breakinglight11 | 31 Plays in 31 Days, #1

Starting things off with the opening scene of Mrs. Hawking part 4! It's a cute one, one I hope that audiences have been waiting for— an actual date for Mary and Arthur! It also sets up a lot of issues to be explored in the rest of the show very subtly, the significance of which will unfold slowly as the story progresses.

Day #1 - "Stakeout Date"
From Gilded Cages
By Phoebe Roberts

MARY, apprentice society avenger
ARTHUR, a policeman and her beau

(1884 in London. A city street on the waterfront. Enter MARY and ARTHUR.)

ARTHUR:

…and so we were chasing after the dog, but he hadn’t a care for any of us— are you sure you want to keep walking out this way?

MARY:

Well, it’s such a lovely night.

ARTHUR:

Not the nicest part of town. Not that I don’t know you can take care of yourself. But it’s hardly the sort of place a gentleman hopes to take a lady.

MARY:

Not to worry. If anything should happen, I’ll protect you.

ARTHUR:

(Laughing) I’ve no doubt of that. No mistake, miss, I’m glad to be walking anywhere with you. Even down on the docks.

MARY:

I’m glad to walk with you.

ARTHUR:

You must be, if you’re happy to circle the same four blocks six times over.

MARY:

It’s the company I’m after.

ARTHUR:

Oh, aye? Then you’re not staking out that warehouse across the way, there?

(Pause.)

ARTHUR:

I see your eye on it every time we pass.

MARY:

Oh, goodness.

ARTHUR:

When a lady wants a romantic stroll through the rough part of town, then spends the whole evening hovering ‘round the same few streets, a fellow gets to wondering. You must think I’m handsome, because you certainly don’t think I’m very clever.

MARY:

Oh, Arthur, it isn’t like that. I have to. For my work.

ARTHUR:

You’re never off the clock, are you?

MARY:

Arthur, I’m sorry! And that’s not so. It’s only… it’s important.

ARTHUR:

You could have asked me, you know.

MARY:

Do you know what goes on in there?

ARTHUR:

A lot of dodgy business. There’s a lot of stolen goods moving through this area, and some think it’s a base of operations for a smuggling ring. Don’t know which one.

MARY:

The Wilder gang.

ARTHUR:

There’s a nasty lot. How’d you find that out?

MARY:

You know I can’t talk about it.

ARTHUR:

I know.

MARY:

Does that bother you? How I can never talk about my work?

ARTHUR:

Can’t lie. Can’t help being curious. But you’ve you’re reasons, I’m sure of that. You’ll tell me what I need to know. When you’re ready.

MARY:

Thank you.

ARTHUR:

Meanwhile… I would like to walk out with you somewhere you’re not on armed surveillance. You know I go to Holy Cross over on Burnside. Two Sundays from now is the Mayday picnic. The ladies bake, the gentleman put up the maypole, there's dancing and games. If you could take the day, would you come with me?

MARY:

To your church?

ARTHUR:

They’re decent folk. I’m from up north, you see, so I’ve no family in London. They’ve been my people since I arrived.

MARY:

And… you’d bring me there?

ARTHUR:

If that’s not presuming.

MARY:

Not at all. It sounds lovely. I haven’t anything like that.

ARTHUR:

You’ve a church, surely?

MARY:

Yes, but… no people. Not like that. I… Arthur, I’d love to go with you. And I swear I won’t even stake out the vestibule if you like.

ARTHUR:

I think I’d like to kiss you now. Would that be all right?

MARY:

It would be, Arthur.

(They kiss.)

31 Plays in 31 Days, #1 - "Stakeout Date"