1.04. He Now Lay Dead
Chessington Close
Hall/Study
11:10am
Madame Rose listened intently outside the study door to hear the heated argument going on inside.
"This is going to ruin me!" a voice cried.
"It'll ruin all of us! We have to do something and do something now!" the other person shouted.
Madame Rose listened all the more closely.
Chessington Close
Hall/Study
11:10am
Madame Rose listened intently outside the study door to hear the heated argument going on inside.
"This is going to ruin me!" a voice cried.
"It'll ruin all of us! We have to do something and do something now!" the other person shouted.
Madame Rose listened all the more closely.
Arlington Point
Billiard Room
12:30pm
Mr. Boddy was playing billiards by himself. Something about the clicking of billiard balls together eased his mindset a little. Miss Scarlet entered. "Where have you been?" he asked, looking up at her.
"Just to get my dress for tonight's party, darling," she replied with shimmering eyes.
"Is it nice?"
"Of course. It's red and --"
"That's all I need to know."
Billiard Room
12:30pm
Mr. Boddy was playing billiards by himself. Something about the clicking of billiard balls together eased his mindset a little. Miss Scarlet entered. "Where have you been?" he asked, looking up at her.
"Just to get my dress for tonight's party, darling," she replied with shimmering eyes.
"Is it nice?"
"Of course. It's red and --"
"That's all I need to know."
Mr. Boddy dropped his billiard cue onto the table and calmly walked over to her.
"I have to admit, though," she began, "I'm awfully nervous. I'm not used to these sort of parties. I'm more of a speakeasy, jazz-dance kinda girl. All this formal niff-naff is going to be quite tedious."
He groped her shoulders with his firm hands. "You'll be fine. You'll knock them all dead, I'm sure."
"I have to admit, though," she began, "I'm awfully nervous. I'm not used to these sort of parties. I'm more of a speakeasy, jazz-dance kinda girl. All this formal niff-naff is going to be quite tedious."
He groped her shoulders with his firm hands. "You'll be fine. You'll knock them all dead, I'm sure."
Bell House
Bathroom
7:35pm
Mrs. Peacock had finished getting ready. She had donned one of her best sapphire mink coats with a fur shoulder, put on one of her trademark hats and sauntered into the bathroom. She opened up the medicine cabinet and took out a small bottle, labelled "Veronal". She smirked and slipped it into her leather handbag before leaving.
Bathroom
7:35pm
Mrs. Peacock had finished getting ready. She had donned one of her best sapphire mink coats with a fur shoulder, put on one of her trademark hats and sauntered into the bathroom. She opened up the medicine cabinet and took out a small bottle, labelled "Veronal". She smirked and slipped it into her leather handbag before leaving.
Perkins Manor
Lounge
8:05pm
The party, the celebration had begun. The victrola from the lounge played generic celebratory music. The various guests chattered amongst themselves. Miss Scarlet and Mr. Boddy sat on the sofa, holding eachother's hands. They were trying to ignore Professor Plum, who sat in an armchair, marvelling the surroundings and taking an interesting psychoanalysis of all the others. What curious habits people have! He smirked as he fondled with his whisky glass. Colonel Mustard, Doctor Black and Mr. Green were having a discussion about current politic activities, whilst an awkward Mrs. White and Miss Peach sat shuffling every now and then silently in seperate armchairs. Madame Rose was giving Mrs. Peacock a complimentary palm-reading. Monsieur Brunette sat slumped in a corner, in the best shirt and trousers he could find.
Lounge
8:05pm
The party, the celebration had begun. The victrola from the lounge played generic celebratory music. The various guests chattered amongst themselves. Miss Scarlet and Mr. Boddy sat on the sofa, holding eachother's hands. They were trying to ignore Professor Plum, who sat in an armchair, marvelling the surroundings and taking an interesting psychoanalysis of all the others. What curious habits people have! He smirked as he fondled with his whisky glass. Colonel Mustard, Doctor Black and Mr. Green were having a discussion about current politic activities, whilst an awkward Mrs. White and Miss Peach sat shuffling every now and then silently in seperate armchairs. Madame Rose was giving Mrs. Peacock a complimentary palm-reading. Monsieur Brunette sat slumped in a corner, in the best shirt and trousers he could find.
The door opened and the chit-chat seized. It was Miss Perkins. "Father says dinner is ready. He's waiting for you all in the dining room." She quickly departed, not too fond of all these regalities in one room.
Dining Room
8:10pm
Eventually every seated themselves at the table.
Seating arrangement plan:
8:10pm
Eventually every seated themselves at the table.
Seating arrangement plan:
Dinner was an interesting affair. Soup was first, a delectable dish of shark's fin. The way everyone smiled at each other - it seemed so...fake, rather ungenuine. There was of course conversation. Mindless drivel about everything from politics, hunting, current must-reads, the trade market, current fashions (mostly from Scarlet and Peach), and everyone's newest hobbies. Mr. Perkins said nothing at all throughout the entire starter course.
The main course, a wide variety of turkey breast, boiled vegetables and a small portion of monkey's brains (Mrs. Peacock's particular favourite), was delicious and everyone devoured without hesitation. Miss Perkins finished first and stood up. "I think I'm finished. If you'll excuse me--"
"What?" exclaimed her father, who was sitting next to her. "We haven't even had dessert yet!"
"I'm not hungry. Really, I'm full. Enjoy the rest, everyone." She bowed and scuttled out.
"What?" exclaimed her father, who was sitting next to her. "We haven't even had dessert yet!"
"I'm not hungry. Really, I'm full. Enjoy the rest, everyone." She bowed and scuttled out.
"What's her problem?" asked Mrs. Peacock, before shovelling in another spoonful of monkey's brains.
"I have no idea. She's been edgy lately. Ever since the brick incident. She's been more nervous today than ever. I don't know why," Mr. Perkins revealed. He poured himself another glass of red wine.
"I have no idea. She's been edgy lately. Ever since the brick incident. She's been more nervous today than ever. I don't know why," Mr. Perkins revealed. He poured himself another glass of red wine.
Mrs. Peacock fondled with the bottle in her handbag. "Seeming as poor Penelope is done, may I sit next to you, Mr. Perkins? I would feel very priviledged if I could."
"I'm not so--"
"Peacock, you old devil!" cried the Colonel, sitting up against his dining chair.
Everyone seemed to be staring at her.
"What?"
"Fine. If you must," sighed Perkins, pressing his whole hand against his sweaty forehead.
"I'm not so--"
"Peacock, you old devil!" cried the Colonel, sitting up against his dining chair.
Everyone seemed to be staring at her.
"What?"
"Fine. If you must," sighed Perkins, pressing his whole hand against his sweaty forehead.
She giggled and sat next to him. Dinner continued despite the odd change of seating. Mr. Perkins was quite red indeed, due to the embarrassment of having to sit next to the inimitable Mrs. Peacock. He patted his forehead with his handkerchief. When the timing was right, as slyly as she could, she took out the bottle and poured it over the liquidy monkey's brains. She smirked with those elastic-like lips of hers, dropping the glass item back into her handbag.
Dinner continued further still, talking of the war, technology and sports. Dessert was soon served, a lovely lemon cake which was enjoyed by all except Perkins and Scarlet. Perkins had merely picked at his whilst Scarlet refused to it at all ("far too many calories"). The servants were dismissed and they duly departed.
"May I speak with you in the study?" Perkins asked Boddy as everyone got up.
"Of course, old boy." He gave a assented nod to his partner, Jacqueline, and followed the portly man out into the hall.
"Of course, old boy." He gave a assented nod to his partner, Jacqueline, and followed the portly man out into the hall.
"Anyone else up for a rousing game of billiards?" Black asked enthusiatically.
"I'm up for a round," Mustard immediately replied.
"Likewise," agreed Mr. Green, beginning to light a cigar.
"Eh, alright. Nothing else to do, I suppose," Plum said with a shrug.
"I'm up for a round," Mustard immediately replied.
"Likewise," agreed Mr. Green, beginning to light a cigar.
"Eh, alright. Nothing else to do, I suppose," Plum said with a shrug.
The gentleman left, leaving the women and an extremely out-of-place Brunette to wallow in the after-effects of a indescribable dinner.
"I would like to propose a seance over in the library! I would like it very much," Madame Rose said with a big grin.
"Alright. At least until Joe get's back," Scarlet said.
"Fine," said Mrs. White, simply.
"Mrs. Peacock? Would you? I'd love to contact your dearly departed husband. I can only do it with you there," the psychic persuaded.
"Oh, okay. It'll be fun," Peacock assented, adjusting her displaced necklace.
"I suppose I out to go and join Clifford. Seances aren't really for me, thanks," Miss Peach said, quickly leaving.
"Alright. At least until Joe get's back," Scarlet said.
"Fine," said Mrs. White, simply.
"Mrs. Peacock? Would you? I'd love to contact your dearly departed husband. I can only do it with you there," the psychic persuaded.
"Oh, okay. It'll be fun," Peacock assented, adjusting her displaced necklace.
"I suppose I out to go and join Clifford. Seances aren't really for me, thanks," Miss Peach said, quickly leaving.
"Shame for her," Peacock expelled, "she'll miss all the fun!"
"I'm going to go to the bathroom," Monsieur Brunette said, hotly, and released himself from the grip of the group of excitable women.
Study
8:15pm
"I can't believe it," shock sprayed out of Joseph Boddy's mouth.
"I'm sorry. I had to tell you, Joe. I feel as though I mayn't be here for much longer."
"What? What are you talking about, man?"
8:15pm
"I can't believe it," shock sprayed out of Joseph Boddy's mouth.
"I'm sorry. I had to tell you, Joe. I feel as though I mayn't be here for much longer."
"What? What are you talking about, man?"
Trophy Room
8:20pm
Sergeant Grey turned his head to make sure nobody was looking. He kept putting small pieces of valuable jewellry in his trouser pockets, as much as he could without it looking too obvious. What was that?! He swifted his head back around. He breathed through his nose. He needed to be careful!
8:20pm
Sergeant Grey turned his head to make sure nobody was looking. He kept putting small pieces of valuable jewellry in his trouser pockets, as much as he could without it looking too obvious. What was that?! He swifted his head back around. He breathed through his nose. He needed to be careful!
Hall/Study
8:30pm
Penelope Perkins knocked on her father's study door. "Daddy? Can I come in?" No answer. She knocked again. "Daddy? Are you even there?" Still no response. "Dad?" She tried the handle and found the door was open as she pushed it forward. She slowly walked in. "Dad? I need to talk to you." Her sleepy eyes suddenly shot back open as she noticed the papers scattered across her father's desk, two chairs tipped over. "Dad? What's happened in here?" That's when she saw it. Just further along the opulent carpet, lay Archibald Perkins, his glasses askew, his remaining hair wildly messed up, his black tie viciously caught high against his neck, his face pink and puffy. The mouth of his terrorised face was agape, the tongue protruding out just a bit. He was dead. She knew he was dead. It took a few moments for her to fully understand the situation. But when she finally did she released screams so loud, the nearby decanter shook slightly.
8:30pm
Penelope Perkins knocked on her father's study door. "Daddy? Can I come in?" No answer. She knocked again. "Daddy? Are you even there?" Still no response. "Dad?" She tried the handle and found the door was open as she pushed it forward. She slowly walked in. "Dad? I need to talk to you." Her sleepy eyes suddenly shot back open as she noticed the papers scattered across her father's desk, two chairs tipped over. "Dad? What's happened in here?" That's when she saw it. Just further along the opulent carpet, lay Archibald Perkins, his glasses askew, his remaining hair wildly messed up, his black tie viciously caught high against his neck, his face pink and puffy. The mouth of his terrorised face was agape, the tongue protruding out just a bit. He was dead. She knew he was dead. It took a few moments for her to fully understand the situation. But when she finally did she released screams so loud, the nearby decanter shook slightly.
To be continued...
