Libretto (scene 1)

Scene 1 (excerpt)

Hetty
You were a stupid fool to make me refuse John.  I’ll never forgive you.

Harriet (stopping and holding up her hand)
Don’t get me all excited.  I’ll be in no condition to meet Margaret this afternoon.

Hetty
I could choke you for robbing me of John.  You don’t know how you have made me suffer.  You’re bloodless.  Nothing but a sham.

Harriet beginning to feel the strength of Hetty’s emotion surge through her and trying to conquer it.

Harriet
Be quiet!  It is not my business to have heartaches.  It is not my business to feel anything.  It is not my business to love anyone.  Be quiet!  I can’t let Margaret see I have been fighting with my inner self.

Hetty
And after all my suffering you say it has cost you more than it has cost me to be married to Charles.  Thirteen years with an indifferent man while inside your soulless shell.  But it’s the pain here in my heart you can’t deny, I paid the price, Charles is not your husband, he is mine.

Harriet (trying to conquer emotion)
No, he isn’t he is mine.

Hetty (follows Harriet)
He is mine.

Harriet
No, he isn’t.

Hetty (towering over Harriet)
I will kill you.

Harriet (overpowered, sinks into a chair)
Don’t, don’t you’re stronger than…

The telephone rings (or buzzer from doorman), Harriet and Hetty freeze several seconds, surprised by the ring.  It rings again.

Hetty
There she is now.

(scene continues)