breakinglight11 | 31 Plays in 31 Days, #22

While I want Justin’s play to be by and large a comedy, I don’t want it to be completely without meaning. I like everything I write to have ideas in it. So it’s kind of turning out to be Justin recognizing the struggles of others who may not have the luxury of treating life like a game the way he can.

This scene references the events of Day #21 - "The Bet", where the tone was considerably more playful. But this is about when the fun’s over and things get real.

Photo by John Benfield

Day #22 - “Of a Kind”
From A Libertine Abroad
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~

JUSTIN HAWKING, a liberated gentlemen, late thirties
ROSALINE PEMBROKE, of Pembroke’s of London, early thirties

Venice, 1889
~~~

(ROSALINE covers her face in her hands. JUSTIN approaches.)

JUSTIN: I’m sorry, miss. I would have helped your friend if there’d be any way I could.

(Pause.)

JUSTIN: Rosaline, we can call off the wager. I only meant it as… waggish flirtation. I never met to trap you into something you don’t care to do; there’s no fun in that. Only too glad to bugger off, if you really don’t like me after all.

ROSALINE: Don’t like you? Justin Hawking, I am you.

JUSTIN: I beg your pardon?

ROSALINE: You’ve seen it. It’s why you’re after me, unspeakably vain as you are. I travel the world, I wrangle and deal, I dazzle with my wit, my charm, my striking good looks. And, yes, Mr. Hawking, I’ve no interest in the conventional genteel path because I’d rather the chance to dally with all manner of fascinating people I meet along my way.

JUSTIN: Golly.

ROSALINE: Or I would. If the world would permit me the way it does you.

(Pause.)

ROSALINE: I’m afraid, sir, that the only real difference between us is the only difference that matters to most.

JUSTIN: Not to me. I meant what I said when I don’t judge or shame.

ROSALINE: Perhaps you don’t. But even if I should risk you… I risk any other blasted gossip who chances to find out about it. Even if you are as discreet as you say— there’s always the servants, or the hosts, or some other mean-spirited judge and jury who would shun you for ever a rumor.

JUSTIN: I won’t argue. I’ve seen it.

ROSALINE: What woman could ever get away with what you do as a matter of course? Proposition the first good-looking stranger you see, flirt with the host, and laugh off your roguish reputation over the fish course because you know it only makes them love you more?

(Pause.)

ROSALINE: So know this, sir. I would take you up on your offer. Indeed, I wish I could take you to the upstairs bedroom and show you a go-round like you’ve never had before. Because that would mean that I could.