SYNOPSIS: A young woman, Michelle, tells the story of her life. She tells the story to her husband’s past lovers. Her husband, Matt, once a very attractive ladies’ man, is now a severely disabled human wreck (since being in a car crash he is paralyzed and blind). Despite his handicap, Matt is determined to enjoy life. He takes pleasure in spending time with his sister, nurse and therapist. One moment he is happy, the next moment he is bitter, but overall, he’s resolved to fight his disability. Michelle does not take Matt’s relationships well. She wants him for herself. She gradually isolates him from these women and from the outside world, which eventually kills Matt. At the end of the play, Michelle symbolically accepts Matt’s fate. His lovers become mere ghosts and Michelle, seated in Matt’s wheelchair, loses her eyesight.
NUMBER OF PAGES: 18
CAST: 6 women, 2 men
GENRE: tragedy, comedy
CHARACTERS:
MATT
MICHELLE – first woman
THERAPIST – second woman
AMANDA – third woman
NIKKI – fourth woman
ZACH
LAUREN – fifth woman
WOMAN – DEATH – sixth woman
SAMPLE TEXT
SCENE 1
FIFTH WOMAN: You can start.
SIXTH WOMAN: You mean me?
FIFTH WOMAN: Yes, you.
SIXTH WOMAN: But I barely knew him.
FOURTH WOMAN: Oh yeah, sure. You met him quite regularly.
SIXTH WOMAN: Me? You’ve mistaken me for someone else.
FOURTH WOMAN: Out of the question, I’m deeply convinced it’s you…
THIRD WOMAN: Excuse me, may I?
FIFTH WOMAN: Go on.
THIRD WOMAN: If you don’t mind, I’ll join your conversation.
FIFTH WOMAN: Please.
THIRD WOMAN: (To the sixth woman.) Aren’t you Claire?
SIXTH WOMAN: No, I’m not.
THIRD WOMAN: Oh, ok. And isn’t it true that you met him secretly in Paris, in the café “Merry Pierre“ on Pierre Charon Street? It was on October 7, ninety-eight, on Tuesday, around twelve am to be more precise. Were you there?
SIXTH WOMAN: Since you know so much about it, I suppose you were there yourself.
THIRD WOMAN: Yes, you’re right. I was sitting in one corner of the café, observing you. I can still remember what you were wearing: a light-blue two-piece suit, a white silky scarf around your neck, but your hair was dyed blonde. That light blue didn’t match your blonde hair at all.
SIXTH WOMAN: I’ve never been to Paris.
THIRD WOMAN: That’s impossible, I could swear…
FOURTH WOMAN: So why are you here? Did you even know him?
SIXTH WOMAN: I did, roughly, we met a few times, ok. He told me to come.
FIFTH WOMAN: A casual acquaintance. You gave a shit what would happen to him.
SIXTH WOMAN: I wouldn’t put it that way. Indeed, our paths crossed only from time to time, but he made quite an impression.
FOURTH WOMAN: You said you’d barely knew him just now. You’re contradicting yourself.
SIXTH WOMAN: No, I mean yes, I barely knew him but the intensity and the feeling…
THIRD WOMAN: Did you love him?
SIXTH WOMAN: I did.
FIFTH WOMAN: Hm, what a surprise.
SIXTH WOMAN: But he didn’t know and I never confessed my feelings to him.
FOURTH WOMAN: Did you sleep with him?
SIXTH WOMAN: No, never, I’ve just told you that…
FIFTH WOMAN: I’m sorry, but you looked like you were ashamed or something. We all had our thing with the man or otherwise we wouldn’t be here, or would we? So, come on, speak up, everyone.
SECOND WOMAN: Ok, fine, I’ll start.
FIFTH WOMAN: Yeah, you have the word.
SECOND WOMAN: We met at uni. We we’re both students of architecture. He was in the third year and I was a freshman. We were together for a year. A nice year it was, pretty. We were in love. Then, suddenly, I don’t know why, we split. But we stayed good friends. And that’s it. A typical college romance.
FOURTH WOMAN: Matt was really, really charming. Charismatic and confident. The kind of man every girl dreams of. When he took up a job in our company, all my colleagues went nuts, but he chose me. It was love at first sight. He kept telling me that I was the only one. But I wasn’t. I found out quite soon he flirted with women. After three months he let me go. But those three months were worth it. I loved him deeply. Whatever.
FIFTH WOMAN: Are you finished? Now me. Although I’m happily married now, Matt has been and forever will be my biggest love. He gave me what no other man before or after him has been able to give. And I’m not just talking about physical love, although that was fantastic, but what I mean is his soul. Matt wasn’t superficial, shallow, he used to analyze things. I loved our long night conversations. As a brilliant and successful architect, he had a gift of seeing things in three dimensions. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. He was an exceptional artist. I loved him. – Now your turn.
THIRD WOMAN: In that café in Pierre Charon Street in Paris, I put it all together. We were on holidays in France, travelled a lot, we saw two thirds of France and finally dropped anchor in Paris. We had a wonderful time, restaurants, museums, theatres. Two days before our departure we had a terrible fight in our hotel room. He told me I was starting to get on his nerves, cabin fever, he called it. He left the room, I followed him. He bumped into some whore and they went to the café together. I watched them, as they were chatting and drinking champagne. He noticed I was sitting a few tables further, and he was doing it on purpose. Then I left the café and he returned to our hotel room at dawn. When we came back home, our relationship was quickly over. I loved him very much too. (Pause.) Well, it was a nice talk, we can go now…
FIRST WOMAN: (From the audience.) Just a moment, wait, don’t go yet…
(Steps onto the stage.)
Sincere words have been said, I have to admit that, really, I do. You were all great. If you don’t mind, I’ll introduce myself. I’m Michelle, Matt’s wife. Matt’s only wife. And as you know, wives have their privileges, their rights and responsibilities. You have all just said how much you loved my husband. I know that. I always knew. Matt was a ladies’ man. Women loved him and he loved women almost to the verge of self-destruction. But it was me who was his wife. I want you to accept this truth. And then I’ll tell you my story. And the story of Matt. And when I finish, I’ll tell you why you are here, if you didn’t get it yet. So, turn the lights off, please…
(Lights off.)
SCENE 2
(Lights off. Music. Slowly lights on. We see a man on the stage, sitting in a wheelchair. He can’t walk, he’s blind.)
MATT: Michelle! Michelle! (He shouts.) Michelle!
MICHELLE: (Enters.) Yes, Matt.
MATT: Why don’t you respond immediately when I call your name?
MICHELLE: I didn’t hear you. I was in the next room.
MATT: Was the door open?
MICHELLE: No, I think it was closed for some reason..
MATT: Don’t do this to me, Michelle. I need that door open under all circumstances. What if I need you suddenly or I feel sick. You have to keep that in mind.
MICHELLE: It won’t happen again, my dear.
MATT: Well, thank you. And what were you doing in the next room?
MICHELLE: I was ironing the curtains.
MATT: The pink ones?
MICHELLE: Yes, the pink ones. Do you remember them?
MATT: How could I. Pink or purple, same for me, even if they were turquois. I feel like a drink. You haven’t poured water into the jug, look, it’s empty, for goodness’ sake.
MICHELLE: Don’t get angry, Matt. I didn’t want you to drink water straight from the tap. You know it’s always cold and your throat gets sore so often. Here is another jug, full of clean water, that I left on the table. It’s been there for a while.
MATT: (Drinks.) Lovely, thank you. Exactly how I like it. Sorry for my behaviour. Everything in me suddenly… When I don’t see, I get… I mean, I see something – darkness (He laughs.) and trees from time to time, apple trees full of flowers in our garden, anyway, do we still keep those apple trees? And I see many other things, I see people, they’re smiling. I don’t smile a lot myself these days, I’m sorry, Michelle.
MICHELLE: Don’t blame yourself, Matt.
MATT: You should leave me.
MICHELLE: Enough. I’ll prepare a bath for you this evening.
MATT: Throw me out, give me to the casualty ward.
MICHELLE: Do you like me bathing you?
MATT: Yes, I love your hands touching me. The nurse also has pleasant hands, soft. All young women have pleasant hands. Aren’t you jealous?
MICHELLE: Who of?
MATT: The nurse. Is she nice?
MICHELLE: Yes, a very pretty girl.
MATT: That’s nice. When I heard her voice, I knew she was. Believe it or not, nice people have nice voices. I wouldn’t have given a thought to this topic a few years ago, but now I’m curious. I hear someone and I immediately imagine what the person looks like, their face and so on. Once, it was a long time ago, I saw a play in the theatre about a blind guy, blind from his birth, which is different from my case. And that guy had a neighbour, a fairly young girl, he was young as well, ok, but when they knew each other better, he touched her face to find out if she was nice. And she was. But later this girl brought her boyfriend or friend and told the guy to touch the face of her friend to find out what he looked like. And the blind guy went crazy and refused completely. It was a good play. They went through different things together, on and off and up and down all the time. The girl was a little bit nuts. There was no resolution at the end, but you could sense certain hope. And you know what the title was, Michelle?
MICHELLE: Tell me.
MATT: Nobody Commands Butterflies. (Pause.) Why don’t we argue, Michelle? As a matter of fact, I argue, shout, but you always keep calm. That’s unjust. I treat you bad and you never object.
MICHELLE: Are you sitting comfortably? D’you want me to bring you another pillow?
MATT: No need. You take good care of me. And shouting is all you get from me.
MICHELLE: I’m used to it and I love you. (She hugs him. Pause.)
MATT: Find yourself someone.
MICHELLE: I beg your pardon?
MATT: Find yourself a fella and go to bed with him occasionally.
MICHELLE: (Releases him and starts walking.) Stop it, I don’t want to hear any more.
MATT: Why? Everybody needs pleasure. It’s natural. I flirt with the nurse when she baths me but what about you?
MICHELLE: Stop it. Enough, you filthy bastard!
MATT: So you got angry, finally. That’s the way I like you. I was getting fed up with your peaceful Buddhist manners. At least I know how to approach you.
How to get you into the rage.
MICHELLE: I would never do such thing.
MATT: I would, if I were in your shoes. You just have to keep it secret, that’s the main rule. As one psychologist put it: deny, deny, deny. So, if anything happens, deny. Until I find out, everything will be fine.
MICHELLE: Let’s change the subject. Aren’t you hungry?
MATT: Holy shit, I’m giving you vital advice and you start talking about food. Typical woman. No, I’m not hungry. Come closer to me. (She gives him a hug.)
I love you. Despite shouting at you sometimes. And I need you. You know it, don’t you?
MICHELLE: I do. I also need you and love you. (Pause.)
MATT: Window blinds are up?
MICHELLE: Yes, shall I unroll them?
MATT: Not yet, I want to sit at the window. Is it sunny outside?
MICHELLE: Yes.
MATT: And what colour is the sun? The setting sun is always red.
MICHELLE: Yes, my dear, it is red…
MATT: Red sun, I can feel it, it makes my face warm. Why don’t you ever take me outside? I want to go outside, breathe the fresh air, smell the grass and trees. Take me outside, Michelle.
MICHELLE: I will, honey, I will, but you have to get better and stronger first.
MATT: But it will be soon.
MICHELLE: Soon enough, sweetheart.
MATT: You promise? Promise that we’ll go outside?
MICHELLE: I do, honey.
MATT: Give me your hand. (She gives him her hand.) Yeah, now I feel good. I won’t shout at you any more. Now I’m happy.
MICHELLE: Have a rest. Do you want me to sing something?
MATT: Yes, please. Can you sing that song about the green meadow?
MICHELLE: (Sings.) “Green meadow, full of green, full of flowers, full of dreams“… And now sleep, my dearest, rest a little…
(Lights off. Music.)
SCENE 3
(Matt and nurse on the stage. They exchange a ball. She always says “now“, he catches it and throws it back to her.)
MATT: Can you prepare me a bath? Your bathing is a delight.
AMANDA: Mr. Matt, you were in the bath this morning, now it’s one in the afternoon. You simply can’t have a bath every five hours.
(Throws a ball.)
MATT: But I like it when you bathe me. And call me Matt, end of discussion. (Throws a ball.)
AMANDA: Your wife asked me to call you Mr. Matt. Now.
(Throws a ball.)
MATT: And I know why. She’s jealous. She doesn’t want us to know each other better. It’s annoying. (Throws the ball on the ground.) All women are the same. (Pause.)
Amanda, Miss Amanda, let’s play mum and dad.
AMANDA: Mr. Matt!
MATT: Well, I’m not sure if I could but let’s try. Let’s give it a try, it could be fun. But of course, maybe I’m not your type. If you have objections and you don’t find me attractive, say it and we won’t speak of it anymore, I can live with that.
AMANDA: I’ll tell your wife about your dirty jokes.
MATT: It was not a joke. And tell her, you have to tell her, just for fun. We’ll shatter that karmic equilibrium of hers. What d’you think?
AMANDA: She’ll get upset.
MATT: But that’s exactly the point. Listen to the stillness of this house. It’s like living on a moor. Nothing moves, not the slightest movement and I’m the living example of that stillness myself. It needs a bit of excitement.
AMANDA: Did you enjoy your lunch?
MATT: Ah, you are all the same, food again, you or her. Are you all mad or what? Food all the time. If our ancestors cared more about food than other pleasant activities, we wouldn’t be here today.
AMANDA: Do you want me to read you something?
MATT: I do. But later. In some future life. Now let’s have fun. Tell me a word and I will say another one, associated with yours, ok?
AMANDA: Fine, so…
(Pause.)
MATT: Spit it out, no thinking or you spoil the game. One word, the first one that comes to your mind.
AMANDA: A chair.
MATT: Boobs. Hah, hah, hah.
AMANDA: I’m sorry, but how is a chair connected to boobs?
MATT: As you see, it is.
AMANDA: You’re so funny. I like when you’re in a good mood, joking.
MATT: But it wasn’t a joke. The offer has been made. Take this game as foreplay.
AMANDA: All right, now your turn.
MATT: Sequoia.
AMANDA: What?
MATT: You don’t know what a sequoia is?
AMANDA: A big tree?
MATT: Correct. I love trees. Did you know that trees have been depicted in old paintings as falic symbols, symbols of manhood and fertility? You can google it. So sequoia it is. Now you.
AMANDA: Stick.
MATT: Here we go, you’re catching on.
AMANDA: I didn’t mean it that way.
MATT: But you’ve said it.
AMANDA: Do you ever think about anything besides sex?
MATT: Yes, I think about you. Man always thinks about what he can’t have. Amanda, please, what is going on here is a game. Innocent, although spiced up, but still a game. I can’t say I’m not enjoying it. Your perfume is Coco Chanel, am I right? My wife said you are a belle. You know, you are much more beautiful in my fantasies than in reality, even though I don’t disagree you are a beautiful woman. So, we are playing the game. Do you know when it’s game over?
AMANDA: After I leave.
MATT: Almost. Or a little bit later. When I’m lying in my bed alone and counting the endless minutes. I can’t fall asleep and my fantasies are gone and I see only darkness, the same darkness I see during the day. But the darkness at night, when I can’t fall asleep, that darkness is different.
AMANDA: How different?
MATT: It’s empty. And you know what it reminds me of? Death. Are you afraid of death, Amanda?
AMANDA: I don’t know, I never thought…
MATT: I am afraid of death, Amanda. I am afraid of that ever-present void. But the thing I fear most is eternal life. Because even endless pleasure is just suffering and pain compared to eternal life, you know? And God… Do you believe in God’s existence?
AMANDA: In a way, yes. Someone has to be in charge of all this.
MATT: Do you know when I stopped believing in him? After the accident and the operation. When I was in hospital and I couldn’t move, couldn’t see anything and the doctors were coming twice a day, kept telling me that my condition was improving and soon I would walk and see, just to be patient. And my wife was telling me the same thing. I never forgave her those lies. And then, one day, a lady came in, introduced herself as doctor Fletcher, I’ll never forget her name. She said she was a psychologist and I’d started to realize everything before but at that moment I was desperately sure. Three hours she talked to me. She asked me different questions and the only thing I wanted was to puke. Then she told me she would come the following day. I told her it was a waste of time. Three days later I was released. And that’s it.
AMANDA: I’m sorry.
MATT: I’m sorry, too. Kiss my ass, Amanda.
AMANDA: I…
MATT: Sorry.
AMANDA: No, it was my fault.
MATT: They won’t teach you at school to deal with these kinds of situations. And… what about your studies, Amanda?
AMANDA: Fine. Two more semesters and I’ll have my BA.
MATT: And you’ll still be wiping asses.
AMANDA: (Laughs.) Still.
MATT: Great, so we have to have a party, yeah?
AMANDA: But we have to wait until next year.
MATT: If we make it. As my mother used to say. (Pause.) Amanda, come here, closer to me, move your chair over and sit down, I want to smell that perfume of yours.
AMANDA: Do you want me to read?
MATT: No, not now, I want something stronger. My wife use to sing but you just sit quietly and breathe.. I want to hear your breath and smell your perfume. Just like that. Just sit and and do nothing for a while. I’d be really glad if you could do that for me.
(Lights off. Music.)
SCENE 4
MICHELLE: (Appears on the left, walks to the door on the right side and opens it.) Hi there, come in.
NIKKI: Hi darling, you look terrible.
MICHELLE: Do I?
NIKKI: (Kisses her.) No, it was a joke. You look gorgeous. Where is he?
MICHELLE: He’s in the next room.
NIKKI: Right. Zach, come in, and throw away that cigarette.
ZACH: Here I am. My wife never stop commanding me. Not even at our friend’s house. Hi Michelle. (Kisses her.)
MICHELLE: Hi, I’m glad you could come.
NIKKI: Someone has to watch over you when you act like…
ZACH: Like what? I want to hear it. Michelle now you are watching the model situation of the beginning of our fight. Come on Nikki. (To Michelle.) Put it in the fridge. It’s original champagne so be careful. It cost a fortune so don’t let it slip on the floor..
NIKKI: You’re such an idiot.
ZACH: Suit yourself. (To Michelle.) This is our little family game. We’re never bored at home, I must admit. So, where’s our man?
MICHELLE: In the next room. Want to say hello to him? I’ll steal your wife if you don’t mind. Can you help me?
NIKKI: You know I can, what are you cooking?
MICHELLE: Roasted duck with red wine sauce and a veggie salad with olives. All I need now is to chop up the veggies.
NIKKI: Well, let’s do it.
ZACH: And I’ll move forward, ladies. How long will it take you?
NIKKI: Why are you asking?
ZACH: I intend to challenge our man to a game of chess. To cheer him up a little, right?
MICHELLE: I’m good with that. We have to prepare a few sandwiches as well. Give us 20 minutes and dinner is ready.
ZACH: Ok. I’ll be in the next room. Until then. (He leaves.)
NIKKI: Where do we start?
MICHELLE: Wait, I have everything ready.
NIKKI: Do you?
MICHELLE: Sorry, but I wanted to be alone with you for a moment. I desperately need to talk to someone. And I didn’t know, it there’ll be any spare time later. I need to get drunk today. That’s why I want to talk to you while I’m still sober. You want some wine?
NIKKI: A glass of white.
MICHELLE: I’ll bring it. (Exit Michelle.) You know, we wanted to have a small party, nothing big, I mean, Matt wanted, to be more precise. He refused to invite even his parents. Would you believe that? (Enter Michelle. A tray with four glasses and a bottle of wine in her hands.) Here you are.
NIKKI: Thanks. I see where you’re coming from. Cheers.
MICHELLE: Cheers. Sometimes I have a feeling that his idea of a celebration would be with his nurse and in the bathtub.
NIKKI: Still the same one, small and cute?
MICHELLE: He’s mad about her.
NIKKI: Aren’t you pissed off?
MICHELLE: No, they do nothing wrong and Matt is happy. He is never so cheerful in my presence, never so relaxed. Maybe I’d be a bit worried but… I’m fine. He knows and I know and we both know we have to live together. We need each other even if it’s not always easy. But I bear half of his burden and I’m content to do so. It fulfills me in a way. I’d be glad to do more for him but I don’t know how.
NIKKI: You do your best. You should reconsider.
MICHELLE: Why?
NIKKI: Because. – Michelle, as you mentioned, it’s a terrible burden to take care of a disabled person, especially that disabled. Life is fleeting from you. You could achieve all sorts of things. Nowadays, there are many specialized institutions and you have the money, you could afford it.
MICHELLE: Matt will never go to any specialized institution while I’m alive. I swear.
NIKKI: That seems to me, sorry to put it this way, Michelle, a little bit…
MICHELLE: We shouldn’t be discussing it at all.
NIKKI: Cheers.
MICHELLE: Cheers.
ZACH: (Enters, Pushing a wheelchair with Matt in front of him.) We are left alone and you’re having a drink.
MICHELLE: Everything is set already.
ZACH: That’s great. Me and Matt are in the middle of a game.
NIKKI: Matt, hi, darling.
MATT: Hi, Nikki.
NIKKI: Doing well?
MATT: I get by, day after day.
MICHELLE: Can we propose a toast? Here are the glasses. Zach, Matt.
MATT: Thanks.
ZACH: Happy birthday, Matt.
NIKKI: Happy birthday.
MICHELLE: Happy birthday.
MATT: Cheers and thanks for coming.
ZACH: Nice wine, what is it, chardonnay? And we continue. B6 E7.
MATT: C3 F7.
ZACH: Ah, you’re trying to attack me. D2 D4
NIKKI: This I will never understand, no chessboard, no chessmen.
ZACH: It’s all in the head, my dear. – The opponent is taking his time…
MATT: F4 E6. Chess, you dumbhead, your move.
ZACH: What the heck, and now what?
NIKKI: It’s a pity you don’t have children.
MICHELLE: I think it’s good. I can dedicate all my time to Matt.
MATT: I want to stop sensing time. Stop counting every breath in and breath out.
ZACH: Well, me too. H7 B4.
MICHELLE: You know, Matt is persuading me to find someone. I think he wants to detach from me. I wouldn’t be able to have an affair with another man. Not anymore. And still I have the feeling I’m losing him more and more.
MATT: And now frontal attack.
ZACH: Ooh, I’m terrified.
MATT: C4 F8.
ZACH: Oh, lord…
NIKKI: I wouldn’t be able to live the way you do. Of course, I love Zach, despite his imperfection but if anything happened to him, sorry, I’d manage the situation differently.
ZACH: My answer, Sir, is: A2 A4. Ha ha ha.
MICHELLE: I want to become his eyes. I want to become his mouth. I want to be in his heart. I want to feel his thoughts in my head. I want to immerse in him. I want to die in him.
NIKKI: Oh shit, you need sex. And the sooner the better.
ZACH: Wouldn’t you go for a chase like in the old days? You remember that blonde and her girlfriend at the Amsterdam conference?
MATT: G2 F4. Invisible God. Until I lost my sight I didn’t see him. Now when I’m blind I see him clearly. And it’s not hard, all I need is just to say “I want you“ and he is here, right in front of my inner vision. I want him and he’s here. God is born inside my head. Do you get it?
ZACH: Bullshit. God. D5 D7. En garde.
MICHELLE: I love him extremely and at the same time I hate him so much. I love him because he’s so vulnerable. Like a child not able to make a simple move.
NIKKI: You have to be very strong. Tell me, where does your energy come from? You take yoga classes or you follow some religion, you’ve become a worshipper?
MICHELLE: My religion is love, love for Matt.
NIKKI: Love, I also love, but everything in moderation.
MICHELLE: True love has no limitations.
NIKKI: Excuse me, but you talk like a fanatic. It could lead you to self-destruction.
MICHELLE: Love is indestructible.
NIKKI: Hm, yes, maybe you’re right, I haven’t come to this conclusion, yet. Love, indestructible, why not.
MATT: D3 C8. Checkmate.
ZACH: Son of a bitch!
MICHELLE: I know it sounds cruel but I’d rather kill him myself than lose him…
(Slowly lights off.)
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