Really, Doesn't Crime Pay

Really, Doesn't Crime Pay Summary | Really, Doesn't Crime Pay Summary

The entire story is written as out-of-sequence journal entries. Myrna, the black woman who is writing these entries in her journal, is giving a first-person account of events and people in her life. The first few journal entries occur out of order, starting in September of 1961. Myrna is sitting in her new Southern home writing in her notebook and looking down at her hands. Myrna writes about how she takes special care of her hands-in fact, all the rest of her body-and how sweet she smells. Myrna is able to indulge in this since she is not a "serious writer."

Myrna recalls how her husband Ruel first brought her to their current house. It is clear that Myrna does not like the house, or Ruel for that matter. However, out loud, Myrna agrees with Ruel that the house is beautiful. Ruel tells Myrna that now they can forget the past. Myrna does not want to forget the past, but she claims to agree with Ruel that, yes, they can forget the past in their new house. Myrna explains that "the past" is Mordecai Rich, a man whom Ruel blames for causing Myrna's breakdown. Myrna also explains that "the past" is also referring to the night in which Myrna attempted to kill Ruel with his chainsaw.

Then the journal entries go back to May 1958, where Myrna writes about Mordecai Rich. Mordecai is a vagabond from the North who writes down his impressions of the South. Mordecai gives Myrna a hard time for being married to Ruel. Ruel works in a store and raises 100 acres of peanuts. Ruel has never been out of Hancock County except when he served in the war. He married Myrna because although her skin is brown, she looks French or Asian. Mordecai starts visiting Myrna more and more, and Myrna is drawn to Mordecai because he is a writer. Ruel is annoyed that Mordecai is hanging around so much. When Myrna tells this to Mordecai, he asks if she minds his coming around, and he places his hand on her breast. Myrna attempts to rebuke him by stating she's married, but she knows that this will not stop Mordecai. Myrna knows that Mordecai is interested in her since he found out she wants to be a writer.

Myrna was hiding and writing in her notebook when Mordecai found her one day. He took the notebook from her and read her latest entry. Myrna has written about Ruel's opinion of her writing: "No wife of mine is going to embarrass me with a lot of foolish, vulgar stuff." Ruel wants Myrna to spend her time going shopping or having a baby instead of writing. In apparent submission, Myrna goes shopping and buys excessive amounts of makeup, face cream, and so on. The whole time Myrna is shopping she grieves for her lost story. Myrna only writes outlines of her stories now, she considers them "dead in embryo," for they never have a chance to fully develop. Myrna feels that she has stopped writing complete stories out of cowardice and that she has a heart of a slave.

Mordecai asks to see Myrna's story. Therefore, Myrna lets him read her story about a one-legged woman. Mordecai is impressed by her writing and becomes her lover. Myrna does not love him, but her body is able to respond to him like it never has before. Mordecai praises her intelligence and the depth of her writing, and Myrna shows him all of her writings, which span 20 years. Mordecai goes through it all and then selects three of her notebooks and asks if he can take them to see if her stories can be published. Myrna is flattered and lets Mordecai take the notebooks; she is already dreaming of being a famous writer and leaving the town, Ruel, and everybody else behind.

They continue their affair for a week and then Mordecai stops coming and is nowhere to be found. Myrna searches for him to no avail. Myrna begins to doubt Mordecai's feelings for her and wonders what he really thought of her. Myrna falls into a depression and lets everything go-the house, herself; she starts to feel numb. Ruel sees the change in Myrna and confesses to her that he desperately wants a child. Myrna is ambivalent about having a child but agrees. Myrna's depression continues, and she contemplates suicide.

Ruel convinces Myrna to go to the doctor to see how she can become pregnant faster. While at the doctor's office, she looks through a magazine and discovers her story about a one-legged woman. Although some of the details have been changed, Myrna knows that it is her story. The magazine reports that the author of the story is Mordecai Rich. The magazine also reports that Mordecai has a new book coming out.

A few days later, after Myrna and Ruel make love, she washes the feel of him off her body while he sleeps. Myrna then takes Ruel's chainsaw and tries to decapitate him. Myrna fails to kill Ruel because the noise of the chainsaw wakes him up. After this incident, Myrna is hospitalized.

The journal entries jump back to September 1961. Myrna writes that she has been out of the hospital for about a year. Ruel is still attempting to impregnate Myrna, but she is secretly taking birth control pills to keep this from happening. Myrna derives pleasure from denying Ruel a child. Outwardly, she becomes the perfect wife. She makes herself beautiful and sweet smelling, fixes her husband dinner, and lays unresisting as Ruel makes love to her. She says yes to whatever Ruel asks. Ruel is unhappy and has realized Myrna is doing things to break him down. Myrna shops twice a day for clothes and items she never intends to use. She amuses herself by making herself pretty. When Ruel has finally had enough of Myrna, she plans to tell him how long she has been on the Pill. Myrna plans to leave Ruel and her home only when she is tired of her sweet smell and beautiful hands.