The play takes place in New England in the spring of 1935. Part 1 is set in Fefu’s tastefully decorated living room at noon. There is a piano, a liquor cabinet, and a rifle leaning against the wall. Fefu addresses two other women, Christina and Cindy, commenting, “My husband married me to have a constant reminder of how loathsome women are” (7). Christina and Cindy are horrified, but Fefu replies that she only laughs when he says this because she agrees with the statement. Fefu asserts that things that are revolting are actually fascinating, such as a rock that appears smooth and clean on the surface but, when flipped over, reveals fungus and worms. Taking the rifle from the wall, Fefu mentions that Christina has not met her husband, Phillip. They look through the French doors into the backyard, where Phillip is with Fefu’s younger brother John and the gardener. Christina asks Fefu to point him out. Fefu takes aim and shoots, indicating that the man she shot is her husband.

The women scream, but Fefu assures them that the shooting is a game they play, and no matter where Phillip happens to be when Fefu shoots, he always falls to the ground.