A CLUE SAGA
Episode #14
INT. PRATTON POLICE DEPARTMENT - FORREST'S OFFICE - NIGHT
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FOREST is sitting behind his bulky metal desk. In his right hand, he is holding a smoking police gun.
His jaw is tightly locked in anger and his hands are shaking.
He looks forward at the wall in front of him. A 9mm bullet is lodged deep inside the cracked, beige drywall.
Dangling off the edge of his desk, the telephone flex sways back and forth from the force of how abruptly the call ended.
A startled young secretary rushes into the room.
SECRETARY
”Commissioner, are you alright? What happened?”
The SECRETARY notices the bullet-hole in the wall.
Commissioner Randall Forest
”It’s nothing. Gun went off in my hand.”
COMM. FOREST shrugs casually.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FOREST
"Accidents happen."
SECRETARY
”Please be more careful! We don’t want you killing yourself back here.”
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FOREST
“Perish the thought.”
The SECRETARY leaves COMM. FOREST alone in his office.
The door closes with a creaky squeal and a loud click.
He looks down at the police gun in his hand and closes his eyes. He puts the barrel of the gun to his temple and moves his finger to the trigger.
2.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FOREST
”One day. You know it will end in this room, in this chair, with this gun.“
(pausing)
”Not today.”
COMM. FOREST puts the police gun down on his desk. He looks down on the floor beside the leg of his chair.
He picks up the discarded bullet casing.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FOREST
”And on that day someone else will clean up the brass.”
COMM. FOREST stands up and walks over to the filing cabinet. He unlocks the bottom drawer and takes out a small candy tin.
COMM. FOREST kicks the drawer closed with his foot as he walks back to his desk.
COMM. FOREST sit down in his chair, takes off his pince-nez, and opens the candy tin. He scoops out cocaine from the candy tiny and snorts it from under his thumbnail.
COMM. FOREST leans back in his chair.
COMMISSIONER RANDALL FOREST
"One day."
INT. BlACKWELL GRANGE - BALLROOM - conTINUOUS
The wet smell of rain has made its way down the chimneys - dampening the hearth of the Ballroom’s massive unlit fireplace. On the gramophone, harpsichord music plays a quick-paced, staccato song - a dark minor motif, rolling over similar tones over and over.
The large room is filled with the mansion’s guests, staff, and residents. Everyone nervously anticipates an announcement from INSPECTOR PRY and DETECTIVE AMARILLO.
INSP. PRY and DET. AMARILLO are barely audible, whispering to each other in an apparent disagreement.
DEtective louis amarillo
"... you didn't see the boy out there in the tennis court..."
The men look around at the eyes staring back at them.
3.
INSPector lawrence pry
"... will not leave this place until the killer is caught. Saving Forest's ass isn't my job..."
INSP. PRY and DET. AMARILLO do not address the room or the gathered suspects. The men continue to talk quietly together with exaggerated flailing arms and pointing fingers.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET pays no attention to the conflicting investigators, who seem to have everyone’s attention. She listens to the harpsichord music, feeling as her heartbeat pulses in her throat. She opens her cigarette box - taking the last cigarette from inside. She brings it to her lips and lights it with her gold plated lighter.
MISS SCARLET sighs as she exhales the tobacco and nicotine smoke. She glances at her reflection in the mirror, distracted momentarily by how beautiful and tragic her sad, pale face is. Her teary, red eyes have only enhanced the bright blue color of her iris. She purses her lips a bit, only to feel a growing anger coursing through her body. The anger is followed immediately with a hopeless stab of grief.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK walks over behind MISS SCARLET. She catches her stepdaughter’s eyes in the mirror.
Ignoring her, MISS SCARLET slowly begins to untangle two large blonde curls which have become entwined together.
MRS. Patricia peacock
(gently)
”Here, let me...”
MISS SCARLET exhales sharply through her nose, rolling her eyes. She crosses her arm and stands still for her stepmother to help her.
MRS. PEACOCK steps up close and fixes MISS SCARLET’s hair from behind.
4.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(letting go)
"There."
MISS SCARLET drags hard on the cigarette.
Miss vivienne scarlet
”He was alive a few hours ago... and now he’s gone forever.”
MISS SCARLET exhales smoke into the mirror. It spreads in a circle around her reflection.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(quietly)
”I’m so sorry, Vivienne.”
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(tearfully)
”You’d think after all these years that I would finally be used to the concept of losing someone forever. But even to this day, I expect my father to come home every night. But he never does.”
MISS SCARLET pauses, looking up at the chandelier, trying her hardest to hold back her tears.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Fuck..."
MISS SCARLET shakes her head as she looks over at the harp.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
”When I was with Edward life seemed somehow bearable. All of this suffering seemed worth it... but now everything feels heavy and cold. I'm so alone.”
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"You aren't alone, Vivienne."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(sniffling; getting angry)
"Don't. Just stop..."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(defensively)
”Vivienne, you’ve been facing death since you were born. It isn’t fair. I wanted better for us. I wanted better for you.”
5.
MISS SCARLET shakes her head.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(holding up a hand)
”Stop! It is bad enough that I am going through this again. I do not need you making the situation worse by gaslighting me about how you were always there for me. You weren't!”
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(sadly)
”Vivienne, I’m just trying...”
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
”Did you kill Dr. Black? Did we come here so you could kill him?”
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(heartbroken)
"Vivienne..."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(demanding)
"Answer it!"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
”Answer? I don't know how to? Where do I begin? What the hell kind of question is that?”
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
”It is a question you are going to have to get comfortable answering. You are already between court dates for five dead husbands. Now you‘ve gotten yourself tangled up in another murder. Six murders. Eleven all together. Romantically involved with how many?”
MRS. PEACOCK stops and looks down at her feet.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Vivienne... I..."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I know about you and Edward. Of course I knew. But I didn't care. Because I was the one who loved him in public."
6.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
”And I don't mean to hurt you by accusing you of killing Dr. Black. I’m simply pointing out what everyone else is thinking. You leave a trail of murdered friends and lovers where ever you go. When I came back to the lounge, both you and Nurse Silver were gone. You have no alibi.”
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(angrily)
”Shut up!”
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(shouting to the Ballroom)
”Or what? You'll kick me out of your house? We don't own a fucking house, Patricia! We are broke! We have nothing! You can't even afford a decent goddamn lawyer to defend your self-righteous fucking image! You are going to jail! You're done.“
MISS SCARLET turns to walk away. MRS. PEACOCK grabs her by the shoulder to turn her around.
MISS SCARLET turns around quickly and slaps MRS. PEACOCK across the face.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
”After everything I went through for you?”
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
”You were so drunk and unavailable to me, after my father died... you let your second husband rape me!”
MRS. PEACOCK covers her mouth in horror, tears filling her eyes.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Ernest... But I thought... They just found..."
7.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"What? That they just found the pictures? They can find pictures, Patricia. They can never find all the little girls..."
MRS. PEACOCK turns away from MISS SCARLET with shame, guilt, and mascara stained cheeks.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
”I am so sorry, Vivienne.”
MRS. PEACOCK moves away from all the people in the Ballroom, sitting down on a chair along the wall. She buries her face into her hands.
ACROSS THE ROOM -
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE turns her attention to SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY who is visibly upset - on the verge of tears, fists clenched, and brow sweaty.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Benjamin?"
Sergeant benjamin gray
(tense)
”This can’t be happening”
Mrs. Blanche white
”Everything is going to be fine. We are going to figure everything out in the morning. Just let the police handle things, you're off duty.”
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
“Everything is not going to be fine! Everything that happened here tonight was traumatic and life-changing. I just searched for a missing dead woman in the rain only to find a man, eyeless, tied to a tennis net. I... I...”
SGT. GRAY stops talking, loses his balance. MRS. WHITE grabs his arm to steady him.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Benjamin!"
8.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"I need to sit. My head is ringing."
MRS. WHITE moves him over to the chaise lounge.
INSP. PRY and DET. AMARILLO notice. SGT. GRAY motions to them that he's fine. They turn back to their own conversation quickly.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Are you okay?"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"I... uh..."
SGT. GRAY moves close to MRS. WHITE and lowers his voice.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Do you ever get blackouts? Is it hereditary?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(eyes widening)
"You aren't saying what I think you're saying, are you?"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"I think I may have killed him..."
MRS. WHITE looks back and forth to make sure DET. AMARILLO and INSP. PRY are still caught up in their argument.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"You think? What happened?"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"I... I don't know. I just remember being overwhelmed by everything and I went into the Conservatory. I remember walking around in a pattern on the tiles. Then the next thing I remember -- I'm standing in the Library with a blood-soaked wrench in my hand."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
”What did you do with the wrench?”
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - CELLAR STAIRS - cONTINUOUS
MR. REGINALD ASH and INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN stand halfway down the cellar staircase.
9.
They peer down over the dead body of DR. HUGH BLACK. Several Crime Scene Photographers have made their way into the main CELLAR through the external cellar doors.
The camera flash bulbs flicker like the lightning outside.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"How are you doing, Mr. Ash?"
MR. ASH is standing six steps behind INSP. BROWN holding a handkerchief over his nose and mouth.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I can't stand the smell."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I'll wait for the coroner's report, but it looks like blunt-forced head trauma."
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Inspector..."
INSP. BROWN turns to the butler and motions for the two to move back up the staircase.
MR. ASH gladly turns around, removing the handkerchief from his face.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - HALL - CONTINUOUS
MR. ASH and INSP. BROWN step out into the alcove in front of the Kitchen door, near the Ballroom's curtained entrance.
INSP. BROWN leaves the cellar door ajar.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I want to do a quick sweep of the ground floor, will you show me around?"
MR. ASH nods quickly.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Yes, of course, sir. Shall we start with the lounge?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"No. We'll start here, in the hall."
10.
INSP. BROWN walks out into the center of the massive room. Every room on the ground floor has a door that leads into the Hall.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you keep the doors locked?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Yes, they were."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"All the entrances and exits were secured?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"The dining room and billiard room have French windows that lead to the veranda and terrace respectively. They were locked when the guests went to bed after dinner. I'm not sure if they remained unlocked during all of the pandemonium. Sergeant Gray, Monsieur Brunette, and myself tried our best to keep things under control until the situation escalated."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"The guests..."
(pausing)
"Between you and me. Is the killer a guest or someone closer to home?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I couldn't say..."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You couldn't, or you won't?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"If Dr. Black killed all those people, then any person in this house had motive to kill him."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You say if?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Hypothetically, if someone else framed Dr. Black for those murders to stir up the hive... would that same person murder Dr. Black?
(MORE)
11.
MR. REGINALD ASH (CONT'D)
Seems like a lot of effort. Why kill the others?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You suspect we have more than one killer."
MR. REGINALD ASH
(nodding)
"And I do not think Yvette hanged herself. The poor girl was going through a lot, but she wasn't suicidal."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Thank you, Mr. Ash. I appreciate your candidacy. May I see Dr. Black's study?"
MR. ASH nods and leads the way.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - BALLROOM - CONTINUOUS
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD chews on an unlit cigar, scouring the room for a smoker with a lighter.
COL. MUSTARD spots M. BRUNETTE lighting a cigarette near the windows. He grinds his teeth, considering someone else.
M. BRUNETTE smiles as soon as he realizes COL. MUSTARD is lingering in his direction.
COL. MUSTARD sighs and strides over.
12.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Would you spark me a match?"
M. BRUNETTE strikes a match for COL. MUSTARD, who awkwardly leans down to it. The tip of the cigar lights just before the flame dies.
Colonel michael mustard
”Brunette, old chap. I was hoping you could help me with something.”
Monsieur alphonse brunette
”I am very busy.”
M. BRUNETTE watches MRS. PEACOCK crying along the walls. COL. MUSTARD raises an eyebrow.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
”Back in Von Gatow... the poker game with Bronze and Seafoam.”
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
“Captain Seafoam should not have spoken so rudely to you, but you also must learn to control that terrible temper.”
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
”Stuff and nonsense. I couldn‘t give a goddamn about that old seaman’s undercooked opinion.”
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
(sighing)
"No, I didn't figure you would."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I want to know about that little exchange between you and the young Baron."
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"If I wanted you to know about it, it would have happened in front of you."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"It was the poison, wasn't it?"
M. BRUNETTE exhales sharply, upset.
13.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"You bought the poison off Bronze, to sell to Green, who sold it to Plum, who gave it to that homicidal maniac in the crypt. You are complicit, old chap."
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"I have a few flames left to burn. They may not be rose-gold, but they'll chase away those dark gray storm clouds."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(confused)
"What if God's name are you babbling about, man?"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
(smirking)
"Oh? How very interesting."
M. BRUNETTE continues to smirk as he walks away from COL. MUSTARD.
COL. MUSTARD raises an eyebrow at the strange end of their conversation. He walks off with his cigar, finding a chair near the corner.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - STUDY - CONTINUOUS
MR. ASH and INSP. BROWN enter the room. MR. ASH flicks on the light switch. Both men stop dead in their tracks.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(holding up his hand)
"Stop. Don't step into the room. Has anyone else been in here?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I'm not sure, sir."
14.
On the floor, near the open window, a bloody dagger rests. Rain water has sprinkled into the room, wetting the curtains, carpet, dagger, and blood.
A CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER rushes to the Study doorway from the hall.
CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER
"Inspector?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"What is it?"
CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER
"I was told to come find you. There is a pool of blood in the billiard room."
INSP. BROWN continues to stare at the dagger on the floor.
CRIME SCENE PHOTOGRAPHER
"Inspector, did you hear me?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I heard you, Frost."
MR. ASH puts his handkerchief back over his nose and mouth.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"This whole house smells like blood."
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - BALLROOM - CONTINUOUS
MRS. WHITE reaches out and holds SGT. GRAY's arms.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(panicking)
"What do you mean? What happened?"
15.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
(frustrated)
"I don't know! I told you that already!"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Then tell me what you do remember! What did you do with it? The wrench? If it's the one I'm thinking about Mr. Ash or Professor Plum will be asking about it within the week."
SGT. GRAY looks down at his feet.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"I hid it."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Where?"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"In the secret passage."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Okay good. Maybe the police don't know about the secret passageways. Which one did you put it in? The kitchen to study or the lounge to conservatory?"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"I put it in the one in the library."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(raising an eyebrow)
"The library?"
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - BILLIARD ROOM - A FeW minUTES LATER
INSP. BROWN stands alone in the room, staring at the blood stain on the carpet beside the pool table.
16.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"In the billiard room... with the dagger? No. The dagger was used on Clay."
There is a knock at the door. DET. AMARILLO pops his head into the room.
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Inspector Pry is ready for you in the ballroom. We need to clear the house."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Whoever did this was playing a game."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"Inspector?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"The dagger was in the study near an open window. The blood is in here. A body is on the tennis net, another was found in the swimming pool and then moved... two bodies are currently missing."
DETECTIVE LOUIS AMARILLO
"We need to get the suspects out of here."
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - BALLROOM - CONTINUOUS
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN walks across the room with intention. Her eyes are full of fear and aimed at MR. THALLO GREEN.
17.
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN
"I need to get out here."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Go away, Olivia. I don't have time for this. The police are about to fuck us all sideways."
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN
"I don't feel safe anymore."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"You were never safe. None of us are. That's part of being involved with Black-Gray-fucking-Pharmaceuticals."
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN
(slapping his chest)
"Listen to me! I am going to be killed. I need you to get me away from this place."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Sounds like you did not make a friend here this weekend."
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN
"How can you make jokes at a time like this?"
MR. THALLO GREEN
"It's my defense mechanism."
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN
"When I agreed to marry you it was so that they could never make me testify against you. Your end of the deal is to keep me safe and protected. I don't feel safe or protected."
MR. GREEN's eyes light up with fire.
18.
MR. THALLO GREEN
(looking around)
"Keep your goddamn voice down! You don't speak of that. Never. Especially not with police in the same fucking room. I'm so sick of you, Olivia. Goddammit! Keep your mouth shut before you have to worry about me killing you too."
MR. GREEN shakes his head and grinds his teeth, completely fed up with everything and everyone.
Across the room, PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM and DR. WALTER RAVEN watch the altercation between MR. GREEN and MISS RAVEN.
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"Am I smiling."
PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM
"Hush, you're going to make me laugh. We need to be serious right now. If we both burst into laughter in front of the police, we'll be at the top of the suspect list."
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"I'm sorry. The future is finally looking so bright."
PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM
(smiling a tiny bit)
"I've already started mentally spending my inheritance."
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"Sir Benedict reigning once more!"
PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM
"With his firstborn by his side... and no other sons to cloud his judgment."
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"What about Rose?"
PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM
"She will not be a concern."
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"Then everything truly is wonderful. Things are finally back to the way they were before Samuel and Margaret."
19.
PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM
"We'll drink to this."
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"But for now..."
PROFESSOR VICTOR PLUM
(frowning)
"... we mourn the dead."
NURSE AVA SILVER walks across the room with FIVEL by her side. They approach INSP. PRY, who stands alone at the piano, looking through his notebook.
NURSE AVA SILVER
"Detective?"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(correcting her)
"Inspector."
NURSE AVA SILVER
"I'm sorry. Inspector, it is getting late and Fivel is falling asleep at my side."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"We are about to handle that in just a moment, ma'am. Please stay back with the other suspects."
NURSE AVA SILVER
(disappointed)
"Okay. Sorry."
NURSE SILVER leads FIVEL back to where they wait with SIR BENEDICT, MADAME ROSE, MASTER JOHN BODDY, and DR. ANDREA ORCHID.
20.
FIVEL
(sleepily; crying)
"When can we go to sleep?"
NURSE AVA SILVER
"Only a little while longer."
SIR BENEDICT leans back in his wheelchair, rubbing his sore, boney knees. His can rests across his lap.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"There will be many sleepless nights ahead, boy. Sleep well, when you hit the pillow."
MASTER BODDY rolls his eyes.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Stop trying to scare him. It never worked on me and I was much younger than him when you were around."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"I'm not trying to scare him."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"What are we doing? What are we waiting for? Are they going to interrogate us all right now?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"I don't know."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"They'll probably need to search every inch of this house. We won't be sleeping here."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
(smirks)
"Then it's a perfect time for me to save the day."
21.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"What do you mean?"
SIR BENEDICT chuckles, but remains quiet.
DR. ORCHID comes over to MASTER BODDY and rubs his shoulders.
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"You need to calm down."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"I am calm."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
(lowering her voice)
"You need to work with him."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"What are you talking about."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"Appeal to Benedict. He'll be easier to handle than Hugh."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"There's nothing to handle."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"Blackwell Grange is rightfully yours by blood. Hugh Black could not produce any children. His sister did. This is all yours. We will fight this."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"I shouldn't have to fight for what is rightfully mine."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"Don't think about the fight. Think about the future on the other side of that fight. We could fire the whole staff, kick out everyone, and have this entire estate to ourselves."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
(smiling)
"Alone."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
(repeating)
"Alone."
22.
SIR BENEDICT slowly begins to stand up from his wheelchair with the help of his cane. MME ROSE offers a hand to help him.
SIR BENEDICT firmly smacks MME ROSE's hand away, visibly disgusted that his estranged daughter would offer him assistance.
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"I was only trying..."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Not now. I'm going to make an announcement, since the police are taking their time."
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"Will you talk to me?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"No. I will not. Pack your bags and leave Blackwell Grange. Get out of Pratton. You are not my daughter. You are not part of this family."
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"No. It's not your decision!"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"It is my decision. I am in charge."
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"You are not going to step in and become the de facto leader because you feel like it. You've been dead for six years."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"You've pretended to be dead for longer. I don't love you. Get away from me, vile bitch."
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"Once Hugh's will is read, it won't be your choice."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Mr. Meadow-Brook is a very close friend of mine. I introduced him to Hugh. Have you forgotten he was my lawyer first. I was there for his son's birth.
(MORE)
23.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV (CONT'D)
I was godfather to his daughter. Miles Meadow-Brook works for me. I built that family."
SIR BENEDICT turns away from MME ROSE abruptly and raises his voice to the room-
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention once more."
INSP. PRY looks up from his notebook. EVERYONE in the room turns to face SIR BENEDICT.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Since the investigators are taking their sweet time figuring out what to do with us, I have decided to relieve them of that burden."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Sit down. You aren't running this."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"You need the mansion evacuated so you can count footprints and eyelashes? I am about to hire a procession of chauffeurs to take us out of your hair to a seaside hotel on my treat."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"You will do no such thing. You are not in charge of this investigation or the suspects in this room. You are a suspect and you will sit your ancient ass down in that wheelchair and answer some questions for me right now."
INSP. PRY proceeds to drag the wheelchair over to SIR BENEDICT. He points to the seat.
SIR BENEDICT refuses to sit.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Fine, we'll do this standing."
SIR BENEDICT stiffens his grip on his cane.
24.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
(addressing the room)
"Anyone is allowed to deny anything he claims. Please do not hold back."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"This bad cop routine is getting old, Pry."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"How long did you pretend to be dead for?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Six years, eleven months."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Why?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"To protect my son."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Why?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Because that is what I do. I protect my sons."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Two of your sons died tonight. You shot one of them. Why should I believe you didn't kill the other."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Do I look like the type of man capable of killing a man and dragging him down the cellar stairs."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"You look like the type of man refusing to sit in his wheelchair, which leads to me wonder how active you actually were in your solitude."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Is that a question?"
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Why did you shoot your son?"
25.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"He was going to kill Mrs. White."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Ben killed your wife and the au pair. What made him worthy of death now and not then."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"He was a child then. He was a monster tonight."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Why lie about his livelihood and your own?"
SIR BENEDICT doesn't respond.
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"Answer the question or I'm holding you down at the station."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"I lied to protect my image. I lied to protect Blackwell Grange. I lied to protect my great-grandfather's legacy."
INSPECTOR LAWRENCE PRY
"There it is."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"And now?"
INSP. BROWN and DET. AMARILLO enter the ballroom hastily.
INSP. PRY rushes over to them. The three investigators talk amongst themselves for a moment. When the turn around to the group, INSP. PRY's face is significantly sullen.
INSP. BROWN steps into the center of the room and clears his throat.
26.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Sir Benedict Black has graciously offered to put everyone up at a hotel during this investigation. We would not only be grateful and happy to allow him to do so, we will personally call the hotel's chauffeuring service."
SIR BENEDICT stares over INSP. BROWN's shoulder to INSP. PRY. He slowly sits down in his wheelchair.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Thank you, Inspector Brown. I'll leave you with Mrs. White's master key-ring."
INSP. BROWN smiles and walks over towards INSP. PRY and DET. AMARILLO again.
SIR BENEDICT wheels himself into MRS. WHITE and SGT. GRAY's direction.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
"Blanche, I need you to get the master key-ring for Inspector Brown. We are cooperating with him."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"The brass key..."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK IV
(interrupting her)
"Of course I expect you to take the brass key off. The crypt is off limits. That goes without saying."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Sir, Professor Plum has had the brass key for about three years. I haven't worn it on my ring. He has it."
SIR BENEDICT angrily rolls his wheelchair off into PROF. PLUM's direction.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
(nervously)
"W-Why didn't you tell him? He could have helped us?"
27.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Sweet boy, he would have turned you in to the police in a heartbeat to protect this place and keep it out of the papers."
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Does he know that I'm Hugh's son?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(hushing him)
"That needs to stay a secret for the time being. At least until all of this settles down."
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Why?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Why? Because you are the rightful heir to Blackwell Grange!"
END OF EPISODE #14