TableofContents
BOOKSBYSARAHRUHLAVAILABLEFROMTCG
TitlePage
Dedication
PRODUCTIONHISTORY
ONTHESTAGE
PLAYWRIGHT’SNOTES
ActI
FirstScene
SecondScene
ActII
FirstScene
SecondScene
Music
InTheNextRoom-“BirdHouse”Song(Act1,Sc.2)
Acknowledgments
CopyrightPage
BOOKSBYSARAHRUHLAVAILABLEFROMTCG
TheCleanHouseandOtherPlays
INCLUDES:
TheCleanHouse
Eurydice
Late:acowboysong
MelancholyPlay
DeadMan’sCellPhone
IntheNextRoomorthevibratorplay
PassionPlay
Tomyhusband.ForthegardenonHopeStreet.
PRODUCTIONHISTORY
IntheNextRoomorthevibratorplaywascommissionedbyandreceived
itsworldpremiereatBerkeleyRepertoryTheatre(TonyTaccone,Artistic
Director;SusanMedak,ManagingDirector)inBerkeley,CA,inFebruary
2009.ItwasdirectedbyLesWaters;scenicdesignwasbyAnnieSmart,
costume design was by David Zinn, lighting design was by Russell H.
Champa, sound design was by Bray Poor; the composer was Jonathan
Bell, the dramaturg was Madeleine Oldham and the production stage
managerwasMichaelSuenkel.Thecastwasasfollows:
DR.GIVINGS
PaulNiebanck
CATHERINEGIVINGS
HannahCabell
SABRINADALDRY
MariaDizzia
MR.DALDRY
JohnLeonardThompson
ANNIE
StacyRoss
ELIZABETH
MellePowers
LEOIRVING
JoaquínTorres
IntheNextRoomorthevibratorplayopenedonBroadwayattheLyceum
Theatre in a production by Lincoln Center Theater (André Bishop,
ArtisticDirector;BernardGersten,ExecutiveProducer)onNovember19,
2009.ItwasdirectedbyLesWaters;scenicdesignwasbyAnnieSmart,
costume design was by David Zinn, lighting design was by Russell H.
Champa, sound design was by Bray Poor; the composer was Jonathan
BellandtheproductionstagemanagerwasRoyHarris.Thecastwasas
follows:
DR.GIVINGS
MichaelCerveris
CATHERINEGIVINGS
LauraBenanti
SABRINADALDRY
MariaDizzia
MR.DALDRY
ThomasJayRyan
ANNIE
WendyRichStetson
ELIZABETH
QuincyTylerBernstine
LEOIRVING
ChandlerWilliams
ONTHESTAGE
Apiano.
Closedcurtains.
Knickknacks.
Onechaise.
Abirdcage.
Apram/bassinet.
Arockingchair.
Sumptuousrugs,sumptuouswallpaper.
Many electrical lamps, and one particularly beautiful one, with green
glass.
Nexttothelivingroom,aprivatedoctor’sroom,otherwiseknownasan
operatingtheater.
Therelationshipbetweenthelivingroomandtheoperatingtheaterisall
important in the design, as things happen simultaneously in the living
roomandoperatingtheater.
Intheoperatingtheater,amedicaltablecoveredwithasheet.Abasinfor
washinghands.
Severalvibrators.
Andanoutlet,topluginelectricalapparatus.
Oneexit,intheoperatingtheater,toanunseenroom(thedoctor’sprivate
study) and one exit to the living room, which has an exit to an unseen
nurseryandtotheoutdoors.
Onemightconsider,ratherthanrecordedsound,usingonlythelivepiano
ifoneoftheactorsisgoodatplayingpiano.
Onemightconsider,ratherthantheusuallightinginstruments,something
ancient.
Thatistosay—inaplayhoveringatthedawnofelectricity—howshould
thetheateritselffeel?
Terriblytechnologicalorterriblyprimitiveorneither—
Atanyrate,lettheuseoftechnologyfeellikeachoice.
PERSONAGES
DR. GIVINGS, a man in his forties, a specialist in gynecological and
hystericaldisorders.
CATHERINEGIVINGS,hiswife,awomaninherlatetwenties.
SABRINADALDRY,hispatient,awomaninherearlythirties.
MR.DALDRY,SabrinaDaldry’shusband,amaninhisfortiesorfifties.
ANNIE,awomaninherlatethirties,Dr.Givings’smidwifeassistant.
ELIZABETH, an African-American woman in her early thirties, a wet
nursebydefault.
LEOIRVING,Dr.Giving’sotherpatient,anEnglishmaninhistwenties
orthirties.
PLACE
A prosperous spa town outside of New York City, perhaps Saratoga
Springs.
TIME
Thedawnoftheageofelectricity;andaftertheCivilWar;circa1880s.
PLAYWRIGHT’SNOTES
Besuretorehearsewithacloseapproximationofthecostumesyouwill
beusing(withtheproperbuttonsandcorsets)asthetimingofdressing
and undressing is all important when synchronizing with the dialogue.
During simultaneous action, actors should never appear to be still or
“waiting”fortheotherroomtofinish.
I am indebted to the bookThe Technology of Orgasm by Rachel P.
Maines (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1999) for inspiration.
Thanks to Luke Walden for putting me on to it.Another debt is due to
AC/DC:TheSavageTaleoftheFirstStandardsWar byTomMcNichol
(Jossey-Bass, 2006), for thoughts on electricity. Thanks to my husband
forfindingitforme.Asterisksinthemanuscriptindicatequotationsfrom
these historical sources.A final debt is due toA Social History of Wet
NursinginAmerica:FromBreasttoBottle byJanetGolden(OhioState
UniversityPress,2001)andParallelLives:FiveVictorianMarriagesby
PhyllisRose(VintageBooks,1984).
Thingsthatseemimpossiblystrangeinthefollowingplayarealltrue—
such as the Chattanooga vibrator—and the vagaries of wet-nursing.
Thingsthatseemcommonplaceareallmyowninvention.
ActI
FirstScene
Mrs.Givingsturnsonherelectriclamp.
Sheshowsittoherbaby.
MRS.GIVINGS
Look baby, it’s light! No candle, no rusty tool to snuff it out, but light,
purelight,straightfromman’simaginationintoourlivingroom.On,off,
on,off,on—
Sheturnsitoffandon.
Dr.Givingsentersthelivingroom.
Hewalksthroughthespacetowardtheoperatingtheaterwithoutsaying
hellotohiswife.
Shewatcheshim.Afterheexits:
MRS.GIVINGS
Hello.
Dr.Givingsreentersthelivingroomfromtheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Sorry.Hello,darling.
Heexitsagaintohisoffice.
Intheoperatingtheater,Anniechangesthesheetsontheexaminingtable.
MRS.GIVINGS
(ToDr.Givings)Hello!
(Tothebaby)We’llfindanicenurseforyou,won’twe?Anicewetnurse
withlotsofhealthymilk.Yourfatherputanadvertisementinthepaper
and we’ll get lots of replies today. My milk is not filling you up, is it?
Areyoulessfattoday,darling?Areyourcheekslessfat?
Sheisneartears.Sherecovers.
MRS.GIVINGS
I’llfindyouanursewhohasn’tachildofherown.NotthatIhopetofind
a nurse with a dead baby for that is tragic nothing is more tragic oh it
hurtsmeheretothinkit—youinyourpramnotmoving—butIsupposeif
Iamtofindachildlessnursewithmilktospare,herbabymustbedead,
andrecentlydead,ohdear.Idon’tliketothinkofthat.
Dr.Givingsentersagain.
DR.GIVINGS
I have a new patient who might ring the doorbell any second. If she
arrives,wouldyoupleaseletAnnieanswerthedoor.
Thedoorbellrings.
DR.GIVINGS
Her nerves are terribly raw and it might throw off the entire clinical
balanceforhertomeetyouandthebaby.
Thedoorbellrings.
DR.GIVINGS
Pleasehide.
(Shoutingtohismidwife)
Annie!
Mrs.Givingshidesbehindapiano.
Dr.Givingsrunsoutwiththepram.
Annieanswersthedoor.
ANNIE
Hello,youmustbeMr.andMrs.Daldry,pleasecomein.
Mr.andMrs.Daldryenter.
Mrs.Daldryisfragileandethereal.
Herfaceiscoveredbyaveilattachedtoahat.
Sheleansheavilyonherhusband’sarm.
ANNIE
Thisway,letmeshowyoutotheoperatingtheater—
Mrs.Daldrystartles.
ANNIE
Welllet’sjustcallitthenextroomfornow,shallwe,don’tbenervous,
Mrs.Daldry.
ShallIjustputyourhathere?
Mrs.Daldryshakesherhead.
MR.DALDRY
She’sverysensitivetolight.
ANNIE
Ofcourse.Rightthisway.
Dr.Givingsentersfromthelivingroomandoverhearsthislastremark.
Annieturnsofftheelectriclamp.
Sheleadsthemtotheoffice.
DR.GIVINGS
Sonicetomeetyou,Mrs.Daldry,Mr.Daldry.ShallItakeyourcoat?
Mrs.Daldryshakesherhead.
MR.DALDRY
She’sverysensitivetocold.
DR.GIVINGS
Isee.Well,haveaseat.Sensitivetolight,sensitivetocold—
Ababy’scryisheard.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,isthereababyhere?Ididn’tknowtherewasanewbaby.
Howwonderfulforyou.
DR.GIVINGS
Yes.CouldyoushutthedoorpleaseAnnie?
Shedoesso.
ThenAnniesitsinvisiblyinthecorner,listeningtotheconversation.
Dr.Givingssitsandtakesouthisnotepad,writingdownnotes.
Mrs.Givings,meanwhile,inthenextroom,hasheardthebabycry.
Shesneaksoutandexitstothenursery.
DR.GIVINGS
Whatothersymptomsisyourwifesufferingfrom?
MR.DALDRY
Ifindherweepingatoddmomentsduringtheday,mutteringaboutgreen
curtainsorsomesuchnonsense.
DR.GIVINGS
Isitnonsense,Mrs.Daldry?
MRS.DALDRY
Isupposeitis.Thegreencurtainsgivemeterribleheadache.Thecolor.
Oldghostsinthedark.
Mr.DaldrygivesDr.Givingsapointedlook.
DR.GIVINGS
Tellmemoreaboutthecurtains,wouldyou?
MRS.DALDRY
The house where I grew up my mother would wash the curtains every
week,shebeatthemwithastick,andtherewerenoghostsinthem.There
wasabeautifulviewofagrapearborandwhenthecurtainswerecleaned
youcouldseerightthroughtothegrapes,youcouldalmostwatchthem
growing,theygotsoplumpintheautumn.Mymotherwouldmakeloads
ofjam—mymotherwasnotanervousorexcitablewoman.Itwasjam,it
waslaughing,andlongwalksoutofdoors.Wehaven’tagrapearborhere
—I am full of digressions these days Dr. Givings—but the point is I
haven’tthestrengthtowashthecurtainseveryweekandbeattheghosts
out of them.You think I am talking like a madwoman but if you could
see the curtains you would see that I really am very logical. They’re
horrible.
Mr.DaldryraiseshiseyebrowsatDr.Givings.
DR.GIVINGS
Andyouhavetriedtheusualremedies,restandrelaxation?
MRS.DALDRYMR.DALDRY
Idonothingbutrest!Yes.
Nothingbutrest!
MR.DALDRY
When I met Mrs. Daldry she was seventeen. She was an extraordinary
creature.Sheplayedthepiano.WeategrapejaminthearborandthereI
toldherIwantedtotakecareofherandprotectherforever,didn’tI.
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
MR.DALDRY
NowIamafraidthereisverylittlesympathybetweenus.
MRS.DALDRY
Iambreakinghisheart—.Helikesmetobeacertainway.PerhapsifI
couldplaythepianoagainbutmyfingerswillnotwork.
MR.DALDRY
No,herfingersdonotwork.Inthelivingroom.Orinanyotherroom,if
youtakemymeaning,Dr.Givings.
MRS.DALDRY
Mr. Daldry please do not embarrass me with such vulgarities. I am
shockedanddisgustedandIwillleavetheroomnow.
Sheleavestheroom.
Shestandsinthelivingroom,flustered.
Sheseestheelectricallampandturnsitonandoff.
DR.GIVINGS
Mr.Daldry,yourwifeissufferingfromhysteria.Itisaveryclearcase.I
recommend theraputic electrical massage—weekly—possibly daily, we
shallsee—sessions.Weneedtorelievethepressureofhernerves.
Youwillsoonhaveyourbloomingwifeback,shewillregainhercolor,
lightandcoldwillnolongerhavethesameeffectonher.Youwillsoon
be eating grape jam and wondering how it is that Mrs. Daldry looks so
muchlikeaseventeenyearold.
MR.DALDRY
Thank you Dr. Givings.You have no idea what a source of anguish my
wife’sillnesshasbeentome.Andtoher,ofcourse.
DR.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.Iwillhaveherbackforyouinanhour’stime.
MR.DALDRY
Thankyou,Doctor.
Meanwhile,Mrs.Givingshasreenteredthelivingroomwiththebaby.
MRS.DALDRY
(ToMrs.Givings)Thislampisextraordinary.
IthurtsmyeyestowatchitgoonandoffbutIenjoythepain.
Itisakindofreligiousecstasytofeelhalfblind,doyounotthink?
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,isn’tit?
Iwasnotsuppposedtomeetyou
butI’mgladIhave.
Ihopeyoufindmyhusbandtobeacomfort,
IknowthatIdo.
MRS.DALDRY
MayIholdyourbaby?
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,ofcourse.
DR.GIVINGS
IwouldaskyoutoleaveMrs.Daldryherewhileyoutakeawalkaround
thegrounds.Perhapsit’sbetterifyoudon’tdisturbhernow,Mr.Daldry.
MR.DALDRY
Ofcourse.Whateveryouthinkbest,Doctor.
MRS.DALDRY
(Whileholdingthebaby)Whatisthebaby’sname?
MRS.GIVINGS
Letitia.Lottyforshort.
Threesyllablesseemedliketoomanyforababy.
MRS.DALDRY
Lotty.
Duringthepreceding,
Dr.GivingsshakesMr.Daldry’shand.
Mr.Daldryputshishaton.
Mr.Daldrygivesabriefquizzicalglanceatthevibrator.
Andexits.
ANNIE
(Inthelivingroom,toMrs.Daldry)Thedoctorisreadyforyounow.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,nomustIgobackinthere?Iwouldratherholdthebaby.
Mr.Daldryentersthelivingroom.
MR.DALDRY
Beagoodgirl.
Mrs.DaldryhandsthebabybacktoMrs.Givings.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,she’sbeautiful.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isn’tshe?Tooskinnythough.
Mrs.Daldryhesitates,lookingatthebaby.
MR.DALDRY
Thedoctoriswaiting,Sabrina.
MRS.GIVINGS
You’llbejustfine.Myhusbandisagooddoctor.
OrsoI’vebeentold.
Ifyou’llexcuseme,it’stimeforhernap.
Mrs.Givingsexitstothenursery.
AnnieleadsMrs.Daldryintotheoperatingtheater.
Mr.Daldrysurveysthelivingroomandpreparestowalkthegrounds.
Intheoperatingtheater:
DR.GIVINGS
Nowthen,Mrs.Daldry,Iwouldaskyoutoremoveyourclothingbutyou
maykeepyourunderthingson.Pleaseremoveyourcorset,ifyouwould.
Annie will place a sheet over your lower regions. We will respect your
modestyineveryparticular.
Mrs.Daldrynods.
DR.GIVINGS
Ishallgiveyouprivacy.
Heturnshisbackonthem,agentleman,
asMrs.DaldryundresseswithAnnie’shelp.
Mrs.Givingshasreenteredthelivingroomwithoutthebaby.
SheseesMr.Daldry.
MRS.GIVINGS
Helloagain.
MR.DALDRY
Hello.Theyaretryingtogetridofme.Iamsupposedtowalkaboutthe
grounds.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butisitnotraining,Mr—?
MR.DALDRY
Daldry.
Idon’tknow.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yourname?
MR.DALDRY
No.Ifitisraining.
MRS.GIVINGS
Thenyouwillhavetogambleonwhetherornottotakeanumbrella.
MR.DALDRY
Indeed.
Meanwhile,intheoperatingtheater:
Mrs.DaldrydisrobeswithAnnie’shelp.
Ittakesawhiletodisrobeasshewearsavarietyoflayers.
Inthelivingroom,withMr.DaldryandMrs.Givings:
MRS.GIVINGS
Therearethreekindsofpeople.Thosewhouseumbrellaswhenitisnot
raining; those who do not use umbrellas even when it is raining; and
thosewhouseumbrellasonlyandpreciselywhileitrains.Whichkindare
you,Mr.Daldry?
MR.DALDRY
Iuseanumbrellawhileitisraining.
MRS.GIVINGS
That’stoobad.Ifindpeoplewhodonotuseumbrellaswhileitisraining
horriblyromantic.Strolling,nostriding,throughtherain,withwethair,
lookingatadropofwateronabranch.
MR.DALDRY
Mywifeisoneofthose.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ohyes!Icouldseethat.
MR.DALDRY
It’sdamnedannoying.Ialwaysworryshe’llcatchcold.
MRS.GIVINGS
Buthorriblyromantic.Myhusbandopenshisumbrellaatthemeresthint
ofrain.Andevenifitdoesnotrain,hewillleaveitopen,stubbornasan
ox,andkeepwalking.Myhusbandisascientist.
MR.DALDRY
Andwhatsortofpersonareyou,Mrs.Givings?
MRS.GIVINGS
Why,Idon’tknow.Myhusbandhasalwaysheldtheumbrella.Isn’tthat
funny.Idon’tknowatallwhatkindofpersonIam.
Intheotherroom,Mrs.Daldry’sclothesarenowofftoherunderclothes.
Anniedrapesasheetoverher.
MRS.GIVINGS
I’ll show you the grounds and we can use this very large umbrella and
perhapsIwillholditandweshallseewhatkindofpersonIam.Ionly
hopeyoudonotgetwet.
MR.DALDRY
Itsoundslikeamadcapadventure.
Mrs.GivingsandMr.Daldryexit.
Intheoperatingtheater:
DR.GIVINGS
Areyoureadyforme?
ANNIE
Yes,Dr.Givings.
DR.GIVINGS
Areyouwarmenough?(Mrs.Daldrynods)
Mrs.Daldry,wearegoingtoproduceinyouwhatiscalledaparoxysm.
Thecongestioninyourwombiscausingyourhystericalsymptomsandif
we can release some of that congestion and invite the juices downward
yourhealthwillberestored.
Thanks to the dawn of electricity—yes, thank you Mr. Edison, I always
tip my hat to Mr. Edison—a greatAmerican—I have a new instrument
which I will use. It used to be that it would take me or it would take
Annie—oh—hours—to produce a paroxysm in our patients and it
demanded quite a lot of skill and patience. It was much like a child’s
game—tryingtopattheheadandrubthestomachatthesametime—but
thankstothisnewelectricialinstrumentweshallbedoneinamatterof
minutes.
MRS.DALDRY
I—I’mafraidIdon’t—
DR.GIVINGS
Three minutes, sometimes five at the outer limits.Are you ready Mrs.
Daldry?
Shenods.
Hetakesoutahugevibrator.
Heplugsitin.
Heturnsiton.
MRS.DALDRY
Iamfrightened.
DR.GIVINGS
Don’tbefrightened.
MRS.DALDRY
Thereisnodangerofbeingelectrocuted?
DR.GIVINGS
Noneatall.
He puts his arm under the sheets and holds the vibrator to her private
parts.
DR.GIVINGS
Iwilltellyouanamusingstory.Dr.BenjaminFranklinoncedecidedto
electrocute a bird for his turkey dinner on Christmas Eve. But, by
mistake,heheldontothechain,completingthecircuit,andcouldn’tlet
go.Hedescribedviolentlyconvulsinguntilhewasablebysheerforceof
willtoletgoofthechain.Hewasperfectlyfine!Doyoufeelcalmer?
MRS.DALDRY
Alittle.
DR.GIVINGS
Thiswilljusttakeamatterofminutes.
Mrs.Daldrymoansquietly.
DR.GIVINGS
It’sallright,Mrs.Daldry.That’sjustfine.
Mrs.Daldrymoansquietly.
DR.GIVINGS
Anniewillholdyourhand.
Annieholdsherhand.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,GodinHisHeaven!
Shehasaquietparoxysm.
Nowrememberthatthesearethedaysbeforedigitalpornography.
Thereisnoclichéofhowwomenaresupposedtoorgasm,noideaintheir
headsofhowtheyaresupposedtosoundwhentheyclimax.
Mrs. Daldry’s first orgasms could be very quiet, organic, awkward,
primal.Orveryclinical.Orembarrassinglynatural.
But whatever it is, it should not be a cliché, a camp version of how we
expectallwomensoundwhentheyorgasm.
Itissimplyclearthatshehashadsomekindofrelease.
DR.GIVINGS
Thatwasverygood,Mrs.Daldry.Isnotthisnewinstrumentwonderful?
ThankgoodnessforBenjaminFranklinandhiselectricalkey!(Hewaves
thevibratorheavenward.)Didyouknowtheyelectrocutedanelephantin
ConeyIslandlastweek?Marvelous.Anniewillhelpyougetdressedand
youmaymeetMr.Daldryonthegrounds.
MRS.DALDRY
Allright.AndperhapsImayholdyourbabyagainbeforeIleave.
DR.GIVINGS
Ah,Ididnotrealizeyouhadmetthebaby.Ihopethatwasnotdistracting
inthemiddleofoursession.
MRS.DALDRY
No—Ilikedholdingher.Wehavenotbeenable—
Sheweeps.
ANNIE
Oh,there,there.
MRS.DALDRY
—tohavechildren.Idonotknowwhatiswrongwithme.
DR.GIVINGS
Oh, dear Mrs. Daldry. Take heart. You see, Annie, it is the pent-up
emotion inside the womb that causes her hysterical symptoms, you can
see it quite clearly. I will administer another round of therapy to the
patient.Liebackdown,Mrs.Daldry.
Heplugsthevibratorinagain.
MRS.DALDRY
No,pleaseno,donottouchmethereagain,itisverypainful—no,please
no—(Heplacesthevibratortoherprivateparts)Oh—
DR.GIVINGS
Whatareyoufeeling,Mrs.Daldry?
MRS.DALDRY
My feet are very hot—dancing on hot coals—and down—down there—
coldandhottothetouch—myheartisracing—
Shehasaquietparoxysm.
DR.GIVINGS
That’sallright,Mrs.Daldry,therethere.Youjustliethereandstayquiet
forawhile.Iamgoingtogowashmyhands.
Hemovestothewashbasin.
Shesitsup.
MRS.DALDRY
(ToAnnie)Canyoupleasehandmemyhat.
ANNIE
Ofcourse.Youdon’tneedtobeashamed.Thisinstrumenthasquitethe
sameeffectonallofourpatients.Sometimestheylaughandweepallat
thesametime.TheyoftencallforGod.
Mrs.Daldrystandswearingherhat,withhersheetwrappedaroundher.
Hersheetfallsoffassheputsonherhatandsheisleftonlywearingher
bloomersandherveil.
MRS.DALDRY
Ohdear.
ANNIE
ItisquiteallrightMrs.Daldry.
Annieputsthesheetbackonher.
MRS.DALDRY
Iamsuddenlydrowsy.
ANNIE
Yes,mostofourpatientsbecomedrowsyafterthetreatment.
MRS.DALDRY
MightIliedownagain?
ANNIE
Pleasedo.
MRS.DALDRY
Youareamidwife?
ANNIE
Yes.
MRS.DALDRY
AndyouassistDr.Givingswithbirthsandallmannerofthings?
ANNIE
Yes.
MRS.DALDRY
Howdidyoucometobeamidwife?
ANNIE
I was thirty-three and unmarried, and hadn’t the patience for teaching
youngchildren.
MRS.DALDRY
Youhaveassistedwomenintheirconfinements?
ANNIE
Yes.
MRS.DALDRY
Soyouhaveseeneveryformoftorture.
ANNIE
Ihaveseenwomeninagreatdealofpain,yes.
MRS.DALDRY
HoldmyhandandIwillfallasleep.
ANNIE
Ofcourse.
AnnieholdsMrs.Daldry’shandandstrokesherhair.
Mrs.Daldryfallsasleep.
Throughout the next bit, she drowses, and then wakes and gets dressed
withthehelpofAnnie.
Intheotherroom,
Mr.DaldryandMrs.Givingsreturnfromtheirwalkonthegrounds.
Theyarelaughinganddrenched.
Mrs.Givingsshakesoutherumbrella.
MRS.GIVINGS
Imustbeaveryinconsistentperson!Iliketobewetandthen
IliketobedryandthenIliketobewetagain!
MR.DALDRY
Youareveryhealthyandrobust.Icouldbarelykeepupwithyou.
MRS.GIVINGS
I love to walk—I never had enough exercise as a child so now I walk
walkwalknoonecankeepupwithmenotevenDr.Givings—thatishow
hefellinlovewithme,hesaidhewasdeterminedtokeepupwithme—
heonlysawthebackofmyheadbeforewemarriedbecauseIwasalways
onestepahead.Hesaidhehadtomarrymetoseemyface.
Dr.Givingsenters.
MRS.GIVINGS
Didn’tyoudarling?
DR.GIVINGS
What’sthat?
MRS.GIVINGS
Havetomarrymeinordertoseemyface?
DR.GIVINGS
Iseeyouhavemetmywife.
MR.DALDRY
Indeed.
DR.GIVINGS
We had a very successful session. You should find Mrs. Daldry much
relaxed.
MR.DALDRY
Excellent.
MRS.GIVINGS
IgaveMr.Daldryatourofthegrounds.Wegotwet.
DR.GIVINGS
Idon’twantyoucatchingcold.Thebabymustn’tcatchcoldatthisage.
MRS.GIVINGS
YouknowI’mhealthyasanox.Ifonlymoreofmymilkwouldcomein.
Oh, excuse me, Mr. Daldry that is not polite to mention in mixed
company.
MR.DALDRY
Areyouadvertisingforanurse?
MRS.GIVINGS
Indeedweare.
MR.DALDRY
Our housekeeper recently lost her baby and I believe she still has
plentifulmilk.Perhapsshecouldhelpthoughwedon’twanttoloseher
services,sheisveryupstandingandalltherestofit,veryhardtofind,a
gem.Self-educated,yousee,withthemannersofalady.Idon’tknowif
she’devertakeitintoherheadtobeawetnurse,youknowwhattheysay
about wet nurses—nine parts devil, one part cow—but that’s what you
want,isn’tit?Aniceyoungwomanwhoneverintendedtobeawetnurse
butwhohasmilk,milktospare.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,shesoundsperfect,wedesperatelywantsomeoneverymoralwhose
childisrecentlydead.
MRS.GIVINGS
DR.GIVINGS
Oh,no—whatImeanttosayis— Whatshemeanstosayis—
MRS.GIVINGS
It’sonlythattheysaymoralitygoesrightthroughthemilk.Mrs.Evans
saidjusttheotherday,ohIwouldn’tuseadarkie,themoralitygoesright
through the milk. But in the South, I don’t knowwhat they do in the
South—
MR.DALDRY
Elizabeth our housekeeper is colored but she is very moral, very
Christian.ShegoestochurcheveryweekwithMrs.Daldrywhoisavery
devoutwoman.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isee.
DR.GIVINGS
Hassherecoveredfromthedeathofherchild?
MR.DALDRY
AsIsaid,she’saveryreligiouswomanresignedtothewillofGod.And
hermilkisstillplentiful.
MRS.GIVINGS
Darling,Idon’tknowabouta—
DR.GIVINGS
Myfatherwasawell-knownabolitionist,Mr.Daldry.
MR.DALDRY
IbelieveI’veheardofhim.WilliamGivings.
DR.GIVINGS
Yes.
(To Mrs. Givings) You’d rather have a Negro Protestant than an Irish
Catholic,wouldn’tyou?
Mrs.Givingsthinksaboutthat.
DR.GIVINGS
Isshemarried?
MR.DALDRY
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
That’sgood.
MR.DALDRY
Tobesure—youdon’twantanunmarriedwomanboardingatyourhouse
—turnthehouseholdupsidedown—theprettyonesanyway—
HelaughsandjostlesDr.Givings.
Mrs.Givingsstares.
Dr.Givingsclearshisthroat.
MR.DALDRY
Thatistosay—she’smarriedtoafinemanwithasteadyjob.
DR.GIVINGS
WewouldbehappytotakeonyourhousekeeperElizabethasawetnurse.
Andwecanpayhandsomelybutnotsohandsomelythatsheleavesyour
service. We really are in dire straits because my wife’s milk is not
adequate, I’m afraid. Bottle-fed babies don’t do well in cholera season,
theydon’tdowellatall.It’snotimetostandonprejudice,Catherine.
MRS.GIVINGS
Myhusbandisaveryunconventionalman,ascientist.I’venoideawhat
theneighborswillsay.
DR.GIVINGS
Letthemobservethatyourbabyisgrowingniceandfat.
Mrs.Daldryenters,lookingwonderfullywellrested.
MRS.GIVINGS
Howwellrestedyoulook!
MRS.DALDRY
Ifeelwonderful.Yourhusbandisagooddoctor.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yesheis.
MR.DALDRY
Therearerosesinyourcheeks.
DR.GIVINGS
Isthelightbotheringyou,Mrs.Daldry?
MRS.DALDRY
No, I hardly noticed it. I was horrified when the electric lamp was
invented. I so prefer candlelight and I thought, from now on people’s
faces will look like monsters in the evening, without the help of
candlelight. No flicker, no glow. But none of you look like monsters at
present,youalllookverycharming.Youarewet,Mr.Daldry.
MR.DALDRY
Itisraining,Mrs.Daldry.Shallwe?
Mrs.Daldrynods.
MR.DALDRY
Mightweborrowanumbrella?Ididnotanticipaterain.
DR.GIVINGS
Tobesure.Ialwayskeepanextraumbrellaincaseofemergencies.
MRS.DALDRY
Thankyou,Dr.Givings.IwillseeyouagainsoonIhope?
DR.GIVINGS
Tomorrow,Ibelieveisbest.Wewillneeddailysessions.
MR.DALDRY
Excellent.
(In lowered tones, away from the ladies) Oh—how much do I owe you,
Doctor?
DR.GIVINGS
Nottoworry.We’llsettleupweekly.
MR.DALDRY
Ohfine,fine.
Thenweshallseeyoutomorrow.Andwe’llbringElizabethwithus!
DR.GIVINGS
(Astheyexit)Goodday!
MR.ANDMRS.DALDRY
Goodday!
MRS.GIVINGS
Goodday!
Thedoorshuts.
MRS.GIVINGS
I’m nervous about bringing a stranger into the house, very nervous
indeed.
DR.GIVINGS
Lottyislosingweight,mydear.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,ofcourse,it’sallmyfault.
DR.GIVINGS
I’mnotassigningblame,mydarling.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whosefaultisitthen?
DR.GIVINGS
Noone’s.Thebodyisblameless.Milkiswithoutintention.
MRS.GIVINGS
Agoodmotherhasafatchild.Andeveryoneknowsit.
DR.GIVINGS
Thenitwillbearelieftofindheragoodnurse.
MRS.GIVINGS
Indeed.Icannotwaittomeether.
DR.GIVINGS
Cheerup,mydarling.Wearehealthyandhappy,arewenot?
MRS.GIVINGS
(Automatically)Yes.
(Then,smiling,withsincerity)Yes.
Hekissesheronthecheekandexits.
Mrs.Givings,alone.
SecondScene
Dr.GivingsexaminesElizabethintheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Itisimportanttoexamineyoutobesureyourmilkishealthy.
ELIZABETH
Yes,sir.
DR.GIVINGS
I also need to be sure you haven’t any venereal disease that could be
passedthroughthemilktothechild.Ifyoucouldjustliebackplease...
ELIZABETH
Sir,I’drathernot.
DR.GIVINGS
I’mamanofscience,Elizabeth.Believeme,Iwon’tbeshocked.
ELIZABETH
Yes,sir.
Sir—youwon’ttouchthere,willyou?
Mrs.Givingsentersthelivingroom.
DR.GIVINGS
I’mgoingtogiveyouamedicalexam,that’sall.
Sheliesback.Hecoversherwithasheet.
Thedoorbellrings.
Mrs.Givingsanswersit.
Mrs.Daldryappears.
MRS.DALDRY
Hello!
MRS.GIVINGS
Hello!
MRS.DALDRY
Iwaswalkingthegrounds,they’relovely.
MRS.GIVINGS
Why,youlookinthebloomofhealth.
MRS.DALDRY
Iplayedthepianoagain!
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatdidyouplay?
MRS.DALDRY
Iliketomakesongsup.
MRS.GIVINGS
Wouldyouplayoneforme,pleaseohplease?
MRS.DALDRY
Iamveryshy.
MRS.GIVINGS
Nooneisshyaroundme,Mrs.Daldry,Ihavethemostwonderfuleffect
uponshypeople,theyhearmetalkandtheythink,ohwhybeshy?
MRS.DALDRY
Idon’tfeelshyaroundyou,Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iknewit!YouseeI’mterribleatthepiano,Ijustpickatitwithoneor
two fingers, it’s hardly been used, you must play it. The poor thing is
languishing without a human touch. It is like a piece of dead wood
withoutbeingplayed.
MRS.DALDRY
HowcanIsayno?
Mrs. Daldry goes to the piano. She plays a pretty, somber, mysterious
littletune.
Inthenextroom:
DR.GIVINGS
ThankyouElizabeth,youwereverybrave,andyouareveryhealthy.You
cangetdressednow.
Dr.GivingsexitsandElizabethgetsdressed.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh but that’s beautiful!A bit sad, isn’t it? Do you think we make sad
things into songs in order to hold on to the sadness or to banish it—I
thinkitistobanishthesadness.Sothenifyouwriteahappysong,isit
notsadderthanasadsongbecausebymakingityouhavebanishedyour
ownhappinessintoasong?Whatdoyouthink?
MRS.DALDRY
Idon’tknow.
MRS.GIVINGS
Doesithavewords?
MRS.DALDRY
No.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh, but it must have words, Mrs. Daldry, oh it must. I will supply the
words,playitagain,andIwillsingsomewordswithit,howisthat?
MRS.DALDRY
Allright.
Mrs.DaldryplaysandMrs.Givingssings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Youraisetheblindsinthemorning
AndIliketoclosethematnight.
Togetherwesleepnearthebirdhouse
Andforgettheelectricallight.
Dr. Givings reenters the operating theater and escorts the now dressed
Elizabethtothelivingroom.
MRS.DALDRY
Wellthatwasverynice.
MRS.GIVINGS
Didyoulikeit?Diditgowithyoursong?OhIhopeyoulikedit.Ihope
thesonglikedthewordsbecausethewordslovedthesong!
MRS.DALDRY
Thesonglikedthewords.
Dr.GivingsenterswithElizabeth.
DR.GIVINGS
Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Hellodarling.
DR.GIVINGS
IhaveexaminedElizabethandsheisveryfitandhealthyandwillbea
wonderfulnursetoLetitia.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,that’smarvelous!I’msosorryaboutyourownchild,Elizabeth,that’s
dreadful.
ELIZABETH
Thankyou.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatwasyourchild’snameordidshehaveanameyet,ohthatwouldbe
horrible,Idon’tknowwhat’sworsefrankly,anameornonameyet,ohI
need to stop talking, when death comes up I just ramble on and on, I’ll
stopnow.
ELIZABETH
HisnamewasHenryDouglas.
MRS.GIVINGS
Aboy.
ELIZABETH
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Haveyou—buriedhimyet?
ELIZABETH
He’sburiedatthechurchyard,AllSoul’s.Hewasbaptizedbeforehedied
andforthatI’mgrateful.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,yes.Baptism,atleast,isacomfort—heisinHeavennow.
ELIZABETH
Idon’tliketotalkaboutHenryDouglas.Ma’am.
MRS.GIVINGS
Noofcourseyouwouldn’t.Forgiveme.
MRS.DALDRY
Elizabethhastwootherboys.Twolovelyboys,verywellbehaved.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,whatarelief.Wehopetohaveextrachildren,justincase,thatisto
say,morechildren.Iwouldlovetohaveagreatbigbrood,allclimbing
overthefurniture,furnitureissodead,thatistosaysolifeless,Imeanso
sad,withoutchildren.
MRS.DALDRY
Idon’thaveanychildren.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!Whatapity.
Mrs.Daldryisvisiblyagitated.
DR.GIVINGS
Elizabeth,wouldyouliketomeetthebaby?
ELIZABETH
Yes,sir.
DR.GIVINGS
Catherine,pleasebringthebabyintoElizabeth.Mrs.Daldry,whydon’t
youcomewithme.
MRS.DALDRY
Yes,Doctor.
Mrs.Givingsexitstothenursery.
Elizabethsits,nervous.Shetakesoffherhat.
Mrs.DaldryandDr.Givingsgototheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Didthatupsetyoutotalkaboutchildren?
MRS.DALDRY
Alittle.
DR.GIVINGS
Areyoufeelingnervous?
MRS.DALDRY
MyheartispoundingandIfeelquiteweak.
DR.GIVINGS
Wellyoujustliedown,justliedown,andIwilladministertreatment.
MRS.DALDRY
WhereisAnnietoday?
DR.GIVINGS
Sheshouldbearrivingmomentarily.
MRS.DALDRY
Idonotwishtoundressinfrontofyou.
DR.GIVINGS
Yes,ofcourse.Iwillmakesomenotes.Calloutwhenyouarereadyfor
me.
Dr.Givingssitsathisdesk.
Mrs.Daldrystartstoundress.
Inthelivingroom,
Mrs.GivingsenterswiththebabyandgiveshertoElizabeth.
MRS.GIVINGS
Well.Heresheis!
ELIZABETH
Wouldyoulikemetofeedhernow,ma’am?
MRS.GIVINGS
Isuppose.Shemustbehungry.
Elizabethsits,undoeshershirt,andbeginsnursing.
Elizabethcries,withnosound.
Mrs.Givingswatches.Mrs.Givingsisonthevergeoftears.
Elizabethnotices.
ELIZABETH
PerhapsitwouldbebetterifIfedherinthenursery.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,Ithinkso.
ELIZABETH
Excuseme.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.Justthroughthere.
Elizabethexitstothenurserywiththebaby.
Mrs.Givingsputsherheadinherhands.
Dr.Givingsentersthelivingroom.
DR.GIVINGS
Excusemedarling—
Whatisit?
MRS.GIVINGS
Well, Lotty took to Elizabeth right away. She latched right on to her
breastanditmademefeelverystrange,toseeherlatchedontoanother
woman’sbreast.Foronceitwasn’tthebabywhowascrying.ButIfeel
veryqueer,Ido.
DR.GIVINGS
Now you have to think of the baby and what’s best for the baby. She
wouldstarvewithoutmilk,sothinkaboutthatandbepractical.
MRS.GIVINGS
Idon’tfeelwell.
MRS.DALDRY
(Fromtheoperatingtheater)I’mready,Dr.Givings!
DR.GIVINGS
I have to attend to Mrs. Daldry. Why don’t you have a nice lie-down.
Here,I’llshutoffthelamp.
Hedoes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Idon’twanttoliedown.Iwanttofeedmyownchild.
DR.GIVINGS
Butyoucan’t,love.Yourmilkisn’tadequate.
Iloveyou.
Heexits.
Shepacesaroundthelivingroom.
ShetriestoplaythesongMrs.Daldryplayedonthepiano.
Shepicksatthepianowithtwofingers.
Intheoperatingtheater,Dr.Givingsreadiesthevibrator.
DR.GIVINGS
Sorryforthedelay.
MRS.DALDRY
Notatall.
Heturnsonthevibrator.
Itmakesaloudsound.
Mrs.Givingshearsthesound,registersitsoddness,andgoesonplaying
thepiano.
DR.GIVINGS
Fineweatherwe’rehaving.
MRS.DALDRY
Mm.
DR.GIVINGS
Chillybutbright.
MRS.DALDRY
Indeed.
DR.GIVINGS
Thereweare.
Dr.GivingsputsthevibratortoMrs.Daldry’sprivateparts.
DR.GIVINGS
Thiswillonlytakebutafewminutes,Mrs.Daldry.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh...
DR.GIVINGS
Therethere.Whatareyoufeeling,Mrs.Daldry?
MRS.DALDRY
It’snotworking,todayit’snotworking.
Dr.Givingsadjuststhemachine,makingitlouder.
DR.GIVINGS
There?
MRS.DALDRY
Idon’tknow.
Herepositionsthemachine,undertheblankets.
MRS.DALDRY
Nothing.Ifeelnothing.
Heturnsitupagain.Thevibratingnoisestopsalltogether.
Andthelightsgoout.
DR.GIVINGS
Oh,dear.
MRS.DALDRY
DidImakeitstop?
DR.GIVINGS
It’snotyourfault.Electricalfailure.
Mrs.Givingslooksupinthedarkofthelivingroom.
Shelightsseveralcandles.
Annieenterstheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Well,I’mgladyou’rehere,Annie,we’vehadapowerfailure.
MRS.DALDRY
Myhead.
ANNIE
Oh,dearMrs.Daldry,areyouill?
DR.GIVINGS
(ToAnnie,inlowtones) Ihavebeentryingtheselastthreeminutes,it’s
nevertakenlongerthanthreeminuteswiththismachine.
ANNIE
ShouldItrythemanualtreatment,Dr.Givings?
DR.GIVINGS
Yes, why don’t you, I will go look into this. Good day Mrs. Daldry,
Annie.
MRS.DALDRY
Whatisthemanualtreatment?
ANNIE
Youjustlieback.
Intheneardark,
AnnieputsherhandunderthesheetandbeginstostimulateMrs.Daldry.
Wecertainlydonotseethis,andtheactressneedn’tsimulateitexactly,
butunderthesheets,Mrs.Daldryhasafemaleejaculation.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh!Everythingisquitewet!Idon’tknowwhat’shappened,
I’msorry—I.Howembarrassing.
ANNIE
Thathappensfromtimetotime,Mrs.Daldry,I’llchangethesheets.
Aristotletalkedallaboutit.
MRS.DALDRY
Aristotle?
ANNIE
Yes.
MRS.DALDRY
DoyoureadGreek?
ANNIE
Yes.
MRS.DALDRY
Mygoodness.
ANNIE
I’mgoingtowashmyhands.
MRS.DALDRY
Ofcourse.
Meanwhile,intheotherroom,Elizabethenters.
Thelivingroomisnowlitwithseveralcandles.
ELIZABETH
Doyouneedmethisevening,Mrs.Givings?
MRS.GIVINGS
Perhapsaftersupper?
ELIZABETH
Allright.
Elizabethturnstogo.
MRS.GIVINGS
Waitamoment.
Elizabeth,whenthemilkcomesin,canyoufeelanyloveforthechild?
ELIZABETH
Itrynottothinkoflove.ItrynottothinkofHenryDouglas.
MRS.GIVINGS
Of course. Do you want more children, Elizabeth? That is a tactless
question, you don’t need to answer, forgive me, sometimes I say
whateverisinmyhead.
I want more children and my husband desperately wants more children
but I am afraid of another birth, aren’t you? When I gave birth I
remembersoclearly,themomentherheadwascomingoutofmybody,I
thought:whywouldanyrationalcreaturedothistwice,knowingwhatI
knownow?Andthenshecameoutandclamberedrightontomybreast
and tried to eat me, she was so hungry, so hungry it terrified me—her
hunger.AndIthought:isthatthefirstemotion?Hunger?Andnothunger
forfoodbutwantingtoeatotherpeople?Specificallyone’smother?And
then I thought—isn’t it strange, isn’t it strange about Jesus? That is to
say,aboutJesusbeingaman?Foritiswomenwhoareeaten—whoturn
theirbodiesintofood—Igaveupmyblood—therewassomuchblood—
andIgaveupmybody—butIcouldn’tfeedher,couldnotturnmybody
into food, and she wassohungry. I suppose that makes me an inferior
kindofwomanandaveryinferiorkindofJesus.
ELIZABETH
Hmm.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,dear,theysaidyouwereveryreligious,thatmusthavesounded—
ELIZABETH
Iwasveryreligious.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh—I’msorry,I—
ELIZABETH
IthoughtofJesuswhileIwasgivingbirth,likeyou.ButIwasn’tthinking
aboutwhywasHeaman.Iwasthinking,pleasesavemeJesus.AndHe
did. Now why He didn’t save my Henry I don’t know, so I stopped
believinginHim.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!
Thelightcomesbackon.
Theyareastonished.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ah,theelectricityisback.
Mrs.Daldryentersthelivingroom,dressed.
MRS.DALDRY
Hello.
MRS.GIVINGS
Hello!
ELIZABETH
Hello.
MRS.GIVINGS
Youlookrefreshed.
MRS.DALDRY
DoI?
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,yes.Wouldyouplayussomethingonthepiano,IamsureElizabeth
wouldlovetohearyouplay.
ELIZABETH
Ihavetogetbacktomyboysforsupper.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ohstayforjustonesong.
MRS.DALDRY
Allright.
Mrs.Daldryplaysalittletune.Itissad.
Theyalllistentothesong.
Elizabethcriesbutnooneseeshercrying.
Annieenters.
ANNIE
Whataprettysong,Mrs.Daldry.
MRS.DALDRY
Thankyou,Annie.
ELIZABETH
Imustgo.
MRS.DALDRY
AndI.
ANNIE
Iamwalkinginyourdirection.
MRS.GIVINGS
Good-bye then, everyone gets a good walk except for me. Come again
tomorroworIwillbeverydull.
Elizabethlingers.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatisit,Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH
Doyoupaymenow,orlater?
MRS.GIVINGS
Ohgoodness!Ihaven’tanymoney,I’llhavetoaskmyhusband.
Perhapswecansettleupweekly?
ELIZABETH
That’sfine.Good-bye.
MRS.GIVINGS
Good-bye.
Theyallexit.
Mrs.Givingsblowsthecandlesout.
Dr.Givingsenters,pleasedthatthepowerisbackon.
DR.GIVINGS
Thepowerisbackon!Onedaywholecitieswillbeelectrified.
Mr.Edisonisthemantodoit.
MRS.GIVINGS
Don’ttalktomeaboutelectricity.
Youknowhowitboresme.
Everyoneisgone.
Andwearealone.
DR.GIVINGS
Indeedweare.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ishallturnthisoff.
Shekisseshim.
DR.GIVINGS
Shallwegoupstairs?
MRS.GIVINGS
Orstayhere...
DR.GIVINGS
Inthelivingroom?
MRS.GIVINGS
Isupposeitisforlivingin.
Theymovetothesofa,awkward.
Theykissagain,withpolitedesire.
Thedoorbellrings.
Theylookateachotherasthoughtosay:
Don’tanswerthat.
Thedoorbellringsagain.
DR.GIVINGS
I’llgetit.
Dr.Givingsturnsonthelight.
Mrs.Givingsblinks.
Dr.Givingsanswersthedoor.
DR.GIVINGS
Mrs.Daldry?
MRS.DALDRY
Iforgotmyhat.
DR.GIVINGS
Youlookflushed.Areyouallright?
MRS.DALDRY
Perhapsthewalkoverexcitedme.Iamnotusedtowalkingthatmuchin
oneday.AnnieandIwerewalkingratherquickly,anddiscussing—well
—sheknowsGreek,canyouimagine—Ifeelfaint.
Mrs.Daldryhalfcollapsesonthearmofachair.
Dr.Givingsgoestoher.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!
DR.GIVINGS
There, there Mrs. Daldry. Why don’t you come see me in the operating
theater.Theelectricityisbackon.
MRS.DALDRY
PerhapsI’mintrudingonyourdomesticlife.
DR.GIVINGS
Notatall.
MRS.GIVINGS
Notatall.
DR.GIVINGS
Thisway.Mrs.Givings,whydon’tyougotothenursery.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,dear.
Dr.GivingsandMrs.Daldrygointotheoperatingtheater.
Mrs.Givingslistensatthedoor.
DR.GIVINGS
Noneedtoundressalltheway,asyou’renotfeelingwell,justliedown
gently.Areyoustillfeelingfaint?
MRS.DALDRY
Alittle.
Shetakesherglovesoff.
DR.GIVINGS
Areyouoftensubjecttofaintness?
MRS.DALDRY
Nomorethanonceaweek,Idaresay.
DR.GIVINGS
Isee.We’llsetyoutorights,noworries.
Areyouready?
Shenods.
Heputsthevibratordownherbloomers.
Mrs.Givingslistensatthedoor.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh.Oh.No.
Mrs.Givingscocksherhead.
DR.GIVINGS
Tellmewhatyou’refeeling.
MRS.DALDRY
Idon’t—want—amachine.
DR.GIVINGS
Anyfluid,Mrs.Daldry?
MRS.DALDRY
No.Nothing.
DR.GIVINGS
I will try using a finger as well as the instrument to replicate Annie’s
experiment. Vulvular massage has been discounted in many circles but
occasionallywiththeproperdiagnosisandmethoditisjustthething.
Heputshishandunderthesheets.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,oh,oh!
DR.GIVINGS
There,there,Mrs.Daldry,letitallout.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,Annie!
DR.GIVINGS
Excuseme?
MRS.DALDRY
Pleaseleaveme.Ifeelmuchrelieved.
DR.GIVINGS
Iwillwashupandletyougetsorted.Takeyourtime.
Mrs.Givingsknocksatthedooroftheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
(ToMrs.Daldry)Excuseme.
HeopensthedoorandfindsMrs.Givingsthere.
DR.GIVINGS
(ToMrs.Givings)Whatisit?Thebaby?
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatisthatsound?Whatwereyoudoing?
DR.GIVINGS
Electricaltherapy,mydear.Verysuccessfulsession.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iwishtoseeit.
DR.GIVINGS
You would not understand. Leave me my dry boring science and I will
giveyoutherestoftheworld.Yousaidyourselfthatmyelectricitybored
you.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iinsistonseeingyourmachinenow.
DR.GIVINGS
Areyougoingtoforcemetolockmylaboratory?
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamyourwife.
DR.GIVINGS
Andhappilyyouaremybloomingyoungwifewithoutahintofneurosis
andinnoneedofmyinventionsorexperiments.
MRS.GIVINGS
Experimentonme!
DR.GIVINGS
Icanassureyouthatyouwouldnotlikeit.
MRS.GIVINGS
Experimentonme!
DR.GIVINGS
Itwouldbeunseemlyforamanofsciencetodoexperimentsonhiswife.
I’dlosemycredibility.Nowwouldyouhavethegoodgracetobequiet
whileMrs.Daldryisinthenextroom—
Mrs.Daldryentersthelivingroom,lookingtheverypictureofhealth.
MRS.DALDRY
Donotletmeforgetmyhatagain.
MRS.GIVINGS
(Quickly)Itisrighthere.
MRS.DALDRY
Ah.ThankyouDr.Givings.
Mrs.GivingshandsMrs.Daldryherhat.
DR.GIVINGS
Notatall.Good-bye.
MRS.DALDRY
Good-bye.
MRS.GIVINGS
Good-bye.
Mrs.Daldryexits.
DR.GIVINGS
I’m going to the club. Mr. Edison’s man is electrocuting dogs this
evening.Heisouttoprovethedeadlinessofthealternatingcurrentover
andabovedirectcurrent.Ithinkit’shogwash.Inalternatingcurrent,the
currentflipsbackandforth,backand—youseehowmuchthisboresyou.
Helocksthedooroftheoperatingtheaterandputsthekeyinhispocket.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yesitisveryboringgood-byeanddon’tkissmegood-byeplease.
DR.GIVINGS
Verywell.
Heleaves.
Shestorms.
Shegoestowardtheoperatingtheater.
Shejigglesthedoor.
Thelivingroomdoorbellrings.
Sheanswersthedoor.
MRS.DALDRY
I’veforgottenmygloves,I’msosorry,whatmustyouthinkofme.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,I’msohappytoseeyou!MyhusbandhasjustgonetotheclubandI
amboredoutofmymind.
MRS.DALDRY
Ithinkmyglovesareintheotherroom.
MRS.GIVINGS
Itislocked.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,Icancomebacktomorrowformygloves.
MRS.GIVINGS
No,pleasestay.Ihavedevelopedthemostinsatiablecuriosityaboutmy
husband’soperatingtheater.Perhapsyoucantellmehowitworks.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh—no—Idon’tknowhowitworks—
MRS.GIVINGS
Heplugsitin,heturnsiton,andthen?
MRS.DALDRY
Heapplieselectricalcurrenttomy—tomybody—toreleasethemagnetic
fluid. That is what he says. Because there is excess fluid in my womb,
causingmyhystericalsymptoms.
MRS.GIVINGS
Fluid?
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
Really,Imustgonow—
MRS.GIVINGS
Yousoundedlikethis:oh,oh,ah-ee!
MRS.DALDRY
Youwerelistening?
MRS.GIVINGS
Itwasloud.
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,dear.Iwillleaveyounow.
MRS.GIVINGS
Stayfortea.
Wheredoesmyhusbandplacetheelectricaldevice?
MRS.DALDRY
(Pointingvaguelytoherknees)Justhere.
MRS.GIVINGS
Hm.
Anddoesitgiveyouapleasurableorapainfulsensation?
MRS.DALDRY
Pleasure,andpainallatonce—electricalcurrentrunsthroughmyentire
body—I see light—patterns of light, under my eyelids—and a kind of
white-hotcoalonmyfeet—andIshudderviolently,asthoughstruckbya
terriblelightning—andthenadarknessdescends,andIwanttosleep.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ineverheardofanythingsostrange.
MRS.DALDRY
Let’stalkofotherthings.TheyelectrocutedanelephantatConeyIsland.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,I’veheard.
MRS.DALDRY
Itisgettingdark.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iwillturnthelampon.
MRS.DALDRY
Please,don’t.
Theysitinthedark.
MRS.DALDRY
Canyouimagineatimewhenallwillbeelectric,allwillbepluggedin,
whyitwillnotstopatlights,butthewaywecookoureggsandtheway
wegetourchickenstolaytheireggstoo.Mr.Edisoninventedarecording
device which he says will change everything,it will record the last
wishesofthedying.Canyouimagine?Amanmayknowthevoiceofhis
great-great-grandfather,mayknowhislastwishes.Andwhatwillbecome
of the human body? Electrical arms perhaps. Even the fireflies will
becomeelectric.
MRS.GIVINGS
Electricalfireflies.
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Electricalpianos.
MRS.DALDRY
Godforbid.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,tothinkofnevercarryingacandle!Nottowalkthroughahallwayat
night,holdingacandle,afraidoftrippinginthedark,startingafire—it
makesonemoresolemn,doyounotthink?Ortoblowoutacandle—how
beautiful! With one’s own breath, to extinguish the light! Do you think
ourchildren’schildrenwillbelesssolemn?Aflickofthefinger—andall
is lit!A flick of the finger, and all is dark! On, off, on off! We could
change our minds a dozen times a second! On, off, on off! We shall be
likegods!
MRS.DALDRY
I’mafraidso.
MRS.GIVINGS
Haveyouahatpin?
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
ShehandsMrs.Givingsapinfromherhat.
Mrs.Givingsgoestopickthelockoftheoperatingtheater.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iwilljustretrieveyourgloves.
Mrs.Givingsenterstheoperatingtheater.
Mrs.Daldryisonherheels.
Mrs.Givingslooksaround.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isthisit?
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Howextraordinary.Itlookslikeafarmingtool.
Wheredoyouputit?
MRS.DALDRY
Here.
Mrs.Givingsputsthevibratortoherprivateparts,overherskirt.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isee.
Where’stheswitch?
MRS.DALDRY
I’venoidea.
Mrs.Givingsfindstheswitch.
Thevibratorturnson.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatasound!
MRS.DALDRY
Iwillholditinplaceforyou.
Shedoes,overMrs.Givings’sskirts.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isitheavy?
MRS.DALDRY
Tolerably.
MRS.GIVINGS
WellIdon’tseewhatallthefussisabout.
MRS.DALDRY
SometimesIclosemyeyes.
Mrs.Givingscloseshereyes.
Mrs.DaldrygentlyputsthevibratorunderMrs.Givings’sskirt.
Thebuzzofthevibrator,forlongerthaniscomfortable.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!Oh!
Mrs.Givingsclimaxes.
Andasshedoesso,sheweeps.
MRS.GIVINGS
Wellthatwasveryawful—itwasaverydreadfulstrangefeeling,
Iseewhyhehasbeenkeepingitfromme.
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Wouldyoulikeago?
MRS.DALDRY
Oh,noonlythedoctorcanadministerthetreatment.
MRS.GIVINGS
Idon’tseewhy.Itlooksquitesimple.Inthisdayandage,allonehasto
knowhowtodoispressabuttonorpullaswitch.I’llholditforyou.
MRS.DALDRY
Allright.Wait—(Shelistens)
Isthatnotyourhusband’scarriage?
MRS.GIVINGS
Ican’thearathing.
MRS.DALDRY
Ihearhorse’shooves.
MRS.GIVINGS
You’reimaginingthings.Hewon’tbehomefromtheclubuntilatleast
seveno’clock.
MRS.DALDRY
Areyousure?
MRS.GIVINGS
Ohyes,whenhestartstalkingaboutelectricityhecannotstop.
MRS.DALDRY
Wellthen.
MRS.GIVINGS
Areyouready?
MRS.DALDRY
Ithinkso.
MRS.GIVINGS
Herewego!
Mrs.GivingsputsthevibratortoMrs.Daldry’sprivateparts.
Theylookheavenward.
Thesteadyhumofthevibrator.Transcendentmusic.
Acurtainfalls.
ActII
FirstScene
Twoweeksorsolater.
Dr.GivingsandLeo,
intheoperatingtheater.
LEO
Andthensheleft,veryabruptly,forItaly.
DR.GIVINGS
Isee.
LEO
Itwasaterribleshock.
IhadbeenstudyinginFlorencefortheyear.Theyareexactingmasters
overthere—thelinemustbejustso—theproportionjustso—thereisno
freedom—you sharpen your pencil with a knife, as Leonardo sharpened
hispencil.Itwasheaven.Nottohavefreedom.Nofreedominart,butin
life,life!Thepeachestheretastedlikepeaches,therainlikerain.Imet
thewomaninquestioninFlorence.Averybeautifulwoman.(Iknow.No
oneeversaid:IfellinlovewithawomaninItaly—averyuglywoman.)
But shewas beautiful. Perhaps not classically, but never mind . . . We
met at the Uffizi. She was looking at the sculptures with no
embarrassment,noembarrassmentatall.Ipaintedherfaceallsummer.
When she kissed she kissed with her whole body, not like American
womenwhokissonlywiththeirlips.
DR.GIVINGS
Mm.
LEO
Youareperhapsshocked,Doctor,thatIkissedherbeforemarriage.Iam
adevoteeofnatureandIwishedtoavoidthefateofmyboyhoodfriend.
Onhisweddingnighthewasrepulsedbyhiswife’sbody.Hesaid,when
shedisrobedforthefirsttime,hesawsomethingmonstrous.What,what?
Iasked.Shehadbodyhair,hesaid,downthere!Likeabeast!Yousee,he
hadseenthefemaleformonlyinmarblestatues—nobodyhair!Youare
ascientist,thatmustamuseyou.
DR.GIVINGS
What men do not observe because their intellect prevents them from
seeingwouldfillmanybooks.
LEO
Indeed.
DR.GIVINGS
Whathappenedtoyourfriend?
LEO
Heisnowaveryfamousartcritic.
Hismarriagewentunconsummatedforthreeyearsandwasthenanulled.
Ididnotwishsuchafateformyself,andso,whilelipswerewillingand
freeandsoft,Ikissedthem.Ohyes,Ikissedthem.
ShedidnotcomefromagoodfamilyandherEnglishwasnotverygood
butIdidnotcare.Hersoulleptoutofhereyes.WhenIpaintedherIfeltI
could paint souls. Her soul hovered, just here, and I could see it.(He
gesturestoaplaceabouttwoinchesfromtheeyes.) SowhenIpaintedI
paintedtwoinchesawayfromtheeyes,nottheeyesthemselves—itwasa
revelation!—Idigress.
Mrs.Givingsenterstheotherroomandarrangesteathings.
LEO
ShejourneyedwithmetoEnglandtomeetmyparents,toannouncethe
engagement.Andthen,thefollowingmorning,shefled.BacktoItaly!No
word,noletter!Noanswertomyinquiries!Nothing!Andmywholebody
revoltedagainstme.Headaches,eyesight,weakness,nausea...
DR.GIVINGS
Andthisweaknesshaspersisted,for,what—?
LEO
Ninemonths.
DR.GIVINGS
Inyourextremities?
LEO
Yes. But the weakness in my eyes is perhaps the worst, because of my
inabilitytopaint.
DR.GIVINGS
Soyouhaven’tpaintedforninemonths?
LEO
Youcan’tpaintinthedark.
DR.GIVINGS
Itisveryrare,acaseofhysteriainaman,butofcoursewedoseeit.
LEO
Isittreatable?
DR.GIVINGS
Ibelieveitis.I’dlikeyoutoundresstoyourunderthingsandliedownon
thetable.Annie,myassistant,willbeinshortly.
Elizabethentersthelivingroomwiththebaby.
LEO
Ididnotknowtherewouldbealadyinattendance.
DR.GIVINGS
Sheisthesouloftactandreserve.
Leoundresses.
Meanwhile,inthelivingroom:
MRS.GIVINGS
(ToElizabeth)Wassheagoodeater?
ELIZABETH
Anangel.
MRS.GIVINGS
Thankyou,Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH
Ithinkthatbabiesareangelswhentheydrinkonlymilk,thatfirstyear.
They could fly right back to where they came from, to the milk in the
clouds.Whentheygetteethitisthebeginningoftheend,theybecome
animalsandthere’snogoingback.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes.
ELIZABETH
Butthisone’sstillanangel,noteeth.
Elizabethtouchesthebaby’scheek.
Thebabysmiles.
Mrs.Givingsisjealous.
MRS.GIVINGS
Well.
Thatwillbeallnow,Elizabeth.
ELIZABETH
I’lljustgetmythings.
Elizabethexitstothenursery.
LeoisnowundressedandDr.Givingsenterstheoperatingtheater.
AnniedrapesasheetoverLeo.
Mrs.Givingsalonewiththebaby,inthelivingroom.
MRS.GIVINGS
Nosmile?
YouweresmilingforElizabeth.
(Singingquietlytothebaby)
Youraisetheblindsinthemorning
AndIliketoclosethematnight
Togetherwesleepnearthebirdhouse
Andforgettheelectricallight.
Intheoperatingtheater:
DR.GIVINGS
This,Leo,iswhatIcalltheChattanoogavibrator.Myowninvention.
Itslipsintotheanalcavity.
LEO
Indeed.
DR.GIVINGS
Just face that direction, and curl up a bit, hugging your knees into your
chest.
Annie will just operate the foot pedal which controls the speed. It
functions—muchlikeasewingmachine.
LEO
Ah.
Dr.Givingsplugsthevibratorin.
DR.GIVINGS
Wearegoingtostimulatetheprostategland.Areyouready?
LEO
Ithinkso.
HeputsthevibratordownLeo’sunderthings.
Annieassists.
Leolookstroubled.
Leolooksshocked.
Leohasananalparoxysm.
LEO
Oh.
Oh!
Oh.
Mrs.Givingsgoestothedoor—aman’svoice?
DR.GIVINGS
Excellent!Ithinkwecanstopnowfortheday.
Howareyoufeeling?
Wouldyoulikeacupoftea?
LEO
Iwouldloveacupoftea.
Dr.Givingsentersthelivingroom.
MRS.GIVINGS
Hello,darling.Howiswork?
DR.GIVINGS
Anewpatient.Aninterestingcase.Veryrare.
MRS.GIVINGS
Aman?
DR.GIVINGS
Howdidyouknow?
MRS.GIVINGS
Iheardaman’svoice.
DR.GIVINGS
Ididnotknowthedoorwasquitesoporous.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butwhywouldamancometoseeyou?
DR.GIVINGS
Hysteriaisveryrareinaman,butthenagain,heisanartist.
Perhaps you should take the baby for a walk, so that you don’t chance
runningintohim.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ibelievethebabyisstillhungry—I’lljustgoandfindElizabeth.
DR.GIVINGS
Yes.
Sheexitswiththebaby.Dr.Givingspourstea.
MeanwhileLeohasgottendressedwithAnnie’sassistance.
LEO
Thankyou.
(Lookingatthevibrator)Howodd.
Dr.GivingsentersandhandsLeotea.
LEO
Lovely.
DR.GIVINGS
I’llseeyoutomorrow.Ibelievedailysessionswillbebestatthisearly
stage.
Feelfreetousethegrounds.
LEO
Excellent.Thankyou,Doctor.
Leohesitates,befuddled.
DR.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.Seeyoutomorrowthen.
LEO
Yes,yes,ofcourse.
LeoentersthelivingroomattheexactmomentthatMrs.Givingsenters
withoutthebaby.
MRS.GIVINGS
Hello.
LEO
Hello.
MRS.GIVINGS
Mrs.Givings.
LEO
Youarethedoctor’swife?
MRS.GIVINGS
I am. He seldom has men here. What a rare treat to make your
acquaintance!
She looks at him, puzzled, remembering her own experience with the
vibratorandwonderinghowonearthitisusedonmen.
LEO
LeonardIrving.
MRS.GIVINGS
Pleasedtomeetyou,Mr.Irving.
LEO
Andyou.
Hekissesherhand.
MRS.GIVINGS
Sooldfashioned.
LEO
I’mafraideveryonegoesaroundthesedayssaying:Iamamodernman,I
am a modern woman, it’s the modern age, after all. But I detest
modernity.
MRS.GIVINGS
Doyou!Howcontrary.Areyouaverycontraryperson?
LEO
Somemightsayso.
MRS.GIVINGS
Thecutofyourcoatisveryoldfashioned.
LEO
It’s my father’s old coat. I can’t be bothered with the cut of a coat. I
throwonwhatevermyfatherleavesforrags.
Leolooksatthelampandsquints.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isthelamptoomuchforyoureyes?
LEO
The light has troubled me greatly for the past nine months, but I feel
betterpresently.
Sheshutsthelampoff.
MRS.GIVINGS
Justincase.
LEO
WhenEdison’slightcameout,theywereallsaying,myGod!—lightlike
the sunset of an Italian autumn . . . no smoke, no odor, a light without
flame, without danger!* But to me, Mrs. Givings, a light without flame
isn’tdivine—alightwithoutflame—islike—
MRS.GIVINGS
What?
LEO
Icannotsay.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whynot?
LEO
Ihardlyknowyou.Iwouldoffendyourfemininesensibilities.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,noneedtobeshyaroundme,Ijustblurtanythingout.
LEO
Well,thenlightwithoutflameislikehavingrelationswithaprostitute.
No flame of love or desire, only the outer trappings of— the act.And
without love—without the mental quickening—the eyes—the blood—
without the heart—or intellect—bodies are meat. Meat and bone and
leversandtechnicalities.
MRS.GIVINGS
Wellperhapsyouwereright.Perhapsyououghtnottohavesaid.
LEO
NotthatI’veeverknownanyprostitutes—intimately—
MRS.GIVINGS
(Overlappingwithintimacy)Iwasn’timplying—
LEO
It’sonlyametaphor—
MRS.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.
Itisawkward.
Theysitthere,inthegatheringdarkness.
LEO
Ilovethistimeofafternoon,whentheworldisbecomingdark,andyou
canseeoutsideyourwindow—lightsintheneighboringwindowscoming
on.Oneyellow—onealmostwhite—littlesquaresoflight,otherpeople’s
lives—shelteredagainstthenight,sohopeful.Ridiculous,isn’tit,tohave
somuchhope,tothinkalittlesquareoflightcouldblotoutthedarkness
—andyet—anothercomeson—andsee—
Hebringshertothewindowandshowsher.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes—one—thentwo—
LEO
Look—there—anotherwindowlit—golden—therestofthehousedark—
an incomplete painting. I love incomplete paintings—why do painters
alwaysinsist upon finishing paintings? It’s unaccountable—life is not
likethat!
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!
LEO
AndtheonesMichelangeloneverfinished—doyouknowthem?—ghosts
oflineshoveringinthebackground.HaveyoueverseenVirginandChild
withtheAngels?
MRS.GIVINGS
IhaveneverbeentoItaly.
LEO
Oh you must go, and upon arrival, you must go directly to see that
painting—theincompletelinesofGod—theycannotbefilledinbecause
theywouldbetoobeautiful,theywouldshockthesenses,andsotheyare
almostthere—womenorangels—exchangingconfidences—cominginto
being. A woman who is two-thirds done is nearer to God! A young
woman on the verge of knowing herself is the most attractive thing on
thisearthtoamanforthisveryreason.
MRS.GIVINGS
Doyouthinkso?
LEO
Oh,yes.
Theysitforamomentinthedark.
Thedoorbellrings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Excuseme.
Mrs.Givingsjumps
andanswersthedoor.
ItisMrs.Daldry.
MRS.GIVINGS
Mrs.Daldry!
MRS.DALDRY
Hello.AmIearly?IthinkthatIamearly.
MRS.GIVINGS
IhavejustmadetheacquaintanceofMr.Irving.
MRS.DALDRY
Pleasedtomeetyou.
Butyouareinthedark.
Mrs.Givingsswitchesonthelamp.
LeoisrivetedbyMrs.Daldry’sfragilebeautyinthelight.
LEO
Imustgo.Athousandpaintings.Thatistosay—athousandapologies,as
it were, for my rudeness at leaving so suddenly, I now have a thousand
paintings to make. A bolt from the blue! I must order a new canvas.
Several.Immediately.Good-bye.
Herunsoutthedoor.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whataninterestingyoungman.
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Apainter.
MRS.DALDRY
Indeed!
Mrs.Givingsmakessuretheyarealone.
MRS.GIVINGS
Mrs. Daldry, I have been wanting to speak to you ever since our
adventure with the hat pin. You told me that you saw light when my
husbandtreatsyou,andthenyougotdrowsyandwantedtosleep.Well,I
hadsuchdifferentsensationsIwonderifitcanbethesameinstrumentat
all.Iwasnottheleastbitdrowsyafterwards.Infact,Iwasovercomeby
thedesiretowalk,orrun,orclimbatree!Howcouldonedevicecause
suchoppositereactions.PerhapsitisbecauseIamwellandyouareill.
MRS.DALDRY
Idonotknow.Ihavebeensoworriedthatyourhusbandmightfindout
andgetupsetwithusandsuspendthetreatment.
MRS.GIVINGS
I do not care. I am determined to use the device again and unlock the
mystery as to why it makes you drowsy and makes me very excitable.
Why,Ifeellikeascientist!
Dr.Givingsenters.
DR.GIVINGS
Ah,Mrs.Daldry,Mrs.Givings.Wearereadyforyouinthenextroom.
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
Dr.GivingsshootsalookatMrs.Givingsforspeakingwithhispatient.
HeguidesMrs.Daldrytotheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Rightthisway.
Lookingwell,lookingwell.Yourappetitehasimproved,no?
MRS.DALDRY
Idaresayithas.
DR.GIVINGS
Wonderful!
Theygointotheoperatingtheater.
Mrs.Givingswatchesthemgo.
Thedoorbellrings.
Mrs.Givingsanswersit.
LEO
I’msorry,Iforgotmyscarf.
Ileftinsuchastate.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamverygladyouhavereturned,Mr.Irving.IamallbymyselfasMrs.
DaldryhasgoneintogetelectricaltherapyandI,thewife,amlefttomy
owndevices.Asitwere.
LEO
I’mnotsurewhatyoumean,Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Havesomemoretea.
Shepours.
LEO
Idon’twanttoimpose.
MRS.GIVINGS
You’llhavetowaitforthemtofinishbeforeyoucanretrieveyourscarf.
Sit.
Sugar?
LEO
Nothankyou.Sugarisforwomenandsmallfatboys.
Lovely.
Intheoperatingtheater:
Dr.GivingsplugsinthevibratorwhileMrs.Daldrygetsundressed.
Thesoundofthevibrator.LeoandMrs.Givingstalkoverit.
MRS.GIVINGS
It’sfineweatherwe’rehavingforNovember.
LEO
Yes.Thoughdark.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,itisdark.
Mrs.Daldrymoansfromtheotherroom.
Leospeaksmoreloudly.
LEO
Darksoearly.Darkandthetreessotallandnaked.IthinkNovemberis
thetallestmonthbecausewhenthetreeshavelosttheirleavestheylook
somuchtaller.Tallina—lonelyway.
Mrs.Daldrymoans.
LEO
Yes—Novemberisatallmonth—Octoberisaroundmonth—Aprilisa—
skinnymonth—
MRS.GIVINGS
Ohdostoptalkingoftheseasons!
LEO
Excuseme?
MRS.GIVINGS
We talk, we talk, and we surround ourselves with plants, with teapots,
withlittlestatuettestogiveourselvesafeelingofhome,ofpermanency,
as if with enough heavy objects, perhaps the world won’t shatter into a
million pieces, perhaps the house will not fly away, but I experienced
somethingtheotherday,Mr.Irving,somethingtoshatterastatuette,to
shatteranelephant.Hereismyriddle:whatisathingthatcanputaman
todeathandalsobringhimbacktolifeagain.Willyouanswer?
LEO
Thatiseasy.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isit?
LEO
Love.
MRS.GIVINGS
No.Electricity.
Meanwhile,Mrs.Daldryhasaloudparoxysminthenextroom.
DR.GIVINGS
Verygood,Mrs.Daldry.
LeoandMrs.Givingslookateachother.
Elizabethenterswithhercoat.
ELIZABETH
Sheateagainandnowshe’ssleeping.Ineverhadagirl.Whensheeats,
sheeatssoquietly,sopolitely,notlikemyboys,whowereravenous.
MRS.GIVINGS
WhythankyouElizabeth.
LEO
Youarethebaby’snurse?
ELIZABETH
(ToLeo)Oh,excuseme,Ididnotseeyou—Iwouldnothavespokenof—
Yes,Iamthebaby’snurse.
LEO
Ishouldliketopaintyounursingthebaby.
ELIZABETH
Thatwouldnotbe—
LEO
AMadonnaforourtimes.AMadonnaaftertheCivilWar—
ELIZABETH
Sir.
LEO
Ohdear,haveIdispleasedyou?
MRS.GIVINGS
You’ll have to excuse us, Elizabeth, the men in my household are very
unorthodox, artists and scientists don’t care at all about convention, do
they?
LEO
Since your husband has been treating me, I feel full of the most wild
creative energies. I could paint all night, and everyone seems full of
beauty.You,Elizabeth,arebeautifulandyououghttobeinapainting.
ELIZABETH
I’veneverhadamanintheroomwhenI’venursedababy.Myhusband
ofcoursehasseenmenursemyownbutthatisdifferent.
LEO
I would pay you handsomely.And during your regular work hours, just
triplethesalary,andpretendIamnottherewhileyouwork.
ELIZABETH
Triplethesalary?
LEO
Yes.Icannotimagineshepaysyouverymuchforyourservices.
MRS.GIVINGS
Mr.Irving,really—
LEO
Iwillpayyoutendollarsanhourforyourservices.
ElizabethandMrs.Givingslookateachother,shocked.(Tendollarswas
theequivalentofonehundredandseventy-fivedollarsorso.)
ELIZABETH
I will sit for you. But do not tell my husband and please disguise my
features. And so that nothing would seem improper, I would like Mrs.
Givingstositintheroomwithus.
LEO
Youmusthaveabeautifuldresstowear,orarobe.Haveyouadressing
gownwecouldborrow?
MRS.GIVINGS
I—
LEO
Itmustbesomethingthatwillallowthebreastout,sothatshemaygive
suck.
Mrs.Givingsisshocked.
Mrs.DaldryandDr.Givingsenter.
DR.GIVINGS
Hello,Leo.Idonotlikethatmypatientsshouldbescheduledsothatthey
meetup—I’msosorry—
LEO
Ileftmyscarf.
DR.GIVINGS
Ah,gorightaheadandgetit,wearefinished.
MRS.DALDRY
(ToLeo)Hello.
LEO
Hello.
Thedoorbellrings.ItisMr.Daldry.
DR.GIVINGS
Hello,Mr.Daldry.
MR.DALDRY
Doctor.
LEO
Iwilljustfetchmyscarf.
IntheotherroomLeolooksatthevibratingmachine.Hewondershowit
mightbeusedonawoman.
MR.DALDRY
Youarelookingwell,Mrs.Daldry.Youlookedwellthismorningbutyou
haveevenmorecolorinyourcheeksnow.
DR.GIVINGS
Isn’ttheimprovementamazing?
MR.DALDRY
Indeed!Ithinkshemightbereadytostoptreatments.
MRS.DALDRY
Ithinkthatwouldbepremature.Iamnotcuredyet.
MR.DALDRY
Butmuchimproved.
DR.GIVINGS
Yes.
MR.DALDRY
Youareamagician,Doctor.
Leoentersthelivingroom.
LEO
I’dforgottenmyscarf.
DR.GIVINGS
LeoIrving.
MR.DALDRY
DickDaldry.
LEO
Pleasedtomeetyou.
MR.DALDRY
Iamgladyoufoundyourscarf.It’ssnowing.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!Isit?
MRS.DALDRY
InNovember?
MR.DALDRY
Indeed.Ibroughtyourmackintosh,mydear.
MRS.DALDRY
Thankyou.
MR.DALDRY
Thankyou,Doctor.
DR.GIVINGS
Notatall.
LEO
Iwillfollowyouout,wecanallwalktogether.
Mrs.Daldry,Mr.Daldry,ElizabethandLeoleave.
DR.GIVINGS
Good-bye.
MRS.DALDRY
Good-bye.
MR.DALDRY
Good-bye.
ELIZABETH
Good-bye.
LEO
Good-bye.
MRS.GIVINGS
Good-bye!
Dr.Givingsshutsthedoor.
Mrs.Givingslooksdisquieted.
DR.GIVINGS
Whatisit?
MRS.GIVINGS
IthinkweoughttoletElizabethgo.
DR.GIVINGS
Whateverfor?
Letitiaisbloomingandrosyandpositivelyfat.
MRS.GIVINGS
IthinkElizabethisbecomingattachedtothebaby.
DR.GIVINGS
Youwanthertogivelovetothebabybutnottoomuchlove.
MRS.GIVINGS
Precisely.
DR.GIVINGS
Ishallneverunderstandwomen.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamstillleakingbitsofgraymilk.Itisasthoughmybodyiscrying.
DR.GIVINGS
Oh,darling.You’llbebacktonormalinnotime.Andit’sgoodforyouto
giveupnursing,wecanhaveanotherchildmorequickly.
MRS.GIVINGS
Anotherchild!Icanharldly—!
Shewon’tevenlookatme!
DR.GIVINGS
Who?
MRS.GIVINGS
Thebaby!
Shewon’tsmileatme!
Iamnotagoodmother.Idonothing!Ipourthetea!
Iwishyoutouseyourmachineonme.
DR.GIVINGS
Darling,it’sforwomenwhoareill.Itwouldprobablyhavenoeffecton
youatall,asyou’reperfectlyhealthy.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamnothealthy.Ifeelrestless,andexcitable,andIcryatthesmallest
thing.Youhelpcountlessotherwomenbutme,yourwife,youpatonthe
head.
DR.GIVINGS
Whatisthematter?
MRS.GIVINGS
Sheknowswheretogetcomfortandlove,anditisnotfromme.
DR.GIVINGS
Youarehermother!
MRS.GIVINGS
Innameonly.
Milkiscomfort,milkislove.
Howwillshelearntoloveme?
DR.GIVINGS
Youdoseemtobesuffering,perhapsfromtheexcessfluidofmilk.Ican
perhapstrythetreatmentonyoualthoughitmakesmenervous.Butdon’t
go round telling your friends. It must not get out in the scientific
communitythatIamtreatingmyownwife.
MRS.GIVINGS
Now?
DR.GIVINGS
Ihaven’tanyotherpatientsforanhour.
MRS.GIVINGS
Nowthatyou’vegivenwayIfeelquitefrightened.
DR.GIVINGS
There’snothingtobefrightenedof,darling,comealong,I’llshowyou.
Heleadshertotheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Firstyouundresstoyourunderthings.Ishallturnaround.
MRS.GIVINGS
Doallthewomenundresstotheirunderthings?
DR.GIVINGS
It’smedicine,mylove.
Shestartstoundressandrealizestherearetoomanybuttonsintheback.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ican’tdothisbitwithoutyourhelp.
DR.GIVINGS
Oh—sorry.
Hehelpsherwiththebuttonsandthenturnsaroundagain,agentleman.
DR.GIVINGS
Isthatallright?
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes.
Shefinishesundressingherself.
Heplugsinthevibrator.
DR.GIVINGS
Don’tbealarmed.
Justliedownandrelax.
Shedoes.
DR.GIVINGS
Areyouquitecomfortable?
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes.
Heholdsthevibratortoherprivateparts,hisfaceimpassive.
DR.GIVINGS
Electricityisnottobefeared—itisharnessedfromnature.Iremember,
whenIwasachild,Iwasstrokingthecat’sbackonedayandwasstartled
toseesparksrisingupoutofherfur.Myfathersaid,thisisnothingbut
electricity, the same thing you see on the trees in a storm. My mother
seemedalarmed.Stopstrokingthecat.Youmightstartafire.Ikepton
stroking the cat. I thought: is nature a cat? If so, who strokes its back?
God?*
MRS.GIVINGS
(Withsomedifficultyspeaking)Andwhatdidyoudetermine?
DR.GIVINGS
Naturallaw.
Isthattoomuchpressure?
MRS.GIVINGS
No.
Oh,
Oh,
Oh—
Kissme,darling,kissme.
DR.GIVINGS
Afterwards.
MRS.GIVINGS
No,kissmenow.
Kissmeandholdtheinstrumentthere,justthere,atthesametime.
DR.GIVINGS
Darling,no—thatwouldbe—
MRS.GIVINGS
Idon’tcare,doit,doit,Ihavebeenlongingtokisssomeone.Likethis.
She kisses him passionately and puts the vibrator back on her private
parts.
DR.GIVINGS
ThisiswhatIfeared.Inasickwomanthedevicerestoresbalance,butin
a healthy woman it makes you excitable and perhaps even causes some
perversekindofonanism.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatisonanism?
DR.GIVINGS
Iamrelievedthatyoudonotknow.I’mafraidtheexperimentwasnota
successdear.
MRS.GIVINGS
AndIsayitwasasuccess!Kissme,kissmenow!
Hekissesherpolitely.
MRS.GIVINGS
Thisisinadequate!Youareinadequate!Oh,God!
Shehasnotyethadaparoxysm.Hetakesthevibratorawayfromher.
DR.GIVINGS
Imadeaterriblemistakebringingyouintotheoperatingtheater.Menof
scienceshouldnevermixtheirfamilylivesandtheirmedicallives.Itwas
mymistake,mydarling,andwewillbothforgetaboutit.
Heunplugsthevibrator.
DR.GIVINGS
NowIwantyoutogoupstairsandtakeanap.
MRS.GIVINGS
No!
DR.GIVINGS
Catherine.
ShedressesandDr.Givingshelpsherwiththeinnumerablebuttons.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ishalltakeawalk.Willyouhelpmeonwiththis—forGod’ssakewhy
doesithavesomanybuttons?
DR.GIVINGS
Therearequitealotofbuttons.
MRS.GIVINGS
Icouldwalkwalkwalkallnightinthesnow.
DR.GIVINGS
Isitsnowingout?
MRS.GIVINGS
Youdidn’tnoticethefirstsnow?MyGod.WhenIfirstmetyouandwas
nothing more than a girl I wrote my name in the snow outside your
window—I would have done anything for you to notice me—you were
older, and seemed so wise, so calm—and so marvelously indifferent to
me.Idon’tknowifyoueversaw—itmelted—nomatter,ifyousawmy
nameinthesnowallyou’dseewasanaturalsubstance—
DR.GIVINGS
Catherine.
MRS.GIVINGS
I’mafraidyou’vedoneupthebuttonswrong.
DR.GIVINGS
Sorry.
Hestartsdoingthebuttonsoveragain.
MRS.GIVINGS
It was an unnecessary gesture, childish, a name in the snow, but a gift
mustbeunnecessary—forittobegood—butyouwantittobeuseful,you
wouldn’tsay—well,it’suseless—butyoumadeitformealone.Andsoit
willnevermelt.Itwillexistforalltime.Uuugh—howridiculousIsound.
Myhatplease.
Sheisdressed.
DR.GIVINGS
ImadeaverybadmistaketodayandIamsorry.
Hetriestotouchher.
MRS.GIVINGS
Good-bye!
Sheleavestheoperatingtheater.
Sheleavesthehousewithouthercoat,hatormittens.
DR.GIVINGS
Takeyourwrap!It’scold!
Didyoureallywriteyournameinthesnow?
Dr.Givings,alone.
Hewashesup,resigned.
Hesplasheshisfacewithwater.
Helooksatthewater,andbecomesentranced.Fascinated,inspired.
DR.GIVINGS
Annie!
Annieappears.
DR.GIVINGS
Canyoutakethisdown?Ihavesuddenlythoughtupanewinvention.
Shetakesnotes.
DR.GIVINGS
Avibratormadeofwater!Thehealingpowerofwater,marriedtoagreat
electrical force—could be—my goodness, revolutionary. The patient
would experience acalming effect from the water, even as she has a
releasefromthepressure,revitalizingthecirculation.Itcouldbeusedon
patientswhoarepronetoexcitability—likemywife—thatistosay—we
willneedtwentyfeetofcopperpipingrightaway,canyouorderitfrom
thehardwarestoreassoonaspossible?
ANNIE
Yes,sir.
Annieexits.
Dr.Givingstriestoworkoutwithhishandsintheairhowhisinvention
wouldwork.
Mrs.GivingsreentersthelivingroomwithLeo.
Theyarelaughingandtheirfacesareflushed.
MRS.GIVINGS
HowgladIamthatIfoundyou!
LEO
AndIyou.
Youmighthavecaughtaterriblefevermakingsnowangelswithoutyour
coat—youlookedlikeafallenangel.
MRS.GIVINGS
DidI?Oh,Iamcold,butthecoldfeelsmarvelous,Ifeelawake,myskin
istingling.
LEO
Imustpaintyoulikethis.
MRS.GIVINGS
Leo—Mr.Irving—Imustaskyou—Iknowitisnotproper—butIdonot
caretoday,Idonotcareatall—whenyoureceivethetreatmentfrommy
husband,wheredoesheputit?Theinstrument?
LEO
Idonotthinkyourhusbandwouldlikemetosay,hewouldonlyspeakof
itinLatinorinGreek.
MRS.GIVINGS
Well,IonlyknowEnglish.Canyoushowmeonmyperson?
LEO
Er—no.ImaybeanartistbutIamalsoagentleman.
MRS.GIVINGS
There is no such thing. Which is it, Mr. Irving? Do you dare to be an
artist,oragentleman?
Shemovestowardhim.
Hemovesaway.
LEO
Lookatthesnow,outthewindow.Doyounotthink,Mrs.Givings,that
snow is always kind? Because it has to fall slowly, to meet the ground
slowly, or the eyelash slowly—And things that meet each other slowly
arekind.
MRS.GIVINGS
Youarechangingthesubject.
LEO
IndeedIam.
MRS.GIVINGS
Meetmeslowly,likesnow.
Sheputsherhandonhischeek,slowly.
MRS.GIVINGS
Icannotbearit.
Dr.Givingsentersthelivingroom,yellingforAnnie:
DR.GIVINGS
Wait—Annie—we’llalsoneedtencoppervalves—
Heseeshiswife’shandonLeo’scheek.
DR.GIVINGS
HadagoodwalkItrust?
Mrs.GivingstakesherhandfromLeo’scheek.
LEO
I discovered your wife in the snow with no coat and insisted upon
walkingherhometowarmherupbeforeshecaughtafever.
DR.GIVINGS
Thenyoudidmeaverygreatservice,Mr.Irving.
LEO
Good-bye,Dr.Givings,Mrs.Givings.
DR.GIVINGS
Good-bye.
Dr.Givingsturnstohiswife.
DR.GIVINGS
Wasyourhandonhischeek?
MRS.GIVINGS
Itwas.
DR.GIVINGS
Isee.
MRS.GIVINGS
Anddoyoumindverymuch?
Apause,heconsiders.
DR.GIVINGS
It is odd—for some husbands such things end in a screaming match or
even in death, one hand on a cheek. It has come to mean an absolute
thing:theendofabook,thosedreadfulMrs.Bovarybooks—buthowcan
itbeabsolutewhentherearesomanyshadesanddegreesoflove?Lady
novelists like for it to be a tragedy—because it means that the affair
mattered,matteredterribly—butitdoesn’t,itneedn’t.
MRS.GIVINGS
ThewriterofMadameBovarywasnotawoman.
DR.GIVINGS
HewasFrench,whichismuchthesamething.
MRS.GIVINGS
You dare to make a joke about the French—at this moment? Most men
wouldbe—palewithrage!
DR.GIVINGS
Palewithrage,exactly,inasentimentalnovel.Mypointis:thisisnotthe
endofthebook.Youmadeamistake,thatisall.ThetreatmentIgaveyou
made you excitable. It is my fault. A hand on the cheek, these are
muscles,skin,facts.Itneedn’tmeanthatoneispreferredabsolutely,or
thatoneisn’tloved.Sowhythenjealousy?Mydarling,Idon’tmind.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh.Ihadhopedthatyouwouldmind.
Shestormsoutoftheroom.Dr.Givingsisleftalone.
DR.GIVINGS
Catherine?
Hefollowsafterher.
MRS.GIVINGS
Don’ttalktometonight,don’ttalktometomorrow!Iwilltakebreakfast
inmyownroom!
Adoorslamming.
Asongonthepiano.
SecondScene
Afewdayslater.LeoispaintingElizabeth,whoisnursingLetitia.
She is dressed vaguely as the Virgin Mary, in one of Mrs. Givings’s
gowns.
Mrs.GivingswatchesLeopaint.
Thepaintingdoesnotfaceus,wedonotseeit.
LEO
Itwillbearevolution!Iwillcallit:NursingMadonna!Howcantherebe
sofewMadonnasinwhichthebabyJesusactuallygivessuck.
MRS.GIVINGS
WearetothinkofHimfeedingus,Isuppose.Nottheotherwayround.
Mrs.Givingsgetsupandpaces.
Sheisjealous,ofnursingandofbeingpainted.
LeogoestoElizabeth.
LEO
(ToElizabeth)Elizabeth,couldyoujust—
Hearrangesthefabricsothatherbreastismoreexposed.
Mrs.Givingsexaminesthepainting.
MRS.GIVINGS
Hmm.
LEO
Don’tlookatit,it’snotdoneyet—
MRS.GIVINGS
Sorry.
LEO
Elizabeth,couldyoujust—
Heanglesherheadtowardthebaby.
LEO
There.Beautiful.Thereisnothingsopeacefulasnursingababy.
Thebabyandthemotherbecomeonebeing,dotheynot?
Mrs.Givingstapsherfoot.
LEO
Youseemnervous,Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Weshouldstop.Myhusbandwillbehomefromtheclubshortlyandhe
wouldn’tapproveofthis,notatall.
LEO
I don’t see why.Your husband is a man who understands science, why
thenhemustunderstandnature.
Leoresumespainting.
MRS.GIVINGS
(InlowtonestoLeo)Iamnotsupposedtotalktohispatients,muchless
arrangeforthemtoseethebarebreastsofthe—help—inmylivingroom.
LEO
Leavebehindthestrangleholdofconventionandloosenyourcorset,Mrs.
Givings,youwillbreathemuchbetter.
ELIZABETH
Sheisdoneeating.Shehasfallenasleep.
Hepaints.
Mrs.Givingspaces.
MRS.GIVINGS
Icanholdthebaby.
LEO
IneedhertherefortheangleofElizabeth’shands.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh.
Whatdayoftheweekisit,anyway?
ELIZABETH
Wednesday.
MRS.GIVINGS
That’s right, Wednesday . It is always Wednesday, isn’t it? Or it was
Wednesday only yesterday. It is almost never Friday. It is never, ever
Tuesday,butalwaysWednesday,Ifind.Smackinthemiddleoftheweek.
Withnothingtolookforwardtobutthecharwomancomingandcleaning
outtheashes.Areyoualmostdonewithherhands?
LEO
Handsaredifficult.Youwouldthinktheywouldbejustfivequicklines,
butno,theyhavepersonalitiesasintimateasfaces.Elizabeth’shands,for
instance—they are fine hands, with long fingers that remind me of
taperedcandles.Apersononehasloved—thememoryoftheirhands.Did
theyflutterorsitstill?Dry?Moist?Coolonahotforehead?What?That
is what I wish to express in my paintings. The memory—of the
movement—of very particular hands, even though they appear to be
unmovingoncanvas.
MRS.GIVINGS
Have you loved many women, Mr. Irving? Do you remember many—
hands?
LEO
Ihavelovedenoughwomentoknowhowtopaint.
IfIhadlovedfewer,Iwouldbeanillustrator;ifIhadlovedmore,
Iwouldbeapoet.
MRS.GIVINGS
Arepoetsrequiredtolovemanywomen?
LEO
Oh,yes.Loveanimateseveryline.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butwhatoftherestofusmeremortals.Howmanytimesmustwefallin
loveinordertolivethroughtheweek.
LEO
ThereisalsotheloveofGod,loveofcountry,loveofchildren.
MRS.GIVINGS
Indeed.
LEO
Imustlookatherhands.
Thefrontdooropens.Leostopspainting.
Dr.Givingsenters.
Theystartle.
Elizabethcoversherbreast.
Dr.Givingsisshockedatthesceneinhislivingroom.
Thenhepretendshehasn’tseenanything.
DR.GIVINGS
Youareearlyforyourappointment,Mr.Irving.
LEO
Yes.
DR.GIVINGS
Iwillwashupandseeyouintheoperatingtheater.
Goodafternoon,Elizabeth.Catherine.
Heexitstotheoperatingtheater.
ELIZABETH
Oh,God.
MRS.GIVINGS
It’sallright.Asyousee,heisamanofscience.Nothingupsetsorshocks
him.
LEO
You talk as if that’s a crime. What a capital husband you have.
Completelybeyondthedictatesofmodernsociety.Iloveyourhusband.
ELIZABETH
ShallItakethebabyintothenusery?
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,thatwillbeall,Elizabeth.
Iwillputthepaintthingsaway.
Gotoyourappointment,Mr.Irving.
LEO
Thankyou,Elizabeth.Youwerenothingshortofdivine.
Didyoumindterriblybeinglookedat?Beingseen?
ELIZABETH
Whomindsbeingseen?
LEO
Who?
ELIZABETH
Onlycriminals.Isuppose.
LEO
Indeed.
MRS.GIVINGS
Goodday,Mr.Irving.
LEO
Mrs.Givings.
Leoenterstheoperatingtheater.
DR.GIVINGS
Noneedtoundressalltheway.Wecanbequickaboutit.Justloweryour
trousers.
Meanwhile,Mrs.Givingstriestohidethepaintinginthelivingroom.
DR.GIVINGS
Itseemsthatyouandmywifearebecomingacquinated.
LEO
Abit.
DR.GIVINGS
Isee.She’sawonderfulwoman,isshenot?
LEO
Yes.
DR.GIVINGS
I’maluckyman.
Dr. Givings inserts the Chattanooga vibrator, a little more firmly than
usual.
DR.GIVINGS
Andyourhealth,itseemstobemuchimproved?
LEO
Yes,Iampaintingagain.Infact,Icannotstoppainting.
DR.GIVINGS
Howwonderful.Iamsogladforyou.
Leohasananalparoxysm.
LEO
Oh.
DR.GIVINGS
Idothinkyou’recurednow.
Wecanstopthetreatments.
LEO
Thankyou,Doctor.
Ibelieveyou’vesavedmylife.
Dr.Givingsputsawaythevibrator.
LEO
Iamsuddenlydrowsy.
DR.GIVINGS
Takeanap.
Goodday.
Dr.Givingsexitstohisprivatestudy.
Leodrowses.
Inthelivingroom:
Thedoorbellrings.
Mrs.Givingsanswersthedoor.
Mr.andMrs.Daldryenter.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ah,Mr.andMrs.Daldry!
MR.ANDMRS.DALDRY
Hello.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ihavenotvisitedwithyousinceitwasraining,Mr.Daldry.
MR.DALDRY
AndIhavenotseenyousinceyouwerewet.
Haveyoubeenwell?
Youlookwell.
Verywell.
MRS.GIVINGS
Thankyou.
MR.DALDRY
It’s good you’re done with that odious nursing business.A woman like
youshouldbe—enjoyingyourself—notshutupinanurseryallday.
MRS.DALDRY
(ToMr.Daldry)Willyoudomeafavor,mydear,andtakeawalkaround
thegroundsbeforemyappointment?
IwishtospeaktoMrs.GivingsaboutmyneedleworkbeforeDr.Givings
arrivesandIfearwe’llboreyou.
MR.DALDRY
I don’t have much to say on the subject of needlepoint. I’ll see you
shortly.Darling.Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
(As he moves to the door) Take a left turn by the fountain—there is a
wintergarden—Iplanteditmyself—
MR.DALDRY
Ididn’tknowanythinggrewinwinter—
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,yes—juniperandperiwinkleand—
MR.DALDRY
It’sallthesametome.Butifyouplantedit,Mrs.Givings,I’msureit’s
lovely.
Heexits.
MRS.DALDRY
Iwantedtospeakwithyou.
MRS.GIVINGS
Comeandsit.Youhavetakenupneedlework?
MRS.DALDRY
No.Ihateneedlework.Ihavebeenthinkingaboutwhatyousaid—about
havingtwoexperiencesofthesameevent.
Iwantverymuchto—Idonotknowhowto—butIwasthinking—ifwe
gointotheoperatingtheateragain,andifweplacetheinstrumentjustso
—andifyouheldit,andthenIheldit—butwedidakindof—
Mrs.Daldrygestures,oddly.
Elizabethenters.
ELIZABETH
Ilaidherdowntosleepinherpram.Iamsorryaboutthe—
MRS.GIVINGS
Nevermind,Elizabeth.
Youmaygonow.
Wait,Elizabeth,beforeyouleave—perhapsyoucansettleaquestion.
Mrs.DaldryandIhavehadtwoexperiencesoftheverysameevent.
Haveyoueverhadthissensation?
Either: you have shivers all over your body, and you feel like running,
andyourfeetgetveryhot,asthoughyouaredancingondevil’scoals—
MRS.DALDRY
Or you see unaccountable patterns of light, of electricity, under your
eyelids—andyourheartraces—andyourlegsfeelveryweak,asthough
youcannotwalk—
MRS.GIVINGS
Oryourfacegetssuddenlyhot,likeastrangesuddensunburn—
MRS.DALDRY
Orthereareredsplotchesuponesideofyourentirebody—astrangerash
—here—
Shepointstoherchest.
MRS.GIVINGS
And the feeling of burning, as though you’ll get no relief—and your
mouth is dry and you have to lick your lips—and you find your face
makingaveryuglyexpression,soyoucoveryourfacewithyourhands—
MRS.DALDRY
Andsometimesagreatoutpouringofliquid,andthesheetsarewet,butit
isnotanunpleasantsensation,onlyalittlefrightening?
ELIZABETH
Isthatariddle?
MRS.GIVINGS
Hasthateverhappenedtoyou?
ELIZABETH
Idonotknow—thesensationsaresocontradictory.Doesanythingunite
them?
MRS.GIVINGS
Manyofthemare—downbelow.
ELIZABETH
Oh—Isee.
Well,thethingsyoudescribe,someofthemseemtobesensationsthatan
invalidwouldhave,orsomeonewithahorriblefever—butothers—sound
like sensations that women might have when they are having relations
withtheirhusbands.
Apause.
ELIZABETH
I’msorry.Perhapsyouwerejoking.Perhaps—Ishouldn’thavesaid—
MRS.GIVINGS
Withtheirhusbands?
MRS.DALDRY
Howinteresting.
ELIZABETH
Thosesensationsyouaredescribing—theyarenotfromhavingrelations
withyourhusbands?
MRS.DALDRY
Goodheavens,no!
MRS.GIVINGS
No!GoodGod.
Theylaugh.
MRS.DALDRY
Idon’tknowwhatIshoulddoifIfeltthosethingsinthepresenceofmy
husband—I’dbesoembarrassedIwouldleavetheroomimmediately.As
it is—my husband is very considerate—when he comes to my room at
night,Iamasleep—hetellsmetokeepmyeyesshut,andIdo—soIfeel
only the darkness—and then the pain—I lie very still—I do not see his
face—myhusbandis—hasalwaysbeen—veryconsiderate.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.
MRS.DALDRY
But the instrument produces a very different kind of pain, does it not?
Verydifferentfromtheotherkindofpain?Withmyhusband—
Leoenterstheroom,abitdazed.
LEO
Ladies.
Theynodtohim.
Elizabethisembarrassedtoseehim.
ELIZABETH
Good-byethen.
LEO
(ToElizabeth)Iwillseeyouhome.
Ihaveagoodenoughlikeness,Icanfinishthepaintingatmystudio.
ELIZABETH
Icanwalkhomemyself.
LEO
No,Iwouldn’thearofit,Iwillwalkyouhome.
ELIZABETH
Nothankyou,Mr.Irving.
LEO
Please.Youdidmeagreatservicetoday,Icanatleastseethatyouget
home.
MRS.GIVINGS
(ToLeo)Oh,don’tgojustyet!
LEO
I’lljustseeElizabethhome.Oh,thepainting!
MRS.GIVINGS
I’llgetit.
Shehandshimthepainting.
Elizabethexits.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iwillseeyousoon?
LEO
I’mafraidmytreatmentsareatanend.I’mcured.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butthat’simpossible!
Dr. Givings enters from the operating theater and sees the good-bye
betweenLeoandCatherine.
LEO
I will see you again. Never fear. Good-bye, Catherine.(He takes her
hand,thenseesDr.Givings,anddropsit)Dr.Givings.Farewell.
Leorunsoutthedoor.
DR.GIVINGS
Mrs.Daldry.Ididnothearyouarrive.I’lljustletyougetready.
Mrs.Daldrymovestotheoperatingtheaterandundresseswiththehelp
ofAnnie.
Inthelivingroom:
DR.GIVINGS
Whatcanyoubethinkingof?Doyoumeantoembarrassme?
MRS.GIVINGS
Ithoughtitwasonlyasceneinabooktoyou.Orafact.
DR.GIVINGS
Doyouthinkit’sescapedmynoticethatyouhaven’tbreakfastedwithme
forfivedaysrunning?
MRS.GIVINGS
Breakfastisnotaveryromanticmeal.Idecidedtoskipit.
DR.GIVINGS
Iseverymealsupposedtoberomantic?
MRS.GIVINGS
IdonotenjoyyousilentlyreadingyourscientificjournalswhileIeatmy
toast.
DR.GIVINGS
Youprefergrandpassionsovertoast?MyGod,woman,wearemarried,a
manneedstobequietatleastonceaday.
MRS.GIVINGS
SoI’llbequietthen!HEREIAM!QUIET!QUIETASAMOUSE!
Mr.Daldryentersthelivingroom.
MR.DALDRY
Whatabeautifulwintergarden—sorry,amIinterrupting?
MRS.GIVINGS
No.Wewerejustdiscussingbreakfast.Youknow,inItalytheyhardlyeat
breakfast. Just a little bit of sweet cracker to dip in very strong coffee.
They eat something light to recover from the great passions they spent
during the night. Better to skip breakfast and move on to lunch, a great
biglunch,whenthesilenceisn’tquitesoloud,nothesilenceisnotquite
sodeafeningatlunch.
DR.GIVINGS
Howdoyouknowaboutbiscotti?
MRS.GIVINGS
Mr.Irvingtoldme.
DR.GIVINGS
Isee.
MR.DALDRY
Iknownothingaboutbiscotti.Ilikehamandeggsforbreakfast,sausage
too.Abigbreakfastisimportantforone’senergy,Mrs.Givings.Ihave
oncehearditsaidthatsmallwomenshouldeatlargeanimals.Youought
toeatabitofmeatforbreakfast,somebacon,orsomesausage.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh, I have plenty of energy, Mr. Daldry. I don’t need to borrow energy
fromacow.IhavesomuchenergyIdonotknowwhattodowithit,you
see.
MR.DALDRY
Mmmm.
Anniesticksherheadinthelivingroom:
ANNIE
We’rereadyforyou,Doctor.
DR.GIVINGS
Willyouexcuseme.
MRS.GIVINGSANDMR.DALDRY
(Anapproximationof)Oh,yes,certainly.
Dr.Givingsenterstheoperatingtheater.
Heisdistracted.
HeputsthevibratoronMrs.Daldry’storso.
MRS.DALDRY
Dr.Givings?
DR.GIVINGS
Yes?
MRS.DALDRY
Issomethingwrong?
DR.GIVINGS
Oh—terriblysorry.Iamdistracted.
Hemovesthevibrator.
Inthelivingroom,Mr.DaldryandMrs.Givingssitonthecouch.
Hemovestowardher.
MR.DALDRY
Mrs. Givings. I—don’t always know how to converse—in a drawing
room.I—
Hetriestokissher.
Sheslapshim.
MRS.GIVINGS
Mr.Daldry!
Whatcanyoubethinkingof?
MR.DALDRY
Yousaidaboutyourenergies.Ithought—
MRS.GIVINGS
Youinsultme.
MR.DALDRY
YouhavenoideahowIlongforawomanofenergy.Mywifeissotired,
sheissotired,allthetime.
MRS.GIVINGS
Howdareyouspeakillofyourwifeinmypresence.Go.Please.
MR.DALDRY
WillyouhavethegoodnesstotellMrs.Daldrytomeetmeathome,Iwill
sendacarriageforher.
Mrs.Givingsnods.
Mr.Daldryleaves.
Shegoestothedooroftheoperatingtheaterandhesitatesthere,sinking
down,upset.
DR.GIVINGS
Ithasbeentakinglongerwithyouoflate.PerhapsIneedtobuildanew
instrument with a few more beats per minute—perhaps the body gets
accustomedtosomanybeatsperminuteandthenrequiresmore—
Headjuststhevibrator.
DR.GIVINGS
Hmm.Nothing.Isitpastthreeminutes?
Helooksathispocketwatch.
MRS.DALDRY
PerhapsifAnnietries.
DR.GIVINGS
Yes, of course, Annie why don’t you have a go. I will attend to some
business.
Annietakesthevibratorandtries.
Dr.Givingsleavestheroom.
Healmosttripsonhiswifeatthedoor.
DR.GIVINGS
MyGod.Youareactingthepartofamadwomaninaplay!Listeningat
doors?
MRS.GIVINGS
Youwilloffertoherwhatyoudenytome!
DR.GIVINGS
Itismedicine,mylove!
MRS.GIVINGS
AndIsayitisn’t!
DR.GIVINGS
IthoughtIheardaslap!
MRS.GIVINGS
Itwasnothing,nothingatall.
Mrs.Daldryhasalouderthanusualparoxysm.
Theybothhearit.
MRS.GIVINGS
Well,yourworkisdonenow.
Youcangototheclub.
Andargueaboutthebenefitsofthealternatingcurrentoverandabovethe
directcurrent.
DR.GIVINGS
Andyou?
Doyoufavorthealternatingordirect?
MRS.GIVINGS
Direct.Fromheretohere.
Shegesturesfromhishearttoherheart.
DR.GIVINGS
Interesting. I would have guessed alternating. More complicated,
changingdirectiondozensoftimespersecond.Facesslappedbynobody.
Italianbreakfasts.Etcetera.I’llbeattheclub.
Heexits.
Mrs.Givingsmovestowardtheoperatingtheater.
Annie and Mrs. Daldry are sitting in a weirdly compromised postcoital
stateofreflection.
MRS.DALDRY
Annie,haveyoueverusedtheinstrumentuponyourself?
ANNIE
Oh, no. For I’ve never been ill. I’ve scarcely had a day’s illness in my
life. Maybe a bit of a stomach bug, but nothing mental. I’m sound as a
horse,Iwasraisedonafarm.
MRS.DALDRY
Icouldholdtheinstrumentonyou,ifyouwouldlike,itisnotunpleasant,
andperhapsitwouldbeinterestingforyoutoexperienceit.
ANNIE
Idonotthinkthedoctorwouldlikeit.
Mrs.Givingsenterstheoperatingtheater.
MRS.GIVINGS
Myhusband...hasgonetotheclub.AndMr.Daldryhasalsoleft.
Hesentacarriageforyou.Theybothsaidtheirfarewells.
MRS.DALDRY
Thankyou,Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
ShallIleaveyou?Icould—
Asuspendedmomentinwhichwearenotsureifwemightwitnessthree
womenplayingwiththevibratortogether.
Allofthemthinkaboutit.
Theyalllookatoneanother,andthenattheinstrument.
MRS.DALDRY
I—
ANNIE
I—
MRS.DALDRY
Imustgetdressed.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.Annie,doyouneedanyassistancecleaningup?
ANNIE
No,thankyou,Mrs.Givings.It’sveryeasytocleanup.
MRS.GIVINGS
Allrightthen.
Iwillleaveyou.
Mrs.Givingsexits.
AnniehelpsMrs.Daldrygetdressed.
MRS.DALDRY
Well.
ANNIE
Well,then.
MRS.DALDRY
Isupposewecould—continuewithmyGreeklesson.
ANNIE
Oh, yes. I believe we left off with the early Greek philosophers. Thales
thoughttheearthwassuspendedonwater,floatedthere,andhethought
thatallmagnetshadsoulsbecausetheymovedtowardsoneanother.
MRS.DALDRY
Icanwellbelievethatmagnetshavesouls.WhenIlookintodarkeyes,
likemagnets,Iammoved,unaccountably.Youhaveverydarkeyes,like
magnets—hasanymanevertoldyouso?
ANNIE
Nomanhastoldmemuchasidefrom:passtheclamp.
MRS.DALDRY
TheyshouldAnnie,theyreallyshould.WhateverhappenedtoThales?
ANNIE
Henevermarried.Hismothertoldhimheshouldmarryandhesaid:it’s
tooearly.Andwhenshepressedhimagain,tenyearslater,hesaid:it’s
toolate.
MRS.DALDRY
Andyou?Whyhaveyounevermarried?
ANNIE
Oneday,Iwokeup,anditwastoolate.
MRS.DALDRY
Isee.
Annie, I have been thinking. I wonder whether I could purchase one of
theseinstrumentsforhomeuse.Thedoctorissobusy,andIreallyfeel
I’malmostbetter.Mycolorhasreturned,andIwakeupinthemorning
and feel hopeful. I could use it only as required, when, for example, I
have trouble sleeping, as I often do, and I can’t very well call on the
doctorpastmidnight.
ANNIE
Well—itmightbedangerousforhomeuse,becauseofthepotentialfor
electrocution, but I will ask the doctor. You know he is very open to
inventions.
MRS.DALDRY
Iwouldbetooembarrassedtoask.
ANNIE
Iwillaskforyou.
MRS.DALDRY
Good-byethen,Annie
ANNIE
Good-bye.
MRS.DALDRY
Thankyou,Annie.
ANNIE
Forwhat?
MRS.DALDRY
FortheGreeklesson.
Mrs.Daldryexits.
Anniewashesherhands.
Shelooksatthevibrator,thinksofusingitonherself,thinksbetterofit,
putsitaway.
Meanwhile,Mrs.Givingsislyingonthesofainthelivingroom.
MRS.DALDRY
Areyouquiteallright,Mrs.Givings?Yourcolorlooksoff.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamnotmyself.
MRS.DALDRY
IsthereanythingIcando?
MRS.GIVINGS
No,thankyou.
Mrs.Daldry,didyoudreamoflovefromayoungage?
MRS.DALDRY
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Andwhatdidyouthinkitwouldbelike?
MRS.DALDRY
Ithoughtitwouldbe—neverwantingforanything.Beingsurroundedand
liftedup.Likerestingonwater,foreternity.
MRS.GIVINGS
Andisthatwhatyouhavefoundinmarriage?
MRS.DALDRY
Therehavebeenmomentsofrest.Butasitturnsout,theearthrestson
air,notonwater,andtheaircanfeelvery—insubstantial—attimes.Even
thoughitisholdingyouup,invisibly.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes.
MRS.DALDRY
DoyoumindifIplayyourpiano?
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,pleasedo.
Mrs.Daldryplaysthepiano,fulloflonging.
Fromoffstage,thebabycries.
MRS.GIVINGS
Excuseme.
Mrs.Givingsexitstoattendtothebaby.
AnnieentersandlistenstoMrsDaldryplay.
AnniegoestositbesideMrs.Daldryonthepianobench.
Mrs.Daldryfinishesthesong.
Annieclaps.
Theykiss.
MRS.DALDRY
What?
ANNIE
Oh.
MRS.DALDRY
Howstrange.
ANNIE
Ohdear.
MRS.DALDRY
Ihadbetternotseeyoueveragain.
ANNIE
Isupposenot.
MRS.DALDRY
Good-byethenAnnie.
ANNIE
Good-bye.
Mrs.Daldryexits.
Mrs.Givingsenters.
MRS.GIVINGS
Annie?
ANNIE
Whatasadsongsheplayed.Ibelieveitmademetearupalittle.GoodbyeMrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,don’tleave,Annie—Dr.GivingsisattheclubandIhaveverylittle
company.
ANNIE
I’mafraidImustgo.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatisthematter?
ANNIE
Thatsongmademesad.Good-bye.
Mrs.Givings,alone.
Thedoorbellrings.
Elizabethenters,notentirelyherself.
MRS.GIVINGS
Elizabeth.Ididnotexpectyou.Whatisit?
ELIZABETH
Mrs.Givings,Icametotellyouthattodaywasmylastdayworkingfor
you.Myhusbanddoesn’tlikemegonesomuch.Hewantsmehomewith
myownchildren.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butyoucan’tleaveus,Elizabeth!Whatonearthwillwedowithoutyou?
ELIZABETH
Sheisalmostreadytohavecow’smilk.Oralittlebitofriceporridge.
MRS.GIVINGS
Isuppose.Iwasnotthinkingonlyofthefood.
Elizabethnodsslowly.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butwhytoday?Idon’tunderstand.
ELIZABETH
Mr. Irving insisted on walking me home. He was not—inappropriate—
buthekeptholdofmyarm.Hepaidmealargesumofmoney—forthe
sitting.Andhewalkedmeuptomyfrontdoor.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,dear.
ELIZABETH
Myhusbandwashome.Myhusbandsawhim.Andme.Andthepainting.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh!Wasyourhusbandveryangry?Aboutthepainting?
ELIZABETH
Thepainting?No.Hecriedwhenhesawthepainting.It’syourhands,he
said.Mr.Irvingmustbeagoodpainter,it’shardtopainthands.
Buthedoesn’twantmeworkinghere,notanymore.
MRS.GIVINGS
Ofcourse.Yes—Iunderstand.
ELIZABETH
No—youdon’t.
Apause.
ELIZABETH
I’lljustsaygood-byetoLotty.Ihavegrownfondofher.
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes.Well.
Sheisinthenursery.Sheisfatandhappy,allthankstoyou.
Elizabeth—howoldwasyourHenryDouglaswhenhedied?
ELIZABETH
Twelveweeks.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatdidhedieof?
ELIZABETH
Cholera.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamsorry.
ELIZABETH
Thankyou.
MRS.GIVINGS
IthinkIshoulddieofsorrow,inyourplace.
ELIZABETH
Dieofsorrow?Amotheroftwocannotdieofsorrow.
MRS.GIVINGS
Buthowdoyougoon,after?
ELIZABETH
MymothertoldmetoprayeachdaysinceIwasalittlegirl,topraythat
you borrow everything, everyone you love, from God. That way your
heartdoesn’tbreakwhenyouhavetogiveyourson,oryourmother,or
yourhusband,backtoGod.Iprayed,Jesus,letmebehumble.Iborrowed
my child, I borrowed my husband, I borrowed my own life from you,
God.ButhefeltlikeminenotlikeGod’shefeltlikeminemoreminethan
anything.
God must have this huge horrible cabinet—all the babies who get
returned—and all those babies inside, they’re all crying even with God
Himself to rock them to sleep, still they want their mothers. So when I
startedtofeelsomethingforthisbaby,foryourbaby,Ithoughtno,take
herbackGod.
WhenIfirstmetherallIcouldthinkwas:sheisaliveandHenryisnot.I
hadallthismilk—Iwisheditwoulddryup.Justgetthroughtheyear,I
thought. Your milk will dry up and you will forget. The more healthy
your baby got, the more dead my baby became. I thought of her like a
tick. I thought—fill her up and then pop!You will see the blood of my
Henryunderneath.Butsheseemedsogratefulforthemilk.SometimesI
hatedherforit.Butshewouldlookatme,shewouldgivemethislook—
Idonotknowwhattocallitifitisnotcalledlove.Ihopeeverydayyou
keepher—youkeepherclosetoyou—andyourememberthebloodthat
her milk was made from. The blood of my son, my Henry. Good-bye,
Mrs.Givings.
MRS.GIVINGS
Good-bye,Elizabeth.
Mrs.GivingstouchesElizabeth’selbow.
Elizabethnods.
Elizabethpullsawayandexits,tothenursery.
MRS.GIVINGS
Thankyou.
ButElizabethisoutthedoor.
Mrs.Givings,alone.
Shemovestowardtheoperatingtheater.
Thedoorbellrings.
ItisLeo.
MRS.GIVINGS
YouhavemadequiteamessofthingsforElizabeth.
LEO
Iknow.I’msorry.I’vecometosaygood-bye.
I’mmovingtoParis.
MRS.GIVINGS
When?
LEO
Tomorrow.
MRS.GIVINGS
Takemewithyou.
LEO
Areyououtofyourmind?
MRS.GIVINGS
Youaresurprised?Itwasyouwhoseducedme!
LEO
What?
MRS.GIVINGS
Allthattalkofwomen,two-thirdsdone,thatwasme,youweretalkingof
me,wereyounot?
LEO
Iwastalkingofpaintings.I—
MRS.GIVINGS
No one has ever spoken to me of those things before. Of beauty—of
prostitutes,of—myGod,ofItaly.HowcouldIhavemisunderstoodyour
intentions?I’minlovewithyou.
LEO
Oh,dearCatherineIamafraidIcannotloveyou.Ifthereisanytypeto
whom I am attracted—it veers toward women with doe eyes.And your
eyes are more—they are more—thin—the light bounces off of them
ratherthanintothem.AndIcannotseeyoursoulhoveringhere,whereI
would like to. Your soul is locked somewhere inside your body, so I
cannot see it.Another man could perhaps bring your soul outside your
eyesbutit’snotme,I’mafraid.Idocareforyouthough.
MRS.GIVINGS
Try.Trytobringmysoulout—tohere.Ifyoulookintomyeyes—see—I
willtry.
Areyoubringinganotherwomanwithyou?
LEO
No—Iamgoingalone.
Don’tyousee?ItisElizabethwhoIlove.
MRS.GIVINGS
Elizabeth?
LEO
Yes.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh—Iseenothing,Iunderstandnothing—myGod,Elizabeth.
LEO
Yes.Andshedoesn’tcareforme,notatall.Itoldherofmyaffectionson
ourwalkandsheslappedme.No—IwillgotoParisalone.Iammarried
tomysolitude.
MRS.GIVINGS
Icanbeyoursolitude.Iwillbequietasamouse.Iunderstandsolitude,I
amverylonely.
LEO
I do not understand your loneliness, Mrs. Givings.You have a child, a
husband—ahome!
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes.Iamveryungrateful.IamsurethatGodwillpunishme.
Shetriestoembracehim.
LEO
No.Youdonotloveme.Youonlythinkyoudo.Youloveyourhusband.
Heisagoodman.Good-bye,now.
Hekissesherhands.
MRS.GIVINGS
Elizabethisinthenursery.Ifyouwishtosaygood-byetoher.
LEO
Ican’tbeartoseeher.Justgiveherthis,won’tyou?
LeokissesMrs.Givingsonthecheek.
LEO
ComevisitmeinFrance.Ipromiseyou—you’lllovethepaintings.
Heleaves.
Shegoesintotheoperatingtheater.
Sheplugsinthevibrator.
Sheputsittoherprivatepartsbutsheistoosadforittowork.
Shecriesasithumsalong.
Dr.Givingsenters.
DR.GIVINGS
Mydear,whatonearthareyoudoing?
MRS.GIVINGS
(Bawling)Iamalone.
DR.GIVINGS
You are not alone, I am here. Have you been using this instrument on
yourself?
Dr.Givingsshutsoffthevibrator.
MRS.GIVINGS
Iamsolonely—Elizabethisleavingus—Leoisleavingus—everyoneis
leaving—youaregone—youareattheclub,orinthenextroom,always
inthenextroom,withthedoorlocked.Youseethatwomenarecapable
ofpressingabuttonthemselves.
DR.GIVINGS
Darling—
MRS.GIVINGS
When you touched them, the other women, and Leo, with the machine,
did you feel love for them, when you touched them there, was it like
love?
DR.GIVINGS
No.Ionlywantedthemtofeelbetter.
MRS.GIVINGS
Andwhenyoumarriedme,didyouwanttoloveme,ordidyouwantto
makemefeelbetter?
DR.GIVINGS
Adoctorwantstomakeeveryonefeelbetter.
MRS.GIVINGS
Butdidyouwanttoloveme?
DR.GIVINGS
Yes! And you—with your hands on other men’s faces—do you love
them?DoyouloveMr.Irving?
MRS.GIVINGS
Alittle.
DR.GIVINGS
Ihaveastrangefeelinginmystomach.
MRS.GIVINGS
Whatisit?
DR.GIVINGS
Myeyesfeelfunnyandmystomachfeelsjumpy.IbelieveI’mjealous.
MRS.GIVINGS
Giveupyouroperatingtheater,darling.
DR.GIVINGS
Anddowhatinstead?
MRS.GIVINGS
Loveme.Lovemeforyourjob.
DR.GIVINGS
Alldaylong?
MRS.GIVINGS
All day long. I have heard that some women do not need the vibrating
instrument to give them paroxysms, that relations with their husbands
havemuchthesameeffect.Lovemeforyourjob.
DR.GIVINGS
Iwouldliketoloveyou.
MRS.GIVINGS
Wouldyou?
DR.GIVINGS
Yes.Ihavenotknownhow.
MRS.GIVINGS
You said to me when my hand was on another man’s cheek that there
werealltypesandshadesoflove—Butwhatisitthen,thisveryparticular
wayinwhichyouloveme?Whatcolor?Whattemperature?Andplease
donotsay:youaremywife,Iamyourhusband.
DR.GIVINGS
Idonothavethewords.
MRS.GIVINGS
Pleasetry.
DR.GIVINGS
Thatiswhytheyhavepoets—toclassifyallthedegreesoflove.Itisfor
scientiststoclassifythemaladiesarisingfromthewantofit.
MRS.GIVINGS
Try.
DR.GIVINGS
Donotmakefunofme.Doyoupromise?
MRS.GIVINGS
Ipromise.
DR.GIVINGS
(Kissingtenderlyeachplaceashenamesit—allontheface)
Iblessthee:temporomandibularjoint
Iblessthee:buccalarteryandnerve
Iblessthee:depressorangulioris
Iblessthee:zygomaticarch
Iblessthee:temporalisfascia.
Iblessthee,Catherine.
Mrs.Givingscries,itissointimate.
MRS.GIVINGS
Openme.
DR.GIVINGS
Here?
MRS.GIVINGS
Awayfromthemachine.
Inthegarden.
Undressmethere.
DR.GIVINGS
YouwishtoundressinthegardeninDecember?
MRS.GIVINGS
Yes,andplease,
donotcallmeimpractical.Ourwhole
futurehappinessdependsuponit.
Dr.andMrs.Givingskiss.
Although the domestic space seemed terribly permanent—a settee, a
statuette—suddenly it disappears and we are in a sweet small winter
garden.Snowcoverstreesthatinthespringflowerwithpinkflowers.
MRS.GIVINGS
Undressme.
Donotcloseyoureyes,lookatme...
Heundressesher,partially.
DR.GIVINGS
Thestreetlampsarecomingon.Someonewillseeus.
MRS.GIVINGS
Noonewillsee.Theyarenotelectricyet.
ThankGodsomethingstillflickers.
Sheundresseshim.
MRS.GIVINGS
Areyoucold?
DR.GIVINGS
No.Areyoucold?
MRS.GIVINGS
No.
Wedon’tneedtoseeallofhisbody,
itisdarkout—
butwedoseethemoonglowingoffhisskin,
offhisbackandshoulders.
Heneednotfaceus.
Shehasneverseenhimnakedbefore—
shehasonlyseenhimunderthecovers.
MRS.GIVINGS
Howbeautifulyouare!Yourbody!
Ihaveneverbeforeseenthatlittlebitthere,underthecovers—orthatbit
there,orthisbeautifullinehere—
IhavefeltthisshadowtherebutIhaveneverseenit—howitcurves—
Pointingtodifferentlinesonhisbody.
DR.GIVINGS
Iamembarrassed.
MRS.GIVINGS
Don’tbe.
Liedownandmakeasnowangel.
Heliesonhisbackandmakesanangelinthesnow.
Sheliesontopofhim.
Theymakeanangel.
Theymaketheirwingsgobackandforth.
Itsnowsonthem.
Outside, on the street corners, the gas lamps go on, one by one,
flickering,insubstantial.
DR.GIVINGS
Catherine.
MRS.GIVINGS
Oh,God.Oh,God,Oh,God.
Andtherestofthelightsgoout.
Theend.
Music
IamhappytoincludeJonathanBell’sbeautifulmusicfromtheLincoln
Centerproduction.Ofcoursefutureproductionsarewelcometocompose
their own music, but I thought this would be helpful for readers and
listenerswhowanttoimaginethemusicaltoneofthepiece.Ifyouwish
to use Jonathan’s music for a production, please contact him at
[email protected].
InTheNextRoom-“BirdHouse”Song(Act1,Sc.2)
InTheNextRoom-“Sad”Piece(Act1,Sc.2)
InTheNextRoom-“Kiss”Piece(Act2,Sc.2)
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank New Dramatists and some wonderful actors who
helpedmeintheworkshopphaseofthisplay:EisaDavis,CarlaHarting,
Reed Birney, Mary Catherine Garrison, Michael Esper, Amy Warren,
Marin Ireland, and the whole cast ofEurydice . Thanks to Kathleen
Chalfantforloaningusherlivingroomwhenwereadtheveryfirstdraft
ofthisplay.ThankyoutoAndréBishopandBernieGerstenforbelieving
theplaycouldsurviveonBroadway.Thankstoallthedesigners:Annie,
David,Russell,BrayandJonanthanforbeinggeniuscollaborators.Thank
you to Paula Vogel, Anne Cattaneo, Madeleine Oldham and Denise
Bilbaoforreadingearlydrafts;andtoTinaHowe,KathleenTolan,Andy
Bragen, Crystal Finn, Kate Pines, Sarah Rasmussen, Roy Harris, Denise
Yaney, Vanessa Poggioli and David Adjmi for helping me get through
previews.AndmanymanythankstoLesWaters,withoutwhomthisplay
wouldneverhavebeenwritten,andtotheoriginalcastinBerkeley—Paul
(also for your generosity revisiting the play), Hannah, Joaquín, Maria,
Stacy, John and Melle—for so bravely finding the play’s voice.And to
thecastattheLyceum—Laura,Michael,Maria,Chandler,Tom,Quincy,
Wendy—someofmyfavoritemomentsoftheaterweresimplywatching
youallrehearse.
SARAH RUHL’s plays include In the Next Room or the vibrator play
(Glickman Prize, finalist for the 2010 Pulitzer Prize, nominee for the
Tony Award for Best Play), The Clean House (The Susan Smith
Blackburn Award, 2004; finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, 2005),Dead
Man’sCellPhone (Helen HayesAward for Best New Play),Demeterin
the City (nominated for nine NAACP awards),Eurydice, Melancholy
Play,Orlando,Late:acowboysongandPassionPlay(KennedyCenter’s
The Fourth Freedom Forum Playwriting Award). Her plays have
premiered on Broadway at the Lyceum Theater (produced by Lincoln
Center Theater); Off-Broadway at Lincoln Center Theater, Playwrights
Horizons, Second Stage Theatre; and regionally at Berkeley Repertory
Theatre, Yale Repertory Theatre, the Goodman Theatre, Cornerstone
Theater Company, Arena Stage, Woolly Mammoth Theatre, the Piven
Theatre; as well as being produced at many other theaters across the
country. Her plays have also been performed in England, Poland,
Germany, Israel, New Zealand and Australia, and have been translated
into Spanish, Polish, Russian, Korean and Arabic. Sarah received her
MFAfromBrownUniversity,whereshestudiedwithPaulaVogel,andis
originallyfromChicago.In2003,shewastherecipientofaHelenMerrill
Emerging Playwrights Award, a Whiting Writers’ Award, and a
PEN/Laura Pels Award; in 2006 she was the recipient of a MacArthur
Fellowship.HerworkispublishedbyTCGandSamuelFrench,andsheis
amemberofNewDramatistsand13P.ShelivesinNewYorkCitywith
herfamily.
IntheNextRoomorthevibratorplayiscopyright©2010bySarahRuhl
IntheNextRoomorthevibratorplayispublishedbyTheatreCommunicationsGroup,Inc.,
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AllRightsReserved.Exceptforbriefpassagesquotedinnewspaper,magazine,radioor
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LIBRARYOFCONGRESSCATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATIONDATA
Ruhl,Sarah.
eISBN:978-1-559-36661-8
1.Marriedwomen—Sexualbehavior—Drama.2.Desire—Drama.3.Sex—Drama.
I.Title.II.Title:Inthenextroom.III.Title:Vibratorplay.
PS3618.U48I62010
812’.6—dc222010038900