Monologue Analysis: The Unreturning by Anna Jordan

Character Context

Character: Frankie
Age: Early 20s
Speaking to: Audience (direct address)

Synopsis

In Anna Jordan's play The Unreturning, Frankie, a young soldier, yearns for the familiarity and comfort of home after the harrowing experiences of war. He envisions a jubilant return, filled with celebrations and reunions with loved ones. However, underlying his longing is a profound sense of alienation and trauma, as he grapples with the chasm between his expectations and the stark reality of his experiences.

Original Text

I want to return to my home.

I want a hero’s welcome.
I want fanfares, and parades, and brass bands and the back room of The Lion? Luke and Ket and Ryan and banners, and balloons and sausage rolls and Jägerbombs and Golden Balls Frankie is coming home!
I want to lose myself in the face of my mum. And my sister.
Does that sound gay?
I want to speak to my nan for like a whole hour – maybe more!
Greet the Front Door like an old friend.
Rest my forehead on the cold brick of the garage wall
lie under the skylight on my mum’s bed
and watch clouds
I wanna answer the landline!
Run my fingers through the shag pile
Stick my head in the fridge!

I want to go out.
I want to go out out.
Drink and dance and shout for no reason
start in the spoons and end up in Vivaz
lines of coke in the back of an Astra
in a pub car park.
Feel invincible
(Chants) SCAR-BA-DOS!
I want to sing in the streets
And shag lamp posts
And puke in the gutter
(His tone changes) And they will never know
(Beat.)
None of them will ever know what I –

I want to run on the sand with my dick out. Salt in my nostrils. Wind in my hair.
I want to brave the waves.
ROAR into them:
I OWN THE COAST.
Let them dissolve me. Reduce me to mist and foam.
Let them take me back with them into the dark – forever
A shadow
A creak in the floorboard
Of Home.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing

  1. I want to return to my home.

    • Frankie expresses his fundamental desire to return home.

  2. I want a hero’s welcome.
    I want fanfares, and parades, and brass bands and the back room of The Lion? Luke and Ket and Ryan and banners, and balloons and sausage rolls and Jägerbombs and Golden Balls Frankie is coming home!
    I want to lose myself in the face of my mum. And my sister.
    Does that sound gay?
    I want to speak to my nan for like a whole hour – maybe more!
    Greet the Front Door like an old friend.
    Rest my forehead on the cold brick of the garage wall
    lie under the skylight on my mum’s bed
    and watch clouds
    I wanna answer the landline!
    Run my fingers through the shag pile
    Stick my head in the fridge!

    • He envisions an elaborate celebration, detailing specific desires and reunions with family and friends, highlighting his longing for normalcy and connection.

  3. I want to go out.
    I want to go out out.
    Drink and dance and shout for no reason
    start in the spoons and end up in Vivaz
    lines of coke in the back of an Astra
    in a pub car park.
    Feel invincible
    (Chants) SCAR-BA-DOS!
    I want to sing in the streets
    And shag lamp posts
    And puke in the gutter

    • Frankie desires to immerse himself in carefree revelry, seeking liberation through familiar social activities and indulgences.

  4. (His tone changes) And they will never know
    (Beat.)
    None of them will ever know what I –

    • A shift occurs as he acknowledges the isolation of his experiences, recognizing that others cannot comprehend the depth of his trauma.

  5. I want to run on the sand with my dick out. Salt in my nostrils. Wind in my hair.
    I want to brave the waves.
    ROAR into them:
    I OWN THE COAST.
    Let them dissolve me. Reduce me to mist and foam.
    Let them take me back with them into the dark – forever
    A shadow
    A creak in the floorboard
    Of Home.

    • Frankie expresses a desire to merge with the natural elements, seeking dissolution and escape from his burdens, culminating in a haunting image of becoming a mere presence within his home.

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Frankie articulates his longing to return home.

  • Desire for Celebration: He imagines a grand homecoming with friends and family.

  • Yearning for Normalcy: Details mundane activities that symbolize comfort and routine.

  • Craving Liberation: Describes a desire for uninhibited social experiences.

  • Isolation Acknowledged: Recognizes that others cannot fathom his internal struggles.

  • Desire for Dissolution: Expresses a wish to be absorbed by nature, escaping his trauma.

About the Playwright: Anna Jordan

Anna Jordan is a British playwright and director renowned for her explorations of human vulnerability and resilience. Her play The Unreturning intertwines the stories of three men returning from different wars over a century, examining the lasting impacts of conflict on individuals and their communities. Jordan's work is celebrated for its poetic language and deep empathy, offering audiences a poignant reflection on the human condition.