31 Plays in 31 Days, #9 - "A Ruin"

[breakinglight11]

This is a chunk of a larger scene that I have rewritten four times now. It's really eluding me for some reason.

None of my main characters are doing that great by 1888. Mrs. Hawking is constantly angry at herself and everyone else, Nathaniel's mildly traumatized, and Mary's been bending over backwards to maintain a relationship where's she at a constant disadvantage. I want to show these things banging against each other and creating conflicts between the cast. This is supposed to be a moment from when Mrs. Hawking and Nathaniel's problems run into each other.

Part of it will be Nathaniel having developed some bad coping mechanisms, such as drinking more. We saw this in the scene from Day #4 - Not Sleeping. For some reason I'm having a hard time depicting that with the right nuance. I want it to be more a symptom of the real problem than a huge problem in and of itself— like, he's not at the point of alcoholism or anything —but also make it not seem like the somewhat excessive level of drinking that Victorians thought was normal. But the Colonel had an alcohol problem that Mrs. Hawking is reminded of when she observes this new habit of Nathaniel's, and when she's looking to take out her anger, it makes him into an appealing target.

I'm also trying to convey the state of their relationship has matured. Nathaniel is past his desperation for her to accept and approve of him; he's now confident in his contribution to their work and her life. But he's lost some of his nerve since his ordeal, and is struggling to keep strong and not to lapse into just going along with Mrs. Hawking and letting her take care of him. It makes it hard for him to speak up against her going to consult Mrs. Frost. But she's such a disaster right now she need somebody to take care of her. Him stepping up into the authority role because she can't is part of his journey, and I'm really fighting to make that come through. I really, really don't want it to come across as more "please love and approve of me" because he's past that.



Day #9 - "A Ruin"
From Mrs. Hawking VI
By Phoebe Roberts

London, England, 1888

VICTORIA HAWKING, lady's champion of London, late forties
NATHANIEL HAWKING, her nephew and assistant, mid thirties
~~~

NATHANIEL:

I know you’re still… not well. I know how hard things have been in the last few years.

MRS. HAWKING:

I thought that… when we put paid to Frost… that would quiet it. But it hasn’t.

NATHANIEL:

I understand.

MRS. HAWKING:

Do you?

NATHANIEL:

Better than you think.

(Pause.)

MRS. HAWKING:

I used to be so certain of myself. Of my plans, my capabilities. I operated alone for nearly twenty years, God blast it. But now… perhaps because I’ve grown older. Perhaps I’m too accustomed to having help. But now everything seems so much greater than me.

NATHANIEL:

You used to be alone. But you’re not anymore.

MRS. HAWKING:

Of course, of course.

NATHANIEL:

Why do you keep saying things like that? We've done nothing but work to help you for eight years.

MRS. HAWKING:

Indeed? Is that what you call lying to me for a year and a half?

NATHANIEL:

We've apologized a hundred times for that mistake. One we made for love of you. Has that managed to destroy all faith you have in us?

MRS. HAWKING:

Forgiven me if in my dark moment it has shaken.

NATHANIEL:

Is that why you turn to Mrs. Frost now instead of us?

(Pause.)

MRS. HAWKING:

You don't understand.

NATHANIEL:

Then explain it to me. Why do you need her so? To solve this case?

MRS. HAWKING:

She’s brilliant. More than we are, any of us.

NATHANIEL:

We can manage it. The three of us, like we always do.

MRS. HAWKING:

This is different.

NATHANIEL:

How?

MRS. HAWKING:

Because I feel a ruin, Nathaniel, and it isn't getting better! Because the police have stopped me from operating, and I'm getting older every day, and I rely upon a support that might give way at any moment. What is there that fixes all that?

NATHANIEL:

Whatever it is, you won't find it in Elizabeth Frost.