- We open with a nice little song sung by an English family living in colonial Africa. Everyone sings together about how great England is and how it brings the world together (you know, by colonizing and killing people).
- This is taking place during the Victorian Era, BTW.
- The first to sing solo is Clive, the father of the household. He introduces his wife Betty, who says that she lives for the joy of being a good wife to Clive. Oh yeah, and Betty is played by a man. Confused yet?
- Clive goes on to present his adopted African son, who is played by a white person. Then Clive presents his son Edward (played by a girl) and his daughter Victoria (played by a lifeless doll).
- Once the introductions are done with, Betty hears some drums and is worried that the nearby African tribes are getting ready to attack the white families. Clive tells her not to worry her pretty little head about it. Instead, he tells her to expect a visitor. This visitor is Harry Bagley, a friend of Clive's who has made a bit of a name for himself as an explorer. Betty is not all that impressed with the news.
- Betty tells Clive that their African servant, Joshua, recently sassed her when she asked him to fetch one of her books. Clive calls Joshua in to discipline him, but Joshua charms his way out of the situation by saying that Betty misheard him. After Clive demands an apology anyway, he winks at Joshua behind Betty's back.
- Edward and Victoria come into the room with their governess, Ellen. Edward is holding Victoria's doll, which doesn't make his manly father very happy at all. Edward says he's only minding the doll for Vicky; but Clive tells him he never wants to see the boy with a doll. Clive doesn't want his only son getting all girly on him.
- To help his son man up, Clive promises to take Edward riding the next day with Harry Bagley.
- Betty is left alone on stage with her mother, Maud, who tells Betty that it's best for a woman to know her place and to support her husband.
- A few minutes later, Clive comes in supporting a woman named Caroline Saunders, who looks as if she has fainted from the heat.
- While they're nursing Mrs. Saunders back to consciousness, Harry Bagley shows up. Harry has a quick exchange with Edward about how he barely recognizes him anymore; he's so grown up. Edward seems a little disappointed with this comment, but we probably don't think much of it at this point. Edward doesn't want to go to bed because he wants to stay up with Harry.
- Once the women and children leave, Clive talks to Harry about the violence that's breaking out nearby. Clive thinks it's a good idea if everyone sleeps with guns, so he calls in Joshua to fetch some artillery for them.
- When Clive and Joshua go to get the guns, Betty comes in to talk to Harry. It quickly becomes obvious that the two of them have a romantic connection.
- Betty says that Harry is all she thinks about at night, while Harry says that Betty is the only thing that keeps him going when he's out in the jungle. He even writes love poetry about her. Very romantic stuff. And don't forget that Betty's being played by a man this whole time.
- Eventually, Harry can't control himself any more and takes Betty in his arms. She runs off into the next room.
- While he's alone, Harry realizes that Joshua has been watching him.
- In a totally casual way, Harry asks Joshua if he'd like to go into the barn and have sex. Joshua says he's interested, and the two of them walk away.
- Wait, what!?! Yeah, Churchill likes to throw in these sudden sexual shockers. You're just going to have to deal with it.