31 Plays in 31 Days, #13 - "Doing it All"

[breakinglight11]

This scene directly follows after #5 - All a Mess. This is the moment where Mary breaks down, forced to recognize that she's overloaded and unable to manage everything all on her own. Part of my goal is to show that it’s not so simple to just overhaul your life, even if that’s what needs to be done for your own health and happiness. But I also want to show that Mary’s feelings about leaving her old life are not simple; even though she knew separating from Mrs. Hawking was the right thing to do for herself, she still misses her and hurts that it had to happen. I also want to show Arthur unconditional in his effort and desire to support Mary, but not really sure how to. They’re figuring this out as they go.

Again, this scene currently is a bit bare-bones, with those ideas not as deeply explored and realized as they should be. I keep repeating that because I'm embarrassed the drafts aren’t better. But that's how drafting goes, at least for me. Still, this scene’s very important, so I know on the edit I need to get it right.


Photo by Jacob LaRocca

Day #13 - “Doing it All”
From Mrs. Hawking 7 by Phoebe Roberts

MARY SWANN, society avenger, early thirties
ARTHUR SWANN, Mary’s husband and MI6 agent, mid-thirties
KATHLEEN DUNCAN, a friend of theirs, early thirties

New York, New York, 1890
~~~

(MARY collapses into a sob. ARTHUR comforts her.)

ARTHUR: Oh, don’t fret, love. It’s all right, it’s all right.

MARY: It is not all right!

ARTHUR: Oh, darling.

MARY: I thought I knew how to do this! I thought I was good enough to manage on my own! But it’s all going to pieces, because I can’t hold it together!

ARTHUR: Sure it’s not as bad as all that. Tory’s all right— and Father Flannery can manage without you for one party—

MARY: Bother the party! What about the Warren girl? I told that man I could bring her back to him! I was so sure, like it was nothing at all. And look what’s happened— I can hardly mind my own baby, much less save someone else’s! How did I think I could manage?

ARTHUR: It used to be all you had to worry over. And… you used to have more than only me to help you.

MARY: Oh, Arthur. It isn’t you. It’s only that… there’s so much! Mind the baby, and keep the secretary’s letters, and save the missing child! It’s too much.

ARTHUR: If you don’t want to do all that, love, you don’t have to— we can find a way—

MARY: But I want to do all that, Arthur! Before, I had no time for… friends, and a family, and having a bit of fun. I like taking in a baseball game, or having the Duncans to tea. I couldn’t imagine having so much in my life.

ARTHUR: I know, love. It’s what we hoped for.

MARY: But… I miss it! I miss my old life, too. Having days at a time to work a case. I miss Nathaniel, and I miss… her.

ARTHUR: There’s no sin in that. After all she was to you.

MARY: She made me believe we could take on anything. That we could save the world. Perhaps… I just can’t do it without her.

ARTHUR: Oh, Mary. It’s only that you’re just one person. You’ve been trying to do it all on your own.

MARY: Just like she did. And look what’s happened. Oh, God, Arthur…

ARTHUR: Nobody can do it all on their own.

MARY: I can’t give up the work, Arthur. It’s my calling. It’s who I am.

ARTHUR: I know.

MARY: But… I wanted more than that. Finally, I’ve got more. Oh, darling. What am I to do?