For this one: You must persuade a friend to join you in battling a creature not of this earth. Matt's note: This one is sourced from Marcious's speech to the soldiers in Act 1, Scene 6 of Coriolanus. The original text follows this monologue.
HEADING BACK (any gender, mid teens through late life)
You have a choice, Carl. You really do.
That creature-- whatever it is-- it won't die on its own. It's so close to taking over the camp. If we leave it alone, it'll spread itself into town. Then the next town. And the next. At that point? I don't think even the bomb could kill it.
You want to run? Okay. I won't judge. You'll be following a sacred instinct. Run from danger. Run from pain. Run from death. You can run. In the animal kingdom, you're blameless.
But as a human it's different. Isn't it? Humans- we're always thinking things over. We make OURSELVES feel blame. We're always thinking: What if?
What if I had stayed at the camp?
What if I had helped my best friend?
What if we had beat that creature?
What if I had died in the process-- but lost all my fear?
What if we had beat this creature and LIVED?
Anyway, Carl... I'm heading back into the woods.
I feel pretty good about that.
I'd feel better with you around.
Copyright 2016 by Matt Haynes. If you would like to use this piece, please credit: "Courtesy of Matt Haynes and The Pulp Stage"
SOURCE TEXT
Those are they
That most are willing. If any such be here--
As it were sin to doubt--that love this painting
Wherein you see me smear'd; if any fear
Lesser his person than an ill report;
If any think brave death outweighs bad life
And that his country's dearer than himself;
Let him alone, or so many so minded,
Wave thus, to express his disposition,
And follow Marcius.