This is a piece I wrote to submit to our second All the Sex Monologues, a fundraiser for Planned Parenthood, in which I'll be performing two monologues next month. It wasn't chosen, so I'm sharing it here. Imagine multiple male and female voices, crowding each other, slowing toward the end. In case it's not obvious .... me too.
What she said …
No!
Stop!
I don’t want to!
Get off me!
That hurts!
No!
Please don’t!
I said no!
Get your hands off me!
Stop!
Leave me alone!
I’ve never done this before. I don’t want to!
You promised you wouldn’t!
Let go!
No!
I don’t want this. I don’t want you!
Don’t touch me there!
Stop!
I’m afraid. Please stop!
No! I said no!
What she did after …
Got dressed and walked out
Took a shower so hot her skin looked boiled
Douched with vinegar and tears
Vomited
Called the police and filed a report
Stayed in bed for weeks
Went to the emergency room
Dropped out of college
Threw her clothes in the trash
Cried and cried and cried
Scrubbed her skin until she bled
Slept in the closet for weeks
Walked with her head down
Never ever went outside alone
Got an abortion
Ate and ate and ate and ate and ate
Went to Planned Parenthood for an STD and pregnancy test
Threw out her short skirts
Cut her skin with a razor
Picked up the phone to call the police. Put it down.
Drank until she could sleep every night
Took too many sleeping pills
Kept the baby
Only wore sweats
Told her friends
Lied to her parents
Told herself it was her fault. She shouldn’t have led him on.
Plotted the revenge she was too afraid to take
Bought a gun
Cringed whenever a man’s voice got too loud
Ran away
Swallowed her voice
Wondered if she’d ever feel whole again
What they said …
Boys will be boys.
He was drunk. He’s not like that when he’s sober.
He didn’t mean nothing by it.
What were you wearing?
He loves you. He just doesn’t know how to show it.
He’s sorry.
Why did you go with him?
Are you sure that’s what happened?
Why didn’t you fight harder?
Be more careful next time.
You’ll ruin his life if you tell.
You have quite the imagination.
You shouldn’t have been out alone.
It could have been worse.
I told you this would happen.
You’re just trying to get attention.
It’s not like he actually raped you.
You’re just jealous.
He didn’t know what he was doing.
This is what it’s like to be a woman.
He says you’re lying.
You don’t want this to be on the news.
Your skirt was too short.
Your shirt was too low.
You wear too much makeup.
You looked like you were asking for it.
What did you expect?
Girls like you always find trouble.
It was just locker room talk.
Best not to tell anybody.
You need to loosen up.
He was just having fun.
People deserve a second chance.
He promised he’d never do it again, didn’t he?
He’s served his sentence.
You need to move on.
Cheer up.
You’re not the only one, you know.
He was abused.
You must have teased him.
You need to get over it.
That’s just how men are. They can’t help themselves.
At least he used a condom.
He’s been going through some stuff.
I’m sure he’s sorry now.
Imagine how he feels.
It will be your word against his.
Can we talk about something else now?
What’s changed …
(exit stage in silence)
