Mrs. Hawking Part IV:
Gilded Cages
by Phoebe Roberts and Bernie Gabin
~~~
Dramatis Personae
London, England, 1884
MRS. VICTORIA HAWKING, lady’s society avenger, mid forties
MISS MARY STONE, her assistant and housemaid, mid twenties
MR. NATHANIEL HAWKING, her gentleman nephew, late twenties
SERGEANT ARTHUR SWANN, Mary’s policeman beau, late twenties
MRS. AMINA CHAUDHARY, Mrs. Hawking’s client, mid forties
CEDRIC BROCKTON, LORD BROCKTON, a retired blackmailer, late forties
MRS. ELIZABETH FROST, a wealthy lady, late forties
Ruffians, non-speaking ensemble
Singapore, 1859
MISS VICTORIA STANTON, daughter to the lieutenant governor, late teens
MISS MALAIKA SHAH, a maid in the governor’s house, late teens
MISS ELIZABETH DANVERS, Victoria’s companion, early twenties
CAPTAIN REGINALD HAWKING, a soldier and hero of the Indian Rebellion, early thirties
GOVERNOR GARETH STANTON, lieutenant territorial governor, late forties
Soldiers, non-speaking ensemble
~~~
Scene 1
(1884 in London. A city street on the waterfront. Enter MARY and ARTHUR.)
ARTHUR:
Are you sure you want to keep walking out this way?
MARY:
Well, it’s such a lovely night.
ARTHUR:
Not the nicest part of town. Not that I don’t know you can take care of yourself. But it’s hardly the sort of place a gentleman hopes to take a lady.
MARY:
Not to worry. If anything should happen, I’ll protect you.
ARTHUR:
(Laughing) I’ve no doubt of that. No mistake, miss, I’m glad to be walking anywhere with you. Even down on the docks.
MARY:
I’m glad to walk with you.
ARTHUR:
You must be, if you’re happy to circle the same four blocks six times over.
MARY:
It’s the company I’m after.
ARTHUR:
Oh, aye? Then you’re not staking out that warehouse across the way, there?
(Pause.)
ARTHUR:
I see your eye on it every time we pass.
MARY:
Oh, goodness.
ARTHUR:
When a lady wants a romantic stroll through the rough part of town, then spends the whole evening hovering ‘round the same few streets, a fellow gets to wondering. You must think I’m handsome, because you certainly don’t think I’m clever.
MARY:
Oh, Arthur, it isn’t like that. It’s only this came up. For my work. And I didn’t want to cancel.
ARTHUR:
You’re never off the clock, are you?
MARY:
Arthur, I’m sorry! And that’s not so. It’s only… it’s important.
ARTHUR:
You could have asked me, you know.
MARY:
Do you know what goes on in there?
ARTHUR:
A lot of dodgy business. There’s a lot of stolen goods moving through this area, and some think it’s a base of operations for a smuggling ring. Don’t know which one.
MARY:
The Wilder gang.
ARTHUR:
Down here? Aren’t they out of the east end?
MARY:
Until now, it seems.
ARTHUR:
That’s a nasty lot. How’d you find out about that?
MARY:
You know I can’t say.
ARTHUR:
I know.
MARY:
Does that bother you? How I can never talk about my work?
ARTHUR:
Can’t lie that I ain’t curious. But you’ve your reasons, I’m sure of that. You’ll tell me what I need to know. When you’re ready.
MARY:
Thank you.
ARTHUR:
Meanwhile… I would like to walk out with you somewhere you’re not on armed surveillance. What’s something you’d like to do for fun?
MARY:
Oh! I— well, I—
ARTHUR:
You know, I go to Holy Cross over on Burnside. Next Friday they’re having a picnic. The ladies bake, there’s dancing and games. If you could take the day, would you come with me?
MARY:
To your church?
ARTHUR:
They’re decent folk. I’m from up north, you see, so I’ve no family in London. They’ve been my people since I arrived.
MARY:
And… you’d bring me there?
ARTHUR:
If that’s not presuming.
MARY:
Not at all. It sounds lovely. I’ve never… been brought anywhere.
ARTHUR:
So will you come?
MARY:
I’ll… I’ll have to see. If I can take the day.
ARTHUR:
Of course.
MARY:
Not to worry. Perhaps I’ll have to stake out the vestibule.
ARTHUR:
I think I’d like to kiss you now. Would that be all right?
MARY:
It would be, Arthur.
(They kiss.)
Scene 2
(Mrs. Hawking’s parlor. NATHANIEL lets MARY in the front door.)
NATHANIEL:
There you are!
MARY:
Am I late?
NATHANIEL:
No, she hasn’t arrived yet.
MARY:
And madam?
NATHANIEL:
Got in moments before you. I gather she didn’t turn up any more than I did.
MARY:
Not to worry, I found it. I’m quite certain I did. I had to walk by the place half a dozen times before I was sure.
NATHANIEL:
Well done! Is that what kept you?
MARY:
Well… I was with Arthur.
NATHANIEL:
Indeed? Not strictly on a professional basis, I gather?
MARY:
Nathaniel! I do things besides work, you know.
NATHANIEL:
No judgment! You ought to have some fun every once in a while!
MARY:
We’ll discuss it later! There’s work to do!
(Enter MRS. HAWKING.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Is that Mary I hear?
MARY:
Yes, madam.
MRS. HAWKING:
Do tell me your venture was more successful than ours were.
NATHANIEL:
I certainly hope so.
MARY:
Nathaniel!
MRS. HAWKING:
What?
MARY:
It was, madam. I found the warehouse where they’ve moved their operations.
MRS. HAWKING:
And you’re certain?
MARY:
Certain as I can be.
MRS. HAWKING:
Good work, Mary. When Mrs. Chaudhary arrives, we’ll make our report.
(The bell rings.)
MRS. HAWKING:
And there she is. Mary, if you please.
(Mary goes to the door to let in MRS. CHAUDHARY.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Mrs. Chaudhary, pleasure to meet you at last. Please come in. These are my assistants, my maid Miss Stone and my nephew Mr. Hawking.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
You are Mrs. Hawking, then? Thank you for seeing me. Does this mean you’ll take on my case?
MRS. HAWKING:
We looked into your story, madam, and were able to verify what you told us. The Wilders have indeed moved their operation down to the docks, so we shall be looking into the disappearance of your husband.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Oh, thank you, madam.
MARY:
We had a few questions still, if you please.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Of course, of course.
MARY:
How did Mr. Chaudhary come to involve himself with the Wilder gang?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Sohail works on the docks, and he met some men who were looking to hire new hands. The money was more in a day than he saw in a week, so he leapt at the chance. It… wasn’t until some time in that he realized they were smuggling.
MRS. HAWKING:
You said you believe the gang itself is responsible for your husband’s disappearance. How is it you’re so certain he’s not simply at work for them?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Because he’d grown sorry of his joining them! When he realized what they were. But they began asking more and more of him, and just when he’d settled to break with them… he never came home.
NATHANIEL:
So he didn’t know what he’d gotten himself into?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
He said it would improve our lot. He never meant to bring all this down upon us, but… he does not think before he acts.
MRS. HAWKING:
So it often is with men.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
I need no detective to tell me that, madam.
MRS. HAWKING:
And now your whole family may be in danger. But do not fear; we can protect you. We can see you out of the city where the gang cannot find you. Without your husband, if need be.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
I have two children, madam.
MRS. HAWKING:
Of course. But I feel I must prepare you for all possibilities.
NATHANIEL:
Madam— is that kind?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Kind enough not to give me false hope.
MARY:
One way or another, we’ll find him, Mrs. Chaudhary. And bring him back if he lives.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Do you really believe they will allow him to go?
MARY:
Let us find him first; all the rest will follow.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
I tried to tell him. I had a terrible feeling, but he would not hear it. And… when his mind was settled…
MRS. HAWKING:
I was married too, once, madam.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Then I think you understand.
MRS. HAWKING:
We will not rest until you are delivered from this. I promise you that. Thank you for coming by, Mrs. Chaudhary. You shall hear from us soon.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Allah forgive me, but if it weren’t for my children, I might leave him to reap what he’s sown.
MRS. HAWKING:
I assure you, you’ll find no judgment here.
(MARY shows her out the door.)
MRS. HAWKING:
I swear to you, were it not for that woman’s suffering, that man might be better left to his fate.
MARY:
It sounds as if he meant no harm.
MRS. HAWKING:
Oh, they never do. And yet it never seems to stop them. Now, I must consider the possibilities for our approach.
NATHANIEL:
One more thing, Auntie. Next Friday is the twelfth. I don’t know if you thought of it.
MRS. HAWKING:
I have. As a matter of fact.
MARY:
I’m sorry, the twelfth?
NATHANIEL:
The anniversary of the Colonel’s death. Five years to the day. I thought I’d take a moment to visit the grave. Say a prayer, leave some flowers.
MRS. HAWKING:
You are quite welcome, if you so choose.
NATHANIEL:
I was hoping, madam, you might come with me.
MRS. HAWKING:
I think not, Nathaniel.
NATHANIEL:
Ah. Well. Are you quite sure? I could send a carriage—
MRS. HAWKING:
Asked and answered. Five years is enough time to learn.
NATHANIEL:
I suppose I’d hoped you’d softened.
MRS. HAWKING:
That man shadowed my life enough when he was alive; I should think I might be free of it after he’s dead. Even this house is still practically a monument to him. In fact, it’s high time I saw to that. Nathaniel, take anything you’d care to keep from the Colonel’s study, and when he’s done, Mary, see that the whole thing is cleared out. I’ll mark the occasion that way instead.
NATHANIEL:
I didn’t mean to upset you, Auntie.
MRS. HAWKING:
It isn’t you, Nathaniel.
(MRS. HAWKING exits.)
NATHANIEL:
Well. I don’t know what I expected.
MARY:
I’m sorry, Nathaniel.
NATHANIEL:
Am I mad that I thought she was… settling a bit?
MARY:
Not at all, I’ve seen it too. She’s not as hard as she once was.
NATHANIEL:
But not about him. Never about him.
MARY:
She remembers a very different man than you do.
NATHANIEL:
They weren’t right for each other, certainly. But… she despises him. What in the world happened between them, that it all came to this?
Scene 3
(1859, Singapore, at the house of the lieutenant territorial governor. MALAIKA enters carrying a basket and digs a set of keys out of it. When she hears someone coming, she scrambles to hide them in the basket. Enter ELIZABETH.)
ELIZABETH:
Hello, Malaika. Settling in all right?
MALAIKA:
Miss Danvers! Good day.
ELIZABETH:
I was so sorry for your loss, you know. I dare say she’s a little old for an amah, but heaven knows I can use all the help I can get. So is our Miss Stanton about?
MALAIKA:
Thank you, missibaba. And no, missibaba, I’ve not seen her.
ELIZABETH:
Well, you know what that means. She’s only quiet when she’s making trouble.
(Enter VICTORIA, escorted by two guards.)
VICTORIA:
Cheery day!
ELIZABETH:
Ugh. Like clockwork. What have you gotten up to now?
VICTORIA:
Only some exploring. Until these gentlemen so generously came to offer me a lift home.
(ELIZABETH waves for the guards to release her and exit.)
VICTORIA:
Thanks ever so for the ride! Same time Thursday next? Until then, gentlemen! (Laughing) Blockheads.
ELIZABETH:
Where did they catch you this time?
VICTORIA:
In the garrison, when I was trying to pry the second story window open. Of course, I’d already gotten my prize from the quartermaster’s office.
(She holds out a small sextant.)
ELIZABETH:
I told you not to go out that way. If you’d just walked down the stairs, they wouldn’t have noticed you at all and you would have gotten away clean.
VICTORIA:
You know me, I can’t resist a challenge. Oh— hello. Malaika, isn’t it? Are you on a delivery?
MALAIKA:
Actually I’ll be taking on Puan Amina’s place.
VICTORIA:
Hmm. I wouldn’t have left the post office for this, but as you like it. See here, what do you think of my trophy?
MALAIKA:
It’s very handsome, missibaba, but what is it?
VICTORIA:
I haven’t the faintest! I just wanted to see if I could get it.
ELIZABETH:
It’s called a sextant. Seaman use it to measure position.
VICTORIA:
Indeed! I think I’ll take it up on the roof of the bungalow and see how far it is to the stand of trees.
MALAIKA:
Won’t miss’s father be angry when he hears?
VICTORIA:
Ha! They know better than to bother the governor about me. He couldn’t give a fig what I do, so long as I stay out of his sight.
ELIZABETH:
First of all, that’s not how a sextant works, and secondly, I’ve told you a thousand times— you’ve been lucky so far, but you ought to take more care with what trouble you court. Speaking of care… Victoria, darling? Spot test.
VICTORIA:
Ugh. Not now, I haven’t been paying attention.
ELIZABETH:
Well, there’s your first mistake.
VICTORIA:
Must I?
ELIZABETH:
It will serve you a long sight better than dancing. Now, what’s new around the estate?
VICTORIA:
I don’t know.
ELIZABETH:
I’d wager even Malaika noticed. Busy as she is these days. Malaika?
MALAIKA:
The bunting, missibaba. And the soldiers are on parade.
ELIZABETH:
Very good, girl. They’ve spruced the place up. And why might the boys be marching?
VICTORIA:
Oh, they’re always parading for some reason or another.
ELIZABETH:
No, they’re not. Only on special occasions. And what is that?
VICTORIA:
Oh, who knows?
ELIZABETH:
Think, Victoria! Put your wits to better use than nicking things you don’t need!
VICTORIA:
(Sighing) They parade for… holidays. But today’s not a holiday. They also receive visitors that way… important ones.
ELIZABETH:
Ah. And by chance have you seen the governor today?
VICTORIA:
Not if I can help it. Malaika?
MALAIKA:
He’s got on a splendid uniform. Medals and everything.
VICTORIA:
He’s got somebody to impress for once. A prince. Or some important officer.
ELIZABETH:
And since there are no princes on tour at the moment, an officer it must be. Tell me, what major battles have been fought in the region in the last year?
MALAIKA:
The battle at Gwalior, in India. Last year, where they put down the rebellion.
VICTORIA:
How do you know that?
MALAIKA:
I heard.
ELIZABETH:
See, even the maid girl pays attention to the world. That was a major victory, and certain men distinguished themselves.
VICTORIA:
Why would anyone be coming here? Nothing interesting happens here.
MALAIKA:
Beg pardon, but does Miss Danvers know? Why someone would come?
ELIZABETH:
Curious, are you? Now that’s exactly the question. Could be any number of things. I imagine a fellow of his stature is rather making the rounds. But we shall all have to be on our best behavior.
VICTORIA:
Oh, I don’t care.
ELIZABETH:
I doubt any of us shall have much of a choice. Not if the governor means to impress him.
VICTORIA:
He doesn’t even notice what I do.
ELIZABETH:
He will if you embarrass him in front of a hero.
VICTORIA:
Then let him. I’m not frightened of him. What can he do? Lock me in a tower for the rest of my life? Living here on the manor is practically the same thing.
ELIZABETH:
I think you will find very much it is not. And he’s the lieutenant territorial governor and your father; you’ll find if he ever does notice you, he can do with you whatever he likes. That’s the way the world works.
VICTORIA:
Then blast the world.
ELIZABETH:
Ah, yes, why didn’t I think of that?
VICTORIA:
(To MALAIKA) She thinks she knows everything. But then why’s she stuck here?
MALAIKA:
Is it really so bad, missibaba? It’s a very fine house.
VICTORIA:
It’s a very fine cage, is what it is. What would you have me do?
ELIZABETH:
You can see your place for what it is and make your best advantage.
VICTORIA:
And what’s that? Getting comfy in whatever box you’re put in?
ELIZABETH:
Why fight against the current when you’ve no hope to change its course? Instead, why not ride it where you wish to go?
VICTORIA:
Because there’s no such place that it could take me. Is that what you want? Is that enough for you?
ELIZABETH:
There is the difference between us, dear. I will not drown myself to spite the water.
VICTORIA:
Well. This is all very interesting, but I have a device to work out.
(VICTORIA goes to climb up the side of the building.)
ELIZABETH:
It won’t do what you—! Ugh. Not listening, eh? Indeed, why start now? At ease, Malaika. You may go back to… whatever it was you were doing.
(ELIZABETH exits, then MALAIKA a moment later.)
(Enter REGINALD HAWKING. He looks up to see VICTORIA on the roof with her sextant. Suddenly she drops down, and he runs to catch her. She twists out of his grasp and spins to punches him square in the eye.)
REGINALD:
Good God!
VICTORIA:
What do you think you’re doing!?
REGINALD:
Catching you! I thought you’d fallen!
VICTORIA:
I don’t need your help!
REGINALD:
I can see that now! What in the world were you up to?
VICTORIA:
I was surveying the yard. To see the distance to the trees from the roof of the bungalow. Not that it’s any of your business!
REGINALD:
Why?
VICTORIA:
To see if I could jump it, of course!
REGINALD:
I see. Do you do a lot of this? This climbing?
VICTORIA:
What’s it to you?
REGINALD:
It’s only… it’s rather remarkable.
VICTORIA:
Hm. Well, I’ll thank you not to remark on it when the lieutenant governor comes by.
REGINALD:
Why’s that?
VICTORIA:
Because if you do, a black eye won’t be the worst thing I do to you.
(VICTORIA exits. Enter GOVERNOR STANTON.)
STANTON:
Ah, Captain, you’ve arrived. So you’re the decorated hero we’ve all heard so much about.
REGINALD:
I suppose, sir. And you?
STANTON:
Gareth Stanton, lieutenant to the territorial governor under the Bengal Presidency. Very glad to have you here. I say— are you all right, then?
(He indicates REGINALD’s eye.)
REGINALD:
Ah, this? It’s nothing, only… got it boxing with the lads. Fellow’s got a devil of a right cross.
STANTON:
Hm, clearly. Well, you ought to know, tales of your heroism in putting down the Sepoy Mutiny in Gwalior last year have spread across the territory. Is it true you cut through the rabble on Lucknow with only thirty riders?
REGINALD:
Yes, sir. So the guns could push through.
STANTON:
Quite an achievement.
REGINALD:
We did what we had to do.
STANTON:
No doubt. Takes me back to my days whipping back the Frogs. Well, you could not have arrived at a better time. With the stirring around here, we’re in need of a man of your particular expertise.
REGINALD:
I very much hope to be of service. Sir— a moment ago, there was a girl— a black-haired English girl…
STANTON:
Indeed? I imagine you met my daughter, then.
REGINALD:
She’s your daughter?
STANTON:
She won’t be in your way. Come along then, we’ll see you settled in. I shall be delighted to introduce the garrison to Captain Reginald Prescott Hawking.
Scene 4
(1884 in London. MARY and NATHANIEL work to clear out the Colonel’s study.)
NATHANIEL:
Look at all this. Clara won’t be pleased if I haul it all home, but I don’t know if I can bear to get rid of it.
MARY:
So many medals. I worked for a major in Tellicherry, but he didn’t have anything near like this.
NATHANIEL:
He served all over the world. Even after he and Auntie came to live in London, he was always off on some mission or campaign.
MARY:
I’ll pack them up for you. They won’t take much space.
NATHANIEL:
The photographs too. There’s Uncle as a young man, fresh on deployment to India. And… I’m not sure about this one, but I think it was some special command he had later.
MARY:
My goodness. He really was your double, wasn’t he?
NATHANIEL:
That’s what they tell me. But the uniform never suited me so well.
MARY:
What about the papers?
NATHANIEL:
I’ll have to sort through them. I think my father has all the financial documents, but there’s likely something important left in here.
(They work in silence a moment.)
MARY:
Nathaniel, could I ask you… how did you know that Clara was the one for you?
NATHANIEL:
That would be when she broke things off with my brother.
MARY:
Beg pardon?
NATHANIEL:
(Laughing) Well, not quite. But that is how we met, you know. Justin brought her ‘round when they were courting.
MARY:
Oh, my goodness.
NATHANIEL:
That’s putting it mildly.
MARY:
Nathaniel James Hawking, do you mean to tell me you were in love from afar with your brother’s girl?
NATHANIEL:
As melodramatic as it sounds. It was the great drama of my life, you know. Of course I told myself that I wasn’t, that she was just a very pretty young lady that I was happy to spend time with. He certainly saw his share of them. But she was the only one I thought about in my odd hours.
MARY:
How romantic. However did you win her away?
NATHANIEL:
Oh, you know. My boundless charm and boyish good looks. And, lucky for me, Justin helped. Before long she tired of his wandering eye and had quite enough of him.
MARY:
And that was when you pounced?
NATHANIEL:
Hardly that! I was on my way to serve my bit at Newcastle at the time, so I asked if she might write me now and then to relieve the tedium of keeping the books at the armory. We had at least a letter a week for the rest of the year, and by the time I got home I was head over heels. We were married not long after.
MARY:
How charming.
NATHANIEL:
Well. I write quite the letter. Do you ask because… you’re thinking of that nice policeman of yours?
MARY:
He’s not my nice policeman.
NATHANIEL:
Not yet, perhaps. I take it things are going well?
MARY:
Nathaniel!
NATHANIEL:
Well, forgive me that I’d like to see you happy.
MARY:
Am I silly?
NATHANIEL:
No! Why ever so?
MARY:
Well… with what I do…
NATHANIEL:
You can’t fall in love?
MARY:
I can’t tell him about it.
NATHANIEL:
I told Clara.
MARY:
It’s different.
NATHANIEL:
How? Because Mrs. Hawking was already cross with me all the time?
MARY:
It wasn’t right to go behind Clara’s back. Even madam saw that, and she was angry enough as it was.
NATHANIEL:
Oh, I see. So this is about what madam will think.
MARY:
She won’t like me bringing a man around. She doesn’t like… well…
NATHANIEL:
(Sighing) Men. You needn’t tell me.
MARY:
So you see my trouble.
NATHANIEL:
Well. Madam isn’t the one to decide this for you. Even if she is angry, it is possible to weather that storm. Take it from one who knows!
MARY:
Thank you, Nathaniel.
NATHANIEL:
I’m a romantic; I can’t help it. You know, I’d like to meet this nice policeman of yours properly someday. He seems like quite the fellow. After all, he managed to catch your eye— by Jove.
MARY:
What is it?
NATHANIEL:
I’ve… found something. A letter— from the queen.
MARY:
To your uncle? What about?
NATHANIEL:
She… expresses her regret that he’s… declining a knighthood.
MARY:
The Colonel was a knight?
NATHANIEL:
No. No, he wasn’t. Apparently he was offered, and he declined it. I never knew that.
MARY:
How strange! Does it say anything more?
NATHANIEL:
No. Nothing more.
(MRS. HAWKING enters.)
MRS. HAWKING:
My investigations confirm your suspicions about that warehouse, Mary. It is the center of the gang’s operations. Therefore it seems to be the place to begin searching for Mr. Chaudhary.
MARY:
Is that the plan? To break him out from there?
MRS. HAWKING:
Or at least find some sign. I’d like to keep the gang ignorant of our investigation, so I don’t want to go in all ablazes. We still need a plan to bear him away from there. Once he’s recovered, we’ll make arrangements to help the family out of the city. They can start again somewhere their father hasn’t brought down a rabble of smugglers upon them.
MARY:
Shall I send I word to Mrs. Chaudhary?
MRS. HAWKING:
Yes, see that she’s prepared to leave. But tell her she can’t speak of it to anyone, so she leaves no trail for Wilder to follow.
MARY:
Yes, madam.
NATHANIEL:
Just a moment. Madam… is this true? That Uncle turned down a knighthood?
MRS. HAWKING:
What of it?
NATHANIEL:
Did you know about this?
MRS. HAWKING:
It was a long time ago.
NATHANIEL:
Well… what happened?
MRS. HAWKING:
Nathaniel, we have an extraction to devise. We haven’t the time for this. See that the travel papers are in order. We must get to planning our approach.
(Exit MRS. HAWKING.)
MARY:
My goodness. Can you imagine? I suppose we’ll have to finish this later. Aren’t you coming?
NATHANIEL:
In a moment. I… have to telephone my father.
(NATHANIEL exits.)
Scene 5
(1859 in Singapore, in the pantry at the lieutenant governor’s house. VICTORIA watches from hiding. Enter REGINALD. VICTORIA bursts out and REGINALD startles.)
REGINALD:
Good God! This again!
VICTORIA:
What are you doing, hanging about in here?
REGINALD:
I could ask the same of you! Do you always hide yourself in strange places?
VICTORIA:
I’m on a stakeout, and you’re ruining it.
REGINALD:
A stakeout? For what?
VICTORIA:
Whoever’s been stealing from the pantry. I heard the maids talking about it. I was going to catch the thief, before you blundered in to fright them away.
REGINALD:
Well, forgive me, I thought I’d find a bit of quiet. No such luck, I see. Suppose I ought to be thankful I haven’t got myself a bash this time.
VICTORIA:
It wasn’t my fault. You startled me.
REGINALD:
Seems I can’t help getting in your way. Well, I ought to introduce myself, just so you know there are no hard feelings. Captain Reginald Hawking. I may be the decorated soldier, miss, but it’s your reputation that precedes you.
VICTORIA:
You know who I am?
REGINALD:
Your father gave me your name. Vivat Victoria.
VICTORIA:
The governor is a patriot. You must not have told on me, then.
REGINALD:
I can take my lumps like a man. He didn’t tell me much else of you, though.
VICTORIA:
He doesn’t know much else to tell.
REGINALD:
So I asked around. I hear you like to make mischief. And do you really dance ballet? However did you learn that out here?
VICTORIA:
I had a teacher, for a while. An officer’s wife who once danced in Paris. But then they were transferred, and now I teach myself. From a book.
REGINALD:
Must be useful for balancing on rooftops. You know, in the cavalry I learned a trick where you can measure the distance between two places based on where the stars sit in the sky above them. I wonder if that might serve your turn.
VICTORIA:
How do you do it?
REGINALD:
Well, there’s some maths involved. The real trick is using that sextant of yours properly. The constellations here are the same as the ones over Britain.
VICTORIA:
They don’t use the same figures here that the English do. But they’re made of the same stars.
REGINALD:
Is that so? You’ll have to teach me the local names. Then some night I’ll show you my trick. There’s a rooftop on the garrison that would be perfect. I’m sure you could get us up there.
VICTORIA:
Perhaps. So. Captain Reginald Hawking. You’re the hero soldier, then, are you?
REGINALD:
So they say.
VICTORIA:
Everybody’s talking about you. They say you… killed a hundred Indians, or something, and put down the whole rebellion.
REGINALD:
Is that how they’re telling it?
VICTORIA:
I don’t know. But they’re all very impressed by you. Why don’t you want to talk to them anymore?
REGINALD:
I beg your pardon?
VICTORIA:
You said you were hiding out here. I thought your job was to talk to them.
REGINALD:
I suppose it is. Except, miss, that you’ll never find a greater pack of phonies than a British high command.
VICTORIA:
(Laughing) I can’t believe you said that! I thought you were a good soldier!
REGINALD:
Then I ought to know. They talk all day of how they want their rule to be temperate, how no one wants unrest. But when a bloke actually tells them what they have to do to head it off, they bluster until they’re blue in the face and don’t hear a bloody word of it. Ah— forgive me. I don’t mean to speak ill of your father.
VICTORIA:
The governor’s a berk. Everybody knows it and nobody says.
REGINALD:
Well. I didn’t say that. But they brought me here for my opinion. That’s what I gave them.
VICTORIA:
Are you in trouble, then?
REGINALD:
The medals and rubbish protect against that. But for now they’ll only parade me about and talk over me from now until I’m bored stiff.
VICTORIA:
Don’t talk to me. At least you can leave.
REGINALD:
Don’t you like it here?
VICTORIA:
When I can’t do anything at all unless it’s behind the governor’s back?
REGINALD:
What do you want to do?
VICTORIA:
I… I don’t know yet. But I’ve seen so little of the world. I want to… find something that matters! Something that’s hard, but I work at it and I do it anyhow. Something with a purpose! Do you think that’s stupid?
REGINALD:
Of course not. Everybody wants that.
VICTORIA:
I’m not just everybody.
REGINALD:
I can see that.
(Enter ELIZABETH. REGINALD tenses a bit.)
ELIZABETH:
Victoria? Victoria, are you still— oh. Beg pardon. I didn’t realize she’d have company.
REGINALD:
Just looking for a bit of quiet, miss.
ELIZABETH:
Are you still on your stakeout? Haven’t you caught anything?
VICTORIA:
Not with the whole damn house in here!
ELIZABETH:
All right, I’ll leave you to it. Are you Captain Hawking, then, sir?
REGINALD:
I am, Miss…?
ELIZABETH:
Danvers. Elizabeth Danvers, companion to Miss Stanton here. I heard the governor and his men were looking for you. I’d be glad to take you to them.
REGINALD:
No rest for the wicked, then. Of course, miss, that would be kind.
ELIZABETH:
Is it true you were at the head of the charge that broke the line at Lucknow?
REGINALD:
I was, miss.
ELIZABETH:
My goodness. Brave, accomplished. And you would be handsome, too. What a waste.
REGINALD:
I’m… sorry, miss?
ELIZABETH:
Nothing, sir. Follow me.
(ELIZABETH and REGINALD exit. VICTORIA conceals herself again. After a moment a maid with a basket enters and unlocks a cabinet to begin loading it up.)
VICTORIA:
You clever sod.
(VICTORIA leaps out of hiding and they fight, scrabbling and hair-pulling. VICTORIA finally recognizes her.)
VICTORIA:
Malaika?
MALAIKA:
Miss Stanton! No!
(She lets go of VICTORIA and scrambles away.)
VICTORIA:
You’re the one stealing from us?
MALAIKA:
Missibaba, forgive me! It isn’t what it seems!
VICTORIA:
Why would you steal from the larder? Don’t they feed you?
MALAIKA:
Please, missibaba musn’t tell anyone!
VICTORIA:
Not if you don’t tell me what’s going on!
MALAIKA:
I can’t! But I meant no harm, I swear it!
VICTORIA:
Then why won’t you tell me?
MALAIKA:
Because— miss will talk to someone— the guards— the governor—
VICTORIA:
I’d sooner swallow a frog than tell those people anything!
(MALAIKA struggles with it and relents.)
MALAIKA:
It’s not for me, missibaba. It’s for my kampung— the village where I come from. Because they’re starving.
VICTORIA:
Starving? Why?
MALAIKA:
It’s the law, missibaba. It says they can’t grow anything but opium poppy because it’s worth more to sell. But they can’t eat poppy, and… not much of the money comes to them.
VICTORIA:
I had no idea. That’s awful.
MALAIKA:
It’s gotten so bad there that, when I heard… I thought… if I worked at the manor, it might… put some things within reach.
VICTORIA:
So that’s why you left the post office to take Madam Amina’s job. You know, you remind me of her a little.
MALAIKA:
Well. She was my mother.
VICTORIA:
She was? I didn’t know that.
(Pause.)
VICTORIA:
I’m sorry. About what happened to her. She was here a long time and she did a great deal for me.
MALAIKA:
I know.
VICTORIA:
Oh. Well, I liked her very much.
MALAIKA:
Then, for her sake, let me go. I shall put it all back, and never do it again. I swear it, if miss will pardon just me this once.
VICTORIA:
What about your people?
MALAIKA:
(Sighing) It was no fix. I know it’s not enough. I only… had to do something.
VICTORIA:
What will you do now?
MALAIKA:
I don’t know, missibaba.
VICTORIA:
Then… can I help you?
MALAIKA:
You?
VICTORIA:
Yes.
MALAIKA:
Even every scrap in the kitchen wouldn’t solve this.
VICTORIA:
No, but… what about something else, then, something bigger. Something you couldn’t do alone.
MALAIKA:
What would that be?
VICTORIA:
I don’t know. But… perhaps two can find it better than one can.
(MALAIKA considers and decides.)
MALAIKA:
The circumstances are dire. And I’ve got no one else.
VICTORIA:
Splendid. Then… what shall we do?
Scene 6
(1884 in London. The Hawking parlor. The bell rings and MARY goes to answer it, but dithers when she realizes who it is. NATHANIEL enters.)
NATHANIEL:
Was that the bell? Who is it?
MARY:
It’s Arthur.
NATHANIEL:
Arthur? Why is he here?
MARY:
I don’t know!
NATHANIEL:
Does he… know you live here?
MARY:
I suppose he does.
NATHANIEL:
Oh.
MARY:
What do I do? Madam can’t see him here!
NATHANIEL:
Oh, God, certainly not. Ah… take him outside and talk to him there. I’ll manage Mrs. Hawking. I need a word with her anyway.
(MARY lets ARTHUR inside.)
MARY:
Ah… can we help you, sir?
ARTHUR:
Sergeant Swann. Forgive the intrusion, but I’m knocking on all the doors in the neighborhood to warn of a sinkhole problem on the streets nearby. You’ll want to take care when you go out walking.
MARY:
Oh. Thank you, sir. Perhaps you could… show me where, so I’ll know what to watch out for?
ARTHUR:
Certainly, miss. If you’ll come with me.
(He pauses at NATHANIEL.)
ARTHUR:
Sorry, sir, do I know you?
NATHANIEL:
It’s entirely possible, Sergeant.
MARY:
Come now!
(MARY exits with ARTHUR. MRS. HAWKING enters.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Was that the door?
NATHANIEL:
Nothing important.
MRS. HAWKING:
Have you had the traveling papers drawn up for the Chaudharys?
NATHANIEL:
Nearly ready, madam. But just a moment… I want to talk about this. I called my father about it, but I’ve things I wanted to ask you.
(He produces the letter and MRS. HAWKING glances at it.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Your uncle’s letter from the queen. What of it?
NATHANIEL:
Why had I never heard of this before?
MRS. HAWKING:
It seems you’ll have to take that up with your father.
NATHANIEL:
The knighthood— what was it for?
MRS. HAWKING:
What else? Service to the empire. What is it ever for?
NATHANIEL:
But… was there something in particular?
MRS. HAWKING:
That service took him abroad a great deal. I was not present to witness it.
NATHANIEL:
Why would he do that? Just… turn it down, like it didn’t suit him?
MRS. HAWKING:
I don’t know.
NATHANIEL:
You don’t know?
MRS. HAWKING:
Are you having unusual difficulty following me, Nathaniel?
NATHANIEL:
Are you telling me he was offered a knighthood of the realm for distinguished service, and when he turned it down, you felt no need to ask why?
MRS. HAWKING:
How many ways can I tell you that ours was not a companionate marriage?
NATHANIEL:
How could you live in the same house and not ask?
MRS. HAWKING:
Why does that still surprise you?
NATHANIEL:
It’s one of the highest honors in the empire! What some men work all their lives for!
MRS. HAWKING:
We did not talk about such things.
NATHANIEL:
No. You didn’t talk.
(Pause.)
NATHANIEL:
Forgive me. Even now, it’s still hard to think how you hated him.
MRS. HAWKING:
Oh, spare me. You know nothing, Nathaniel.
NATHANIEL:
What else would you call it? An indifference so morbid to the life lived beside yours?
MRS. HAWKING:
For God’s sake, boy! It wasn’t that I hated him!
(Pause.)
MRS. HAWKING:
At least… I didn’t at first.
NATHANIEL:
You didn’t?
MRS. HAWKING:
Do you think I’m completely blind to the man he was? I knew him half my life, Nathaniel. I know why you all love him. He was brave, decent, honest like no one I’d ever met. Anyone could see that.
NATHANIEL:
Then… what happened?
MRS. HAWKING:
I didn’t understand his intentions first. They say the signs were there, but… I couldn’t see, couldn’t grasp. Other know from their own ways, but not me. Like a language I did not speak. And by the time it was clear… he was too far gone, it was too late.
NATHANIEL:
You didn’t see that he loved you?
MRS. HAWKING:
He didn’t love me! He never knew me! He loved a nineteen-year-old girl who showed him a fraction more of her spirit than he’d ever seen before. And from his own imagination he filled in the rest. That girl was who he loved, who he married, and who he mourned ever after he realized she never was.
NATHANIEL:
And that made him a monster?
MRS. HAWKING:
No. It was trapping me in her place did that.
NATHANIEL:
You showed him something. You said it yourself. Why, if you felt nothing for him?
MRS. HAWKING:
Because I liked him! When first we met, I thought we could… be friends. But then he ruined everything. And whatever he was, whatever he intended, I can’t forgive him for that. There it is, and there it ever shall be. Why can’t you move past this?
NATHANIEL:
Because I know what it is to fight so hard for your love.
(Pause.)
NATHANIEL:
He was the best man I knew. My hero. And he never could win you over, no matter what he did. If he couldn’t… well. I am your creature. I always have been. But perhaps I never will either.
MRS. HAWKING:
You aren’t the same man your uncle was, Nathaniel. And he wasn’t you.
NATHANIEL:
That’s so. For well or for ill, for all that it implies. I’d best get back to work. I’ve papers to finish.
(He exits.)
Scene 7
(The street before the Hawking house. Enter ARTHUR and MARY.)
MARY:
Arthur, whatever are you doing here?
ARTHUR:
I had news that couldn’t wait. Mary, we’ve had eyes on that warehouse— it’s been overrun with lowlifes the last few days. More fellows than we’ve ever seen there. There’s something big brewing, and it’s only a matter of time before it goes off. I thought you ought to know right away.
MARY:
Oh. Oh, goodness.
ARTHUR:
Did you like how I managed that, then? I didn’t want it to get back to your mistress that I knew you, so I whipped up that little story.
MARY:
Arthur, you can’t come by the house.
ARTHUR:
Oh, sod it, did they think you had a caller? I’m sorry. Mary, they’ve got to know you’re a decent girl, no one could doubt that.
MARY:
No, it’s… not that. It’s my mentor, in my work. She can’t find you there.
ARTHUR:
Beg pardon? How would she know?
MARY:
She knows who you are. But you’re not supposed to know me. You see, she… doesn’t care for men. She doesn’t trust them.
ARTHUR:
Well… I’m no gentleman, but I’ve done my best to act gentle. Haven’t I?
MARY:
Of course you have. But we’re not supposed to be… friends.
ARTHUR:
Oh, aye? If we’re not supposed to be friends, what are we supposed to be?
MARY:
Just… ships that pass in the night, only close enough to do our jobs. But of course we are friends!
ARTHUR:
Mary Stone, if I’ve made you believe that I’m only your friend, then I’ve given you the very wrong idea indeed.
MARY:
No, Arthur, you haven’t.
ARTHUR:
Are you surprised? I thought I was plain as day. I’m quite keen, Mary. I was hoping you were too. But… I suppose you wouldn’t even come to a church picnic.
MARY:
Arthur…
ARTHUR:
I suppose I ought to have asked you straight. As it is, we walk out every now and then, and then we work a job you can’t tell me much about. But I’d like it to be more than that.
MARY:
I don’t know what more I can be.
ARTHUR:
I… I’m sorry. I thought you— I thought we were—
MARY:
No, no, it’s not that! It only… I don’t know what place there is.
ARTHUR:
What place there is in your life?
MARY:
You know I can’t tell you much about my work, my real work. But it’s not like other people’s, and it means… everything to me. I’m not like you, Arthur. I don’t have… people, or roots anywhere, or history. I’ve never had anything, done anything so important. But… I never thought this would happen. I never thought I would like you this much.
ARTHUR:
And what’s so wrong with that?
MARY:
I can’t risk the most important thing I’ve ever been.
ARTHUR:
And I don’t want you to. I’m not looking to tie things down. Just… try them out. Make a little history, and see what it’s like. Is that something that you want?
MARY:
It is.
ARTHUR:
Me too. So… I’ll take what place there is. If you’ll make it. You’ve got to be in it with me, or there’s no point to it.
MARY:
Of course. I promised myself… I was going to have more in my life. I’ll come to your picnic. I’ll come to all sorts of things. I’ll make room, Arthur. I’ll make room.
(They kiss, then shyly part.)
ARTHUR:
That gentleman in your parlor, grinning like the cat that ate the canary— he’s found us out, hasn’t he?
MARY:
Goodness, yes. But you’ll be glad to hear he’s in your corner.
ARTHUR:
Of course he is. Who wouldn’t be?
ACT II
Scene 1
(1859 in Singapore. MALAIKA and VICTORIA plan.)
MALAIKA:
We used to grow rice and durian. But when the mandate came down for the poppy, the landlords confiscated all the grain. Since then we’ve had to buy from the British, and no one in the kampung can afford it.
VICTORIA:
Couldn’t you grow in secret, then?
MALAIKA:
Things are desperate enough to try. But we’d need to get the seed grain in large enough amounts, and there’s nowhere we can buy it.
VICTORIA:
Why, there’s the storehouse on the manor with loads of the stuff.
MALAIKA:
Miss isn’t suggesting we could… rob it?
VICTORIA:
And why not? They’ve no right to starve you.
MALAIKA:
How would we manage? To get enough of it away without anyone noticing?
VICTORIA:
There has to be something! A trick! Something to put them off our track.
MALAIKA:
Like what?
VICTORIA:
Oh, there’s always a trick. When I was small, Madam Amina told me a story once about a mouse deer who told a tiger who wanted to eat him that he couldn’t be his lunch, he was too busy guarding the king’s pudding— the most delicious pudding in the world. So the tiger told the mouse deer to run off so he could taste it. The mouse deer got away, and the tiger got a bellyful of mud! See, there’s always a way if you’re clever enough.
MALAIKA:
Did my mother often tell you stories?
VICTORIA:
Fairly often. I always wanted to hear about the tricksters. They always thumb it at the blokes who think they’re in charge. But she liked the love stories best, and the beasts who quarreled over this thing or that.
MALAIKA:
I never knew that. That those were her favorites.
VICTORIA:
Well. She was here most of the time, I suppose.
MALAIKA:
Still. I should have known. I should have.
VICTORIA:
Ah… it’s all right, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.
MALAIKA:
I’ve never done anything like this. Something so… defiant. I wonder what she would have thought of it all.
VICTORIA:
I expect she would have scolded you. That’s what parents do, isn’t it?
MALAIKA:
She always did what she had to for us. This is no different, isn’t it? She would want me to help if I could. I suppose I’ll never know.
VICTORIA:
You mustn’t feel badly. Why, I never even had a mother, and I still got on.
(Enter ELIZABETH.)
ELIZABETH:
Good afternoon, girls. You may be interested to know that Captain Hawking is looking for you.
VICTORIA:
Drat, I said I’d take him riding on the mangrove. I’d forgotten.
ELIZABETH:
You’ve grown quite thick with the captain these last few months, haven’t you?
VICTORIA:
He’s all right. But we’re busy here, I’ll find him when we’re finished.
ELIZABETH:
Busy? What are you up to?
VICTORIA:
We’re plotting to raid the granaries and give it all to Malaika’s village.
MALAIKA:
Miss Stanton!
VICTORIA:
Oh, she won’t tell anyone. Rather… she can help. She’s always coming up with plots and things. Elizabeth, tell us how it can be done.
ELIZABETH:
It’s simple. It can’t be.
VICTORIA:
Oh, come now!
ELIZABETH:
You can’t! Not with the resources you have and the circumstances as they are.
VICTORIA:
Bollocks! You can work out anything, Elizabeth! People are starving!
ELIZABETH:
I suppose you could ask the mission to feed the village as an act of charity. You ought to send the Captain. He’ll do it for you, and they’ll do it for a war hero.
VICTORIA:
Charity!?
ELIZABETH:
Do you want the village fed? Or to pull off a cracking scheme?
MALAIKA:
Beg pardon, but my neighbors are in dire straits, missibaba. I don’t think they can count only on pity.
ELIZABETH:
Well, it’s your best chance.
VICTORIA:
But that’s not good enough! It will only do to raid the storehouse. You must have some idea how to do it. You always do.
ELIZABETH:
(Sighing) Perhaps if you… forged orders to deliver the stores to the edge of the manor, and waited for a guard change to have Malaika’s people carry it off… you might get away with it before anyone looked into where the orders came from.
VICTORIA:
Ha! I knew it!
MALAIKA:
Beg your pardon, Miss Danvers, but— could it really be done?
ELIZABETH:
No. Too many unknowns to account for. You’d need an army of help that can’t be seen, and eventually they’d go digging into the false orders.
VICTORIA:
Not if we do it right!
ELIZABETH:
You won’t. They’ll catch you. And when they do, you’ll be in a world of trouble. Both of you.
VICTORIA:
I am not frightened.
ELIZABETH:
Of course you’re not. But think of it, Malaika. What will become of you if you do?
MALAIKA:
Miss Danvers… we need this. What will become of me if I don’t?
VICTORIA:
Don’t listen to her, Malaika. We’ll show her.
ELIZABETH:
(Sighing) Learning the hard way. Fancy that.
(ELIZABETH exits.)
MALAIKA:
Perhaps she’s right. Perhaps it is too much risk.
VICTORIA:
No! We can do this!
MALAIKA:
They’re counting on me. I can’t afford to fail.
VICTORIA:
And so we won’t. We can manage, I know it.
MALAIKA:
Nothing frightens you, does it? How is it that you’re always so sure?
VICTORIA:
Because I can’t believe that they are cleverer or stronger than we are. And we’ll prove it. To Elizabeth, to all of them.
MALAIKA:
You and I?
VICTORIA:
I promise. And do you know what else? I think your mother would be very proud of you.
MALAIKA:
Thank you, Victoria. I’d best get back to work.
(Exit MALAIKA. VICTORIA paces angrily for a moment, then enter REGINALD.)
REGINALD:
Afternoon, missibaba. Are you ready to ride?
VICTORIA:
Blast riding!
REGINALD:
Whatever’s the matter?
VICTORIA:
Everything! The whole damn colony!
REGINALD:
I beg your pardon?
VICTORIA:
It’s all of you! You soldiers and nobles and businessmen, who don’t care for anyone but yourselves. Do you know there are whole villages here starving because they’re not allowed to grow anything but opium?
REGINALD:
Of course I know.
VICTORIA:
You do?
REGINALD:
Why do think I’m here? To quell the unrest before it becomes another damn rebellion. That’s where it comes from. That’s where it always comes from— some unjust and unchristian demand that makes their lives unlivable. I’ve been telling them for months that it can’t go on. But they won’t hear it.
VICTORIA:
Well. I won’t stand for it. Not anymore.
REGINALD:
What do you mean?
VICTORIA:
If no one will do the right thing, I’ll see that it’s done myself.
REGINALD:
Whatever you intend, miss, I’m afraid the governor won’t permit it.
VICTORIA:
The governor? He’s responsible for this?
REGINALD:
Victoria. Who do you think their landlord is?
VICTORIA:
I’ll… I’ll go to him. I’ll tear into him; I shan’t let him do this! I’ll knock down his door if I have to!
REGINALD:
You’d do it, wouldn’t you? Walk in like a man and come down like a hammer. You fierce, fierce girl. But it won’t work. There is so much British money and power at stake it’s turned the whole thing into a powder keg.
VICTORIA:
Then perhaps someone ought to toss it a match and see it blow.
REGINALD:
There would be war in the streets, Victoria!
VICTORIA:
Then let there be war! Why shouldn’t people rise up if they’re suffering!?
REGINALD:
Because they won’t win! Do you have any idea how the empire deals with rebellion? They will be outmanned, outgunned, and in the end put down like dogs. I know! I’ve done it!
VICTORIA:
Of course. The loyal servant of empire.
REGINALD:
Yes. I served my queen, and I did what had to be done. Which is why, God as my witness, I will do everything in my power to see I never have to crush a hopeless peasant uprising ever again.
(Pause.)
VICTORIA:
All my life I have been kept in a box, told to think nothing and do nothing and be nothing. I’ve tried to beat my way out with… trifles, meaningless larks just to keep from going mad. But this… this matters to someone. It’s the first thing I’ve ever done that mattered.
REGINALD:
I’m sorry. If I could take your struggles away, I would.
VICTORIA:
So what I am to do? Give up? Stand by?
REGINALD:
Let me help you.
VICTORIA:
You owe me nothing.
REGINALD:
It isn’t a matter of owing.
VICTORIA:
You said it couldn’t be done. Why would that change anything?
REGINALD:
Because I’d do anything! If you want it, I’ll do anything.
VICTORIA:
Why?
REGINALD:
My God, Victoria. Don’t you know?
(REGINALD strides over and kisses her. She gapes.)
REGINALD:
Tell me what you need, miss. And I’ll do it.
Scene 2
(1884, London. MARY enters the parlor to MRS. HAWKING.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Are you ready, Mary?
MARY:
Very nearly.
MRS. HAWKING:
That tip from your policeman worries me. We must go in tonight, before they have a chance to execute whatever it is they’re planning.
MARY:
He’s not my— I’ll be ready. Madam… I’ve done well in my work for you. Haven’t I?
MRS. HAWKING:
Very well, Mary.
MARY:
I know you were worried when I couldn’t do everything your way. When I wanted… a different sort of life than yours. But I’ve still done well. I’ve been what you needed. Isn’t that right?
MRS. HAWKING:
Yes. What brings this on?
MARY:
Madam… it meant a great deal to me, when you gave me your blessing to learn my own way. But I never want you to doubt how much I want to be here with you. No matter what I do, or…
MRS. HAWKING:
Mary, what are you talking about?
MARY:
It’s something I have to tell you, madam.
MRS. HAWKING:
Now, Mary? Can we discuss this when we’ve completed our mission?
MARY:
Of course, madam. I’ll go finish getting ready.
(The bell rings. MARY shows in MRS. CHAUDHARY.)
MARY:
Mrs. Chaudhary! Didn’t you get our message? You ought to be preparing to leave town.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
It’s happened. It’s what I feared most. I prayed it would spare them, but I knew. I knew!
MRS. HAWKING:
What are you are you talking about, madam?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
It’s my son, my boy Nisar. He’s gone. He’s been taken.
MRS. HAWKING:
Taken? Are you certain?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
The house was tossed through. My daughter was bleeding from the mouth. She said men came, broke down the door, and knocked her aside to take her brother.
MARY:
And you think it was Wilder’s men?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Who else could it be? They took my boy to answer for his father’s deeds.
MARY:
Why would they do that?
MRS. HAWKING:
As leverage, to keep Mr. Chaudhary in check. Blast it. If nothing else, madam, this likely means your husband is indeed alive. And if your son is their bargaining chip, then he is worth more to them unharmed.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Blast that man! How could he have brought this upon us? Only you must find Nisar. You must bring him home!
MARY:
Where would they have taken him?
MRS. HAWKING:
Can we speak to your girl? Can she tell us about the attack?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
She— she’s only three years old. And I sent her with a neighbor woman to get her out of the city.
MARY:
Arthur said the gang is busy with something; they could move at any time.
MRS. HAWKING:
Then we can’t wait. It’s only a few hours to sunset. We’ll strike at first dark.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
What do you mean to do?
MRS. HAWKING:
We had thought to investigate tonight and chart a route to spirit your husband out of the warehouse.. But now… they will have your son under constant watch. There won’t be any way to get him out without their notice. Mary, get a message to that policeman. Tell him to be ready with reinforcements. We’re taking it all down.
MARY:
Right away, Mrs. Hawking.
(MARY exits.)
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
And what am I to do, if the worst happens? How can I go on?
MRS. HAWKING:
You can, madam. You need not be at the mercy of your husband’s deeds.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
How sure you sound.
MRS. HAWKING:
I swear to you, if I have to tear the place to the ground piece by piece to find your son, I will.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
That is a great deal to shoulder, for someone you barely know.
MRS. HAWKING:
It is my calling.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
However did you come to do this? Take on the demons of other people’s misery?
MRS. HAWKING:
In truth… to stave off my own. My marriage was not precisely like yours… but I too found myself trapped in it.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Trapped? You seem to have remarkable freedom to me.
MRS. HAWKING:
Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage. Mine was the gilded trap of a man in love. My life was held captive to the plans, wishes, and expectations of another. I’m sure I need not explain.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
No.
MRS. HAWKING:
In this… I found I could change things. And if could help others recover something of their lost lives… perhaps I could redeem my own.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
I see. And this… this gives you peace?
MRS. HAWKING:
No… but peace tears down no walls, and at least this quiets the rage.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Well. I suppose, then, we are fortunate that you use it to fight for us.
(Reenter MARY in stealth costume.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Go gather your daughter now, madam. My nephew will meet you at the rendezvous point with your papers.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Thank you, Mrs. Hawking. I will leave you to your work.
(MARY shows MRS. CHAUDHARY out the door and returns.)
MRS. HAWKING:
That is the end of that marriage.
MARY:
The boy may be all right.
MRS. HAWKING:
And if he isn’t? What do you think will come of it? Do you think any semblance of bond between them will survive?
MARY:
I suppose it is a hard thing, to forgive the person who destroyed your family.
MRS. HAWKING:
Well. Reginald managed it.
(Pause.)
MARY:
Surely you don’t mean… the stillbirth. Surely not. Madam, that wasn’t your fault, you know that’s not true.
MRS. HAWKING:
Isn’t it?
(MARY stares.)
MRS. HAWKING:
I suppose I can’t be certain. But I always wondered. I still operated, you know, as long as I could. Right up until I was too damned fat to maneuver. It could have been anything. A rough landing, a blow from some ruffian… even just the strain of it all. And if wishing were enough, well, I murdered him a hundred times over.
(Pause.)
MARY:
Still. You can’t know. And the Colonel couldn’t have known either.
MRS. HAWKING:
Indeed. And perhaps that’s why he could forgive.
(Pause.)
MRS. HAWKING:
I never could believe it. After everything he put me through, I could hardly bear of the sight of him. But as miserable as I made him… his regard never changed. Whatever I did, he never stopped forgiving me.
(MRS. HAWKING looks to the Colonel’s portrait.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Oh, Reginald. We ruined one another, didn’t we?
(Pause.)
MRS. HAWKING:
But you chose it. Not me.
(Pause.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Well. Enough of this. Come, Mary. It’s time.
(They gather their things and go to the door.)
MRS. HAWKING:
You know, Nathaniel may have been my grace.
MARY:
What do you mean?
MRS. HAWKING:
The Colonel loved that boy the moment he laid eyes on him. Ambrose may have been his father, but he was always Reginald’s son.
Scene 3
(The warehouse headquarters of the Wilder gang. Voices cry out and fire crackles. MRS. HAWKING chases in a ruffian.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Chaudhary is the name! Sohail and Nisar Chaudhary, a man and his son! You’re telling me you’ve heard nothing of them!?
(The ruffian denies it frantically. MRS. HAWKING hurls him aside and he scrambles away. MARY enters armed with her poker.)
MARY:
Madam! Have you found any sign of them?
MRS. HAWKING:
No! I’ve tossed every man I’ve come across and none of them has so much as heard of Chaudhary!
MARY:
No, nor the child neither! How can that be? Could they be lying?
MRS. HAWKING:
All of them to a man? I can’t believe it!
(Enter ARTHUR.)
ARTHUR:
Mary? Mary, is that you?
MRS. HAWKING:
What the devil? He knows you!?
ARTHUR:
Mother of God! Who are you?
MARY:
Arthur, what is it? Has something happened?
ARTHUR:
I had to tell you, that fire’s got the whole place going up! The boys will have it out before long, but you’d best clear out now, before they catch you.
MRS. HAWKING:
See here, you or any of your men, have you found a child or an Indian man?
ARTHUR:
What? No, no children, no Indians!
MARY:
Perhaps they’re just not here!
MRS. HAWKING:
But none of them would give them away!? What’s gone on here!?
(Enter NATHANIEL.)
NATHANIEL:
Madam? Oh, thank God I found you!
MRS. HAWKING:
What are you doing here? You should be delivering the arrangements to Mrs. Chaudhary!
NATHANIEL:
That’s just it! I tried! I took the papers to the address she gave us. But she wasn’t there! None of them were.
MRS. HAWKING:
What!? Have the rest of them been taken too?
NATHANIEL:
No, madam! Some other family lived there. They never even heard of the Chaudharys! Not the neighbors, not down on the docks where she said he worked. There is no Mrs. Chaudhary. There are no Chaudharys at all.
MARY:
How can that be?
MRS. HAWKING:
My God. We’ve been had.
MARY:
What? Why?
MRS. HAWKING:
To get us— here. Doing this. Taking this place apart!
MARY:
Good lord— she pushed us to this. When we weren’t going to do it, she gave us a reason to storm the place!
NATHANIEL:
For what purpose?
ARTHUR:
To see Wilder taken out?
MARY:
Who was she, that she would want such a thing?
MRS. HAWKING:
I don’t know. But I intend to find out.
(Exit MRS. HAWKING.)
NATHANIEL:
What’s to be done here? This must be a major blow to the gang. And the police are here.
ARTHUR:
Get on out of here while you can. I’ll see that they don’t follow you.
MARY:
Thank you, Arthur.
ARTHUR:
Have at them, rare bird.
(Exeunt severally.)
Scene 4
(1859, Singapore. Manor guards drag in the captured MALAIKA and VICTORIA amid shouting. Enter GOVERNOR STANTON.)
STANTON:
What nonsense is this? You say they were found raiding the grain store?
VICTORIA:
Let us go! Take your hands off!
STANTON:
Victoria, what in the world’s possessed you? Isn’t someone supposed to be keeping an eye on you? As for this other one, take her to the stockade, we’ll sort her out with the others. In the meantime, will someone call for that governess?
(The GUARDS exit, dragging MALAIKA off with them.)
VICTORIA:
No!
MALAIKA:
Victoria! Victoria!
VICTORIA:
You can’t do this!
(Enter REGINALD.)
STANTON:
Captain. I apologize for the clamor.
(REGINALD pulls VICTORIA aside.)
REGINALD:
I heard what happened! What have you done? Are you all right?
VICTORIA:
You were supposed to order the guards off!
REGINALD:
I did! It was the quartermaster who spotted you, from the window of his office.
VICTORIA:
They’ve taken Malaika!
REGINALD:
Of course. I’ll go after her. I’ll see to her. I will fix this, I promise.
VICTORIA:
Then do it! Go!
REGINALD:
Never doubt me, Victoria. Please.
(Exit REGINALD. VICTORIA turns on STANTON.)
VICTORIA:
You, sir!
STANTON:
I beg your pardon?
VICTORIA:
I know what you’ve been doing to those people. Did you think you could let them all starve, and no one would have anything to say about it?
STANTON:
Have you taken leave of your senses?
VICTORIA:
I won’t permit it. I won’t stand for it.
STANTON:
Have you any idea what you’re talking about? I thought the Danvers girl was supposed to be minding you.
VICTORIA:
You’re a monster.
STANTON:
Take care of the tone in which you speak to me, girl.
VICTORIA:
What are you going to do about it? You must do something, you must make it right! You must, you must, you must—!
(STANTON slaps her and she staggers.)
STANTON:
What in heaven is all this? Look what has been brewing beneath my very nose. Is this what you’ve grown into? An insolent little wretch? This is what I get for waiting so to have you settled. I thought all would be well so long as you were kept quiet, for girls are best seen and not heard. You think you can march up and make demands of me? All that you do, all that you’ve dared, is because I turned a blind eye to it. But no more.
VICTORIA:
But what about the—?
STANTON:
Do as I say! And if you buck against your traces again, I’ll see that there’s no spirit left in you to buck.
(Pause.)
VICTORIA:
Have mercy. On me, and on them. There must be something you can do to spare them. Please, Governor… Father. I beg of you. Please.
(Pause.)
STANTON:
Fortunately for you, my fool of a girl, there is a solution to all this. Captain Hawking came to me this week to declare his intentions. He sought my blessing to ask your hand in marriage, and I gave it.
VICTORIA:
What? No. He wouldn’t. He wouldn’t do that to me.
STANTON:
We’d best both hope your madness today hasn’t changed anything for him.
VICTORIA:
No. No, I won’t do it. I don’t want to!
STANTON:
You’ll do it. And if you’ll go quietly, like a good little lamb, I’ll make you a wedding gift of the land on which that village of yours is seated. Then you’ll be free to permit them whatever you like.
VICTORIA:
But… I can’t.
STANTON:
I think you’ll find that you very much can. You’re a very fortunate girl. You ought to count yourself that way.
(Exit STANTON. Enter ELIZABETH.)
VICTORIA:
Elizabeth!
ELIZABETH:
Come along now. I won’t waste any time saying I told you so.
VICTORIA:
I’m in trouble, Elizabeth. You were right, you were right about everything, they caught us. Malaika’s been taken; I don’t know what they’ll do to her. And Reginald— the Captain— he’s got all the wrong idea—
ELIZABETH:
Oh, Victoria.
VICTORIA:
You must help me! You must tell me what to do— tell me how to fix it!
ELIZABETH:
Victoria, I can’t. I can’t help you this time.
VICTORIA:
But that’s what you do! You’re so clever, you’re cleverer than them all, cleverer than me! When I’ve got into trouble, you save me!
ELIZABETH:
I can’t do that anymore. I’m leaving.
VICTORIA:
For what possible reason? When are you coming back?
ELIZABETH:
I’m not coming back, Victoria. I’m going to be married.
VICTORIA:
What!?
ELIZABETH:
I’ve been considering offers for some time now, and I’ve made my choice. My uncle has given his consent. I will marry Mr. Ethan Cameron before the end of the season. He has five hundred a year, a good post under the viceroy, and he will be very agreeable to my interests.
VICTORIA:
Why would you do that?
ELIZABETH:
Haven’t you heard a word that I’ve said to you? I can’t batter myself against these four walls like you do, Victoria. I must make my way through the world by what means are open to me. Damned if I’m not going to make the most of them.
VICTORIA:
But… I need you.
ELIZABETH:
You need to face the workings of the world. Or you’ll be ground to dust in its gears. And I can’t stay here forever and protect you from your own follies. I have a life to live.
VICTORIA:
Then… what am I to do?
ELIZABETH:
What we all do, Victoria. Find some way to play the hand that you’ve been dealt.
(Exit ELIZABETH, leaving VICTORIA alone.)
Scene 5
(The study of LORD CEDRIC BROCKTON, where the man himself sits. MRS. HAWKING leaps from the shadows, startling him.)
LORD BROCKTON:
Hawking.
MRS. HAWKING:
Brockton.
LORD BROCKTON:
This again. Have you brought back that gun you took off me?
MRS. HAWKING:
It looks better mounted on my wall.
LORD BROCKTON:
You have gall coming here. I ought to set every man in my service on you for how you’ve ruined me.
MRS. HAWKING:
You do and enough evidence of your crimes will flood the city to destroy you a dozen times over. And then you’ll know the meaning of ruin.
LORD BROCKTON:
Enough! What the devil do you want this time?
MRS. HAWKING:
What anyone would want of a defanged society blackmailer. Information.
LORD BROCKTON:
You’ve no luck there. With your damned oversight, you’ve kept me well out of that game.
MRS. HAWKING:
Don’t waste my time, Cedric. As if you’d if you’d ever close your eyes and ears.
(Pause.)
LORD BROCKTON:
What’s the name?
MRS. HAWKING:
That’s what I need from you.
LORD BROCKTON:
Then for God’s sake, what do you expect me to go on?
MRS. HAWKING:
If someone were to take apart the operation of Wilder’s smuggling ring, who would benefit? To whose advantage would that be?
(BROCKTON digs through his files.)
LORD BROCKTON:
A business rival, most likely. The gangs are always biting back at one another, but Wilder’s been at war with one in particular of late.
MRS. HAWKING:
Yes?
BROCKTON:
It’s a heavy one. Run by a man works through agents three layers deep, so nothing is ever traced back to him. But any encroachment on his enterprises are met with swift and brutal retribution. The only reason he’s known at all is so that his name will serve as warning.
MRS. HAWKING:
And what is that name?
LORD BROCKTON:
They call him Kingmaker. Every agent I’ve sent at him has been found face down in the Thames. No one’s ever laid eyes on him. If someone had the will and means to put down Wilder, it would be him.
MRS. HAWKING:
Where is he based?
LORD BROCKTON:
He moves around a great deal, but I’ve managed to identify a minor shipping magnate he has under his thumb, by the name of Dawson Frost. I’ve never been able to get closer than that.
MRS. HAWKING:
It’s a place to begin.
LORD BROCKTON:
So you mean to take on Kingmaker, then?
MRS. HAWKING:
With or without your intelligence.
LORD BROCKTON:
Oh, make no mistake, madam. I shall give you everything I have on him. Because when you come for him, he’ll destroy you as the rest of us never could.
MRS. HAWKING:
Are you so certain?
LORD BROCKTON:
They say he knows how to operate. Even better than you.
MRS. HAWKING:
Well. We’ll see, then.
Scene 6
(The Frost home. Enter MRS. HAWKING, MARY, and NATHANIEL.)
NATHANIEL:
Is this it? This is the home of that Mr. Frost?
MRS. HAWKING:
If that villain Brockton’s information was worth anything. Now, the two of you are to reconnoiter about the perimeter only; stay out of sight, and gather whatever intelligence you can. You are not to go inside under any circumstances.
MARY:
But what about you? Are you going in?
MRS. HAWKING:
I will not be seen.
MARY:
But, madam, what if—
MRS. HAWKING:
Do as I say!
MARY:
Very well, madam.
(They exit. MRS. HAWKING creeps into the house. She finds MRS. CHAUDHARY there waiting with her back to her.)
MRS. HAWKING:
You! What have you done!?
(MRS. HAWKING goes to grab her, but MRS. CHAUDHARY spins and fights with a skill to rival MRS. HAWKING’s own. She throws MRS. HAWKING to the ground.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Who are you!?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Haven’t you learned that yet?
MRS. HAWKING:
You are very good. You very nearly had me.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Nearly? I did have you. All it took was a story— about a terrible husband, burdensome children. It’s not hard to sing a tune you’ll dance to.
MRS. HAWKING:
Still. I found you.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Yet you still don’t know who I am. Allah. It’s been twenty-five years. Have you still not learned to look beyond your own nose?
(She removes her veil.)
MRS. HAWKING:
My God. Malaika.
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
And here I thought you’d forgotten me.
MRS. HAWKING:
Why have you done this? Come to me in disguise, lied to me, manipulated me? To what end?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
I need no longer explain myself to you. Leave it all here, and I promise you this will be at an end.
MRS. HAWKING:
How could you? I thought we were friends!
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Friends? The governor’s rebellious daughter, and the girl who served in her house? I worked for you! My mother worked for you, such that she was more your mother than mine! And just when I came to trust you, when I thought I could count on you for help— you let them take me, and you left me.
MRS. HAWKING:
No. No. I sent Reginald to free you. He had you released!
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
And then you were gone. I lost my job. Your people thought I was poison, and mine were left in no better straits than before.
MRS. HAWKING:
How can that be? When the governor gave the land to me, I lifted the ban!
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
And what did you think? That you’d saved us? A village under protectorate, surrounded on all sides by English authorities, with no more than the word of an absentee landlord half a world away. They all but ate us alive.
MRS. HAWKING:
I did what I could— you— you don’t understand. I gave up everything to help you— I gave up my whole life!
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
That’s just it. You had a choice. They took my life from me, whether I would or no.
MRS. HAWKING:
So all this is— some elaborate vengeance for my failure? What is this all about?
(Enter MRS. FROST.)
MRS. FROST:
I believe I can answer that. Hello, Victoria.
MRS. HAWKING:
Elizabeth.
MRS. FROST:
But you may call me Mrs. Frost. There have been three husbands since last we met.
MRS. HAWKING:
You are Dawson Frost?
MRS. FROST:
Only in the union of our souls. But as long as my current husband has his opium, he has no care for what may be done in his name. Of course, I’ve never minded being the power behind the throne.
MRS. HAWKING:
The Kingmaker.
MRS. FROST:
Malaika and I were about to celebrate a job well done, but I suppose you’ve earned a little thanks from me as well. Since I’ve moved my business back to London, the Wilder gang has been in my way. But I couldn’t act on them in my own capacity without risking a costly gang war. I needed an operative, a formidable one. So I looked into this… what do you call it? This “society avenger” that women whispered about— and see, how handsomely you served! Do you know you have half the lowlifes in London scared witless, and the other half don’t believe you exist? I confess we weren’t supposed to meet, but it’s good to get a look at you after all this time. I heard tell of the Colonel’s exploits over the years, but it seldom came with news of you. My God. Life with a handsome soldier, career on the rise, who has eyes for no one but you? Only you could have despised that. But I should have known, you were meant for something very different, now, weren’t you? I must admit, it’s all very clever. Creeping unseen behind a black hood, thwarting evil and then disappearing, like a very thief in the night? It’s so outlandish that even if someone does spot you, what are they to say— it was the lightning-quick shadow in the mask? It is absurd! Nearly as absurd as a lady running a criminal enterprise in the guise of her drug-addled husband.
MRS. HAWKING:
Elizabeth. What have you become?
MRS. FROST:
Can it be, my dear, that in all that time I knew you, you never learned anything of me? I told you then, there is no free enterprise for women in this life. No one will permit me my power if I ask. So, unseen, unheard, I find my ways to take it.
MRS. HAWKING:
And you, Malaika? Is this who you are now?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
You know nothing of who I am, or what I’ve had to do.
MRS. FROST:
Don’t sell yourself short, dear. It was my good fortune that Malaika was here in London looking to secure a shipment of malaria medicine, just as I was seeking an operative who could take on the stern task of pulling one over on you. We found we were rather of use to one other.
MRS. HAWKING:
When was she ever your friend?
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
You think this is a matter of friendship? I know what she is, but I have no such luxury to choose.
MRS. HAWKING:
You could have come to me! I would have helped you!
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
Helped me? Everything you do is to quiet your own rage. I cannot rely upon that. Not when our lives and the lives of our children are at stake.
MRS. HAWKING:
I did the best I could for you. I never meant to abandon you, I had no choice!
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
I have no absolution for you, nor any penance I can give. Besides, nothing I could do would make you more miserable than you already are. Now— my bargain is kept, Frost. I have done with this.
MRS. FROST:
Are you quite certain, dear? There’s a place in my organization for a woman of your talents. After that job you pulled in Paris—
MRS. CHAUDHARY:
The bargain, Frost.
MRS. FROST:
Very well. Take this to pier seventy-nine; they’re expecting you. They’ll see you have your medicine. Pleasure doing business with you.
(She hands over a note. Taking it, MRS. CHAUDHARY exits.)
MRS. HAWKING:
No. No, Malaika! Please! Malaika!
MRS. FROST:
Poor child. After all these years, still beating yourself against the bars of your cage. You were like my little sister— my brave, foolish, difficult little sister. And for that, I will let you go.
MRS. HAWKING:
Let me go? What makes you think I will not finish this here and now?
MRS. FROST:
And how will you do that? You were not counting on your assistants, were you?
(FROST rings a bell and two of her men enter, dragging MARY and NATHANIEL. MRS. FROST touches NATHANIEL’s cheek.)
MRS. FROST:
My God. He is the very image of Reginald. He’s not yours, is he? Heh, of course not. Not for you.
MRS. HAWKING:
I’ll— I’ll expose you. I’ll bring it all crashing down upon your head.
MRS. FROST:
Do you think you are the first to try me? Be content that you are among the few who know my name and still breathe. So if you try anything, the windows will bar and the doors will shut, and you will be trapped with the full force of my enterprise come down up you. And you would beg to see no worse than a cage. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a ball to attend. Be on your way, darling.
(MRS. FROST exits. Her men release MARY and NATHANIEL and follow.)
MARY:
Madam, we’re so sorry— we were caught—
MRS. HAWKING:
It doesn’t matter. We must go.
NATHANIEL:
But I don’t understand! What’s happened? Was that Mrs. Chaudhary in the hallway—?
MRS. HAWKING:
We’ve been had. It’s over. It’s finished.
NATHANIEL:
What do you mean, finished? What are we to do?
MRS. HAWKING:
Nothing.
NATHANIEL:
What!?
MARY:
But… we must… we have to do something!
MRS. HAWKING:
Not this time. There’s nothing to be done.
MARY:
But— they’ll get away with it!
MRS. HAWKING:
They have. They already have. They’ve beaten us.
NATHANIEL:
No. No, this can’t be.
MRS. HAWKING:
It is.
NATHANIEL:
But… no one can beat you!
MRS. HAWKING:
She can. She always could.
NATHANIEL:
But, madam—
MRS. HAWKING:
And they were always clever than me.
MARY:
Always? Madam… who are they?
(Pause.)
MRS. HAWKING:
My friends.
MARY:
Madam. I— I—
MRS. HAWKING:
For God’s sake, Mary! What is it? What do you have to tell me!?
(Pause.)
MARY:
Nothing, madam. Nothing at all.
Scene 7
(A graveyard. NATHANIEL stands at a headstone. Enter MARY.)
NATHANIEL:
Why, Mary, you’re here.
MARY:
Clara told me I’d find you. So there they are. I’ve never seen them before.
NATHANIEL:
I see that they’re kept up. And I like to visit every now and then. Have a chat with the Colonel. And there is Auntie’s name, already inscribed.
MARY:
Oh, goodness. She must be delighted with that.
NATHANIEL:
It was my father’s doing. And do you want to know something funny? He thought he was doing her a great favor. Acknowledging that the Colonel would want it that way. They put the stone here because of, well, the little one.
MARY:
I suppose he was the first. “Gabriel Matthew Hawking, born and died on the 11th of December, in the year of our Lord 1864.”
NATHANIEL:
He would have been my little cousin. I think of that sometimes. Uncle’s boy, the one he never got. With the wife who never wanted anything to do with him, and lied to him with every breath.
(Pause.)
NATHANIEL:
Imagine. Devoting your life to serving the empire, then turning down the honor they offered to thank you. Why would he do such a thing?
MARY:
Perhaps he didn’t do it for the thanks. That’s something he and madam have in common.
NATHANIEL:
I thought I knew him so well. But now there are so many things I want to ask him. Because I didn’t know him. Not really. And I never shall.
MARY:
Nathaniel, he loved you like a son. He always did, your whole life long. From the very moment he laid eyes on you.
NATHANIEL:
How could you know— who told you that?
MARY:
Who do you think?
(Pause.)
NATHANIEL:
What do you think this is going to do to her? After as far as she’s come… do you think she’s all right?
MARY:
No. No, I don’t.
(Pause.)
NATHANIEL:
You haven’t told her about Arthur.
MARY:
I wanted to. I was going to, but… I couldn’t. Not with everything else she had to bear.
NATHANIEL:
You shouldn’t have to hide it. It’s your life to live, Mary. It isn’t right, it isn’t fair.
MARY:
None of this is fair. But I suppose, for a little while longer, I’ll have to bear up. Like she does. And the Colonel did. As we all have to, some of the time.
NATHANIEL:
It never did so well by them. Surely, sometimes, it must be all right to not be all right.
MARY:
Perhaps. But not right now.
(They stand in silence a moment.)
NATHANIEL:
Can I walk you back to the house?
MARY:
No, thank you. I’ve a church picnic to go to.
(Pause.)
MARY:
Madam doesn’t know. You won’t tell her, will you?
NATHANIEL:
No. I won’t.
(MARY exits, leaving NATHANIEL alone.)
CURTAIN
Photos by Steve Karpf
