The Gift (NHB Modern Plays) by Janice Okoh

Author:Janice Okoh [Okoh, Janice]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788503112
Publisher: Nick Hern Books

ACT THREE

Windsor Castle, 1867

The opulence of a royal residence.

SARAH and SARAH BONETTA are seated. They are partway through having tea. SARAH is dressed for a day at the office. A spear rests against the table. There is a small bust of Prince Albert somewhere in the room.

QUEEN VICTORIA is under a table, head first. QUEEN VICTORIA can neither see nor hear SARAH. She speaks to Victoria, SARAH BONETTA’s four-year-old daughter, who is also under the table. We do not ever see the child, although we may hear her.

QUEEN VICTORIA. Would you like a chocolate nib?

A pause.

Would you like a chocolate nib? They’re jolly good.

SARAH BONETTA. Victoria, come out of there, please?

A pause.

QUEEN VICTORIA. She’s a shy little thing, isn’t she? Victoria? Or shall I call you Vicky? Does she like to be called Vicky?

SARAH BONETTA. I don’t think / she [does] –

QUEEN VICTORIA. I shall call her Little Vicky. Would you like a chocolate nib, Little Vicky?

SARAH BONETTA. She won’t answer to it.

QUEEN VICTORIA. Little Vicky?

QUEEN VICTORIA eventually comes up.

You were saying. What were you saying? Yes. The school…

QUEEN VICTORIA sits and sips her tea. The two SARAHS lift their cups and sip.

SARAH BONETTA. Yes, Ma’am. I was saying that I’ve been teaching them several subjects among which are economics, physics and German –

QUEEN VICTORIA. Yes, well, everyone needs to speak German.

SARAH BONETTA. And etiquette, of course.

QUEEN VICTORIA. How have they taken to etiquette?

SARAH BONETTA. Quite spectacularly. Whenever the British Emissaries visit and have tea, they say it’s impossible to distinguish between host and guest. Ma’am, my school has become the most sought-after institution for girls to attend throughout the entire protectorate. It has a waiting list of twelve months.

QUEEN VICTORIA. Well, that’s as I expected. And to think the naysayers said it would be impossible to bring the natives up beyond the level of darning and needlework. Jolly good.

SARAH BONETTA glances at SARAH, who discreetly signals for her to get on with it.

SARAH BONETTA. Of course it isn’t all plain sailing.

QUEEN VICTORIA. Nothing of importance ever is.

SARAH BONETTA. Yes, I suppose. There are some girls who just won’t cooperate. They refuse to take on a Christian name and keep little figurines of their gods in their desks.

QUEEN VICTORIA. Habits you beat out of them, I hope.

SARAH BONETTA. Some of them abscond because of it. There was one particular child who –

QUEEN VICTORIA. Is this going to take long?

SARAH BONETTA. Well, no. Not really. I just thought you’d like to hear / about –

QUEEN VICTORIA. We succeeded, Sally. That’s all that counts. Not the casualties.

SARAH BONETTA. Yes, Ma’am. But I wouldn’t call them casualties.

QUEEN VICTORIA. What else would you call them?

Silence.

SARAH BONETTA. Let me tell you about this child. This child, Ma’am, she was quite spectacular. She believed one of their gods spoke to her through candlelight. It made me think how similar their beliefs are to ours. They have a girl who claims to have communion with one of their gods through a candlewick and we have Moses conversing with God via a burning bush.

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