A Sentence of Sorts

The Pseudoscientists, Act I, scene 3: Not One Speck Out of Place

(Summary: We have our proper introduction to the Society. Jekyll delivers the ‘antagonist speech’ setting up his flawed set of values. We learn a little more about our werewolf character.)

There is a moment when all the lodgers crowd around to celebrate the defeat of Dr. Lanyon. Jekyll indulges them for perhaps a moment and a half … and then: “All right, nothing to see here! Back to your work, the lot of you!”

He then turns to the werewolf with an apologetic smile. “Don’t let Lanyon trouble you too much. He likes to get under people’s skin twist at their insides–been that way ever since we were at school together. His quarrel is with me, and I do apologize that you got caught in the middle of it.” The werewolf is not quite quelled but is rendered speechless by Jekyll’s smile–he tends to have that affect on people. 

Jekyll then leads him on a search for the ingredients for wolfsbane potion. This allows for a convenient introduction to the Society for Experimental Scientists proper: the building’s four floors are arranged around a courtyard***, and around the perimeter are rows upon rows of doors.

Each door houses a Society member, many having just arrived back from the werewolf hunt.  Each has in his miniature laboratory a great variety of equipment and experiments in everything from clockwork engineering to ectoplasmic studies. The overall atmosphere is informal and a little messy, but buzzing with that certain creative energy that pops up when nerds come together.

The first room they pass happens to contain the Lodger who told Lanyon about Mr. Hyde. In passing, Jekyll mentions, “I would appreciate if you didn’t mention my assistant to visitors here. It gives the wrong impression.”

As he goes along, Jekyll seeks out certain lodgers and requests specific ingredients from them. His tone is gracious and polite, but it is clear that he is their leader, despite his outward humility. Occasionally he sees little things to “fix” here and there in the lodgers’ behavior: shirts to be tucked in, liquor bottles to be hidden, clutter to be organized. (He has a certain Mrs. Potts-ish tone in his nitpicking.) The lodgers are deferential to him but seem a little disgruntled by his micro-managing.

Jekyll keeps a lively little dialogue going between himself, the lodgers, and the werewolf. As he goes about his work, but it gradually becomes apparent that the werewolf is still feeling out of sorts. Jekyll picks up on this quickly and questions him about it.

Glumly the werewolf confesses: “I do appreciate all you’ve done for me, but I … I just don’t understand. Why are you helping me? I’m a monster! You should hate me!”

To his surprise, Jekyll turns that kindly smile to him again: “You really needn’t be so dramatic! Are we not all monsters in our own way? Why, if Dr. Lanyon had his way he would have us all locked up in Bethlam for all our so-called 'mad experiments’. Even I have a few big, bad secrets of my own–oh, don’t laugh! you haven’t seen me before my morning cup of tea, have you?”

The werewolf smiles a little and they continue down the hallway, Jekyll making little adjustments to Lodgers’ laboratories along the way to illustrate his point. He continues:

“What I mean to say is that your condition is not so strange. All you’ve got to do is to preserve an absolutely perfect outer image. Not one speck out of place! It is the most important thing for us. It is what the world sees that determines who we really are.”*****

Jekyll’s overall attitude is one of good humor and hospitality. He is, essentially, a natural and experienced host who knows how to use charm rather than force to get his way. He shepherds the werewolf into an empty guest room: “Your medicine should be finished in a couple hours. Now I have a few things to attend to before that, but I shall be in for the afternoon should you wish to come fetch it.“

The werewolf hovers, seeming hesitant to let Jekyll go. He explains haltingly how overwhelming all of this is. He is not sure he will be able to cope in the world now, following all these rules of appearance and behavior.

Graciously Jekyll explains that these things can be easily learned. "As a young man, I too despised all the posh manners I was taught to live by.” His companion asks: What changed? Cryptically he answers: “When I most needed them, those hated lessons returned to help me.”

Jekyll leaves the werewolf in his own lab but then remembers something and comes back with an “oh one more thing—” He catches the werewolf changing clothes, and in doing so discovers that the werewolf is actually a disguised girl. He blanches and apologizes quickly as he darts out of the room again. The werewolf emerges a minute later with a guilty expression, sure that she is going to be expelled from the Society now.

There is a pause. Without any fanfare, Jekyll adjusts her costume so that it looks somehow more masculine. “Right! Well, just one more thing to keep under wraps.” And then he lets her go about her business as if nothing had happened.

*don’t forget to change this from the previous scene**

**and also considering that the werewolf is no longer a newcomer, we need to find a place to explain exactly what the Society IS

***well, maybe

****should rewrite when less tired

*****this antagonist’s statement is still not perfect!