Little Odessa Monologues

A cold-blooded hitman visits his estranged Russian immigrant family in Brooklyn.

You know there is a saying: When a child is six years old, it says, "the father can do everything". When he's twelve, he says, "the father can almost do everything". When he's sixteen, he says, "the father is an idiot". When he's twenty-four, he says, "the father wasn't maybe such an idiot", and then, when he's forty, he says, "if I could only ask my father". But I'm afraid my sons will never ask themselves that.

I'm sorry I hit you. But you're always running away. I don't want you to see Joshua anymore. Joshua is not your brother anymore. Understand? I've spent my life trying to make things better for you. I don't make apologies. If I make mistakes, I'm sorry. Do you think I like working at the stand? Do you think I enjoy selling gifts and magazines? It's only because of you, to make money for you. Your brother is a different story. He's a street rat. You may think you know all about him, but believe me, you don't. He has no ambition, no desire, no nothing. I know you don't respect me, but Lord knows I try my best. Reuben.

I don't need a gun to be a man.

I don't know what made you what you are. All I ask you is to leave Reuben alone. Please. Even you must know there's nowhere you can go anymore. You have destroyed us. You've destroyed our family.