Murder Mystery

ACT 2 Scene 1

 

The library is one of the largest rooms in Medea's Country Estate. One other security member comes in to get chairs prepared for the guests to hear the letter. He exists the room and waits outside the doors. There are many windows that look out to a garden. The room is at a chilly temperature. All the guests that enter the library, are looking at one another with guilty eyes. The head of security begins to read the letter.

 

Chief of Security: Dear Guests, In the event of my untimely demise, I have instructed my Chief of Security to assemble you in the Library and read this letter. All of you have been invited to my country estate this weekend, as I have grown bored of you and this game we have been playing. You see, each and every one of you is being blackmailed by me for some shady reason or other, and I threatened to expose you if you did not show up this weekend. You probably did not suspect a crowd. This means that you all had motive to kill me, but only one of you had the guts to actually do it. I tip my hat to you for being smarter than me �" not an easy feat! But you won’t get off that easy. None of you will! You must find my killer before you leave this estate. My Chief of Security will not let anyone go until you do so and he can be very persuasive. If this doesn’t convince you and you don’t solve my murder and make the guilty party pay, all of your dirty little secrets will make their way to the New York Times. Here’s your chance to finally be free of me.  I’ve always loved a good game, but then again you knew that. Medea

 

 Odell: Oh my goodness (gasps nervously). I can't believe this happened. Such a tragedy.  But if you don’t mind me asking, what was the cause of death?

 

Chief of Security: When we were first notified by the chef about her body, we went to take a look, and we had found that there was a neatly tailored injury around her neck, looking like someone had cut into her neck, and sewed it back up.

 

Jack: Well whoever did this must’ve needed the skills to do a precise job and in such a hurry!

 

Augustus: Oh well rest in peace, Ms. Raven. It was a pleasure working here. Would anyone at this time desire any food or drinks?

 

Caprice: You foolish and old man, how can you think at this time, any of us can be thirsty or even hungry (accidently bumps into the rocky bookshelf)!? That is so disrespectful! I can’t believe Medea hired you; you are doing such a terrible job.

Augustus: Oh please be aware of that shelf. I would rather you not get hurt. I apologize for my mistake Miss. Brackenbury, but I am only doing my job, whatever that is. And it doesn’t really matter why Medea hired me, now that she’s dead, does it?

 

Cholandra walks over to Augustus and pats his shoulder.

 

Cholandra: It is not your fault Augustus. No need for apologizing. You were only being kind and attending to our needs. Thank you for your services.

 

Augustus: Thank you for your kindness, Ms....

 

Cholandra: Ms. Featheringhood.

 

Augustus nods, showing he now knows who she is.

 

Augustus: Now if I am not needed at this time, you can find me in either the kitchen or my quarter which is down the hall, on the left.

 

Caprice: Thanks to whoever it was that did this because we can’t even leave! This is like the worst night of my life!

 

Cholandra: You know, you could’ve been a little nicer. He was only doing his job.

 

Caprice: I don’t care! He was really not helpful. We are supposed to find who killed her and he thinks we are either hungry or thirsty!

 

Cholandra shakes her head and walks off.

 

Dale: Hi there, I’m Dale! It is nice to meet you (sticks out hand).

 

Jack: (Looks distracted and does not shake Dale’s hand) Yeah, hi. I’m Jack. What do you want?

 

Dale: Just wondering but why were you avoiding me when I looked at you back there?

 

Jack: Look I saw what you did and I don’t want to be near you, OKAY?

 

Dale: What? How did you see? I wasn’t the only one you know!

 

Jack: Keep your voice down! (Says in a whisper) I know it is your poison that killed Medea! You are the only scientist in this place.

 

Dale: How on this enormous planet do you know I’m the only scientist here? I don’t have evidence that its mine!

 

Jack walks off.

 

Everyone leaves back to their quarters in silence except Cholandra, Odell and Caprice.

 

ACT 2 Scene 2

 

Cholandra: (bumps into Caprice) Oh, I’m sorry.

 

Caprice: It is fine. Don’t worry about it.

 

Cholandra: Are you Caprice by any chance?

 

Caprice: That’s me. Sorry we got off on the wrong foot earlier.

 

Cholandra: That’s alright.

 

Caprice: Anyways, you came in late right?

 

Cholandra: (Nervously stutters) Y-yes I did. I was held up with something. 

 

There is an awkward silence while both of the young women eye each other’s clothing in a jealousy way.

 

Cholandra: Nice outfit you have on. May I ask where you had gotten them? They look so rare I bet you can’t find them anywhere. Even if you did they must be so expensive!

Caprice: You are so right! They are rare because Odell designed them and has not yet made a contract with any stores! He is just so talented! I don’t even know how he makes them. He always tells me it’s a secret!

 

Cholandra whispers saying that maybe he says it’s a secret because he doesn’t know how to design or make them.

 

Odell enters the conversation, slinging his arm on Caprice’s waist.

 

Odell: I did, thank you. Do you like them? I can make you a couple of outfits if you’d like? They’re from my fall collection and it won’t take me long! What are you, a size 3?

 

Cholandra: Yes I am, lucky guess. If you don’t mind me asking though, what inspired to use those specific colors?

 

Odell: I got inspiration from the trees during a windy day where most of the leaves flew everywhere, and with that I tried many different colors that would help them stand out.

 

Cholandra: Really? Where did you get the material? Since I have worked with Medea I know types of fabrics that are very rare that takes months to get!

 

Odell: Um, well my boss has connections to get them for me, for which I am truly grateful.  I enjoyed experimenting with the material as well.

 

Cholandra: Do you happen to know what the country is called, that you had received the material? I was asked to design something a lot similar and by the looks of it, I made those designs.

 

Odell:  Well Cholandra (letting go of Caprice and walks towards Cholandra), maybe we have similar taste and there is nothing wrong with that! You can’t be that jealous and greedy about something that looks like yours but really isn’t.

 

Cholandra: Stop lying Odell. WE both know that I made those designs! You stole -

 

Odell: Excuse me?! How dare you accuse me of stealing! Never have I stolen and never will I steal!

 

Cholandra: Odell, you clearly stole them! You don’t even know the first step on designing and second, you couldn’t give me a straight answer when I kept questioning you! That shows you know absolutely nothing about how I had designed this outfit and the other outfits for the fall season.

Caprice: ENOUGH! Stop accusing each other. This is getting too much handle.

 

Odell: Whatever, I am done with you (points to Cholandra and walks off).

 

Cholandra: Well maybe if your little “boyfriend” had just apologized and admit that he IS wrong by stealing my designs, then maybe there won’t be such a fight between us! (Shouts: I guess your boss will fire you the second I tell him what you did. YOU ARE A THIEF!)

 

Odell screams back that she is a liar and that he didn’t steal her designs.

 

Caprice: Well I have known Odell for some time now and I do believe him.

 

Cholandra: I am going to expose him to the press for what he’s done to me and if they hear about you being in on his plan, they will somehow find out about your little hit-and-run.

 

Caprice: How do you know about the hit-and-run?! You can’t tell ANYONE or my career will be over! What can I do so you won’t rat me out? Please don’t do this to me!

 

Cholandra: Well Caprice, this can all be avoided if you wait here for me to get my designs. I can show you all my sketches that I made and prove that he stole my work!

 

Caprice: Ok I guess? Let me go ask Odell first. And don’t take forever getting your sketchbooks.

 

Caprice: Odell says that it is okay but not to stay long. He said he’d miss me too much. He’s just so sweet to me!

 

Cholandra: I highly doubt that but whatever floats your boat.  Let’s go so I can get this over with. (Both walk off stage and enter the secret room.)

 

Caprice: He will miss me! He even says he loves me so that is complete proof that he would not lie to me!

 

Cholandra: Like I said before, whatever floats your boat.

 

Cholandra exists and after a couple minutes, returns with her sketchbook.

 

Cholandra tells Caprice to follow her to the hallway near the kitchen.

 

Caprice: Now show me what you think is “proof”! I have to get back soon. I don’t want to get in trouble.

 

Cholandra shows Caprice her sketches and Caprice is taken aback.

Cholandra: See! Now do you believe me?

 

Caprice: No I don’t because anyone can do this. Doesn’t really look hard to design. Sure maybe getting the material is hard and all, but he could’ve done something like this. Unless you stole HIS sketchbook.

 

Cholandra: Just stop being in denial. YOU believe me and you know it.

 

Caprice: I am not in denial, gosh! All it is, is that I’ve seen Odell’s sketches and these exactly like them!

 

Cholandra: I engraved my name in the front with scissors when I was younger.

 

Caprice: Look, I think you maybe stole his sketchbook and messily imprinted your name at the cover.

 

Caprice stands from the bench and leaves the book lying open.

 

Caprice: I am going to go now. Good luck with winning this battle.

 

Cholandra sees this as the opportunity to get a vase from a statue in the hallway without Caprice’s attention.

 

Cholandra: You are the utmost stupidest person I’ve ever met. I know I’m not lying but you just didn’t want to believe ODELL lied to you after all this time!

 

Since Augustus was in the kitchen, he heard the racket going between both Cholandra and Caprice. He later heard the breaking of glass and that was when he stuck his head out of the door and sees Cholandra stand over the body and decides to find Odell.

 

Augustus: Good afternoon sir. I’m sorry to say that your girlfriend won’t be coming back.

 

Augustus exists before Odell has a chance to respond.

 

Odell: Excuse me? Augustus WHAT ARE YOU T