31 Plays in 31 Days, #25 - "Caught"

[breakinglight11]

I am ridiculously behind. Mad that I was on top of this for like twenty-two straight days, and then Bernie comes to visit and I completely lose my stride. Scrambling to catch back up before the end of the month.

This follows immediately after Day #10 - "Undercover."

Day #25 - "Caught"
From <i>Mrs. Frost</i>
By Phoebe Roberts

VICTORIA HAWKING, lady's society avenger, mid forties
MARY STONE, apprentice society avenger, mid twenties
ARTHUR SWANN, her policeman beau, late twenties
~~~

(ROLAND seizes hold of NATHANIEL and clamps a rag to his face and hustles him out. ARTHUR tries to push toward him, but he is shoved back. A fight breaks out around him as MARY appears, chasing off the attacker.)

MARY: 

 

Arthur? What are you doing here?

 

ARTHUR: 

 

Sometimes there are things I can’t tell you— oh, never mind that now! It’s Mr. Hawking!

 

MARY: 

 

What? Where is he?

 

ARTHUR: 

 

They got him!

 

MARY: 

 

Who got him?

 

ARTHUR: 

 

Couldn’t say! But the bloke knew him! Called him by name before he knocked him senseless and dragged him out of here.

 

MARY: 

 

My God. What are we to— what am I to—?

 

(A thug rushes at MARY. Then he is intercepted by the sudden appearance of MRS. HAWKING, who drops him.)

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

What have you done?

 

MARY: 

 

How did you find us?

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

Mrs. Breyer came by to inquire after our progress into her case.

 

MARY:

 

Oh, no. Madam— you must understand— we were only—

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

We’ll discuss it at home. Now. Are you finished here?

 

MARY: 

 

Yes, but—

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

Then find Nathaniel and let’s go. 

 

ARTHUR: 

 

That’s just it, madam! Mr. Hawking— he’s been taken. He’s gone.

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

Taken? By who?

 

MARY: 

 

I don’t know, madam.

 

ARTHUR: 

 

I’ll take a look— I’ll see what I can find.

 

(Exit ARTHUR.)

 

MARY: 

 

Madam— I’m sorry—

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

Enough.

 

MARY: 

 

It’s just that— madam—

 

MRS. HAWKING: 

 

What, Mary?

 

MARY: 

 

Clara will be expecting him at home.