A Clue Saga

EXT. Blackwell grange - GATE HOUSE - late evening
BEN BLACK hides in the shadows of the small structure. He is dripping wet from the steadily falling rain outside. His face is suddenly illuminated by headlights as a royal blue limousine as it pulls through the front gates.
BEN BLACK quickly crouches down and hides beneath the gatekeeper's desk. The crunching of gravel beneath the tires of the limousine becomes quieter and quieter as it approaches the front of the manor-house.
EXT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - COURTYARD - continuous
A chauffeur gets out of the driver's seat of the limousine and hurries to the back door.
He opens it and offers a hand to assist MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK as she steps out.
A large, blue and teal umbrella opens in MRS. PEACOCK's right hand. She takes a few steps away from the limousine and stops, staring up at BLACKWELL GRANGE in it's entirety. Thunder rumbles in the distance.
MR. EDWARD CLAY opens a bright red umbrella as he steps out of the car, MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET right behind him.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(choking up)
"It's taller than I remembered..."
2.
MR. EDWARD CLAY
"Let's get inside."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Driver, bring our bags to the front porch. The butler will pay you for your troubles."
The chauffeur nods and opens the trunk.
MRS. PEACOCK leads the small trio up the front steps of BLACKWELL GRANGE. She reaches forward and pulls the doorbell chain with a slightly trembling hand.
Almost immediately, MR. REGINALD ASH pulls open the front door.
MR. REGINALD ASH
(smiling)
"Mrs. Peacock, so nice of you to show up. Welcome to Blackwell Grange."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(very nervously)
"Yes, well, I figured I might as well show up to one of these things eventually. I... I suppose a weekend retreat is the proper way to rip the bandage off and dive straight on into the water."
The driver approaches the front door with two suitcases. He nods to MR. ASH and promptly returns to the trunk for more.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Allow me to take those umbrellas and wet wraps. You will be staying on the west wing of the mansion with the rest of the guests. We've already lit the west wing's furnace in the event that this thunderstorm gives us a chilly night."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Oh? It was rather humid on the train?"
MR. REGINALD ASH
"It's more so a precaution to eliminate the use of fireplaces."
(whispering)
(MORE)
3.
MR. REGINALD ASH (CONT'D)
"Some of the fireplaces aren't exactly up to code."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(chuckling)
"We don't want this place going up in flames."
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Mrs. Peacock, please, step out of the rain."
MRS. PEACOCK takes a deep breath before stepping through the threshold.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - HALL - CONTINUOUS
MRS. PEACOCK exhales as she steps inside the HALL. She slowly takes in her next breath -- breathing in the smell of the mansion she once called home. The scent takes her back to her youth. She looks around at the ancestral paintings and wood moldings that have never changed.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(softly; to herself)
"It's exactly as I remember it."
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(loudly)
"Jesus Christ! Look at this place! Vivienne, look at those heads!"
MR. CLAY points to the mid-section of the HALL which is decorated with animal heads and hunting trophies.
MISS SCARLET is quickly drawn in by the luxury and wealth poured into the first room of BLACKWELL GRANGE. She moves around, away from MRS. PEACOCK and MR. CLAY. She looks around at the three sections of the HALL: the entry foyer, the trophy room, and the back art gallery. She begins to peek between the giant red curtains between the two sweeping staircases but feels a white, gloved hand on her shoulder.
MISS SCARLET spins around quickly in shock.
MR. REGINALD ASH
(clearing his throat)
"I will be more than happy to show you around after dinner. The ballroom is quite menacing and dark if the chandeliers aren't on."
4.
MR. ASH pulls back the red curtains before MISS SCARLET to reveal a hollow, empty, black void.
MR. REGINALD ASH
(pointing up)
"The light switch for the ballroom is on the second floor balcony. Heavens knows why."
MISS SCARLET is lead by MR. ASH over to the front of the HALL wear MRS. PEACOCK and MR. CLAY have gathered the suitcases from the chauffeur.
MRS. PEACOCK takes off the light blue wrap over her feather-laden gown and holds it out for MR. ASH to take. MR. ASH takes the wrap to the small cloakroom beside the front door. Opposite to the cloakroom, MR. CLAY snoops to discover a TOILET.
MR. REGINALD ASH
(clearing his throat)
"A tour, after dinner, will surely need to be in order. You are a curious bunch."
MRS. PEACOCK smacks MR. CLAY on the arm. MISS SCARLET steps between them, glaring at MRS. PEACOCK while taking MR. CLAY's arm.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"There is a reception of champagne, fruits, and cheeses in the lounge. If you three will please follow me."
MISS SCARLET and MR. CLAY are still caught up with the HALL around them as they follow MR. ASH and MRS. PEACOCK the short few steps from the front door to the LOUNGE.
MR. ASH opens the LOUNGE doors for the trio.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - LOUNGE - CONTINUOUS
MRS. PEACOCK, MR. CLAY, and MISS SCARLET enter the LOUNGE and are met by the curious and eager eyes of COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD, MR. THALLO GREEN, and MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE.
MR. THALLO GREEN
"Oh! Looks like the party is starting."
5.
MonSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
(gasping in genuine shock)
"Patricia? You actually came?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(drunk; excited)
"There she is!"
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Michael, it has been so long!"
COL. MUSTARD and MRS. PEACOCK hug with excitement.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(holding her tightly)
"I'm so happy you've finally let bygones be bygones and returned."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(pulling back politely)
"Well, it hasn't been easy."
MR. ASH clears his throat.
Mr. REGINALD ASH
"May I introduce, Miss Scarlet and her muse, Mr. Clay."
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY, MADAME ROSE BLACK, and NURSE AVA SILVER look up from the bridge table where their game is taking place.
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"Hello."
NURSE AVA SILVER
"Welcome to Blackwell Grange."
Mr. Edward clay
(meekly)
"Thank you."
MADAME ROSE BLACK
(turning to Miss Scarlet)
"I've heard so much about you, child."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(smiling; flattered)
"Me? Oh, I haven't had a glowing review in a year or two."
6.
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"No, no. Not of your singing hobby, my dear. I used to know your mother quite well."
MISS SCARLET looks over at MRS. PEACOCK with spite.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(taking offense)
"My mother? My mother passed away when I was young. Patricia is not my mother."
MME ROSE holds up her palm.
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"I didn't mean to upset you. I can see I have. But I was, in fact referring to Josephine."
MISS SCARLET is shocked. She reaches for MR. CLAY's arm for support.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"You knew my mother?"
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"She used to come to me for readings. Back when she was a vaudeville dancer."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(explaining)
"Madame Rose is a bit of a psychic. She's been touched with the gift of sight."
MISS SCARLET ignores MRS. PEACOCK, hushing her with her hands and focusing solely on MME ROSE.
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"I had a vision that your mother would become pregnant. She came to me for guidance about you and who you would grow up to be. She knew she would die young. She was happy though, she knew she set you forward on the right path with your father's mind in the best place."
7.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(smiling)
"I had no idea my mother believed in that sort of stuff... What else can you tell me about her?"
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"She was a very bright, lively woman. Always chatty and cheerful. Your father was the only one who could ground her desire for chasing after worldly pleasures. She would have danced from Vegas to France if given a chance."
MISS SCARLET sits down next to MME ROSE on the sofa. MR. CLAY lingers around the sofa listening.
M. BRUNETTE, in the meantime, has made is way directly beside MRS. PEACOCK.
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
(admiring her dress)
"You look absolutely radiant."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(modestly)
"Oh, this old thing? I haven't given it a thought in years. The Senator got it for me on our third anniversary."
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"He was a wonderful man, Senator Peacock. It was a tragic shame that he died."
MRS. PEACOCK glares at M. BRUNETTE with fire in her eyes.
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"He was the best man I ever met."
MRS. PEACOCK quickly walks away from M. BRUNETTE, past MR. CLAY, towards COL. MUSTARD and NURSE SILVER.
COL. MUSTARD and NURSE SILVER are talking in hushed voices.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Where the hell is Plum? He's going to miss dinner. I heard there would be steak."
8.
NURSE AVA SILVER
(ignoring the question)
"I heard there would be lobster."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"What about Yvette? That girl is suppose to be pouring us champagne. I haven't seen her either."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Yvette? Is she new on the staff?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
(growling lustfully)
"A sexy little french maid."
NURSE AVA SILVER
"She was Dr. Black's ward since she was young. Mrs. White and Mr. Ash raised her to be a parlor maid her."
MR. ASH approaches the trio from the doorway where he waits for the doorbell.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I apologize for our maid's inattentiveness to time. Allow me to serve the drinks..."
The doorbell chimes, interrupting him.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"On second thought, I'll get the doors and figure out where Yvette has gone off to. Monsieur Brunette, would you do the honors of pouring the bubbly."
M. BRUNETTE picks up a bottle of champagne.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Shall we make a toast?"
SERGEANT BENJAMIN GRAY
"We should wait until the new arrivals get here."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"Who else are we expecting? This isn't going to be one of those complicated dinners with the mayor, a noble lord, and a foreign royal, is it?"
9.
MR, ASH returns to the Lounge with DR. WALTER RAVEN and MISS OLIVIA RAVEN.
MR. REGINALD ASH
(announcing)
"The Ravens have arrived."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
(laughing)
"Oh, what fun! You're both balding terribly."
MISS RAVEN shakes her head and steps out into the HALL, pulling her father with her.
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"Now, darling. We talked about this in the limousine, remember. Put on a happy face till I talk to Hugh."
MR. EDWARD CLAY
"Really, Patricia? You lecture us for weeks and weeks about the proper etiquette for Blackwell Grange and the first thing you do is scold the Frenchman and make the bald girl cry?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"Alphonse, pour the bubbly faster. I'm having a better time than everyone else in the room again."
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - DINING ROOM - CONTINUOUS
DR. HUGH BLACK takes a seat at the head of the table. His breath is strong of brandy. His eyes are narrow and his body is tingling and warm. He is relaxed at the head of the table, king of his castle.
MISS BRENDA DOVE sits down in the seat to his right. She does not look at him and she does not speak to him. FIVEL slowly sits down beside her.
FIVEL
"When are the guests going to come in, mother?"
10.
MISS BRENDA DOVE
(softly; nearly whispering)
"I'm not sure, love."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"When Frau Bloom informs us that she is ready, I will give her permission to ring the gong. The guests will be led into the room, where they will see us - the Black family, sitting at our family's prized table."
MISS BRENDA DOVE
(pointing)
"There isn't a place setting at the other end of the table."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"It will always be left empty. In honor of my father, who many of these guests knew personally."
MISS DOVE does not respond, she instead fingers with the edge of the tablecloth. FIVEL kicks his legs back and forth in his chair out of boredom.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Your future rides on this dinner."
MISS DOVE feels her temples grow hot.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"If my guests are not completely enthralled by your warm, loving personality, I will be announcing the end of our engagement, relationship, and your residence at Blackwell Grange. Do you understand me."
FIVEL swallows hard as his heart begins to race. The sternness and harshness in DR. BLACK's voice is foreign to him.
MISS BRENDA DOVE
(bitterly; sarcastically)
"What am I to say? Shall we work on a script?"
DR. BLACK firmly and swiftly slaps her across the face with the back of his hand.
FIVEL jumps in fright. MISS DOVE touches her face in shock.
11.
FRAU OLGA BLOOM opens the KITCHEN's adjacent door. Her stance and demeanor make it evident she has heard what just happened.
FRAU OLGA BLOOM
"Dinner is ready."
DR. BLACK does not take his eyes off of MISS DOVE, yet talks to FRAU BLOOM.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Ring the gong. Prepare to bring out the first course."
FRAU BLOOM nods and curtsies as she hurries out to the HALL. Her face is flushed and clearly upset.
DR. BLACK leans close to MISS DOVE.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Are you ready to behave and put on a happy face? Or are you going to kiss all of this good bye."
DR. BLACK motions to the large dining room and feasting table.
The loud, angry, ugly sound of the gong being struck is heard from the hall.
MISS BRENDA DOVE
(calmly; composed)
"I am sorry for my attitude. I don't know what has come over me. I've had very bad migraines. I should drink more water... I'll gladly share your bed tonight..."
DR. BLACK does not smile, he does not nod, he gives no indication that she has even spoken to him. He just stares at her.
The DINING ROOM doors open and the sound of the LOUNGE's laughter can be heard spilling in from the HALL.
COL. MUSTARD, MRS. PEACOCK, and M. BRUNETTE are the first to enter, holding their champagne glasses tightly.
Their faces are giddy, with raised eyebrows, and condescending glances towards-
12.
DR. RAVEN sulks into the dining room without much presence. MISS RAVEN avoids eye contact with anyone who turns to face her. She feels the heat of eyes burning on the sides of her face, but the flames do not test her.
MISS SCARLET and MR. CLAY enter with their arms locked together. MISS SCARLET's jaw is trembling through a forced smile. MR. CLAY is breathing unusually quickly.
At the back of the line, NURSE SILVER, MR. GREEN, SGT. GRAY, and MME ROSE chatter quietly together.
DR. BLACK watches with rising excitement as each guest takes a seat at their assigned places.
COL. MUSTARD, MISS SCARLET, MR. CLAY, MRS. PEACOCK, M. BRUNETTE, MR. GREEN, and MISS RAVEN sit down to DR. BLACK'S left.
MISS DOVE, FIVEL, NURSE SILVER, PROF. PLUM, MME ROSE, SGT. GRAY, and DR. RAVEN sit down to DR. BLACK's right.‌
DR. HUGH BLACK
(warmly)
"Welcome."
There is a polite murmur of hellos.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"This beautiful blond vixen beside me..."
(pause)
"... is the love of my life."
MRS. PEACOCK's eyes find MISS RAVEN's staring down at the empty place before her seat. MISS RAVEN's jaw is tight and she appears to be snarling.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"And this..."
(motioning to Fivel)
"... is my beautiful stepson-to-be, Fivel. He has a strong interest in books and the arts. I know he'll make a fine addition to the great line of Black's that have ruled this home."
13.
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"So does that mean John is out of the inheritance?"
DR. HUGH BLACK
(laughing)
"We really don't need to get into all of that."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"It was a pretty big deal when your father left you with Blackwell Grange. You do not have any blood-heirs and still do not. Blackwell Grange goes to your sister's child."
DR. HUGH BLACK
(laughing)
"Ha! Ha! Michael, I'd really rather you not ruin another meal with details, questions, and nonsense. Mr. Meadow-Brook and I have everything worked out in the best interest of my family and Blackwell Grange."
MR. GREEN and M. BRUNETTE share a look of curiosity.
MR. THALLO GREEN
(clearing his throat)
"I'd like to make a small announcement, if I may?"
DR. HUGH BLACK
(relieved)
"Everyone, please turn your attention to Mr. Green. He's the wonderful man who has stocked Blackwell Grange with the finest liquor, cigars, cheeses, and meats."
MR. THALLO GREEN
"I get around a lot, I make a lot of friends in a lot of places. People like me. People love me. So I love them back. Enjoy it all. Waste is a word the poor use when their jealous nostrils smell our feast. Tonight, we eat like it is the last meal of our lives!"
14.
FRAU BLOOM and MRS. BLANCHE WHITE enter the room with two rolling service carts. They begin to hand out salad bowls.
MR. ASH enters the room and shakes his head 'no' at MRS. WHITE, who shrugs in annoyance.
MR. ASH sighs and comes around to DR. BLACK's side.
MR. REGINALD ASH
"Yvette and Professor Plum are no where to be found."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Take care of it, I'll do the wine."
MR. REGINALD ASH
"I am so sorry, sir, when I find that girl..."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Just hurry, Reggie."
MR. ASH scurries out of the dining room.
DR. BLACK stands up and takes the large bottle of red wine from the sideboard.
DR. HUGH BLACK
(joking)
"I haven't poured my own wine in a very long time."
DR. BLACK jokingly spills some wine onto the marble floor.
15.
MRS. WHITE puts her hands on her hips in anger at his show of wastefulness.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Who would like red wine?"
MRS. PEACOCK and MISS RAVEN are the first to raise their hands. MISS DOVE notices and keeps her hand down, biting her lip gently.
DR. BLACK walks over to MISS RAVEN and fills her glass.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Dr. Raven, will you be having any?"
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"I've always preferred white wine."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"I'll open that one next, don't you worry."
DR. WALTER RAVEN
"Very good!"
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Oh, and Dr. Raven, meet me in the library after dinner. Alone. I need to talk about a future business arrangement."
MISS RAVEN is annoyed that DR. BLACK has not acknowledged her or made eye contact with her.
DR. WALTER RAVEN
(chortling)
"As long as we settle our long-standing financial arrangement, we can discuss whatever the hell you would like for as long as you would like."
DR. BLACK approaches MRS. PEACOCK.
MRS. PEACOCK's heart skips a beat, she doesn't know whether to turn away and pretend to be chatting with the person beside her, or not. Her eyes dart around quickly trying to not notice the man nearing her with each step.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"I am delighted that all three of you could make it. Especially you!"
16.
DR. BLACK points to MR. CLAY.
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(laughing)
"Me? Why me?"
DR. HUGH BLACK
"It has been too long since Blackwell Grange has had a proper live-in tennis coach."
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(blushing; stammering)
"Oh, come now. You haven't even seen me play."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"It may seem like complete nepotism, and that is because it is - you are already hired as far as I'm concerned. If Senator Peacock hired you, then you are more than qualified."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"You were close with Marcus?"
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Senator Peacock and I go all the way back to college. In fact... I hope this doesn't come off as odd, but he actually met your father once."
MISS SCARLET is shocked.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"My mother knew your sister and my father knew you?"
DR. HUGH BLACK
"I was much closer with the Senator Peacock than I ever was with your father. We were acquaintances. He was well-known and frequently talked about. All great things, of course."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"I suppose I never knew much about my parent's friends and their pasts... other than the fact that she was a performer and he was a doctor."
17.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"You've lived a rough, complicated life, Vivienne. You haven't had the luxury to sit back and think about the fine details of your life."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"It's true, Vivienne and I have been through a handful of trials and turmoil. But I've recently learned that on the other side, once the wounds have scarred, perspectives can grow, thrive, and change."
MISS OLIVIA RAVEN
(snidely)
"But not always for the better?"
MISS SCARLET's eyes well up with tears. She stands up from the table.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"Will you excuse me for a moment?"
MR. CLAY stands up and follow after her.
DR. HUGH BLACK
(sighing)
"I'm sorry. I suppose I was the one to ruin dinner with comments and nonsense."
COL. MUSTARD holds out his empty glass. DR. BLACK smiles and fills it with red wine.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"My good friend, Michael, here."
(laughing)
"He's more like a brother to me than any friend I've ever had. We grew up together. When we were little, every Christmas we would gather around the tree and pile up our presents. My father always made sure Michael had the same amount as everyone else."
MISS DOVE perks up and listens.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"My father was always fair. When I was gifted a revolver, Michael was given a shotgun.
(MORE)
18.
DR. HUGH BLACK (CONT'D)
When my father gave me the yacht, he gave Michael the hunting lodge. We were... we are brothers. And like brothers we fight, but at the end of the day. This man is as much family as Rose and Victor are."
COL. MUSTARD raises his glass with a huge smile and drinks.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Speaking of Victor, has anyone seen my half-brother?"
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"We played billiards earlier. He said he had something to do. That's the last I'd seen him."
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Nurse Silver?"
NURSE AVA SILVER
(shaking her head)
"I only talked to him briefly in passing. That was around noon."
COLONEL MICHAEL MUSTARD
"We played billiards late in the afternoon."
NURSE SILVER shrugs with a sigh.
DR. BLACK opens up the white wine.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"That just means there is more wine for us to drink. Victor likes both red and white."
EVERYONE laughs politely.
INT. BlacKWELL GRANGE - HALL - ConTINUOUS
MISS SCARLET is standing in the back of the hall near the conservatory and ballroom doors.
MR. CLAY walks over to where she is standing and hugs her from behind.
19.
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(softly)
"It's going to be okay."
MISS SCARLET pushes herself off of him. Tears are streaming down her face.
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(sniffling)
"That man died... he's dead. He got stuck between the trains and we had to... we..."
MISS SCARLET breaks down and lowers herself down to her knees.
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(soothing her)
"He was already dead, we just... pushed him the rest of the way through..."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(shutting her eyes)
"He was still screaming when we kicked and kicked... and kicked... and kicked..."
MR. EDWARD CLAY
"Vivienne, stop. Vivienne. He was dead."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"We could have saved him."
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(hushing her)
"We helped him. We ended his suffering quicker."
MISS SCARLET moans, crying into her hands.
20.
MR. EDWARD CLAY
"Vivienne, please. You've blocked out so many bad things from the past. Please, just block this out. There is nothing we could do. He lunged, he fell, he got stuck, he was fatally wounded... we helped him the rest of the way down. That's all that happened. That's it. We suffered as much as he did. We did nothing wrong."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
"What happens when they find his body."
MR. EDWARD CLAY
(sighing)
"Vivienne..."
MISS VIVIENNE SCARLET
(hyperventilating)
"We didn't tell anyone. No one is going to believe he got stuck. We're going to jail. We're murderers..."
MISS SCARLET faints, falling back into MR. CLAY's arms. He lowers himself down to the floor with her.
From the darkness of the ballroom's doorway, YVETTE listens and watches.
INT. BLACKWELL GRANGE - DINING ROOM - MOMENTS LATER
MRS. WHITE clears the salad bowls as FRAU BLOOM rolls out the serving cart containing the entrees - steak, lobster, potatoes, and string beans.
There is oohing and ahhing from the guests.
MADAME ROSE BLACK
"Jesus, what a meal."
MRS. PATRICIA PEACOCK
"You certainly don't hold back."
MONSIEUR ALPHONSE BRUNETTE
"Fantastic, Frau Bloom, simply fantastic!"
21.
FRAU OLGA BLOOM
(proudly)
"Enjoy!"
DR. HUGH BLACK
(facing Miss Dove)
"Darling, you've been quiet. Is everything alright?"
MISS DOVE pastes on a big, bright smile.
MISS BRENDA DOVE
"I was just taking it all in. The beautiful gowns, the smiling faces. What a treat it is to be surrounded by such colorful, interesting people. I'm so sorry that your stepdaughter was upset, Patricia. I will personally go and check on her after dinner."
(clearing throat)
"I am very excited to meet you all and I am eager to get to know each and everyone one of you. I hope you all will be there at the annual garden party in a few weeks. Hell, why don't you all just stay through the next few weeks until then."
DR. BLACK opens his mouth to say something, but allows MISS DOVE to continue.
MISS BRENDA DOVE
"Our wealth is your wealth. Our home is your home. Please, please, accept an extended invitation. A mansion this large should be bustling with activity at all hours of the night. Let's take Blackwell Grange out and stretch her wings."
The doorbell chimes from the hall.
MRS. WHITE looks up at DR. BLACK with a furrowed brow.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Who on earth could that be?"
MRS. WHITE walks to the dining room door and exits into the hall. Everyone listens in silence as-
22.
MRS. WHITE
(from the hall)
"Master Boddy! You're home... but I thought..."
MASTER JOHN BODDY
(from the hall)
"I've been back in town for a few days, now Blanche. Don't believe every telegram you read. I just wanted privacy."
MRS. WHITE
(from the hall)
"And... who is this?"
MASTER JOHN BODDY
(from the hall)
"My fiancée."
MRS. WHITE
(from the hall)
"Your... your fiancée?"
MASTER JOHN BODDY
(from the hall)
"Uncle Hugh isn't the only one allowed to get married."
MASTER JOHN BODDY (17) appears in the doorway of the dining room. He crosses his arms and observes everyone with a smile and a short laugh. He stands like a prince viewing peasants.
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Uncle Hugh, Aunt Rose, how wonderful you both look. Boarding school has been the same as always, don't bother asking. Uncle Hugh, you'll be happy to know, I met someone in London."
23.
DR. HUGH BLACK
"Yes, I do believe I overheard you mention to Mrs. White... your fiancée?"
MASTER JOHN BODDY
"Andrea, don't be shy. Everyone, I'd like you to meet my fiancée, Doctor Orchid."
DR. ANDREA ORCHID (32) enters the room with a smug glare at the interior.
DR. ANDREA ORCHID
(disgusted)
"This is the dining room? You've got to be kidding me. It's going to need a lot of renovating if we are going to live here some day. We aren't a family of vampires. We are doctors and we can afford every amenity the world provides us. For fuck's sake... who let this tacky dining table stay in here?"
END OF EPISODE #7