HARRY
Hadn’t we better look for the others?
EDWARD
Wait. I’ve got something for you. It was in Mama’s box but she never wears it.
EDWARD gives HARRY a necklace.
You don’t have to wear it either but you might like it to look at.
HARRY
It’s beautiful. But you’ll have to put it back.
EDWARD
I wanted to give it to you.
HARRY
You did. It can go back in the box. You still gave it to me. Come on now, we have to find the others.
EDWARD
Harry, I love you.
HARRY
Yes I know. I love you too.
EDWARD
You know what we did when you were here before. I want to do it again. I think about it all the time. I try to do it to myself but it’s not as good. Don’t you want to any more?
HARRY
I do, but it’s a sin and a crime and it’s also wrong.
EDWARD
But we’ll do it anyway won’t we?
HARRY
Yes of course.
EDWARD
I wish the others would all be killed. Take it out now and let me see it.
HARRY
No.
EDWARD
Is it big now?
HARRY
Yes.
EDWARD
Let me touch it.
HARRY
No.
EDWARD
Just hold me.
HARRY
When you can’t sleep.
EDWARD
We’d better find the others then. Come on.
HARRY
Ready or not, here we come.
They go out with whoops and shouts. BETTY and ELLEN come.
BETTY
Ellen, I don’t want to play any more.
ELLEN
Nor do I, Betty.
BETTY
Come and sit here with me. Oh Ellen, what will become of me?
ELLEN
Betty, are you crying? Are you laughing?
BETTY
Tell me what you think of Harry Bagley.
ELLEN
He’s a very fine man.
BETTY
No, Ellen, what you really think.
ELLEN
I think you think he’s very handsome.
BETTY
And don’t you think he is? Oh Ellen, you’re so good and I’m so wicked.
ELLEN
I’m not so good as you think.
EDWARD comes.
EDWARD
I’ve found you.
ELLEN
We’re not hiding Edward.
EDWARD
But I found you.
ELLEN
We’re not playing, Edward, now run along.
EDWARD
Come on, Ellen, do play. Come on, Mama.
ELLEN
Edward, don’t pull your mama like that.
BETTY
Edward, you must do what your governess says. Go and play with Uncle Harry.
EDWARD
Uncle Harry!
EDWARD goes.
BETTY
Ellen, can you keep a secret?
ELLEN
Oh yes, yes please.
BETTY
I love Harry Bagley. I want to go away with him. There, I’ve said it, it’s true.
ELLEN
How do you know you love him?
BETTY
I kissed him.
ELLEN
Betty.
BETTY
He held my hand like this. Oh I want him to do it again. I want him to stroke my hair.
ELLEN
Your lovely hair. Like this, Betty?
BETTY
I want him to put his arm around my waist.
ELLEN
Like this, Betty?
BETTY
Yes, oh I want him to kiss me again.
ELLEN
Like this Betty?
ELLEN kisses BETTY.
BETTY
Ellen, whatever are you doing? It’s not a joke.
ELLEN
I’m sorry, Betty. You’re so pretty. Harry Bagley doesn’t deserve you. You wouldn’t really go away with him?
BETTY
Oh Ellen, you don’t know what I suffer. You don’t know what love is. Everyone will hate me, but it’s worth it for Harry’s love.
ELLEN
I don’t hate you, Betty, I love you.
BETTY
Harry says we shouldn’t go away. But he says he worships me.
ELLEN
I worship you Betty.
BETTY
Oh Ellen, you are my only friend.
They embrace. The others have all gathered together. MAUD has rejoined the party, and JOSHUA.
CLIVE
Come along everyone, you mustn’t miss Harry’s conjuring trick.
BETTY and ELLEN go to join the others.
MAUD
I didn’t want to spoil the fun by not being here.
HARRY
What is it that flies all over the world and is up my sleeve?
HARRY produces a Union Flag from up his sleeve. General acclaim.
CLIVE
I think we should have some singing now. Ladies, I rely on you to lead the way.
ELLEN
We have a surprise for you. I have taught Joshua a Christmas carol. He has been singing it at the piano but I’m sure he can sing it unaccompanied, can’t you, Joshua?
JOSHUA
In the deep midwinter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, Water like a stone.
Snow had fallen snow on snow
Snow on snow,
In the deep midwinter Long long ago.
What can I give him
Poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man
I would do my part.
What I can I give him?
Give my heart.
Scene Three
Inside the house. BETTY, MRS SAUNDERS, MAUD with VICTORIA. The blinds are down so the light isn’t bright though it is day outside. CLIVE looks in.
CLIVE
Everything all right? Nothing to be frightened of.
CLIVE goes. Silence.
MAUD
Clap hands, Daddy comes, with his pockets full of plums. All for Vicky.
Silence.
MRS SAUNDERS
Who actually does the flogging?
MAUD
I don’t think we want to imagine.
MRS SAUNDERS
I imagine Joshua.
BETTY
Yes I think it would be Joshua. Or would Clive do it himself?
MRS SAUNDERS
Well we can ask them afterwards.
MAUD
I don’t like the way you speak of it, Mrs Saunders.
MRS SAUNDERS
How should I speak of it?
MAUD
The men will do it in the proper way, whatever it is. We have our own part to play.
MRS SAUNDERS
Harry Bagley says they should just be sent away. I don’t think he likes to see them beaten.
BETTY
Harry is so tender-hearted. perhaps he is right.
MAUD
Harry Bagley is not altogether – He has lived in this country a long time without any responsibilities. It is part of his charm but it hasn’t improved his judgement. If the boys were just sent away they would go back to the village and make more trouble.
MRS SAUNDERS
And what will they say about us in the village if they’ve been flogged?
BETTY
Perhaps Clive should keep them here.
MRS SAUNDERS
That is never wise.
BETTY
Whatever shall we do?
MAUD
I don’t think it is up t
o us to wonder. The men don’t tell us what is going on among the tribes, so how can we possibly make a judgement?
MRS SAUNDERS
I know a little of what is going on.
BETTY
Tell me what you know. Clive tells me nothing.
MAUD
You would not want to be told about it, Betty. It is enough for you that Clive knows what is happening. Clive will know what to do. Your father always knew what to do.
BETTY
Are you saying you would do something different, Caroline?
MRS SAUNDERS
I would do what I did at my own home. I left. I can’t see any way out except to leave. I will leave here. I will keep leaving everywhere I suppose.
MAUD
Luckily this household has a head. I am squeamish myself. But luckily Clive is not.
BETTY
You are leaving here then, Caroline?
MRS SAUNDERS
Not immediately. I’m sorry.
Silence.
I wonder if it’s over.
EDWARD comes in.
BETTY
Shouldn’t you be with the men, Edward?
EDWARD
I didn’t want to see any more. They got what they deserved. Uncle Harry said I could come in.
MRS SAUNDERS
I never allowed the servants to be beaten in my own house. I’m going to find out what’s happening.
MRS SAUNDERS goes out.
BETTY
Will she go and look?
MAUD
Let Mrs Saunders be a warning to you, Betty. She is alone in the world. You are not, thank God. Since your father died, I know what it is to be unprotected. Vicky is such a pretty little girl. Clap hands, Daddy comes, with his pockets full of plums. All for Vicky.
EDWARD, meanwhile, has found the doll and is playing clap hands with her.
BETTY
Edward, what have you got there?
EDWARD
I’m minding her.
BETTY
Edward, I’ve told you before, dolls are for girls.
MAUD
Where is Ellen? She should be looking after Edward. (She goes to the door.) Ellen! Betty, why do you let that girl mope about in her own room? That’s not what she’s come to Africa for.
BETTY
You must never let the boys at school know you like dolls. Never, never. No one will talk to you, you won’t be on the cricket team, you won’t grow up to be a man like your papa.
EDWARD
I don’t want to be like papa. I hate Papa.
MAUD
Edward! Edward!
BETTY
You’re a horrid wicked boy and papa will beat you. Of course you don’t hate him, you love him. Now give Victoria her doll at once.
EDWARD
She’s not Victoria’s doll, she’s my doll. She doesn’t love Victoria and Victoria doesn’t love her. Victoria never even plays with her.
MAUD
Victoria will learn to play with her.
EDWARD
She’s mine and she loves me and she won’t be happy if you take her away, she’ll cry, she’ll cry, she’ll cry.
BETTY takes the doll away, slaps him, bursts into tears. ELLEN comes in.
BETTY
Ellen, look what you’ve done. Edward’s got the doll again. Now, Ellen, will you please do your job.
ELLEN
Edward, you are a wicked boy. I am going to lock you in the nursery until supper time. Now go upstairs this minute.
She slaps EDWARD, who bursts into tears and goes out.
I do try to do what you want. I’m so sorry.
ELLEN bursts into tears and goes out.
MAUD
There now, Vicky’s got her baby back. Where did Vicky’s naughty baby go? Shall we smack her? Just a little smack. (MAUD smacks the doll hard.) There, now she’s a good baby. Clap hands, Daddy comes, with his pockets full of plums. All for Vicky’s baby. When I was a child we honoured our parents. My mama was an angel.
JOSHUA comes in. He stands without speaking.
BETTY
Joshua?
JOSHUA
Madam?
BETTY
Did you want something?
JOSHUA
Sent to see the ladies are all right, madam.
MRS SAUNDERS comes in.
MRS SAUNDERS
We’re very well thank you, Joshua, and how are you?
JOSHUA
Very well thank you, Mrs Saunders.
MRS SAUNDERS
And the stable boys?
JOSHUA
They have had justice, madam.
MRS SAUNDERS
So I saw. And does your arm ache?
MAUD
This is not a proper conversation, Mrs Saunders.
MRS SAUNDERS
You don’t mind beating your own people?
JOSHUA
Not my people, madam.
MRS SAUNDERS
A different tribe?
JOSHUA
Bad people.
HARRY and CLIVE come in.
CLIVE
Well this is all very gloomy and solemn. Can we have the shutters open? The heat of the day has gone, we could have some light, I think. And cool drinks on the verandah, Joshua. Have some lemonade yourself. It is most refreshing. Sunlight floods in as the shutters are opened.
EDWARD comes.
EDWARD
Papa, Papa, Ellen tried to lock me in the nursery. Mama is going to tell you of me. I’d rather tell you myself. I was playing with Vicky’s doll again and I know it’s very bad of me. And I said I didn’t want to be like you and I said I hated you. And it’s not true and I’m sorry, I’m sorry and please beat me and forgive me.
CLIVE
Well there’s a brave boy to own up. You should always respect and love me, Edward, not for myself, I may not deserve it, but as I respected and loved my own father, because he was my father. Through our father we love our Queen and our God, Edward. Do you understand? It is something men understand.
EDWARD
Yes papa.
CLIVE
Then I forgive you and shake you by the hand. You spend too much time with the women. You may spend more time with me and Uncle Harry, little man.
EDWARD
I don’t like women. I don’t like dolls papa, and I love you, Uncle Harry.
CLIVE
There’s a fine fellow. Let us go out onto the verandah.
They all start to go. EDWARD takes HARRY ’s hand and goes with him. CLIVE draws BETTY back. They embrace.
BETTY
Poor Clive.
CLIVE
It was my duty to have them flogged. For you and Edward and Victoria, to keep you safe.
BETTY
It is terrible to feel betrayed.
CLIVE
You can tame a wild animal only so far. They revert to their true nature and savage your hand. Sometimes I feel the natives are the enemy. I know that is wrong. I know I have a responsibility towards them, to care for them and bring them all to be like Joshua. But there is something dangerous. Implacable. This whole continent is my enemy. I am pitching my whole mind and will and reason and spirit against it to tame it, and I sometimes feel it will break over me and swallow me up.
BETTY
Clive, Clive, I am here. I have faith in you.
CLIVE
Yes, I can show you my moments of weakness, Betty, because you are my wife and because I trust you. I trust you, Betty, and it would break my heart if you did not deserve that trust. Harry Bagley is my friend. It would break my heart if he did not deserve my trust.
BETTY
I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Forgive me. It is not Harry’s fault, it is all mine. Harry is noble. He has rejected me. It is my wickedness. I get bored, I get restless, I imagine things. There is something so wicked in me, Clive.
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