My boyfriend Bernie was the one who came up with the idea that Nathaniel would have served before. Because he so idolized the Colonel, he would make an effort to emulate him in any way he could. But while he gave it his best shot, army life turned out to not be the best use of his talents. This is to set up the fact that while his traditionally male outlook might lead him to think he needs to be a warrior in order to be of use to Mrs. Hawking, his actual abilities will make him useful in a totally different way.
~~~
MARY:
I say, Nathaniel— is that a bruise?
NATHANIEL:
Oh, this? It’s nothing, I assure you.
MARY:
Nothing? You look as if you’ve taken quite a bash!
MRS. HAWKING:
Wherever did you get that?
NATHANIEL:
Just— from sport.
MRS. HAWKING:
Sport? Taken up boxing, have you?
NATHANIEL:
As a matter of fact.
MRS. HAWKING:
Surely you’re joking.
NATHANIEL:
Not at all, Auntie.
MARY:
Why on earth have you done that?
NATHANIEL:
Well— if you must know— it’s to make myself more useful to you. So I can handle myself and lend another arm if things come to it!
MRS. HAWKING:
Nathaniel. Going a few rounds of gentleman’s boxing is hardly going to ready you for the sort of roughs we encounter.
NATHANIEL:
It isn’t right to just hang back and leave it to you ladies. What kind of man would that make me?
MRS. HAWKING:
Ha!
NATHANIEL:
Go ahead and laugh. But how do you think I feel, knowing the two of you are putting yourselves in danger and I’m not fit to help you?
MRS. HAWKING:
I don’t think you quite understand. There are no Marquess of Queensbury rules when you’re fighting for your life.
NATHANIEL:
Even Mary’s had to handle herself. And she just a girl!
MARY:
Sir!
NATHANIEL:
No offense intended, Mary. But if you can swing that poker surely I’m worth a crack or two.
(MARY looks to MRS. HAWKING, who sighs.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Very well, then, Nathaniel. If you mean to have a go, have a go at me.
NATHANIEL:
I beg your pardon?
MRS. HAWKING:
If you think you’re fit to take on a real threat.
NATHANIEL:
I say, Auntie, how could I?
MRS. HAWKING:
You ought to know what you’re up against. Show me what you’re made of.
NATHANIEL:
I don’t know—
MRS. HAWKING:
Take his coat, Mary.
(He and MARY look at each other a moment. Then he shakes his head and throws up his hands. She steps forward and he shrugs out of his jacket. She places it aside as he begins turning up his shirt cuffs.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Now come on!
(Uncertainly, NATHANIEL puts up his fists and advances on her. He takes a few half-hearted swings, which she dodges easily, even walking backward.)
MRS. HAWKING:
Is that all? You must do better than that!
(NATHANIEL starts punching in earnest, but still she evades him easily. At last he throws himself at her, and she moves like lightning, landing a sound blow almost too fast to see that knocks him to the ground.)
MRS. HAWKING:
And if you can’t, you’d best keep out of the way.
(She exits. MARY rushes over to NATHANIEL as he pulls himself up off the ground.)
NATHANIEL:
Well, I’ve made a fool of myself.
MARY:
Oh, not at all.
NATHANIEL:
Go on.
MARY:
She’s been in training for years.
NATHANIEL:
And made short work of me.
MARY:
For my part, I think it’s quite noble of you. That you’re not content to hang back out of harm’s way.
NATHANIEL:
Still, perhaps she’s right. Perhaps I’m not cut out for this.
MARY:
There’s more to this work than knives and brawling. It’s not the end of everything to not be a martial man.
NATHANIEL:
Here now! I’ve a martial side. Why, I’ll have you know I served my bit a few years back!
MARY:
You did?
NATHANIEL:
Don’t sound so surprised!
MARY:
Forgive me, it’s only… well, you’re a gentleman.
NATHANIEL:
And I’ve lived a soft life accordingly, is that it?
MARY:
It isn’t necessarily to be expected of a gentleman.
NATHANIEL:
Miss Stone, I idolized my uncle from the time I was a boy. I’ve spent my whole life wanting to be like him. You can bet that when I was old enough I stepped up to serve my queen and country just as he did.
MARY:
My, sir! Well, I am sorry I expected any less. I am duly impressed.
NATHANIEL:
Oh, you ought not to be.
MARY:
It’s very admirable! You must tell me sometime of your adventures and your exploits as a dashing servant of the empire.
NATHANIEL:
It was hardly that. Yes, I enlisted when I was twenty or so. But do you know where they stationed me?
MARY:
India? Singapore?
NATHANIEL:
Newcastle. At the naval headquarters in the north country. When they learned I was a finance man they assigned me to keep the books for the armory.
MARY:
I see.
NATHANIEL:
Hardly the adventure I imagined it. And not much in the Colonel’s style.
MARY:
They saw you had a talent and they put it to use, though. I can’t help but think we ought to do the same.
NATHANIEL:
I did so want to be of use to her somehow.
MARY:
And so you will. Who knows, Nathaniel? We may run up against something that only you can do.
(Pause. Then NATHANIEL laughs.)
NATHANIEL:
That was quite a belt she gave me. I wonder how long she’s wanted to do that.
8/31/13
