Lily Levinson Extract from The Trial of Israel Lipski

Stage

Lily Levinson

Extract from The Trial of Israel Lipski

scene one

Fanfare. Queen Victoria enters, preceded by Soldiers and State Officials. Everything is red and gold. Cheering crowds, waving flags. Pomp. Circumstance. The Procession marches slowly across the stage. The Editors appear. They shout excitably over each other, and over the proceedings.

Editor One: Theee pall! mall! gazette! pronounces the Queen’s Golden Jubilee ceremonial a most excellent success! No other function has illustrated Modern London more perfectly, nor brought out so fully the unity of / the people –Editor Two: Lloyd’s Weekly Newspaper, largest circulation in! the! world!, declares that in Queen Victoria the world beholds the Foremost Monarch of the age! The congratulations she received from almost every civilised nation on the Face of the Earth were a tribute to the greatness of the Anglo-Saxon race –Editor Three: Helmets and Swords! Editor One: – the remotest of improbabilities that anyone now living will see such a scene again. To millions of the young it will serve for the rest of their lives as a great historic day during which all went right!

Editor Four: In the Jewish Chronicle, her Majesty’s Jewish subjects, who yield to none in the strength of their loyalty, join with their fellow countrymen – Editor Two: To recapitulate all the features of our national and Imperial progress during the past fifty years would be impossible, but –Editor Three: Hats and Handkerchiefs! Fortnum and Mason! Editor Four: – even intensified in her Jewish subject’s hearts, for they have but to contrast their lot with the misery endured by their brethren in foreign lands – Editor One: – Great Britain grouping itself around – Editor Three: An Enormous Cake! Editor Two: British rule in India now extends over a population of two hundred million. The army and navy have been remodelled, the Law has been simplified, and the national administration – Editor Three: Union Jacks! Editor Four: – nearly every obstacle to the social, political and educational progress of the Jews of England has been removed since Her Majesty’s accession – Editor One: – the Twenty First of June, Eighteen Hundred and Eighty Seven, the longest and most Glorious Day in the 50th year of the long and Glorious reign of Her Majesty the Queen!

The Queen, the Procession and the Editors depart, to reveal –

Israel Lipski sitting alone onstage, at a kitchen table at 28 Watney Passage, Whitechapel. He cuts his food carefully. Katie enters. She’s smart. She watches him eat for a moment. They speak in Yiddish.

Katie: Good? Israel: Very good. Katie: The best? Israel: The best ever. Katie: (Satisfied) Good. Israel: Very good. Katie: (Smiles) Alright, alright. Eat, go on.

He does, a bit.

Did you get everything you needed? Reuven said he saw you on Philpot Street. Israel: I went to see Shimon Rosenblum. Katie: Why? Israel: To ask him to work for me. Katie: Oh. And will he? Israel: He’s starting tomorrow. Katie: Mazel tov, then. Israel: He was good at Katz’s. He can bend metal with his hands like it’s nothing. I’ve seen him work. Katie: So, good. Now eat – we’re celebrating! Mr Business Man Israel Lipski, from tomorrow. Israel: You don’t like him.

Katie: I didn’t say that. Israel: Why don’t you like him? Katie: Iseleh... Israel: No, tell me. Katie: I don’t know him. Israel: You know him enough. Katie: What’s the matter? Israel: Nothing’s the matter.

A pause. They watch each other.

Katie: He laughs at you. I’ve seen him talking to you and then he looks over your head at other men and laughs. Israel: Not at me. Katie: Maybe not. It doesn’t matter. I said, I don’t know him. Israel: He asked for seven and two a week.

Katie doesn’t say anything.

Israel: Rosenblum. He asked for seven and two a week. And the landlord’s put the rent up because I’ll be using the room as a workshop – (rising panic as he says it out loud) the same room, Katie! By three shillings. I can’t afford it / yet. Katie: Hey, / love – Israel: And I met a man yesterday in Schmidt’s and I think he might be a mistake, he’s starting tomorrow too but I panicked, there were three of them and he was the, the tallest or something, I don’t know why I chose him, he’s not even a woodworker, he’s a locksmith, Katie, I’m an idiot, I’m not cut out / for it.

Israel: No no no, you don’t understand. Katie: What do you need? Israel: I’m not asking you. Katie: How much do you need? No, wait. Listen. It’s a loan.

She takes out some money.

And I know you’re going to make it back. And then we’re going to get married and my money will be your money, your money will be my money, and it’s going to be fine. It’s going to be perfect. So let me help. Israel: They laugh at me. Katie: You’re allowed to ask for help, Iseleh.

Beat. He turns around and walks out. Katie stands there with the coins, then suddenly throws them on the floor. Then she crouches down and starts picking them back up. Israel re-enters. He kneels down next to her.

Israel: I love you.

He waits.

The best ever. Katie: (Holds out the coins) Twenty-five shillings. Israel: I’ll pay you back. By the end of next week. Katie: I know you will.