ELIZABETH: (whispers behind her hand to Dido): Careful what you say to Mr. Duke. I still suspect he's some sort of spy.
MURRAY: (looking around the room for his wife): Where is your aunt?
DIDO: She felt unwell, uncle. And has retired to her bed-chamber.
MURRAY: Oh dear, she did seem strangely quiet at dinner. (He turns towards Duke, right hand gesturing towards Dido): Then allow me to introduce my other niece, Dido Elizabeth Belle.
DUKE: (recovering): But she's black! How is this possible? Britain's Lord Chief Justice with a black niece? And worse still! She's allowed to join fine white company in their drawing room.
MURRAY: (aghast): Sir, you insult me and my family. Please retract that scandalous remark at once - or I must ask you to leave. (DIDO bursts into tears and goes to run from the room but ELIZABETH stops her. ELIZABETH then comforts DIDO near the doorway.)
DUKE: (frowning): I do not intend staying in such a household. Blacks and niggers cannot live as equals within white society. Did not God, himself, create white men to govern his territories and to rule and enslave the blacks.
MARIA BELLE: (rushes behind Duke, shouting): You sleep with black women! They bear your bastard children! And those poor souls, the produce of your evil lust are cruelly treated because their mothers are black. One day, (with emphasis because she is not a Christian) MY God, will punish men such as you!
MURRAY: (angrily): You are an ignorant bigot, sir. All men are equal in the eyes of God whatever their colour or creed. I suggest you listen to one of John Newton's sermons.
DUKE: (laughs scornfully): Newton's evangelical sermons are nothing but the rantings of a madman. (Slight pause) One who has spent too many years at sea.
MURRAY: (angrily pointing to the door): Enough, Sir! I'll have no more of this Devil's tirade. Go before I call the servants to escort you from my house. You are no longer welcome at Kenwood.
DUKE: (walks purposefully towards door and stops in front of the weeping DIDO. He then turns and strides back to face Murray): Now I understand why Britain's top judge made such a reckless ruling in the Somerset Case. Your judgment - that no slave can be forcibly removed from English soil - has set a dangerous precedent. You defended the rights of blacks without second thought of good, God fearing, white traders. (He points viciously at DIDO) Because of her, you have damaged an honest and legal trade. You have listened to the uneducated mutterings of that nigger - that (with emphasis) FEMALE nigger.
MURRAY: How dare you, sir. As Britain's top judge, I keep careful balance between the Law and my private life. And besides, what would an American colonial know of British Law? (Murray tries to calm down, mopping his brow with handkerchief) Now, if you do not leave peacefully, you will be forcibly removed.
DUKE: No need for heavy handedness, I'm going. But before I leave, I must make a stand on behalf of American plantation owners. They will suffer financial ruin should your so called Abolitionists get their way. London, Bristol and Liverpool have thrived on the back of slavery. And the sight of all those London warehouses full of sugar, cotton and tobacco fills (said with emphasis and theatrically pounding centre of his chest with clenched fist) THIS AMERICAN'S heart with pride. But I will tell you this. Most slaves working on our plantations are lazy and need regular beatings to get the work done. We feed and clothe them, and how do they repay us? (Said with bitterness) They die or steal or run away or sabotage crops, forcing plantation owners into using even harsher punishments to protect their investment. Dogs are more faithful creatures than slaves.
MURRAY: (angrily): You dare complain that these poor souls are neither honest nor faithful, when you deprive them of their names and liberty. And it's a disgrace that you keep them in a state of ignorance because you believe education and culture is beyond their capability. Look there! (He points at DIDO) There stands the living proof that colour is no bar to capability! Do you not see that your attitude towards slaves drives them to desperation. They are human beings, not beasts of burden! (He turns towards ELIZABETH and motions she step forward) Elizabeth, please ring the bell. Summon the servants to eject this man.
DUKE: (interrupting): Don't bother. I'm leaving. I've said my piece. (He studies MURRAY for a moment, then swaggers arrogantly towards the door.)
MARIA BELLE: (walks behind Duke, shaking her fist): Through an accident of birth, my daughter is cruelly labelled a 'bastard child'. (Pause) But you, Nicholas Duke! You are the (with emphasis) TRUE BASTARD here - in every respect of the word - and utterly self made! (DUKE on reaching the doorway, shrugs his shoulders and straightens his jacket before leaving. Then MARIA BELLE tugs at his jacket and suddenly two silver spoons drop to the floor from his pocket. Room falls silent, everyone staring aghast at DUKE).
ELIZABETH: (first to speak): Uncle! Mr. Duke is nothing more than a common thief! We must have him arrested.
MURRAY: (shaking his head): Let him go. It would be too great an embarrassment for friends and colleagues to learn that I entertained a common criminal at Kenwood. (DUKE rushes from the room.)
MURRAY: (quickly following after DUKE, calling to the servants): Thomas! Edward! Please escort Mr. Duke to the main gates.
DIDO: (walks as if in a trance to mirror on the wall and examines her face and hair): Who am I? ELIZABETH: (sympathetically): You are our sweetest Dido. And we love you dearly. Take no notice of that ignorant pig.
DIDO: (tearfully turning towards Elizabeth): But who am I? Answer me that. Mr. Duke made fair comment. I'm neither black nor white. I'm different from others living in this house. ELIZABETH: (lightly): There is no difference between us.
DIDO: (resentfully): There is. You know there is. (Pause) Why then, am I not allowed to sit at the family's dinner table? Why are you seating me at the rear of the church on your wedding day?
MARIA BELLE: (sighing heavily with relief): At long, long last! (With emphasis) NOW you see they don’t fully accept you! Go on, question her further on how they treat you here at Kenwood. But I doubt you’ll get a truthful answer. (MARIA BELLE stands behind the girls, watching intently.)
ELIZABETH: (goes to speak but cannot think of an appropriate answer and remains silent, looking uncomfortable.)
DIDO: No - you cannot say. (She returns to the mirror) So who am I?
ELIZABETH: (awkwardly trying to change subject): Please, cousin, don't distress yourself. (She walks behind DIDO and tries to take hold of her arm) Let us walk in the gardens and take in the summer air.
DIDO: (turning to Elizabeth and brushing her restraining hand aside): That doesn't answer my question. Think back, Elizabeth, to another American gentleman’s visit. Remember Mr. Thomas Hutchinson? Did he not express similar views. That I should be kept below stairs - not socialising with gentle white people.
ELIZABETH: Americans are brash. They speak more openly than us British. And most definitely lack good manners and discretion. (Laughs lightly, trying to trivialise the situation) Too often they express their true feelings, without thought of any hurt it might cause. They are not at all diplomatic.
DIDO: (angrily): You think it acceptable to hold such beliefs as long as they aren't expressed in company. That says a lot, Elizabeth. (She walks towards the door to leave room.)
MARIA BELLE: (confidentially): That’s right. You tell Miss High and Mighty.
ELIZABETH: (perplexed, not understanding): Wait! What did I say that offends you so?
DIDO: If you don't know that, then there is little hope of our relationship continuing. It is fortunate your forthcoming marriage will soon take you away from Kenwood. (Dido leaves the room and Belle walks into the background).
ELIZABETH: (rushes after Dido): What do you mean? I don't understand! Dido, come back! Dido!