31 Plays in 31 Days, #9 - "In the Governor's House"

[breakinglight11]

The very first piece of flashback to 1859 in Gilded Cages. This is where you first meet Priyanka and Elizabeth, as well as see what Victoria was like when she was nineteen years old. It comes just before "Day #9 - Spot Test." As I mentioned, I got feedback that I needed to change how the majorities treat Priyanka in order to better represent what her life is like, and I haven't made those edits yet. But here's the early version, as it was at the first read through.

Day #9 - "In the Governor's House"
From Gilded Cages
By Phoebe Roberts

1859, Bengal, India

VICTORIA STANTON, daughter to the lieutenant territorial governor
PRIYANKA MALIK, a girl who works in the governor's house
ELIZABETH DANVERS, companion and governess to Victoria
~~~

(1859, Bengal, India, in the house of the lieutenant territorial governor. PRIYANKA enters carrying a basket and digs a key out of it. When she hears someone coming, she scrambles to hide it in her clothes. Enter ELIZABETH.)

PRIYANKA:

Miss Danvers! Good day.

ELIZABETH:

Hello, Priyanka. Settling in all right?

PRIYANKA:

Yes, miss. I’ve just moved my things into the girls’ quarters.

ELIZABETH:

I’m glad to hear it. I was so sorry for your loss, you know. Is Miss Stanton about?

PRIYANKA:

Thank you, miss. And no, miss, I’ve not seen hide nor hair of her.

ELIZABETH:

Well, you know what that means. She’s only quiet when she’s making trouble.

(Enter VICTORIA, escorted by two guards.)

VICTORIA:

Cheery day!

ELIZABETH:

Ugh. Like clockwork. What have you been up to now?

VICTORIA:

Only some exploring. Until these gentlemen so generously came to offer me a lift home.

ELIZABETH:

Thank you, sirs, I’ve got her now.

VICTORIA:

Thanks ever so for the ride! Same time Thursday next? Until then, gentlemen!

(The guards release her and exit. VICTORIA laughs.)

VICTORIA:

Blockheads.

ELIZABETH:

Where did they catch you this time?

VICTORIA:

In the garrison, when I was trying to pry the second story window open. Of course, I’d already broken into the quartermaster’s office and gotten away with my prize.

(She reveals a theodolite concealed in her clothes.)

ELIZABETH:

I told you not to go out that way. Too conspicuous.

VICTORIA:

You know me, I can’t resist a challenge.

ELIZABETH:

If you’d just walked down the stairs, they wouldn’t have noticed you at all and you would have gotten away clean.

VICTORIA:

What fun would that have been?

PRIYANKA:

I think I’ve noticed a window on the east side too. Perhaps you could try that one next time.

VICTORIA:

Where were you this morning when that could have done me good? Oh— hello. Priyanka, isn’t it? Are you on a delivery?

PRIYANKA:

Actually I’ll be taking on Mrs. Malik’s place.

VICTORIA:

Hmm. I wouldn’t have left the post office for this, but as you like it. See here, what do you think of my trophy?

PRIYANKA:

It’s very handsome, but may I ask, miss, what is it?

VICTORIA:

I haven’t the faintest! I just had to see if I could get it out.

ELIZABETH:

It’s called a theodolite.

VICTORIA:

Oh, is that is? Really, what does it do?

ELIZABETH:

Surveyors use it to measure distance.

VICTORIA:

Indeed! I think I’ll take it up on the roof of the bungalow and see how far it is to the stand of trees.

PRIYANKA:

Won’t your father be angry when he hears?

VICTORIA:

Ha! They know better than to bother the governor about me. He couldn’t give a fig what I do, so long as I stay out of his sight.

ELIZABETH:

I’ve told you a thousand times— you’ve been lucky so far, but you ought to take more care. If you keep on blundering into God knows what, someday it’s going to bite back at you.