King Arthurs Socks and Other Village Plays | Page 5

is told. Naturally I
knew how you would call the coin.
POTIPHAR. (_trembling with rage_) How dare you say such things!
Do you forget that I can have you beaten with rods?
JOSEPH. (_calmly_) Do you forget, sir, that I am no longer a slave?
Free men are not beaten in Egypt.
POTIPHAR. Free?
JOSEPH. Unless Potiphar takes back his word. It is true that I have no
witnesses to it.
POTIPHAR. (_with great dignity_) Witnesses are unnecessary. I had
forgotten for the moment. Let this remind me. (He gives Joseph a ring.)
You are a free man. And so--what I thought was an insolence is merely
a pleasantry. But--you take a quick advantage of your freedom.
JOSEPH. I accept the rebuke.
POTIPHAR. And--free man or slave--Joseph, you know too much!
_Potiphar walks out of the room. . . . Joseph seats himself at the table,
and takes up a scroll of papyrus. He reads a moment, then claps his

hands. A slave enters, stands before the table, and bows_.
JOSEPH. (_consulting the papyrus_) Bear word to the overseer of the
winepress that the grapes in the southeast section will be brought in for
pressing tomorrow morning. . . . Bear word to the chief carpenter that a
table and two couches, of the standard pattern, are wanted--at once. . . .
Bear word to the chief pastry-cook that his request for another helper is
denied.
_Joseph makes a gesture of dismissal, and the slave, with a bow, goes
out. Joseph rises, and walking around the table, holds up 'his hand to
look at his ring_.
JOSEPH. Freedom!
Madam Potiphar strolls in.
MADAM POTIPHAR. (_familiarly_) They have gone. . . .
Joseph picks up a scroll from the table.
MADAM POTIPHAR. (_sharply_) Joseph!
JOSEPH. (_respectfully_) Yes, madam.
MADAM POTIPHAR. I understood you to say a while ago that your
work was quite finished?
JOSEPH. Yes, madam.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Then you have plenty of time now....
JOSEPH. Yes, plenty of time for more work.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Well, you need not begin immediately. I want a
little of your time just now.
JOSEPH. If it is an errand, I will call one of the slaves.

MADAM POTIPHAR. Do you mean--one of the other slaves?
JOSEPH. I, madam, am no longer a slave.
_He holds up his hand, and looks at the ring_.
MADAM POTIPHAR. (_incredulous_) How did this happen? Did you
buy your freedom, perchance?
JOSEPH. No. Your husband gave it to me a moment ago.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Gave it to you? You mean that you swindled
him out of it in some way!
JOSEPH. As you please, madam.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Well, it is his own affair if he wishes to give
away such valuable property. Only--it is difficult to adjust oneself to a
change like that.
JOSEPH. Do not, I pray, let the change disturb you.
MADAM POTIPHAR. No, I insist. It is both a duty and a pleasure.
Since you are now a free man, Joseph, I propose that we treat each
other as equals and friends.
JOSEPH. That will be very considerate of us both.
MADAM POTIPHAR. Sir, you are insolent. No, no--I mean, my friend,
you are very rude.
JOSEPH. Thank you for making the distinction. And now, since we are
to treat each other as equals and friends, I beg you--(_he takes some
small objects from his wallet and holds them out in his hand_)--to take
these hairpins, which are the mementos of your various visits to my
room. As a slave, no suspicion, of course, could attach to me in
connection with a lady of your rank. But as equals and friends, we both
have our reputations to preserve.

MADAM POTIPHAR. (_taking them_) Thank you.(She restores them
to her hair.) I lose them everywhere I go. They fall out every time I
speak. They mean nothing whatever.
JOSEPH. It is unnecessary to explain that to me. I am perfectly aware
of the fact.
MADAM POTIPHAR. You are perfectly aware of everything, aren't
you, Joseph?
JOSEPH. Everything that it is to my interest to be aware of, madam.
MADAM POTIPHAR. No--there is one thing you don't know, and I
am going to tell you.
JOSEPH. Proceed, madam.
He takes the coin from the table.
MADAM POTIPHAR. (_coming close to him and looking boldly into
his eyes_) Can't you guess?
_At this moment Joseph drops the coin from his hand, and it rolls away.
Joseph starts, looks after it, and goes across the room to pick it up_.
JOSEPH. One must take care of the small coins!
MADAM POTIPHAR. (_angrily_) Oh!
_She flings off to the window, Joseph returns and seats himself on the
little stool at the nearer end of the table, with a papyrus in front of him.
He reads it in silence. Madam Potiphar comes and seats herself