ACT ONE – SCENE I
PAULINE: You know Linda de Suza is in Mauritius for a week? In an interview she gave on the National TV yesterday, she declared that the Mauritians are charming and pleasant, and that she is looking forward to coming back to Mauritius next year. Don’t you like her songs?
MARIA: Oh, yeah! They are fantastic! Anyway, what’s her nationality?
PAULINE: If I am not mistaken, she is Portuguese; I mean she was born in Portugal, but now she lives in France.
MARIA: Where is she lodging at present?
PAULINE: At Le St. Géran Hotel. Anyway, don’t you think that the face of Mauritius is changing day by day?
MARIA: Yes, why not?
PAULINE: Big industries are found both in rural and urban areas, thus giving the teenagers the chance of securing employment. Mauritian trade is expanding rapidly throughout the world these days. Even tourism is undergoing major development, and that is generating greater foreign currency for the country.
MARIA: Well, what do you think of this year's budget?
PAULINE: As far as I know, it is welcomed by all classes of society. However, on account of this industrial revolution, people seem to be leading a European way of life.
MARIA: But I like to live in the Mauritian style.
PAULINE: My grandmother is going to Japan for a short stay.
MARIA: I hope that on her return she will bring many presents for you.
PAULINE: I hope so.
MARIA: May I ask you a question?
PAULINE: Go on, I'm listening.
MARIA: Who was that handsome guy who was talking to you yesterday evening?
PAULINE: It was my youngest uncle.
MARIA: What's his name?
PAULINE: Antonio, but why? You seem to be taking a great interest in him?
MARIA: I fancy him greatly, you know. I must confess I took to him like a fish in water at first sight. He saw me too, but did he tell you anything about me?
PAULINE: No!
MARIA: As for me, I love him very much. I must say he has conquered my heart. But what should I do to meet him? He does not know me yet!
PAULINE: Don't worry! I'll introduce him to you. Thus, you can arrange to see each other often.
MARIA: That's a good idea! But what kind of guy is he? Is he sympathetic?
PAULINE: Oh, yes!
MARIA: Does he work?
PAULINE: Yes!
MARIA: What sort of job does he do then?
PAULINE: He is a journalist and works for the daily paper "Mauritius Herald."
MARIA: How does he behave towards girls?
PAULINE: Politely! He has gone back home but he will come again next week, and he will be spending a fortnight with us.
MARIA: The day he comes I'll wear a rosy skirt and a white jumper. But if he refuses to love me, what shall I do?
PAULINE: You will have to struggle and struggle until you win him.
MARIA: Yes, I can't afford to lose him. How can some other girl marry him? I won't let that happen.
PAULINE: What did your Mum give you for your birthday?
MARIA: A golden necklace. And when are you going to celebrate your birthday?
PAULINE: On 28th December.
MARIA: Good! As we are good friends, if you don't mind, will you tell me whether you are in love with someone these days?
PAULINE: Oh no! Not yet!
MARIA: Why? You are old enough to flirt, aren't you?
PAULINE: Yes, but I have not yet met the best man in my life.
MARIA: As for me, I think I have come upon my ideal man. It's for me to act now in order to possess him forever.
PAULINE: Well, I wish you the best of luck.
MARIA: The weather is too bad, otherwise I would have gone to the seaside to relax. The Meteorological Service has warned of the sudden arrival of a cyclone and urged us to take all necessary precautions.
PAULINE: Oh, how afraid I am of cyclones!
MARIA: Me too!
PAULINE: Don't you think that love seems to be cyclonic sometimes?
MARIA: I would rather say that love is like a ship which sails sometimes in calm seas and sometimes in rough seas according to the destiny that is in store for it. We can't struggle against our destiny, can we?
PAULINE: Sometimes one sows good seeds but in the end one reaps bad fruits.
MARIA: What do you mean by this?
PAULINE: Sometimes one falls in love with a good guy, but soon after they get married things seem to go wrong, and everything ends up in divorce.
MARIA: Yes, that's true. I wonder why there should be divorce. People who get married must know their partners well before marriage, mustn't they? The girl should ask how her man would behave after marriage, or vice versa. The boy and the girl should ask themselves whether they are ready to share their joys and sorrows.
PAULINE: Have you ever heard the fantastic séga by Serge Lebrasse, "Mariaz li pa badinaz"?
MARIA: Yes, it tells me something. If ever a woman finds a good husband, and a man a good wife, it looks as if each of them has found a treasure. I wonder if Antonio, whom I love dearly, will be my star of happiness!
PAULINE: For the time being, I can't make any comments upon this.
MARIA: Did you go to the cinema last Sunday?
PAULINE: No, I did not like the films that were screened.
MARIA: As for me, I spent my weekend with my brother and his family at Vacoas. I enjoyed myself very much in their company.
PAULINE: I think it's better for me to go back home now because of this bad weather. Well, cheerio!
MARIA: Cheerio!