1-minute dramatic monologue
The Keys on the Table
A dramatic 1-minute monologue in which an adult child asks their father to give up his car keys. Quiet stakes, real subtext, and a gentle turn.
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Length
- 146 words · ~58 sec
- Skills
- emotional restraint, subtext, imagined scene partner
- License
- CC BY 4.0
The script
Dad, sit down for a second. Please. I'm not here to fight. I brought the good coffee, see? That's a peace offering.
Mrs. Albright called me. She saw what happened at the school crossing on Thursday. You didn't stop, Dad. She said you didn't even slow down.
(he starts to argue)I know nobody got hurt. I know. I'm saying next time somebody might.
You taught me to drive in this exact driveway. You used to say, “The car doesn't care how good you are. It only cares what you do.” Remember that?
(the turn, softer)I'm not taking anything from you. I'm asking. Because I'm scared, and you're the one I always tell when I'm scared.
I'll drive you Tuesdays and Saturdays. Anywhere you want. The hardware store twice, if you need it.
(holding out a hand, then lowering it)Just put them on the table, Dad. You don't have to hand them to me. Just put them down.
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
- 'I'm not here to fight' is a hope, not a fact. Keep the opening light, with the coffee joke, so he doesn't see the hard part coming.
- Use his own words on 'The car doesn't care how good you are' gently. You're not winning an argument; you're reminding him who he taught you to be.
- After 'I'm scared,' stop pushing. The last lines are an offer, and the silence after 'Just put them down' belongs to him. Hold it before you end.
Try it three more ways
- Play it with a father who is getting angry, so you have to stay calm for both of you.
- Read it as someone who rehearsed every word and loses the plan completely after 'I'm scared.'
- Try it as a younger adult who still sounds a little like the teenager he taught in that driveway.
Take it further
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Frequently asked questions
How long is the "The Keys on the Table" script?
146 spoken words, about 58 sec at a conversational 150 words per minute and 1 min 7 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: gentle, careful, loving under strain, unhurried, with room for his silences. Record a take with the teleprompter, listen back, and try one of the alternate reads to stretch your range.