Tales of Sam and Bess, 1660-1700

Tales suggesting famed 17th century diarist/naval adminstrator Samuel Pepys and his lady had more going on than even his famed daily diary let us know...

Note: The best way to know Mr. Pepys is through his magnificent nine year daily Diary...Which is now available on-line on a day-to-day basis at pepysdiary courtesy of the wonderful Phil Gyford.

I would also recommend "The Unequaled Self", a new biography by Claire Tomlin...Just terrific and fills in the gaps the diary leaves...

…..

"Samfeld…"

Summary: Sam has a brilliant concept to begin his new professional career in writing…

"Now let me understand this, son..." John Sr., blinking.

"You're giving up your position at the naval office..."

"And high time, too, father-in-law..." Bess, eagerly. "The strain
wears on my poor Samuel night as well as day."

Glare from John silencing her...

"Father..." Sam tries... "Let me explain again..."

"Oh, I think I understand well enough, boy. You're moving to
Brampton...Permanently. To escape the hue-and-cry..."

"Only in part, Pa..."

"Sam'l has more important things in him than to reform the Royal Navy,
father-in-law."

"Indeed...You're going to write? Plays?" John stares at his idiot
son. "The sort of nonsense that fellow Shakespeare churned out in the
hopes of making enough to live on?"

"I have a small fortune, father. Supposing it's still safe in your
garden. And whilst I do not claim Mr. Shakespeare's talent..."

"Sam'l is a marvelous writer, father-in-law. I had my doubts until he
read me his Diary." Bess, enthused again...

"His diary..." John sighs. "And you want to put your diary on the
London stage? In a play?"

"Not just one play, father-in-law...A series of plays...A cycle..."
Bess, beaming. "The history of our daily lives..."

"Our daily lives? Christ, son...Even in a city like London who gives
a damn about our daily lives? What are these plays to be about?"

Bess eyes Sam, arch look...Sam, a bit hesitant...

"Can I?" Bess, eagerly.

"Well..."

"They're about...Nothing...Father-in-law."

"Nothing?" John, dumbstruck. "Nothing, you say?"

"Exactly..." Bess, nodding...

"Is the French harlot having some kind of mental aberration?" John
eyes Sam.

"Father..."

"Son...I don't know anything about playwriting or acting. But who in
his right state of mind would go and pay good money to see plays of
daily life which are about...Nothing?"

"It's a new form, father...A chance for me to experiment artistically
and creatively."

"And I'm the Muse." Bess, happily.

"The Muse inspiring Nothing...I think I can believe that." John
nodding.

"Father...If I could just make you see..."

"Well, there is lots of sex..." Bess notes. "Which didn't sit too
well with me at first. But the work is brilliant and humanistic, just right to catch the literary crowd at Court...And
Sam'l's honesty so overwhelming...I couldn't help but be overwhelmed.
Plus I'm the Muse of the work."

"Right...I got that." John, grimly. Then pondering...

"Sex, eh?"

"Tons." Bess nodding.

"Some..." Sam, nervously.

"Betterton wants to play Sam..." Bess, bubbling proudly... "And Neil
Gwyn is already studying me."

"Neil Gwyn? And lots of sex?"

"I couldn't believe it myself..." Bess grinning. "Didn't know he had
it in him. Though it's all poetic license, mostly."

"Overwhelmingly..." Sam, hastily...Careful look at dear old Dad...Who
takes the desperate plea.

"Try reading the first in the series, father-in-law...All the way back
to the Restoration in '60. Or just this new scene Sam'l wrote today.
You won't be able to put it down." Bess offers manuscript to John.

Hmmn...

"Penn at door...Hello...Pepys...Hello...Penn...Sam replies."

"No, father-in-law...Some of that's stage direction, in the brackets.
Try it like this..."

"'Hello...Pepys.'" coldly.

"'Hello...Pepys.'" John repeats, frowning.

"'Hello... Penn.'" Bess, even colder, with glare.

"Could you go into bear-baiting or some other profitable venue, if you
must try the entertainment field, son?" John sighs.