31 Plays in 31 Days, #24 - “Got the Morbs”

[breakinglight11]

Argh, I've fallen behind again. Bernie and I went home this past weekend to help my dad around the house, packing up stuff, moving furniture, since he's planning on eventually downsizing. We ended up moving the beautiful library shelves and books up to our place yesterday, which while welcome, was not initially part of the plan! I'm happy since I wanted them for ages, but it meant I didn't have time to write my daily scenes.

So here's my effort to catch back up. This scene immediately follows #22 - "Just Powder" and is an effort to include the idea that since Mrs. Hawking accepted the physical end of her detective career in In the Bones, she's fallen into a bit of a depression. She's not been doing much work, and spends a lot of time hiding feeling sorry for herself. The events of this play will make her confront that and decide how she wants to move forward. I may need to change the specifics of the previous part of the scene to make that totally compatible with this, but I really like exploring this direction.

Also, I get to use the fabulous Victorian phrase "got the morbs".


Photo by Mark Edwards

Day #24 - “Got the Morbs”
From Mrs Hawking part 8
By Phoebe Roberts

London, 1892

VICTORIA HAWKING, lady’s champion of London, early fifties
NATHANIEL HAWKING, Mrs. Hawking’s nephew and assistant, late thirties
~~~

NATHANIEL: I promise. Now, I’ll be along. I need a word with your auntie.

(CLARA and a sulky BEATRICE exit. When they’re gone, MRS. HAWKING slumps into a chair.)

NATHANIEL: That was nice to see.

MRS. HAWKING: As I said. If she’s going to insist on being here…

NATHANIEL: That too, but… I meant you engaged in work again. Absorbed in a problem, all your engines driving.

MRS. HAWKING: If you can call it that. Whispering in the ears of policemen to bumble their way through the real investigation work.

NATHANIEL: Come now.

MRS. HAWKING: Now that I can’t risk having my bones battered anymore, my useful days fall rapidly behind me.

NATHANIEL: Brawling is the least of this work, you know that. You’ve still got the brain and that’s what counts.

MRS. HAWKING: For all I know, that may be crumbling to dust too.

NATHANIEL: (Sigh) Oh, goodness. Having the morbs brings the drama out of you, doesn’t it?

MRS. HAWKING: Well, what do you expect? That I’d be delighted to give up my life’s work?

NATHANIEL: I’d expect for you to throw yourself into the work you can do. Not mope about your study like a great bat in a cave.

MRS. HAWKING: (Growls)

NATHANIEL: Which brings me to my question. Do you think you might be up to a new case? Keep the old brain in training?

MRS. HAWKING: Do you think it within my new reduced capability?

NATHANIEL: Well. You’ll have to hear me out, and tell me what you think.

(After a moment, MRS. HAWKING sits up in her chair.)