IBU DEWI 

A PROPOSAL!

KARTINI GETS A PROPOSAL!

(Father enters through the aisle with the Regent of Rembang)

KARTINI

HOW CAN IT BE? 

I’M NO LONGER 16

IT CAN’T BE…

SOMEONE STILL WANTS TO MARRY ME?

IBU DEWI

THAT’S THE WAY THE STORY GOES!

FATHER

Kartini,

This is the Regent of Rembang.

HE HAS TRAVELED LONG AND FAR

TO SEE YOU. 

HE’D LIKE TO ASK FOR YOUR HAND IN MARRIAGE

AND BEFORE YOU REFUSE,

I’d like you to give him a chance.

IBU DEWI

And a man from up the hierarchy

Fancied her, 

he wanted her as his wife

She had power

She had him on his knees

So what will she do now?

REGENT OF REMBANG

MY WIFE,

FIRST AND ONLY WIFE,

HAS JUST PASSED AWAY 

SHE WAS SO FOND OF YOU 

SHE LONGED TO KNOW YOU 

WANTED YOU TO RAISE OUR CHILDREN

SAID THAT YOU WOULD BE GOOD FOR THEM

(Kartini walks away in disbelief)

Hold on! Hold on!

Shortly before her death

I had a dream 

THAT YOU AND HER MET

AND BECAME GREAT FRIENDS 

She had your portrait in her hand

She never wanted to let it go

UNTIL HER LAST BREATH…

Marry me

And your goals are mine

I am a Regent

Just say when and what time

I can make it happen for you

I’ll do anything for you

PLEASE CONSIDER IT…

IBU DEWI

Her name would be written

In books, in history 

She wouldn’t just be a girl,

She would bring victory! 

THE GIRLS SCHOOL!

HE HAS POWER 

IF HE STOOD BY HER SIDE

JAVA WILL FOLLOW

JAVA WILL BE ON HER SIDE!

VAN KOL

(Enter from stage left. Stay upstage left.)

Dear Kartini,

The government has accepted our request for your study.

You're welcome.

I did hear the news of your proposal

Well… do what makes you happy, always. 

I’ve been in prison on the grounds of incitement 

and I will tell you,

I would rather go back there than be in an unhappy marriage.

Thankfully I have my dear Nellie, 

I don’t know how she puts up with me. God bless her. 

Anyway, I hope to hear back from you soon.

Cheers, 

Van Kol.

(Van Kol walks out to stage right. Kartini exits stage left. Lights dim, spotlight is left on Ibu Dewi.)

  IBU DEWI

THAT’S THE WAY THE STORY GOES,

EVERYBODY KNOWS 

TRADITION THAT RUNS DEEP…

WHILE THE REST OF JAVA IS ASLEEP…

(lights out)