Dinner Theater
Death Takes Its Course
-A CLCS Drama Production
*NOTE: This material is copyright (c) 2005-2006 Luke Williams *
Setting:
1931-1932 Dinner party
Mr. Daniel Goodhue’s House
Characters:
The StageMaster: Arcane and unexplainable
-Mysterious man who can stop time
-When he snaps his fingers, the lights flash and time stands still
-While time stands still, he can change things and
Talk to people.
Mr. Daniel Goodhue: A kind, gracious man
-Is at the dinner party to condone Hoover’s attempts to let the industry set minimum wage standards, increase benefits, hire more workers, etc.
-Takes very good care of his employees
-His mentor: Mr. Bates
-A “dry”; obeys the law as well as he can.
-The victim
Mr. Lehmann: Hardworking and serious
-Recently promoted to foreman
-DG is training him to take over the company when he retires
-DG helped him find a wife
-“Devastated” when DG dies
Mr. Bates: Strange but good-hearted
-Life-time friend of DG
-They planned this meeting together to change a few of their deepest critics
-A tad off-the-charts; the others find him annoying
-Loves conflict about small things
-Takes DG’s death with less shock and more suspicion
-(Mentally) decides to find the murderer
-For all his abnormality, he has a strong sense of
Justice.
Mrs. Bates: Nosy and ambitious
-Upset with her husband because he reached the top and stopped
-Overhears her husband and DG discussing DG’s will and thinks it will go to them if DG dies
The Blackwood Couple: Snotty and well-connected
-Husband and wife
-More successful than DG
-Can “proudly trace their lineage back to 16 presidents, 2 kings of Great Britain, 1 of Spain, and a very well-off German baron”
-(Recurring joke)
-Their daughter ran off with Lehmann – and DG was the one who paired them up
Ms. Coleman: Carefree and reckless
-A movie star/director of importance
-A “wet”; a worldly-wise woman
-Obnoxious, loud, out-spoken, gossip
-Has ties to businessmen in Chicago (implicitly run by Al Capone)
-Her company is on the brink of collapse
-The businessmen offered her a large sum to make a
Propaganda film about how good things are
-DG has planned a campaign against her movie’s lies
Judge Richelieu: Double dealing and stiff
-A lawyer with a bad history in politics (repeatedly defeated).
-Is asking DG (once again) for support
-No back bone; will switch sides in an argument almost instantaneously
-Recently took bribes in several cases, swinging the sentence to favor corrupt factory owners.
The Maitre D’: Silent and solemn
-Almost never talks, to the point of suspicion
-Constantly, quietly weaving in and out in the background
-Loyal to his employer
Minor Characters: Servants, police officers
(All the same two people; minimal lines).
Opening:
[The StageMaster in front of the curtain. Haunting music plays quietly in the background]
StageMaster: Hello, and welcome to “Death Takes Its Course,” a CLCS Drama production. Tonight, we would like to take you to another time…[hesitantly] almost, another world. We will go to the house of a Mister Daniel Goodhue, a wealthy businessman of the early 1930s who very recently became president of Grand Fabrics Supply, Inc. Since then, he’s made a number of unpopular changes: oh, that is, increasing wages, providing pensions – unpopular with his stockholders. As a result, he has received the proverbial cold shoulder. He has invited a number of…ah…his most vocal critics to his house for dinner, along with a few friends. Now, please, sit back and watch as “Death Takes Its Course…”
[Snaps his fingers and the lights flash and go out; StageMaster exits]
Scene I:
[The music drifts off to sounds of rain with occasional thunder. The curtains open to reveal Daniel Goodhue and Mr. Bates chatting and laughing; in the background, Mrs. Bates is giving instructions to the Maitre D’ (and possibly several servants)]
Mr. Bates: [chuckling darkly] Well, it seems like we’ve got quite an evening ahead of us, Daniel.
Mr. Goodhue: Oh, it’s going to be interesting. [Smiling] Guess who’s actually coming tonight.
Mr. Bates: Oh, just tell me.
Mr. Goodhue: No! Guess.
Mr. Bates: Well, give me a hint.
Mr. Goodhue: [clears his throat] “We can proudly trace our lineage back to [Mr. Bates laughs and joins in] 16 presidents, 2 kings of Great Britain, 1 of Spain, and a very well-off German baron.”
[They laugh; a short pause follows]
Mr. Goodhue: [Troubled] Well, I just hope everything goes well tonight. I have a feeling… [pause]
[Mrs. Bates and the Maitre D’ start walking forward, still discussing the meal]
Mr. Goodhue:…I have a feeling that something might go wrong.
Mr. Bates: Well, don’t worry. [Teasingly] If anything goes wrong, we’ve already worked out your will.
Mrs. Bates: [Finishing instructions]…And make sure you don’t overcook the turkey. [Turning to Goodhue; kindly] Yes, if anything happens, we’ll take good care of your funds.
[The other two jump and look at her]
Mr. Goodhue: Oh! Hello, Mrs. Bates.
Mr. Bates: [Worried] Hello, dear. [pause] How do you know about the will?
Mrs. Bates: [straightening a pillow] Oh, I heard you men talking about it last week. Don’t give it a moment’s-
Mr. Bates:[serious] Dear, I don’t think you understand it.
Mrs. Bates: I do know much more than you think I do.
[Mr. Goodhue looks away]
Mr. Bates: [smiling] Really, Margaret.
Mrs. Bates: [Turning and poking him in the chest] Such as the state of our finances!
Mr. Bates: Dear, we have more than enough –
Mrs. Bates: We’d have a lot more if you didn’t keeping emptying our bank account every few days for your little charities!
[A knock comes at the door]
Mrs. Bates: [her anger is gone] The guests are arriving!
[Opens the door; the Blackwoods enter]
Mr. Bates: Ah! Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood. We were just talking about you [he and Mr. Goodhue exchange grins]
Mrs. Blackwood: [haughtily] Hmph. It’s about time you start respecting your superiors. I will have you know that we can proudly trace our lineage back to 16 presidents, 2 kings of Great Britain, 1 of Spain, and a very well-off German baron. What is your family tree like, ah… mister…?
Mr. Bates: Bates, ma’am. Mr. Bates. I can happily assure you, however, that all of my ancestors are dead and need not trouble you this evening [a knock at the door] Ah! Must answer the door…
[He walks off to let in a drenched Mr. Lehmann; Mrs. Blackwood is trying to figure out what he said]
Mr. Blackwood: [Breaking the pause] Mr. Goodhue! Mr. Goodhue, mind if we speak more…privately?
Goodhue: Not at all.
[They walk over to a spotlight and begin to speak; the rest pantomime talking]
Mr. Blackwood: [Looks around for eavesdroppers; continues solemnly] I have heard some disturbing reports about your operations of Bland Fabric Supply–
Goodhue: [Interrupting] Grand Fabric.
Mr. Blackwood: What?
Goodhue: It’s Grand Fabric Supply Incorporated.
Mr. Blackwood: [waving it off] Well, whatever. My point is that our family has held a significant part of your company’s stock for three generations. We have had an influential hand in its operations, and we do not intend to surrender it to some up-start nonentity with delusions of grandeur. Do you understand me?
Goodhue: Well, I’m very sorry, sir, but perhaps I shall be able to persuade you otherwise by the end of the day.
Mr. Blackwood: [threatening] You had better, Goodhue. You had better.
[Walks off self-satisfied]
[Mr. Lehmann and Mr. Bates walk over]
Mr. Bates: So, how did your attempt at diplomacy go?
Mr. Goodhue: I didn’t expect him to give in so quickly. [Jumps, seeing Mr. Lehmann]. Lehmann! It’s good to see you.
Mr. Lehmann: Remember? We were supposed to discuss the new machinery?
Mr. Goodhue: [Thinking] Oh, yes, I did ask you to come over – I must have completely forgotten about the party.
Mrs. Blackwood: [walking over, sneering] Well, who is this?
[Mr. Lehmann backs away slightly; Goodhue grabs him]
Mrs. Blackwood: Aren’t you going to introduce us?
Mr. Goodhue: [grimly] This is Mr. Lehmann, one of my finest foremen. But I believe you two have met before.
[Mr. Lehmann avoids her eyes]
Mrs. Blackwood: I don’t think so. We tend to associate with a higher class of people.
[Mr. Lehmann looks up, infuriated; Mrs. Bates sneer widens – she’s hit a nerve; Goodhue switches from pushing him forward to holding him back]
Mr. Goodhue: Mr. Lehmann is my guest here, as you are, Mrs. Blackwood. I would suggest that you show more –
Mr. Blackwood: [coming over; addresses Lehmann] Waiter! Waiter! I would like a drink!
Mr. Goodhue: BLACKWOOD!
[A chill comes over the room; another knock comes and the Blackwoods wander off to get it]
Ms. Coleman: [Opens the door herself; walks in dramatically] Oh! What a wonderful night! [Throws her soaking jacket on a nearby chair; the Blackwoods, who had been approaching her back off slowly] I just love the rain. It has such a mysterious glow! I think my next movie will be shot entirely in the rain…!
[She talks animatedly to the Blackwoods, who respond stiffly]
Mr. Lehmann: Those [struggles for words]! If they give me - !
Mr. Goodhue: [shocked] Lehmann! What are you saying?
Mr. Lehmann: They treat me like trash. [pause] And you know why.
Mr. Goodhue: [nods reluctantly] But you’re sinking to their level. If you know that you are worth more than they tell you, but you act less, where does that leave you?
Mr. Lehmann: [calming down] You’re right.
Mr. Goodhue: [relieved] Why don’t you stay the night? Tell Arnold that I said to get a room ready for you.
Mr. Lehmann: No, Mr. Goodhue. I couldn’t…
Mr. Goodhue: I insist. Not another word. Oh, and could you please ask him to serve the drinks. We can discuss the machinery in the morning.
[Mr. Lehmann exits; by this time everyone else is in a conversation with someone else; one last knock comes at the door; Goodhue answers it]
Judge Richelieu: Good evening!
Mr. Goodhue: Hello, Judge Richelieu. How are you this evening?
Judge Richelieu: Excellent, excellent. Goodhue; I’d like a word…
Mr. Goodhue: Of course.
[They walk towards the front; Mr. Bates follows them with his eyes/takes a step or two in their direction, only half listening to the person he’s talking to]
Mr. Goodhue: So, what’s on your mind?
Judge Richelieu: [more hesitantly] Well, Mr. Goodhue, elections are approaching quickly.
[Goodhue listens]
Judge Richelieu: [trying to get him to catch on] …and I will be running for office again.
[Goodhue listens; Mr. Bates starts walking over]
Judge Richelieu: [frustrated] So, since I am running, I would like you to – you know – give me some support.
Mr. Bates: You mean money.
Judge Richelieu: M-Mr. Bates. What a surprise. Ah – yes, money would be appreciated, but I-I’m also looking for those who w-would…um…th-those who would –
Mr. Bates: [to Goodhue] I think Ms. Coleman had something she’d like to discuss with you.
Mr. Goodhue: [Catching on] Please excuse me, Judge. We’ll have to discuss this another time [leaves].
[the Maitre D’ enters with hors d'oeuvres]
Mr. Bates: [Accusingly] So, Judge Richelieu, I was quite surprised to hear about the Waterby Case. The defendants “not guilty” on all counts…how strange. To me, all the evidence seemed to say “guilty.” Screamed it, even…
Judge Richelieu: Ah, well, all things have to be taken into account. And, obviously, not all things are revealed to the public.
Mr. Bates: [casually taking a piece of paper out of his pocket] You know, I was thinking the exact same thing… [Shows it to the Judge] Now, it’s pretty clear to me that -
[Judge Richelieu scans it, then jumps back in fright]
Judge Richelieu: …where…?
Mr. Bates: [Gesturing to the tray of hors d'oeuvres] Oh! Don’t those look wonderful. Arnold! I’ll have one. [Offers one to the Judge; flustered, he takes it, but does not eat].
Judge Richelieu: Where did you get that document, Bates?
Mr. Goodhue: [Stands at the far right of the room; calling for attention – as he calls, they “form a line”] Hello! Hello! Thank you. Welcome to my abode, and please feel free to make yourselves at home [the Blackwoods sneer to each other]. Now, some of you may not know each other, so let me introduce [points to them in turn] Judge Richelieu, Mr. and Mrs. Bates, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, and Ms. Coleman. Now –
[The StageMaster snaps his fingers and time stops. He walks in and inspects the characters one by one. At the end of the line, he starts to walk off, then walks back and eats the Judge’s hors d'oeuvre. He snaps his fingers again and everyone comes back to life. The Judge tries to eat the hors d'oeuvre and realizes it’s gone {possibly pokes himself with a toothpick.}]
Mr. Goodhue: [Continuing as if nothing happened] I have a special treat for us tonight. Arnold? Would you bring in the drinks?
[IMPORTANT: the Maitre D’ goes to the opposite end of the line from Goodhue, and passes them down the “line.” The people take them and keep passing them. Preferably, each person had their hand in a pocket or purse a few second before they get Daniel’s glass. This is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT! Each person must have had at least a chance to poison Daniel’s glass!]
Mr. Goodhue: [After everyone has a glass] Cheers!
[They drink. Everyone but Goodhue spits it back out; some, like Ms. Coleman, do it dramatically. Mr. Bates does it quietly out of respect for his friend, etc.]
Ms. Coleman: Wha…what is this?
Mr. Goodhue: [With a huge smile on his face] It’s Prohibition.
[The others mutter angrily; Mr. Bates gives Goodhue a relieved smile]
Ms. Coleman: [Disgusted] Well, it’s not to my taste. Don’t you have any - ?
Mr. Blackwood: [Interrupting] What is it, Mr. Goodhue, if you don’t mind my asking?
Mr. Goodhue: Well, it’s a new drink my friend Mr. Grigg, of St. Louis is producing. He used to call it…um…”Bib – Label…” something or other. [Thinks] Arnold, what…?
Maitre D’: “Bib-Label Lithiated Lemon-Lime Soda.”
Mr. Goodhue: That’s it! But now, he calls it “Eleven-Up.”
Maitre D’: “Seven-Up,” sir.
Mr. Goodhue: [Confused] You’re right…[shakes his head] I must be losing my mind [takes another sip]
Ms. Coleman: Well, whatever it’s called, it’s not to my taste. I mean, we are having a party, are we not? Don’t you have any - ?
Mr. Goodhue: [Warningly] Miss Coleman.
Ms. Coleman: But-!
Mr. Goodhue: Miss Coleman, I intend to obey the law.
[Another chill; murmur in the group]
Ms. Coleman: [to herself, bitterly] Well, I never…
Mr. Bates: Perhaps it might be a good idea to move on into the dining room.
[Mr. Goodhue nods and the lights and curtains (?) go down]
[A table and chairs are moved in; possibly other decorations]
[Lights up; curtains up]
[The characters file into the “dining room,” chatting politely, commenting DG on the decorations, etc. The servants and Maitre D’ are setting the table with silverware and candlesticks.]
Mr. Goodhue: Arnold? Would you please finish the meal? It is time for my remarks.
Maitre D’: Of course. [He signals to the servants and they exit]
Mr. Goodhue: Please, be seated.
[The others sit; he remains standing]
Mr. Goodhue: Before we begin our meal, I have a few words to say [pause]. As you know, our country has recently stumbled into a Great Depression. I am not here to blame anyone; I am here to ask you to aid me in ending it [he takes a sip]. I know that we alone cannot completely end the suffering, but we can begin a change. President Hoover – [a few of the others snort] President Hoover has asked businessmen, bankers, and employers in general to provide for their workers. Grand Fabric Supply, Inc., has recently hired five hundred new employees and increased pay to a minimum of twenty cents an hour. Mr. Blackwood, I am asking you to do the same for the companies you own.
Mr. Blackwood: [Shocked] Twenty cents an hour? Goodhue, if this is your way of convincing me to support your efforts, you are far wrong. Twenty cents an hour! I’d go bankrupt within a week!
Mr. Bates: Maybe if you cut your own salary, you’d have more for your workers.
Mr. Goodhue: [Nods to Bates, rubs his head and takes another sip] But we cannot merely increase wages; we need to see our fellow men as human.
Mrs. Blackwood: Human? What do you mean?
Mr. Goodhue: [Pacing] Judge Richelieu, do you remember the last case you had brought before you?
Judge Richelieu: Of course.
Mr. Goodhue: Please explain it to us.
Judge Richelieu: Well, ah…a worker filed a case against his employer, Wesley and Taylor Associates. He charged them with…well, ah…withholding his pay.
Mr. Goodhue: Those are quite serious accusations.
Mr. Bates: So why did you dismiss the case?
Judge Richelieu: [Smiling] Well, you should have seen the man. He was practically dressed in rags! [laughs] You can’t expect me to take the word of a lay-about like that.
Mrs. Blackwood: [Chuckles and adjusts a ring] I quite agree.
Mr. Goodhue: No! That is what I’m saying! We cannot treat the poor as inhuman!
Mrs. Blackwood: I didn’t say he wasn’t human. I just meant –
Mr. Bates: That he wasn’t as good as someone as connected and talented as you.
Mrs. Bates: Dear! What has gotten into you? I’m sorry, Mrs. Blackwood.
Mr. Bates: Why should you be sorry, Clara? She basically just called that man a dog.
Mrs. Blackwood: [Sitting up straighter] Compared to someone who can proudly trace their lineage to 16 presidents, 2 kings of Great Britain, 1 of Spain, and a very –
Mr. Bates: [mimicking] “well-off German Baron.”
Mr. Goodhue: Listen to yourself, Mrs. Blackwood! What did you ever do gain those relations and wealth? You were born! [His legs give out from under him slightly; he hangs onto the table with his hands].
Mr. Bates: [Handing him a handkerchief] Daniel, are you feeling well?
Ms. Coleman: [Folding her arms] Well, I really don’t see what this has to do with me.
Mr. Goodhue: [Catching his breath] You…you have your own problems, Ms. Coleman. [He clenches his teeth in pain; he walks over and takes another sip from his glass, sits] Your life…is one of triviality and foolishness. In your movies, you break the law, seek escape, and [pants] and who do you think sees you?
Ms. Coleman: Oh really? You think it’s my fault that the poor want to be happy?
Mr. Bates: [stands] Goodhue! Are you alright?
Mr. Goodhue: [Stands up shakily] No, I’m saying that you are showing them the wrong way! [Pauses, takes a final sip] In one way – it’s not our fault. In one way – we didn’t start all these problems. But not matter what WE must be the ones to start the change! We need to help! We must see our fellow men as equals! We must…[gasps in pain]
Mr. Bates: Daniel!
Mr. Goodhue: We must ch – [gasps] We-! [he collapses]
[The women scream]
Mr. Bates: Goodhue! [rushes over to him, checks his pulse] Daniel…no!
[The servants and the Maitre D’ rush in]
Servant #1: We heard someone scream.
Maitre D’: What - ? Mr. Bates, what happened?
Mrs. Bates: [Frantic] Arnold! Daniel is dead!
Servant #2: No!
Mrs. Blackwood: We can’t just leave him here! You – servants! – take him out here!
[They look at the Maitre D’ who nods, and three of them carry Goodhue out]
Mr. Lehmann: Mr. Goodhue! Mr. Bates, what happened?
Mr. Bates: [picks up a glass and sniffs it] I can’t say for sure, but – [looks at Ms. Coleman, who is about to drink from a glass] I wouldn’t drink these unless you want to die.
Ms. Coleman: [Setting down the glass] Die? What are you saying?
Mr. Bates: [Sniffing each glass] Most of them seem to be poisoned.
Mr. Lehmann: Poisoned? But then…that means…
Mr. Blackwood: Mr. Goodhue was murdered.
Mr. Mates: Yes. [Looks around] And I’m guessing the murderer is someone in this room.
[StageMaster snaps his fingers, he walks over, locks the doors, snaps his fingers, and leaves]
Ms. Coleman: Well, I’m not staying in a room with a murderer! [She stomps over to the door and tries to open it] Hey! Hey! Let me out of here!
[The servants rush over and try to open it; after a few tries they shake their heads and leave; Ms. Coleman steps back nervously]
Mr. Bates: [Snidely] Well, isn’t this perfect; all the suspects, all locked up in one room. Like a movie, isn’t it, Ms. Coleman?
Ms. Coleman: [Smoothing her hair] Almost…
Mrs. Blackwood: What do you mean, “suspects?”
Mr. Bates: Most of you were invited because you hated Mr. Goodhue, were you not?
Mr. Blackwood: Listen, Mr. Gates
Mr. Bates: Mr. Bates.
Mr. Blackwood: Who?
Mr. Bates: My name is Mr. Bates.
Mr. Blackwood: Well, whatever your name is, I did not hate Mr. Goodhue. We might have disagreed, and he might even have put a small part of my fortune in jeopardy, but –
Mr. Bates: Oh, that’s all you dislike him for?
Mr. Lehmann: Look, this isn’t our place. Let’s wait for the police –
Mr. Bates: [To the Blackwoods] What about your daughter?
Mrs. Blackwood: We have no daughter.
Mr. Lehmann: [Angry] How dare you!
Mr. Bates: [Smirking] Lehmann, calm down. From Mr. Blackwood’s reaction, it would sound like Daniel killed his daughter.
Mrs. Blackwood: [Crying slightly] He may as well have. Helping her to get married to a…
Mr. Blackwood: You can’t pin this murder on us, no matter what we had against Goodhue. We are honorable members of this society and will not stand your attacks on our character!
Mr. Bates: [Backs off; walks over to the Judge] So, can you think of any suspects, Judge?
Judge Richelieu: Ah, well…
Mr. Bates: How about yourself?
Judge Richelieu: Me? Why would I kill Mr. Goodhue?
Mr. Bates: I don’t think you would kill him only because he wouldn’t support you as you ran for office…perhaps because I showed that both of us had evidence against you?
Mrs. Bates: [Disturbed] What? What evidence did you have against the Judge?
Mr. Bates: Bribes. Bribes, my dear. [to the Judge] You’re not just prejudiced, Richelieu, you’re corrupt.
Judge Richelieu: [Standing] Slander! [he punches Bates] Why, I’ll have you -!
Mr. Lehmann: Calm down, gents! Mr. Bates, there’s no need to do this! Please, stop!
Mr. Bates: [Getting back up] “Have me” what? Murdered? [Pause] All I’m saying is that we lay out all our cards on the table. Right, Ms. Coleman?
Ms. Coleman: Don’t think you can blame this on me, Mr. Bates.
Mr. Bates: I was just thinking…sodas are often used to cover up illegal beverages, are they not? Surely, you of all people would know that. I assume you thought it would cover up the taste of the poison?
Ms. Coleman: [Angrily] But why would I poison him?
Mr. Bates: How about you latest film coming out? The propaganda one?
Ms. Coleman: Please, my own little company produced that film, using a lot of my own money! Who would pay me to do a film for them?
Mr. Bates: Exactly; put you on the edge of disaster, I imagine. [to the others] Mr. Goodhue didn’t like the message of the film and he was going to launch a campaign against it. Though I’m sure that’s going to be postponed…
Ms. Coleman: He was telling everyone to boycott my movie!
Mr. Bates: No help from your “Chicago businessmen” friends? I’m sure they’d like some good publicity since their boss was imprisoned. I’m pretty sure they even have enough to keep your studio from going bankrupt. Your last two films have been far from successful.
Mr. Blackwood: Bates, this has gone far enough. We will not allow you to sit here and offend us any longer.
Mr. Bates: Ah, insults, offenses…what could be more insulting to you than your precious daughter snatched away by a poor man?
Mr. Lehmann: Mr. Bates, please, just for get it!
Mrs. Blackwood: And why should he? You should be ashamed of taking Annabelle away from us!
Mr. Lehmann: [Threateningly] She was not yours to buy and sell to begin with.
Mr. Blackwood: If that wretched Goodhue hadn’t introduced the two of you, she would have!
Mr. Bates: [hurt] Out of respect for the dead, will you refrain from insulting Daniel?
Mrs. Blackwood: [laughing cruelly] Do you know what an insult is, Mr. Bates? An insult is your daughter marrying a man who when asked what his family tree is like, he replies, “It’s brown with green leaves, and makes apples.”
Mr. Lehmann: And what about how you treat your daughter, eh?
Mrs. Bates: [Smiling complacently] Oh, can we please stop all this arguing? Dear, you know that you and I are the biggest suspects.
[Pause]
Mr. Bates: What do you mean?
Mrs. Bates: [incredulous] Now that he’s dead, the fortune is ours. [Pause, smiling] The will, remember?
Mr. Bates: Dear, I told you that you didn’t understand it - we are just the executors of the will! The money is all supposed to go to charity!
Mrs. Bates: What?! I went through all the trouble of poisoning his glass for nothing?!
[Long pause]
Mr. Bates: [unbelieving] You?
Mrs. Bates: [facing the others; businesslike] Come now. I’m sure I at least saw Mr. Blackwood put something in his glass, and if my husband is correct, then all of us are suspects. Also…[she glances at her husband] it seems to me that the only one of us who seems to want to catch the murderer…is him.
Mr. Bates: Margaret, what are you saying?
Ms. Coleman: [catching on] Ah…just like in the movies…a dramatic confession of poisoning his dear friend in a fit of madness.
Mr. Bates: So you admit you helped poison his drink?
Ms. Coleman: [grinning] I might have added a drop or two.
Mrs. Blackwood: [smiling cruelly] How sad. I would never have suspected him, but with all these witnesses, and you dead, who is to say otherwise?
Judge Richelieu: It certainly would hold up in any court I know.
Mr. Bates: You can’t be considering this! Margaret, not you. After all we’ve been through together –
Mrs. Bates: You mean, “After all I’ve had to put up with.”
Mr. Blackwood: We can bargain, Mr. Bates.
Mr. Lehmann: Have you gone mad? You’re going to kill an innocent man to hide your shame!
Mr. Blackwood: Stay out of this, Lehmann. I said we could bargain. If you drink the poison calmly, we’ll say “Goodhue and Bates committed suicide.” See? We’d only be half lying.
Mr. Bates: No. [Everyone laughs] I’m not drinking. Would you stoop so low as to kill me in cold blood?
Mrs. Blackwood: Come now, Mr. Bates, do you think we got where we are today by saying, “Please” and “Thank you”?
Ms. Coleman: [stepping forward] Well, the police will probably have the door open soon. You had better have your drink and die peacefully. Witnesses against people with my kind of connections rarely make it to court.
[The murderers begin advancing on Bates]
Judge Richelieu: Any last wishes, Bates?
Mr. Blackwood: If it’s nothing too expensive.
Mrs. Blackwood: I told you when you first started that boy on the road to success that he’d be the death of you.
Mr. Lehmann: [Running between them and Bates] Stop this! No one else needs to die tonight!
Mr. Blackwood: [snarling] That’s where you’re wrong, boy!
[He throws Lehmann out of the way {on the table?} and grabs one of Bates’ arms and pulls a weapon (knife, gun, etc.) Lehmann gets up, but the Judge catches him]
Mr. Blackwood: Death quietly with poison or painfully with this. Your choice.
Mr. Bates: No!
Mr. Blackwood: Choose or I will for you!
Mr. Bates: No!
Mr. Blackwood: [indecisive] Dear, what do you think?
Mrs. Blackwood: That’s a new suit, dear. Blood is so hard for the servants to get out.
Mr. Blackwood: [shoves Bates in a chair] Drink.
Mr. Bates: I refuse.
Mr. Blackwood: [shrugs apologetically] Sorry, dear.
[Mr. Bates flinches; suddenly, there’s a huge bang and the doors fly open. Two policemen run in with guns leveled.]
Police #1: Nobody move! [pointing at Blackwood] You, drop that.
Mr. Blackwood: I know what this looks like, but…
Police #2: [coldly] We heard your conversation. Drop it. [He drops the gun] All of you, except Bates, out there [jerks his head towards the door].
[They begin filing out. Mr. Bates stops them from taking Lehmann. The Maitre D’ rushes in.]
Mr. Bates: [stands up, strides over and slams the door. He stomps furiously and looks around as if for something to break. He calms down and begins clutching his forehead; pause] How?
[The other two turn towards him]
Mr. Bates: How?! [Pause] Those people…they knew him! They knew me! How could they just…kill us? No remorse…it seems unreal...[long pause; he leans against the wall and looks at Lehmann] Why would…why would anyone kill Daniel?
[Pause]
Mr. Lehmann: [indifferent] I’m sure there are reasons to kill any man.
Mr. Bates: [sharply] Lehmann, What are you saying? If anyone should be grateful for his kindness, it should be you! [grieved] You were like a son to him! [pause] I know he was the one who introduced you to Annabelle.
Mr. Lehmann: [angered] And what has it brought her?! The hatred of her parents, every good thing yanked out of her hands…Mr. Bates, they won’t even look at her anymore.
Mr. Bates: [bitterly] Got taken out of the Blackwood’s will, didn’t you? [Lehmann stops talking; Bates realizes a little how deeply his words have cut him] No! I-I’m…sorry. [Pause; small smile] Goodhue always did tell me I needed to hold my tongue more often, but…listen. You don’t need their money. I clawed the way to the top in my day, and stopped. My wife never really did forgive me for that, as you could see. [very sadly] Look where that little taste of wealth got her.
Mr. Lehmann: [Coldly] I notice it is mostly the wealthy who talk about how dangerous their wealth is. [Pause] Why didn’t Goodhue just give me a better job when I met Anna?
Mr. Bates: Listen, the reason why Goodhue couldn’t just hand you everything was because it had to come through hard work. You had to be prepared.
Mr. Lehmann: That’s quite easy for him to decide. Tell me, why did he not even look twice in my direction before I became foreman? Why are there still plenty of starving men operating the machines in his factories?! I know there are – until very, very recently, I was one of them!
Mr. Bates: Lehmann, he is – [pause]. He was trying to change that! He…he saw some of himself in you. He remembered what life was like, before I promoted him and started to prepare him. [Lehmann is startled] He saw you, and he decide to start changing. [beat] Now that I think about it, that was what this whole dinner was supposed to be about. He didn’t really care whether all the people here hated him or not, he just wanted them to change.
Mr. Lehmann: He – he saw me? Back then? When I was at the machines? [Bates nods; Lehmann sits down, thinking hard; he wipes his eyes a few times, then puts his face in his hands]
[The Maitre D’, who has been standing quietly in the background during the discussion, becoming increasingly more disturbed, steps forward]
Maitre D’: [slowly] Mr. Lehmann…where…were you, when I was bringing out the hors d'oeuvres?
Mr. Lehmann: [he recovers slightly, then takes a small bottle clearly labeled with a skull and crossbones and sets it on the table; leans forward, arms crossed, elbows on knees]
Mr. Bates: No…no…[he shakes his head and steps back]
[The Maitre D’ exits; the police enter and remove Lehmann]
Mr. Bates: [waits for a few moments, then walks forward; sadly] Well, Daniel, you said it was going to be an interesting night…
[He exits]
[Lights down, curtains close]
[StageMaster enters in front of (?) curtains]
StageMaster: Mr. Bates asked an interesting question: “How could they kill him?” How could people who knew have known each other for years kill without remorse? Strangely enough, there is an answer: because every single one of them had killed him in their hearts a hundred times over. From there, it was a simple transition from a thought to an action. Once you begin to hate someone, it is only a matter of time until death takes its course…
[Lights down]
Current Mood: 
contemplativeCurrent Music: "Crooked Deep Down" by Derek Webb 
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sylvansorrow's journal
melancholy