September 13, 2026 · daily scene
The Testimonial
Given circumstances
- Character
- Witness
- Setting
- A small video recording room, camera already running, red light on
- The moment before
- They said 'rolling' and you opened your mouth and nothing came out.
- Scene partner
- The lawyer who prepped you, sitting just off-camera
Direction
You practiced this. That's the problem—it sounds practiced. The turn is when you stop trying to get it right and just say it.
Script
Sorry. Can we—sorry.
I know what I'm supposed to say. I wrote it down. You helped me write it down.
(beat)
It's just—when I say it the way we practiced, it doesn't sound like something that happened to me. It sounds like something I'm describing for someone who needs to be convinced.
(they start to interrupt)
No. I'm not starting over. I'm telling you I can't do this the way you want me to, because the way you want me to makes it sound like I'm lying.
Written for Act It Up. Free to rehearse and perform for practice, classes and self-tapes.
Record this scene with a teleprompter and a scene partner who reads the other lines.
Perform it in Act It Up Or perform it in your browser