A Touch Of Madness(The Play)

Curtain opens: Act one, scene one:1

Set: Typical living room with armchair, love seat, sofa, end tables, coffee table, and a big screen television. A married couple in their thirties are facing the television seated on the sofa, close to each other, but not touching.2

3


Husband wraps his arm around his wife and tries to draw her nearer to himself.4

Wife: Not now.5

Husband: But, Honey, I love you.6

Wife: Not now!7

Husband: Please, Darling.8

Wife: No. Take you hands off me!9

Husband: What's wrong, Lambypie?10

Wife: Don't touch me!11

Husband: But, Baby, I really need you!12

Wife: Oh go get a magazine and entertain yourself, you don't need me!13

Husband: What's got into you, Lambsy?14

Wife: Don't call me that! All you do is work, eat, watch television and sleep. Then whenever the mood hits you, you want me. You expect me to drop everything and go jump into bed with you. Well, not anymore. I've had it!15

Husband: What do you mean?16

Wife: I do all the chores! I cook, I clean, I do the laundry, I wash your dirty underwear, and all you do when you get home is take it easy. I work, too. I'm just a slave and the way you use me for sex well, well, I feel dirty!17

Husband: But, Honey.18

Wife: Don't 'But Honey,' me! I'm tired of it! Just once you could give me a gift, you could take me to a movie, or out to eat. We used to do things together!19

Husband: We could go to a movie tomorrow.20

Wife: It doesn't mean much if I have to beg you to go.21

Husband: I didn't know.22

Wife: You just don't think! If you're happy that's all that matters to you. I am just something to be used, ignored, or forgotten. I feel absolutely awful!23

Husband: Now Honey, you're just upset. Has something been troubling you at work?24

Wife: No, that won't work! Don't you try to blame it on something else. The problem is you! You! YOU!25

Husband: Honey....26

Wife: I don't want to hear your excuses. I am thinking about a divorce.27

Husband: Divorce!?28

Wife: Yes, a divorce.29

Husband: Now, it can't be that serious.30

Wife: There you go again! Making light of everything I say. I'm not going to put up with it. No. I think it is hopeless. I don't know how it came to this, but I feel it's just too late.31

Husband: I can change.32

Wife: That's just it. You have changed and you've changed for the worst! You were so loving and attentive when we first started dating, you really had me fooled. I didn't know that all you wanted was a housekeeper, cook, and a sex slave. With work, commuting, housework, and cooking I have only two or three hours a day for myself. I'd share them with you, but all we ever do is watch television. You just sit there glued to the tube and drink Cokes and beer!33

Husband: I see your point and you're right, I've been neglecting you. I've been taking you for granted.34

Wife: Where are you going?35

Husband: I'm going upstairs to change. We're going out to eat. How's Chinese sound?36

Wife: Chinese?37

Husband: Yes, isn't that your favorite?38

Wife: This isn't going to help.39

Husband: Maybe not, but if we get a divorce the lawyers will probably take everything!40

Wife: Stop kidding around.41

Husband: It's good to see you can still laugh.42

Wife: This still isn't going to help.43

Husband: All I can do is try. Now get ready. We're going dancing after dinner.44

45


Act one, scene two:46

Same set:47

48

Husband: How was the meal?49

Wife: I always love the sesame chicken and egg rolls.50

Husband: I'm glad.51

A few moments of silence with them seated stiffly on the sofa, not touching.52

Husband: You're still a great dancer and you were the loveliest woman there.53

Wife: You're not bad yourself.54

Husband: Have you enjoyed the evening?55

Wife: Yes, but that doesn't change the way I feel. It is too little and too late.56

Husband: I understand that. You were making people jealous on the dance floor. They all would have liked to dance with you.57

Wife: I'm still not going to have sex with you.58

Husband: That's all right. All I ask is that you give us some time. I love you and I intend to prove it to you.59

Wife: I don't know if I love you anymore.60

Husband: Well, give it some time. Just a little time. If it doesn't get better, we can always separate later.61

Wife: Okay. We'll see how it goes, but one night doesn't make up for years of being taken for granted.62

Husband: No, but I intend to make worshiping you a habit.63

Wife: Oh, don't say that!64

Husband: I mean it.65

Wife: DAMN YOU!!!66

Husband: It's all right, Honey, don't cry. Things will be better. I promise.67

68


Act two, scene one69

Set: The living room again with the couple seated on the sofa and the television on.70

71


Wife: I'm sorry, I just can't take it anymore. I need to be on my own for a while.72

Husband: But I thought things were getting better. For heaven's sake, we made love last night!73

Wife: I know and part of me was glad that we did.74

Husband: You acted as though you enjoyed it. It was the best sex we've had in years!75

Wife: I know, but I still feel dirty. I feel like your personal slut!76

Husband: What are you going to do?77

Wife: I'm going to find myself an apartment and stay there for a while.78

Husband: Will you be coming back?79

Wife: Honey, I really don't think so. I just don't feel good about myself anymore. It's not you. You have been very thoughtful and loving, but I still feel like a sex object. I want to be a whole person.80

Husband: I am not going to give up that easily. I've invested too much.81

Wife: You're free, honey. Find someone else who makes you happy.82

Husband: I'm happy with you, Darling!83

Wife: I know, but I don't think I can ever feel complete living here.84

Husband: Well if you must leave, you must.85

Wife: I must.86

Husband: I love you.87

Wife: I know.88

89


Act two, scene two:90

Set: An open office area busy with about ten people at their desks. The husband and a young woman getting coffee at the coffee station.91

92


Young woman: How are you getting along?93

Husband: Why, I am doing well, thank you.94

Young woman: I heard a rumor that you and your wife separated a couple of months ago.95

Husband: Yes. I'm hoping she'll come back.96

Young woman: Oh!97

Husband: Is something wrong?98

Young woman: I was going to ask if you'd join me to a movie or something?99

Husband: Oh, I don't know.100

Young woman: Well, I know I'm pretty young, but I can be really good company.101

Husband: It's not your age, it's just that I consider myself still married.102

Young woman: Well, if I promise not to seduce you?103

Husband: Somehow, I don't think I can trust you.104

Young woman: I promise I won't make you do anything that you don't want to do. Promise. We can just have fun doing things together until you work things out with your wife.105

Husband: Well, that's not really fair to you.106

Young woman: There's no reason we can't be just friends.107

108


Act two, scene three:109

Divided Set: Husband seated on sofa in original living room talking on the phone. Wife sitting in a dimly lit apartment also on the phone speaking with him.110

111


Husband: How's everything going?112

Wife: Really well, thanks.113

Husband: How's the decorating coming, have you got your apartment the way you want, yet?114

Wife: Yes, it's lovely. I went with cyan and beige, I think you'd love it. Would you like to come and see it?115

Husband: When's a good time?116

Wife: How about tomorrow afternoon?117

Husband: Okay, tomorrow it is.118

119


Act two, scene four:120

Set: Wife's apartment, small but cozy in shades of blue and brown.121

122


Husband: It looks wonderful! I really like the blues and browns.123

Wife: The furniture and drapes are really cyan.124

Husband: You know I'm bad with colors, but I know what I like and I really like this. You have done a marvelous job here.125

Wife: Thanks. What have you been doing with yourself?126

Husband: I've been going to movies, eating out and dancing.127

Wife: Have you got a girl?128

Husband: Well, not exactly. I have a young woman friend, but we're just friends.129

Wife: She wants more?130

Husband: Yes, I think she would be open to it.131

Wife: I think you should go ahead, you deserve some satisfaction. You're a healthy man.132

Husband: But it's you I want.133

Wife: I know.134

Husband: I miss you like I never knew I could, please come home.135

Wife: I can't, at least, not yet.136

137


Act two, scene five:138

Set: Typical bedroom with queen size bed, night stands, lamps, chest of drawers, and dresser in dark wood finish. Husband and young woman facing each other in bed with the sheet drawn up to their shoulders.139

140


Young woman: Darling, you were wonderful!141

Husband: Was I?142

Young woman: It's so much better with a mature and experienced man. You have much more control than the two men I'd slept with. Was I okay? Is there something wrong?143

Husband: No, no, you were fantastic, but I couldn't help thinking of my wife. I felt like I was cheating on her.144

Young woman: Well, she gave you her blessing and she's left you, that should help you feel free.145

Husband: I know, but it doesn't. This may be all wrong, because I still want her back. It's not fair to you. What if she comes back?146

Young woman: I'm going to win your heart from her.147

Husband: I don't know if you can.148

149


Act two, scene six:150

Set: The door to the couple's home. The young woman inside and the wife standing outside.151

152


Young woman: Hello. Can I help you?153

Wife: Is my husband here?154

Young woman: Oh, you are his wife.155

Wife: Is he home?156

Young woman: No, he went to the store for some milk.157

Wife: Are you living with him. Tell me the truth.158

Young woman: Yes, I am.159

Wife: For how long.160

Young woman: I moved in two days ago.161

Wife: You're really a pretty young thing. What, about twenty?162

Young woman: Twenty-one, last month.163

Wife: That makes him fifteen years older than you and you ten years younger than me.164

Young woman: So?165

Wife: I'm just thinking out loud.166

Young woman: But you left him, you can't come back now!167

Wife: You love him?168

Young woman: Very much!169

Wife: I've always loved him.170

Young woman: Then why did you leave?171

Wife: I had to leave. Like they say, I had to find myself.172

Young woman: Did you do it? Did you find yourself?173

Wife: I believe I have.174

Young woman: You just can't come back, now!175

Wife: You're really a very nice looking young woman, you could be a model. You're a true blonde, aren't you?176

Young woman: Yes.177

Wife: Don't cry, I won't try to get him back.178

Young woman: But he still loves you!179

Wife: That's all right, don't tell him I was here.180

Young woman: I have to.181

Wife: Why?182

Young woman: Because I love him too much to lie to him.183

Wife: It wouldn't be a lie, just don't say anything.184

Young woman: It would be like betraying him.185

Wife: I'm sorry.186

Young woman: I know.187

188


Act three, scene one:189

Set: Original living room, husband and young woman standing.190

191


Husband: Sweetie, give your old man a kiss.... Is everything okay?192

Young woman: Ah, I guess so.193

Husband: What's troubling you? Have you been crying?194

Young woman: Oh, it's okay. Your wife stopped by.195

Husband: Really! Did she say what she wanted?196

Young woman: I think she was hoping to spend some time with you.197

Husband: What makes you think that?198

Young woman: It's just a feeling.199

Husband: What did she say?200

Young woman: Not much really. Why don't you call her?201

Husband: You don't mind?202

Young woman: No, I want us to keep everything out in the open.203

Husband: Alright, I'll give her a call.204

205


Act three, scene two:206

Divided set: Wife sitting in her dimly lit apartment on the phone talking with her husband with the young woman sitting as far apart from him on the sofa as she could trying hard not to cry.207

208


Husband: Hi honey, how are you?209

Wife: Nice of you to call. I'm well.210

Husband: I understand you came by while I was out.211

Wife: So she told you. I told her not to.212

Husband: Oh, well...yeah, she told me you were here. What was it you were wanting...? Are you there...?"213

Wife: Yes, I was just thinking.... She's a beautiful young girl. Do you love her?214

Husband: Yes, but I love both of you.215

Wife: Is she listening?216

Husband: Yes, we are both on the sofa. Why'd you come by?217

Wife: Well, I just wanted to talk....218

Husband: About?219

Wife: I didn't know she had moved in.220

Husband: Well, now you do. What did you want, honey?221

Wife: Oh...I don't know what I want. I didn't realize that you and the girl were that serious. Also, I can't get you out of my system.222

Husband: Well, we have been married ten years.223

Wife: Yes, a third of my life I've spent with you.224

Husband: Well, she and I are living together now, so I guess that is that.225

Wife: Yes, I guess it is settled. I am really doing pretty well and I feel so much better about myself. Don't concern yourself with me. You and she should be happy together. I mean that; I think it's a good thing.226

Husband: I'm glad you feel that way.227

Wife: It's for the best, I know. I'll probably find someone myself soon.228

Husband: I'm sure you will, if you want to.229

Wife: Okay, thanks for calling.230

Husband: You're welcome. If you need anything, give me a call. Love you.231

Wife: I will. Love you, too.232

Husband: Bye.233

Wife: Bye.234

235


Act three, scene three:236

Set: Original living room, husband and young woman cuddling.237

238


Young woman: You still want her back, don't you?239

Husband: I think it is over between me and her, Sweetie. There's no going back. People change and she and I have changed.240

Young woman: Do you love me?241

Husband: Yes Sweetie, I love you.242

Young woman: What if you could have both of us?243

Husband: Both of you?244

Young woman: Yes, what if you could have your wife and me?245

Husband: That seems improbable.246

Young woman: Seriously, if you could have both of us, would you like that?247

Husband: What are you suggesting?248

Young woman: Well, we both love you and you love both of us. I am willing to share you rather than lose you and she would probably like to have you back."249

Husband: It seems a little crazy. Do you really want to share me with her? What makes you think she'd like the idea?250

Young woman: We both want you to be happy.251

Husband: And I want both of you to be happy.252

Young woman: I think it might work out well.253

Husband: I think you may be slightly insane. I'm not sure I'll ever understand either of you.254

255


Act three, scene four:256

Set: Original living room, wife and young woman on the sofa with husband standing.257

258


Husband: So, the idea appeals to you?"259

Wife: Yes, Love, it does.260

Young woman: I told you that she'd like the idea.261

Husband: It surprises me, Sweetie, but it seems you were right.262

Wife: I'll keep the apartment for times when I feel that I have to get away. I'll feel more independent that way.263

Young woman: We're going to make you feel like a king.264

Husband: I think this may be madness, but if you two are sure about this, then I guess we'll give it a go.265

Wife: We're sure.266

Young woman: I'm positive.267

Husband: How's this going to work?268

Young woman: We'll figure something out.269

Husband: Well, which of you gets me first?270

Wife: I think we'll both take you at once, right Blondie?271

Young woman: Right.272

Husband: Oh my God!273

274

Curtain.