Speechless
2-minute monologue
Dear Alex
I hope you’re well.
I’m not.
Seriously. I’m not well.
This doesn’t sound like me, does it?
I’m holding the pen. You’ll recognize my handwriting. As elegant as ever. But there won’t be any gossip in today’s letter. Or in any of my letters from now on.
That’s a very blunt way of putting it. Roy obviously hasn’t inherited a trace of my subtlety.
He apologizes for not contacting you sooner.
On Wednesday night I had a stroke. I’m no longer able to form sentences.
Roy is sitting next to me, dictating. He tries to imagine what I want to say. When he gets reasonably close, I copy the words down.
The stroke left the right side of my face drooping in a sort of scowl. So it’s hard to show him when he goes off track. Like now.
You know I loathe all caps and exclamation marks. But this is SO FRUSTRATING!!!
I can’t get out more than the odd phrase. Sometimes extremely odd.
For example, yesterday I tried telling Roy to bring my shoes to the hospital. But I couldn’t summon up the word “shoes.” All I could manage was, “Slippers not acceptable.”
Anyway, Alex, I just want to say how much I love you.
Not very original or personalized, I know. But it will have to do. Roy’s hopeless.
Still, a plain “I love you” pretty much covers it.
Will write again soon.
Love, Kelly
I hope you’re well.
I’m not.
Seriously. I’m not well.
This doesn’t sound like me, does it?
I’m holding the pen. You’ll recognize my handwriting. As elegant as ever. But there won’t be any gossip in today’s letter. Or in any of my letters from now on.
That’s a very blunt way of putting it. Roy obviously hasn’t inherited a trace of my subtlety.
He apologizes for not contacting you sooner.
On Wednesday night I had a stroke. I’m no longer able to form sentences.
Roy is sitting next to me, dictating. He tries to imagine what I want to say. When he gets reasonably close, I copy the words down.
The stroke left the right side of my face drooping in a sort of scowl. So it’s hard to show him when he goes off track. Like now.
You know I loathe all caps and exclamation marks. But this is SO FRUSTRATING!!!
I can’t get out more than the odd phrase. Sometimes extremely odd.
For example, yesterday I tried telling Roy to bring my shoes to the hospital. But I couldn’t summon up the word “shoes.” All I could manage was, “Slippers not acceptable.”
Anyway, Alex, I just want to say how much I love you.
Not very original or personalized, I know. But it will have to do. Roy’s hopeless.
Still, a plain “I love you” pretty much covers it.
Will write again soon.
Love, Kelly
This monologue may be performed by a female or male actor (playing Kelly) OR by a male actor (playing Roy). The actor is free to choose.