Cloud Nine Read online

  JOSHUA

  Did madam hear me wrong?

  CLIVE

  She heard something else.

  JOSHUA

  What was that, madam?

  BETTY

  Never mind.

  CLIVE

  Now Joshua, it won’t do you know. Madam doesn’t like that kind of joke. You must do what madam says, just do what she says and don’t answer back. You know your place, Joshua. I don’t have to say any more.

  JOSHUA

  No sir.

  BETTY

  I expect an apology.

  JOSHUA

  I apologise, madam.

  CLIVE

  There now. It won’t happen again, my dear. I’m very shocked Joshua, very shocked.

  CLIVE winks at JOSHUA, unseen by BETTY. JOSHUA goes.

  CLIVE

  I think another drink, and send for the children, and isn’t that Harry riding down the hill? Wave, wave. Just in time before dark. Cuts it fine, the blighter. Always a hothead, Harry.

  BETTY

  Can he see us?

  CLIVE

  Stand further forward. He’ll see your white dress. There, he waved back.

  BETTY

  Do you think so? I wonder what he saw. Sometimes sunset is so terrifying I can’t bear to look.

  CLIVE

  It makes me proud. Elsewhere in the empire the sun is rising.

  BETTY

  Harry looks so small on the hillside.

  ELLEN comes.

  ELLEN

  Shall I bring the children?

  BETTY

  Shall Ellen bring the children?

  CLIVE

  Delightful.

  BETTY

  Yes, Ellen, make sure they’re warm. The night air is deceptive. Victoria was looking pale yesterday.

  CLIVE

  My love.

  MAUD comes from inside the house.

  MAUD

  Are you warm enough Betty?

  BETTY

  Perfectly.

  MAUD

  The night air is deceptive.

  BETTY

  I’m quite warm. I’m too warm.

  MAUD

  You’re not getting a fever, I hope? She’s not strong, you know, Clive. I don’t know how long you’ll keep her in this climate.

  CLIVE

  I look after Her Majesty’s domains. I think you can trust me to look after my wife.

  ELLEN comes carrying VICTORIA, aged 2. EDWARD, aged 9, lags behind.

  BETTY

  Victoria, my pet, say good evening to Papa.

  CLIVE takes VICTORIA on his knee.

  CLIVE

  There’s my sweet little Vicky. What have we done today?

  BETTY

  She wore Ellen’s hat.

  CLIVE

  Did she wear Ellen’s big hat like a lady. What a pretty.

  BETTY

  And Joshua gave her a piggy back. Tell Papa. Horsey with Joshy?

  ELLEN

  She’s tired.

  CLIVE

  Nice Joshy played horsey. What a big strong Joshy. Did you have a gallop? Did you make him stop and go? Not very chatty tonight are we?

  BETTY

  Edward, say good evening to papa.

  CLIVE

  Edward my boy. Have you done your lessons well?

  EDWARD

  Yes papa.

  CLIVE

  Did you go riding?

  EDWARD

  Yes papa.

  CLIVE

  What’s that you’re holding?

  BETTY

  It’s Victoria’s doll. What are you doing with it, Edward?

  EDWARD

  Minding her.

  BETTY

  Well I should give it to Ellen quickly. You don’t want papa to see you with a doll.

  CLIVE

  No, we had you with Victoria’s doll once before, Edward.

  ELLEN

  He’s minding it for Vicky. He’s not playing with it.

  BETTY

  He’s not playing with it, Clive. He’s minding it for Vicky.

  CLIVE

  Ellen minds Victoria, let Ellen mind the doll.

  ELLEN

  Come, give it to me.

  ELLEN takes the doll.

  EDWARD

  Don’t pull her about. Vicky’s very fond of her. She likes me to have her.

  BETTY

  He’s a very good brother.

  CLIVE

  Yes, it’s manly of you Edward, to take care of your little sister. We’ll say no more about it. Tomorrow I’ll take you riding with me and Harry Bagley. Would you like that?

  EDWARD

  Is he here?

  CLIVE

  He’s just arrived. There Betty, take Victoria now. I must go and welcome Harry.

  CLIVE tosses VICTORIA to BETTY, who gives her to ELLEN.

  EDWARD

  Can I come, papa?

  BETTY

  Is he warm enough?

  EDWARD

  Am I warm enough?

  CLIVE

  Never mind the women, Ned. Come and meet Harry.

  They go. The women are left. There is a silence.

  MAUD

  I daresay Mr Bagley will be out all day and we’ll see nothing of him.

  BETTY

  He plays the piano. Surely he will sometimes stay at home with us.

  MAUD

  We can’t expect it. The men have their duties and we have ours.

  BETTY

  He won’t have seen a piano for a year. He lives a very rough life.

  ELLEN

  Will it be exciting for you, Betty?

  MAUD

  Whatever do you mean, Ellen?

  ELLEN

  We don’t have very much society.

  BETTY

  Clive is my society.

  MAUD

  It’s time Victoria went to bed.

  ELLEN

  She’d like to stay up and see Mr Bagley.

  MAUD

  Mr Bagley can see her tomorrow.

  ELLEN goes.

  MAUD

  You let that girl forget her place, Betty.

  BETTY

  Mother, she is governess to my son. I know what her place is. I think my friendship does her good. She is not very happy.

  MAUD

  Young women are never happy.

  BETTY

  Mother, what a thing to say.

  MAUD

  Then when they’re older they look back and see that comparatively speaking they were ecstatic.

  BETTY

  I’m perfectly happy.

  MAUD

  You are looking very pretty tonight. You were such a success as a young girl. You have made a most fortunate marriage. I’m sure you will be an excellent hostess to Mr Bagley.

  BETTY

  I feel quite nervous at the thought of entertaining.

  MAUD

  I can always advise you if I’m asked.

  BETTY

  What a long time they’re taking. I always seem to be waiting for the men.

  MAUD

  Betty you have to learn to be patient. I am patient. My mama was very patient.

  CLIVE approaches, supporting MRS SAUNDERS.

  CLIVE

  It is a pleasure. It is an honour. It is positively your duty to seek my help. I would be hurt, I would be insulted by any show of independence. Your husband would have been one of my dearest friends if he had lived. Betty, look who has come, Mrs Saunders. She has ridden here all alone, amazing spirit. What will you have? Tea or something stronger? Let her lie down, she is overcome. Betty, you will know what to do.

  MRS SAUNDERS lies down.

  MAUD

  I knew it. I heard drums. We’ll be killed in our beds.

  CLIVE

  Now, please, calm yourself.

  MAUD

  I am perfectly calm. I am just outspoken. If it comes to being killed I shall take it as calmly as anyone.

  CLIVE

 
There is no cause for alarm. Mrs Saunders has been alone since her husband died last year, amazing spirit. Not surprisingly, the strain has told. She has come to us as her nearest neighbours.

  MAUD

  What happened to make her come?

  CLIVE

  This is not an easy country for a woman.

  MAUD

  Clive, I heard drums. We are not children.

  CLIVE

  Of course you heard drums. The tribes are constantly at war, if the term is not too grand to grace their squabbles. Not unnaturally Mrs Saunders would like the company of white women. The piano. Poetry.

  BETTY

  We are not her nearest neighbours.

  CLIVE

  We are among her nearest neighbours and I was a dear friend of her late husband. She knows that she will find a welcome here. She will not be disappointed. She will be cared for.

  MAUD

  Of course we will care for her.

  BETTY

  Victoria is in bed. I must go and say goodnight. Mother, please, you look after Mrs Saunders.

  CLIVE

  Harry will be here at once.

  BETTY goes.

  MAUD

  How rash to go out after dark without a shawl.

  CLIVE

  Amazing spirit. Drink this.

  MRS SAUNDERS

  Where am I?

  MAUD

  You are quite safe.

  MRS SAUNDERS

  Clive? Clive? Thank God. This is very kind. How do you do? I am sorry to be a nuisance. Charmed. Have you a gun? I have a gun.

  CLIVE

  There is no need for guns I hope. We are all friends here.

  MRS SAUNDERS

  I think I will lie down again.

  HARRY BAGLEY and EDWARD have approached.

  MAUD

  Ah, here is Mr Bagley.

  EDWARD

  I gave his horse some water.

  CLIVE

  You don’t know Mrs Saunders, do you Harry? She has at present collapsed, but she is recovering thanks to the good offices of my wife’s mother who I think you’ve met before. Betty will be along in a minute. Edward will go home to school shortly. He is quite a young man since you saw him.

  HARRY

  I hardly knew him.

  MAUD

  What news have you for us, Mr Bagley?

  CLIVE

  Do you know Mrs Saunders, Harry? Amazing spirit.

  EDWARD

  Did you hardly know me?

  HARRY

  Of course I knew you. I mean you have grown.

  EDWARD

  What do you expect?

  HARRY

  That’s quite right, people don’t get smaller.

  MAUD

  Edward. You should be in bed.

  EDWARD

  No, I’m not tired, I’m not tired am I Uncle Harry?

  HARRY

  I don’t think he’s tired.

  CLIVE

  He is overtired. It is past his bedtime. Say goodnight.

  EDWARD

  Goodnight, sir.

  CLIVE

  And to your grandmother.

  EDWARD

  Goodnight, Grandmother.

  EDWARD goes.

  MAUD

  Shall I help Mrs Saunders indoors? I’m afraid she may get a chill.

  CLIVE

  Shall I give her an arm?

  MAUD

  How kind of you Clive. I think I am strong enough.

  MAUD helps MRS SAUNDERS into the house.

  CLIVE

  Not a word to alarm the women.

  HARRY

  Absolutely.

  CLIVE

  I did some good today I think. Kept up some alliances. There’s a lot of affection there.

  HARRY

  They’re affectionate people. They can be very cruel of course.

  CLIVE

  Well they are savages.

  HARRY

  Very beautiful people many of them.

  CLIVE

  Joshua! (To HARRY.) I think we should sleep with guns.

  HARRY

  I haven’t slept in a house for six months. It seems extremely safe.

  JOSHUA comes.

  CLIVE

  Joshua, you will have gathered there’s a spot of bother. Rumours of this and that. You should be armed I think.

  JOSHUA

  There are many bad men, sir. I pray about it. Jesus will protect us.

  CLIVE

  He will indeed and I’ll also get you a weapon. Betty, come and keep Harry company. Look in the barn, Joshua, every night.

  CLIVE and JOSHUA go. BETTY comes.

  HARRY

  I wondered where you were.

  BETTY

  I was singing lullabies.

  HARRY

  When I think of you I always think of you with Edward in your lap.

  BETTY

  Do you think of me sometimes then?

  HARRY

  You have been thought of where no white woman has ever been thought of before.

  BETTY

  It’s one way of having adventures. I suppose I will never go in person.

  HARRY

  That’s up to you.

  BETTY

  Of course it’s not. I have duties.

  HARRY

  Are you happy, Betty?

  BETTY

  Where have you been?

  HARRY

  Built a raft and went up the river. Stayed with some people. The king is always very good to me. They have a lot of skulls around the place but not white men’s I think. I made up a poem one night. If I should die in this forsaken spot, There is a loving heart without a blot, Where I will live – and so on.

  BETTY

  When I’m near you it’s like going out into the jungle. It’s like going up the river on a raft. It’s like going out in the dark.

  HARRY

  And you are safety and light and peace and home.

  BETTY

  But I want to be dangerous.

  HARRY

  Clive is my friend.

  BETTY

  I am your friend.

  HARRY

  I don’t like dangerous women.

  BETTY

  Is Mrs Saunders dangerous?

  HARRY

  Not to me. She’s a bit of an old boot.

  JOSHUA comes, unobserved.

  BETTY

  Am I dangerous?

  HARRY

  You are rather.

  BETTY

  Please like me.

  HARRY

  I worship you.

  BETTY

  Please want me.

  HARRY

  I don’t want to want you. Of course I want you.

  BETTY

  What are we going to do?

  HARRY

  I should have stayed on the river. The hell with it.

  He goes to take her in his arms, she runs away into the house. HARRY stays where he is. He becomes aware of JOSHUA.

  HARRY

  Who’s there?

  JOSHUA

  Only me sir.

  HARRY

  Got a gun now have you?

  JOSHUA

  Yes sir.

  HARRY

  Where’s Clive?

  JOSHUA

  Going round the boundaries sir.

  HARRY

  Have you checked there’s nobody in the barns?

  JOSHUA

  Yes sir.

  HARRY

  Shall we go in a barn and fuck? It’s not an order.

  JOSHUA

  That’s all right, yes.

  They go off.

  Scene Two

  An open space some distance from the house. MRS SAUNDERS alone, breathless. She is carrying a riding crop. CLIVE arrives.

  CLIVE

  Why? Why?

  MRS SAUNDERS

  Don’t fuss, Clive, it makes you sweat.

  CLIVE

  Why ride off now? Sweat, you would sweat if you were i
n love with somebody as disgustingly capricious as you are. You will be shot with poisoned arrows. You will miss the picnic. Somebody will notice I came after you.