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.