31 Plays in 31 Days, #28 - "Impasse"

[breakinglight11]

Ugh. Garbage. Ill-thought out, context-free, with decisions made that shouldn’t be made until a thousand other things are figured out. But I got to finish the damn challenge. And I’ve arbitrarily decided this is the all-Hawking 31P31D, so I’m pulling out whatever I can think of.

Day #28 - "Impasse"
For 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
ROLAND, mid twenties, her henchman
~~~

(Enter MRS. FROST.)

MRS. FROST: Well, Mr. Hawking, it seems we’ve come to an impasse.

NATHANIEL: Indeed?

MRS. FROST: I confess, you’ve proved a tougher nut to crack than I expected. I thought I’d have everything I needed from you by now. You are stronger… or perhaps more foolish… than you look.

NATHANIEL: I’m glad you noticed.

MRS. FROST: Yes. Well. I’m less amused than you. I’ve run out of time and patience, you see. I need what I need— now.

NATHANIEL: What does that mean?

MRS. FROST: It means I’m through dealing with you by more polite or elegant means. It’s time to take the direct approach.

(She rings her bell, and one of her roughs, ROLAND, enters.)

MRS. FROST: Roland, Mr. Hawking here will not share his mistress’s plan with me. I’d like you to demonstrate to him the consequences of being so obstinate.

(The rough seizes hold of NATHANIEL and takes him to the chair. He ties him there with rope.)

NATHANIEL: Back here again, are we?

MRS. FROST: Indeed. And here you’ll stay til I return.

NATHANIEL: Isn’t the lock on the door enough?

MRS. FROST: Not for what Roland has in store for you. (To ROLAND) Remember. I need him to be able to talk.

NATHANIEL: Why would I start now?

MRS. FROST: Because if you don’t… he won’t stop. I shall see you in a day or two. When you’re ready.

(Exit MRS. FROST.)

NATHANIEL: Well— I don’t know what you have planned—

(He is cut off as ROLAND punches him across the face.)