Steel Magnolias
written by Robert Harling

M'Lynn: No.. I couldn't leave my Shelby. I just sat there and kept pushin' the way I always have where Shelby was concerned.... I was hopin' she'd sit up and argue with me. Finally we realized there was no hope. They turned off the machines. (Pause) Drum left.. couldn't take it. Jackson left. (Slight "laugh") I find it amusin'.. men are supposed to be made outta steel or somethin. I just sat there. I just held Shelby's hand.
Oh God.. I realize as a woman how lucky I am! I was there when that beautiful creature drifted into my life.. and I was there when she drifted out of it. It was the most precious moment of my life... [Sighs]
I gotta get back. Has anyone got a mirror?
Truvey (Dolly Parton): Does anyone have a mirror? I dunno how ya doin on the inside honey...but your HAIR sure is holdin up beautiful.
M'Lynn: [Looking in mirror, upset] Shelby was right! This IS a brown foot ball helmet!!!! [Begins to cry]
Clarie (Olympia Dukakis): Ohh.. honey are you ok?
M'Lynn: I'm fine.. I'm fine.. I'm fine.. I'm FINE! [sobbing/screaming] I could jog all the way to Texas and back.. but my daughter can't!! She never could!! Oh.. God.....I'm so mad I don't know what to do!! I wanna know why! I wanna know WHY Shelby's life is over!! I wanna HOW that baby will EVER know how wonderful his mother was.. Will he EVER know what she went THROUGH for him? Oh God I wanna know WHY? WHY? Lord...I wish I could understand! No...NO...NO!! It's not supposed to happen this way! I'm supposed to go first!! I've always been ready to go first! I don't think I can take this.. I.. I don't think I can take this! I just wanna hit somethin'! I just wanna hit somebody.. till they feel as bad as I do!! I just wanna hit something! I wanna hit it HARD!

Kudos and immense thanks go to Tara for the donation of this monologues to my page.

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