Act 1, Scene 5 Summary

Anna is alone in her bedroom in the palace. She addresses the king in anger, as if he were standing there. Anna is still outraged that the king had called her his servant. She launches into a song about the backward and sometimes barbaric customs of Siam which she has endured during her stay here.

Lady Thiang enters the room and asks if Anna will go to the king. He is emotionally wounded, because no one has ever talked to him like Anna talked to him earlier today. Anna contends that no one has ever spoken to her in such a manner as the king did, either.

Lady Thiang informs Anna that Siamese agents in Singapore have discovered letters sent to the British government. They contained the message that the Siamese king is a barbarian, and the country is perfectly positioned...