by Tanika Gupta
RANI:
You’re not! Look how much you’ve achieved in these few weeks! You’re a quick learner Hari.
HARI:
My grandfather started to teach me, but then he died and that was the end of my lessons.
RANI:
It’s never too late and I can teach you.
HARI looks at RANI, grateful.
HARI:
You have a kind heart.
RANI:
If you come to where I work every day, even for half an hour, we can sit outside and read together.
HARI:
I’m a sailor Rani. How would I earn money to eat?
RANI:
You can find work somewhere…it’s a big city. There must be work.
HARI:
You want me to stay near you?
RANI looks coy.
HARI:
You like me that much?
RANI:
When I have finished with you, you will be able to read the newspapers.
HARI reaches over and holds her hand.
HARI:
Then you will have to be my teacher for a long time.
They hear the sound of a fiddle playing on the deck.
HARI:
I wish I was a wealthy man. Then we could be married and you wouldn’t need to work as a servant for English families.
RANI:
Who said I want to marry you? And I like working!
HARI:
I love you Rani
RANI:
Don’t be silly.
HARI:
Don’t laugh at me. I know I have nothing to offer you. But I could make you very happy.
HARI edges closer to RANI, placing his arm around her.
RANI:
(Laughs.) Stop it Hari.
HARI:
The first time I saw you on this boat, I felt I had known you in another life…that we had been together…seeing you made me feel like a sailor feels when he has been drifting on an endless swell of sea and then he spots the land. The relief! The joy! Knowing that he will stand on firm ground.
RANI and HARI get closer. They kiss.
MRS MATTHEWS:
RANI! RANI! Please see to the children! They have woken up!
RANI pulls back. She smooths down her hair and sari.
RANI:
(Calls back.) Yes Mrs Matthews. Coming!
(To HARI.) I have to go.
RANI smiles and exits. HARI stands on the deck wistfully. RANI returns for one last kiss and then disappears inside again.
SCENE 3
Windsor Castle, 1887.
It is early morning. QUEEN VICTORIA (in her late sixties) is sat on a chair, her breakfast things laid before her. She is eating an egg from a golden egg cup. Her Lady-In-Waiting LADY SARAH is by her side.
VICTORIA:
Such crowds yesterday. Such enormous good humour. All the balconies were crammed with people cheering with flags.
LADY SARAH:
They all love their Queen and Sovereign.
VICTORIA:
The decorations along Piccadilly were quite beautiful and so many touching inscriptions. Such waving of hands.
LADY SARAH:
It has been an exhausting couple of days for you.
VICTORIA:
We must write it all down before we forget the details.
LADY SARAH:
Of course ma’am.
VICTORIA:
It’s a shame those children sang God Save the Queen so out of tune…
VICTORIA giggles.
LADY SARAH:
Appallingly out of tune actually… Bless them.
VICTORIA:
To think, this day fifty years ago we went to St James’ Palace for our proclamation… Fifty years ago…our robes beautifully draped on the chair.
LADY SARAH:
You looked glorious ma’am both then and today.
VICTORIA:
How do you know how we looked back then Lady Sarah? You were just a child.
LADY SARAH:
I have seen the portraits.
VICTORIA:
Indeed. How we sat there yesterday without our darling Albert by our side…he would have been so proud of me.
LADY SARAH looks sympathetically across at VICTORIA.
Offstage ABDUL coughs.
LADY SARAH:
Ma’am, I wondered if this would be a good time to inform you of…erm…
VICTORIA:
My dear Lady Sarah, what is it?
LADY SARAH:
Sir John Tyler has a special gift he wanted to present to you.
VICTORIA:
Sir John…?
LADY SARAH:
Ma’am, he’s the governor of the north west provinces in India and he is sending you a rather unusual golden anniversary presentation.
VICTORIA:
Well, let us see.
LADY SARAH peruses the contents of a letter.
LADY SARAH:
He writes to you here that the presentation is on its way on a boat and should reach you within the week.
VICTORIA:
What is this ‘unusual presentation?’
LADY SARAH:
He does not say. Simply writes here that ‘I have sent my Queen and Sovereign a surprise’.
VICTORIA looks put out.
VICTORIA:
We do not care for surprises.
LADY SARAH looks concerned.
SCENE 4
We are now at Tilbury docks. Passengers have disembarked from the ship and are looking around for their friends and families. Everyone looks relieved to be on land.
RANI is counting the luggage as it is brought out by LASCARS. She is also trying to manage the children who are running around her excitedly.
CHILD 1:
Land ahoy! Land ahoy! We’re home!
RANI:
George…George…please…behave yourself. Your father will be cross…look at your shirt…George!
LASCAR:
I think that is all Memsahib.
RANI:
No. There was a large trunk too.
The LASCAR scratches his head.
RANI:
Go and have a look. It was in the same section with all the other cases.
The LASCAR heads off to look for the trunk. HARI rushes forward to speak with RANI. Suddenly he looks awkward as he sees DADABHAI and GANDHI walking up to RANI. (HARI is very aware of his low status here and hovers.)
GANDHI looks nervously about him.
DADABHAI:
This is where we say our farewells young woman.
RANI:
Mr Gandhi, good luck with the law and the French lessons.
GANDHI:
Thank you. And may God watch over you. Oh look! I can see my uncle has come to meet me.
DADABHAI:
I will join you in a moment Gandhi.
GANDHI does a very polite namaste and exits hurriedly.
DADABHAI:
So, Rani! Your big adventure begins.
RANI:
Thank you Dadabhai.
DAABHAI:
For what?
RANI:
For looking out for me on the voyage.
DADABHAI:
My child, you have an enquiring mind. Don’t let it go to waste please. Read, read and read some more.
DADABHAI places his hand on RANI’s head in blessing and exits hurriedly.
SUSAN MATTHEWS approaches.
SUSAN:
What a relief to have the ground beneath my feet again.
HARI backs away.
SUSAN:
Rani – Is that all our luggage?
RANI:
Just one more to come.
SUSAN:
Thank you.
RANI:
The children are so excited to be on firm ground again. It is hard to get used to…keep expecting the earth to sway like this…
RANI sways as if she is on a ship. She laughs happily.
SU
SAN looks bored.
I’m sorry Madam, I feel slightly light-headed…so long at sea…
SUSAN:
Believe me, we all feel the same way. It was a very tiresome journey.
SUSAN reaches into her skirt pocket and pulls out an envelope. She tries to hand it to RANI who looks bemused.
SUSAN:
Payment for your work Rani, plus a little bonus.
You have been most helpful in the voyage across.
RANI timidly takes the envelope and bows her thanks.
RANI:
Has the carriage been ordered Madam? Shall I…?
SUSAN:
My man is on his way – yes. But we…that is Mr Matthews and myself have no further need of your services now.
RANI looks up at SUSAN – perplexed.
RANI:
I am sorry Madam, I don’t understand.
SUSAN:
(To RANI.) There’s money in there for a month, for lodgings and a letter of reference.
RANI:
Lodgings?
SUSAN:
You’re a clever girl. You’ll find your way around.
RANI gathers the children around her who cling to her. A LASCAR approaches carrying a large and heavy trunk.
LASCAR:
Found it Memsahib! It was hiding in the back, under lots of ropes…had to really hunt around for it…
HARI realises what is happening and hushes the other LASCAR up. SUSAN MATTHEWS hurriedly tips the LASCAR.
SUSAN:
Take our bags to the carriage over there please.
The LASCAR does his bidding.
RANI:
But Madam, you said I would have a position here. That is why I came. To look after the children.
CHILD 1:
We like Rani! We want her to stay with us!
SUSAN:
I’m afraid that’s quite out of the question. We already have a nanny, an English one.
RANI:
But you said…
SUSAN:
I changed my mind. We have no need for you. The children need a governess, someone to help them with their education.
RANI:
But I can do everything else. I can sew and clean and cook.
SUSAN:
Rani. We really have no further use for you.
The children start to cry and cling to RANI. SUSAN MATTHEWS looks irritated.
SUSAN:
Don’t be silly children, now come with me and your father.
SUSAN tries to pull her children, but they refuse to move and cry louder. RANI is crying too.
RANI:
But where will I go? Where will I find work? I am a complete stranger in this country.
SUSAN:
That is not my problem.
RANI:
You are breaking your word to me. My mother looked after you Memsahib.
SUSAN:
Your mother was different. She was a seasoned and experienced ayah. You are not.
RANI:
But I can learn and there was an agreement.
SUSAN:
No written contract you understand.
RANI:
Doesn’t a verbal agreement between families mean something…?
SUSAN:
It is not legally binding.
RANI:
Then why did you bring me? Why did you lie to my mother and promise her you would look after me?
SUSAN:
How dare you call me a liar!
RANI:
You have broken your word to my mother.
HARI:
(Calls out.) Please… Mrs Matthews… Memsahib…please, you can’t just abandon her here! You can’t! She is only a young girl. She knows nothing of the ways of the world.
SUSAN:
I do not talk to vagabond sailors. Look at it this way Rani, we’re giving you your freedom.
RANI rushes forwards and grabs the hem of SUSAN’s dress. RANI falls on her knees. ABDUL KARIM disembarks the boat and watches the scene unfold.
RANI:
Memsahib, please. I will be lost…there is no hope for me…
SUSAN:
You will tear my dress. Unhand me at once.
Passers-by stare at the two women. SUSAN is embarrassed.
RANI:
(Angry now.) I looked after your children, I bathed them, fed them, sang them songs to get them to sleep…just as my mother did for you!
SUSAN:
And you were both in turn – paid and fed.
RANI:
You have known me since I was a child. Have you no feeling for me?
SUSAN:
You are a grown woman now Rani. If you do not like it here, you can catch the next ship back. There is enough money there for your passage.
As for feeling…you are merely my servant’s offspring. Now take your filthy hands off my dress.
RANI flinches as though she has been dealt a blow. She lets go of SUSAN’s dress.
The little girl looks up at RANI.
CHILD 2:
I love you Rani.
Then she tears herself away from RANI and obediently walks away with her mother. SUSAN exits without a backward glance. RANI is distraught. HARI watches her grief and feels terrible for her.
ABDUL KARIM helps RANI up. He sits her down and HARI fetches her some water.
RANI:
I don’t know anyone here. What kind of people are they?
HARI stands close by and watches.
ABDUL:
You must be brave little Rani. I would take you with me but I am under strict instructions. You must find employment. In a good house.
RANI:
I don’t know how to.
ABDUL:
Look, they have given you references, use them to find work.
RANI:
I cannot believe that they could be so cruel.
ABDUL:
The ways of the world can be cruel my little friend. That is why you must think of yourself first. Always. Take care of your own interests.
ABDUL looks around him, helplessly.
ABDUL:
I have to go, I am being summoned.
ABDUL gives RANI a gift.
ABDUL:
Take my compass as a good luck charm.
RANI:
I can’t take this. It’s yours!
ABDUL:
I don’t need it. I know where I’m going. Use it well and it will always lead you to the right place.
ABDUL salaams RANI and exits. As he exits he looks back at RANI, sad to leave her in so much distress. RANI sits and sobs. HARI approaches.
HARI:
I’m sorry, I’ve seen it too many times before. Young men and women…we come like idiots hoping for a better life.
RANI:
I thought I had a position.
HARI:
You’ll get another one.
RANI:
I was going to send money home. To my mother…for my little brother’s schooling…I thought, a couple of years here and then I will go back with the Matthews and…
HARI:
Maybe it is all for the best.
RANI:
How? My family are depending on me.
HARI looks at RANI with a mixture of pity and love. He takes her bundle off her.
HARI:
No point wailing. First we have to get a roof over your head, then we deal with the other problem. Come. Come with me Rani. I will find you a place to stay. It is too cold to sleep outside and soon it will be dark. At least this ‘vagabond sailor’ knows his way around this city.
RANI sits and cries.
HARI:
Rani. I will look after you. Please don’t flood London with your tears.
HARI extends his hand. RANI hesitates before taking it and getting up slowly to follow HARI.
SCENE 4B
QUEEN VICTORIA is sat on her own reading letters. LADY SARAH enters and curtseys to VICTORIA.
LADY SARAH:
Ma’am
, Sir John Tyler’s presentation has arrived.
VICTORIA:
Ah. Our surprise. Let us see.
LADY SARAH turns to call ABDUL in. ABDUL KARIM enters. VICTORIA looks astonished.
LADY SARAH:
This is…erm… (LADY SARAH peruses a letter.) Erm…
ABDUL steps forward and bows with a flourish.
ABDUL:
Abdul Karim.
VICTORIA sits forward in her chair.
LADY SARAH:
(Reads a letter.) ‘Her Royal Highness, etc, etc…to mark her 50th anniversary on the British throne, Sir John Tyler presents Her Majesty with a most excellent Indian servant from the city of Agra. He can cook Indian curry and has a most excellent temperament’.
LADY SARAH stares at ABDUL.
LADY SARAH:
I suppose I could give this man a small tour of the royal grounds, put him up in the servants’ quarters for a few weeks’ vacation and then send him back, with our deepest apologies and gracious thanks of course.