Vanity, what is thy Price

 

Vanity and Pride

Narrator:

Madame Loisel was a pretty girl born into a poor family. She had no expectations

and she felt so trapped by her situation that she married a little clerk in a

goverment office. Her tastes were simple because she had never been able to

afford any other, but she was as unhappy as though she had married beneath her

status; for women have no caste or class, their beauty, grace, and charm serving

them for birth or family. She suffered endlessly, feeling herself born for every

delicacy and luxury. She suffered from the poorness of her house, from its bare

walls, worn chairs, and ugly curtains.

Scene 1

MONSIEUR LOISEL: Sweetheart, I have a surprise for you.

MADAME LOISEL :Really, what is the surprise?

MONSIEUR LOISEL: See for yourself.

(He places the invitation on the table.)

Swiftly she tears open the envelop and draws out a printed card and reads out

"The Minister and Madame Ramponneau

request the pleasure of the company of

Monsieur and Madame Loisel

at the Ministry on the evening of Monday, January the eighteenth."

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L               : Isn't it wonderful?

MADAME LOISEL                              :  What do you mean? What can I do with it? 

MADAME LOISEL                              : I have nothing suitable to wear to this glamorous occasion? 

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L               :  Why... Why, you can wear your theater gown, of course. It's really quite suitable. 

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L               :  What's the matter? Why are you crying? 

MADAME LOISEL                              : I'll be humiliated in that old gown. It's so tattered and completely out of style. I can't go to the ball wearing that rag.

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L               : There must be a way! How much do you think a suitable gown would cost, something very simple but elegant as well, of course 

MADAME LOISEL                              : I'm not too sure, but maybe 400 francs. 

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L               : I've been saving and I think I have just about 400 francs you could take it to buy a gown 

 

Scene 2:

 

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L : You make any dress come to life, my dear. How ravishing you look!

MADAME LOISEL : [Pouting and whining]  But I'll be disgraced! 

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L : Disgraced? What can you possibly mean? You will be the most beautiful woman there!

MADAME LOISEL :  You just don't understand! It's so annoying! I don't have a single piece of jewelry to wear with my gown. 

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L : There is one thing, one possibility that you've forgotten.

MADAME LOISEL : [sniffs.]  What's that?

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L : Your old classmate! Madame Jeanne Forestier! She is really well off. I'm sure she would be willing to lend you  some of her jewelry!

MADAME LOISEL : [Her sniffs turn into laughter and joy.]  Of course! I can borrow something suitable from Jeanne. Thank you, darling. 

 

NARRATOR:

Madame Loisel was absolutely smashing! She was prettier than any of the other

women: elegant, graceful, smiling and wild with joy. Everyone noticed her, and her

husband's boss seemed to want every dance with her!

MADAME LOISEL : [Looking in mirror.] Oh my God! Oh no, oh no. : I... I have... Oh my God, this can not happen! 

M O N S I E U R LO I S E L : What? What is it? 

MADAME LOISEL : I have lost Madame Forestier's necklace! 

M O N S I E U R LO I S E L : It can't be true! It's impossible!  [They begin frantically searching through their coats and clothes, and on the floor.] 

MADAME LOISEL : Oh God, help us!

M O N S I E U R LO I S E L :              It must be here somewhere. Necklaces don't just evaporate. 
[Madame Loisel begins weeping and sobbing as she searches.] 

M O N S I E U R LO I S E L : I shall go back on foot, over the entire route, to see whether or not I can find it. 

[He rushes out. Madame Loisel sinks into a chair, sobbing. After more than a hour he comes back. ]

MADAME LOISEL :  Did you find it? Tell me! Did you? 

M O N S I E U R LO I S E L : [Remains silent] 

MADAME LOISEL : Did you find it or not? 

M O N S I E U R LO I S E L : I am afraid not 

Scene 4:

NARRATOR:

Madame Loisel didn't tell Madame Forestier that she lost her necklace and she

chose to replace it. The replacement cost them everything. Madame Loisel came

to know the ghastly life of abject poverty. Their previous life seemed downright

luxurious compared to what they had now.

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L : Matilda, my love. I have made the last payment on our debt. We have nothing left for ourselves, but at least we  are free from the loan of 20,000 francs. 

MADAME LOISEL : Free at last.

M O N S I E U R L O I S E L : Look! Isn't that Madame Forestier over there? You have not spoken to her since that day. Go talk to her 

MADAME LOISEL : Uh... Hello. Good day. 

MADAME FORESTIER: You must have mistaken me for someone else. Excuse me please..

MADAME LOISEL : Jeanne, don't you recognize me? It's me, Matilda

MADAME FORESTIER: Matilda? But it can't be. You look so worn and old 

MADAME LOISEL : No really, it's me. I've changed because I have had to endure ten hard years of manual labor, scrubbing floors  and taking in laundry

MADAME FORESTIER: My dear, what could have happened to make you do that?

MADAME LOISEL : It was your necklace, or rather my desire to be elegant, that caused this.

MADAME FORESTIER: But how is that possible? I have the necklace. I wore it to the theater just the other night. 

MADAME LOISEL : The necklace you have is actually just a replacement. I'm afraid that I lost yours. We borrowed money to purchase
a replacement and have spent the past ten years paying off the debt, but today, we have made the last payment. 

MADAME FORESTIER: Ten years? Surely it could not have taken that long to pay off the amount needed to replace the necklace? 

MADAME LOISEL : What do you mean? 

MADAME FORESTIER: Mine was a fake; the replacement should have cost you nothing more than 500 francs. Oh, my poor, poor, dear Matilda. 

so, i will answer this question 

Have you ever borrowed something and lost it? How did you try to find

it? Write it in your blog! 

I've ever borrowed something and i lost it. Most often is pen. I never find it, so i will buy the pen and i return to my friend.