“A Deal of Fortune”
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Library- 11:30 am~~~
Emily stands in stunned silence. Victor is as equally shocked as she is.
“Repeat that again, please?” Emily says, “Because, my ears are really starting to play game with me…”
“Emily,” Victor sighs, “I'm your brother.”
“Oh my God!” Emily says, “What? No! This can't be! My mother said she only gave birth once…”
“Maybe she did.” Victor says
Emily looks at his arm to see a birth mark near his elbow. She rolls up her sleeve to see the same one.
“We’re not just brother and sister...” Emily swallows tearfully, “We’re twins...”
“And your father is the professor.” Victor winces
“Oh my God!” Emily shouts, “No! No, he can’t be! I mean... we... Oh my God!!”
“Wow, this is both exciting and disgusting.” Victor says
“Exciting? Not one minute of this is exciting!” Emily says, “Oh my God!!”
“Well, should we tell Uncle John?” Victor asks
“You aren't helping matters.” Emily says, “I need to think.”
“Wow.” Victor sighs
Emily sits down in an old fashioned armchair. She inhales deeply and blows it all out.
“I always wanted a brother.” Emily says, “But this isn’t the way I fantasized finding out I had one!”
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Study- 11:39 am~~~
Mr. Boddy is on the phone. He is rolling his lit cigarette around in the granite ashtray.
“Lord Grey, this may benefit us, but it may also cause financial problems.” John opens his desk drawer and pulls out a silver letter opener. He sets is on a pile of unopened letters. John then takes a key out of his desk drawer, “I’ll go check.” He sets the phone on the desk and takes a painted of a bowl of fruit off the wall and sets it against his desk. Where the picture once hung is a safe. He puts the key in the lock on the safe and turns the dial a couple times. He unlocks the safe and reaches for a manila envelope. He sets it on the desk, opens it, and picks up the phone, “All of the papers are here.” John says, “Now, I want you to send some of your men down here to get them. Then I want them to go down there, tell them it was a big mistake, they give them the papers and he is brought here. He will be our ticket out. The people of East Arlington are refusing to give up their houses.” There is a brief pause. During this pause Mr. Boddy puts a paper clip on the papers, “Alright, I’ll see you in fifteen minutes…” Mr. Boddy hangs up the phone with a sigh…
~~~ Michael Reese- Parking Lot- 12:07 pm~~~
A black limo pulls up to the doors and Alice Peacock gets in. Mr. Tenné sits at the wheel. Anna Greys-Cale sits in the back seat as well.
“Hello, Anna, how are you?” Mrs. Peacock asks dryly
“Candice Meadow-Brooke is Melody. Melody escaped after stabbing Mr. Lilac.” Mrs. Greys-Cale says
“What?” Mrs. Peacock becomes alert
“Alice, I reported her as Melody. Jane reported her as Candice.” Anna says
“Wait, you reported her?” Mrs. Peacock asks, “Why?”
“I already told you. She stabbed Mr. Lilac. His liver and kidneys were damaged and he is slipping in and out of consciousness.” Mrs. Greys-Cale sighs
“I just came clean to a psychiatrist and he told me I will have to speak with him once a week.” Mrs. Peacock says
“Are you going to?” asks Mrs. Greys-Cale
“I pulled out my check book and asked him how important it is for me to show up…” Mrs. Peacock smirks
~~~ Peacock Residence- Drawing Room- 12:15 pm~~~
Vera sits on the sofa in her red robe. She is angrily sipping champagne. She looks around the room and sees a dark blue coat on the chair. Vera stands up and picks it up. She immediately recognizes it as Prince Azure’s. Vera reaches in his pocket to find his wallet and passport. Vera smiles evilly as she walks over to the fireplace.
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Library- continuous~~~
Miss Peach paces around the room while Victor watches her from the window seat.
“Should we tell Uncle John?” Emily asks
“He probably already figured it out when you told him that you were his step niece.” Victor says
“Should we tell your dad?” Emily swallows hard
“He’s your dad.” Victor adds
“Maybe not… maybe mom got pregnant with another man.” Emily tries to laugh, but it only sounds creepy and nervous, “Maybe we can take a blood test.”
“The blood test would make you even more uneasy… and how would you ask him? Hello, I think you’re my father, let’s take a blood test…” Victor raises and eyebrow
“I really don’t know!” Emily says
“There is no good side in any of this.” Victor sighs
“There is no good side in finding out that I might be sleeping with my father.” Emily goes over to the door leading to the Billiard Room. She enters and slams the door.
~~~ Peacock Residence- Drawing Room- continuous~~~
Vera looks at her uplifted hand. In it is the wallet and passport, only a foot away from roaring flames. Vera suddenly feels nauseous and sets them on the coffee table.
“I think I had too much champagne.” She says to her self
She exits the drawing room and hurries to the bathroom. As soon as the bathroom door closes the hall door opens and Prince Azure enters. He goes to the drawing room and sees his wallet and passport on the coffee table. He gathers them and then takes his coat. He reaches for the drawing room door as Vera re-enters. Vera crosses her arms and looks at him in surprise.
~~~ Van Tealle Manor- Living Room- 12:15 pm~~~
Dr. Van Tealle sits in an armchair across the room from Detective Décolorant.
“That coach was useless to everyone. He was more trouble than he was worth!” Dr. Van Tealle says
“Doctor, I’ve interrogated over a dozen people in this case and not one of them has said a positive thing about him.” The detective says.
“Well that blackmailing shrew got exactly what he deserved!” Dr. Van Tealle lights a cigar, “He was having a sexual relationship with one of the girls on the team, which I’m sure was forced. I certainly didn’t want that filthy pig near my girls. I couldn’t pull them out because of some old things he found out… but everyone has secrets…”
“Would you have got to the expense of murdering him?” the detective inquires
“I had threatened it in the past; needless to say, I would do anything for my girls.” Dr Van Tealle says
“But did you?” asks the detective
“No.” Dr. Van Tealle says calmly, blowing cigar smoke in the air
“Coach Golden was killed with a cat fish hook. There were several laying around the docks on Lakeview Run. Did you happen to go down to those docks?” asks the detective, writing in his notebook.
“I haven’t gone near Lakeview Run in days.” Dr. Van Tealle says
“Thank you.” The detective stands up, “I’ll show myself out.”
Dr. Van Tealle nods and gestures his hand towards the Living Room doors.
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Study- 3:49 pm~~~
Mr. Boddy is seated behind his large desk. Cigarette smoke billowing out of his mouth and swirling in the air. There is a knock as the door.
“Come in.” Mr. Boddy says
Two large men bring Professor Plum into the study.
“Lord Grey and his wife are in the Lounge.” One of the henchmen says
“Excellent.” Mr. Boddy says
The men leave Professor Plum and Mr. Boddy alone.
“Well Greg,” Mr. Boddy says, “Are you ready to hold up your end of the deal?”
TO BE CONTINUED
Emily stands in stunned silence. Victor is as equally shocked as she is.
“Repeat that again, please?” Emily says, “Because, my ears are really starting to play game with me…”
“Emily,” Victor sighs, “I'm your brother.”
“Oh my God!” Emily says, “What? No! This can't be! My mother said she only gave birth once…”
“Maybe she did.” Victor says
Emily looks at his arm to see a birth mark near his elbow. She rolls up her sleeve to see the same one.
“We’re not just brother and sister...” Emily swallows tearfully, “We’re twins...”
“And your father is the professor.” Victor winces
“Oh my God!” Emily shouts, “No! No, he can’t be! I mean... we... Oh my God!!”
“Wow, this is both exciting and disgusting.” Victor says
“Exciting? Not one minute of this is exciting!” Emily says, “Oh my God!!”
“Well, should we tell Uncle John?” Victor asks
“You aren't helping matters.” Emily says, “I need to think.”
“Wow.” Victor sighs
Emily sits down in an old fashioned armchair. She inhales deeply and blows it all out.
“I always wanted a brother.” Emily says, “But this isn’t the way I fantasized finding out I had one!”
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Study- 11:39 am~~~
Mr. Boddy is on the phone. He is rolling his lit cigarette around in the granite ashtray.
“Lord Grey, this may benefit us, but it may also cause financial problems.” John opens his desk drawer and pulls out a silver letter opener. He sets is on a pile of unopened letters. John then takes a key out of his desk drawer, “I’ll go check.” He sets the phone on the desk and takes a painted of a bowl of fruit off the wall and sets it against his desk. Where the picture once hung is a safe. He puts the key in the lock on the safe and turns the dial a couple times. He unlocks the safe and reaches for a manila envelope. He sets it on the desk, opens it, and picks up the phone, “All of the papers are here.” John says, “Now, I want you to send some of your men down here to get them. Then I want them to go down there, tell them it was a big mistake, they give them the papers and he is brought here. He will be our ticket out. The people of East Arlington are refusing to give up their houses.” There is a brief pause. During this pause Mr. Boddy puts a paper clip on the papers, “Alright, I’ll see you in fifteen minutes…” Mr. Boddy hangs up the phone with a sigh…
~~~ Michael Reese- Parking Lot- 12:07 pm~~~
A black limo pulls up to the doors and Alice Peacock gets in. Mr. Tenné sits at the wheel. Anna Greys-Cale sits in the back seat as well.
“Hello, Anna, how are you?” Mrs. Peacock asks dryly
“Candice Meadow-Brooke is Melody. Melody escaped after stabbing Mr. Lilac.” Mrs. Greys-Cale says
“What?” Mrs. Peacock becomes alert
“Alice, I reported her as Melody. Jane reported her as Candice.” Anna says
“Wait, you reported her?” Mrs. Peacock asks, “Why?”
“I already told you. She stabbed Mr. Lilac. His liver and kidneys were damaged and he is slipping in and out of consciousness.” Mrs. Greys-Cale sighs
“I just came clean to a psychiatrist and he told me I will have to speak with him once a week.” Mrs. Peacock says
“Are you going to?” asks Mrs. Greys-Cale
“I pulled out my check book and asked him how important it is for me to show up…” Mrs. Peacock smirks
~~~ Peacock Residence- Drawing Room- 12:15 pm~~~
Vera sits on the sofa in her red robe. She is angrily sipping champagne. She looks around the room and sees a dark blue coat on the chair. Vera stands up and picks it up. She immediately recognizes it as Prince Azure’s. Vera reaches in his pocket to find his wallet and passport. Vera smiles evilly as she walks over to the fireplace.
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Library- continuous~~~
Miss Peach paces around the room while Victor watches her from the window seat.
“Should we tell Uncle John?” Emily asks
“He probably already figured it out when you told him that you were his step niece.” Victor says
“Should we tell your dad?” Emily swallows hard
“He’s your dad.” Victor adds
“Maybe not… maybe mom got pregnant with another man.” Emily tries to laugh, but it only sounds creepy and nervous, “Maybe we can take a blood test.”
“The blood test would make you even more uneasy… and how would you ask him? Hello, I think you’re my father, let’s take a blood test…” Victor raises and eyebrow
“I really don’t know!” Emily says
“There is no good side in any of this.” Victor sighs
“There is no good side in finding out that I might be sleeping with my father.” Emily goes over to the door leading to the Billiard Room. She enters and slams the door.
~~~ Peacock Residence- Drawing Room- continuous~~~
Vera looks at her uplifted hand. In it is the wallet and passport, only a foot away from roaring flames. Vera suddenly feels nauseous and sets them on the coffee table.
“I think I had too much champagne.” She says to her self
She exits the drawing room and hurries to the bathroom. As soon as the bathroom door closes the hall door opens and Prince Azure enters. He goes to the drawing room and sees his wallet and passport on the coffee table. He gathers them and then takes his coat. He reaches for the drawing room door as Vera re-enters. Vera crosses her arms and looks at him in surprise.
~~~ Van Tealle Manor- Living Room- 12:15 pm~~~
Dr. Van Tealle sits in an armchair across the room from Detective Décolorant.
“That coach was useless to everyone. He was more trouble than he was worth!” Dr. Van Tealle says
“Doctor, I’ve interrogated over a dozen people in this case and not one of them has said a positive thing about him.” The detective says.
“Well that blackmailing shrew got exactly what he deserved!” Dr. Van Tealle lights a cigar, “He was having a sexual relationship with one of the girls on the team, which I’m sure was forced. I certainly didn’t want that filthy pig near my girls. I couldn’t pull them out because of some old things he found out… but everyone has secrets…”
“Would you have got to the expense of murdering him?” the detective inquires
“I had threatened it in the past; needless to say, I would do anything for my girls.” Dr Van Tealle says
“But did you?” asks the detective
“No.” Dr. Van Tealle says calmly, blowing cigar smoke in the air
“Coach Golden was killed with a cat fish hook. There were several laying around the docks on Lakeview Run. Did you happen to go down to those docks?” asks the detective, writing in his notebook.
“I haven’t gone near Lakeview Run in days.” Dr. Van Tealle says
“Thank you.” The detective stands up, “I’ll show myself out.”
Dr. Van Tealle nods and gestures his hand towards the Living Room doors.
~~~ Boddy Mansion- Study- 3:49 pm~~~
Mr. Boddy is seated behind his large desk. Cigarette smoke billowing out of his mouth and swirling in the air. There is a knock as the door.
“Come in.” Mr. Boddy says
Two large men bring Professor Plum into the study.
“Lord Grey and his wife are in the Lounge.” One of the henchmen says
“Excellent.” Mr. Boddy says
The men leave Professor Plum and Mr. Boddy alone.
“Well Greg,” Mr. Boddy says, “Are you ready to hold up your end of the deal?”
TO BE CONTINUED