THE INVISIBLE HUSBAND
By Patrick Gabridge
Copyright © 2003
CAST: IRIS and MAX
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Adapted from an Eskimo poem,
Collected by Knud Rasmussen and translated by Edward Field
SCENE: The kitchen of a very modest house. A table with two
chairs.
TC
AT RISE: IRIS, a young woman, is cooking dinner at the stove.
MAX, a handsome young man stands right beside Iris. HE wears a
mask, like from a Greek tragedy. Both are in simple, modern
clothes. IRIS and MAX address the audience.
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IRIS: The Eskimos knew. And understood.
MAX: They used to tell stories about a tribe of invisible men. We move
around you like shadows--have you felt us? We have bodies like
yours and live like you, using the same kind of weapons and tools.
You can see our tracks in the snow sometimes and even see our
snow houses, but never the invisible men themselves. We cannot be
seen until we die--then we become visible.
IRIS: It once happened that a human woman married one of the
invisible men. He was a good husband in every way: he went out
hunting and brought her food, and we could talk together like any
other couple. But the wife could not bear the thought that she did not
know what the man she married looked like.
DO
(IRIS returns to her cooking, then calls out.)
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IRIS: Max! Supper's ready.
MAX: I'm right here.
IRIS: (startled) Ahh! How many times have I told you not to sneak up
on me like that. How long have you been standing there?
MAX: Just a bit.
IRIS: Where are you?
(MAX leans forward and kisses her on the cheek.)
MAX: Right here, my love.
IRIS: That's nice. Very nice. Can you please set the table? The meat is
almost ready.
MAX: Your wish is my command.
(HE sets the table.)
NO
TC
IRIS: My mother warned me about marrying an invisible man. How will
you ever find him to help you do the chores, she said. He could be
sitting around all day reading the newspaper and watching the
clouds, while you're there trying to keep a clean house and put food
on the table.
MAX: Your mother-IRIS: Watch what you say.
MAX: Your mother was nothing compared to mine. How can you stand
to marry a human, she'd ask. What if you get tired of looking at her
face year after year?
IRIS: Yes, what if?
MAX: I never will. Never. No sight could bring me more pleasure than
your face, no sound is more musical than your voice.
IRIS: You're sweet.
DO
(SHE sets dinner on the table, and they both sit and MAX begins to
eat. IRIS just sits and stares at MAX's chair.)
MAX: What's the matter?
IRIS: I'm not hungry.
MAX: It's very good. A lot spicier than you usually make it. I like it.
IRIS: How was work?
MAX: The same. George is always on my case about something.
Today the cans weren't stacked exactly right, he said. Maybe a can
was missing, he said. They don't trust me.
IRIS: George is a pig.
MAX: I try to fit in. I really do. But they just can't see past the fact that
I'm invisible. Everyone is so hung up on looks. I do my work. I'm
polite.
DO
NO
TC
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IRIS: Maybe you could go hunting with your old friends, or help out in
one of their shops.
MAX: No, Iris. When I married you, I promised that I'd be a part of your
world. No sneaking around. Honest work in the visual world. I'm
sorry that I complain. It's not so hard. Really. I love you. No regrets.
IRIS: Never?
MAX: Never.
IRIS: You know I love you, too.
MAX: I know.
IRIS: Sometimes I feel it so strongly, and I know that I love you more
than I love my own breath, or my own skin. The sound of your voice,
the touch of your hand on my cheek.
MAX: We were made for each other.
IRIS: Sometimes I think that. When you lie next to me in bed at night, in
the dark, I think that. I am greedy--some mornings I wake up and I
want the sun to be blotted out from the sky, so I am not reminded
that I cannot see you. I want you to be by my side, forever, grasped
in my arms, our cheeks pressed together, our breath mingling as
vapor. I am yours, you are mine.
MAX: I feel the same way in the mornings, wishing that I would never
have to leave your side. We could just enjoy the day, together, away
from everyone, in private bliss. Together we are complete.
IRIS: But some days, when you are gone at work, I am gripped with a
terrible fear. A fear so strong that my heart stops beating. What if
something happens to you, what if you are hurt, or lost. How will I
ever find you? How will I ever find you? You will just disappear.
Vanish from my life. And it comes to me so clearly, so clearly, that
you're close to being gone at any moment, that it's hard for me to
know if I have you. You have me, with all five senses, in every
aspect, but a part of you is always missing for me, Max. Always
missing.
MAX: But I'm here. You know I'm here. Can't you feel me? Can't you
feel my love for you?
IRIS: I can. I do.
MAX: It has to be enough. We have so many years ahead of us, Iris.
But I can't change what I am.
IRIS: I know. I know.
MAX: Don't drive yourself crazy wanting something you can't have. No
one is complete, no one is perfect. I will give you everything I can, I
will give you all of me. All of me. I have pledged myself to you and no
one else.
IRIS: I can't ask more than that. I should not ask more than that.
MAX: No, you shouldn't.
IRIS: Sometimes I can't help myself.
MAX: You have to try.
IRIS: I have. If only you knew how much I've tried. I've tried. I've tried.
(MAX holds up his plate.)
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MAX: But you love me?
IRIS: I hope you know I do. I pray that you know I do.
MAX: I know. It's all right. I know.
IRIS: And you forgive my weakness?
MAX: Of course.
IRIS: Because I can be very weak. The strength of my love, my desire,
my everything for you, about you, in you, around you, it can also
make me weak.
MAX: It's okay. You're tired. It's been a long winter, and you've been
cooped up in this house for too long. We should get out, now that
spring is here. Go for a walk, a picnic. Or even just a movie.
IRIS: Yes.
MAX: Can I have some more please?
TC
(IRIS gets the pot from the stove and puts more on MAX's plate. HE
eats, while SHE stares.)
DO
NO
IRIS: Oh, Max. My heart, my love.
MAX: Sure you don't want some? It's great, though the spice is starting
to build up.
IRIS: I'm so sorry.
MAX: Every couple has their ups and downs. It takes work.
IRIS: I poisoned your dinner.
MAX: You what?
IRIS: I didn't know what else to do.
MAX: You're joking, right?
IRIS: It's just... I need the whole package. I need to see you. I need to
see you. I need to see you.
MAX: Iris.
IRIS: I'm sorry. I don't know what to... Every day comes and goes and it
never... Never even a shadow. A glimmer. I can't be robbed of the
sight of you. I can't not know what you look like. I have to know. I
have to know.
MAX: I thought we... We were going to make it. Everyone said don't
trust... Oh, Iris.
IRIS: Forgive me. I don't deserve it. I don't deserve you.
(HE's starting to slump a bit. Maybe his speech is starting to slur.)
MAX: You were always so beautiful.
IRIS: Missing that piece. Missing the last element of who you are. I
have to know. I have to know.
MAX: Like the stars in the sky. Like the stars in the sky.
(They are both silent for a moment. HE slides to the floor.)
IRIS: Max? Are you still there?
MAX: I'm not feeling so good, Iris.
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(SHE gets down on her knees and feels around for her husband.
SHE finally finds him.)
IRIS: You're okay. You're okay.
MAX: I would have done it myself, if you'd asked me. I would have
done anything for you. Anything.
IRIS: I'll be strong. I am weak, but I will learn to be strong. Tell me it's
not too late. Tell me that you won't leave me. Please. I'm so sorry.
MAX: It's too late. My love. My love. I hope you're not disappointed.
You are always so beautiful. My love.
TC
(HE removes the mask from his face and dies. IRIS can suddenly
see him. SHE touches his face.)
NO
IRIS: Oh, Max. Look at you. You are so perfect. So perfect. Lips, nose,
eyes, skin. Perfect. You were always perfect. What have I done?
Come back. Come back to me. Come back to me. Come back. Oh,
Max, please, please come back.
(Lights fade to black.)
DO
END OF PLAY
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