31 Plays in 31 Days, #8 - "From the Queen's Archive"

[breakinglight11]

This scene was banged out in like three minutes after being struck by an idea. I know I want to have Mrs. Frost holding Nathaniel captive as bait/a hostage/an information source as a big part of Mrs. Hawking part 5. It occurred to me that Mrs. Frost would have done her research into Nathaniel in order to effectively manipulate him. And she'd make sure to go in with a weapon.

This is extremely rough, and of course, having not even edited part 4 yet, I don't really know what part 5 is going to be like. Probably this ultimately won't fit the situation that I'll end up using. But I try to take down ideas when I have them, so I don't lose them for later. After all, I had about five or six scenes to at least be adapted already for Gilded Cages. Every little bit helps!

Day #8 - "From the Queen's Archive"
From Mrs. Frost
By Phoebe Roberts

London, England, 1886

NATHANIEL HAWKING, early thirties, Mrs. Hawking's nephew and assistant in her society avenging
ELIZABETH FROST, late forties, criminal mastermind
~~~

(Enter MRS. FROST into the room in which she’s holding NATHANIEL captive. She carries a packet of papers.)

MRS. FROST: How have you been holding up?

NATHANIEL: Well enough. Though I’ve had quite enough of this room by now.

MRS. FROST: That’s unfortunate.

NATHANIEL: But if you’re hoping I’ve gone stir crazy, I’m afraid I’m made of sterner stuff than that.

MRS. FROST: Not at all! Why, I’ve brought you something.

NATHANIEL: And what’s that?

(MRS. FROST sits and plays with her envelope.)

MRS. FROST: You and your uncle the Colonel, you were very close, weren’t you?

NATHANIEL: Why do you ask what you already know?

MRS. FROST: Fair enough. I suppose it’s no secret. Unlike… some other things about the Colonel.

NATHANIEL: What other things?

MRS. FROST: Oh, come now. Don’t tell me you didn’t wonder— about, for example, the work for which he was commended by the queen?

NATHANIEL: I know about the knighthood.

MRS. FROST: Oh, indeed? So I suppose you know what it was that took him abroad so often, after he and Mrs. Hawking were married?

(Pause.)

NATHANIEL: Soldiering, of course. What else?

MRS. FROST: Oh! So you don’t know, then!

(NATHANIEL stares.)

MRS. FROST: In that case… well, I think you may find this interesting.

(She sets the envelope on the table.)

MRS. FROST: Now, this wasn’t easy to get a hold of, even for me. I had to work quite hard. But it was worth. It if it strikes your fancy.

NATHANIEL: What the devil are you talking about?

MRS. FROST: Why, dear boy, don’t you see? That’s from the queen’s private archives. It’s your uncle’s record… service, and otherwise.

(Pause.)

MRS. FROST: I know you must have questions. I’m sure Mrs. Hawking hasn’t exactly been a wealth of information.

NATHANIEL: Why have you brought this to me?

MRS. FROST: Because I know how badly you want to know what’s in it. You have nothing but questions about the man who was almost a father to you. Questions you can never ask him, and that no one else you know has an answer you can trust. Everything you’ve ever wanted, that no one else can tell you… it’s all here. All of it, right here.

NATHANIEL: And… what do you want for it?

MRS. FROST: You know what I want.

NATHANIEL: Well. I told you before. I won’t betray her. Not even for that.

MRS. FROST: I understand. Well, I shall hold it for safekeeping for you. We’ll see how you feel. After she betrays you.