An Ideal Husband – Duologue (6) Sir Robert Chiltern & Lady Chiltern

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SIR ROBERT CHLITERN, an MP at the House of Commons is holding a dinner party at his Grosvenor Square home. MRS CHEVELEY was invited by another guest, and takes this opportunity to talk to SIR ROBERT about a business transaction of hers in which he can be of use. She then proceeds to blackmail him in no uncertain terms. In this scene LADY CHILTERN is pleading with him to retain his honour and not bow down to the blackmail, (of which she knows nothing). They are preparing for bed.

An Ideal Husband

By Oscar Wilde

Adapted by scriptsandsketches.com

Duologue: Characters: SIR ROBERT CHILTERN, LADY CHILTERN

LADY CHILTERN: I know that there are men with horrible secrets in their lives – men who have done some shameful thing, and who in some critical moment have to pay for it. By doing some other act of shame – oh! don’t tell me you are such as they are! Robert, is there in your life any secret dishonour or disgrace. Tell me, tell me at once, that –

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN:. That what?

LADY CHILTERN: (Speaking very slowly). That our lives may drift apart.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN: Drift apart?

LADY CHILTERN: That they may be entirely separate. It would be better for us both.

SIR ROBERT CHILTERN: Gertrude, there is nothing in my past life that you might not know.

LADY CHILTERN: I was sure of it, Robert, I was sure of it. But why did you say those dreadful things, things so unlike your real self?