Sometimes We Just Know Things

Ying gets out of the camper, where she has been writing labels for the swamp mud specimen jars.

She is still holding the pencil.

Where is everyone?

Oh. Round the back.

She goes round the back of the camper, and bumps into Arthur.

Arthur! says Ying. Have you been surfing?

Not yet, says Arthur. I went to the Edge of the World.

Nice, says Ying. Did you throw in a pebble?

No, says Arthur, the pebble.......

But Ying has just seen the pre-revolutionary slogan. 'Inside every princess....'

That's so wrong, says Ying. Is that why they were laughing? And what's Terence up to?

He's thinking of altering it, says Arthur.

But I haven't got a pencil, says Terence.

You don't need a pencil, says Ying. You need paint.

I need a pencil FIRST, says Terence.

Ying gives him the pencil.

Thank you , says Terence. Now how do you spell it?

Spell what? says Arthur.

Prince, stupid, says Terence. Write it in small writing down here for me to copy.

He can't spell! says Ying.

I can spell, says Terence, but I don't want to.

Arthur takes the pencil and writes in small writing on the side of the camper: PRINCE

That looks wrong, says Terence.

It isn't, says Arthur.

Sweezus comes up from the sand dune.

Anything to eat?

In the Hilux, says Arthur. Some sandwiches.

Good, says Sweezus, I'm starving.

They open the door of the Hilux which Zak never locks.

They open the sandwiches, from which the aroma of fish paste arises.

Marx appears round the side of the van.

Do I smell fish paste? Ah, the food of the masses.

Yes, says Sweezus. Have one.

Marx takes a fish paste sandwich.

Bloater, says Marx.

I don't think so, says Gaius, sniffing a sandwich. Salmon and pilchard.

Any paint? says Terence. I need it.

What for? says Rosamunda.

To do PRINCE, says Terence.

Oh yes, says Rosamunda, peering into the back of the Hilux. Here's some black paint in a spray can.

She gives it to Terence.

But don't use it all, says Rosamunda. It's not ours, remember.

Black paint! says Terence. Now watch this everybody.

He takes the black paint spray can over to the back of the camper, and sets to work.

No one is watching.

They are busy eating fish paste sandwiches, before Zak and the others come back.

But there are not all that many sandwiches. Zak's mum only made them for Zak.

Pretty soon they stop eating and one by one head back to the camper.

Oh Terence, says Ying.

What's he done? says Rosamunda.

Let's see, says Unni. Oh Terence.

What is it? says Marx

What? says Terence. What's wrong with it? Inside every princess .....

......is a SPINCE, says Marx. What does that mean?

SPINCE? says Terence. Um....it's not finished. Is it, Arthur?

It can't be finished, says Arthur.

Yes it can, says Gaius, frowning. Put an R in.

Terence puts an R on.

I said IN, says Gaius. Not on. What on earth is a SPINCER?

No such thing, says Marx.

Yes there is , says Rosamunda. It means 'one who is the keeper of provisions'.

Rosamunda is correct, but it is not clear how she came to know this.