Cabinet meeting

Then the Princess reminds them: “Gentlemen, the agenda item is obtaining funding for distribution of my film.”

They apologize.  Then Mr. Korkan says the obvious: “To get serious funding we have to find a way to stoke outrage”.

They all know what that means and there seems only one way to do it: set forth, in the starkest terms possible, the abuse that the Princess was subject to during her long ordeal.  They put on record that Mr. Korkan will be asked to interview the Princess privately as to as much detail as she can recall; such cannot be done directly in Cabinet, both for reasons of time and protocol.  Of course they already know quite a bit, from reports of the international delegates who were allowed “audiences” with her every two weeks, reports that to their distress somehow were leaked and made their way to the people of Parvatu.  But only the Princess herself can describe those nine months from beginning to end, with details the delegates were not allowed to see.

Once her account is organized and edited, with appropriate diplomatic input, the Princess can read it as a sort of audio diary, but would that be enough?  Some visuals would be helpful.  Mr. Harad suggests re-enactments.  Because no actress could conceivably be found for such a role, it would have to be the Princess herself.  Of course they will not be totally realistic – real garbage is not going to be thrown at her – but perhaps that much-talked-about tanning frame can be reconstructed, or a plow in a field for her to pull, or the public treadmill, or women (their faces concealed) pretending to “attend” to her while seated around that x-shaped “bed” they had heard about.  The role, if any, of facial expressions or verbal exclamations is debated, as well as how the more painful tortures – for example, the nipple stretching device, or the “Spanish rider” – can be simulated.  Perhaps someone with a Hollywood connection can be consulted, for example the people who did the photographs for the currency.  Mr. Korkan notes that this is a sensitive topic and suggests that discussion as to the visuals be postponed until the Princess’s account is compiled and circulated.  Mr. Forlu and Mr. Genghi agree; Mr. Harad is noncommittal, so the suggestion enters the record.

With a nod from Mr. Harad, the Princess, who has not said a word about any of the issues discussed, declares the meeting closed.  She is helped off the table by Mr. Korkan and as always thanks the ministers for their “time and attention”.  As Lakshmi comes in to attend to her, she smiles at the obviously nervous Ms. Egerton-Butler and invites her to lunch.