A Clue Saga

INT. HOTEL o'range - cocktail lounge - near midnight
Even with the clock nearing midnight, the COCKTAIL LOUNGE of HOTEL O'RANGE is bustling with activity.
The room is full of finely dressed hotel guests and New Yorker's alike. A gramophone plays jazz music near the large marble fireplace. Leather club chairs and poker tables are set up all over the room.
A young man with curly hair stands in the corner of the room on the telephone. He is MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON, a young valet.
MR. PERSIMMON is rubbing his lips together anticipating a break in his telephone conversation.
DR. ANDREA ORCHID (voice)
(on the telephone)
"Wait until the Greenfield family has entered the building. When they are visible, you need to offer Mr. Egret a cigar. He should ask you to meet him in his room sometime later. Agree, and then call me, and tell me the room number."
(hiccups)
"Sorry, I'm a little drunk."
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"Okay. Is there anything else?"
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"No. That's all."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE walks over with a cigar in his hand.
2.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Persimmon! What are you doing?"
Mr. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
(hanging up abruptly)
"I have to go."
MR. PERSIMMON snaps around to face BARON BRONZE, trying to hide the telephone with his body as well as possible. BARON BRONZE notices the telephone, making direct eye-contact with the young valet as he speaks.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"I'm not paying you to stand around talking on the goddamn telephone all day. Go and fetch some martini's for Mr. Green and our company. We need to make a good impression."
MR. PERSIMMON nods obediently, bowing his head to BARON BRONZE. He quickly turns to make his way to the bar.‌
BARTENDER
(drying off a glass)
"What can I do for you?"
Mr. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
(motioning to Bronze)
"My boss and his friends need martinis. And make them strong so that my night is easier."
BARTENDER
(raising an eyebrow)
"What makes you think stronger drinks will make it easier?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
(shrugging)
"The drunker they get, the sooner they'll pass out. That man -- the fat one in the green pinstripes. What do you know about him?"
3.
BARTENDER
"Thallo Green. Big guy around here. Don't get on his bad side, kid. He don't got any enemy cuz they're all at the bottom of the Upper Bay."
Mr. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"What about the man next to him? Another big fella?"
BARTENDER
"That man? No. Look at the empty stare on his face. Probably his dumb muscle."
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"And the man in all the pastels?"
BARTENDER
"Never seen him before. He's certainly drawing attention to himself with his loud clothing and quiet demeanor..."
BARTENDER starts to make the drinks.
Across the room, MR. THALLO GREEN sits in a deep, low, leather club chair with flat, wide arms. MR. GUISEPPI CELADON sits in the identical chair beside him. Across from them, BARON BRONZE takes his seat next to a quiet man wearing a light-beige suit, dark yellow vest, diamond cufflinks, and a bright pink tie to match his socks. He is MR. DANTE EGRET.‌
MR. GUISEPPI CELADON
"Who are we waiting for, boss?"
MR. THALLO GREEN
(smacking Celadon's leg)
"I already told you not to ask questions."
MR. GUISEPPI CELADON
"Sorry, boss."
4.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Fret not, gentlemen! They should be here shortly."
BARON BRONZE looks over towards the doorway, anticipating the arrival of -- someone.
MR. THALLO GREEN
"When are we getting those drinks?"
MR. EGRET looks at his gold and diamond wrist watch, making sure everyone has a good view of it as he does so.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Libations will be brought shortly, I'm sure. Ah! My manservant is picking them up right now. What timing!"
BARON BRONZE turns towards the bar to see MR. PERSIMMON coming with four martinis on a tray.
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
(softly)
"Gentlemen."
MR. PERSIMMON holds the tray out in the center of the circle of leather chairs. MR. GREEN is the first to grab one. BARON BRONZE motions with his head for MR. PERSIMMON to stand nearby.
MR. THALLO GREEN
(drinking)
"Ah! There we go. Now I can relax."
MR. PERSIMMON begins to stray further away - back towards the telephone.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Stay right here, Persimmon. I feel more men present may show her we mean business."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Her? Who exactly are we dealing with?"
MR. CELADON takes a slow sip of the martini.
MR. GUISEPPI CELADON
"It's good."
5.
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Baron? I can't help but notice you didn't answer my question. Who exactly are we meeting?"
BarON MATHIEU BRONZE
"I'm sure that Mr. O'Range already told you everything you need to know."
MR. GREEN downs the liquid courage, setting the empty martini glass on the round table between the two of them.
MR. THALLO GREEN
(blatantly)
"Nope. He told me he needed his most trusted people at Hotel O'Range for a special delivery. He said I'd be retiring afterward from the amount of money in the cut."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Most trusted people? That's a laugh."
BARON BRONZE chuckles to himself as he chortles into his glass. MR. EGRET quietly drinks his martini while staring at MR. GREEN the entire time.
MR. THALLO GREEN
(shrugging)
"That's what he said."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
(still laughing)
"That's rich, Thallo."
MR. GREEN looks over at MR. CELADON uncomfortable as the doors to the COCKTAIL LOUNGE open with a loud -
CREAK
The room goes silent as a large woman, with messy, wild hair steps forward and smells the air. Despite her unkempt hair, her emerald green dress is cut from patterned silk with fur trims. She turns up her nose in disgust at the eyes of the bystanders. As soon as she spots BARON BRONZE, she stomps over to him - followed by two younger men.
BARON BRONZE stands up, takes her hand and kisses her large jade ring. She yanks her hand away, annoyed by his nonsense.
6.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Mr. Green, Mr. Celadon, Mr. Egret - this is Sarah Greenfield. The Empress of the kerosene empire."
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD takes in the faces of the gentlemen before her. She scoffs.
MR. PERSIMMON takes the immediate opportunity to present the open cigar box to MR. EGRET, who makes eye contact with him, but declines the cigar. There is a brief smirk from MR. EGRET as he turns his eyes back to MS. GREENFIELD - who is staring at them intently.
MS. GREENFIELD waits until MR. PERSIMMON has settled the cigar box. MR. PERSIMMON finds her beady eyes still fixed on him for several moments after. She slowly turns her body back and head back to BARON BRONZE.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(bothered)
"What do you want, Baron? Have you asked me to come into this filthy city to sell your last oil field? This could have been handled over the telephone."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"No, no! Ms. Greenfield, I asked you here to go over a matter of business your sons have struck up with Mr. Egret, here. What better way to settle a small dispute than to do so in person before our next shipment? A peaceful dispute resolution and some drinks to celebrate our good health?"
OTIS and DUNCAN GREENFIELD shift around uncomfortably behind their mother.
7.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
"I do not take kindly to displays of public cowardice."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
(defensively)
"No cowardice here. We only wish to settle the qualms between your boys and Mr. Egret."
MR. EGRET adjusts his tie and sets his martini glass down. He sits forward in his chair, looking up at MS. GREENFIELD from where he sits.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(commandingly)
"Stand up."
MR. EGRET looks down at the table and picks his martini back up. He drinks it until it is empty and then leans back in his leather chair.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(biting her words)
"Whatever deal my sons struck up with this fella with the pink tie - it will be handled. And will be dealt with in whatever way I see fit. That is how I've always done things and that is why everyone buys Greenfield Kerosene top dollar. You want the discount? My discount? That's understandable."
(pausing)
"But if my sons want to take that discount and push it near the market value, then maybe you need to stop and ask yourself: what am I doing wrong? Prices don't change willy-nilly. There's always a reason."
MR. EGRET clears his throat.
8.
MR. DANTE EGRET
(straight-forward)
"I don't care what you think we did wrong. That's not how this business works. We made a deal. O'Range and Jasper distribute your family's kerosene for a discount and you don't have to hire your own distribution. Your sons are price-gouging my men and I cannot have that. I will not have that."
MS. GREENFIELD moves slowly over to MR. EGRET, like a snake in the grass.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(offended)
"You cannot have that? Where are you going to get your fuel from? Baron Bronze's lone oil field? Sure, go ahead."
MS. GREENFIELD, OTIS, and DUNCAN laugh together.
DUNCAN
"Suck it dry. Use it up."
MS. GREENFIELD turns to DUNCAN and points at finger.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
"Quiet, Duncan. You speak when you're told."
DUNCAN
(lowering his head)
"Yes, ma'am."
MR. DANTE EGRET
"Ms. Greenfield, I don't know how to explain this to you. I hate repeating myself. But in order for everything to continue to operate... peacefully between us... there is going to need to be some changes. The price will stay fixed and that is non-negotiable."
MS. GREENFIELD leans forward, bringing her face very close to MR. EGRET's face. She places both hands on the arms of his chair.
9.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(speaking calmly)
"I will not stand by as you threaten me and my legacy. My plantation has stood through wars. My fields are a cornucopia of plenty. My servants have a better parlor than this room we are in. My toilet is made of gold."
MR. DANTE EGRET
"And yet your hair looks like shit."
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(lowering her voice)
"I will kill every single one of you where you stand in front of all these people, order a drink, and leave. And nothing will happen to me, because I own this country. I could have ever single person in this room killed in front of you. You're little mafia game is cute, but you aren't big boys. You're east-coast big. I have California, Texas, D.C., and New York in the palm of my hand. Politicians, movie stars, ranchers, businessmen. I may have oil fields in nine states but I do not turn up the opportunity to run a good business. Pleasure costs money. I like money. So I sell oil, cocaine, tobacco, liquor... women, workers. Do you understand who I am, Mr. Egret? Do not threaten my peace. Because I have eyes and ears everywhere. I am always watching. They call me Empress out of respect. It is not a self-claimed title."
MS. GREENFIELD stands up and places her hands over her stomach - composing herself.
BARON BRONZE holds up his hands apologetically.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Mr. Egret did not mean..."
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
"I am not speaking with you, Baron Bronze. I am speaking with Mr. Egret."
10.
MS. GREENFIELD stares at MR. EGRET intently, scanning her eyes over his watch and cufflinks.
MR. DANTE EGRET
(confidently)
"Are we finished here? Do you understand the new terms? Or do I need to prove a point to you?"
MS. GREENFIELD claps her hands together loudly.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
"Then it is settled. If you or any of your men are seen in my fields or anywhere near my plantation, I'll burn you alive with the very fuel we are fighting over. Do you understand me? We are done doing business, gentlemen. You'll get the last shipment, but after that, it is over. I did not drive across the state of New York to be treated with such disrespect in a filthy hotel."
MR. THALLO GREEN
(speaking up)
"Ms. Greenfield! What if I do business with your sons? Forget about Egret. Let me do this. I've got more experience and better manners."
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
"As charming as you are trying to be... Mr. Green, is it? Your final shipment is coming down the coast by boat. Make it last. We are finished here. Otis! Duncan! Let's go."
OTIS flips off MR. EGRET as the trio leaves the COCKTAIL LOUNGE.
MR. gUISEPPI CELADON
"At least you tried, boss."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
(flabbergasted)
"What just happened? That was a nightmare!"
11.
MR. thALLO GREEN
"How much were they even price-gauging us for? Do you know how much money you just cost us?"
MR. DANTE EGRET
"It was small increases over the past year. Had to be at least a six percent loss at this point."
MR. THALLO GREEN
(frustrated)
"Six percent or not, that wasn't your fucking choice to make."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
(overwhelmed with stress)
"My God! What are we going to do now? I can't believe you screwed this up! You foolish ass!"
DR. EGRET bursts out laughing.
MR. DANTE EGRET
"You think it's my fault?"
(continuing to laugh)
"What was it you said Mr. Green? O'Range gathered up his most trusted people? You're stupid ass was in jail. His stupid ass sold a valuable asset to the Greenfields. And I am in a now-resolved feud with them. We aren't the most trusted people. We're the screw-ups. Why else were we sent to Hotel O'Range to do the grunt work? This isn't an opportunity. It's a demotion."
MR. THALLO GREEN
(offended)
"Go fuck yourself. You're the one who lost your temper. Six percent wasn't your choice to make."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Ms. Greenfield is a neighbor of mine. It took everything to get her to meet us here. I sold her my second largest oil field in hopes to ensure our deal. I would never have given away that much if I knew it would backfire like is. Jesus Christ! I'm going to be ruined!"
12.
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Look, you need to calm down. You are making a scene and everyone in here is looking at you. Hell, they've been looking at us since that rich hill-woman showed up here. We'll figure something out."
MR. DANTE EGRET
"What is Mr. O'Range going to say?"
MR. GUISEPPI CELADON
"I'd be more concerned with what he's going to do."
MR. THALLO GREEN
(smacking Celadon)
"Hey! That's enough."
MR. GUISEPPI CELADON
"I'm being serious. I'd leave town, Egret. You know how this shit goes. I still ain't heard from my brother Giovanni."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"I'm sure he'll turn up."
MR. GUISEPPI CELADON
"You keep saying that..."
MR. EGRET stands up and faces MR. PERSIMMON. In a quick, subtle move - he shows him his hotel key. The orange numbers 121 are printed onto the leather keycard. MR. PERSIMMON nods, showing he understands.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Maybe if I move? I could buy a nice mansion in a quiet little village somewhere."
MR. DANTE EGRET
"If you'll excuse me gentlemen, it may be time for me to re-evaluate my life."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Jesus, what next? I suppose I could try and appeal to that Greenfield woman. My manners and charm may have us in luck after all."
13.
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
(moaning into his hands)
"That will never work. I'm far fancier and much more mannerly than you and I barely got her here."
MR. THALLO GREEN
(shrugging)
"Either she burns me alive or O'Range skins me alive. I gotta try something."
BARON MATHIEU BRONZE
"Persimmon! Another martini. And keep them coming."
MR. PERSIMMON glances at the phone in the corner and then to the bar across from it. BARON BRONZE's back is to him - and he is distracted with his overwhelming anxiety.
MR. PERSIMMON quickly rushes to the phone and dials a number. It rings once and someone answers.
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"It's me."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"And?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"She just left."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID (VOICE)
(on the telephone)
"Alright, what room is it?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"One-twenty-one."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"Go to his room. Listen to him and agree with whatever he says. Then call me... in the morning."
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"This better not turn into anything dangerous. I don't like all the cloak and dagger."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
"You will be fine, Joseph."
MR. PERSIMMON hears the call end. He sighs to himself and makes his way over to the bar.
14.
BARTENDER
"You're boss and his friends need more drinks?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"The business meeting went bad."
BARTENDER
"Yeah, I saw."
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"Make them extra extra strong."
EXT. ATLANtiC OCEAN - GREYSON'S SAILBOAT - MIDNIGHT
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET dries herself off with the blanket - rubbing it over her body and clothes until it is too damp to soak up anymore seawater.
MISS SCARLET looks over at GREYSON'S body as it bobs up and down in the water, sinking under the surface and floating back up in the gentle waves.
MISS SCARLET begins to frantically search around the small sail boat. She opens a first aid box underneath the bench. She searches around inside hastily.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"There has to be a flare gun."
MISS SCARLET looks in the box of candles for any other supplies. All she can find: six white candles, a lighter, and a pack of cigarettes.
MISS SCARLET sits down, defeated and looks over at the motorsail's engine at the stern bench. She grabs the handle of the manual rudder and looks towards the direction of the beach.
MISS SCARLET takes the recoil cable in her hand and pulls to start the motor. It sputters and slowly stops. She screams in frustration.
15.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(taking a couple breaths)
"Come on!"
MISS SCARLET grabs the recoil cable again with both of her hands and yanks hard to start the motor. It sputters and slowly begins.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Thank God!"
MISS SCARLET grabs the rudder and steers back towards the shore.
She keeps glancing back at GREYSON's body until he is out of sight.
MISS SCARLET presses her lips firmly together, shivering from the wind on her damp clothes as the sailboat courses towards the SUN HAVEN MARINA.
EXT. ATLANTIC OCEAN - SUN HAVEN MARINA - TEN MINUtES LATER
MISS SCARLET watches as the small tug boat approaches. It's captain blows it's horn. MISS SCARLET cannot figure out how to slow down the sailboat.
The tug boat blows it's horn rapidly. CREW can be heard shouting from on board.
TUG CREW MAN 1
"Slow down!"
TUG CREW MAN 2
"You're going to crash!"
MISS SCARLET angles the rudder towards the sandy shore and braces herself against the sail's pole.
The sailboat hits the wet sand loudly, slowing to a stop. The waves continue to crash the shore, splashing against the sailboat's stern.
The propellers kick up wet sand, vegetation, and seafoam for a few moments before giving out. Smoke begins to billow from the engine.
MISS SCARLET sits up in the sailboat and stumbles out onto the sand. She trips in her heels and falls to her knees.
By this time, the TUG CAPTAIN has docked the tug boat and is rushing down the dock towards the stairs to the beach.
16.
TUG CAPTAIN
"Are you crazy? You could have gotten yourself killed!"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(through tears)
"He's out there!"
TUG CAPTAIN
"What? What are you talking about?"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"The man I was with. He fell overboard. He had a seizure or something... I-I don't know. He's still out there!"
The TUG CAPTAIN helps her to her feet as more CREW come around.
TUG CAPTAIN
"Get back out there, men! Her man fell overboard!"
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"We road just a little out. Ten minutes or so."
TUG CREW MAN 3
"We saw where you were coming back from."
TUG CAPTAIN
(ordering)
"Get on it, men! Now!"
(to Miss Scarlet)
"It's going to be okay, Miss. Let's get you inside the hotel."
MISS SCARLET looks up at the large structure of Aquatine Vistas before them.
INT. BLACKwell grange - master bedroom - continuous
MR. REGINALD ASH is unzipping a pillow on the large canopy bed. He sticks his hand inside the goose feathers and searches around. His disappointed face tells it all, as he throws the pillow on the bed. Several goose feathers scatter out. The drawers, wardrobes, writing desk, and bureaus are all opened or partially opened.
17.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"It's not in here."
MR. ASH plops down at the head of the bed, leaning his back against the headboard.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I suppose it's time to clean this up."
As MR. ASH leans forward, he bumps the back of his head against a decorative carved panel. As he stands up he notices the the part of the headboard his head hit is sticking out a bit.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I'll be goddamned!"
MR. ASH pulls out the secret drawer in the headboard. Sure enough - a small black book sits in the space.
MR. ASH takes the black book with trembling hands and walks over to the MASTER BEDROOM double doors. He locks them, taking steadying breathes the whole time. MR. ASH pulls over a decorative Edwardian chair. He places it in front of the door. He sits down in the chair and opens the black book.
MR. ASH's eyes scan the first page with curiosity. It is a list of names with an amount of money beside them. Several names on the list stand out to MR. ASH:
Sir Henry Peach - $2,000/month
Pratton Police Dept. - $1,000/month
Mrs. Angela Plum - $10,000/month
Senator Marcus Peacock - $20,000/quarterly
Dr. Heather Mustard - $5,000/year
Monsieur Alphonse Brunette - $50,000/year
Mr. Miles Meadow-Brook - $30,000/year
18.
MR. ASH turns the next few pages and begins to scan the named entries of many people he knows. He gets to his own page. He takes in every word.
REGINALD ASH
My loyal butler. His loyalty will be his own end. He dedicates himself to anyone who sits behind the desk in the Study. Any time I get overwhelmed with the anxiety of getting caught and being asked to face my crimes I always remember that every man has a loyal right hand man that will fall for him. That man is Ash. Even after I did nothing to bring back his wife, he serves me. He licked his wounds for a good useless while, but aside from that he is nothing but astute. Pure in heart, stupid in the mind. I think he is too naïve and innocent for his own good. I'd find something on him from his past if there was anything to find. But his past is as dull and boring as his future here. He will never be and issue for me. He will never start asking questions about Mabel, and I will never have to answer to them. I always win in the end.
MR. ASH closes the black book and puts it inside his coat's inside breast pocket. He slowly begins to straighten up the drawers as he closes them. He opens the French doors leading to the TERRACE and lets the curtains blow in the midnight breeze as he stuffs the goose feathers back into the pillows.
He walks out onto the TERRACE and looks up at the night sky. His hands are trembling and his legs are shaky. He steadies himself on the concrete railing. He looks over the LAKE, shaking his head in disgust at the life he has accepted.
MR. ASH swiftly climbs over the railing and looks out over the lawn below. He closes his eyes and lets go. He falls to the ground quickly.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - KITCHEN - SEVENTEEN MINUTES LATER
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE places a bag of ice on MR. ASH's wrapped foot. He winces in pain as the coldness makes it's way through the bandage wraps.
19.
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"You are lucky I was in the Conservatory. I was half a minute away from retiring for bed. What the hell were you thinking, Reggie? I've had too much moonshine to deal with your clumsiness."
MRS. WHITE lets out a drunken hiccup.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I suppose I was leaning over the edge too far?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"What where you doing in the Master Bedroom?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Just making sure the police didn't mess up any of the clothing. We'll have to run it down to Alabaster's."
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
"Dr. Black wouldn't want his good clothing going to a junk store."
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Well, he isn't alive to say otherwise, is he?"
MRS. BLANCHE WHITE
(narrowing her eyes)
"Are you alright Reggie?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
(quietly)
"I'm fine. You should go to sleep. You're head is going to be killing you in the morning and these people still expect eggs and toast. I'll make my way to bed on my own."
MRS. WHITE sighs and exits the KITCHEN through the back door.
MR. ASH feels for the black book in his chest pocket. His heart rate plummets as he realizes it must have fallen out when he jumped or when MRS. WHITE helped him back to the KITCHEN.
20.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - LIBRARY - CONTINUOUS
MASTER JOHN BODDY and MISS ADELAIDE GRAY are kissing passionately on the chaise lounge. MISS GRAY slides down on her back, pulling him on top of her.
MISS ADELAIDE GRAY
"I've always wanted to try it on a fancy sofa like this."
MASTER BODDY smirks as he begins to unbuckle his belt.
The LIBRARY doors suddenly unlock. SIR BENEDICT and LORD ALFRED GRAY enter the room, turning on the light switch. MISS GRAY sits up and adjusts her dress. MASTER BODDY quickly covers his unbuckled belt with both of his hands.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
(casually)
"... and here is the Library."
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"This is the only room that has stayed the same."
LORD GRAY runs his hands along the beautiful wooden walls and built-in bookcases.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"John, I take it that you and Miss Gray have nearly concluded your tour of Blackwell Grange?"
21.
MISS ADELAIDE GRAY
"Your portrait in the hall, Sir Benedict, if I may be so forward as to say: you are the most handsome of the men on that wall."
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"Addy, if you'll give Sir Benedict and I some time with Master John. Strictly business talk, you understand, don't you pumpkin?"
MISS GRAY stands up, politely shaking SIR BENEDICT's hand.
MISS ADELAIDE GRAY
"Of course, daddy."
MISS GRAY gives LORD GRAY a peck on the cheek on her way out of the LIBRARY.
SIR BENEDICT sits down in the high back armchair, leaning forward onto his cane.
MASTER BODDY turns his back to LORD GRAY and SIR BENEDICT as he fixes his belt buckle and starts the gramophone.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"So? What's all this about?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"Turn that noise off."
SIR BENEDICT motions to the gramophone.
As quickly as MASTER BODDY started the song, it is stopped.
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"We need to talk about BGP."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"You really did want to talk about business. I thought that was an excuse to get the girl out of the room."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"It is time to discuss leadership qualities and what makes a good company president. With the current state of Black-Gray Pharmaceuticals, how would you handle the situation under your control?"
22.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"It's a dying company. It doesn't carry the same weight to it's name as it did twenty or thirty years ago. I brought it up at school in London and no one has heard of us."
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"Then what would you do to remedy that?"
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"We need to sell it before we take a greater loss."
SIR BENEDICT bangs his cane against the floor in anger.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
(shouting angrily)
"Sell it! Are you mad?"
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"I just think the medical industry hasn't brought us a lot of luck. There are plenty of other things to invest in. Kerosene, politics, the arts..."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"The medical industry has brought us money. There are a long list of doctors in our family."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
(shrugging)
"I can count two or three."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"Our fortune was made off of the hospitals we opened. The research we do."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Do we still do research?"
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"There haven't been as many opportunities due to certain... set backs."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"He is politely referring to my confinement and the research money going to the Crypt."
23.
MAsTER JOHN BODDY
"So it's true. Uncle Hugh was bankrupting the family on some Frankenstein vanity project?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"The wastefulness of Hugh exceeded every generation before him - and I owned four yachts at one point."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"So it sounds to me like a pattern of wastefulness and misuse of company money has brought us to the point where selling is the only option."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"I don't think you understand, John. We are NOT letting go of this legacy."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Then why are you asking me for my opinion if you aren't going to let me actually make my own choices?"
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"Because very soon there is going to be a war. People from far and wide are going to claim that this mansion, the money, BGP, and every other asset is rightfully theirs by birth."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"All because Hugh couldn't settle down and give us a proper heir to end the damn argument."
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"Careful, Benedict. One could argue that your bastard could claim he is the firstborn."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"Victor is in jail. We have nothing to worry about there."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"So I'm your best puppet? You want me to run things so you can run it the way you want through me?"
24.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"John, that's how the family business works. You don't get to play it your way until you are the patriarch of the family."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Then run it your damn self."
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"There are legal issues regarding declaring me alive. It could be held up in courts for years."
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"You and my daughter... While I don't full-heartedly approve, I am willing to allow it and even show you the respect of a son if you wed her. In exchange for cooperation in handling BGP."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Jesus Christ, now you are trying to arrange my marriage."
MASTER BODDY walks over to the LIBRARY door.
LORD GRAY intervenes, placing a hand firmly on his chest. He stops MASTER BODDY in his place.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Get off of me!"
MASTER BODDY pushes LORD GRAY's hand off of him. LORD GRAY sighs and turns to SIR BENEDICT.
LORD ALFRED GRAY
"Benedict?"
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
(nodding grimly)
"Go ahead."
LORD GRAY smacks MASTER BODDY firmly across the face with the back of his hand. He takes both hands and puts them around the seventeen-year-old's throat. He begins to squeeze his hands.
MASTER BODDY's kicks and punches at LORD GRAY's chest to no avail. His face begins to turn purple.
25.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
(calmly)
"Let him breathe."
LORD GRAY releases his strangling grip.
MASTER BODDY backs away from LORD GRAY towards the LIBRARY windows, gasping and holding his neck.
SIR BENEDICT BLACK
"You are going to do everything we say. You are going to be the heir you were born to be. You are going to help us bring back BGP. And if you stray off the path that I have planned out for you - you will die. Understand something, John. We all die. If you are alive right now, conscious and breathing that means you will experience your own death through your own eyes. You will see every second of it. But you will not know it's coming. You won't know the last time you go to sleep, or eat, or take your last shit. But death is coming. So embrace it. Make your life count. That is why we are going to make you build and expand my legacy and make it your own. Do you understand me?"
JOHN BODDY looks at his grandfather with terrified eyes.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
(hesitantly)
"Y-Yes."
INT. SLATE-GREY HOME - LIVING ROOM - 2AM
MR. GRAHAM SLATE-GREY and MRS. CHRISTA SLATE-GREY enter the living room, exhausting and half-asleep to see JAKE SLATE-GREY sitting on the sofa next to MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK.
26.
MRS. CHRISTA SLATE-GREY
"What's wrong? Are you okay, Malcolm?"
JAKE puts his hand on MALCOLM's shoulder encouragingly.
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"You two have been so kind to me all this time... I just.."
MALCOLM closes his eyes. MRS. SLATE-GREY sits down on the other side of him. MR. SLATE-GREY comes near to JAKE.
MR. GRAHAM SLATE-GREY
"You can tell us anything."
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"I know. You are the only ones Jake and I feel like we can be ourselves around... but there are problems at my parents."
MRS. CHRISTA SLATE-GREY
"Some people are not as accepting as others. It takes time, and sometimes that isn't enough."
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"No, it's not that. It's my sister."
MR. GRAHAM SLATE-GREY
"Jessica? What's wrong with your sister?"
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"No, not Jessica."
MALCOLM lowers his head into his hands.
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"My mom would kill me if I told you... I..."
JAKE SLATE-GREY
"It's okay, Malcolm. Just tell them. You told me."
MALCOLM nods his head, closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath.
27.
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"I have another sister. She's deformed and my parents keep her locked in the attic."
MR. SLATE-GREY looks out the window across the street.
MR. GRAHAM SLATE-GREY
"She's up there? Right now?"
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"All the time..."
MRS. CHRISTA SLATE-GREY
(concerned)
"Oh, Graham! What do we do?"
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"We can't do anything. If my parents found out, they'd..."
MR. GRAHAM SLATE-GREY
"Calm down, everyone. We need to talk about this. Okay, Malcolm. I need you to tell me everything."
MALCOLM MEADOW-BROOK
"Everything?"
MR. GRAHAM SLATE-GREY
"Everything you can remember since the beginning."
INT. HOTEL O'RANGE - HOTEL ROOM #121 - CONTINUOUS
MR. EGRET opens the door a tiny bit to see MR. PERSIMMON standing outside the door.
MR. DANTE EGRET
"Were you followed?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"No."
28.
MR. EGRET lets MR. PERSIMMON into the entryway of the HOTEL ROOM but doesn't allow him to move into the room or see past him.
MR. DANTE EGRET
"You ready, kid?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"Ready?"
MR. DANTE EGRET
"Once you step foot in this room, you are either one of us, or you are another body in the Upper Bay. You follow me?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
(swallows hard)
"I'm in."
MR. EGRET narrows his eyes, bringing his face close to the boy.
MR. DANTE EGRET
"You sure about that? How loyal are you to that oil baron?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"He has been ordering me around since I was fifteen. I'm ready for something bigger than slippers and brandy."
MR. DANTE EGRET
(smiling)
"We definitely have something bigger."
MR. EGRET pats MR. PERSIMMON on the shoulder and leads him from the entryway into the sitting area of the HOTEL ROOM.
MR. PERSIMMON looks around the room with a furrowed brow.‌
29.
MS. GREENFIELD sits in an armchair smoking a cigarette from a long cigarette holder. MR. IGOR O'RANGE cracks his knuckles on the sofa. MRS. ROXANNE OLIVE pours a glass of champagne and offers it to MR. PERSIMMON.
MRS. ROXANNE OLIVE
"Have a seat, sweetie. We have a lot to talk about."
MR. PERSIMMON sits down in the chair obviously isolated and meant for him. He takes the champagne from MRS. OLIVE.
MS. SARAH GREENFIELD
(calling out)
"Otis, Duncan!"
OTIS and DUNCAN GREENFIELD come from the side room with a dark green bag. They drop it on the coffee table in front of MR. O'RANGE.
MR. IGOR O'RANGE
(casually)
"$50,000 in the bag. You want it?"
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"What do I have to do?"
MR. O'RANGE cringes and makes a face, looking over to MS. GREENFIELD who is making a similar expression.
MR. O'RANGE reaches into the dark green bag and pulls out a stack of bills.
MR. IGOR O'RANGE
"Okay. There is $40,000 in the bag. Questions cost $10,000. But since you asked and payed for an answer, you will get one. Mrs. Olive, care to fill the boy in?"
MRS. ROXANNE OLIVE
"All you need to do, is keep tabs on Baron Bronze and Mr. Green. We need to know who they are talking to, what they are talking about, and what they are planning."
MR. DANTE EGRET
"I can only do so much from the inside. It's only a matter of time before Green or Bronze figure out that fight was staged."
30.
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"If I may speak freely?"
MS. GREENFIELD motions for him to speak.
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"I don't think you have to worry about either of them outsmarting you."
MR. IGOR O'RANGE
"You? Or us?"
MR. PERSIMMON eyes the bag of money before speaking.
MR. JOSEPH PERSIMMON
"Us."
MR. IGOR O'RANGE
"Then we got ourselves a deal. And you got yourself $40,000. Don't spend it all on prostitutes."
MR. EGRET grabs the dark green bag of money and tosses it at MR. PERSIMMON's feet.
MRS. OLIVE pours herself a glass of champagne and clinks her glass against MR. PERSIMMON's.
END OF EPISODE #31