HUSBAND. So what do you want?
WIFE. To take the taboo off of sex. To free it from sin. To lift the veil of secrecy from it. To stop alluding to it. To call things by their proper names. Penis. Orgasm. Vagina.
HUSBAND. You’re crazy..
WIFE. Yes, I’ll repeat the word "vagina" twenty times, two hundred times, until the word starts to sound neutral, sterile, medical. Until you stop reacting to it; until people who hear it stop giggling, or being offended by the vulgarity of it, stop being indignant or getting excited. Vagina, vagina, vagina…
HUSBAND. Stop it!
WIFE. Vagina, vagina, vagina…
HUSBAND. You’re crazy.
WIFE. And you’re a hypocrite. A puritan. What is more attractive to you than a vagina? What do you see in your dreams? What do you pay the most attention to when you look at paintings in museums? What is the main thing for you in a woman? The eyes? The smile? Well, answer me!
HUSBAND. You’re crazy.
WIFE. I know. This life is enough to drive anyone crazy. Have I ever truly lived? What have I seen? What have I done? Home and work, home and work, home and work… And what happens at home? What happens at work? Where is my life? What have I done with it? So there is only one thing left to do – try to lose myself in sex and forget all my petty problems. They not worth worrying about anyway, but still they overwhelm and oppress me. To stop hating myself, even for just ten minutes. Not to think, even for just one second. Not to remember. Not to care. Just feel. The joy of being alive. The pleasure. The delight of taking and being taken. Man and woman are always in a state of war, and sex is the one moment of truce, the one field of mutual understanding and attraction. The one moment when you don’t feel lonely. An act of unity, a time of reconciliation with life, an illusion of love, a glimpse of happiness, an opportunity for self-affirmation.
Pause.
HUSBAND. Well, if you really want to have sex with me…
WIFE. With you? What makes you think that?
HUSBAND. You said, “Let's have sex.”
WIFE. But I didn’t say, “with you.” Just “Let's have sex.”
HUSBAND. Not necessarily with me?
WIFE. No, not necessarily.
HUSBAND. With whom then?
WIFE. Do you have anyone else that you can have sex with but me?
HUSBAND. Not right at this moment.
WIFE. What about other times?
HUSBAND. Theoretically – with anybody.
WIFE. Leave the theory aside, let’s get to the practice.
HUSBAND. I am tired of your nagging.
WIFE. My poor, unfortunate husband. He’s tired to death of sex. Apparently, forever.
HUSBAND. You know, I’ve had enough of you. Maybe you really think I am your husband, but I don’t consider you my wife. And I am not going to have sex with a strange woman.
WIFE. Why do you think I want to have sex?
HUSBAND. Well, what do you want?
WIFE. Nothing. That’s the problem. I don’t want anything. I’m depressed. Every day the same thing. I am so depressed…
HUSBAND. So why torment me? Why ask for sex if you don’t want it? Just to spite me?
WIFE. Have I no right to talk? I’m your wife!
HUSBAND. Leave me alone! You are not my wife! I hate the very word "wife"! My wife has ruined my life! My wife has driven me crazy! Stop it! Leave me alone! (Leaves.)
WIFE. (Alone). A little more of this, and I really will go crazy. I have to save myself. I need a change. As soon as possible… Otherwise it will be too late. As soon as possible… What to do? What to do?
