Monologue Analysis: BU21 by Stuart Slade
Character Context
Character: Alex
Age: Late 20s to early 30s
Speaking to: Likely an audience, as BU21 often breaks the fourth wall with its direct storytelling format. In this moment, Alex shares his perspective with the audience, offering darkly comedic insight into his coping mechanisms after a tragic event.
Synopsis
In BU21, Alex delivers a monologue that combines irreverent humour with a stark portrayal of grief and trauma. After losing his girlfriend in a terrorist attack, Alex reflects on his descent into substance abuse and his experiences in a support group. The speech captures his cynicism, bravado, and deeply flawed way of navigating loss, while also exposing his vulnerability beneath the surface.
Original Text
So work suggested – well, they fucking basically insisted – or they said they’d fucking fire me – that I go to like a support group – I mean, for fuck’s sake, right? – because I was smashing so much coke and booze that some days I wasn’t turning up until like eleven in the morning, and when I did I was gibbering about being raped by dinosaurs and shit –
So –
In the meeting I was totally Leonides, utterly fucking Sparta – I was like ‘I fucking dare you to fire me when my house’s just burnt down and my girlfriend’s just been incinerated by a falling plane. It’d be a PR fucking holocaust for you. You can’t fucking touch me, basically.’
And there were like six of them, and they just stared at me – you know, like this –
And in the end there’s no point in calling their bluff on it. These HR cunts are fucking cold. Fucking – bankers, you know?
And it turns out a survivors’ group is literally the best place in the universe to pull.
You give it all this ‘I’ve been hurt real bad, baby’ shit, and then you look down all like this – (Morose and wounded.)
And then look up all hopeful – and then you’re like, ‘I’ve never met anybody who understands me ’ – pregnant pause – ‘ and what I’m going through, like you.’
And then you try to force out some actual tears through your actual eyes – squeezing one of your balls with your fingernails through your trouser pockets works – and in like ten minutes they’re noshing you off, pretty much guaranteed.
Target-rich environment, man, the seriously traumatised. Mental.
Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing
So work suggested – well, they fucking basically insisted – or they said they’d fucking fire me – that I go to like a support group – I mean, for fuck’s sake, right? – because I was smashing so much coke and booze that some days I wasn’t turning up until like eleven in the morning, and when I did I was gibbering about being raped by dinosaurs and shit –
Alex introduces his downward spiral into substance abuse, setting up the absurdity of his situation.
So –
In the meeting I was totally Leonides, utterly fucking Sparta – I was like ‘I fucking dare you to fire me when my house’s just burnt down and my girlfriend’s just been incinerated by a falling plane. It’d be a PR fucking holocaust for you. You can’t fucking touch me, basically.’He recounts his combative attitude toward authority, using dark humour to mask his emotional pain.
And there were like six of them, and they just stared at me – you know, like this –
And in the end there’s no point in calling their bluff on it. These HR cunts are fucking cold. Fucking – bankers, you know?Alex reflects on the futility of his bravado and the coldness of corporate authority.
And it turns out a survivors’ group is literally the best place in the universe to pull.
A sharp tonal shift introduces Alex’s cynical perspective on exploiting vulnerability for personal gain.
You give it all this ‘I’ve been hurt real bad, baby’ shit, and then you look down all like this – (Morose and wounded.)
And then look up all hopeful – and then you’re like, ‘I’ve never met anybody who understands me ’ – pregnant pause – ‘ and what I’m going through, like you.’Alex describes his manipulative tactics with comedic self-awareness, exposing his moral flaws.
And then you try to force out some actual tears through your actual eyes – squeezing one of your balls with your fingernails through your trouser pockets works – and in like ten minutes they’re noshing you off, pretty much guaranteed.
His graphic and irreverent humour underscores his detachment and desperation for connection.
Target-rich environment, man, the seriously traumatised. Mental.
Alex concludes with a summation that is both shocking and darkly humorous, encapsulating his coping mechanisms and moral ambiguity.
Journey Keypoints
Hook: Alex begins by describing the ultimatum from his workplace, establishing his rebellious tone and chaotic state.
Turning Point: The narrative shifts as Alex reflects on his behavior in the support group, mixing defiance with his internalized trauma.
Climax: His description of exploiting the support group highlights the depths of his detachment and his inability to process grief healthily.
Resolution: Alex ends with a flippant observation, leaving the audience to grapple with the tension between humour and the tragedy beneath it.
About the Playwright: Stuart Slade
Stuart Slade is a British playwright known for his sharp, incisive writing and his ability to blend dark humour with profound emotional depth. BU21 examines the aftermath of a terrorist attack, presenting a raw and unflinching look at how individuals cope with trauma. Slade’s works often challenge societal norms and provoke audiences to confront uncomfortable truths.
