31 Plays in 31 Days, #31 - “Dumbwaiter”

[breakinglight11]

I have actually been so productive this month I have quite a few scenes to choose from to end this year’s 31 Plays in 31 Days. I’m making steady progress on my Justin story, and I’m very close to having a complete draft for Dream Machine episode 4, among other noodling here and there. But for whatever reason, I’ve chosen to round things out with a rather poorly excerpted bit from a very complicated parlor scene for use in Justin’s play.

There are going to be a lot of things going on in this scene in its entirety— Justin and Rosaline competing for Mrs. Broadwater’s favor, trying to help Theo oil out of his engagement, some surreptitious investigation as to who beheaded the house’s famous Hector statue. Nearly the entire cast will be onstage, their dialogue crisscrossing in and around each other. But I snipped this little section out because it’s funny, revolving around an unexpected discovery in a dumbwaiter. I’ve always thought dumbwaiters were fascinating, and made for excellent tools for Victorian comedy, so I’m excited to finally get to involve one. I hope you like this little bit.



Day #31 - "Dumbwaiter"
From A Libertine Abroad
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~

JUSTIN HAWKING, a liberated gentlemen, late thirties
PETER MORGAN, his valet, late twenties
ANNABEL BROADWATER, the bride-to-be, late twenties
MARTIN QUINCY, Mrs. Broadwater's butler, late twenties

Venice, 1889
~~~

(MORGAN takes some flatware from the table and turns to the butler.)

MORGAN: What shall I do with the plates, Mr. Quincy?

QUINCY: Clear them to the cart to take to the kitchen.

MORGAN: Can’t we take them in the dumbwaiter?

QUINCY: The door’s stuck shut; I haven’t had time to see it repaired.

(MORGAN carries the plates to the cart, but goes over to inspect the dumbwaiter. After a moment, he attempts the door. With a mighty heave, he forces it open— and startles to discover the statue’s missing head. He throws himself in front of it to hide it from view.)

ANNABEL: Mr. Morgan? Are you quite all right?

MORGAN: Yes, miss! Only loading up the plates.

(Quickly MORGAN seizes the head and moves it to the cart, hiding it beneath the cover of a tray. He wheels it over close to JUSTIN.)

MORGAN: Mr. Hawking, I think you’re quite finished, then?

JUSTIN: I beg your pardon?

MORGAN: I believe you are, sir.

JUSTIN: I say, Morgan, I’ve just started on the clotted cream—

MORGAN: Sir! Your plate, then!

(He tips open the cover so only JUSTIN can see beneath it. JUSTIN spots the head.)

JUSTIN: Yes! Of course! My plate. Do see that it’s taken away to the kitchen, now, will you?

MORGAN: Yes, sir.

JUSTIN: Quickly, now! Before our lovely tea is disrupted.

(MORGAN exits, wheeling the cart with the head out.)