FINGERNAIL HEART
A dark comedy/comedic/dramatic monologue
by Tara Meddaugh
Emily is horrified that her ex-boyfriend has thrown to the ground the precious gift she’s given him. A bit at a breaking point, she implores him to see all the love and effort that went into crafting her gift: a fingernail heart (yes…a fingernail heart). She urges him to see their love like the muddied fingernail heart metaphor and give them another chance…But…it seems he’s only backing away…
DETAILS
Genre: Dark comedy/comedy/drama
Cast: Female
Age range: 18-40s
Setting: Outside Erik’s house
Time period: Contemporary
Running time: Approximately 1.5 - 2 minutes
Good for: monologue about scorned love, breaking point, lost love, absurd, weird, desperate, love, desperate love
____________________
EMILY
(to her ex-boyfriend. She is horrified at something on the ground)
I can’t believe you just threw it on the ground!
(pause)
I collected your fingernails from the bathroom trash for 9 months, Erik. Nine months of sifting through tissues during Allergy Season and Bandaids when you had that wart—I know it sounds gross, but love can be dirty sometimes, and I’m willing to, you know, get down in the grime because…I love you, Erik! That should mean something to you.
(pause)
And…
(picks up a heart shape object made from fingernails)
This fingernail heart should mean something to you too. I crafted it with...well…with my own heart.
(pause)
And some ideas from Pinterest.
(pause)
And a few of my own fingernails I threw in, because love is about two people becoming one.
(pause)
I know you said you never want to see me again, but that was before I gave you this fingernail heart. And—don’t say it now—don’t—END OF EXCERPT
Click below for the complete monologue, Fingernail Heart, by Tara Meddaugh.