The Sign on the Door - 7th Sunday

The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

The Sign on the Door
By Jeffrey Lo

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

Gamelandia game shop. 
Closing time.
LUZ, a teenage regular costumer has just been told it’s closing time.
They stand up and start to pack up their stuff but they stop themselves and walk up to the store’s owner.

LUZ
Look, sir, I know you all are just trying to close up the shop and go but I just got to say something.
About the sign on the door.
I’ve been trying to work up the courage to say something to you all day, sitting in that corner and the truth is – I’m embarrassed.
Because I know this store closing must mean a lot more to you than it does to me but I just wouldn’t feel right if I didn’t ask you to please reconsider.
I know you all are tired, and after I say what I’ve got to say I promise I’ll pack up and go.
…
This place has meant a whole lot to me.
It’s meant a lot to a lot of us.
When I step into these doors, I get to be a part of something.
A lot of something.
One day, I can walk over to that table and find myself in the world of Midgar with a group of crusaders.
The next, I can be over there exploring dungeons for treasure in Orpha.
When I step into these doors, I get to belong.
And out there, outside of these doors – that is not how I feel.
I am not allowed to feel that way.
And I know that my feelings or any of the other losers that escape their lives in this room is not your problem but…
You building this place –
Building this community.
It saved me.
…
And when I saw that sign on your door the yesterday…
I felt like the – I don’t know – forcefield that protected me when I stepped foot in here was suddenly gone.
The friends I made here – I felt like they were going to be taken away from me forever.
And I know what you’re going to say, - you can find another place to play these games – but where? Where else can we go?
And honestly, that’s not the point.
Because out in that world, every moment is unpredictable.
I never know what will happen to me at any given moment.
But this place – is stability.
And that sign on the door, is NOT stable.
Not to me.
…
And so, like, I don’t know. I don’t know why you are choosing to close your doors but I am begging you to not do it.
Is it money? Because I will work here and you won’t have to pay me. I will work as many shifts as you need as a volunteer and I know a lot of other people that will do that too.
Is it someone who is kicking you out? We can fight them.
Or… or… are you selling to someone else? Because… because… don’t.
…
I’m out of words.
                                                            (Picking up his bag to leave:)
But I hope that you get the point.
And I hope you know how much I mean it all.
…
…
Ummm…
Thanks. 

LUZ nods their head sheepishly and leaves Gamelandia.
Perhaps for the final time.

END.

2 AM, Pick Up - 6th Sunday

The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

2 AM, Pick Up
By Jeffrey Lo

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

2 AM.

 CARLOS, sitting on the ground of his
apartment, calls his best friend since childhood.

CARLOS
Yo, Vik – what’s up man?
No, no, NoNo – I’m good, man. I’m good.
Everything’s good. Or just…
Nothing’s wrong.
Or…
Nothing’s urgent.
Maybe that’s the best way to say it.
…
…
I’m fine.
…
I guess.
…
I don’t know man, I just, um, I think I’m just here – you know – and I am feeling some sort of way and I can’t quite put my finger on it.
I mean, I’ll be fine, dude.
You know how I get.
I get like this sometimes and there’s no rhyme or reason and I just gotta push through it or whatever.
Which I will. Because I always do.
Even now. I will
And I’m sorry. I know it’s crazy late to be calling – fuckin’ 2 AM and shit but I just…
…
I felt like I needed to hear a voice or something and your voice was the one I knew would pick up at this time.
The one that would pick up no matter what.
And um, yeah. I thought about that fact.
The fact that I knew you would pick up.
And I thought about how lucky I am to have someone like that.
Someone like you.
Someone who will pick up.
Someone who I can say – we gotta ride and do some shit and you’ll just hit me with, “Who’s car are we taking” and…
I’m lucky.
And I just want you to know that I know that.
And I don’t want to take that for granted. Take you for granted.
I appreciate you.
Not everyone has someone like you and I have had you since I don’t even remember at this point. 4th Grade?
…
And I know that these days I’m the one who always needs shit.
Needs help.
Needs time.
Needs everything.
But know that if you ever need anything.
I got you.
I just…
I just need a lot right now.
But I hope it won’t always be that way.
I hope I can get through this… phase.
Shit, man, I’m just babbling at this point.
I’m sorry.
And I bet you have to take your Sal to school tomorrow morning and I’m waking you up and…
I’m sorry, man.
I just wanted to call you because I knew you’d pick up when I need you to pick up.
And I just wanted to say thank you.
For that.
For everything.
Thank you.
Ok?
Thank you.
Alright man, I better let you get back to sleep.
I’m good. I’ll be good. Don’t worry.
I’ll get some sleep.
And you better too.
But seriously man, Thank you.
I love you. 

CARLOS hangs up.
He closes his eyes. He takes a deep breath.
He puts his phone down. He lies down.
He tries to sleep.

END.

Takebacks and Transparency - 5th Sunday

The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

Takebacks and Transparency
By Jeffrey Lo

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

A gentle knock at the door.

                                                                                    CLAIRE pops her head into the office.

                                                                        CLAIRE
Hi.
Hi hi.
How are you?
Yes, it’s me. I know. Surprise.
Do you have a second? This’ll only take a second.
Don’t worry I won’t –
Scream or doing anything… rash.
This time.
                                                            (Entering the office:)
Umm…
So.
This is a bit awkward but.
I know that last time I was here.
Yesterday.
I was… How do I say…
I was quitting my position.
Resigning.
Putting my two week’s notice, perhaps.
Yes, two minute’s notice, really.
And I know that I did this in a rather – unusual way?
A loud and perhaps aggressive way.
A way one might assume was permanent.
And well, the funny thing about that is… 

Well – when I did that yesterday and I said the things that I said, you must understand, I was in a very emotional state and after working here under circumstances that were not always ideal for me and yesterday I was told that the hospital was going to pull the plug on my mother and so…

I was not at my best.
And to be fair, although I was not at my best I was being honest.
And transparent.
And maybe that’s really what I was asking of you and this company.
More transparency.
To help, you know, the work situation here.
…
And in the spirit of transparency…
When I was told that my mother was going to be dying yesterday, not only did it leave me in an emotionally vulnerable state but it also left me in a frame of mind where I thought that I was going to be receiving a large inheritance from her. Meaning I would not need to work anymore.
So I did what I did.
…
The thing is…
Is…
She survived.
The hospital was wrong.
They aren’t pulling the plug and she’s… suddenly making a miraculous recovery and it seems as though she is going to live for many many more years.
…
…
Yes of course this is great news!
And of course this is so good for my mental well being and… her life, but…
It is sort of bad for my financial well being seeing as how when I thought my circumstances were different, I took it upon myself to stand on this desk of yours, shake my bum in your face and tell you that I quit.
…
…
So I guess what I’m getting at is…
It turns out I do still need to have a job.
And I have worked here for quite a long time.
And I’m hoping that if I have built any good will from you and this company in any way…
That perhaps we can pretend that yesterday never happened and we can move forward as things were.
Mother alive, me employed and you not knowing what kind of underwear I use…
What do you say?
…
…
Ok, I’ll leave now.
ThankYouForYourConsiderationThereIsNoNeedToGetSecurity.Goodbye. 

                                                                                    CLAIRE quickly exits.

END.

How A Little Can Fight A Lot - 4th Sunday

The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

How A Little Can Fight A Lot
By Jeffrey Lo

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

THEM
I haven’t picked up my phone all day.
I couldn’t look at it after I saw… -
I’ve been feeling this way for…
Actually, it’s been creeping up for a long time now but…
I just don’t know what to do anymore, you know?
You scroll. And you scroll.
And you swipe and you swipe.
And you like.
And you repost.
And like – what the fuck is it doing anyways?
What does a repost do when everything is so fucked?
And I know, I know. Silence is how they win.
And I do believe that.
But you know how else they win?
By overwhelming us.
By numbing us.
By making us feel defeated.
And you know what?
I’m afraid to say this.
I’m afraid to admit this.
But maybe
MAYBE
They are fucking winning.
Because I feel overwhelmed.
I feel numb.
I feel defeated.
…
…
…
It’s all just so fucking much.
It’s all just… a lot.
So no, I did not see the article.
I did not see the video.
After the last one I just had to turn the damn thing off.
…
And I’m going to be honest.
And this is no judgement, no shade, no criticism of anyone else.
This is just me.
I wonder…
                                                            (Picking up their shattered phone:)
Maybe these goddamn things – as much as they can be tools for change – they have become the reason we feel stuck.
Because this small thing has made the whole world feel like it’s in the palm of our hands and I don’t know that we are capable of holding all of that, I don’t know, weight on our shoulders.
Because the world’s problems are SO SO big and I understand that knowledge is power and knowing is power, but I don’t know what to do with all of that.
…
Maybe these things have prevented us from seeing what’s in front of us.
Like, immediately in front of us.
What can we do about what’s immediately in front of us.
How can we help feed the school children who can’t afford school lunches.
Bring clothing to the homeless in the park around the corner.
I know me doing these little things here won’t solve the problems in the Middle East but maybe if we all shifted our minds to how we can help out in little ways, it can all add up to… I don’t know. Peace.
I know it sounds stupid.
I know it sounds naïve.
But I honestly do believe in this.
A little bit I do.
I have to.
Because otherwise…
Otherwise.
I’m about to lose hope.
So, I’m going to do a little thing.
Each day.
A little thing.
And I hope we all do a little thing.
And maybe, just maybe, all of us – all around the world – can get in the habit of doing the little thing for the little people around us and… maybe those little things can be the things that can fight a lot.
Because the world right now…
God it’s a lot.
…
I’m going to choose to believe.
I’m going to believe in the little things. 

END.

Brazilian BBQ - 3rd Sunday

The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

Earn and Joseph
By Jeffrey Lo

For PDF of Monologue, Click Here

ARLO
Oh, now? Today?
Lunch? Today?
Oh… gosh.
No, no, no I do want to –
I really do want to get lunch with you.
That’s honestly, so… so exciting because I’ve loved this conversation and I’ve spent the last few minutes hoping that I could see you again, after this.
So, lunch would be amazing. 

                                                                                    Pause.
                                                                                  Beat.

ARLO (cont’d)
The thing is.
Um…
No, I’m not married. God, no.
I wish, amiright?
                                                            (Stops themselves:)
Sorry.
I have plans. Later today. Not lunch plans.
Dinner plans.
And I know you said we should get lunch and continue this great… great first meeting but –
So, these dinner plans are…
How do I put this –
It’s Brazilian BBQ.
All you can eat.
Have you been before?
It’s amazing.
It’s like… one of my favorite things. Ever.
They have these gauchos come out with swords of all different sorts of meat and they come around and slice it onto your plate. It’s incredible. Once we went to a spot with a golden wrapped sirloin that they sliced in front of you on a cart and cooked it on a hot slab of salt!
It was… excessive. But cool to see. And eat.
Anyways my buddies and I – we have this tradition where once a year we meet up to get some all you can eat Brazilian BBQ. We actually try to go to different restaurants each time so we can compare which ones we like more and –
Sorry, you don’t care.
What this has to do with you and me getting lunch together – which I want to repeat sounds like such a dream – how these things are related is that the Brazilian BBQ is… well, it’s quite expensive.
Like – for dinner – it can run upwards of 80 bucks a person and that doesn’t even include tip.
So when we go to an all you can eat spot… we try to get our money’s worth.
And me and my friends – we take this very seriously.
Um.
…
All of this to say.
As stupid as this sounds.
The reason I hesitate to get lunch with you even though – to be honest – there’s nothing else in the world I want more is that…
I’m committed to…
Not eating.
Until I eat Brazilian BBQ.
Because of the cost.
And my friends.
And… gosh I sound so dumb.
But yeah.
You probably have no interest in lunch or… anything with me anymore, are you? 

                                                                                    Pause.

ARLO (cont’d)
Oh. Coffee, you say?
Oh! Yeah. That could… that works!
That’s great, yeah.
Coffee it is! 

END.

Earn and Joseph - 2nd Sunday

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.

And For That I Say - 1st Sunday

The 2026 Project, 52 Sundays, 52 Monologues

And for that I say
By Jeffrey Lo

For PDF of Monologue, Click Here

KAI

If I had the courage to say everything I wanted to say
I wonder how my life would’ve been
What friends I could have made
What loves I could have had
What travels my life could have experienced

Don’t get me wrong
Just because I say I lacked courage on one too many occasions in my life
Don’t think that I didn’t try
I tried
A lot
My best
Truly
But often
Too too often
My best was not enough
Not enough
To conquer the fear
The self doubt
Or
The absolute confidence that whatever it is that I wanted
Was not going to work out
Or was not what I deserved
Or just plain wasn’t in the cards for me
So I just hid in the corner
Play it safe
Play a smile
Play a disappearing act

But
…
But
This is different
You are different
We are different

I’m getting ahead of myself.
…
…
I have spent so much of my life wishing I had the courage to say what I wanted to say
Ask for the thing that I wanted
Say hello to the person across from the table
But today
Today you have given me the courage
The courage I never had before
And for that I say Thank You
And for that I say I hope I can do the same for you
And for that I say
…
With all my heart
All my courage
And all of my soul
…
For that I say I love you.

END.