4 Best The Straw Monologues – Opening Monologue

The Straw (Carmody)

Category: Play Role: Carmody From: The Straw

Carmody says

Don’t be talking of the trip. Sure we’re glad to take it to get a sight of you. It’s three months since I’ve had a look at you, and I was anxious. Why haven’t you written a line to us? You could do that without trouble, surely. Don’t you ever think of us at all any more? You’re not asking a bit of news from home. I’m thinkin’ the people out here have taken all the thought of us out of your head. We’re all well, thank God. I’ve another good job on the streets from Murphy and one that’ll last a long time, praise be! I’m needin’ it surely, with all the expenses- but no matter. Billy had a raise from his old skinflint of a boss a month back. He’s gettin’ seven a week now and proud as a turkey. He was comin’ out with us to-day, but he’d a date with his girl. Sure, he’s got a girl now, the young bucko! What d’you think of him? It’s old Malloy’s girl he’s after- the pop-eyed one with glasses, you remember- as ugly as a blind sheep, only he don’t think so. He said to give you his love.

(Eileen stirs and sighs wearily, a frown appearing for an instant on her forehead.)

And Tom and Nora was comin’ out too, but Father Fitz had some doin’s or other up to the school, and he told them to be there, so they wouldn’t come with us, but they sent their love to you, too. They’re growin’ so big you’d not know them. Tom’s no good at the school. He’s like Billy was. I’ve had to take the strap to him often. He’s always playin’ hooky and roamin’ the streets. And Nora.

(With pride.)

There’s the divil for you! Up to everything she is and no holdin’ her high spirits. As pretty as a picture, and the smartest girl in her school, Father Fitz says. Am I lyin’, Maggie?

The Straw (Eileen)

Category: Play Role: Eileen From: The Straw

Eileen says

Then I want to say- I know your secret. You don’t love me- Isn’t that it? Sssh! It’s all right, dear. You can’t help what you don’t feel. I’ve guessed you didn’t- right along. And I’ve loved you- such a long time now- always, it seems. And you’ve sort of guessed- that I did- didn’t you? No, don’t speak! I’m sure you’ve guessed- only you didn’t want to know- that- did you? – when you didn’t love me. That’s why you were lying- but I saw, I knew! Oh, I’m not blaming you, darling. How could I- never! You mustn’t look so- so frightened. I know how you felt, dear. I’ve- I’ve watched you. It was just a flirtation for you at first. Wasn’t it? Oh, I know. It was just fun, and– Please don’t look at me so. I’m not hurting you, am I? I wouldn’t for worlds, dear- you know- hurt you! And then afterwards- you found we could be such good friends- helping each other- and you wanted it to stay just like that always, didn’t you?- I know- and then I had to spoil it all- and fall in love with you- didn’t I? Oh, it was stupid- I shouldn’t- I couldn’t help it, you were so kind and- and different- and I wanted to share in your work and- and everything. I knew you wouldn’t want to know I loved you- when you didn’t- and I tried hard to be fair and hide my love so you wouldn’t see- and I did, didn’t I, dear? You never knew till just lately- maybe not till just to-day- did you?- when I knew you were going away so soon- and couldn’t help showing it. You never knew before, did you? Did you?

The Straw (Miss Gilpin)

Category: Play Role: Miss Gilpin From: The Straw

Miss Gilpin says

She saw that you didn’t love her- any more than you did in the days before you left. Oh, I used to watch you then. I sensed what was going on between you. I would have stopped it then out of pity for her, if I could have, if I didn’t know that any interference would only make matters worse. And then I thought that it might be only a surface affair- that after you were gone it would end for her. You’ll have to forgive me for speaking to you so boldly on a delicate subject. But, don’t you see, it’s for her sake. I love Eileen. We all do. I know how Eileen feels, Mr. Murray. Once- a long time ago- I suffered as she is suffering- from this same mistake. But I had resources to fall back upon that Eileen hasn’t got- a family who loved me and understood- friends- so I pulled through. But it spoiled my life for a long time. So I feel that perhaps I have a right to speak for Eileen who has no one else.

The Straw (Stanton)

Category: Play Role: Stanton From: The Straw

Stanton says

Strictly speaking, there are no sure cures in this disease, Mr. Sloan. When we permit a patient to return to take up his or her activities in the world, the patient is what we call an arrested case. The disease is overcome, quiescent; the wound is healed over. It’s then up to the patient to so take care of himself that this condition remains permanent. It isn’t hard for them to do this, usually. Just ordinary, bull-headed common sense- added to what they’ve learned here- is enough for their safety. And the precautions we teach them to take don’t diminish their social usefulness in the slightest, either, as I can prove our statistics of former patients. It’s rather early in the morning for statistics, though.