31 Plays in 31 Days, #5 - “Sisters Against Strange Men”

[breakinglight11]

This scene was Naomi Ibasitas’s suggestion. When we were filming Base Instruments this summer, we needed ensemble in Victorian eveningwear to fill out the ballroom scene, and Naomi offered to put on her Rosaline costume from Gentlemen Never Tell, and it sparked the idea that Rosaline was actually at the same ball, noticing Justin being his rakish self in that scene. There’s a moment where Clara exits with some other guests to chat, and Naomi suggested that it’s in that moment that Clara herself was the person who told Rosaline about Justin. I loved that idea; I think the two of them would get along. So here’s a very rough attempt at imagining how that little exchange would have happened.



Day #5 - Sisters Against Strange Men
From the Mrs. Hawking series
By Phoebe Roberts

London, England, 1883

CLARA HAWKING, society lady and Nathaniel’s wife, early thirties
ROSALINE PEMBROKE, adventuress, early twenties
~~~

(CLARA and ROSALINE walk through the ballroom for the Mariinsky party, dressed to the nines, drinks in hand, gossiping.)

ROSALINE: I take it you know the bombastic gentleman with the ballerina?

CLARA: I do have that burden upon me. He’s my brother in law.

ROSALINE: My goodness…

CLARA: Oh, he’s not such a bad sort. He’s only a terrible rake— notorious, one might say.

ROSALINE: Notorious, eh? Might I have heard of him?

CLARA: Only if your friends gossip over a splash of brandy in your tea. Justin Hawking, of Hawking Capital and Investments.

ROSALINE: No! That’s him?

CLARA: Ha, I see you may have attended a tea party or two.

ROSALINE: Well, that I can’t deny. But also my uncle is Lord Harold Pembroke, he’s in the same business.

CLARA: Oh, well, that’s it from both sides then. He’s as much a terror in business as he is in pleasure.

ROSALINE: My goodness! So… the reports are not exaggerated, are they?

CLARA: Ugh. If anything, I imagine they’re on the tame side.

ROSALINE: Indeed? So, he reaves through the rank of gentle and lowborn ladies alike, with the ruthlessness of an invading horde?

CLARA: Only unlike a horde, he does take prisoners.

ROSALINE: Ha!

CLARA: And I’ll grant, when he ransoms them back, some of them seem to have enjoyed themselves.

ROSALINE: I can’t tell if you like the fellow or hate him.

CLARA: I imagine that’s because I can’t either, some days! We’ve known each other too long. I’ve seen, and put up with, quite a bit.

ROSALINE: I’m surprised I’ve never crossed paths with him before.

CLARA: Oh? Why would you?

ROSALINE: Well. We run in the same business. I’ve been known to lend a hand to my Uncle Harry.

CLARA: I see. Well, I should hate for you to have a run in for which you were ill prepared. Clever and pretty as you are, you are exactly what he hunts for.

ROSALINE: Interesting… well, I do appreciate the warning.

CLARA: When it comes to strange men, we women must all be sisters.

ROSALINE: Indeed. Though, forgive me for asking, madam… how is it that you know so much about the antics of Justin Hawking?

(Pause.)

CLARA: I told you. I’ve known him a very long time.

ROSALINE: Of course. And… in the spirit of not being unprepared… any other stories of this Justin Hawking you could pass along? Just for my own edification, of course?

CLARA: Oh, dear girl. We shall have to freshen our drinks. And, if I might ask… what makes you so interested?

(Pause.)

ROSALINE: As you said. I don’t want to be unprepared.