31 Plays in 31 Days, #30 - “Brazen”

[breakinglight11]

Felt like doing something a little saucy. I’m deeply embarrassed. ;-)

It is kind of weird writing stuff like this when you picture the characters as being depicted by your friends. I like mashing the dollies together, but still…


Photo by John Benfield

Day #30 – “Brazen”
From the Mrs. Hawking series
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~

CLARA PARTRIDGE, a young debutante, early twenties
JUSTIN HAWKING, a young man courting her, early twenties
VIVIAN NEWELL, their school friend, early twenties

London, England, 1873
~~~

(JUSTIN and CLARA sit at a table, now mostly abandoned. VIVIAN NEWELL, their one friend remaining there, stands.)

VIVIAN: Where is Charles? Is he still messing about with that damn victrola?

(She exits, and CLARA looks to JUSTIN, who is smoldering at her.)

CLARA: My god, you’re brazen. Do you think I can’t see?

JUSTIN: See what?

CLARA: How you’re looking at me.

JUSTIN: And how is that?

CLARA: It wouldn’t be decent to say.

(JUSTIN slides closer to her.)

JUSTIN: So you know exactly what I mean. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought of it.

CLARA: I’m a lady.

JUSTIN: You’re still a woman.

(He takes hold of her hand and pulls her in close.)

CLARA: How dare you?

JUSTIN: Then tell me to stop. I’ll take no for an answer. I’m a gentleman.

CLARA: You’re a beast.

JUSTIN: That’s not a no.

(His hand creeps up her leg and under her skirt. Her breathing catches.)

JUSTIN: No games with me, Clara. Tell me what you want.

CLARA: How could I? Whatever would everyone think?

JUSTIN: There’s no everyone here. Just you and me.

CLARA: And what would you think?

JUSTIN: With that pink in your cheeks? I think I’d like to see it up to the roots of your hair.

(Pause.)

CLARA: I want you to stop talking and prove that’s not all there is to you.

JUSTIN: As the lady says.

(She tucks her face into his neck and sighs as he gets to work. Then the sound of heels clicking can be heard from the hall. CLARA slaps him and they spring apart as VIVIAN reenters.)

VIVIAN: Charles is putting on the victrola, if anyone would care to dance— oh, goodness.

JUSTIN: Heavens, Clara. If you don’t want to hold my hand, you could have just said.

CLARA: Well. You ought not to be fresh.

VIVIAN: You’ll survive, Justin. I’m sure it’s hardly the first time. Anyhow, see you in there.

(She exits.)

CLARA: I’m sorry.

JUSTIN: You should be. I was only just getting started.

CLARA: You won’t say anything, will you?

JUSTIN: I told you, darling. I’m a gentleman. A gentleman never tells.

CLARA: As I said. I don’t want you to talk.