Monologue at Halftime

 

COACH

 

(After drinking from a glass of water, then removing glasses and rubbing temple, comes a long calm sigh as glasses are replaced)

 

“Boys, I’m sure you can see that we have ourselves a problem. What I don’t think you see, though, is the exact nature of that problem. The problem we are facing here isn’t simply the numbers posted out there on that scoreboard. It isn’t being behind in the points. It isn’t even our inability to move the football. No, boys, these are simply symptoms of another, far more serious problem.”

 

(Start to talk, then stop. Pace a bit as if contemplating your next words carefully, then take a seat in a chair)

 

“Now you boys know that there is another room, right over there on the other side of this field a hell of a lot like this one. And I know you also know that sitting in that room, right now as I’m talking to you, there’s another man, who is not unlike myself in many respects, talking to group of young men quite a lot like yourselves. That man is telling those young men something right this second, and I know what it is. He’s telling them something that you boys don’t want to hear.”

 

(Beat)

 

“But I have to tell you what he’s saying anyway, even if you don’t want to hear it. That man, who is a lot like me, is telling those young men in that room over there that they’re better than you.

 

(Beat)

 

“That they are better than you.”

 

(Beat. Stands now, and voice raises)

 

“But boys, that’s not the problem. Because let me tell you from experience, you can tell a team things until you use up your vocabulary trying, but that won’t mean a thing if they don’t believe it.”

 

(Beat)

“And that, boys, is the problem. That man over there is telling his team that they’re better than you, and let me assure you, they believe it. They believe it so thoroughly, in fact, that they’re going to carry that belief back onto the battlefield, and like zealots, they will attempt to force that belief onto you.”

 

(Beat)

 

“Well boys, will you convert? Will you let them strong arm their ideals onto you?”

 

(Beat)

 

“Or will you be men? Will you believe me when I tell you that those young men in that room are not better than you? Will you take this problem and stand up to it? And though they will war you savagely to make you believe them, will you meet them again and show them that a man will not have his beliefs compromised by violence?”

 

(Beat)

 

“Go then and be called men, and let no belief be forced upon you.”

 

END