From my Perspective
“From my perspective” - written by Leigh Riches.
© 2005 Oakden Baptist Church.

This drama is presented in two parts - firstly from the husbands (Tim), and then the Wife’s (Helen). While the dialogue is identical in both versions the way which they are performed should be vastly different. In Tim’s version he sees himself as the ‘good one’ and is played with patience and earnestly, while Helen becomes progressively agitated during the drama. In Helen’s version the opposite is true and she sees herself as the ‘good one’ while Tim becomes progressively agitated.

Part 1 - Tim’s Version

Tim: (to the audience) I just don’t know what to do - my wife and I just don’t seem to be able to get along lately. It’s just one conflict after another - I don’t know what the problem is but we just can’t seem to get along like we used to anymore..... I’m the one that’s trying to keep things together but... it’s her that causes all the problems..... Let me tell you what happened the other day....

(Helen is busy cooking tea, There is a table in front of her with a large pot with a lid and spoon, a chopping board and knife and some sort of food, some letters one one side of the table next to the remote control for the TV, a recipe book and a hand towel.

Tim: (entering with case, coming home from work) (calling out) I’m home......(looking for an answer).... I’m home....(he sees his wife at the table preparing dinner, and a large pot on one side of the table) What’s for dinner (endearingly) pumpkin (opens the lid of the pot and looks in)

Helen: (chopping & preparing and becoming annoyed) I know it’s not you’re favourite, but I didn’t make it to the shops - Matthew’s been so restless today.

Tim: (looking around) Where is he....(he move to the side of the stage as though peering into another room) Oh.... he fast asleep - he’s been restless has he?

Helen: Well of course he’s OK now you’re home - he’ll probably be all smiles now.

Tim: (Tim is back at the table and looking through a catalogue that was on the table) I told you about that new set of clubs I was looking at didn’t I?

Helen: Do you think that really need them - I thought your old ones were still OK?

Tim: Well, you got that new outfit last week, I thought we’d talked about this....

Helen: It was on Sale - and I really needed a new one..... I think that you only want a new set of golf clubs so that yours looks better than... what his names?...

Tim: (has picked up a pile of mail) Bills?..... (he accidentally drops the mail on the floor) look at that.... (he picks them up) All I want is something special for myself every now and then - is that too much to ask?

Helen: You know things are tight right now - and we’ve got my aunts birthday next week that we haven’t got a present for yet.

Tim: Oh.... I forgot..... we’ve got to spend more than what we usually would because it’s her 50th isn’t it.

Helen: (annoyed) I don’t know what you don’t like about her - at least she’s still with it.
Tim: What do you mean “still with it”... (thinking) There’s something wrong with her?

Helen: (really annoyed) There you go - you’re always saying there’s something wrong with my family. You just can’t help yourself. You worry too much.

Tim: (picking up the bills again) I’m worried about these..... I’m working myself silly it just seems that we’ve got nothing to show for it. I mean look at this (gesturing to the room) this is not what I wanted for us - I really thought we’d be able to be better off with this new job, but I don’t know where the money’s going.

Helen: (defensive) It’s not easy to look after a family these days - everything's going up - petrol, food.... I was talking to Lisa today.....

Tim: (moves over to the side and pick up remote as if flicking on TV) You saw Lisa - I thought you were busy all day?

Helen: (comes over toward ‘TV’) I don’t get to see my friends as much as you do - You spent all last Saturday watching football with the guys.

Tim: Well Saturday’s my only chance - I’m not at home all week.

Helen: (back to the table) Well anyway, (rudely) Lisa’s husband got that new company car he was going for - he’s doing really well ..... Maybe you should spend more time with people like him.

Tim: There’s nothing wrong with the guys I hang around with - their my friends Tim has made his way to the pot and is stirring it) - You gotta keep stirring don’t you?

Helen: I’m just saying that they seem to be more interested in their cars and footy than anything else. It wouldn’t hurt to spend some more time with our son.

Tim: (nicely) What do you want me to do? Spend more time around the house on the weekend - I thought I’d just be in the way?

Helen: You don’t understand....

Tim: I don’t understand what? You seem t be saying that a lot lately (Helen slams the lid on the pot, jamming Tim’s hand) ... it’s really starting to hurt!

Helen: I say it because you just don’t seem to be interested in how I feel anymore....

Tim: (back over to TV) In how you feel? I’m sorry - I didn’t realise that it was all my fault.

Helen: (annoyed) Well perhaps if you listened to me a bit more we might be able to get along better.

Tim: I’m sorry (apologetically) - what did you say?

Helen: (really heating up) This is what I mean - we just can’t get along when you ignore me all the time.

Tim: (in an understand way) I’m trying to understand you but you’re not making any sense.

Helen: (exploding) Oh... Forget it.

(Helen freezes on stage and Tim addresses the audience again)
Tim: See what I mean - I’m really trying, but I don’t know what I can do to stop the continual conflict between us - I just with she could see things from my perspective.

Part 2 - Helen’s Version

Helen: (to the audience) I just don’t know what to do - my husband and I just don’t seem to be able to get along lately. It’s just one conflict after another - I don’t know what the problem is but we just can’t seem to get along like we used to anymore..... I’m the one that’s trying to keep things together but... it’s him that causes all the problems..... Let me tell you what happened the other day....

(Helen is busy cooking tea, There is a table in front of her with a large pot with a lid and spoon, a chopping board and knife and some sort of food, some letters one one side of the table next to the remote control for the TV, and a recipe book.




Tim: (entering with case, coming home from work) (calling out) I’m home......(looking for an answer).... I’m home....(he sees his wife at the table preparing dinner, and a large pot on one side of the table) What’s for dinner (opens the lid of the pot and looks in)
pumpkin ! (with a tone of disgust)

Helen: (nicely) I know it’s not you’re favourite, but I didn’t make it to the shops - Matthew’s been so restless today.

Tim: (looking around) Where is he....(he move to the side of the stage as though peering into another room) Oh.... he fast asleep - (sarcastically) he’s been restless has he?

Helen: Well of course he’s OK now you’re home - he’ll probably be all smiles now.

Tim: (Tim is back at the table and looking through a catalogue that was on the table) I told you about that new set of clubs I was looking at didn’t I?

Helen: (reasoning) Do you think that really need them - I thought your old ones were still OK?

Tim: (angrily) Well, you got that new outfit last week, I thought we’d talked about this....

Helen: It was on Sale - and I really needed a new one..... I think that you only want a new set of golf clubs so that yours looks better than... what his names?...

Tim: (has picked up a pile of mail ) Bills!..... (he slams the bills on the floor in anger) look at that.... (Helen picks them up) All I want is something special for myself every now and then - is that too much to ask?

Helen: You know things are tight right now - and we’ve got my aunts birthday next week that we haven’t got a present for yet.

Tim: (heavy sarcasm) Oh.... I forgot..... we’ve got to spend more than what we usually would because it’s her 50th isn’t it.

Helen: I don’t know what you don’t like about her - at least she’s still with it.

Tim: (sarcastic again) What do you mean “still with it”... There’s something wrong with her!

Helen: (comforting) There you go - you’re always saying there’s something wrong with my family. You just can’t help yourself. You worry too much!

Tim: (Waving the bills around again - he’s getting heated) I’m worried about these..... I’m working myself silly it just seems that we’ve got nothing to show for it. I mean look at this (angry) this is not what I wanted for us - I really thought we’d be able to be better off with this new job, but I don’t know where the money’s going.

Helen: It’s not easy to look after a family these days - everything's going up - petrol, food.... I was talking to Lisa today.....

Tim: (moves over to the side and pick up remote as if flicking on TV) You saw Lisa - (as if ‘aha - I’ve caught you out’) I thought you were busy all day?

Helen: I don’t get to see my friends as much as you do - You spent all last Saturday watching football with the guys.

Tim: (defensive) Well Saturday’s my only chance - I’m not at home all week.

Helen: (nicely) Well anyway, Lisa’s husband got that new company car he was going for - he’s doing really well ..... Maybe you should spend more time with people like him.

Tim: There’s nothing wrong with the guys I hang around with - their my friends (tim is at the pot again and slams the lid) (he’s really angry and points at Helen) - You gotta keep stirring (ie.pushing me) don’t you?

Helen: I’m just saying that they seem to be more interested in their cars and footy than anything else. It wouldn’t hurt to spend some more time with our son.

Tim: (totally frustrated, angrily) What do you want me to do? Spend more time around the house on the weekend - I thought I’d just be in the way?

Helen: You don’t understand....

Tim: (angry) I don’t understand what? You seem t be saying that a lot lately - it’s really starting to hurt.

Helen: I say it because you just don’t seem to be interested in how I feel anymore....

Tim: (exploding) In how you feel? I’m sorry - I didn’t realise that it was all my fault.

Helen: Well perhaps if you listened to me a bit more we might be able to get along better.

Tim: (incredulous) I’m sorry - what did you say?

Helen: This is what I mean - we just can’t get along when you ignore me all the time.

Tim: (yelling with finality) I’m trying to understand you but you’re not making any sense.

Helen: (giving up) Oh... Forget it.



(Tim freezes on stage and Helen addresses the audience again)
Helen: See what I mean - I’m really trying, but I don’t know what I can do to stop the continual conflict between us - I just with he could see things from my perspective.