I really want to work on Base Instruments, the next in the Mrs. Hawking series, but I feel like I know so little about how the plot happens at this point that I'm struggling a bit. I'm surprised, as I didn't feel like I was so much more solid on Vivat Regina at this time last year and I generated quite a bit of the interpersonal part of it. I guess I'm not sure how to represent a lot of thematic development without context yet. Ah, well, I'll just have to work on it and give it a shot.
This part comes after the other piece of Base Instruments I've written for the month so far, "#2 What If I Don't Want To?" One thing I do know I want to happen is that I want Clara to finally learn about Nathaniel's involvement in his aunt's work. I think she'll have perceived the signs that something has been going on for a while. Here's a rough draft of when she first confronts him. Not sure how they get into this moment, but hey, it's a first draft, and I can edit it for context later.
Haven't I Always?
by Phoebe Roberts
NATHANIEL HAWKING, nephew and assistant to Victoria Hawking
CLARA HAWKING, his wife
~~~
CLARA: I always considered myself so lucky. All of my friends, they are convinced their husbands keep things from them. Where they go, who they see. But not me. My Nathaniel wasn't like that. Not in nine years of marriage, not in the years I knew you before.
NATHANIEL: Clara, dear? What's this?
CLARA: Couldn't I count on that, Nathaniel? That you and I could trust one another?
NATHANIEL: Darling, you're frightening me.
CLARA: It doesn't feel like I thought it would feel. I could swear you were... still here, still with me. Not drifting off someplace I don't know about.
NATHANIEL: I am, love. Of course I'm still here with you.
CLARA: Still, something's changed.
NATHANIEL: Oh, Clara...
CLARA: You're away more than the you used to be. Longer hours at the office, and later nights. And more time than ever with Aunt Victoria.
NATHANIEL: You know what she means to me--
CLARA: I know, but she can hardly bear the company of anyone. How could you possibly be spending so much more time?
NATHANIEL: We've begun to-- grow closer-- she has need of me--
CLARA: And the excuses. Do you think I'm a fool and wouldn't notice?
NATHANIEL: You're never a fool.
(Pause.)
CLARA: Justin thinks you're trysting with Auntie's maid.
NATHANIEL: He said that to you? Forgive me, but-- that bastard!
CLARA: So it's not true?
NATHANIEL: Of course it's not true! I-- my God, I could never, darling.
CLARA: I thought you could never keep anything from me either.
(Pause. NATHANIEL looks down, ashamed.)
NATHANIEL: It's nothing untoward, Clara. I swear it.
CLARA: I never really thought it was, Nathaniel. I believe I know you better than that. But... there is something.
(Pause.)
CLARA: How could you keep something from me?
NATHANIEL I'm afraid you wouldn't understand.
CLARA: Nathaniel. We've known one another since we were practically children. Is that what you think?
NATHANIEL: It's... it's going to sound mad.
CLARA: I'm going mad not knowing!
(She gets a hold of herself.)
CLARA: Only tell me. Please, Nathaniel.
NATHANIEL: Truly, Clara? You'll believe what I tell you?
CLARA: Haven't I always?
This part comes after the other piece of Base Instruments I've written for the month so far, "#2 What If I Don't Want To?" One thing I do know I want to happen is that I want Clara to finally learn about Nathaniel's involvement in his aunt's work. I think she'll have perceived the signs that something has been going on for a while. Here's a rough draft of when she first confronts him. Not sure how they get into this moment, but hey, it's a first draft, and I can edit it for context later.
Haven't I Always?
by Phoebe Roberts
NATHANIEL HAWKING, nephew and assistant to Victoria Hawking
CLARA HAWKING, his wife
~~~
CLARA: I always considered myself so lucky. All of my friends, they are convinced their husbands keep things from them. Where they go, who they see. But not me. My Nathaniel wasn't like that. Not in nine years of marriage, not in the years I knew you before.
NATHANIEL: Clara, dear? What's this?
CLARA: Couldn't I count on that, Nathaniel? That you and I could trust one another?
NATHANIEL: Darling, you're frightening me.
CLARA: It doesn't feel like I thought it would feel. I could swear you were... still here, still with me. Not drifting off someplace I don't know about.
NATHANIEL: I am, love. Of course I'm still here with you.
CLARA: Still, something's changed.
NATHANIEL: Oh, Clara...
CLARA: You're away more than the you used to be. Longer hours at the office, and later nights. And more time than ever with Aunt Victoria.
NATHANIEL: You know what she means to me--
CLARA: I know, but she can hardly bear the company of anyone. How could you possibly be spending so much more time?
NATHANIEL: We've begun to-- grow closer-- she has need of me--
CLARA: And the excuses. Do you think I'm a fool and wouldn't notice?
NATHANIEL: You're never a fool.
(Pause.)
CLARA: Justin thinks you're trysting with Auntie's maid.
NATHANIEL: He said that to you? Forgive me, but-- that bastard!
CLARA: So it's not true?
NATHANIEL: Of course it's not true! I-- my God, I could never, darling.
CLARA: I thought you could never keep anything from me either.
(Pause. NATHANIEL looks down, ashamed.)
NATHANIEL: It's nothing untoward, Clara. I swear it.
CLARA: I never really thought it was, Nathaniel. I believe I know you better than that. But... there is something.
(Pause.)
CLARA: How could you keep something from me?
NATHANIEL I'm afraid you wouldn't understand.
CLARA: Nathaniel. We've known one another since we were practically children. Is that what you think?
NATHANIEL: It's... it's going to sound mad.
CLARA: I'm going mad not knowing!
(She gets a hold of herself.)
CLARA: Only tell me. Please, Nathaniel.
NATHANIEL: Truly, Clara? You'll believe what I tell you?
CLARA: Haven't I always?
About Me
My name is Phoebe. I'm Boston area theater professional and English professor focused in writing, acting, directing, and modeling. I'm known for having lots of interests, lots of opinions about those interests, and a very high estimation of the value thereof. This blog is for talking about whatever's on my mind, from my daily life to my activities to musing on any number of abstract topics. Thanks for taking the time to read.
My productions:
Upcoming Productions:
MRS. HAWKING part 2 and 3
at the Watch City Steampunk Festival 2016
presented by The Chameleon's Dish
Vivat Regina
by Phoebe Roberts
at 2PM
and
Base Instruments
by Phoebe Roberts
at 6PM
Saturday, May 13th 2017
at 274 Moody Street, Waltham, MA
Other Achievements:
"The Tailor at Loring's End" screenplay
Quarter Finalist in the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Competition 2013
"Adonis" screenplay
Top Ten Percent in the Bluecat Screenwriting Contest 2015
My productions:
Upcoming Productions:
at the Watch City Steampunk Festival 2016
presented by The Chameleon's Dish
Vivat Regina
by Phoebe Roberts
at 2PM
and
Base Instruments
by Phoebe Roberts
at 6PM
Saturday, May 13th 2017
at 274 Moody Street, Waltham, MA
Other Achievements:
"The Tailor at Loring's End" screenplay
Quarter Finalist in the Final Draft Big Break Screenwriting Competition 2013
"Adonis" screenplay
Top Ten Percent in the Bluecat Screenwriting Contest 2015
Page Summary
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Comments
This is, in a lot of ways, the thing I find most interesting about the Mrs. Hawking universe, the interaction of the "mortals" with the expectation of what they must become by being her protegee.
(Except for Mrs. Hawking's Moriarity/Lex Luther/what have you. I admit that she's my actual favorite. Frost, was it? :) )
Thanks for always making such great comments. :-) I hope I can give you a bit more about Mrs. Frost soon too!