31 Plays in 31 Days, #11 - “Need Someone”
Aug. 11th, 2020 08:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
breakinglight11This is the direct continuation of yesterday’s scene, #10 - “On Your Terms”. It’s an attempt to give Justin some vulnerability and softness without compromising his fundamental character. I’m not sure I went with the right strategy. I like incorporating established series mythology, it helps it feel like part of something with continuity, but I don’t know if I used it well here, or if I’m beating a dead horse, and ended up undermining my own ends of maintaining Justin’s character.
The overall thrust, however, of exploring the relationship between Justin and Peter Morgan is solid. But I may need to change the details.
Photo by John Benfield
Day #11 - “Need Someone”
From A Libertine Abroad
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
JUSTIN HAWKING, a liberated gentleman, late thirties
PETER MORGAN, his valet, early thirties
Venice, 1889
~~~
MORGAN: Some of us, people leave marks upon. Some of us can’t go on without needing another soul.
JUSTIN: I see.
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: Well, Morgan. I don’t know what to say.
MORGAN: I didn’t mean… all this. I never meant for it to happen.
JUSTIN: (Sighs) My father used to say, “Who’s to know why Samson loved Delilah? Only that he did.”
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: I didn’t know you felt this way.
MORGAN: Please, sir. I’m very glad of my place. And very happy in it.
JUSTIN: I should hope so. I never— I never meant to make you feel as if… all I cared was what use I could make of you.
MORGAN: I never thought so. Only… perhaps you don’t know. What it is to need someone.
JUSTIN: Do you think I don’t?
MORGAN: Well… you don’t seem to. The way you flit about from woman to woman. Or… the occasional gent.
JUSTIN: Here now, Morgan, I’m not made of stone.
MORGAN: Course not. But it’s not the same as never having your heart break.
JUSTIN: Wrong again, old boy, I’m afraid.
MORGAN: Really, sir?
JUSTIN: There was a woman I saw something of, when I was younger man. She was quite a girl. Beautiful and clever and funny— all the usual specs. But she had an edge, too— the steel blade in the velvet sheath —and I've always been soft for a girl who's just bit a sharp on me.
MORGAN: Sounds about right, sir.
JUSTIN: Of course it never came to anything. She had no patience for an eye than wandered. Nor should a girl like her, so it was only a matter of time. But I confess— I missed her when she was gone.
MORGAN: Did you… did you love her?
JUSTIN: Not the way you mean. But I wanted her to think better of me than she did. It’s not often a man is shown exactly who he is.
MORGAN: What became of the lady, sir?
JUSTIN: She married my brother. He always was the good boy.
(Pause.)
MORGAN: I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have… thought I knew.
JUSTIN: It’s no matter. Only… I shouldn’t like you to believe I’ve no need of anyone. Because I’ve need of you. As my support, and my true friend. I should be quite sad if you didn’t know that.
MORGAN: Why, sir…
JUSTIN: So forgive me if I never made that clear.
MORGAN: I’m sorry, sir. About Cora.
JUSTIN: Nothing in it, old boy. Rather let’s put our heads together and think of some other way to catch that blighter.
The overall thrust, however, of exploring the relationship between Justin and Peter Morgan is solid. But I may need to change the details.
Photo by John Benfield
Day #11 - “Need Someone”
From A Libertine Abroad
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
JUSTIN HAWKING, a liberated gentleman, late thirties
PETER MORGAN, his valet, early thirties
Venice, 1889
~~~
MORGAN: Some of us, people leave marks upon. Some of us can’t go on without needing another soul.
JUSTIN: I see.
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: Well, Morgan. I don’t know what to say.
MORGAN: I didn’t mean… all this. I never meant for it to happen.
JUSTIN: (Sighs) My father used to say, “Who’s to know why Samson loved Delilah? Only that he did.”
(Pause.)
JUSTIN: I didn’t know you felt this way.
MORGAN: Please, sir. I’m very glad of my place. And very happy in it.
JUSTIN: I should hope so. I never— I never meant to make you feel as if… all I cared was what use I could make of you.
MORGAN: I never thought so. Only… perhaps you don’t know. What it is to need someone.
JUSTIN: Do you think I don’t?
MORGAN: Well… you don’t seem to. The way you flit about from woman to woman. Or… the occasional gent.
JUSTIN: Here now, Morgan, I’m not made of stone.
MORGAN: Course not. But it’s not the same as never having your heart break.
JUSTIN: Wrong again, old boy, I’m afraid.
MORGAN: Really, sir?
JUSTIN: There was a woman I saw something of, when I was younger man. She was quite a girl. Beautiful and clever and funny— all the usual specs. But she had an edge, too— the steel blade in the velvet sheath —and I've always been soft for a girl who's just bit a sharp on me.
MORGAN: Sounds about right, sir.
JUSTIN: Of course it never came to anything. She had no patience for an eye than wandered. Nor should a girl like her, so it was only a matter of time. But I confess— I missed her when she was gone.
MORGAN: Did you… did you love her?
JUSTIN: Not the way you mean. But I wanted her to think better of me than she did. It’s not often a man is shown exactly who he is.
MORGAN: What became of the lady, sir?
JUSTIN: She married my brother. He always was the good boy.
(Pause.)
MORGAN: I’m sorry, sir. I shouldn’t have… thought I knew.
JUSTIN: It’s no matter. Only… I shouldn’t like you to believe I’ve no need of anyone. Because I’ve need of you. As my support, and my true friend. I should be quite sad if you didn’t know that.
MORGAN: Why, sir…
JUSTIN: So forgive me if I never made that clear.
MORGAN: I’m sorry, sir. About Cora.
JUSTIN: Nothing in it, old boy. Rather let’s put our heads together and think of some other way to catch that blighter.
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