31 Plays in 31 Days, #16 - "Hanging"

[breakinglight11]

Another moment that's supposed to be kind of a big deal. This one is the third in sequence after Day #9 - "A Ruin" and Day #10 - "Poison". It's really important to me that I keep a sense of forward movement in these plays, that the characters are growing and changing and having a definite journey. It helps them feel real and keeps them from becoming boring through repetition or stagnation. So this a supposed to represent a really large step forward for Nathaniel, one probably long overdue. I hope in context I can make that play.

I realize in the entry for day #10 I forgot it cut off where it did. Actually this later part of the scene is where Nathaniel's reference to "the thing Frost said to him" makes Mrs. Hawking wonder what it is he knows. Everything I said about how I like how it's oblique and yet still pretty understandable still applies, but it actually doesn't show up until this later part.



Day #16 - "Hanging"
From Mrs. Hawking VI
By Phoebe Roberts

London, England, 1888

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

NATHANIEL:

I must believe that, or... I'll spend the rest of my life tied to a chair again in Frost’s lair whenever I close my eyes.

(Pause.)

MRS. HAWKING:

You are stronger than for one beating to break you.

NATHANIEL:

It wasn’t just the beating. She… said things. Things I’d do anything to forget.

MRS. HAWKING:

What things?

NATHANIEL:

Things I’d never considered before. About me, my life… and about you and Uncle.

MRS. HAWKING:

What do you mean?

NATHANIEL:

You need never doubt again that I know why it is so hard for you to look at me.

(Pause.)

NATHANIEL:

If I've suffered for you, so you have for me. And I'll do what it takes to make it right. I want better than this for you. I want you to teach my son and inspire my daughter. I want you to feel like yourself again.

MRS. HAWKING:

Of course. So the golden boy's in good graces again, with his pat on the shoulder.

NATHANIEL:

It isn't about that anymore.

MRS. HAWKING:

Isn't it?

NATHANIEL:

Can we never move forward? How can I--? There. Talking of that...

(He takes down the Colonel’s portrait from the wall.)

MRS. HAWKING:

What are you doing?

NATHANIEL:

Putting the past to rest. It’s long past time.

(Pause.)

MRS. HAWKING:

Why?

NATHANIEL:

Because you already must forgive me for being a grim reminder. You don't need one more.

MRS. HAWKING:

What will you do with it?

NATHANIEL:

I’ll… take it home with me. Put in the study, or the hall… someplace of respect. He deserve that much. But he doesn’t need to be… there. Hanging over you always.

MRS. HAWKING:

Your father will give you hell.

NATHANIEL:

Father never comes here anymore. He never has to know.

MRS. HAWKING:

Thank you.

NATHANIEL:

I should have done it years ago. But I mean to go forward now.