Just wanted to share this piece I needed to write for my Monologues Class. Oh, and not only is it a writing class, we have to perform it too! I’m glad it didn’t have to be off-book because I got so nervous that I had blanked out a couple of times when we workshopped this piece on Wednesday. But that being said, I’m going to try and have it memorized for our Mid-term Monologue Festival we’ll be having for the entire class. It’s going to be fun… I hope. So, without further ado...
Mr. Rogers is my Dad
by conrad a. panganiban
Mister Rogers is my Dad!
(to Priest) Excuse us. (to Audience) Excuse us.
Lorena, I know that this might not be the right time to tell you but, when Father Tom asked, “Does anyone have any reason these two should not be married?,” Well, I couldn’t not tell you. I mean, we’re going to be spending the rest of our lives together and for me to keep this secret from you would have been… well, a reason. So there, it’s all out in the open. No more secrets.
Mister Rogers is… or was because he’s dead, but he’s still… my dad.
Right, mom? What? No, I can’t go down there right now. Can’t you see that I’m trying to tell Lorena about the time when I saw him on T.V and you said, “Look. There’s your daddy!” And then I said, “Mister Rogers?” And then you said, “Doesn’t he look so wholesome with his fancy fancy sweater and his nice nice shoes?” And I said, “Mister Rogers?” And then she said…
Why are you trying to hide, Ma? There’s nothing to be ashamed about. Lorena understands. Right… …dear?
Why are you looking at me like that? Oh, it’s probably because I don’t look anything like him, right? I asked myself the same thing. Mommy, says it’s because I attract more sunlight than him, so I’m just naturally, you know… darker. But the similarities are striking. On the inside. Like how I play the piano… which you haven’t heard me play yet, but when I do, you’ll imagine Mr. McFeely dancing a jig.
And… and… and you know about my fascination with puppets, right? Well, that’s straight from Mister Rogers too. You’ve only seen 15 of them, but in the garage, I have 200 more! I’ve just been too embarrassed to show you the rest. Huh. I guess that’s another secret I forgot to tell you about.
But, one of them looks just like your mom. Hola, Señora Garcia! I know it’s an odd hobby to have, you know, with all those puppets, but they’re the closest friends I have. I mean, that is, until I found you. And now here you are. Here we are. In front of all of them.
Why are you… don’t cry. This is supposed to be the happiest moment of our lives and that’s why, in front of God and all these people, I had to tell you the truth about my father. I just didn’t want to have any more secrets between us.
Wait. Lorena? Where are going? We’re not… done.
END SCENE