breakinglight11 | 31 Plays in 31 Days, #17

So this could turn into something fun, but right now it doesn’t have enough direction. It would be fun to do another Justin Hawking story in the vein of Gentlemen Never Tell, but right now I only have bits and pieces of ideas. I like the idea that each time we tell a Justin story, it comes in the form of a semi-tall tale Justin is recounting to a loved one, so today’s scene is noodling around with a frame for such a story. In this case, I chose Reggie, Nathaniel and Clara’s son and Justin’s nephew, who like his sister Beatrice is finally old enough to be depicted onstage. This scene doesn’t really know what it’s doing yet— what the story is about, what it’s trying to say, what the set up is— but I like the idea of Justin as Fun But Maybe a Bad Influence Uncle in Reggie’s life.

Day #17 - “Let Me Tell You”
By Phoebe Roberts

London, 1893

JUSTIN HAWKING, a rakish gentleman, early forties
REGGIE HAWKING, his nephew, mid-teens
~~~

(REGGIE waits at the bar of a nice pub. After some time, JUSTIN enters.)

REGGIE: You’re late.

JUSTIN: Not a jot; I have arrived exactly when I intended to. And anyhow, if I’m so late, why haven’t you ordered me a drink yet?

REGGIE: It’s on the way, Uncle.

JUSTIN: And still I’ve managed to beat it here. I shall endeavor to dilly-dally more on the next occasion.

REGGIE: I guess I’ll have to work hard to be as interesting to you as that drink.

JUSTIN: Oh, don’t be silly, my boy. You know you’re my favorite nephew.

REGGIE: I should hope so, seeing as I’m your only nephew.

JUSTIN: Count your blessings, lad. Be glad you don’t always have to battle to be the golden boy. Believe me, I know.

REGGIE: Papa always said you liked to make trouble too much for that.

JUSTIN: He said that, the treacherous brute? I am the model of a gentleman!

REGGIE: Well. He also says you haven’t done half the wicked things you say you have.

JUSTIN: I beg your pardon? And I thought the cuts could go no deeper!

REGGIE: Well, which is it? Golden boy or cad?

JUSTIN: We must work on this tragically limited thinking of yours, dear boy. Where’s your sense of fun and adventure?

REGGIE: Oh, you sound like the boys at school.

JUSTIN: Do I? That sounds like quite a bit of independent unbiased verification. I shall never forgive your father if he’s raised you to be a wet blanket.

REGGIE: Uncle! I’ve had quite enough of that to last me a lifetime.

JUSTIN: A young boy ought to be having fun and getting into scrapes, not hanging back wringing his hands when his mates are in high spirits.

REGGIE: Easy for you to say. No headmaster’s hanging about you with a strop.

JUSTIN: Faint heart never won fair maiden! Nor anything else of any worth. Oh, the stories I could tell you…

REGGIE: You mean, those stories that aren’t true?

JUSTIN: Ha! Your papa thinks he can shield you with a few words behind my back. But just wait ‘til that drink arrives, and I shall tell you a tale more instructive than anything Harrow has told you of late…

31 Plays in 31 Days, #17 - “Let Me Tell You”