by Tanika Gupta
RANI:
I have a couple with me, but Georgie thought it more appropriate that I should wear the dress of this country.
LORD OAKHAM:
Perhaps when you’re with the children – but I prefer to see you dressed as an Indian woman.
RANI nods.
It reminds me of my time in India.
RANI:
As you wish my Lord.
LORD OAKHAM:
And I want to hear all about your village back in India. What you did, where you grew up, your family…everything.
RANI:
I’m afraid my Lord will not find it very interesting.
LORD OAKHAM:
Let me be the judge of that my girl.
LORD OAKHAM sits back expectantly.
RANI:
I come from a small village in Bengal.
LORD OAKHAM:
Describe your village to me.
RANI:
Small houses made from clay and mud. Very clean, hot…my father was a farmer, my mother an ayah for the Matthews family.
In the mornings, after I completed my chores, I would make my way to school. I would have to walk along the ridges that stretched between the paddy fields. Lush green, water shimmering on the surface – so green, sometimes it hurt your eyes. I would see water buffaloes lounging and basking in the big lakes, and once I spotted a tiger lapping water at the riverside.
LORD OAKHAM:
Your parents sent you to school? That is unusual is it not?
RANI:
My father wanted me to be educated. He saved all his money to buy me books.
LORD OAKHAM:
A little more of the aloo gobi.
RANI jumps up to serve more.
LORD OAKHAM:
Do you have a sweetheart Rani?
RANI looks embarrassed.
LORD OAKHAM:
Ahhh…there is someone isn’t there?
Suddenly LORD OAKHAM takes RANI’s face in his hands.
LORD OAKHAM:
How could such a beautiful, sweet creature not have at least a dozen admirers? Is there no one to look after you?
RANI:
I do not need looking after, my Lord.
LORD OAKHAM:
Every woman needs the protection and admiration of a man. There must be someone…?
RANI remains silent.
LORD OAKHAM:
Whoever he is, he is not worthy of you. You look so lost and lonely. No one in this country who understands you. No one to call a friend. Isolated, abandoned, frightened, so far away from home.
You are a hidden gem. Your eyes sparkle with something…knowing.
RANI:
My Lord – please.
LORD OAKHAM:
I could be a very good friend to you.
RANI:
My Lord?
LORD OAKHAM:
If you were mine, I would know how to treat you…like a goddess.
RANI looks at LORD OAKHAM, perplexed.
LORD OAKHAM kisses RANI on the lips. She looks afraid.
RANI:
This is not right my Lord.
LORD OAKHAM strokes RANI’s hair.
LORD OAKHAM:
You are so lovely. Let me look after you, care for you…I can make your life here with us very comfortable. Eiderdowns to keep you warm, an allowance for your dresses and…
RANI:
I need to send money orders back to India to my mother and brother.
LORD OAKHAM:
Of course.
LORD OAKHAM kisses RANI again. This time she kisses back, more passionately. He then pushes her gently down on to the couch. They start to make love.
HARI has finished his letter and reads it out to himself.
HARI:
My Dearest Rani
It has been four months since I last saw you. My mind still goes back to that night and how I let you down so badly. I wanted to help and instead, I was a weak man who acted dishonourably towards you.
I took your advice and am learning my letters in the hope of finishing off what you inspired me to do.
I keep myself strong so that maybe one day, I will see you again.
I will send these words to Lascar Sally and hope that they will eventually find you. I love you Rani and I hope you will forgive the stupidity of a wretched and unformed lascar. I pray for your well-being and that I will see you again.
Your friend always, Hari.
SCENE 11
VICTORIA is sitting on a chair, dressed for a royal occasion. (Party noises in the background. Chamber music.) She is holding court to a party but looks very tired and worn. ABDUL KARIM is standing next to her, holding a tray with a glass on it. VICTORIA intermittently takes a drink and replaces the glass on the tray. She waves her hand around towards the audience to indicate the guests.
VICTORIA:
All our subjects from all the corners of our Empire, come to see their Queen and Sovereign.
ABDUL looks into the crowd obviously amazed.
ABDUL:
Ma’am, you are the most powerful and respected monarch in the world. Might I ask, when will you make it official?
VICTORIA:
You are too impatient Abdul.
ABDUL:
There is whispering and gossip at court that Your Majesty treats me as one would an exotic pet.
VICTORIA:
Ahh…but a beloved pet.
VICTORIA laughs.
ABDUL:
Your Majesty enjoys my discomfort at these words?
VICTORIA:
We enjoy having you by our side.
ABDUL:
I am your loyal servant but there are those out there who do not trust me. If you were to make the appointment official, I would not have to suffer the indignities of being ridiculed, ma’am.
VICTORIA:
Come, come Abdul. There are procedures we must adhere to.
ABDUL:
You gave me your word.
VICTORIA:
Are you questioning our word Abdul?
ABDUL:
No ma’am, I apologise. I am simply eager to serve you to the best of my abilities.
VICTORIA:
Bertie asked us if you were trustworthy.
ABDUL:
Ma’am?
VICTORIA:
If you have any connections with Indian agitators?
VICTORIA looks at ABDUL.
VICTORIA:
Well? Have you? Any connections that is?
ABDUL:
(Affronted.) With all due respect to His Royal Highness I find that questioning of my character, extremely…insulting…
VICTORIA laughs. ABDUL looks even more affronted.
VICTORIA:
There are people out there who have tried to assassinate us you know.
ABDUL:
Ma’am…I am so sorry for the suffering that has caused you…but to think…that I would attempt to hurt or conspire against Your Majesty in any way…pains me to the core of my heart…
VICTORIA:
We have told Bertie you are harmless.
ABDUL:
If Your Majesty wishes to dismiss me from her service, or if Your Majesty feels that I am unworthy of such office, close to your royal person…
VICTORIA waves ABDUL’s concerns away.
VICTORIA:
Abdul – please.
VICTORIA takes a sip of water.
ABDUL:
Ma’am, I am keen to communicate the news to my father in Agra…he is an old man now…
VICTORIA:
We are to travel to Balmoral next week for the summer. You will be commanded to attend Abdul.
ABDUL bows.
VICTORIA:
We have asked our men up there to make you comfortable in the rooms on the first floor. They are particularly excellent rooms with a view of the grounds.
ABDUL:
My eternal gratitude ma’am.
VICTORIA:
They used to belong to our
beloved keeper…
ABDUL:
I am sorry to press the point but when will you…?
VICTORIA smiles at ABDUL coquettishly.
VICTORIA:
It is already done.
ABDUL looks confused.
VICTORIA:
We have arranged it and it is official. We wish to raise you from the role of Khitmagar to that of Munshi. Instead of cooking curries, you will be our teacher.
You will forthwith be relieved of such menial tasks as waiting at the table.
ABDUL:
May I ask that all the photographs which have been taken of me handing dishes to you will be destroyed. These are quite beneath my dignity.
VICTORIA:
It shall be done. Go and write to your father in Agra and add that we wish to commission Von Angeli to do a portrait of you.
ABDUL:
Thank you ma’am.
ABDUL KARIM smiles and bows deeply. He calls over another servant. SERVANT approaches.
ABDUL:
I am no longer a waiter. Please take my tray.
The confused SERVANT looks at VICTORIA who nods. He takes the tray from ABDUL’s hands and stands in place of ABDUL by the Queen’s side.
SERVANT bows to VICTORIA and ABDUL stands close by on the other side of her. He looks proud.
SCENE 12
HARI on the boat. He is working hard with other lascars. A storm is raging and they are stacking cargo onto a boat. The work is back-breaking. HARI looks ragged and tired.
SERANG surveys the work.
They sing a mournful song as they work.
Eki Dumah (lascar song)
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Somerset akilla coolie man
Eki dumah!
Somerset akilla Bosun’s mate
Eki dumah!
Somerset akilla wirefall
Eki dumah!
Somerset akilla coolie man
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Sailorman no likee Bosun’s mate
Eki dumah!
Bosun’s mate no likee Head Serang
Eki dumah!
Head Serang no likee Number One
Eki dumah!
Number One no likee coolie man,
Kay, kay, kay, kay!
Eki dumah!
Kay, kay, kay.
As HARI is working hard on the boat, we see RANI working too. She is with four children, playing, feeding etc. We see that she is heavily pregnant.
We also see DADABHAI busy with papers, sat behind a desk. He is meeting with a respectable looking Englishman. They shake hands and greet each other animatedly and sit down to talk.
SCENE 13
Osborne House.
LADY SARAH is sitting outside in the sunshine with VICTORIA.
VICTORIA is seated at a desk, writing.
LADY SARAH:
I have met the Munshi’s wife.
VICTORIA stops writing. She tries to hide her jealousy. LADY SARAH watches her carefully.
VICTORIA:
What does she look like?
LADY SARAH:
She is fat and not uncomely, a delicate shade of chocolate and gorgeously attired, rings on her fingers, rings in her nose, a pocket mirror set in turquoises on her thumb and every feasible part of her person hung with chains and bracelets and earrings.
She had a rose pink veil on her head bordered with heavy gold and splendid silk and satin swathings around her person. It all seemed so…so…un-English…
VICTORIA:
She is essentially oriental.
LADY SARAH:
Doctor Reid has pointed out something slightly indelicate about the Munshi.
VICTORIA:
How so?
LADY SARAH:
He has been to visit Mrs Karim on a few occasions now and whilst he is not allowed to see his patient’s face, he is expected to diagnose simply by looking at the lady’s tongue.
VICTORIA:
The woman of the household is not permitted to reveal her form to any man other than her husband. She remains veiled. That is the custom.
LADY SARAH:
Forgive me ma’am, but there is some question as to exactly how many Mrs Karims there are.
It seems that whenever Dr Reid is asked to attend Mrs Karim, a different tongue is put out to him to examine.
VICTORIA:
That is Abdul’s business, not ours. We do not interrogate him on his private affairs.
LADY SARAH:
But surely ma’am. It is not morally proper to encourage a servant to live in some kind of a harem with an exotic menagerie?
VICTORIA:
He is not a servant, please never refer to Abdul as such. He is our teacher. He will also teach us something about the religions and customs of India. It is of great interest to us for both the language and the people, we have never naturally come into real contact with before.
LADY SARAH:
Ma’am, when he returns to India…
VICTORIA:
He is simply going on vacation. He has served us loyally for three years now and it is only proper that he should once in a while visit his family.
LADY SARAH:
I hope you will see fit to distance yourself a little from him, whilst he is away.
VICTORIA:
What is your meaning?
LADY SARAH:
Ma’am…the rumours and whisperings at court are not very tasteful.
VICTORIA:
You mean there’s gossip about us? At our age? How entertaining. What exactly are they saying?
LADY SARAH:
Members of your court say, you are showing undue favouritism towards the Indian. They fear…the Munshi is exploiting Her Majesty. That he almost thinks of himself as royalty and they are resenting his constant presence by your side… Ma’am… And Lord Ponsonby says that Abdul’s father is not a surgeon in the Indian army, or anything of the sort. He is a hospital assistant in Agra jail with no medical diploma.
VICTORIA:
That is preposterous! They either found the wrong man or they decided to invent a little fiction.
LADY SARAH:
They also say that he has a friend – a Rafiuddin Ahmed…
VICTORIA:
Yes, he is studying at the Bar here.
LADY SARAH:
The Home Office have their eye on this man and believe him to be an untrustworthy adventurer in contact with disorderly elements both here and in India.
VICTORIA:
I have met Mr Ahmed and I can assure you, he is a most educated and pleasant young man.
LADY SARAH:
(Horrified.) You have met him? I must warn you ma’am. Ahmed is a member of the Indian League here in Britain along with another man who goes by the most ridiculous name – Dadabhai Naoroji.
VICTORIA:
It is a Parsi name. And I have heard of this Naoroji too. I made Lord Salisbury apologise to him for calling him a ‘black man’.
LADY SARAH:
Then you must know that this Parsi intends to stand as a Member of Parliament. He is gathering support. Perhaps it would be wise to distance yourself from anyone who has links with Indian Home Rule.
VICTORIA:
Enough! We will have our Munshi.
LADY SARAH bows in deference but she is upset.
SCENE 14
Outside LORD OAKHAM’s house. We see two bundles of clothes being thrown out onto the street. Then RANI is pushed roughly out.
LORD OAKHAM is standing on the back steps of his house.
RANI stands below him on the street, her belongings all around her, heavily pregnant. She is distraught and crying.
She looks careworn and slightly ragged, her ha
ir dishevelled. GEORGIE stands in the background and watches on in horror.
LORD OAKHAM: