Mary Shelley

by Helen Edmundson

  MARY. Do we owe a lot of people money?

  FANNY. It will all be all right soon. The business with Shelley’s bond is almost done. Mary, I don’t think you and Jane should have walked out with Mr Shelley.

  MARY. We didn’t walk out with him. We took him to see Mother’s grave.

  FANNY. Seeing him here is one thing, but to be seen about the streets with him...

  MARY. You said you wanted to come.

  FANNY....without Mama or Papa, or his wife. I don’t think you should do that.

  MARY. How very conventional.

  FANNY. All I am saying, is that we should all, all of us, tread a little carefully. He is a married man.

  MARY scoffs.

  It means something, Mary.

  MARY. Surely it would be worse if he wasn’t married?

  FANNY. We have to respect the fact that he is not at liberty to… he is not at liberty.

  MARY looks down. FANNY is silent for a moment.

  Has something happened?

  MARY. No.

  FANNY. If you think of walking out with him again, please tell Papa.

  MARY. You sound terribly old when you talk like that, Fanny.

  FANNY. Don’t do that.

  I must get on.

  She starts to go.

  MARY. Fanny, I’m sorry.

  FANNY comes back to her and kisses her hand.

  I’m sorry. Our mother loved a married man. Before she even met your father.

  FANNY. Yes. And she realised that nothing would come of it. Nothing except heartache, and loss.

  Loving… may be beautiful, but it’s complicated. Always complicated. I know that much.

  She leaves.

  Scene Three

  Evening. St Pancras Churchyard. SHELLEY is waiting by Mary Wollstonecraft’s tomb. MARY and JANE appear and rush towards him. They all embrace, and then SHELLEY kisses MARY passionately.

  JANE. Go. Go. I’ll keep watch.

  MARY and SHELLEY move into the shelter of the tomb, and fall into each other’s arms. Their embraces become increasingly daring and sexual, until SHELLEY stops for a moment, and takes hold of MARY’s face, staring into her eyes.

  SHELLEY. I am yours now. Only yours. Even though I must go back to her…

  MARY. Don’t.

  SHELLEY.…you must lie down tonight and know that I am with you. My heart conjoined with yours. My soul within your body.

  MARY. I cannot live without you.

  SHELLEY. You will not have to. We will be together. Soon. There will be no lies. No pretence. This is the truth now.

  They fall into embraces once again.

  Scene Four

  Evening. The parlour. Skinner Street. GODWIN, MRS GODWIN, MARY, JANE and SHELLEY are sitting together.

  MRS GODWIN is pouring wine.

  GODWIN. To the very top, Mrs Godwin. To the very top.

  MRS GODWIN. That is the top! It’s almost overflowing!

  GODWIN. I think we need a bacchanalian flavour to our revelries tonight. What do you say, Shelley?

  SHELLEY. Certainly. Let us shame the gods.

  GODWIN. I’m only sorry that Fanny is not with us. She worked as hard as anyone towards this day.

  JANE. We must write to her in Wales.

  GODWIN. Indeed we must. (To MRS GODWIN.) That’s it. That’s it. Mary too.

  MARY. Just a little more then.

  MRS GODWIN. You will have us all inebriated.

  GODWIN. And a song, Jane. Will you oblige us with a song?

  SHELLEY. A song!

  JANE. What shall I sing?

  MRS GODWIN. She sings beautifully, Mr Shelley.

  SHELLEY. Does she?

  MRS GODWIN. We paid for lessons. Sing the one you were practising, Jane.

  JANE. But I don’t know that one properly yet.

  GODWIN. Any song. Any song. I shall sing myself in a minute and then where will we be?

  JANE. Oh, I know!

  She begins to sing a pretty, happy song.

  SHELLEY. Ah, yes. I’ve heard this one.

  JANE (faltering). Oh, no… I can’t remember the last bit…

  MARY joins in to help her, quickly followed by SHELLEY and the GODWINS. They finish the song.

  MRS GODWIN. Well, that is jolly.

  GODWIN. Bravo, Jane!

  SHELLEY. You do sing beautifully.

  JANE. Do I? Oh, thank you.

  GODWIN. Now, I think a few words are in order.

  MRS GODWIN. Oh yes, I should say so. Order! Order!

  JANE. Oh, Maman!

  GODWIN. Yes. As you know, Shelley, I set very little store by gratitude. But what I offer you this evening, is my respect. My heartfelt respect. There are many men who claim to believe in the revolution which is Political Justice, but few who are prepared to put it at the very centre of the way they live their lives. Today, with the arrival of the pecuniary cavalry, shall we say, I think we have struck a small blow against the forces of reaction. Against the criminality of property rights, of inheritance, and of the land-owning class. A blow which I vow to capitalise on, to the very best of my ability, with every moment of my labour. We are liberators! Liberators, no less, of the resources of mankind!

  SHELLEY. Hear! Hear!

  GODWIN (raising his glass). To Political Justice!

  ALL. Political Justice!

  They all drink.

  MRS GODWIN. What a day! What a day for us all.

  GODWIN. More wine required, Mrs Godwin.

  MRS GODWIN. More wine? Good heavens above, Mr Godwin!

  GODWIN. Shelley’s glass is empty, look.

  SHELLEY. But I’ve had plenty. It doesn’t take very much to…

  GODWIN. Can’t have that. Two bottles, my dearest. In the kitchen. If you would?

  MRS GODWIN leaves.

  JANE. It’s so delicious, isn’t it, Mary?

  MARY. Yes.

  SHELLEY. I have no wish for gratitude, Godwin. I hope you know that. And I think you know what your respect means to me.

  GODWIN. Yes, my friend. I believe I do.

  Pause.

  SHELLEY. I wonder if you would care for a stroll?

  GODWIN. A stroll? Now?

  SHELLEY. Yes. It is such a balmy evening. And I would welcome the opportunity to discuss certain things with you.

  MARY. It is a lovely evening, Papa.

  GODWIN. I don’t think my legs would get me down the stairs tonight. No, no. Let us stay here. A Skinner Street celebration. High spirits at Skinner Street, eh?

  So, the money has arrived with your bankers?

  SHELLEY. Yes. They assured me I will be able to give you your share tomorrow.

  GODWIN. In cash?

  SHELLEY. If that’s what you would like?

  GODWIN. Yes, I think that would be best. No names involved. And easier to distribute, of course.

  SHELLEY. But, Godwin, I must warn you… the amount… your share, will be a little less than we discussed. GODWIN. What’s that?

  JANE. I will go and help Mama.

  MARY. Yes.

  SHELLEY. I have decided we must split the money down the middle. One thousand, two hundred and fifty each, to be precise. The fact is, I have need of more money than I realised.

  GODWIN. But I have need of the amount we agreed upon. Two thousand, Shelley. One thousand… it is enough to cover my most pressing debts, but beyond that…

  SHELLEY. We can sell another bond. Soon, if you wish.

  The fact is, Godwin, Mary and I are entirely in love. And we mean to be together. We plan to go abroad. We think that would make things easier for everyone. And we both have the desire to travel.

  GODWIN. What are you talking about?

  MARY. We love each other, Papa.

  SHELLEY. We plan to go to the Continent. We shall travel down through France. I have told Harriet. Of course, I must continue to provide for her… so I will need a great deal more money than I anticipated.

  GODWIN. No…

  MRS GODWIN enters with the wine.

&
nbsp; MRS GODWIN. Now, who’s for a little more?

  GODWIN. Out. Please. Please leave us for a moment.

  MRS GODWIN. Whatever’s the matter?

  GODWIN. Leave us. Please.

  MRS GODWIN leaves, reluctantly. There is a silence.

  MARY. I’m sorry if we’ve shocked you, Papa. But we thought you would rather know the truth.

  GODWIN. I will not allow this.

  MARY. But…

  SHELLEY. We are decided. We are inseparable. Our love is a fact which must be acted upon.

  Pause.

  GODWIN. I would like to speak to Mr Shelley alone, Mary.

  MARY. But I would rather… No… I would rather hear what you have to say.

  GODWIN. I will speak to him alone. Kindly go to your room.

  MARY. But…

  SHELLEY (to MARY). It’s all right. It’s all right. Don’t worry.

  She leaves.

  It is a cause to rejoice, Godwin. I’m sure that you will come to see that.

  GODWIN. I hardly know where to begin.

  SHELLEY. It took us by surprise. It has been overwhelming. A revelation.

  GODWIN. If you cannot see that everything about this proposal is wrong… in every possible sense…

  SHELLEY. But why?

  GODWIN. Why? Have you forgotten that you are a married man? That you have a wife and a child, and another on the way, from all accounts?

  SHELLEY. My marriage is over. For my part, at least. And as you say in Political Justice, a marriage should not be made to continue if one of the partners decides it is no longer what…

  GODWIN. And if you read the second edition of Political Justice, you would see that I put forward a very different opinion on what marriage must mean in…

  SHELLEY. Oh, I never read second editions. You know that. Second editions are the fruits of fear. First editions with the guts ripped out.

  GODWIN. You are quite wrong. Second editions allow time for reflection…

  SHELLEY. You mean for qualification?

  GODWIN. Ideas should always be allowed to evolve. It is imperative that they evolve. And I did not ever mean to suggest that any relationship between two people should attempt to exist outside the mores of society in its present state…

  SHELLEY. I believe in what you originally wrote, Godwin. Even if you do not. And the more I live, the more I know that you were right.

  GODWIN. I was speaking of an ideal world, Shelley.

  SHELLEY. Then let us begin it now. For if we do not, who will? I will not be enslaved by the expectations of society. And neither will Mary.

  GODWIN. Please do not assume to speak for my daughter. I know my daughter a great deal better than you.

  GODWIN fights to recover his composure.

  SHELLEY. I’m sorry if we have upset you…

  GODWIN. I cannot give my permission for what you propose.

  I would like you to go now, Shelley. I will come and see you tomorrow afternoon about the money – if that would be acceptable?

  SHELLEY. Certainly.

  GODWIN. We will talk further then. I would like you to think about what I have said.

  SHELLEY. It will make no difference.

  GODWIN. And in the meantime, I must ask that you do not attempt to see Mary.

  SHELLEY. Before tomorrow afternoon?

  GODWIN. Yes. In the first instance. If you would oblige me in that?

  SHELLEY. Very well. But I must say goodbye to her now.

  GODWIN. No. I will say goodbye on your behalf. I think that best. I will see you tomorrow.

  SHELLEY. It will make no difference.

  SHELLEY leaves. GODWIN stands very still, trying to process the shock. After a few moments, MRS GODWIN enters. JANE hovers behind her in the doorway.

  MRS GODWIN. Are you going to tell me what is going on?

  MARY rushes in.

  MARY. Has he gone?

  GODWIN. Yes.

  MARY. What did you say to him?

  When is he coming back? Papa?

  MRS GODWIN. Oh, I see. I see now, what it is.

  I might have guessed. I suppose I should just be thankful that it isn’t Jane.

  (To MARY.) Has he touched you? Has he?

  MARY. Oh, don’t be so vulgar.

  MRS GODWIN. You… I should flay the hide off you!

  GODWIN. No! We will be civilised.

  MRS GODWIN (to JANE). Did you know about this?

  JANE. I…

  GODWIN. He says goodbye to you, Mary. Now let us all get some rest.

  MARY. What did you say to him?

  GODWIN. I said what any father would say: that you are a sixteen-year-old girl, and that he is a married man.

  MARY. I can’t believe you’re behaving like this. You’re behaving like the worst kind of autocrat. Forgive me, but you are. Would you really have preferred it if we were to sneak around behind your back? Lying? Pretending that things are other than they are?

  MRS GODWIN. He would have preferred it if you hadn’t gone near each other in the first place! Have you any idea what this will do to us? To our reputation?

  MARY. I don’t care about any of that!

  MRS GODWIN. Well, you should! And then there is the money. What is going to happen with…

  GODWIN. We shall have the money. Now… that is enough. Enough. I will not hear another word on the subject. Not tonight. Let us put an end to this day. To bed. Everyone.

  MARY does not move.

  Go to bed, Mary.

  MARY. And we will talk tomorrow?

  GODWIN. Yes.

  She goes. JANE follows her.

  MRS GODWIN. I tried to warn you. But did you listen?

  As you sow, so shall you reap.

  GODWIN leaves suddenly.

  Scene Five

  Early afternoon. Two days later. The parlour. Skinner Street. MRS GODWIN is setting the table for tea. JANE rushes in. She is wearing her outdoor shawl.

  JANE. Mary? Oh.

  MRS GODWIN. Where have you been?

  JANE. I went to get bread. You said we needed some.

  MRS GODWIN. Where is it, then?

  JANE. I put it in the kitchen. Really, Maman.

  MRS GODWIN. Tell me next time you think of leaving this house. Do you understand?

  JANE. I was only gone a few minutes. I was only trying to help.

  What’s going on? The best china. Is someone coming?

  MRS GODWIN glances out of the window.

  MRS GODWIN. They’re here.

  JANE. Who are?

  MRS GODWIN. Go and fetch madam from the bedroom. Tell her to come here at once. And then you can stay too. I want you to hear this.

  JANE. Who is it?

  MRS GODWIN. Do as I say.

  JANE hurries out. MRS GODWIN puts the finishing touches to the table, and straightens her skirts. After a moment, GODWIN escorts HARRIET SHELLEY into the room. HARRIET is about six months pregnant.

  GODWIN. Please come in. You remember Mrs Godwin?

  MRS GODWIN. Of course she does. I’m sorry we meet again under such trying circumstances. It is very upsetting for us all, I’m sure. Would you care for some tea?

  HARRIET. No, thank you. I do not wish to stay any longer than I must.

  JANE appears in the doorway and stops.

  GODWIN. Jane.

  JANE enters.

  Jane is our youngest daughter.

  MRS GODWIN. My daughter.

  MARY enters.

  GODWIN. And this is Mary.

  Mary, I would like you to meet Mrs Shelley.

  JANE gasps slightly.

  Perhaps we had better sit down.

  MARY and HARRIET remain standing.

  MARY. Papa…?

  GODWIN. Mrs Shelley has been made acquainted with her husband’s situation regarding you, Mary. Quite naturally, she has certain things she wishes to say to you.

  MARY. I cannot think that this… can be of any benefit to any of us.

  HARRIET. My husband is very erratic, Miss Godwin. He becomes
extremely impassioned, dedicated to something, and then he just as quickly loses interest in it. He drops it.

  It is simply his nature. I am sorry for it.

  His love for me… was intense. And though I accept that the nature of his love has changed somewhat of late, it is still love. He loves me. As a husband loves a wife. That is apparent, I think.

  We have a daughter. Did you know? Ianthe. After the maiden in his poem. The poem he dedicated to me. She is not yet two. This baby will be born in September. I think it will be a boy. We hope it will be. I see you are not without feeling. I would like to think there is not a woman on earth who would willingly deprive a child of its father. Even animals, I believe, stay close to their young in order to protect them.

  She is becoming distressed.

  GODWIN. Please do sit down.

  MRS GODWIN (offering a chair). Here.

  HARRIET sits.

  HARRIET. I have been in this situation before. Hardly six months ago. He became rather too close to the wife of one of his friends. I will not name the lady. But I have made Mr Godwin aware of the details – in case he should have need of them. They do not see each other now. Her husband took her away. But you see, you are not the first.

  Please don’t imagine that you are.

  GODWIN. Mary, Mrs Shelley and I would like you to give us your word that you will have no further contact with Shelley.

  MARY sways slightly, as though her legs will give way.

  JANE. Ah!

  MRS GODWIN. Leave her.

  GODWIN. You can now be under no illusion as to the damage this situation could engender. Let it stop now.

  Do we have your word?

  Mary?

  MARY (almost inaudibly). Yes.

  GODWIN. Good. Later, I shall ask you to put it in writing. But for now, that will suffice.

  HARRIET (to GODWIN). Thank you.

  She stands to go.

  (To MARY.) Do you believe in God?

  He is your witness. As well as I.

  MRS GODWIN. Shall I show you out, my dear?

  HARRIET. Good day.

  She leaves with MRS GODWIN. In the silence, JANE sobs suddenly. GODWIN looks at MARY.

  GODWIN. It needed doing. For your sake as much as anyone’s. It is over, Mary. I saw Shelley earlier today, and said the same thing to him.

  MARY. May I go now?

  GODWIN. I have written to Fanny and asked her to come home immediately.

  MARY. May I go now?

  GODWIN. You are young. You will soon recover. You don’t need him, Mary.

  MARY leaves.