The Maids

The sound of the doorbell signals that Madame is home. Solange and Claire spring into action, tidying the bed. Solange asks Claire if she is certain that she wants to kill Madame, and Claire affirms that she is. Solange advises Claire to put 10 pills in Madame’s tea. Claire agrees, confirming that she has the pills, and Solange exits. After a moment, Madame enters with a bout of anxious laughter, followed by Solange. Madame comments on the poor quality of the flowers that flood the room, sent as condolences after her lover’s arrest. She was out all night and saw her lover in jail, but only from far away and for a quick moment. Solange tells Madame that Claire is making tea, and Madame says she feels guilty having tea when Monsieur has nothing.

Solange assures Madame that Monsieur will certainly be free in short order as they’ll know right away that he isn’t guilty. Madame replies that even if he is guilty, this ordeal has made her realize how much she loves him. She says that she’ll never abandon him, even if she must follow him to Devil’s Island or Siberia. Solange comments that only the wives, sisters, and mothers of criminals are permitted to go to the penal colonies, but Madame insists that she would sneak past the guards, implying that she would use her sexual wiles to get to Monsieur. Solange suggests that she should rest, and Madame becomes angry, accusing Solange of treating her like a child. Calming herself, Madame admits that she is just upset. Solange asks if Madame wants to see the accounts for the day, but Madame is too distraught.

Solange takes Madame’s fur cape and notices that it needs repair. Madame replies that she plans to rid herself of her lavish clothing and go into mourning, so there’s no point. When Madame suggests that the maids might find the house too depressing, Solange promises that they’ll never abandon her. Then Madame surprises Solange by asking, “You’ve not been too unhappy with me, have you?” (69). Madame says that she’s always made sure the maids had what they needed, then comments that she’s finished with fine clothes. Claire brings the tea, and Madame adds that Solange and Claire will inherit all her things and the lifestyle that comes with them. Solange offers Madame the tea, but Madame turns it down and says she is going to bed. She picks up the red velvet dress and offers to give it to Claire.

Taken aback, Claire says, “It’s so beautiful. I’ll never dare wear it” (71). Next, Madame offers her fur cape to Solange, who accepts it graciously. Madame is about to exit but notices that the telephone has been taken off the receiver and questions the two maids. Claire and Solange reluctantly explain that Monsieur called after making bail and that he is waiting to meet Madame. Suddenly bustling, Madame orders the women to call a taxi and fetch her furs. Madame scolds them for not telling her right away. She complains that the tea is cold and demands details about the phone call. Waiting eagerly for Solange to return, Madame reminds Claire to take her fur cape to be repaired and asks to see the day’s accounts.

Looking closely at Claire, Madame notices that she’s wearing makeup. Unaware that the powder is left over from their roleplaying, Madame laughs and compliments her, advising, “You’re still young. Make yourself attractive. Smarten up” (74), and putting a flower in Claire’s hair. Claire offers to heat up the tea, but Madame, giddy and impatient, exclaims that she will be drinking champagne with her lover instead. Suddenly, Madame spots the alarm clock and wonders why it’s in her room. Claire claims that Solange brought it from the kitchen to use while cleaning. Madame replies, “How odd” (75), then comments irritably about how long it is taking for Solange to find a taxi. Madame sits in front of the mirror and talks to herself, asking her reflection if she looks attractive enough to see Monsieur and observing that she’s being silly because she’s so excited.

Madame muses to herself, “Those girls do worship me” (75), but she criticizes their work, noting, “Their housekeeping is the most extraordinary combination of luxury and filth” (76). Claire enters and overhears, but Madame reassures her that she is thrilled with their efforts. Claire is skeptical, but Madame brushes her off, attributing her comment to her difficult day. Abruptly, Madame wonders who could have sent the letters that led to Monsieur’s arrest in the first place and asks if Claire knows anything. Claire is alarmed, but Madame claims she isn’t accusing or insinuating anything. Once more, Madame expresses exasperation at the time that Solange has been hailing a taxi, exclaiming that it has been an hour.

Madame asks again why the sisters didn’t tell her about the phone call, and Claire explains that they were afraid of shocking her. Madame accepts this answer, gushing, “You’re quietly killing me with flowers and kindness. One fine day I’ll be found dead beneath the roses” (77). Madame asks for Claire’s opinion on her hair. Pleased with Claire’s advice, Madame observes that Claire is intelligent and sensitive, stating that she has always believed Claire had potential for a better life. Claire demurs, and Madame excitedly exclaims that she hears a car. Claire offers Madame the tea again, but Madame declines happily. Claire attempts to insist that she drink the tea, but Solange rushes in, interrupting. Cheerfully, Madame hurries out.

Once the sisters are alone, Solange sarcastically praises Claire for failing to poison Madame, reminding Claire that she had insulted Solange when Solange failed. Wearily, Claire says she’s going to sleep and exits. Solange calls for Claire and demands that she come back. Claire reenters, maintaining that it wasn’t her fault that Madame wouldn’t drink the tea. Solange rages, furious at Madame’s happiness and the fact that she took back the furs. Claire is apathetic, asking Solange what there is to do. Solange replies, “Let’s get on with it” (81), directing Claire to keep her apron on since it’s Solange’s turn to play Madame. Claire insists that it doesn’t matter whose turn it is and pushes Solange to accept the apron. She does. Solange tells Claire to turn out the lights.

In the darkness Claire suddenly worries that Madame might return. Despite Solange’s assurances, Claire feels that Madame suspects something and is trying to catch them. Solange tells Claire that she is being insane, and Claire asks if they might say a prayer to the Virgin Mary. But Solange is aghast at the idea of bringing God into their ritual. Solange asserts that God is listening regardless. Resigned, Claire offers to wear the white dress. Solange agrees, telling Claire to dress quickly, suddenly excited to perform the ritual. Claire reenters, having put the white dress on over her maid’s uniform. Solange expresses her awe at Claire’s beauty, but Claire insists that they skip the beginning.

Claire-as-Madame screeches insults at Solange-as-Claire, articulating intense disgust for all servants. Solange urges her to continue and then demands that Claire be quiet, brandishing a whip. Claire is confused, but Solange orders her onto her knees. Solange hits Claire and forces her to lay on the floor and then crawl. Solange insults Claire-as-Madame, telling her that she’s no longer beautiful enough to keep her lover, mocking her for thinking that she was young and attractive enough to follow her lover across the ocean. Claire begs, “Solange, please, I’m sinking” (88). Solange continues to abuse Claire, demanding that she stand up. Claire tells her sister, “You’re killing me” (88), then says they ought to go to sleep.

Solange refuses, despite Claire’s pleas that Madame might come home and her certainty that they’re in danger. Claire screams for help, but Solange rebukes her, telling Claire that shouting is pointless as “death is present, and is stalking [Claire]” (90). Solange tells Claire that she has sacrificed to keep her sister alive, including “all of the fetuses [she] threw into the gutter” (90). Claire continues to yell, but Solange states, “Everyone’s listening, but no one will hear” (90). Begging, Claire tells Solange that she feels sick, eliciting sympathy as Solange helps her to the kitchen. After a moment, Solange returns, wearing her black uniform dress. In a long, disjointed monologue, Solange “seem[s] to be addressing characters who are imaginary, though present” (91).

Solange proudly announces that she has finally strangled Madame with her dish gloves and killed her. Solange insults Madame for wearing a black dress. She mimics Madame, expressing annoyance at the inconvenience of having to wear black to mourn a maid and considering it a joke that she’s treated like family at the funeral. As herself, Solange announces that she is “Madame’s equal” (92). Laughing, she states that although Monsieur doesn’t remember, he used to obey their orders when he was a child. Solange addresses a police officer but refuses to talk about her role in the murder, adding that she and Claire didn’t need Madame’s dresses and now Solange wears “the red garb of criminals” (92). Then Solange sees Monsieur, who laughs at her but ultimately forgives her, and she pronounces him “the soul of kindness” (92).

Next, Solange sees Madame, who recognizes for the first time that Solange is lonely. However, Solange claims that while Madame has her belongings, Solange has her sister. She asserts that no one would try to stop her from saying these things because she may have once been a servant, but now she stands tall as the woman who murdered her sister. Solange pities Madame, who is small and fragile. She remembers the night that Madame wore the white dress. Madame had laughed at Claire for staring at picture of Gary Cooper in a magazine and then taken the magazine away. Monsieur laughed too. Solange again refuses to talk to the police officer, explaining, “It would be a fine thing if masters could pierce the shadows where servants live… That, my child, is our darkness, ours” (93). Solange smokes a cigarette, coughing. She turns her back to the audience and describes a police officer escorting her to the gallows, where the hangman attempts to kiss her.

Solange says that all the servants from the funeral watch her as she dies. She remembers the funeral, lamenting Claire and weeping. Then Solange stands and agrees to follow the police, feeling kinship with them as “they too belong to the world of outcasts” (94). During the last lines, Claire appears in the doorway, unseen by her sister but listening to Solange. Solange says she has become infamous as a criminal, explaining, “I’m not a maid. I have a noble soul” (95). Claire enters wearing the white dress. Solange complains that Madame won’t obey her and stop walking around the apartment. Claire, mimicking Madame’s voice, addresses Solange and calls her Claire. Claire-as-Madame complains that Solange-as-Claire needs to be quiet. Solange explains that it’s the middle of the night and they’re playing a silly game.

Claire asks Solange for a cup of tea. Solange hesitates, but Claire insists, and Solange suggests that they’re exhausted and it’s time to quit. But Claire is firm, telling Solange that she is now in charge and Solange’s job is to make Claire follow through. Solange worries that Madame might return, but Claire states, “Forget about them. We’re alone in the world. Nothing exists but the altar where one of the two maids is about to immolate herself” (96). Claire explains to Solange that when she goes to prison, Claire will secretly be with her. Claire orders Solange to stand. She repeatedly demands her tea, despite Solange’s protests. Finally, Solange brings it to her. It’s cold. As Claire drinks, Solange describes a scene in which Madame returns home with Monsieur, but Madame is dead and both maids are living. Solange pronounces, “We are beautiful, joyous, drunk, and free!” (100).