(Note: Spoiler Alert!)
The following is a fictional transcript of a fictional TV interview with Roxy Monke, a character from the novel The Power by Naomi Alderman.
Ms Ofrash:
Hello Roxy, [shaking hands] and thank you for agreeing to this interview.
[They sit in armchairs, facing each other]
Roxy:
No problem: they said there’d be bagels.
Ms Ofrash:
[Chuckling] Yes, well, there should be a few kicking around here.
[She motions to someone off camera]
Roxy:
I was only kidding. [Chuckles] What I really wanted was to be meet the famous Ms Ofrash who’s on the telly every night.
Ms Ofrash:
You’re flattering me, but thanks.
Ah, here we are…
[Looks towards assistant who enters set with coffee and a plate of bagels: he puts them on a side table next to a Roxy’s chair. Exits]
Sorry, no tea. We’re so uncivilized over here.
Roxy:
[Studies the coffee and plate of bagels] Jeez, I feel like royalty!
[Snatches up a bagel, takes a bite]
Ms Ofrash:
This isn’t live. We’ll edit later, so just relax and be yourself. Ready?
Roxie:
[Nods, washes down her bagel with some coffee]
Ms Ofrash:
[Looks into camera] Good evening. Tonight we’re talking with Roxy Monke, a woman who needs no introduction.
[Shifts her focus onto Roxy, who’s taking another drink of coffee]
So, Roxy, how does it feel to be a hero?
Roxy:
[Chokes on the question, coffee almost sprays from her mouth. Coughs]
What? [Coughing, wiping the coffee off her lips with the back of hand]
You taking the mick?
Ms Ofrash:
Certainly not. You must know that the public thinks of you as ‘the hero.’
Roxy:
[scoffs] I’m no bloody hero. [Laughs self-deprecatingly, embarrassed]
Ms Ofrash:
Millions of people believe that you are.
Roxy:
Well, they got the wrong bloody end of the stick on that one.
Ms Ofrash:
But didn’t you try to stop Mother Eve from instigating all-out nuclear war?
Roxy:
[Nods] I did, yeah. Didn’t do too good a job of it though.
Ms Ofrash:
And didn’t you have your skein ripped out of your body by your own father and brother?
Roxy:
[Nods, her face rigid] That happened, yeah.
Ms Ofrash:
Most women would have died there on the table, but you managed to escape right under their noses and survive alone in the woods. An impressive feat, Roxy. A heroic feat.
Roxy:
[Shrugs] The Mountain Cult gave me a hand. They’re mental, but they let me live.
Ms Ofrash:
And didn’t you risk your life to save and protect Tunde, although he’s just a man?
Roxy:
It was no big deal; anyone else would have done the same in my situation.
Ms Ofrash:
I don’t believe that’s true, Roxy. And neither do the millions of fans who send you emails and letters.
Roxy:
Well, I don’t know anything about that….
Ms Ofrash:
Oh, you didn’t know? Well, I suppose that’s not surprising. I expect you receive very few letters, as you don’t have an email account. [Chuckles] And you’re living underground in a bunker! [Laughs] A bunker the size of a luxury penthouse ─in a secret location known only to your few friends.
Roxy:
[Laughs] That I am! Feels nice to get out for awhile. Thanks for the invite.
Ms Ofrash:
[Vaguely sarcastic tone] And thank you for gracing us with your presence.
Roxy:
[Frowns slightly]
Ms Ofrash:
[Sincere tone returns] Despite the violent and criminal environment you grew up in, Roxy, you somehow managed to transform yourself into a compassionate, caring woman who was devastated by the events in the refugee camp in Northern Bessapara. You were injured at the time, robbed of your skein, unable to do anything but watch as innocent men, women, and children were tortured and killed. It must have been very traumatic for you.
Roxie:
[Shifts uncomfortably, a pained look on her face] You could say that.
Ms Ofrash:
It later came to light that these atrocities were committed by women who were hopped up on the drug called glitter. A drug that was designed to amplify their power. But it also drove them insane.
Roxie:
[Shifts again, her discomfort increasing] Is there a question in there? I thought I was here to talk about Mother Eve.
Ms Ofrash:
[Softens her tone] Yes, let’s talk about mothers…. Isn’t it true that, after swearing revenge on those who murdered your own mother─and after killing everyone responsible for her death─you discovered it was actually your father who had ordered her murdered? And yet, you let your father live. And then, after he betrayed you again─watching while your skein was ripped out of your body, and knowing full well it would likely kill you─even then, you let him live. Many people see this as the ultimate act of forgiveness.
Roxy:
[Shakes her head] Nah, I was just tired of all the killing.
Ms Ofrash:
And there had been quite a lot, hadn’t there?
Roxy:
It seemed like the whole world was killing each other. I didn’t need to add to it. Not anymore.
Ms Ofrash:
Yes, that brings up another point. The world was becoming increasingly violent. It was also becoming more and more dependent on the glitter drug, which was being distributed worldwide: growing into a trillion dollar business for those who controlled the drug. [Tone hardens] Wasn’t it your family who manufactured and distributed this drug? And didn’t you take over from your father as the head of the family?
Roxy:
[Roughly] Hey, what is this?
Ms Ofrash:
Isn’t it true that despite witnessing the horrendous results of the glitter drug in the refugee camp, you continued to manufacture and profit by it? And isn’t that how you can so easily spend a billion dollars to live safely inside your bunker ─ignoring the devastation you bring to millions, even billions of lives!
Roxy:
I’m outta here! [Stands up]
Ms Ofrash:
[Leaps to her feet] Don’t you recognize me, Roxy? Don’t you remember the little girl and her brother you left to be tortured and killed, so that you and your lover could escape?
Roxy:
[Stares in horror at Ofrash and then makes a move to walk past her]
Ms Ofrash:
[Steps in front of Roxy] But they didn’t kill me, Roxy. Instead they made me watch while they tortured my brother and slowly murdered him.
Roxy:
[Using her sturdy shoulders tries to push past Ofrash]
Ms Ofrash:
[Raises her palm and slams it into Roxy’s chest, giving her a jolt of current that makes her reel back into the chair] And when I used my power on them, they laughed and let me live. Why? Because I killed one of them! That’s how powerful I became after they stuffed my mouth with that glitter shit ─to keep me from passing out while they mutilated my little brother. They let me live, and left me there in the wilderness amongst the horror. While you were miles away, on your way to freedom and a rich, safe life.
Roxy:
[Stares at Ofrash, obviously unable to move, her mouth flapping wordlessly]
Crew:
[Off camera] [Various voices]
What the hell? Hold on, is this for real?
Call Security!
Ms Ofrash:
[Puts her hand on Roxy’s chest and pumps her with a massive charge]
Luckily for you, I’m merciful.
[The back of Ofrash’s head suddenly flies apart in a gruesome spray of blood and bone as a bullet from a high-powered rifle slams inside her skull. She slumps on top of Roxy]
Roxy:
Oi, fuck! Gere’ her off!
Crew:
[Several women rush onto the set to pull Ofrash off of Roxy, laying her body onto the floor. They try not to look at her head. A few of them gag; one exits set fast] [Various frantic voices]
Oh my God, is she dead?
She’s lost half her fucking skull ─what do you think?
Who the fuck fired that gun?
Was the fucking camera rolling?
Roxy:
[Standing easily] That shot came from a government employee: highly skilled.
[Points up into the distance] She’s on the catwalk.
Crew:
[They barely look where Roxy is pointing]
[Various frantic voices]
Are you alright, Roxy?
That was a big charge ─you should be dead!
What the fuck’s going on?
[Off camera] Camera’s still rolling!
Roxy:
I was getting death threats in my fan mail, so I took them to the coppers ─don’t do my own policing anymore. They traced them back to the famous Ms Ofrash: which seemed weird and unlikely. We thought we’d set a trap and see what happened. She’s been trying to get an interview with me for years.
[Removes her jacket, underneath is a rubber vest]
I came dressed for the occasion.
Medical Team:
[Bursts onto the set with a gurney] Where is she?
Crew:
[Various stressed voices]
You’re too late.
She’s missing half her skull.
No rush now…
Roxy:
She’s over here! Quick! We only have a small window before she’s gone.
Medical Team:
[They lift Ofrash and lay her on the gurney, slapping an oxygen mask on her face. They exit in a hurry]
Crew:
[Various stressed voices]
Roxy, what did you mean by that?
What’s going on? Is that camera still rolling?!
Roxy:
It’s been a real experience meeting you folk! Thanks for the bagel. Love to stay and chat but I got a date with a new skein and she won’t wait!
[Dashes after the dying Ofrash: exits]
Crew:
[Various Voices]
What the fuck?!
Where the hell is Security?
[Looking into camera] Did we get that?!