Kate Moss has 'designed' a range of clothes for Topshop. This weeks Sunday Times (No. 9,545, August 12, 2007) has a report on the 'slave labour' conditions for many of the Asian workers who produce the clothes. What was Kate thinking?
SCENE 1
We are on the factory floor of a Mauritius sweatshop. Here Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan girls are making clothes. Kate Moss is marching up and down on a catwalk through the centre of the girls. She is dressed in a skimpy black leather and holding a whip. (Come on boys, put those Kleenex away. Kate has much more mundane thoughts on her tiny little mind.)
KATE
Work harder you scum.
KATE CRACKS HER WHIP AND WALKS FURTHER ALONG THE CATWALK.
KATE
Why have you stopped working? You don't stop tell your twelve hours are up. Who do you think you are?
BANGLADESHI GIRL
Please. Can I have my wages now? I have not had last weeks wages.
KATE
What do you need money for? You'll only waste it.
BANGLADESHI GIRL
I need to send it to my...
KATE
(Cutting her off.) I can't afford to finance your family. Get back to work.
KATE WALKS UP AND DOWN HER CATWALK AND CRACKS HER WHIP.
KATE
(To herself.) Its hard work being a superstar.
SCENE 2
Its late at night. Kate and Sir Philip Green (the owner of Topshop) are relaxing after a hard days 'work' on his luxury yacht. They are sitting at a table laden with food.
GREEN
Tuck in Kate. You know you want to.
KATE
Maybe I will have a carrot. Just one.
GREEN
Tuck in, here's a bowl full. We can get some more if you want. Or live dangerously and have a parsnip.
KATE
Just one carrot. I think I shall cut it in half.
GREEN
Come on Kate, you wont be able to flog those buggers if you don't eat.
KATE
Philip, your plates very full. Are you sure that's good for you?
GREEN
A growing man's got to eat.
KATE
Well your certainly growing.
GREEN PILES MORE FOOD ON HIS PLATE.
KATE (Continued)
Philip... One of my girls said she wants a 'Union'. What's a Union?
GREEN
Don't use that filthy language here. That's the language of the gutter and only poor people use filthy words like that. Now you don't want to be poor again do you.
KATE
I did not know it was a dirty word.
GREEN
That all right Kate. Its a dirty word. Just don't use it again.
GREEN EATS HEARTLY AND PILES MORE FOOD ON HIS PLATE. KATE PLAYS WITH HER CARROT.
GREEN (Continued)
Who would you like to sing for us tonight? Shall we get George? George Michael he's always good. You like him.
KATE
No, no, no. We had George yesterday. He's so very boring. I hate him. I hate him. I hate him.
GREEN
You did not say that last night,
KATE
I did, I hate him.
GREEN
I know what about Jennifer? You like Ms Lopez.
KATE
I want to sing.
GREEN
Now Kate, be nice.
KATE
I'm going to have a hit record. It will be a massive.
GREEN
Yes Kate. Someday.
KATE
I will. I have a great voice. Every one says so. Even Elton.
GREEN
Yes Kate. Of course you do.
KATE
I'm going to have a massive hit. I am you know.
GREEN
First, my dear, you will have learn how to sing in tune. Have you been doing your lessons.
KATE
Don't be silly. People buy records to see me.
PAUSE. GREEN IS STILL SHOVELLING MORE FOOD INTO HIS GOB.
KATE
I want a new fur coat. Must have a new coat. Its got to be mink. I love mink. What's mink?
GREEN
Its a sort of a posh weasel.
KATE
A weasel for weasels.
GREEN
Now Kate you are being middle class again. Remember Croydon.
KATE
Don't send me back to Croydon. I hate Croydon.
GREEN
That a good girl... And you use the fur to make money... err... and sometimes coats.
KATE
Lots of lovely dead animals. I love dead animals. I want a mink. I love mink. Get me a mink.
GREEN
Yes Kate. Lets see what we can do tomorrow.
KATE
I want it now. Must have it now. Get it for me now.
GREEN
Yes my dear. I shall order one now. See its done.
GREEN HOLDS UP A EMPTY PLATE.
KATE
When will it arrive.
GREEN
Soon, Kate soon.
PAUSE. SOME SERVANTS ENTER WITH MORE FOOD AND PLACE IT AT GREEN'S END OF THE TABLE.
KATE
I drive a fast car.
GREEN
No Kate, that's Sterlin.
KATE
Which one am I then?
GREEN
Your Kate Moss.
KATE
Oh. What do I do?
GREEN
That a good question... Let me think... You design cloths and are the girls foreman.
KATE
Oh, that's nice. Can I hit them? Please let me hit them.
GREEN
Yes you can, tomorrow.
KATE
Can I hit them now?
GREEN
Tomorrow. Now you know if you hit them too hard the girls bleed and that can stain the clothes. So you must not hit them to hard. Not like last time. Its cost me a whole pound to get rid of the body. Promise.
KATE
All right. But a girl has got to have some fun with her playthings.
GREEN
Would you like to design some clothes later. I will get you some paper and your crayons.
KATE
No. Silly game.
GREEN
All right. We shall get one of the servants to design something.
KATE
I want to whip the girls.
GREEN
You can have your whip again tomorrow.
KATE
I'm so envious of my little Asian children. They're so nice and thin... Ahhh, they are not forced to eat all this food... It's just not good for them... I think its time to...
THE SOUND OF KATE VOMITING.
END