The Necklace (SCRIPTED)

Scene 3 - 4: An Ambition Fulfillment

Scene 3

Narrator: One evening, her husband came home with an exultant
air.

(Curtains open)

(Madame Mathilde sits on a chair and daydreams)

Monsieur Loisel: (He knocks the door.) My dear . . . my dear . . . please ...... Open the door.

Madame Mathilde: (She awakes from her imagination and walks
toward the door.)
Oui, my dear! (She opens the door)

Monsieur Loisel: (He enters the house and greets Mathilde)
Bonjour, my dear.

(He closes the door and hands out a large envelope to Mathilde)

Here's something for you.

Mathilde: (She snatches the envelope from her husband and tears it open)

For me?

(She draws out a printed card from the envelope and started to read.)

"The Minister of Education and Madame Ramponneau request the pleasure of the company of Monsieur and Madame Loisel at the ministry on the evening of Monday, January the 18th."

(She frowns, flings the invitation petulantly across the table. And then turns to Loisel and murmurs.)
What do you want me to do with this?

Monsieur Loisel: Why darling? I thought you'd be pleased.
You never go out, and this is a great occasion. I had tremendous trouble just to get it.
Everyone wants one; it's very select, and very few go to the clerks. You'll see, all the really big people there.

Madame Mathilde: (She glares at her husband.)And what do you suppose I am to wear at such an affair?

Monsieur Loisel: (stammers) Wh-wh-why, the dress you go to the theatre in. It looks very nice to me.

(Mathilde start to cry and covers her face)

What's the matter with you?

(Wraps his arms around her wife)

Madame Mathilde: (She looks at his husband and wipes her tears)

Nothing....
Only I haven't a dress and so I can't go to this party.
Give your invitation to some friend of yours whose wife will be turned out better than I shall.

Monsieur Loisel: (Holds her wife's hand)
Look here, Mathilde. What would be the cost of a suitable dress, which you could use on other occasions as well, something very simple?

Madame Mathilde: (hesitates) I don't know exactly, but I think I could do it on four hundred francs.

Monsieur Loisel: (gapes disappointedly)
Very well. I'll give you four hundred francs. But try and get a really nice dress with the money.

Madame Mathilde: (smiles and hugs her husband) Thank you, my dear! This is what I liked on you most! Thank you so much!

(curtains close)

Narrator: Even though the amount of four hundred francs was the exact amount Monsieur Loisel had been saving for a gun, intending to get a little shooting next summer on the plain of Nanterre with some friends who went lark-shooting there on Sundays. Still, he gives the amount to supply his beloved wife's wants.

Scene 4

Narrator: The day of the party drew near; Mathilde seems so sad, uneasy and anxious. Her dress was ready. However, one evening, her husband notices her and approaches her.

(curtains open)

(Mathilde sits down, frowning. And in her arm a beautiful dress was hanging. Monsieur Loisel enters and notices her and sits beside her.)

Monsieur Loisel: (looks on Mathilde)
What's the matter with you? You've been uneasy and anxious, very odd for the last three days.

Madame Mathilde: I'm utterly miserable at not having any jewels, not a single stone to wear. I shall look absolutely no one. I would almost rather not go to the party.

Monsieur Loisel: Wear flowers. They're very smart at this time of year. For ten francs you could get two or three gorgeous roses.

Madame Mathilde: No...there's nothing so humiliating as looking poor in the middle of a lot rich women.

Monsieur Loisel: (frowns and stands up)
How stupid you are!
Go! And see Madame Forestier and ask her to lend you some jewels. You know her quite well enough.

Madame Mathilde:

That's true! I've never thought of it.

(She hurriedly got her pouch and went out)

(curtains close)