Pamela Fiske - Scene From Her Opera 'Final Straw'

Pamela Fiske

The composer Pamela Fiske was a composer mostly known for her ad jingles, electronic greeting card tunes, and video game soundtracks. Her one foray into more serious work was her one act opera 'Last Straw'. The work has never been staged, but was played a number of times by the Harris Community Orchestra in their summer concert series in the park. One of those performances yielded this scene, the penultimate scene in the work. A marriage has been slowly falling apart, and reaches the tipping point when the husband crudely lectures the wife on her failings, and the wife counter argues and tells him to get out. The husband's scene has a full accompaniment, while the wife's scene is more subdued in accompaniment, but more passionate in expression. The work was written shortly after her divorce, and was somewhat autobiographical. As such, her ex husband brought a lawsuit against her for defamation of character, which brought the public performances of her work to a halt due to a hold order by the court. Sadly, the matter was held up in court for three years, in which time she contracted cancer of the pancreas and passed away. Six months after she was gone, the court ruled in her favor and the work was allowed public performance again, but by then the work had been forgotten.

 The Husband: 

Why do you make that face? 

I'm just trying to help you understand your place. Your role.

You know I love you! I love you! But I want a sandwich! DAMMMIT! 

Why don't you take better care of me? 

I’m your husband, you should take orders from me. 

I know best. You know that I love you!

 

SON OF A BITCH!!!!Why'd you throw that skillet at me? 

I just bought it for you! See? 

You don't take very good care of me! 

Despite all of that, I love you! 

 

You should make me some food, NOW! 

Make me a burger and fries NOW! 

Hurry up! Make it fast!Hurry up! 

Then you should scrub up the dishes now! 

Scrub up the dirty dishes ! 

Hurry up! Right now! 

 

 I really don't want much, but I want sex when I want it.

 It's your marital obligation! 

Is that asking so much? DAMMMMMIT! 

And take care of the house, have to clean it much better, 

and take care of the kids. Take care of the kids! SHIT! 

 

You should vacuum the carpet, NOW! 

It's filthy and disgusting! 

Hurry up! Plug it in! Hurry up! Make it spin! 

Then give the dog a bath NOW! 

Scrub up the dirty stinking dog NOW! 

Hurry up! Don't make a mess!

You don't really care, I guess! 

 

What did you say? Did I hear you right? 

I don't do anything around the house?

What am I supposed to do? Huh? 

Do all the work, do all YOUR work! DAMMMMMIT! 

 I'm the man of the house! 

I wear the pants, Got the balls! 

You do what I say! For your own sake, as well as the kids! Got it? 

 

If I holler jump, you ask how high! Got it? 

If I say shit, you ask what color and how much? Got it? 

I say fuck, you say you want top or bottom! Got it? 

 

It's really quite simple, yes? So very simple, even for you, 

even for you! EVEN FOR YOU! So just do it! Got it? 

 

 Make me some food, right NOW! 

Make me a T- bone steak right NOW! 

Doesn't matter the time, consider I'm hungry! 

Wipe the kids noses NOW! 

Wipe the dirty kids noses NOW! 

Hurry up! Right now! 

 

Aren't you proud of the children? Don't you care about them? 

Don't you care about ME? Me? ME! 

Where are you going? I LOVE YOU! 

I'm just trying to help!Just do what I say, 

and we'll get along fine! 

 I take good care of you, don't be ungrateful! 

GOT IT?  BITCH! 

 

The Wife: 

You say you're the boss, because of two 

little things hanging between your legs.

You think I should do everything, 

because I don't have those two little things 

(and I DO mean LITTLE) hanging between MY legs? 

What do I think about that? 

Or do I even have that right? 

Am I stuck because we're married, in a never-ending plight of 

DISRESPECT! 

DISRESPECT! 

DISRESPECT! 

 

 Cook your own food, ya bum! 

Cook it real good if you know how! 

I'm not your chef, I'm not your valet. 

I'm not your breeding cow! 

 

You don't have to mention the kids. 

I take care of them all the time. 

You helped make 'em, you oughta help take care of 'em, 

don't you think? 

You take better care of your truck, the dog, your man cave, your big screen TV, your six pack, than me! Or the kids! Or the house! SO... 

 

Wash your own clothes, ya bum! 

Wash 'em real good if you know how! 

I'm not your washer woman, I'm not your friend! 

And I'm sure not your breeding cow!

 

 Am I just a slave to your whims? 

To do whatever it is you don't want to? 

What century are you living in? 

I'm your wife! I'm not your damn slave! 

 

What about the times I was sad, or lonely, or even horny, and you took off to drive your big truck? Spend time with the boys, down at the bar, and leave me here all alone! No more! NO MORE! NO MORE!

 

 Mow the damn yard yourself! 

Rake it when you're done if you know how! 

I'm not your land scaper, I'm not your confidant! 

And I'm sure as fuck not your breeding cow! 

 

 I've reached the point of no return. No use in talking to me. 

I'm done, I'm through, I'm nothing to you, to you! TO YOU! 

 

 This is the end, you jerk! 

Pack your bags and get out! 

 Don't give me any of your sass, 

I'll call the cops on your ass, 

and you'll spend some time in jail! 

GO AHEAD! TRY ME! 

 

 Go on get out! Goodbye! GOODBYE! 

Take care of yourself have your own life!

 I'm no one to you, yes it is true. 

And I'm sure as fuck, sure as fuck! Sure as fuck! not your wife! 

Anymore! 

Anymore! 

Anymore!