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breakinglight11Another possible scene for a sequel to Gentlemen Never Tell. An element I like from this story is balancing the rivalry and romantic connection between Justin and Rosaline, for tension, humor, and a little spicy frisson. This scene is too cursory and not witty enough, but it’s meant to set up the nature of their conflict in this installment, plus the idea that they’re going to go to crazy lengths to one up each other.
Day #15 - "All’s Fair"
From A Lady Always Knows
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
JUSTIN HAWKING, a rakish gentleman, early forties
ROSALINE PEMBROKE, his occasional romance and business rival, mid thirties
ALGERNON PIKE, lord baron of Lavery, mid thirties
~~~
JUSTIN: (Exaggerated sigh) Is there anyone who works harder than I do?
(Enter ROSALINE.)
ROSALINE: You’re simply an ox at the plow head.
JUSTIN: Why, Rosaline, my dear!
ROSALINE: Don’t you “dear” me. If you think I’ve forgiven you for poaching Sir Cyrus Lathrop’s investment from me, you have another thing coming.
JUSTIN: Don’t play the innocent with me. What about the Jarvis account you snatched from beneath my nose?
ROSALINE: I can’t help it that Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis liked me better than you. It’s hardly a controversial opinion.
JUSTIN: Funny, you seemed to like me just fine when we last ran into one another in Paris.
ROSALINE: The Jarvises were drawn to my ideas and my brain. Those are not the primary points of attraction for you.
(Enter ALGERNON.)
ALGERNON: Why, there you are, Miss Pembroke. I thought I’d lost you.
ROSALINE: Forgive me, Lord Lavery, I was waylaid by a brigand! I shan’t be a moment before I escape; pray go back to the table.
JUSTIN: Miss Pembroke, aren’t you going to introduce me to your dashing companion?
ROSALINE: …of course. Mr. Hawking, this is Algernon Pike, Baron Lavery, and Baron, this is the notorious itinerant ne’er-do-well Mr. Justin Hawking.
JUSTIN: Miss Pembroke flatters me. Surely I can’t help but do well on some occasions.
ALGERNON: (Chuckles) Well, no man is perfect!
JUSTIN: I say, Baron Lavery— not the Lavery who just sold the goldmine in Kimberley, surely?
ALGERNON: Oh, it’s nothing. It was only the third-largest in South Africa. But now I think I’ll spend some time in London for a change of pace. Miss Pembroke here has taken pity on a rustic colonial and kindly agreed to introduce me around.
ROSALINE: Yes, well, it seems his lordship is already making connections without much help from me.
ALGERNON: As I said, you are far too kind.
ROSALINE: Now, my lord, it’s getting late. We’d best be to finding you a hotel for your stay.
JUSTIN: Why, I know an excellent place. The Hollyhock Club has a brandy collection and a steak dinner like you shan’t find anywhere else in London. A fine old boys’ club, where you’ll meet absolutely anyone who’s anyone in town.
ROSALINE: Anyone with a shiftless second son, at any rate.
ALGERNON: Now that sounds perfect! I believe I shall take you up on that, my good man. Just give me a moment to retrieve my coat from the footman, and we can be off!
(Exit ALGERNON.)
ROSALINE: Why, you snake.
JUSTIN: I beg your pardon?
ROSALINE: You think I don’t know that by stashing him in a gentlemen’s club where no women are permitted, you mean to cut him from my herd?
JUSTIN: All’s fair in love and war.
ROSALINE: Indeed. And now that you’ve declared war, all things become fair.
Day #15 - "All’s Fair"
From A Lady Always Knows
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
JUSTIN HAWKING, a rakish gentleman, early forties
ROSALINE PEMBROKE, his occasional romance and business rival, mid thirties
ALGERNON PIKE, lord baron of Lavery, mid thirties
~~~
JUSTIN: (Exaggerated sigh) Is there anyone who works harder than I do?
(Enter ROSALINE.)
ROSALINE: You’re simply an ox at the plow head.
JUSTIN: Why, Rosaline, my dear!
ROSALINE: Don’t you “dear” me. If you think I’ve forgiven you for poaching Sir Cyrus Lathrop’s investment from me, you have another thing coming.
JUSTIN: Don’t play the innocent with me. What about the Jarvis account you snatched from beneath my nose?
ROSALINE: I can’t help it that Mr. and Mrs. Jarvis liked me better than you. It’s hardly a controversial opinion.
JUSTIN: Funny, you seemed to like me just fine when we last ran into one another in Paris.
ROSALINE: The Jarvises were drawn to my ideas and my brain. Those are not the primary points of attraction for you.
(Enter ALGERNON.)
ALGERNON: Why, there you are, Miss Pembroke. I thought I’d lost you.
ROSALINE: Forgive me, Lord Lavery, I was waylaid by a brigand! I shan’t be a moment before I escape; pray go back to the table.
JUSTIN: Miss Pembroke, aren’t you going to introduce me to your dashing companion?
ROSALINE: …of course. Mr. Hawking, this is Algernon Pike, Baron Lavery, and Baron, this is the notorious itinerant ne’er-do-well Mr. Justin Hawking.
JUSTIN: Miss Pembroke flatters me. Surely I can’t help but do well on some occasions.
ALGERNON: (Chuckles) Well, no man is perfect!
JUSTIN: I say, Baron Lavery— not the Lavery who just sold the goldmine in Kimberley, surely?
ALGERNON: Oh, it’s nothing. It was only the third-largest in South Africa. But now I think I’ll spend some time in London for a change of pace. Miss Pembroke here has taken pity on a rustic colonial and kindly agreed to introduce me around.
ROSALINE: Yes, well, it seems his lordship is already making connections without much help from me.
ALGERNON: As I said, you are far too kind.
ROSALINE: Now, my lord, it’s getting late. We’d best be to finding you a hotel for your stay.
JUSTIN: Why, I know an excellent place. The Hollyhock Club has a brandy collection and a steak dinner like you shan’t find anywhere else in London. A fine old boys’ club, where you’ll meet absolutely anyone who’s anyone in town.
ROSALINE: Anyone with a shiftless second son, at any rate.
ALGERNON: Now that sounds perfect! I believe I shall take you up on that, my good man. Just give me a moment to retrieve my coat from the footman, and we can be off!
(Exit ALGERNON.)
ROSALINE: Why, you snake.
JUSTIN: I beg your pardon?
ROSALINE: You think I don’t know that by stashing him in a gentlemen’s club where no women are permitted, you mean to cut him from my herd?
JUSTIN: All’s fair in love and war.
ROSALINE: Indeed. And now that you’ve declared war, all things become fair.
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