The Little Princess

Sara Crewe:
I thought you said you didn't have any more rooms.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
I didn't know then what a dear little girl was coming.

Sara Crewe:
Why does that make more rooms, Daddy?

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara has no mother, and we've never been separated for more than a few days.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
How touching.

Captain Reginald Crewe:
This is going to be very hard on her.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Have no fear, Captain Crewe. I'm a mother to all my little girls.

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Let's pretend we're back in India, and I'm going away with the troops for a few days. We've fought this kind of battle before, haven't we? And you never cried once when I went away, remember?

Sara Crewe:
Yes, Daddy.

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Well, this is going to be our hardest battle. We'll be good soldiers, won't we?

Sara Crewe:
Yes, Daddy.

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Shall we say goodbye like we used to at home?

Sara Crewe:
Yes, Daddy.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
Missy Sahib speaks Hindustani?

Sara Crewe:
I've lived in India all my life.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
Missy Sahib is going to live in England now?

Sara Crewe:
Only until my father gets through making those Boers behave.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
Missy Sahib has been a soldier?

Sara Crewe:
Yes, my father's a captain. Captain Crewe.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
Rose, something's wrong. What is it?

Rose Hamilton:
Miss Minchin has taken away my Thursday afternoons.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
But why?

Rose Hamilton:
We mustn't be seen together.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
Does that mean that I can never see you alone again?

Rose Hamilton:
Of course not, darling. No matter what Miss Minchin says, we'll find a way.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
I can't understand the woman! What is she so afraid of? Why shouldn't we see each other?

Rose Hamilton:
Gossip, I suppose. Miss Minchin lives for that school and her ideas of pride and snobbishness.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
Fiddlesticks! She's afraid of losing an excellent teacher whom she gets for nothing! I won't stand for it! I'll have a talk with her myself!

Rose Hamilton:
Oh no, darling, you mustn't do that. She'd only discharge us both.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
She might not have the chance if things continue to pop in South Africa.

Sara Crewe:
It's getting harder every day to pretend my father is safe.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
I'll let you in on a little secret. I enlisted today, but while I don't want Miss Rose to know quite yet, I'll be going over there shortly.

Sara Crewe:
To Mafeking? Then perhaps you can help my father.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
We'll get him out.

Geoffrey Hamilton:
Don't be frightened, Sara. It's only my grandfather.

Lord Wickham:
Don't you believe him, young woman! I disowned him the day he was born!

Geoffrey Hamilton:
And we're really very fond of each other.

Lord Wickham:
Of course we are - what? Wait till I see the woman who runs this school! I'll put a spoke in your wheel!

Geoffrey Hamilton:
Do! She'd love to know my grandfather is Lord Wickham, and she'll probably raise my salary!

Lord Wickham:
Insolent pup! Just like his father!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Sara, I shall expect an explanation of this.

Sara Crewe:
Yes, Miss Minchin. As soon as I can think of one.

Mr. Barrows:
Captain Crewe is dead. He was so reported in the list this morning. Moreover, he died bankrupt. His property and his mines were confiscated by the enemy.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
You mean to tell me that the child is penniless, and she's left on my hands with nothing?

Mr. Barrows:
She's certainly left penniless, and she's certainly left on your hands. She hasn't a relative in the world that we know of.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
I'll throw her out on the streets.

Mr. Barrows:
Do you think that wise, Miss Minchin? The reputation of your school, you know. That may not sound well to the parents of some of your other pupils. The child could be made to serve as your employee until her indebtedness is paid off.

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Today, my good woman, the British army is behind me.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Hubert, that uniform! You're not going to war?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Quite. To the very cannon's mouth, if need be!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
But why?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Because, old girl, I'm fed to the teeth with your bullying. And your treatment of Rose and little Sara is the last straw! I prefer the less painful horrors of the battlefield.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Are you daring to criticize me?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Astonishing, isn't it? But it proves that I'm competent to lead my men into the very jaws of death!

Sara Crewe:
Please sir, were you with the troops at Mafeking?

Traumatized Young Soldier:
Yes, of course I was. That's where I ran away, you know.

Sara Crewe:
Did you know my father, Captain Crewe?

Traumatized Young Soldier:
[cutting out a paper soldier] Yes, yes of course. That's a fine-looking officer, isn't he? He ought to do well.

Sara Crewe:
But where did you see my father last? Where is he now?

Traumatized Young Soldier:
Where is who?

Sara Crewe:
My father!

Traumatized Young Soldier:
Of course one soldier more or less doesn't make any difference, you know. That's why I'm making thousands and thousands of troops for England. See? Good strong fellows who won't be afraid as I was. I was afraid. That's why I ran away, you know.

Sara Crewe:
Mr. Bertie, he says he knows my father, but he won't tell.

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
He's living in a dream, Sara. He doesn't know what he's saying.

Sara Crewe:
Here she is, on the bookshelves.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
Bookshelves.

Sara Crewe:
Oh... I pretend they're bookshelves filled with beautiful sets of books.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
Then I'd better remove her before she ruins your set of Dickens. This is your room, Miss?

Sara Crewe:
Yes, it's so little and so high above everything that it's like a nest in a tree. I can lie on my soft sofa and look up at the sky through that little hole in the roof.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
Sofa?

Sara Crewe:
Well... it looks more like a sofa when it's made up, and I imagine it has warm blankets and lovely cushions to curl up on.

Ram Dass, Lord Wickham's Indian Servant:
But there is a fire at night, of course?

Sara Crewe:
Well... that is the hardest of all to imagine, especially at night, but it's lovely when I can.

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
The cook wants you, and she's in an awful mood!

Sara Crewe:
Excuse me, Ram Dass, I've got to go to the butcher's, and I'll get my ears boxed if I don't hurry!

Mrs. O'Connell the Cook:
You clumsy ox! For that, you'll whistle for your supper!

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
Oh, but, Mum, Sara never got no lunch. Everything's away before she got back from the butcher's.

Mrs. O'Connell the Cook:
Who do you think you're talking to? For that, you'll both go hungry! Now, clean up this mess!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Sara, where have you been? You've been out, haven't you?

Sara Crewe:
Yes, Miss Minchin.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
What do you mean by disobeying my orders?

Sara Crewe:
I had to. I had to look for my father.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
This ridiculous search for your father! All this making believe and refusing to face facts, it's indecent. I've had enough of it. You must realize once and for all that your father is dead.

Sara Crewe:
Don't you say that! He's not dead, he's not! And you can't stop me from looking for him, either.

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
Do you see what I do?

Sara Crewe:
I don't know what you see, but I don't think I believe what I'm seeing.

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
Well I never.

Sara Crewe:
Do you feel that?

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
Yes, Miss.

Sara Crewe:
What do you see?

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
I see a fire, Miss.

Sara Crewe:
And a table with food on it, and a rug and a lamp, and slippers.

Becky, Servant at Minchin Seminary:
I do indeed, Miss. How did it all get here? Did you pretend it into happening?

Sara Crewe:
I don't know. I've never pretended as good as this before. Look at these.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
What happened to this room?

Sara Crewe:
That's what we would like to know. I woke up this morning, and here everything was, even to the food and the fire.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Where did you get these things?

Sara Crewe:
I don't know. It must be because I dreamed such a beautiful dream last night that it came true.

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
These things are rare and costly. You stole them!

Sara Crewe:
No, Miss Minchin, I didn't steal these things!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
I'll give you one more chance to tell me the truth!

Sara Crewe:
But I am telling you the truth! They just - came!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
This is a matter for the police!

Colonel Gordon:
Bertie, what do you think has happened? The princess found her father!

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
She found him!

Amanda Minchin of Minchin Seminary for Girls:
Captain Crewe is alive?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Of course he's alive! How could she have found him if he wasn't alive?

Sara Crewe:
Oh, Mr. Bertie, I've found my father!

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Darling, I'm so glad!

[first lines]

Sara Crewe:
Why are they sending so many soldiers, daddy, if it's only going to be a little war?

Captain Reginald Crewe:
To make those stubborn Boers take us seriously this time, my darling. When they realize Her Majesty intends to put a stop to their nonsense, they'll quiet down.

Sara Crewe:
They'd better. Anyhow, when you get there, you'll stop them. Won't you, daddy?

Captain Reginald Crewe:
I'll do my best, dear.

Sara Crewe:
Daddy?

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara...

Sara Crewe:
Daddy! Oh, Daddy! It is you! I found you! I found you! They said you were dead, but I knew you weren't! I knew you'd come back! Oh, Daddy, hold me, hold me close. You won't ever go away again, will you? Will you, Daddy? What's the matter, Daddy? Why don't you talk to me?

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara...

Sara Crewe:
Don't you know me, Daddy? I'm Sara! I'm Sara!

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara... Where is my daughter...

Sara Crewe:
Oh, Daddy! Something's happened to you! Mr. Bertie! Mr. Bertie! Oh, Daddy, you've got to know me! Look at me! Look at me! Oh, Daddy... [sobs]

Captain Reginald Crewe:
You musn't cry. You musn't cry. We must be good soldiers, you know.

Sara Crewe:
But, I have been a good soldier, Daddy! And you don't know me!

Captain Reginald Crewe:
My little Sara never cries...

Sara Crewe:
But, I'm Sara! I'm Sara!

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara... Sara! My little... My darling...

Sara Crewe:
Oh, Daddy! You know me! You know me!

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara, my darling! My baby Sara! Sara! Poor Sara, darling!

Queen Victoria:
What is it, child?

Sara Crewe:
My father, they said he died at Mafeking. But I don't believe it! He may be here with the new wounded men, but they won't let me look! If they don't, I may never have another chance. Can you make them let me look?

Queen Victoria:
Colonel, will you please see that this child is escorted through the wards?

Colonel Gordon:
With permission, I shall accompany her personally, Your Majesty.

Sara Crewe:
What... what's your name?

Queen Victoria:
Victoria. What's yours?

Sara Crewe:
Sara... oh Your Majesty! [kneels and kisses the Queen's hand]

Captain Reginald Crewe:
You learning me by heart little Sara?

Sara Crewe:
No daddy, I know you by heart. You're inside my heart.

Sara Crewe:
Mr. Bertie, will it be all right if I come again tomorrow?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
I shouldn't run away too often, princess. You might get punished, you know. I'll keep a sharp look out whenever the wounded come in.

Sara Crewe:
You don't really believe he'll ever come, do you?

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Yes, yes, of course I do. I told you missing men often turn up.

Sara Crewe:
Then I'd better come. You might not know if he's very much changed.

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
All right, dear. You come.

Sara Crewe:
Goodbye Mr. Bertie.

Hubert 'Bertie' Minchin:
Goodbye dear.

[last lines]

Sara Crewe:
Your Majesty. My Dad.

Nurse:
Doctor this man is unknown. His papers were lost. Delirium following malarial fever.

[repeated line]

Captain Reginald Crewe:
Sara, Sara.

[Sara comes in Lavinia's room to clean out the fireplace where]

Lavinia:
I hear you're being punished.

Lavinia:
[to Jessie] Do you think we ought to offer her a chocolate?

Jessie:
You might let her smell them.

Lavinia:
Miss Minchin surely couldn't object to that. Would you care to?

Sara Crewe:
I don't want to smell them and I don't want to eat them, thank you.

Lavinia:
You don't? Why not?

Sara Crewe:
I've had much nicer things than chocolate this morning.

Lavinia:
[giggles at this] Listen to the princess, pretending again.

Sara Crewe:
I'm not pretending. I had the most wonderful things to eat that anyone ever had.

Lavinia:
[frowns] Why you little liar! You haven't even had breakfast!

Sara Crewe:
Pardon me, but I really have; and if you'll excuse me for saying so, it isn't polite to call people liars.

Lavinia:
How dare you talk back to me!

Sara Crewe:
[sarcastically] Tsk, tsk, tsk. Was I doing that? My goodness!

[Sara dumps ashes all over Lavinia and Jessie as they scream]

Sara Crewe:
[runs off laughing] So sorry!

Lavinia:
[shouts and sobs] YOU WAIT TILL I TELL MISS MINCHIN ON YOU!