The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues
Earn and Joseph
By Jeffrey Lo
For PDF of Monologue, Click Here
A hospital room.
In a bed, asleep but unwell, is JOSEPH - 70’s.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Silence.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Silence.
After a moment, JOSEPH’S son EARN – 40’s arrives.
EARN hovers by the doorframe, staring at his father.
EARN
Shit.
EARN takes a deep breath.
EARN (cont’d)
Ok…
EARN slowly enters the room and takes a seat next to his dad.
EARN (cont’d)
Goddamnit, Dad. Why’d you have to go and get yourself… here.
We always said you needed to take better care of yourself but no, not for Joseph Flores, he’ll survive anything.
…
What was it you used to say?
“Anything good in life is either illegal, immoral or fattening.”
(A genuine chuckle, shaking his head:)
So stupid…
EARN looks at his dad for a long while.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
EARN (cont’d)
Dad I –
…
Look, this is going to sound stupid but I’m going to need you to make it through this, ok?
I need you to survive.
Because…
I’ve been looking back a lot lately.
Reflecting.
On you.
And us.
Our relationship and…
I know I’ve spent a lot of my life wishing that you were better to me or…
Different.
I don’t know. But.
When I really think about it.
I wish I was better to you too. I think.
Not when I was a kid.
I was your kid. That time was on you.
But…
As I got older.
…
I think that I had to build this wall.
This barrier.
A defense mechanism, I guess.
And although I was around when you asked me to help you with something, or for a holiday or something else that felt like an obligation…
I kept my distance.
Emotionally.
Because, I don’t know, I think I felt let down so much growing up that I felt that could be my way of preventing myself from feeling it more as an adult and…
I guess I kind of regret that.
Because even though it worked and I didn’t feel the disappointment you made me feel when you missed a game or forgot to pick me up from school…
Now I feel disappointment in myself.
Disappointment that I never gave you the chance to be different. Maybe.
Disappointment that I didn’t try to make things different. For us.
… I’m sorry.
Pause.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Tears begin to well up.
EARN (cont’d)
So yeah. Dad.
You are going to make it through this.
You would always acted like you were some all-powerful superhero that could survive anything so you better come through on this one. Ok?
I need you to come through this time and then maybe…
We can make things better.
I can get to know you.
And you can get to know me.
EARN gets up from the chair and kisses JOSEPH on the forehead.
EARN’s tears land onto his dad’s face.
EARN (cont’d)
You are going to make it.
Ok?
Please?
EARN looks around.
EARN doesn’t know what to do.
EARN exits.
Beep.
Beep.
Beep.
Silence.
END.