The Geisha
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Duet – Molly and FairfaxMolly. When I was but a tiny tot My dollies were a lovely lot, For one, a lady born and bred, Could shut her eyes and move her head. “Papa!” “Mama!” another talk’d, And when you wound her up – she walk’d, But more than any other toy I loved a little drummer boy. Fairfax. Of course I know the sort you mean, That drummer boy I’ve often seen. Molly. For he beats a feeble rum-ti-tum-tum Fairfax. When he hits his little drum-ti-tum-tum, Molly. And his arms seem rather numb-ti-tum-tum, Fairfax. As they rise and downward come-ti-tum-tum. Both. Oh, the dear old toys, and the simple ways Of those childish versery Might be worsery, Sweetly cursory Nursery days! Fairfax. I know I had a famous top, A painted gun that used to pop, A spotted horse that boasted legs Exactly like four wooden pegs; But though I own’d a box of bricks, And crimson monkeys climbing sticks, My infant joys were centred in A nodding Chinese Mandarin. Molly. Of course I know the sort you mean, That Madarin I’ve often seen. Fairfax. For his bells will tinkle ring-a-ding-ding Molly. When his head he’ll gravely swing-a-ding-ding, Fairfax. And his hands together bring-a-ding-ding Molly. When you pull a piece of string-a-ding-ding. Both. Oh, the dear old toys, and the simple ways Of those childish versery Might be worsery, Sweetly cursory Nursery days! Molly. What jolly games I used to play With little boys across the way! We rac’d and romp’d as children do I gave them backs at leap-frog, too! We bowl’d our hoops and flew our kites, At hopscotch had some splendid fights; But life was only quite complete With Punch and Judy in the street. Fairfax. How well its varied charms I know! I’ve seen that Punch and Judy show! Molly. Mister Punch comes up with a root-ti-toot-toot Fairfax. To the baby he’s a brute-ti-toot-toot: Molly. And his Toby makes him scoot-ti-toot-toot Fairfax. And the beadle bids him scoot-ti-toot-toot. Both. Oh, the dear old toys, and the simple ways Of those childish versery Might be worsery, Sweetly cursory Nursery days! Exeunt. Enter Lady Constance and Juliette. Lady C. But how am I to know the truth of this report of yours? Who are you? Juliette. I am a French girl engaged at the Tea House. Lady C. And you say you have seen Mr. Fairfax here every afternoon? Juliette. Yes, milady, every afternoon, and always for O Mimosa San, the most expensive Geisha in the Tea-House. Lady C. I wish I were a Lord of the Admiralty! I’d soon order his ship to another station. Juliette. But it will soon be over. All the geisha are to be sold off to-day. Lady C. I wonder… But no, he wouldn’t dare – he can’t be serious! Juliette. The most serious Englishman I have ever seen in a Tea House (Aside) I have been here only one day. Lady C. Then he might buy this girl – this O Mimosa San – for himself? Juliette. You must not let him do that. Lady C. I? How can I prevent it? Juliette. Buy her yourself. Lady C. What on earth should I do with her? Juliette. I don’t know. I suppose there is some use for girls in every country. Anyhow you could keep her away from your officer. (Aside) And from my friend the Marquis! Lady C. Of course I’ll do it. Juliette. Don’t let any one else know. Lady C. Not a word, and thank you for the information! Juliette. (On exit) That will leave the Marquis for me, and if I cannot console him – well, I’m no good! (Exit.) Lady C. Well, I didn’t come to Japan to buy singing girls, but if Molly can’t keep her young man away from this girl… (Molly enters over bridge, carrying bowl with chopsticks) … I must take this girl away from Molly’s young man. Oh, there you are! Molly. I say, Lady Constance, I have been having such fun! Lady C. What with? Molly. I have been talking to a Chinaman, and he has promised to teach me how to eat with chopsticks. (Bus. trying to eat with them.) Lady C. (Seriously) I wish you would be more serious. Molly. I have nothing to be serious about. Lady C. Oh yes, you have – Reggie Fairfax. If you are fond of him, you ought to keep him from going on anyhow with a geisha. Molly. (More seriously) Oh, Constance, what do you mean? Reggie adores me. Lady C. Does he, my dear? Molly. Yes, I ought to know. He told me so himself. Lady C. And he tells a singing girl the same story. Molly. Does he? Hold the plate. Lady C. Now take my advice, pull him up short before you are married, or he won’t let you afterwards. This will do for the canaries (Looking at bowl. Exit.) Molly. Reggie in love with another girl? After all he has said to me! I hope it is not really true that a sailor has a wife in every port. Oh dear! (Sits down under tree and cries.) Enter Mimosa and Wun-Hi from Tea House. Mimosa. (To Wun-Hi, who is tapping the stage with his foot.) No, Wun-Hi, I will not. Mimosa is your singing girl – apprenticed to you for two more years. I will sing for you – I will make your Tea House the most prosperous in Japan. What’s the matter with you? Wun-Hi. Oh, nothing. Me got the St. Visitor’s Dance. Mimosa. But Mimosa will not marry the Marquis. Wun-Hi. But Marquis, he very much strongee. Mimosa. He is not strong enough to make me marry him. Wun-Hi. He strong enough to makee sell O Mimosa San along Tea House and allo other piecee girlee. Mimosa. He can only sell my indentures of apprenticeship. Someone will buy them, and then Mimosa will go and sing in another Tea House. Wun-Hi. (On exit) There! Dearee me! All alikee, these Bella Donnas! Everything go wrong today, me feel quite upspilt. Me go and insult my solicitor! (Exit) Mimosa. (To Molly.) Pretty English lady is in trouble – can I help? Molly. Go away, you horrid Japanese girl! Mimosa. Tell me what is wrong. Mimosa loves the English. Molly. I daresay you do. Why don’t you love your own countrymen instead. Mimosa. Because the English like us so much. Molly. Yes, that’s what I find fault with. Oh, why did I leave Reggie and come to this country where all the pretty girls live? Mimosa. Reggie? Who is Reggie? Is he your gentleman husband? Molly. No, I haven’t a husband. And now I shall never have one! Mimosa. What has Reggie done, pretty English lady? Molly. He has fallen in love with a Japanese girl - in there. I believe he likes Japanese girls best! Mimosa. All the foreign gentlemen who come here flirt with a mousmé or a geisha. Molly. Do they? Mimosa. It is the one custom of the country they all like best. But that does not mean real love. Molly. Why wasn’t I a Japanese girl? Mimosa. So that you might make pretty English girls unhappy? Molly. No, I wouldn’t do that. But I could have some fun. Mimosa. Well then, let me make you a Japanese girl. Molly. Me a little Japanese girl like you? What fun! Oh, but I couldn’t be half as sweet as you! Mimosa. Oh yes, you could. Can you sing? Molly. Yes! Mimosa. And dance? Molly. Yes! Mimosa. Very well, I’ll lend you a kimono – a thing like this. (Runs to Tea House.) Molly. Like that? I wonder how I shall look without a waist and a funny little frock like that? I’ll do it! Mimosa. (Calling) Here, Wun-Hi! Enter Wun-Hi from Tea House, bringing a small table with toilet articles. Wun-Hi. Me just go and see if “Uncle” will lend me ninepence on these. Mimosa. Take the pretty English lady to the Tea-House and give her one of Mimosa’s kimonos. Wun-Hi. Little English girl going to put on Japanese clothes? Mimosa. Yes. Wun-Hi. Oh, Klismas! (Squats down, uses powder puff on face.) Molly. (On exit)A geisha! Hooray! I think a Japanese geisha must have the most delightful life in the world. I’ll give master Reggie geisha! Come along, Klismas! (Smacks Wun-Hi on back. Exit into Tea House.) Wun-Hi. Allo lightee, me bringee you Japanese clothes and me showee you how to puttee them on. (Exit into Tea House.) Mimosa. (Alone) Thinks a geisha’s life must be the most delightful in the world. Poor little English fool! How can she know the troubles and disappointments of a singing girl? |