31 Plays in 31 Days, #30 - “In Murder’s Path”

[breakinglight11]

Well, for the first time ever, I didn’t manage to finish all thirty-one plays in the allotted month. That’s pretty disappointing, but the past two weeks were just brutal. I’m going to finish anyway, just to complete my list.

I also don’t really like this scene. It continues directly from #28 - Mr. Parkhill, but again it doesn’t really tell us anything new, and Clara’s presence doesn’t really capture the nuance I want her character arc to have. But maybe I can salvage something from it.

Damn, I’m mad at myself for not finishing in time. :-/


Photo by Mark Edwards

Day #30 - “In Murder’s Path”
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
CLARA HAWKING, his lady wife, early forties
BEATRICE HAWKING, their precocious daughter, mid teens
~~~

BEATRICE: Oh, for Heaven’s sake! Mr. Parkhill is dead!

(Pause.)

MRS. HAWKING: What?

BEATRICE: In his study! Draped over his desk like some great forgotten doll!

NATHANIEL: How did it happen?

BEATRICE: I don’t know! I thought he was asleep when I found him!

CLARA: You found him!?

BEATRICE: Yes, when I was looking for the ledger! He was so stiff and cold! Oh, it was dreadful! But so intriguing— do you think he was murdered?

NATHANIEL: It is— very suspicious timing, isn’t it?

MRS. HAWKING: Indeed. And I’d say it gives credence to the Cyruses claim that Parkhill was attempting to frame him. Clearly his doings put him in someone’s path.

CLARA: And now you’ve put my daughter there as well.

MRS. HAWKING: Clara…

CLARA: You said there was no danger for her there. You said it was safe.

BEATRICE: Mama, I was perfectly safe!

NATHANIEL: Darling, no one could have known—

CLARA: Precisely. You had no idea what could have happened.

BEATRICE: Nothing happened to me! I did jolly well if I may say so myself!

MRS. HAWKING: You did, young miss. We needed her.

CLARA: I gave you Mary, and still you couldn’t manage?

MRS. HAWKING: I beg your pardon? What about Mary?

NATHANIEL: Clara, what do you mean?

CLARA: For heaven’s sake, enough! I have been more than patient with this, but stumbling into a murder crosses a line. Beatrice, there will be no more of this.

BEATRICE: Mama! How can you say that?

NATHANIEL: Clara, surely we can discuss this.

CLARA: No. I am finished talking this through. You have told me quite enough. Now, Beatrice, it’s time we go home.

BEATRICE: But, Mama—

CLARA: Not another word!

(CLARA gestures, and BEATRICE exits with her mother in her wake.)