1-minute dramatic monologue for teens
Five A.M.
Dramatic monologue for teens about telling a parent you want to quit the swim team, written for a one-minute audition slot with a clear turn.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Length
- 153 words · ~1 min 1 sec
- Skills
- emotional honesty, subtext, imagined scene partner
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
Mom, don't start the car yet. Can we just sit for a minute? I'm not sick. I just need to tell you something, and I need you to not do the face.
That one. That's the face.
I don't want to swim anymore. Not today, not after the season. I mean at all.
I know what it cost. The early mornings, the meets three hours away, the gas money. I've done the math too. I've been doing it for a year, every time I get in that water.
(the turn, harder to say)Here's the part I didn't know how to say. I think I kept going because you loved it. And I loved that you loved it. But I don't love it.
Ms. Reyes asked me to audition for the fall play. I haven't said yes yet. I wanted to tell you first.
(quiet, hopeful)You don't have to say anything right now. Just maybe... drive me home instead?
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
- 'That one. That's the face.' is a tiny laugh that breaks the tension. Let it be a real, nervous laugh, because you love this person.
- The money line is something you've carried alone for a long time. Don't rush 'I've been doing it for a year.' It's the first hint of how heavy this has been.
- 'But I don't love it' is the hardest sentence here. Slow down before it and don't apologize with your voice. Then let the news about the play come out lighter, almost shy.
Try it three more ways
- Play it as a teen who expects their mom to be furious and is bracing for it from the first line.
- Read it close to tears the whole time, fighting to sound grown-up.
- Try it as a teen who's mostly relieved, almost laughing, because they've finally said it out loud.
Take it further
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the "Five A.M." script?
153 spoken words, about 1 min 1 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 1 min 11 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: nervous, loving, finally honest, careful, slowing into the hardest line. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.