Villain monologue
Until Four O'Clock
Cold corporate villain monologue script: a calm CEO tells a whistleblower she's already undone every move he made. Practice low-key, controlled menace.
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Length
- 183 words · ~1 min 13 sec
- Skills
- vocal restraint, subtext, even pacing
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
Sit down, Daniel. This won't take long. I have the board at four.
You found the files. Of course you did. I left them exactly where you'd look. I wanted to see what you'd do with them.
And you did just what I expected. You made copies. You called a reporter. You told your family. Very thorough. I'd have done the same.
(reading from a tablet)The reporter works for a paper we bought on Tuesday. Your copies were wiped an hour ago. And the lawyer you called last night? She's on our payroll as of nine this morning.
Please don't take it personally. Nothing here is personal. The river was in the way of the plant, so we moved the river. Right now, you're in the way of the quarterly report.
So. Two options. You sign this, you accept the promotion, and you enjoy a corner office with a lovely view of the river we moved.
(beat)Or you don't sign. And you find out how small a life can get when nobody returns your calls.
You have until four. Close the door on your way out.
Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0. Original script drafted with AI assistance and edited by SceneDub; any resemblance to existing characters is coincidental.
Practise it now
The teleprompter scrolls at the speed you set in words per minute. Tick "Record audio while reading" to capture a take; the audio stays in your browser until you download it.
Coaching notes
- Play it like a routine meeting on a busy day. 'I have the board at four' sets the stakes: Daniel is an item on her calendar, nothing more.
- Read the tablet beat like a status update, flat and factual. The less you react to 'a paper we bought on Tuesday,' the colder it gets.
- 'The river we moved' is the one place she lets herself enjoy it. Allow a tiny dry smile there, then go straight back to business for 'Close the door on your way out.'
Try it three more ways
- Read Strand as a friendly, folksy CEO who smiles through every threat like it's a team-building exercise.
- Read it as a nervous middle manager who's been told to deliver this speech and hates every word of it.
- Read it as an emotionless corporate AI speaking through the office intercom.
Take it further
More scripts to practise
All villain monologues for voice actors · Full script library
Frequently asked questions
How long is the "Until Four O'Clock" script?
183 spoken words, about 1 min 13 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 1 min 24 sec at a slower 130 wpm. Your take will vary with pauses and character choices.
Can I use this script in my voice acting demo reel?
Yes. SceneDub's original scripts are licensed CC BY 4.0. You can perform, record, edit, and publish them, including in demo reels, classes, and auditions, as long as you credit "Script by SceneDub (scenedub.com), CC BY 4.0" where you share the recording or the text.
How should I practise this script?
Read it silently once, then perform it with the direction above: cold, efficient, faintly bored, even and clipped, ~140 words per minute. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.