Foretold Misery
Perkins Manor
Hall/Courtyard
11:10am
A blue-gloved hand pounded against the front door. It creaked before opening, revealing Penelope Perkins, clothed in a black gown. She stared at the eccentric woman infront of her. A relatively short woman with a lucious blue fur coat, a neck doused in black beads, blonde-grey hair carefully coifed underneath a flamboyantly feathered hat. The two hawk-like eyes seemed to stare right into Penelope's soul and she shivered slightly.
Hall/Courtyard
11:10am
A blue-gloved hand pounded against the front door. It creaked before opening, revealing Penelope Perkins, clothed in a black gown. She stared at the eccentric woman infront of her. A relatively short woman with a lucious blue fur coat, a neck doused in black beads, blonde-grey hair carefully coifed underneath a flamboyantly feathered hat. The two hawk-like eyes seemed to stare right into Penelope's soul and she shivered slightly.
"Mrs. Peacock!" she exclaimed as politely as possible.
"Hello, dear, dear, Penelope. I just came by to see if the awful rumours were true." Mrs. Peacock's voice seemed sqwauky and maximised. She glanced at the smashed window and nodded. "As I can see, they are indeed."
"Yes, unfortunately, they are."
"My dearest condolences."
"It was a window, Mrs. Peacock. I didn't love it. But, thank you, all the same," she replied awkwardly, clearly flustered at the reknown "cuckoo-lady"'s coming.
"Hello, dear, dear, Penelope. I just came by to see if the awful rumours were true." Mrs. Peacock's voice seemed sqwauky and maximised. She glanced at the smashed window and nodded. "As I can see, they are indeed."
"Yes, unfortunately, they are."
"My dearest condolences."
"It was a window, Mrs. Peacock. I didn't love it. But, thank you, all the same," she replied awkwardly, clearly flustered at the reknown "cuckoo-lady"'s coming.
Mrs. Peacock made a noise that seemed to symbolise assent and carried on rattling, "Is Archibald in? Is he free? I wanted to have a word with him."
"What about?"
"Private matters, dear. No doubt you have them too."
Penelope surrendered and sighed, allowing Mrs. Peacock inside. "He should in be in his study."
Mrs. Peacock made that indescribable noise again and sauntered down the hall.
"What about?"
"Private matters, dear. No doubt you have them too."
Penelope surrendered and sighed, allowing Mrs. Peacock inside. "He should in be in his study."
Mrs. Peacock made that indescribable noise again and sauntered down the hall.
Chessington Close
Courtyard
11:30am
The sun was finally at it's peak and the wind had calmed significantly. The crisp autumn leaves had finally found their place on the concrete. Heels smushed them as they made their way down the path. Miss Peach had decided to come back. She had no idea why. Well, that's what she kept telling herself. Deep down, of course, she knew. It was to see if that handyman was still there. To introduce herself properly. There was nothing wrong in it. It's not as though she were jumping into bed with him. No, she was merely going to say hello. Still, she couldn't help but feel guilty. She was betraying her darling Clifford. Clifford was a wonderful man. Well-off, good-looking, caring and smart. She should be happy. But, she wasn't. Beneath all that gallantry, that pride, lurked something unsavoury that disagreed with her fruitful nature. She kept wondering why he had brought her back from America to live with him here in the first place. Why had he? He loved her, yes, this was clear, but, what exactly did he want from her?
Courtyard
11:30am
The sun was finally at it's peak and the wind had calmed significantly. The crisp autumn leaves had finally found their place on the concrete. Heels smushed them as they made their way down the path. Miss Peach had decided to come back. She had no idea why. Well, that's what she kept telling herself. Deep down, of course, she knew. It was to see if that handyman was still there. To introduce herself properly. There was nothing wrong in it. It's not as though she were jumping into bed with him. No, she was merely going to say hello. Still, she couldn't help but feel guilty. She was betraying her darling Clifford. Clifford was a wonderful man. Well-off, good-looking, caring and smart. She should be happy. But, she wasn't. Beneath all that gallantry, that pride, lurked something unsavoury that disagreed with her fruitful nature. She kept wondering why he had brought her back from America to live with him here in the first place. Why had he? He loved her, yes, this was clear, but, what exactly did he want from her?
A small parasol was clasped in her delicate hands, protecting her from the mild sunlight. Her eyes widened as she spotted him. His white shirt was doused in mud and earth, his knees planted in the soil. He was planting flower seeds. She walked up behind him. "Hi."
He turned his head to look at her. That handsome face again! "Hello, miss," he said sauvely. It was at this point she realised he was infact French.
"What are you planting?" she asked, twirling her parasol handle in her hands.
"Begonias. Mrs. White's orders."
"Do you know what would look great with begonias? Some geraniums."
"To be perfectly honest, miss, I do not really care for the arrangement of the flowerbeds. I do this for money, nothing else."
"I see."
"What are you planting?" she asked, twirling her parasol handle in her hands.
"Begonias. Mrs. White's orders."
"Do you know what would look great with begonias? Some geraniums."
"To be perfectly honest, miss, I do not really care for the arrangement of the flowerbeds. I do this for money, nothing else."
"I see."
There was a moment's silence. Brunette broke it.
"Why did you come back here, hm? Weren't you with the good Colonel here a few hours ago?"
"Yes. He's gone to his gentleman's club for a round of shooting. I'm just strolling."
"Waiting for his return, eh?" It was at this point his manner became a little more loose, a bit more cocky.
"I suppose, yeah."
"If you are looking for the Doctor, I believe he is out."
"Oh," she pretended to be displeased.
"Why did you come back here, hm? Weren't you with the good Colonel here a few hours ago?"
"Yes. He's gone to his gentleman's club for a round of shooting. I'm just strolling."
"Waiting for his return, eh?" It was at this point his manner became a little more loose, a bit more cocky.
"I suppose, yeah."
"If you are looking for the Doctor, I believe he is out."
"Oh," she pretended to be displeased.
He looked at her with his shiny eyes.
"Do you think I am stupid?"
"What?"
"I know why you come here. You come to speak to me. I am just the village handyman, eh? No one ever comes to speak to me, ever. Yet earlier today I noticed you looking at me and now you sneak back to speak to me. Why? What do you want from me?"
"Do you think I am stupid?"
"What?"
"I know why you come here. You come to speak to me. I am just the village handyman, eh? No one ever comes to speak to me, ever. Yet earlier today I noticed you looking at me and now you sneak back to speak to me. Why? What do you want from me?"
Miss Peach was gobsmacked. She stuttered and spluttered. Exasperated noises sprayed from her red lips. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about. I merely wanted to a strike up a conversation with you before visiting Dr. Black," she lied as fast as she could. "Well, excuse me for being so curteous. I'll try to remember to ignore you next time I visit." She stormed off. He smiled.
Town Centre
Denver's
12:30am
Denver's was the local women's store. A shop compromised mostly of various clothes, make-up and beauty nitpicks. There was also a collection of female-oriented pulp novels on a wire rack and a big shelf of the latest shoes.
Denver's
12:30am
Denver's was the local women's store. A shop compromised mostly of various clothes, make-up and beauty nitpicks. There was also a collection of female-oriented pulp novels on a wire rack and a big shelf of the latest shoes.
Miss Scarlet was trying on a lovely new red silk scarf infront of one of the many oval mirrors. She looked at herself in various positions, her lips pouted. Her inner model was never outcast. She liked it. She'll buy it. Just then something caught her eye in the mirror. She gasped.
Chessington Close
Dining Room
1:15pm
Madame Rose was seated all alone in the grand dining room. She was sat at one of two head seats. Her dark hair was wrapped into a tight bun and pink shawls and gown dangled to the ground. Lunch just for her today with the look of things.
Dining Room
1:15pm
Madame Rose was seated all alone in the grand dining room. She was sat at one of two head seats. Her dark hair was wrapped into a tight bun and pink shawls and gown dangled to the ground. Lunch just for her today with the look of things.
Celia Rose had been very grateful to Dr. Black, allowing her to live here with him. Celia Rose was Diane Black's beloved sister. Diane Black was Quentin Black's wife for only a year when she died in a horrific horse-riding accident. Out of his most sincere condolences, Dr. Black had allowed the sister to carry on living with him. It was, apparantly, what Diane had wanted.
She looked at the empty wine glass in front of her. No! she must behave! She had already had four glasses today. Anymore and she'd be quite drunk. Still, it did seem so inviting. The tantalising taste of exquisite wine drippling along her tactile tastebuds. Yes! that was it! Just one more. She grabbed the bottle in her beringed hands and poured herself another glass of sweet, sweet wine. She chuckled and drank a big gulp-full.
Mrs. White came in with the serving cart. "Sorry for the slight delay, Mrs. Rose. Luncheon is now ready." Honoria White had always adressed Celia by her proper name of "Mrs", even though she much preferred "Madame". As to why, it's anyone's guess. A purely eccentric woman, Mrs. Rose was to Mrs. White. A bit of a nut. A bit of a drinker, too. However, it was not her place to judge. She stopped her malicious thoughts and placed the tray of food onto the single diner's plate.
"Thank you, Mrs. White. I'm going to enjoy this," she said, slightly dazed.
"No problem, Mrs. Rose."
"I've always liked your cooking, you know. I have told you, haven't I? That I've always loved your cooking?" Rose rambled, clearly intoxicated under the wine's influence.
"No problem, Mrs. Rose."
"I've always liked your cooking, you know. I have told you, haven't I? That I've always loved your cooking?" Rose rambled, clearly intoxicated under the wine's influence.
Mrs. White asked the million-dollar question. "Have you had enough wine? Can I take it?"
"No!" the pink-robed woman snapped. "You can have it back later," she furthered on, more lightly.
"No!" the pink-robed woman snapped. "You can have it back later," she furthered on, more lightly.
The housekeeper said nothing more and departed with the cart, it's wheels whistling against the floorboards.
Madame Rose grinned. "I'm going to enjoy this!" She lifted off the lid and found a selection of salad and a piece of pork pie on her plate. "What the Hell is this?"
Acorn Lodge
Drawing Room
3:00pm
After her disatisfactory introduction to the attractive Monsieur Brunette, Miss Peach had found herself playing a rather sombre tune on the piano in the drawing room. The front door in the hall opened. "It's only me, Maybelle," said the familiar gentlemanly voice. A few moments later, Colonel Mustard whisked his way in. Maybelle Peach had stopped playing by now and got up to kiss her partner on the cheek.
Drawing Room
3:00pm
After her disatisfactory introduction to the attractive Monsieur Brunette, Miss Peach had found herself playing a rather sombre tune on the piano in the drawing room. The front door in the hall opened. "It's only me, Maybelle," said the familiar gentlemanly voice. A few moments later, Colonel Mustard whisked his way in. Maybelle Peach had stopped playing by now and got up to kiss her partner on the cheek.
"Did you have a nice time?"
"Excellent, actually. I managed to get eight geese. The manager says if I carry on, they'll be no geese left for me to blast." He chuckled and kissed his fragile lover. "How have you been?"
"Fine, thank you," she responded. "I didn't really do anything enthralling. Just practised my piano skills, catched up on a bit of reading."
"How perfectly mundane," he laughed. "Have you picked a dress for the Perkins' party yet?"
"Not yet. I'm sorry, Clifford."
"Oh, don't apologise, silly. It's not for another two days, anyway. Plenty of time."
"No, it's not that. I'm just sorry."
"For what?"
"For being an idiot."
She kissed his moustache-covered mouth, grabbed his masculine hands and dragged him out of the room and upstairs.
"Excellent, actually. I managed to get eight geese. The manager says if I carry on, they'll be no geese left for me to blast." He chuckled and kissed his fragile lover. "How have you been?"
"Fine, thank you," she responded. "I didn't really do anything enthralling. Just practised my piano skills, catched up on a bit of reading."
"How perfectly mundane," he laughed. "Have you picked a dress for the Perkins' party yet?"
"Not yet. I'm sorry, Clifford."
"Oh, don't apologise, silly. It's not for another two days, anyway. Plenty of time."
"No, it's not that. I'm just sorry."
"For what?"
"For being an idiot."
She kissed his moustache-covered mouth, grabbed his masculine hands and dragged him out of the room and upstairs.
Perkins Manor
Study
4:00pm
Archibald Perkins looked at the man infront of him with keen interest. His expert serveillance skills did not go unused as he inspected the man thoroughly. The man sat before him was middle-aged, with a round, warm face, the top of his head coated with a mop of combed ebony hair.
Study
4:00pm
Archibald Perkins looked at the man infront of him with keen interest. His expert serveillance skills did not go unused as he inspected the man thoroughly. The man sat before him was middle-aged, with a round, warm face, the top of his head coated with a mop of combed ebony hair.
Perkins spoke, "I hope you understand the conditions of this placement well?"
"Oh, quite well, Mr. Perkins." His voice was plain, almost uninterested.
"Good, good. An influential man like myself needs protection."
"Of course."
"Oh, quite well, Mr. Perkins." His voice was plain, almost uninterested.
"Good, good. An influential man like myself needs protection."
"Of course."
This man was Sergeant Malcolm Grey. An amateur security guard. No actual, there-on-the-paper qualifications, but he had had much experience. He had worked for a variety of rich, stuck-up snobs, all of them wanting their fancy jewels or original paintings protected against thieves. This ponce Perkins was indeed no different.
"Just between us," said Archibald, leaning forward, "there's more to it than just protecting my pieces. You see, I feel as though I'm in danger."
"Danger, hm? What kind of danger?"
"Well, this morning I've had a brick thrown through my dining room window."
"Really? Do you know who did it?"
"I have my suspiscions, yes. And that's not all. Threatening phone calls as well. I haven't really told anyone about those."
"I see."
"I've been a rather bad man, Malcolm - may I call you Malcolm? I recently did something that I'm not proud of but it was neccessary, I feel. I won't go into details. The bottom line is this: I need your protection. Your full attention. Particularly in two days time when I'm supposed to be hosting a party. I don't trust anyone who I've invited. But there are a couple that I need to make sure I stay away from. To be honest, I'm rather frightened. I have no idea what they are capable of. What do you say? Do you accept?"
"So you're hiring me?" inquired the Sergeant with raised eyebrows.
"Yes."
"You have yourself a deal, Mr. Perkins."
"Danger, hm? What kind of danger?"
"Well, this morning I've had a brick thrown through my dining room window."
"Really? Do you know who did it?"
"I have my suspiscions, yes. And that's not all. Threatening phone calls as well. I haven't really told anyone about those."
"I see."
"I've been a rather bad man, Malcolm - may I call you Malcolm? I recently did something that I'm not proud of but it was neccessary, I feel. I won't go into details. The bottom line is this: I need your protection. Your full attention. Particularly in two days time when I'm supposed to be hosting a party. I don't trust anyone who I've invited. But there are a couple that I need to make sure I stay away from. To be honest, I'm rather frightened. I have no idea what they are capable of. What do you say? Do you accept?"
"So you're hiring me?" inquired the Sergeant with raised eyebrows.
"Yes."
"You have yourself a deal, Mr. Perkins."
Arlington Point
Hall/Lounge
4:20pm
Miss Scarlet entered the home, hanging her mink coat on the wooden rack, and announcing her presence with the sound of her obnauxious high-heels. "Joe? Where are you?"
"Lounge."
Hall/Lounge
4:20pm
Miss Scarlet entered the home, hanging her mink coat on the wooden rack, and announcing her presence with the sound of her obnauxious high-heels. "Joe? Where are you?"
"Lounge."
She quickly ran into the lounge. She saw her partner divulging in a glass of whisky in a comfy-looking armchair. "Darling, you're not going to believe it. He's back."
"What? Who?" Boddy put down his glass, got up and walked closer to her.
"He's - he's"
"Jacqueline, what are you talking about?"
"It's Julian! He's back! I saw him in town a few hours ago."
"A few hours ago? Well why didn't you tell me sooner?" he breathed.
"I went with him," she said simply.
"What?" he exasperated.
"I went with him. He saw me in Denver's. There was nothing I could do."
"And then what?'
"He offered me a drink in The Horseshoe. I couldn't exactly refuse."
"Of course you could. Man, you are a hussy!"
"Joe!" she exclaimed, hurt.
"I'm sorry. He never gives up, does he?"
"He loves me, Joe."
"No doubt." There was a pause. "You didn't do anything with --"
"Oh, obviously not! We just caught up, that's all."
He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Just tell me one thing - do you still love him?"
"No! No, I don't! It's you I love, darling." She proved this with a kiss.
"What? Who?" Boddy put down his glass, got up and walked closer to her.
"He's - he's"
"Jacqueline, what are you talking about?"
"It's Julian! He's back! I saw him in town a few hours ago."
"A few hours ago? Well why didn't you tell me sooner?" he breathed.
"I went with him," she said simply.
"What?" he exasperated.
"I went with him. He saw me in Denver's. There was nothing I could do."
"And then what?'
"He offered me a drink in The Horseshoe. I couldn't exactly refuse."
"Of course you could. Man, you are a hussy!"
"Joe!" she exclaimed, hurt.
"I'm sorry. He never gives up, does he?"
"He loves me, Joe."
"No doubt." There was a pause. "You didn't do anything with --"
"Oh, obviously not! We just caught up, that's all."
He grabbed her by the shoulders. "Just tell me one thing - do you still love him?"
"No! No, I don't! It's you I love, darling." She proved this with a kiss.
Chessington Close
Hall/Courtyard
4:45pm
Mrs. White answered the repeated knocks on the front door. Her mouth went agape. "Professor Plum? What are you doing here?"
Hall/Courtyard
4:45pm
Mrs. White answered the repeated knocks on the front door. Her mouth went agape. "Professor Plum? What are you doing here?"
The man who stood cool-as-cats infront of her, had his hands in his trouser pocket and his purple jacket slung casually over his broad shoulder. The wind had started up again now as the sun had slowly started to descend. It blew against his wire-like red hair and brushed against his rough face. It was definitely Julian Plum!
"Hello, Honoria," he said, smugly. "Is the Doc in?"
To be continued...
