The Necklace
CHARACTERS
● MATHILDE LOISEL – A beautiful but discontented woman who dreams of a life filled
with luxury.
● MONSIEUR LOISEL – Mathilde's loving but practical husband, willing to sacrifice to
make his wife happy.
● MADAME FORESTIER – A wealthy friend of Mathilde, who lends her a necklace.
● JEWELER – A professional jeweler who helps Mathilde and Monsieur Loisel replace the
necklace.
SCENE 1: The Loisel’s Home
NARRATOR
Mathilde Loisel dreamed of wealth, beauty, and elegance, but reality had granted her only
modest means.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Entering with excitement) Mathilde, look. An invitation from the minister himself.
MATHILDE
(Sighing bitterly) What use is an invitation to me? I have nothing fine to wear.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
Your theater dress is lovely enough.
MATHILDE
(Shaking her head, nearly in tears) I would be mocked among the wealthy women. I need a
proper dress.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Quietly) How much would it cost?
MATHILDE
(Softly) Four hundred francs.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Sighing deeply) Very well. You shall have it.
SCENE 2: The Jewelry Problem
NARRATOR
The dress was beautiful, yet Mathilde was restless.
MATHILDE
(Anxiously) I have no jewelry, no adornment. I will look poor and plain.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Encouragingly) Borrow something from Madame Forestier.
MATHILDE
(Hope lighting her face) Yes. Yes, I’ll go tomorrow.
SCENE 3: Madame Forestier’s House
NARRATOR
Madame Forestier, a wealthy friend, greeted Mathilde warmly.
MADAME FORESTIER
Take what you like, dear.
(Mathilde carefully opens the jewelry box.)
MATHILDE
(Gasps softly, picking up a glittering diamond necklace) This… may I?
MADAME FORESTIER
(Smiling) Of course.
NARRATOR
Mathilde left, her heart full of joy and pride.
SCENE 4: The Loss
NARRATOR
Late that night, Mathilde and Monsieur Loisel hurried home through the empty, cold streets. The
night had ended, and exhaustion hung over them both.
MATHILDE
(Frantic, trembling as she reaches for her neck) It’s gone. The necklace is gone.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Alarmed) What? Are you certain?
MATHILDE
I had it when we left. I don’t remember after that. It’s nowhere!
MONSIEUR LOISEL
We must look again. Retrace our steps, search the streets, ask at the carriages.
NARRATOR
But no matter how they searched, the necklace was lost.
SCENE 5: The Jeweler
NARRATOR
The next morning, desperate and anxious, Mathilde and Monsieur Loisel went from shop to
shop, searching for a necklace that matched the lost one.
(Inside a small, elegant jewelry shop. A JEWELER examines an empty chain.)
JEWELER
(Examining carefully) This is a fine chain. What did the pendant look like?
MATHILDE
It was a diamond necklace. Just like this. (Gestures, describing it.)
JEWELER
(Slowly) I have nothing exactly like it. But I can have one made… though it will cost a great
deal.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Quietly) How much?
JEWELER
Thirty-six thousand francs.
MATHILDE
(Whispering, horrified) Thirty-six thousand…
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Steadying himself) We will find the money. Order it.
JEWELER
As you wish.
NARRATOR
And so, they committed themselves to a debt greater than they had ever known.
SCENE 6: The Debt
NARRATOR
Left with no choice, they replaced the necklace. To pay the enormous sum, they sold their
home, dismissed their servants, and toiled in misery.
MONSIEUR LOISEL
(Solemnly) We will pay it back, Mathilde. Whatever it takes.
NARRATOR
And so began years of hardship.
SCENE 7: Ten Years Later
(A quiet street. Mathilde, weary and aged, walks slowly, carrying a basket. She notices Madame
Forestier, still elegant and carefree. Mathilde hesitates, then gathers courage and approaches.)
MATHILDE
Jeanne… it’s me. Mathilde Loisel.
MADAME FORESTIER
I’m sorry… I don’t recognize you.
MATHILDE
It’s been a long time. Life has not been kind to me.
MADAME FORESTIER
Oh… Mathilde, what happened?
MATHILDE
Because of you… because of that necklace I borrowed… I lost it.
We replaced it. It cost us everything.
For ten years, we worked, my husband and I, to pay the debt.
We lost our home, our comfort, my beauty, all for that necklace.
MADAME FORESTIER
Oh, Mathilde… no…
That necklace was fake.
It was worth barely five hundred francs.
(Silence. Mathilde stares at her, unable to speak. The weight of ten years settles in her eyes.)
NARRATOR
In that moment, the truth shattered Mathilde’s world.
A single mistake, a single illusion, had stolen ten years of her life.
(Mathilde turns away slowly, the pain too great to show.)
END
