31 Plays in 31 Days, #4 - "Not Sleeping"

[breakinglight11]

Part of Nathaniel's journey in part VI will be dealing with the aftermath of his ordeal in part V. I don't want to do a full out PTSD storyline, as there really isn't time to deal with something as huge as that in full, but it wouldn't be realistic if he didn't carry some trauma over from the incident. I want him struggling and having developed bad coping mechanisms that are tripping him up, things he'll have to deal with in order to get better. It's tricky to realistically depict Victorians recognizing certain habits are unhealthy ones, given how much many of them indulged, and I don't want those to be the problems to overcome in and of themselves. Rather, I want them to be symptoms of the real problem that has to be conquered in order for Nathaniel to start healing.



Day #4 - "Not Sleeping"
From Mrs. Hawking VI
By Phoebe Roberts

VICTORIA HAWKING, lady's society avenger, late forties
NATHANIEL HAWKING, her gentleman nephew and assistant, mid-thirties
CLARA HAWKING, his society wife, mid-thirties
~~~

(NATHANIEL prepares in the Hawking parlor. After a moment CLARA enters through the front door.)

NATHANIEL:

Darling? What’s this?

CLARA:

Chapman was brushing out your overcoat and found your wallet in the pocket. I thought I’d bring it by.

NATHANIEL:

Oh— thank you. Only I’m sure Chapman could have—

CLARA:

He also found this.

(She sets a flask out on the table.)

CLARA:

Odd, perhaps. But I wouldn’t have thought anything of it— if I hadn’t found the sideboard dry in your study, and two more hidden away in the dressing room.

(Pause.)

CLARA:

Is that why you’ve been sleeping in there more and more?

NATHANIEL:

Not sleeping, more like.

CLARA:

The nightmares still? About Mrs. Frost.

NATHANIEL:

About what happened. Things she said to me.

CLARA:

Darling, I'm sorry. But she’s finished, Nathaniel. And she’s a liar.

NATHANIEL:

Not in everything. And I can’t seem to get it out of my head.

CLARA:

What’s to be done?

NATHANIEL:

I don’t know. But... I’m not well, love.

CLARA:

This is a serious case you’re on. You’re after... a madman. If you’re not at your best...

NATHANIEL:

This is important, Clara— women's lives are at stake. Madam and Mary need me. I can’t let them down.

CLARA:

Then... we’ll manage it, somehow. We’ll come through this.

NATHANIEL:

How?

CLARA:

Together.

(They embrace as MRS. HAWKING enters.)

MRS. HAWKING:

They’ll be here any minute. Clara— what brings you over?

CLARA:

Oh, I just wanted to remind you that we’ll be interviewing governesses for Beatrice soon. I’m open to advice if you speak gently; I know you’ve strong opinions on the education of girls.

MRS. HAWKING:

God as my witness, I’ll at least see that she studies history and logic beside etiquette and conversational French. But for now you’d best be on your way, unless you’re keen to sit in on an interview with a rather different sort of woman.

NATHANIEL:

(Whispers) The fallen kind.

CLARA:

My goodness. Well. I’ll leave that part out when I talk to the governess. Good luck.

(CLARA exits.)