“When Push Comes to Shove… Shove Harder”
~~~Peacock Residence-Hall -7:00 ~~~
The grandfather clock chimes seven times. The Hall is almost empty. Many guests have left because of Vera’s disappointment. Mrs. Copper chats with Mr. Tenné near the Library and Billiard Room. Alice exits her Study and enters the Dining Room.
~~~Peacock Residence-Dining Room-continuous~~~
Alice Peacock enters to see Evelyne is unwrapping the cake. She sets the plastic wrap next to the cake. Alice clears her throat and crosses her arms.
“Yes?” Evelyne asks picking up a knife and slicing a piece of cake.
“The party’s over.” Alice says
“It’s a shame; I came down to Chicago for nothing…” Evelyne says taking a fork and slicing a corner of the cake
“The guests are leaving.” Alice says, “Maybe you should too.”
Evelyne laughs between chews, “I’m your house guest, are you going to throw me out in the street?”
“Then stay out of sight!” Alice says
“Alice!” Evelyne feigns shock, “I’m surprised in you. I thought we had an agreement.”
Alice looks at the plastic wrap then at Alice, “Oh we do…”
~~~Peacock Residence-Drawing Room -7:08 ~~~
Mrs. Alabaster is talking with the woman next to her on the sofa.
“I don’t know Anna; it seems strange that Vera would behave like that.” Mrs. Alabaster says
“It doesn’t surprise me.” The woman says, “Alice and Vera have a rocky relationship as it is…”
“Mrs. Greys-Cale?” Mrs. Meadow-Brooke raises an eyebrow as she enters the drawing room.
The woman sitting next to Mrs. Alabaster turns, “Jayne? What are you doing here?” she asks snobbishly
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Anna Greys-Cale smirks, “How is dear Miles?”
Jayne crosses her arms, “How is your daughter? Getting in trouble with the police? Or does she bribe them too and carry on with business?”
“My daughter is probably dead!” Mrs. Greys-Cale shouts. She realizes how loud she was and lowers her voice, “She was raped, by someone that people said looked shockingly like your son, Nathaniel! How is he anyway?”
“Nathaniel is dead.” Jayne says, “Shot by his wife.”
Mrs. Alabaster stands up and walks towards a card table in the corner.
“I’m hardly surprised!” Mrs. Greys-Cale says
“You never met Candice! How would you know about their lives?” Jayne asks angrily
“If they are in the Meadow-Brooke family, they must be up to no good…” Mrs. Greys-Cale says, “If you excuse me.” She exits the drawing room.
Mrs. Alabaster shuffles the deck of cards and deals them out to the other women at the table. Jayne angrily storms to the hall.
~~~Peacock Residence-Miss Scarlet’s Room -7:12 ~~~
Miss Scarlet sits on the edge of her bed crying. There is a knock at her door.
“Come in.” she dries her eyes
Mrs. Maraschino enter, “Hello Vera.” She says
“Who are you?” asks Miss Scarlet standing up, “What are you doing in my room!”
“Just came to see how you are doing.” Chelsea says
“I’m sick of my mother!” Vera says
“I’m sure if you talk to me I can calm you.” Chelsea says taking a fireplace poker from the rack near the fireplace. Miss Scarlet nervously watches her handle the sharp point on the poker. In one swift move, Miss Scarlet grabs a heavy book from an arm chair. She rushes over and whacks Chelsea in the head with it. Chelsea stumbles back and drops the poker. Chelsea grabs the mantel and helps herself up, only to sit on the hearth. Vera rushes to her dresser and pulls out a black revolver.
“Now tell me the real reason you came up here!”
~~~Peacock Residence-Billiard Room -7:17 ~~~
Miss Curio AKA Mme. Rose leans over the pool table and takes a shot at a ball. Mr. Green, who is playing with her smiles and takes his turn. Mrs. Greys-Cale enters and fixes a drink at the bar.
“Forest? Is that you?” asks Mrs. Greys-Cale
“Anna?” Forest puts the cue on the table and walks over to her
“How’s your father?” asks Mrs. Greys-Cale
“He is doing fine.” Forest says, “Have you heard about our plan for South Cicero?”
“Yes, that is quite an expensive project.” Mrs. Greys-Cale says, “My husband told me to tell you that he is sorry about not having meetings, but since our daughter went missing…”
“I understand.” Forest says
“But I do have a check for you.” She says opening her purse and handing Forest a check
“Great.” Forest pockets the check in his wallet.
Miss Curio quietly slips out the exit leading towards the Library.
~~~Peacock Residence- Upstairs Hallway-7:19 ~~~
Captain Mist watches Miss Scarlet’s bedroom door. He looks over the railing (the hallway wraps around the Hall) and sees Mrs. Copper enter the kitchen and Mr. Tenné climbs the stairs. Captain Mist quietly opens the nearest door and enters. He hears a voice on a cell phone.
“That’s right Christopher!” the voice says, “I don’t care what you have to do! I can’t kill her! You don’t understand…” there is a pause, “She’s been causing problems since we arrived.” There is another pause, “Once I return to Michigan, I’ll bring up the divorce.” There is a long pause. Captain Mist slips into the adjacent bathroom of the dark suite, “Alright, I’ll do it.” The cell phone snaps shut and Senator Peacock exits his suite, unaware that Captain Mist listened to his conversation.
~~~Peacock Residence- Billiard Room-7:23 ~~~
Mrs. Greys-Cale and Mr. Green talk at the poker table.
“… and you are one hundred percent sure that my daughter will be found?” asks Mrs. Greys-Cale
“Yes.” Forest says, “Once we are done with the spa, we will have our best men track down your daughter.”
“Thank you Forest.” Mrs. Greys-Cale stands up
“Your husband will need to come to the Green Estate in two weeks. We are having a meeting.”
“I’ll talk him in to it.” She says forcing a smile
~~~Peacock Residence- Kitchen-7:26 ~~~
Mrs. White enters through the back door. Rain begins hitting against the kitchen windows. Mrs. Copper is shocked as Mrs. White’s sight.
“Beryl? I thought the police wanted you!” Mrs. Copper says
“We talked at the Rotunda.” Mrs. White lies, “They let me go.”
“Are they going to come back to ask questions?” asks Mrs. Copper
“No!” Mrs. White says. She strides over to the counter where some dishes of food are, “What are these doing in here?”
“Only a few guests are still here.” Mrs. Copper says
“Only a few?” Mrs. White looks shocked
“Miss Vera didn’t approve of the party and most left.” Mrs. Copper says, “Other than the people currently taking residence here, nine guests are roaming.”
“Well we can’t have them go hungry.” Mrs. White takes a dish from the counter and walks out of the room.
~~~Peacock Residence- Hall-7:27 ~~~
Alice walks by the Billiard Room door and goes to the Library door. She is about to enter when she hears two voices; Jayne and Evelyne.
“Please, Evelyne, you must come to reason!” Jayne says, “Alice will kill me if she finds out that you know.”
“Secrecy is a pricey thing.” Evelyne says angrily, “If you can’t pay up your debts Alice’s secret will be revealed, and she has some of your secrets that she could slip.”
“Please Evelyne!” Jayne says, “Alice is my best friend, she can’t find out.”
“Then pay up!” Evelyne says
The sound of a hand slapping a face is heard from the door where Alice listens.
“How dare you!” Evelyne says throwing open the door. Alice stands back innocently as Evelyne passes
“I take it you heard.” Jayne says in tears
“Yes.” Alice steps inside the Library and closes the door
“I’m sorry.” Jayne says
“Sorry is just a little too late.” Alice says, “Vera is going to kill me when she finds out!”
“I’m so sorry, Alice.” Jayne says
“If Evelyne isn’t stopped before she tells Vera, our friendship is over!” Alice exits the Library slamming the door.
Jayne sees a statuette lying carelessly on the floor near the bookshelf. Jayne grabs it and goes to the Library door.
“Oh she’ll be stopped, whether it’s for my benefit or for yours!”
TO BE CONTINUED