Anxious Insomnia- 19th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Anxious Insomnia
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

SEAN
I’m awake.
I was asleep.
But now I’m awake.
And I don’t know what to do.
…
Go back to sleep probably.
But the thing is, I tried that.
And it didn’t work.
I just, like, closed my eyes.
Laid here and closed my eyes.
But my mind can’t stop moving.
And thinking.
Is that what they call raising thoughts?
…
Anxiety.
That’s what it probably is.
Definitely.
It’s definitely what it is.
I keep thinking about all of the things that need to be done.
What I have not yet done.
Or what I have done wrong.
Or what CAN go wrong.
SO MANY THINGS CAN GO WRONG.
STOP.
…
Stop…
…
stop…
…
Just breathe.
…
Why can’t I sleep?
This happens to me sometimes.
I just… Wake up.
And then, here I am.
Sweating.
Trying to force myself to sleep.
Thinking about, God knows what, and stressing that I have to wake up in like 2 hours to start the day and just…
I don’t know.
I just end up here.
Sitting here.
Lying down here.
Talking to myself.
…
…
…
Maybe if I had a friend.
Maybe I could talk to them at these moments in the middle of the night.
…
Nah, they’d probably get mad that I called them at this hour and then next thing I know, boom – no more friends.
…
I guess I’ll just sit here and talk to myself until I… I don’t know – go to sleep.
Or it’s time to wake up.
…
This sucks.
…
Fuck. 

END.

Complaints - 18th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Complaints
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

ADRIA
Look, can you just stop?
For once in your life, just stop and listen to me?
Listen to someone else?
Anyone else?
Or do you just have to keep going on and on and on about yourself.
And your problems.
And how you’ve been personally wrong in every direction.
I’m sorry.
Truly.
I am sorry.
But, like, maybe not everything can be this big of a deal.
Not everything has to be something that is a blow up.
Yes.
Sure.
You are right.
So many of these times.
You are right.
But you know whose fault this never is?
Me.
And you know who has to hear about all of this?
Me.
And you know who never gets any space for themselves?
Me.
Honestly – for the most part – I’m not really even asking you to listen to me or ask me how I’m doing. I’ve sort of given up on that.
I’d be perfectly content being left alone.
I’d be perfectly HAPPY if I was allowed to just live my life.
So could you do that?
Could you let me live my life without also having to live the worst parts of yours?
Oh.
Does that make you feel mad?
Does that make you feel wronged?
Well, go ahead and complain about it.
Who are you going to complain about it to?
Oh.
Right.
Me.
Great.
Leave me alone.
Please.
You’re so selfish.
Dear god.
Goodbye. 

END.

The Mess - 17th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

The Mess
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

RACHEL
You know that moment when you are cleaning your home and it looks worse before it gets better?
That’s what my house looks like right now.
Big time.
At least I hope that’s the moment I’m in.
Because that means it’s about to get better.
But truthfully, I’m a little worried it’s not going to get better.
I’m worried it’s going to just keep getting worst.
And even scarier, it’ll just stay like that.
Like this moment of it gets worst before it gets better is just some foolish optimism and like… actually, this is just my life now.
This is how I live.
In this mess.
…
…
…
I’m not talking about my house.
Clearly.
I mean, I am kind of talking about my house.
Because I am, in fact, cleaning my house.
But I truthfully I am cleaning my house as a way to feel like I am getting some sort of control of my life.
Perpetually cleaning.
Perpetually trying to gain control.
But it keeps getting messier and messier and worst and worst.
…
My house.
And.
My life.
God.
…
It’ll get better.
…
Right?
…
Both the house and the life.
Maybe it’s true that once I get this house in order my life will be in order.
Once I am happy with my space, I can be happy with my life.
That’s how this works.
I think.
…
I don’t know.
…
Oh gosh, now that I think of it my mom was cleaning constantly and lived in a pristine home but she seemed SO unhappy all the time.
Am I doing the same thing?
Am I just becoming my mother?
I hated how much she made me clean all of the time when I just wanted to live my life.
Oh god.
I’m becoming my –
No.
I can’t make this about her.
Everything is always about her.
Even when I’m in therapy which I pay a LOT of money for to unpack MY problems, it always becomes about her again which seems incredibly unfair to me.
She can occupy my brain space for free, thank you very much.
…
Where was I?
I was cleaning.
That’s right.
I was cleaning.
Why am I not cleaning?
Why am I just talking to myself?
I’m losing it.
You know what will prevent me from losing it?
Getting rid of all of this clutter.
That will fix everything.
I’m going to go solve that now.
That will fix everything…
…
…
Right? 

END.

Unresolved - 16th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

UNRESOLVED
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

JAYSSON
I’ve spent this entire wedding avoiding you.
It’s true.
On the flight over here I couldn’t stop thinking about you.
Not in a –
You know what I mean.
…
Right?
I super got all in my head about what I would say to you or… what you would say to me.
…
…
It’s just that it’s been, I don’t know, 6 years or something since we last spoke and…

I’m not like in love with you anymore or anything but the way we left things, you said we would talk again when you were ready. And I checked in on Thanksgiving. And when you said you still weren’t ready I checked in again at Christmas and after you said you were still not ready I left it alone – assuming you’d let me know when you were ready.

And then 6 years passed by.
And now here we are.
At Sage’s wedding.
…
…
I didn’t realize it would be this long until I saw you again.
Or hell – spoke to you again.
But anyways, yeah. I avoided you this whole weekend because I honestly didn’t know what to say and even though – again, I’ve moved on and clearly you have too…
Seeing you made the world pause a bit for me.
Not in that heart stopped kind of way that you used to do to me but the –

“Hey. That was a time in your life. And even though it was so long ago. It was also not that long ago. And even though you have moved on, it still had such an impact on your life. And even though you are both in a new chapter, that chapter you left was a little unresolved.”
…
I don’t know what I’m saying anymore.
I’m rambling.
This is what I was afraid would happen.
…
So…
…
Here we are.
I don’t know how to do this.
Clearly.
So…
I guess I should’ve started with this.
Hi. 

END.

Not Sorry for Saying Sorry - 15th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Not Sorry for Saying Sorry
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

CHARLOTTE
I’m sorry.
Sorry.
Sorry for…
Saying Sorry.
I know I say sorry too much.
And I’m sorry for that.
Shoot.
…
But.
Can I be honest?
I don’t know if I’m sorry.
Because why should I be sorry for being sorry?
Maybe I’m just trying to take your feelings into account.
Right?
What if my being sorry is just me being considerate?
I’m not sorry for that.
That is called being a decent human being.
Or what if I actually messed up.
Do you know how upsetting it is when someone does something wrong or screws you over and you don’t even get an apology?
It’s the worst.
So I am not sorry for saying sorry there because that sorry is a polite sorry and I will never be sorry for being polite.
Or you know…
What I just feel bad.
For me.
Or you.
Or whatever.
I can be sorry.
I can feel sorry.
I’m just insecure sometimes you know?
I just don’t want to take so much space.
So I’m sorry.
So what?
Let me be who I want to be!
I will not be sorry for who I am!!
I will not be sorry for saying sorry!!!
…
…
That got loud…
…
Sorry about that. 

END.

April Fool - 14th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

April Fool
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

PHIL
April fools?
Did you just say April fools?
You mother f –
You better not have just said April fools to me.
Because let me tell you something.
Let me tell you.
If you think you are April fooling me, you have no idea what a fool YOU are.
I am TIRED of being made a fool.
April or not.
Any damn month, I am tired of being the fool.
And I sure as hell am tired of being the April Fool.
Do you know how much stress you just cost me?
You probably took a damn year off of my life being worried about the shit that was coming out of your mouth, talking about APRIL FOOLS.
And for what?
What was it for?
Why did you need to do that?
For your April fools?
For your fake holiday?
For your on shits and giggles?
Tell me – was it worth it?
Do you feel good about yourself?
Do you feel like LESS of a fool trying to make ME a fool.
Well let me tell you – you have no idea if it was worth it or not.
You will not know until you get got.
And when you get GOT.
You will then be able to reflect on this very moment.
And you will then be able to do whatever damn emotional calculation you need to do to decide if this was worth it or not because let me tell you –
You are going to get got.
And you are going to get got good.
And I hope for your sake.
For your mental sanity.
I hope that this was worth it.
…
Because just you wait. 

END.

Meditative Flow - 13th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Meditative Flow
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

JONELLE is sitting on a yoga mat across from her friend.
There is soothing sound bath-style sounds playing in the background.
She closes her eyes.
She takes a deep breath.
Some time passes.
A little less calmly, she takes another deep breath.
One eye opens.
A moment passes.
She closes the eye.
Another moment passes.
Both eyes open.

JONELLE
How does this work exactly?
Like… what part of this is supposed to bring me down?
Is it the inhale?
Or the exhale?
Or is the eyes closed part?
Because I think I messed that up already but…
Maybe it’s the sound?
The music?
The… bowls?
Are these bowls?
Is the music supposed to envelop me and then enter into my ears and like…
Calm me?
Can we start over?
The music?
Because I’m worried that I’m doing it wrong.
I do that a lot.
Do things wrong.
You told me this would calm me down and to be honest, I closed my eyes and took that deep breath you told me to take and instead of turning my brain off, my brain just started going on overdrive.
I don’t know if I’m supposed to let go or what but I started to do the opposite of let go.
I started to really latch on.
I latched on to a lot of things.
Was the inhale supposed to be long and slow?
Or was it the exhale?
Should I be making noise during these breaths?
Or does that get in the way of the music?
Should I be saying “ommmmm” or is that actually just a recording?
But maybe I’m doing it right because this is supposed to be about mindfulness, right?
I’m minding everything.
I’m minding what I’m doing. I’m minding what I’m feeling. I’m minding up a storm.
I just worried that I’m minding it all wrong.
How are you doing w –
What was that?
Oh.
Oh. Oh.
Sorry, girl.
Yeah, I got it.
You’re trying to meditate.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Me too. Me too.
Ok.
I’ll hush now.
My bad. 

JONELLE closes her eyes.
A moment passes.
Then inexplicably, because she thinks it’s time for her to do it, JONELLE says –

JONELLE (cont’d)

OMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM

END.

Wishes - 12th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Wishes
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

REN
I wish that I mattered more to you.
I wish that the fact that I didn’t matter to you didn’t make me think I don’t matter to anyone.
I wish that that when people who care about me remind me that I do matter to them, that I could actually hear it.
…
I wish that you didn’t matter to me.
I wish that it wasn’t so easy for me to forgive you.
I wish that despite how you treated me growing up, that I didn’t see the good in you.
I wish that I didn’t feel bad for you.
I wish that I didn’t pity you.
I wish that the feelings in my heart for you could match what you deserve.
…
…
I wish that you knew how to be a mother.
I wish that you knew how to be my mother.
I wish that you valued people the way that you value money.
I wish that you valued me more than you value money.
I wish that you valued me.
…
I wish I knew how to fix our relationship.
I wish I didn’t want to fix our relationship.
I wish that you wanted to fix our relationship.
I wish that you wanted a relationship.
I wish that you knew that you don’t want a relationship.
I wish that you could see what we could be.
I wish that you could see what we should be.
…
I wish that I didn’t feel like I needed you.
I wish that I didn’t feel like I need you.
I wish that I didn’t feel like having what I need from you is impossible.
I wish that I didn’t have any of these wishes. 

END.

A Thank You - 11th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

A THANK YOU
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

JOY
Hey, hi, thanks for –
Do you mind if we sit down?
Great. Yeah.
…
I…
Ok. The reason I wanted to meet up is, um, I just wanted to tell you how much our relationship has meant to me.
When we first met, I was in a really fragile place and truthfully I didn’t think I was ready to make any new connections must less a full relationship but…
There was something about you and our connection that, I don’t know, made me feel at ease?
Or made me feel like it was ok to try and step into something – whatever it was going to be – with you.
And I had no idea just what it was that I was getting into.
The time we’ve spent together, the things I’ve gotten to share with you and lessons we’ve taught each other have meant the world to me.
I feel weird saying this because it’s not really your job or not what you were trying to do – at least I don’t think it was but – being with you has…
Healed me?
That sounds like a stupid and overblown thing to say but I think it’s true.
Before you the people in my life – my parents, my exes – they left me questioning my worth.
Because of them I felt like I wasn’t allowed to take space.
Or wasn’t deserving of it.
But our time together has reminded me that that isn’t the truth.
And for that I want to thank you.
For everything.
…
…
And…
Gosh this is hard to say.
But.
I also think I need to see other people.
Being with you has been so wonderful and lovely and also…
I don’t think I’m in love with you the way I want to be in love with someone.
Or in love with you the way that you want me to be in love with you.
And in the before times – before you – I would have just stuck with this.
Stuck it out.
Stayed in this.
Whether or not I was happy or in love or passionate.
And I would have forced myself to try and be what you wanted or what I thought you wanted until it blew up.
Messy. Ugly.
But now, I know that I am allowed to want something more.
I am allowed to take the space and say – this isn’t what’s right for me.
And…
I have you to thank for that.
I’m sorry. I know this sounds so crazy but I want to just be friends and it’s because of you.
It’s because of how wonderful you’ve been.
I appreciate you. So much. For everything.
And…
I think this is the end for us.
As a couple at least.
I would still love to be your friend but if that isn’t what you want, I get it.
I would totally understand.
But please know.
Regardless of what the future holds for us.
I am so appreciative of you.
…
Thank you. 

END.

Did We Save the Daylight? - 10th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Did WE Save the Daylight?
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

SUSAN.
She’s in bed.
She’s tired.
It’s 11 PM or so.
Today is daylight savings.
Spring forward or whatever.

SUSAN
I saw this thing on Instagram.
It said, “Did we do it? Did we save the daylight?”
…
That’s real talk.
I feel that.
Because like…
I’m so groggy right now.
And tired.
And I’m just like…
We better have saved the daylight because I feel like hell right now.
We better have saved something.
Shoot.
Anything.
…
I took a nap.
I know. Bad idea, right?
It made me feel worse. Naturally.
Like.
I felt like I was slowly melting.
Like truly melting.
So I crawled myself to bed.
And I didn’t really plan to fall asleep but also – what else was I planning to do?
But I lied down.
And then boom.
I was asleep.
And then boom.
My eyes opened.
And like three hours had passed.
How did that happen?
No idea.
Crazy.
Also, why did I fall asleep for three hours?
Daylight savings only takes away one hour, right?
Nope.
It feels like it took my life.
My soul.
Daylight savings took my soul.
Anyways, I woke up more tired than I was when I took the nap.
Or at least that’s how I feel.
But I had to wake up because I have all of this stuff to do before work tomorrow.
But the problem is, I woke up too tired to do any of the stuff so I just sat staring at a wall for what felt like another three hours and then I was like, you know what? I better just go back to sleep for real and just figure this out tomorrow, but then I couldn’t fall asleep – probably because I took the nap – but I’m got MORE tired from the nap and now I’m just in hell. 

Silence.
SUSAN looks at the stuffed turtle next to her in bed.
The turtle is staring at her.
Oh I forgot to mention, she’s been talking to this turtle the whole time.

SUSAN
What the heck am I talking to you for?
You’re a stuffed turtle.
You’re so cute though…
                                                            (Hugging the turtle:)
God I’m so tired.
Why can’t I fall back asleep?
Is my energy the sacrifice needed to save the daylight?
…
Yeah.
That must be it.

END.

Pro Wrestling Heat - 9th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Pro Wrestling Heat
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

GREG
Don’t look at me like that.
Like I’m stupid or, or some child.
What, just because I still watch pro wrestling at my age?
What’s wrong with watching pro wrestling?
Oh, let me guess – “You know that’s fake, right?”
Obviously, I know it’s fake!
Do you really think I believe that there’s an undead mortician from part’s unknown that has decided the best use of his time was to fight mortals in a ring throughout the country?
Do you think I want it to be real when a someone bashes their knee into someone’s skull repeatedly?
Of course not.
I’m not a psychopath.
I know it’s fake.
Pre-determined.
You must watch – what – Game of Thrones?
Do you really think that that’s real?
Those dragons and what not?
No.
You don’t see me judging you for whatever it is that you watch.

I watch wrestling for the spectacle.
The pageantry.
The comedy.
For the morality play that it is.
The adrenaline pumping through our veins when the pyro blast into the sky.
The community you feel when everyone boos the heel at the same time.
Or the visual of 20,000 fans putting their one’s to the sky.
And you get to be a part of it!
Not the body slamming, obviously, please no. I mean look at me.
BUT you get to help determine what happens next.
Because when you cheer – you’re cheering for the characters sure – but you’re also cheering for a person. A human being. An artist that is putting their body on the line for your entertainment.
And the louder you cheer the good guys (we call them baby faces) or boo the bad guys (heel’s in the biz) – you are doing your part to let the people in charge – the people in the back – know that your favorite deserves to be put to the top.
Your favorite deserves the belt.
…
So trust me, you’re the one that’s missing out.
And you know what?
That’s not my problem.
So sad for you.

What was that? You say I take it TOO seriously?
You think I take my love for professional wrestling TOO seriously.
PSH!
Well to that I say –
…
…
Fair.
Fine.
But whatever, IDon’tCare. MindYourOwnDamnBusiness.

END.

Occupational Therapy - 8th Sunday

THE 2026 PROJECT, 52 SUNDAYS, 52 MONOLOGUES

Occupational Therapy
BY JEFFREY LO

For PDF of the Monologue, Click Here

ELIZABETH, a woman in her mid 30’s. She has a somewhat invisible disability in one of her hands from an accident a few years earlier.

She is at home, she is sitting and folding laundry. Earlier today she had an occupational therapy appointment.

She is clearly upset and trying to continue her work despite her emotions.

Her partner enters.

 ELIZABETH
Hey. Hi.
…
Oh, I’m fine. Yeah. I’m –
The OT appointment went well. Yeah.
Ellie is so nice. It was good to see her again. She’s so excited for us. It was really nice.
It took so much work to get insurance to approve the OT sessions with her that it just feels good to finally get started.
…
Umm. I just had a hard time with –
…
I went into our registry and shifted some of the onesies we had requested to be short sleeve ones.
Yeah, not all of them but some of them.
Just because…
I was having a hard time –
A really hard time with… it.
The onesie. We practiced getting the onesie on a baby doll and it was really hard for my hand to do it. At least to get the long sleeves through the hand. It was…
I couldn’t really –
I mean, I did get it through eventually but it took a long time and that wasn’t even with a real, moving baby and…
Ellie was really patient with me and she was so helpful but…
She recommended we get a lot of short sleeve ones so I could do it.
And maybe we’ll just need you to do the long sleeve ones since –
…
                                                (Pause)
Sorry.
It’s been a really hard day with everything going on and then finally having this first OT appointment and feeling frustrated that I just couldn’t get it right away…
And it just felt like years ago, after the accident and I was in rehab teaching myself to walk again and use my hands again and…
I guess it sent me back to that dark place when everything was so hard.
And being in OT, trying to do these things with my hand…
…
It felt like what I was afraid of.
I’m just scared of – what I might not be able to do for our baby.
And I want to be able to do everything for him.
He deserves everything.
And there are just some things I don’t know if I can do with my hand.
                                                            (Pause)
People always say, “Oh you’re so strong,” or “It’s inspiring how resilient you’ve been through all of this!”
And it’s all very nice.
Everyone is being so nice but sometimes…
I don’t know.
I… I’m tired of being strong.
Sometimes I just wish I didn’t have to be strong. You know?
I wish I didn’t have to be resilient. 
And I feel bad because I know –
I know that things could have been a whole lot worse but you know what?
They could have also been better.
A lot better.
And I’m probably going to feel better tomorrow and I’m probably going to be up for being strong and resilient but right now I’m just mad.
I’m mad that I went through what I went through.
I’m mad that I have to I have to live my hand with my hand being the way that it is now and…
I just wish I didn’t have to spend so much time on the phone with insurance.
And I wish I didn’t have to make a list of things I have to figure out how to still do with my disability.
And I wish I didn’t have to go to all these appointments and have shots twice a day.
AndAndAnd -
I just wish I could put a onesie on my son.
No problem.
I just want to be a mom.
…
I just want to be a mom to our beautiful boy growing inside of me.
I know it’s all going to be worth it.
But sometimes…
Sometimes…
                                                            (Takes a deep breath:)
I don’t know what to do.

END.

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 customer 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.