A Clue Saga

Int. Aquatine vistas - hotel room #702 - day
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET is sitting in the taupe colored armchair, sipping nervously on a glass of water. Beads of condensation around the glass cause her hands to become even more clammy. The chair she is sitting in is pulled up beside the writing desk where INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN is seated beside her in a rolling desk chair. He has a notepad open in his left hand and a short pencil in his right.
The curtains in the HOTEL ROOM are pulled tightly shut, shielding the interrogation space from the bright, blaring oceanside sun. The distance sounds of waves crashing on the sand repeat over and over with hypnotic intensity.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Your relationship with Edward Clay started how long ago?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Last summer. He was the tennis coach for my stepmother and Senator Peacock."
INSP. BROWN thinks for a moment before careful choosing his next words.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And you knew about Mr. Clay's family? You were aware of where he grew up?"
MISS SCARLET pauses, sitting in silence. INSP. BROWN waits patiently for her response - the stillness lasts for a full minute.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(hesitantly)
"I was very self absorbed as the start of our relationship... It never occurred to me to even ask."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(fishing)
"But you eventually asked him about it?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"No."
INSP. BROWN sighs deeply, uncertain how to go about this - ready to receive her first-time reaction of the coming news.
2.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Edward Clay grew up and lived in Pratton, Connecticut until a year ago."
MISS SCARLET's brow furrows and she shakes her head 'no' in confusion. INSP. BROWN can see that this is new information to her.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"He never said anything..."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"He also did not mention his romantic relationship with Nurse Silver."
MISS SCARLET looks down. Her face becomes red - out of embarrassment, anger, and confusion. Her temples and jaw are visibly tensed.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I-I-I don't know what to say."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"If you'll forgive my candidacy, Miss Scarlet, how well did you know Edward Clay?"
The words hit MISS SCARLET hard.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(sniffling)
"I don't know why anyone would want to kill him. I knew hardly anything about his past... I-I just assumed he..."
MISS SCARLET's voice begins to trail off. INSP. BROWN is not done.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Go on. What did you assume?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Everything about Edward seemed too good to be true. I never wanted to question the happiness I felt by bogging it down with details that could change that. I never told him about my past relationships and he never told me about his."
3.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And what of his education? Where you aware he knew Professor Plum?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(quietly; almost inaudibly)
"No."
INSP. BROWN puts down the notepad he is taking notes in. He folds his hands over the top of the writing desk.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Alright, let's just focus on what you do know. I need to make a record of your movements on the night of the murders. Can you do that for me, Miss?"
MISS SCARLET nods, drinking a large gulp of water.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(swallowing hard)
"Mr. Ash gave Edward and I a tour of Blackwell Grange after dinner. We saw the hall, the ballroom, the conservatory, and the tour ended in the billiard room with some drinks."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(trying to calm her)
"What did you have to drink?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I had sweet, fruit cocktail - I'm not sure what Mr. Ash made me. It was very strong. Edward had a beer."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you know what was in your drink? Vodka? Gin? Tequila?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I think it was vodka. Gin always makes me cry; tequila makes me wild."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(casually; small talk)
"I'm not a fan of gin either. It really does tend to bring out strong emotions."
4.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I drank far too much of it after the Senator died. I'm sick of the taste and the way it made me feel."
INSP. BROWN nods with a smile.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did the two of you stay in the billiard room for long?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I played darts with Madame Rose for a while. I had another drink from Mr. Ash. Then Edward and I went upstairs."
(pausing briefly)
"We had sex."
INSPECTOR BROWN picks up the notepad again and begins to take note of everything MISS SCARLET has just said.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Thank you for your honesty, Miss Scarlet. Please go on."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Afterwards, I went down to the kitchen for some water. The house was fairly quiet. I think nearly everyone was already settled in their rooms for the night. On my way back to my room, I ran into Fivel Dove and Mr. Ash. Fivel said something was wrong with his mother - she needed help and she was asking for Nurse Silver. When we got to his bedroom, Miss Dove was missing. Mr. Ash asked me to watch Fivel until they figured out what was happening. When I got back to my room, Edward was also missing. I left Fivel in my room to go look for him."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You left the boy alone? And you didn't find him - Mr. Clay?"
MISS SCARLET shakes her head no. Tears begin to fill her eyes.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did you return to Fivel?"
5.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(wiping her eyes)
"Yes. We waited for Mr. Ash and Edward to return. Neither of them did and then we heard a loud gunshot. I knew something was wrong by that point. We went out to look for them together - I wasn't going to leave the boy alone if something bad was happening."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did you see anyone besides Mr. Ash during your search with the Dove boy?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Dr. Raven, his daughter Olivia, and Mr. Green were in the upstairs hallway. I think I overheard Mr. Green saying something about his gun being missing. But I honestly may just be remembering the timeline of the missing gun incorrectly. He was asking everyone repeatedly about his gun while waiting for you and the police to arrive."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did anything else happen before you went from the upstairs hallway to the ballroom with the others?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(slowly)
"Nothing much. It all happened so fast. It felt like the world was ending. Sergeant Gray met me on the way down the staircase into the Hall. He told me what happened to Edward. Brunette, Silver, and Plum were with him. They were all so shaken, especially Brunette. Sergeant Gray gathered everyone into the ballroom. That's when we all learned that Dr. Black's father was still alive and Dr. Black was the one killing everyone. They said Bloom and Dove were found and then their bodies were moved. They said Yvette was dead. It didn't feel real... none of it felt real."
6.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did you remain in the Ballroom until Inspector Pry, Detective Amarillo, and I arrived?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(thinking)
"No. I went to the lounge with Nurse Silver and my stepmother. Nurse Silver told me what happened to Edward - she was with him when Dr. Black attacked the two of them. She said Dr. Black knocked choked her unconscious and left her outside by Edward's body. I left the lounge after that. I-I-I just couldn't hear anymore. I had to be alone."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"That's understandable. Where did you go to be alone?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I sat at the dining room table where Edward and I ate earlier. I just... couldn't bring myself to accept the reality that he was dead and gone. I still can't wrap my head around it. I can still hear his voice so clearly. It doesn't feel real..."
INSP. BROWN puts his notepad down again.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Thank you, Miss Scarlet. You've been very helpful."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"May I go?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Yes. Please take care of yourself. I'll be in touch if I have any additional questions."
MISS SCARLET stands up, taking the glass of water with her. She finishes it and sets it down on the edge of the desk on her way towards the door.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Inspector?"
7.
INSP. BROWN looks up at MISS SCARLET.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Yes?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"You mentioned he grew up in Pratton and you mentioned his family. Are the Clays going to be here for questioning?"
INSP. BROWN looks down at his notepad with a strained face.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"His parents have both been informed of the circumstances."
MISS SCARLET nods with a shivering lip and exits the hotel room. INSP. BROWN sighs deeply at the sound of the door closing behind her. He stands up and stretches his back and shoulders.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"It's going to be a long day."
INT. AQUATINE VISTAS - HOTEL LOBBY - CONTINUOUS
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE sits patiently on the round ottoman in the center of the room. He is smoking a cigarette and watching the glass doors to the PORT COCHERE with a trance-like stare.
His glossy eyes finally move as he sees an extravagant Rolls Royce with bright gold and purple decals pull up close to the door.
A woman dressed in bright magenta with silver minks steps out of the back of the car. A doorman opens the HOTEL LOBBY for her and she enters with a sour, bitter look on her face.
M. BRUNETTE stands up and makes his way over to her. She is MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA.
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
(sharply)
"Well? Were is he?"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"The police?"
8.
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
"I don't want to see the goddamn police, Al! I want to see our son! I want to see his body. I want to see what that sick son of a bitch did to our son!"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"He's at the coroner's office in Pratton."
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
(angry)
"Pratton! I just came from Pratton! Am I supposed to drive all the way back there? I've been in a car for hours! I'm grieving!"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
(quietly)
"If you want to see him before the funeral you will have to go back to Pratton."
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
(pointedly)
"This is all your fault, Al. You told Dr. Black about our son's tennis skills. You knew the horrible things that happened there! You brought him to Blackwell Grange!"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"Karen, I'm not having the conversation with you."
M. BRUNETTE turns away from the bitter woman. MRS. FUCHSIA puts out both of her hands and shoves M. BRUNETTE hard, causing him to stumble a few steps forward.
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"Jesus! What the hell is the matter with you!"
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
"Go! Walk away! That's all you ever do. You were never a father to him. You're a wicked self-serving bastard!"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"What do you expect me to do? I was one of the people who found him!
(MORE)
9.
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE (CONT'D)
I'm as torn up as his girlfriend is. I'm not going to sit here while you berate me. Edward was my son too!"
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
"Edward? Is that the name he chose to go by? It figures he would leave his family name and life behind him for a con-artist's name. He learned that from you. Sweet Christopher was such a good boy. He was on the path to greatness until you came back into his life and whispered dreams and fantasies into his ears. Tennis is a hobby, just like painting and art collecting. You let him believe he could have an easy life."
M. BRUNETTE fully turns away from MRS. FUCHSIA and makes quick strides towards the HOTEL BILLIARD ROOM.
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
"Where are you going? Don't leave me here! I'm a grieving mother!"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"Edward Clay - that's how he was received at the coroner's office and that's how the police know him. Leave the name Christopher out of their mouths."
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
"I will never call him Edward!"
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"Be sure to call the coroner first before you show up there with your award-winning attitude."
MRS. KAREN FUCHSIA
"Fuck you, Al! Fuck you! Fuck you! FUCK YOU!"
INT. AQUATINE VISTAS - HOTEL ROOM #702 - MOMENTS LATER
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD enters the HOTEL ROOM and shakes hands firmly with INSP. BROWN.
10.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Let's get this over with."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you have somewhere to be?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I don't enjoy going over the events of a night I'd rather forget."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(nodding)
"Fair enough."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I suppose you want to know my movements on the night of the murder."
COL. MUSTARD hands over a hand-written letter to INSP. BROWN.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"What is this?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I took the liberty of giving you an explicit timeline of my whereabouts."
INSP. BROWN furrows his brows and begins to read aloud.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I stayed in the billiard room until my headache became too much to bear. I retired for the night only to be annoyed by Sergeant Gray and Mr. Ash... You didn't mention your rendezvous in the stables with Herr Gold."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(growling)
"Very good, Inspector. You are a more competent than the people Forest usually sends up to Blackwell Grange."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"It's my job. By the end of this investigation Blackwell Grange will look like an ant hill and every ant's movement, turn, and step will be documented."
11.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Yvette told me about Gold the night before the murders."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And what was the subject of your conversation? Before you answer, may I remind you that Herr Gold has already answered to Commissioner Forest."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Forest's pockets are fat with Blackwell's money. You'd be better off talking to Gold yourself if you want unfiltered answers."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I intend on it."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"We discussed Hugh and the murders at Monte Carlo."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"In regard to the fifteen photographs."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Sixteen."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I beg your pardon?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"There are sixteen photographs. If you only collected fifteen, then you are missing one."
INSP. BROWN frowns.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did Herr Gold explicitly tell you that Hugh Black murdered those women."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"No. He explicitly told me that Hugh Black murdered the love of my life - Lorraine Ardoise."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(concluding)
"Miss Ardoise was Yvette's mother."
12.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"So it seems."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And you are rumored to be Yvette's father."
COL. MUSTARD looks down at the floor and shuts his eyes.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I obviously did not know that. If I had, I would have protested to the way Hugh treated her and had her dressed."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You had no problem with the treatment and sexualization of the girl until you found out she was your daughter."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Pardon my French, but a man has to eat."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did you partake in sexual activity with the girl?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Never!"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Colonel?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(insistently)
"Never!"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"After your rendezvous with Gold, you retired to your room?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Yes?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"You discarded your wet clothes in your room. They were found on your chair."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Yes."
13.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"The guests who had wet clothes are being put at the top of the suspect list, you realize that? Miss Dove, Frau Bloom, and Mr. Clay were all murdered or placed outside in the rain, after all."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I understand, Inspector."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"So I'm going to need you to tell me everything in your own words... not through some thoroughly thought out letter detailing your movements."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(annoyed)
"Fine! I stayed in my bedroom until Hugh sent Mr. Ash and Sergeant Gray to retrieve me."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Why?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I assume they figured I could keep guard and watch over the suspects while they tried to figure out what was going on. They told me Frau Bloom was dead. I shut the door in their faces."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Just Frau Bloom? No word on Miss Dove yet?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"No. I learned of Miss Dove's poisoning shortly before we found Yvette hanging from Dr. Black's bedpost."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"What led you to Dr. Black's bedroom?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Mr. Ash, Mrs. White, and Madame Rose were making a hell of a racket outside his door. They thought Hugh had locked himself inside.
(MORE)
14.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD (CONT'D)
When we got in, Yvette was just... hanging there. That's when I saw Lorraine's photograph and realized that Gold was telling the truth and the shit had hit the ceiling."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And then?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Madame Rose and I went to call the police. We ran into Mr. Green and Miss Raven on the way. We told them that Frau Bloom and Miss Dove were apparently dead and that we'd just found Yvette."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(urging him)
"And then?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"It was my idea that we all gather in the ballroom. I started knocking on guest rooms."
INSP. BROWN makes notes in his notepad while also rereading over COL. MUSTARD's hand-written note to compare the events transcribed to the events he verbally delivers.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And that is when the gong was rung by Sergeant Gray and everyone was told about Mr. Clay's mutilation?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(nodding)
"Hugh came to the hall at the sound of the gong. Everyone turned on him like a pack of hungry wolves. We bound him to a pillar in the cellar and waited. I took it upon myself to console Miss Scarlet. She was grieving so fiercely. That poor child is going to be scarred for months."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Scar tissue makes you stronger."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"That's a common misconception. Some scars never fully heal."
15.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Like Lorraine?"
COL. MUSTARD grinds his teeth tightly together.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Hugh Black was an odious man."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"But you once called him brother."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"That man stopped being my brother when I learned that he and his whole family lied about my father's suicide. They played him up to be the war hero."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Are you glad to see him dead?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"I won't deny it. The world is a cleaner place without Hugh Black."
INT. AQUATINE VISTAS - HOTEL SUITE #1302 - cONTINUOUS
MISS SCARLET enters the suite to see MRS. PEACOCK cheerfully combing her hair at the sitting room's mirrored vanity.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"How was your night, Patricia?"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Quite relaxing."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Did Greyson stay through the night?"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(unashamed)
"Yes. We had a lovely morning wrestle. Best way to wake up."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(disgusted)
"What are you doing?"
16.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Making the best out of a bad situation."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"By spreading your legs to the first man who gives you a glance?"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Careful dear, you know what they say about people who living in glass houses."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Yes, but we have no house and we're fresh out of stones."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(changing the subject)
"Did you speak with Inspector Brown."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(mockingly)
"Yes, and you should probably figure out what story you are going to tell."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"I'm going to tell him the truth."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"The whole truth? Even about your affair with Edward?"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"If it comes up..."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Did you know that Edward grew up in Pratton?"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(caught off guard)
"No."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I wasn't either."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"That must be a mistake."
17.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"It's not. Edward had a whole life before us. Nurse Silver was part of that life."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"That doesn't make any sense."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I'm starting to wonder what the two of them were talking about when Dr. Black killed him and strangled her."
MRS. PEACOCK stands up from the vanity.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"It must be a mistake. There are plenty of people named Clay. Edward is a common name."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Patricia..."
MRS. PEACOCK pushes past MISS SCARLET and exits the HOTEL SUITE in a fury.
MISS SCARLET stands alone in the sitting room. Her hands become shakier and shakier as she tries to steady her breathing. In a fit of unbridled rage, she grabs the comb that MRS. PEACOCK was using and throws it full-force at the mirror. The mirror cracks in the center, sending cracks down the surface, and reflective fragments onto the vanity and carpet.
MISS SCARLET looks at her distorted reflection in the mirror cracked from side to side.
INT. AQUATINE VISTAS - HOTEL ROOM #702 - continUOUS
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE enters the hotel room timidly. She puts on a warm, fake smile for INSP. BROWN as he motions for her to have a seat in the taupe armchair.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"How long have you been employed at Blackwell Grange?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Oh, gracious! I was in my early twenties.
(MORE)
18.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE (CONT'D)
I think I was twenty-two when I was first hired by Sir Benedict."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And how did the two of you come to meet? You were a Nurse at Pratton Memorial before your employment."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Yes. My husband had just taken a job for Sir Benedict as a chauffeur. I knew the nurses life wasn't suited for me and the pay wasn't nearly all it was promised to be. Sir Benedict had recently lost a maid and the position needed to be filled. I took the opportunity without hesitation."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you have any regrets?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Only a handful."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Would you care to elaborate?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Sir Benedict was a fine employer. He was fair, kind, and offered plenty of vacation time to visit my sister in Scotland. It was Hugh Black that I held trepidation."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Why?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"He was a control freak. He had a god-complex. He would do these mental gymnastics to protect his own ego. I knew from very early on that he was sick."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"That didn't prevent you from starting a romantic relationship with him."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I was young. I'm sure you have your own handful of regrets from your youth, Inspector."
19.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Yes, of course. I stuck myself in far too many women who would later try to take away my badge and authority."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"See? We all make mistakes when lust fuels the mind."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Was it your choice to give away your son to your sister?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"That time is very foggy to me. I was sedated and drinking quite heavily."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you still sedate yourself?"
MRS. WHITE nods, emarbassed.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I keep my hip flask full of gin."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"I never cared for the taste of gin."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I don't drink it for the taste."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Tell me about the night of the murders."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"It was off to a bad start when John Boddy arrive with that foreign bitch."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you have a strong prejudice against foreigners?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Yes. I've seen them come and go. They only want one thing - the family money."
20.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And you believe Dr. Orchid was after the Black fortune?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Without a doubt!"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Tell me about your movements after dinner."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"To say that I was depressed would be an understatement. I couldn't get Benjamin out of my mind. I wanted so badly for him to know the truth that I am his mother."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Did you tell him?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Not until after everyone was dead and we were gathered in the ballroom."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"What happened after dinner?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Yvette was troubled. She had found the photographs of the murdered women in the secret passageway between the kitchen and the study. I tried calming her down, but everything went to hell after that conversation. I found Frau Bloom floating face first in the swimming pool."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Who did you tell?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I ran upstairs to Dr. Black's room. I told Mr. Ash. They both insisted that she must have slipped and it was an accident. But when Mr. Ash, Sergeant Gray, and Monsieur Brunette went to look, she was already gone."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And after that?"
21.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I found Madame Rose in the library. It was at that point everyone was aware Ben Black had escaped the crypts."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Were you aware that Ben Black was in the crypts and Sir Benedict was in the attic?"
MRS. WHITE looks down at the floor.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Of course you were."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I feared my own life. If I had taken the initiative to do something or warn the police..."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you genuinely think Dr. Black would have killed you?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(nodding)
"He would do anything to protect his secrets."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Do you believe he murdered Frau Bloom, Miss Dove, Yvette, and Mr. Clay?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Without a doubt! Who else would gain anything from their deaths?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And what exactly would Dr. Black gain?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I'm not going to pretend to understand the decisions of someone with a blood lust."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Mr. Clay's death strikes me as odd. All the photographs show murdered women, yet Mr. Clay was a man.
(MORE)
22.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN (CONT'D)
Is it possible that someone or several people staged the murders as a way of incriminating Dr. Black for murders of the past?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(thinking)
"I suppose it is possible."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Was the target of two servants enough to cause you and Mr. Ash to fear your own lives?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Mr. Ash and I live every day assuming it could be our last. That night was no different."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"After finding Madame Rose, you went where?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"To Dr. Black's bedroom. He was the one who sent me to find his sister. The door was locked. Colonel Mustard helped us ram it down... that's when we found Yvette hanging there. The poor girl..."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Suicide?"
MRS. WHITE shakes her head 'no'.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"It may have been set up to look that way, but I do not believe for a second that Yvette chose to end her life. She wanted to leave. She wanted to get as far away from Blackwell Grange as possible. You can ask Madame Rose, she'll confirm it."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
(nodding)
"I'll be sure to ask her."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"After Yvette, everything happened so fast. I went up to the attic to see Sir Benedict.
(MORE)
23.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE (CONT'D)
It was time he knew everything that was going on. But when I got there, Ben Black was already waiting at his fathers side."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"And that is when he attacked you and Sir Benedict shot him?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(nodding)
"Yes. After that, Sir Benedict asked me and Mr. Ash to help him down to the ballroom where he would address the others. Dr. Black was already captive in the cellar due to the reaction to Mr. Clay's death... the poor boy."
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Mrs. White, you've been extremely helpful."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"May I go?"
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Yes."
MRS. WHITE stands up and walks over to the door.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"One more thing, Mrs. White."
MRS. WHITE turns to face INSP. BROWN.
INSPECTOR WINFIELD BROWN
"Don't trust anyone. Not Sir Benedict, not Mr. Ash, not even your son."
MRS. WHITE nods with fear and sadness in her eyes.
INT. AQUATINE VISTAS - SEVENTH FLOOR HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS
MRS. WHITE exits the HOTEL ROOM and leans against the closed door, taking in several quick breaths of air to calm herself down.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY waits for her at the ELEVATOR door.
24.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Are you alright?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"No. I'm not going to be alright for a very long time."
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Did you say anything? About me and the wrench?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Of course not!"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Thank you."
MRS. WHITE does respond. She pushes the ELEVATOR's call button and waits in silence beside her estranged son.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Mom?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Not now, Benjamin. I-I just need some time to process everything that's just happened."
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"What do you mean?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"I just need to be alone for a little while."
SERGEANT GRAY remains in the HALLWAY as MRS. WHITE steps onto the ELEVATOR. She presses the button for the LOBBY level.
The doors slowly shut.
END OF EPISODE #19