High and Uptight
By Lisa Huberman
While packing to leave for college, Sara and her dad come across her old softball Jersey, which prompts them to relive both fond and painful memories. In this monologue, Sarah admonishes her dad for not supporting her the way he supports his favorite sports team.
SARAH:
Maybe if I thought you were behind me. Like you're behind the Indians.
They're terrible. The players aren't even remotely the same as they were when they were making the World Series. You were all about Jim Thome when he played for Cleveland, and yet when he moved to the Phillies you didn't even bat an eye. You just stayed loyal to them. Half of the players in last year's World Series used to play for Cleveland and yet you didn't even watch it because it wasn't Cleveland. Whether they've got good management or bad management, whether they win or lose, they have your support.
Sarah reveals how her father's inability to stand up for himself have negatively influenced her own life.
SARAH:
But that's what you do, isn't it? You start to fear a change in the status quo and you just cave in and roll over. Maybe if I screamed or cut myself or ran away you would have decided my health and well-being was worth possibly losing a job over. Just like you're keeping your mouth shut about selling this house because you're afraid Mom will divorce you if you don't move in with Grandma instead of putting her in a home. Even though you and Grandma can't stand each other. Because you're afraid of what will happen if you end up alone. Even though I know how much this house means to you.
I've seen pictures of it from when you bought it - before you met mom even. You put your sweat into it and built this up with your bare hands. You're just going to throw all that away?
You're okay getting into fights about the Indians because they can't do anything to hurt you. Standing up for the Indians won't jeopardize your marriage or your job. No one will ever hold you accountable for whether or not they make the World Series ever again.
Maybe that's why I kept my mouth shut about what happened with Bill. You enjoyed working with the team so much. And I didn't want to spoil that. Like you, I didn't want to rock the boat. But then after that I felt so- helpless. I'd look at little kids who threw temper tantrums in the grocery store and I got jealous at how they could feel so powerful. It's having a spine and not basing your entire self-worth on someone else's approval. I'm getting out of here because I can't live my life like that anymore. But I worry about you.
You keep sacrificing and burying yourself-- to what end? Is it gonna take being knee-deep in Grandma's knitted doilies and the poop from her parakeets for you to grow a pair--
You know what? I don't even care anymore. I'm leaving-- who am I tell you how to live your life? I'm sure there's some profound lesson about family and selflessness I'm not getting now but I'll understand one day when I'm older. But I'm just not there yet.
These monologues are from the ten-minute play High and Uptight by Lisa Huberman. If you would like to read the entire play, you can purchase an electronic copy (PDF) of the script for 6.00.
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This monologue is brought to you by The Monologue Database and These Aren't My Shoes Productions.