31 Plays in 31 Days, #21 - "Very Proud of You"

[breakinglight11]

Just a tiny bit of scene immediately following Day #20 - Learning the Hard Way", after Elizabeth delivers a bite of a reality sandwich to Priyanka and Victoria. This is important for all that it is short. It reveals Victoria's decent intentions, but her inability to understand just how much more Priyanka is risking and stands to lose if their scheme fails. As for Priyanka, we see a little of the weight of her responsibility, and how she is manipulated by Victoria's blind confidence, not to mention the invocation of a mother she felt like she never knew as well as she wanted to. The hugeness of her need— to save her neighbors, to know and be worthy of her mother —is established very strongly, I believe, in these small moments.

Day #21 - "Very Proud of You"
From Gilded Cages
By Phoebe Roberts

Bengal, India, 1859

VICTORIA STANTON, daughter of the lieutenant territorial governor
PRIYANKA MALIK, a young rebel who works in the governor's house
~~~

(Exit ELIZABETH. PRIYANKA collapses in on herself a little.)

PRIYANKA:

Perhaps she’s right. Perhaps it’s too much risk.

VICTORIA:

No! We can do this!

PRIYANKA:

They’re counting on me. I can’t afford to fail.

VICTORIA:

And so we won’t. We can manage, I know it.

PRIYANKA:

You really are fearless. How is it that you’re always so sure?

VICTORIA:

Because I can't believe that they are cleverer or stronger than we are. And we’ll prove it. To Elizabeth, to all of them.

PRIYANKA:

You and I?

VICTORIA:

I promise. And you know what else? I think your mother would be very proud of you.

PRIYANKA:

Thank you, Victoria. I’d best get back to work.

(Exit PRIYANKA.)