ROULETTE
A monologue from the
play by Douglas Hill
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
with the author's permission. All inquiries should be directed
to the author at doug.hill@ccmail.nevada.edu |
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JANINE: [Outraged] See? I knew you would do
this. I knew you would have no reaction at all. The one thing
that ought to matter to you—the one thing you have left
and I can't even get you to say a word. Maybe you're just too
lazy to care. Or too lazy to work up a response. Well, that's
been the problem all along. So this is probably for the best.
Right? [Beat.] Well, let me spell something out for you.
If you were worth more to this marriage, this marriage would
be worth more to you. [She EXITS the bedroom. MATT remains
looking after her. After a moment, he reacts as if he's heard
something. He listens intently. Then, from offstage:] I'm
calling Marcy. She's got an extra bedroom. I can spend the night
there. I know you don't care, but… [MATT pulls a suitcase
from under the bed, opens it, and begins packing his clothes.
From offstage:] Damn. It's busy. [Silence as MATT continues
to pack. Then:] You ate the last of the salt and vinegar
chips, didn't you? You couldn't go get your own bag from the
store. You had to eat mine. –goddamnit. [The sound of
a cupboard door slamming shut.] Those were mine, Matt. You
don't even like them. From now on, everything is either mine
or yours. All right? From this point on, don't take anything
that doesn't belong to you. Those were my chips and I was saving
them for ME! [She appears in the doorway with an empty potato
chip bag.] And I'm tired of saying it doesn't matter when
you take my things. Because it does matter. You just take and
take and—And what the hell are you packing for? [He continues
to pack the suitcase.] Matt! Would you answer me? Please!?
[She wads up the bag and throws it at him.] So, you're just
going to go? Without saying anything? Is that what you want to
happen? You don't even have the— [She storms over to
the suitcase and begins unpacking it. He repacks as quickly as
she takes it out.] You are not leaving! Not without telling
me! For once in this marriage you are going to talk to me about
your plans before you leap into them. I don't care that you want
to go, but you are not leaving without telling me first. I want
to know! [Resolutely, MATT continues packing in silence.]
Oh, this is great. First you rob me of my food and then you sneak
off—You are not taking that! [She reaches into his suitcase
and pulls something out. She clutches it preciously.] This
is how you end a four year commitment? Well—okay—fine—then,
I guess if it wasn't enough for me to hold down a job so you
could lounge around all day in the apartment that I pay rent
on and eat my food, then yeah, you should take back the only
real gift I ever got from you and sell it for whatever the going
price is and— [A sudden change of heart] No! No,
you cannot have the ring. [Beat.] No. You figure out something
else.
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MONOLOGUES BY DOUGLAS HILL |
