Monologue

Frederik Monologue from The Return of Peter Grimm

From The Return of Peter Grimm by David Belasco

male · defiant · 1:53 min

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I want you to know I've sweat for that money, and I'm going to keep it! (DR. MACPHERSON: You've sweat for--) (Showing feeling.) --Yes! How do you think I got the money? I went to jail for it--jail, jail. Every day I've been in this house has been spent in prison. I've been doing time. Do you think it didn't get on my nerves? I've gone to bed at nine o'clock and thought of what I was missing in New York. I've got up at cock-crow to be in time for grace at the breakfast table. I took charge of a class in Sabbath-school, and I handed out the infernal cornucopias at the church Christmas tree, while he played Santa Claus. What more can a fellow do to earn his money? Don't you call that sweating? No, sir; I've danced like a damned hand-organ monkey for the pennies he left me, and I had to grin and touch my hat and make believe I liked it. Now I'm going to spend every cent for my own personal pleasure. (DR. MACPHERSON: Will rich men never learn wisdom!) (Rising.) No, they won't! But in every fourth generation there comes along a wise fellow--a spender who knows how to distribute the money others have hoarded: I'm the spender.

About this piece

30s · anger · ambition · freedom · power · identity

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