31 Plays in 31 Days: #31 - "Serving"

[breakinglight11]

Push to the finish!

This idea was Bernie's suggestion. He thinks that Nathaniel's admiration for the Colonel would lead him to enlist the way he did, but that it went a very different way for him. It also ties Ito the idea of finding the way he can properly contribute to Mrs. Hawking's work.

Day #31 - "Serving"

MARY STONE, Mrs. Hawking's maid and assistant
NATHANIEL HAWKING, Mrs. Hawking's nephew
~~~

MARY: There's more to this work than knives and brawling. It's not the end of everything to not be a martial man.

NATHANIEL: Here now! I've a martial side. Why, I'll have you know I served my bit a few years back!

MARY: You did?

NATHANIEL: Don't sound so surprised!

MARY: Forgive me, it's only... well, you're a gentleman.

NATHANIEL: And I've lived a soft life accordingly, is that it?

MARY: It isn't necessarily to be expected of a gentleman.

NATHANIEL: Miss Stone, I idolized my uncle from the time I was a boy. I've spent my whole life wanting to be like him. You can bet that when I was old enough I stepped up to serve my queen and country just as he did.

MARY: My, sir! Well, I am sorry I expected any less. I am duly impressed.

NATHANIEL: Oh, you ought not to be.

MARY: It's very admirable! You must tell me sometime of your adventures and your exploits as a dashing servant of the empire.

NATHANIEL: It was hardly that. Yes, I enlisted when I was twenty or so. But do you know where they stationed me?

MARY: India? Singapore?

NATHANIEL: Newcastle. At the naval headquarters in the north country. When they learned I was a finance man they assigned me to keep the books for the armory.

MARY: I see.

NATHANIEL: Hardly the adventure I imagined it. And not much in the Colonel's style.

MARY: They saw you had a talented and they put it to use, though. I can't help but think we ought to do the same.