A Passage to India Page #2

- While I was freewheeling

And...

Hooray, hooray, hooray

It's a wonderful day today

But I know that at this juncture

I can't afford a puncture

And here is my Michael...

I wish I were a member.

I could have asked you in.

lndians are not allowed.

Oh.

Good night.

There you are.

What have you been up to?

I'll tell you about it later.

I had a small adventure,

and saw the moon in the Ganges.

Ah, Mrs Moore, Miss Quested,

have a drink. Have two drinks.

- It's very kind.

- My wife's on stage,

and Ronny's still holding

the fort for Major Callendar.

His wretched lndian assistant didn't

turn up in time, but I got my own back.

I'm sorry about the show.

But what else can we do for you ladies?

Mr Turton, I'm longing to see

something of the real lndia.

Fielding, how is one to see the real lndia?

Try seeing lndians.

- Who was that?

- Our schoolmaster. Government College.

As if one could avoid seeing them.

Well, I've scarcely spoken to

an lndian since we landed.

Lucky you!

If you really want to meet

some of our Aryan brothers,

how about a bridge party?

- Not the game.

- Oh...

No. A party to bridge the gulf

between East and West.

We can produce almost any type you like:

Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, even a Parsee.

(drum roll)

God save our gracious king

Long live our noble king

God save the king

Send him victorious

Happy and glorious...

(band plays "Tea for Two")

To work, Molly. To work.

I never thought so many would turn up.

They hate it as much as we do.

Ronny.

(speaks Urdu)

Very nice of you to come.

Would you please tell these ladies

I wish we could speak their language?

- Perhaps we speak yours a little.

- Why, fancy, she understands!

- Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner.

- Yes, indeed.

- Rotten Row.

- Marble Arch.

- She knows Paris also.

- They pass Paris on the way, no doubt.

("Roses of Picard")

My only consolation

is that Mrs Turton will soon be retired

to a villa in Tunbridge Wells.

Who is that man talking to Adela?

Oh, that's Fielding.

Runs Government College.

I don't understand people inviting guests

and not treating them properly.

You and Mr Turton are the only people

who've made any attempt to be friendly.

It makes me quite ashamed.

It's awkward, I agree, here at the club.

I envy you being with lndians.

If you and Mrs Moore would care

to meet one or two, it's easily arranged.

I'd love to. I'm sure she would too.

We've an old Hindu professor who'll tell

you all about reincarnation and destiny.

- He might even be persuaded to sing.

- I'd like that.

- Tell me, do you know a Dr Aziz?

- I know of him. I've never actually met.

Mrs Moore says he's charming.

- Good. We'll invite him too.

- Good.

Oh, dear. This is for Mrs Turton.

(?"In a Monastery Garden"

bYAIbert KetIbeY)

This is one of the most unnatural affairs

I have ever attended.

Of course it's unnatural.

Now you see.

I do not see why you all behave

so unpleasantly to these people.

- We're not out here to be pleasant.

- Ronny, what do you mean?

lndia isn't a drawing room. We're out here

to do justice and to keep the peace.

I'm not a missionary

or a sentimental socialist.

- I'm just a member of the civil service.

- As simple as that.

What do you and Adela want me to do?

Sacrifice my career?

Lose the power I have

for doing good in this country?

Good? You're speaking about power.

The whole of this entertainment

is an exercise in power,

and the subtle pleasures

of personal superiority.

(?band plays "God Save the King")

God has put us on earth

to love and help our fellow men.

Yes, Mother.

Mr Fielding?

(water running)

- Mr Fielding.

- Oh, hello. ls that Dr Aziz?

Yes. I'm afraid I am early.

That's fine. I won't be a jiffy.

Please make yourself at home.

May I really, Mr Fielding?

It's very good of you.

- Mr Fielding!

- Yes?

I have long been wanting to meet you.

I have heard many times about

your kind heart and your sociability.

My dear fellow!

And I have seen you in the bazaar.

Ah.

(Fielding hums "The Sun, Whose RaYs

are all Ablaze" by Gilbert & Sullivan)

?The sun, whose rays are all ablaze

with ever-living glory

?Does not deny his majesty,

he scorns to tell a story...

- I say, Mr Fielding.

- Yes?

Before you come out,

guess what I look like.

Well, let's see.

You're about 5ft 9in tall.

- Jolly good!

- I can see that much through the glass.

Blast!

- Anything wrong?

- I've just broken my back collar stud.

Oh. Take mine.

Have you a spare one?

Yes. Yes, one minute.

- Not if you're wearing it.

- No, no. Here in my pocket.

But nobody carries

a spare stud in his pocket.

I always, in case of emergency.

Here it is.

Many thanks.

Oh, and how do you do?

Sit down while I finish dressing,

if you don't mind the unconventionality.

I always thought Englishmen

kept their rooms so tidy.

Everything arranged coldly

on shelves is what I thought.

There are two English ladies

coming to tea to meet you.

- Oh.

- Oh, I think you know one of them.

- I know no English ladies.

- Not Mrs Moore?

- Mrs Moore?

- And Miss Quested, her companion.

Oh. ls she an old lady?

She's a young lady,

and she wants to see lndia.

(both speak Urdu)

They're here,

or will be in a few seconds.

I've also asked our professor

of philosophy, Narayan Godbole.

Oh, the inscrutable Brahmin.

I hope to goodness his food'll be

all right. He's orthodox, you know.

(Fielding) Good afternoon. Welcome.

- (Mrs Moore) How kind of you to ask us.

- (Miss Quested) Nice to meet you.

Oh.

It must have been a small audience hall.

Mrs Moore, do you remember

the tank in our mosque?

- I do indeed.

- Please come and see.

By a skilful arrangement of our emperors,

the same water comes and fills this tank.

My ancestors loved water.

We came out of the desert.

We came over from

Persia and Afghanistan.

And wherever we went, we created

fountains and gardens and...

Ah, Godbole! You know Dr Aziz,

and here are our new visitors.

Mrs Moore, Miss Quested, Professor

Godbole. We didn't realise you were here.

The sun will soon be driving us

all into the shade.

And I was enjoying the water.

Now, Mrs Moore, would you like

to have our tea served inside or out?

Dr Aziz, I wonder if you could explain

a disappointment we had this morning.

Ah, yes. I'm afraid we may have

given some offence.

That is impossible. May I know the facts?

Yes. An lndian lady and gentleman, whom

we met at the club party the other day,

were to collect us in their carriage

this morning at nine.

We waited and waited.

They never came.

They even put off

going to Delhi to entertain us.

- I wouldn't worry about it.

- Well, it is very worrying.

I think perhaps, young lady,

they grew ashamed of their house

- and that is why they did not send.

- That's very possible.

- I do so hate mysteries.

- We English do.

I rather like mysteries,

but I do dislike muddles.

I think a mystery is only

a high-sounding term for a muddle.

The professor, Aziz and I

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