the man sitting behind it.

This man hasn't slept in quite some time- his bloodshot, swelling eyes are proof of this. His clothes give little away about who he is- maybe just how he is... a sweater and tie perhaps.

He's quiet spoken for an Irishman. He's Campbell-

CAMPBELL: I get it. I do. I am not the most looked up to man in the area. But that's my job. My calling. (beat) I call a spade a spade and a sinner a sinner. If he doesn't like it he can change his ways or leave the church- It doesn't matter to me- I'm not here to save anyone- I'm here for those who want to be saved. (beat) I don't think she wanted to be saved. Just- You know what I think? I think that people couldn't stand the sight of us. And I do not blame them- we shouldna tried keeping what we- (beat) I canna even look at the building without feeling her hand in mine.

A different light raises now- not so hot, colder... Much colder... winter.

Dressed appropriately - a young, normal looking woman, normal looking but beautiful to some- stands staring up above us- she is in awe of something. Campbell speaks from the dark and joins her side.

CAMPBELL: She's over a thousand years old.

GIRL: She?

CAMPBELL: (smiling) Ay, all beautiful buildings are feminine.

GIRL: Wow. Wasn't that smooth?

CAMPBELL: I guess it was- you're American?

GIRL: No.

CAMPBELL: No?

GIRL: I'm Canadian.

CAMPBELL: Really?

GIRL: No.

CAMPBELL: Cute.

GIRL: Thanks.

They now stand in silence. Each waiting for the other to speak first.

CAMPBELL: What brings you to these hallowed grounds?

GIRL: Boredom.

CAMPBELL: (he laughs) I hate to break this to you but church isn't all too exciting...

GIRL: Yes. But I was cooped up in my room. Hopped a plane then a bus- found my way on to a mail truck and this is where I am.

CAMPBELL: (smiling) I am so terribly sorry.

GIRL: I'm not. Its perfect.

CAMPBELL: Ay, it is isn't it?

A deep clang of church bells.

CAMPBELL: That's my cue.

GIRL: Wait. What's your name?

CAMPBELL: Campbell.

GIRL: Is that a first name?

CAMPBELL: Most people call me Father.

GIRL: Oh. (beat) Good to meet you.

She removes her glove and shakes his hand. He notices how soft the skin of her hands are... nothing creepy though.

CAMPBELL: Ay, I hope to see you around.

He almost makes it off stage-

GIRL: Father Campbell!

CAMPBELL: Yes?

GIRL: Do you usually flirt with foreigners?

CAMPBELL: ...no... I don't think so.

They both smile at this. And now we're back at that dreadful hot light and table. Somebody new is sitting behind it. I wonder who it is-

My brother has tied the proverbial knot.

Whelp- Jaelan, my older brother, the one above Jordan and below Jenna in the age range of siblings, is married. That's right, he finally went through with it! And as a joke on me- he had me do a "Tribute to Marriage" at the wedding- and in true form I wrote it ten minutes before being called up to speak... and it slew! slayed? slayn? killed!

I'm waiting until I can see a copy of the video - so I can give you a true, word for word transcript of how I actually said things- because to be perfectly honest... I don't remember- kind of a blur.

So... watch for that-

a novel idea

I am writing a play. On my phone.