Clue Page #3

PLUM:

I don't.

GREEN:

Yes, but you work for the United Nations.

That's a government job. And the rest of us all live in a government town.

Anyone here not earn their living from the government in one way or another?

Col. Mustard stands suddenly.

MUSTARD:

(angrily, to Wadsworth)

Wadsworth, where's our host, and why have we been brought here?

The doorbell rings.

Wadsworth exits.

We hear the door opening and Wadsworth speaks.

WADSWORTH (O.S.)

Ah! Good evening. You are eagerly awaited.

MAN (O.S.)

You lockin' me in?

I'll take the key.

WADSWORTH (O.S.)

Over my dead body, sir.

May I take your bag?

MAN (O.S.)

No. I'll leave it here 'til I need it.

WADSWORTH (O.S.)

It contains evidence, I presume?

MAN (O.S.)

Surprises, my friend. That's what it contains--surprises!

Wadsworth enters the dining room, followed by the man.

WADSWORTH:

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. Boddy.

BODDY:

What are they all doin' here?

WADSWORTH:

Eating dinner. Do sit down, Mr. Boddy.

BODDY:

(sitting)

Thanks.

Yvette starts to serve him

BODDY:

Nah, you can take that away, honey.

Mrs. Peacock hits the table.

PEACOCK:

(angrily)

Look. I demand to know what's going on. Now why have

we all been dragged up to this horrible place?

WADSWORTH:

Well. I believe we all received a letter. My letter says,

"It will be to your advantage to be present on this date because

a Mr. Boddy will bring to an end a certain long-standing confidential

and painful financial liability."

It is signed, "A friend."

GREEN:

I received a similar letter.

SCARLET:

So did we, didn't we. (indicating Prof. Plum)

BODDY:

I also received a letter.

(Yvette starts to serve him again)

No thanks, Yvette. I just ate.

GREEN:

Now, how did you know her name?

BODDY:

We know each other.

(puts his hand up Yvette's (short) skirt)

Don't we, dear?

She recoils.

WADSWORTH:

Forgive my curiosity, Mr. Boddy, but did your letter say the same thing?

BODDY:

No.

WADSWORTH:

I see . . .

(to group)

Can I interest any of you in fruit or dessert?

No response.

WADSWORTH:

In that case, may I suggest we adjourn to the study

for coffee and brandy, at which point I believe our unknown host

will reveal his intentions.

25 -- INT. GROUND FLOOR--THE STUDY -- 25

The study is by far the most comfortable room we've seen so far.

It is decorated in subdued tan colors.

There are several couches, a bookshelf, a table with drinks, and a desk.

The guests enter and look around for their host.

GREEN:

Well, there's no one here.

WADSWORTH:

(to the guests in general)

Please help yourself to brandy and be seated.

Wadsworth goes to the desk and takes a manilla envelope.

It reads For Wadsworth

Open AFTER DINNER

SCARLET:

Mind if I smoke?

Prof. Plum, seated next to Miss Scarlet, lights her cigarette.

Wadsworth opens the envelope.

He peruses the contents.

WADSWORTH:

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm instructed to you what you all have

in common with each other.

Unless you would care to do the honors, Mr. Boddy?

BODDY:

Why me? They know who I am?

WADSWORTH:

I don't think so.

You've never identified yourself to them, I believe.

Mr. Boddy stands suddenly.

BODDY:

It's a hoax! I suggest we all leave.

He takes off out the study door.

WADSWORTH:

(in pursuit)

I'm sorry, sir, you cannot leave this house!

26 -- INT. GROUND FLOOR--THE HALL -- 26

Mr. Boddy goes to the front door.

Wadsworth follows, and he is followed by the other guests.

BODDY:

No? Who's gonna stop me?

WADSWORTH:

There's no way out.

(Mr. Boddy tries the front door. It's locked.)

All the windows have bars, all the doors are locked.

BODDY:

This is an outrage! You can't hold us prisoner!

The guests, in confusion, agree.

WADSWORTH:

(shouting over the din)

Ladies and gentlemen, please! Please return to the study.

Everything will be explained.

The guests file unhappily back into the study.

Mr. Boddy walks past Wadsworth toward the rear of the hall.

WADSWORTH:

(to Mr. Boddy)

You too, Mr. Boddy.

Boddy starts running.

WADSWORTH:

Other way!

He pursues Mr. Boddy.

27 -- INT. GROUND FLOOR--CONSERVATORY -- 27

The conservatory is humid, with plants all around.

Three of the walls are brick, and the fourth is glass,

leading to the outside.

The rain can be heard and seen, against the glass.

Mr. Boddy runs in, picks up a brick and prepares to throw it through the glass.

Wadsworth enters.

WADSWORTH:

You can't get out that way.

BODDY:

Why not? It's only glass!

Suddenly, a vicious Doberman jumps at the glass, barking and snarling.

Boddy drops the brick.

28 -- INT. GROUND FLOOR--THE STUDY -- 28

The guests are already present.

Wadsworth and Mr. Boddy enter.

Wadsworth takes up his envelope again.

WADSWORTH:

Ladies and gentlemen, you all have one thing in common.

You're all being blackmailed.

For some considerable time, all of you have been paying

what you can afford and, in some cases, more than you can

afford to someone who threatens to expose you.

And none of you know who's blackmailing you, do you?

PEACOCK:

Oh, please! I've never heard anything so ridiculous.

I mean, nobody could blackmail me.

My life is an open book--I've never done anything wrong.

WADSWORTH:

Anybody else wish to deny it?

The guests look at each other, but no one responds.

WADSWORTH:

Very well. As everyone here is in the same boat, there's

no harm in my revealing some details.

And my instructions are to do so. Thank you, Yvette.

The maid, so dismissed, leaves.

Mr. Boddy's eyes follow her out.

WHITE:

Don't you think you might spare us this humiliation?

WADSWORTH:

I'm sorry. Professor Plum, you were once a professor of psychiatry,

specializing in helping paranoid and homicidal lunatics

suffering from delusions of grandeur.

PLUM:

Yes, but now I work for the United Nations.

WADSWORTH:

So your work has not changed.

But you don't practice medicine at the U.N.

His license to practice has bee lifted, correct?

SCARLET:

Why? What did he do?

WADSWORTH:

You know what doctors aren't allowed to do with their lady patients?

SCARLET:

Yeah?

WADSWORTH:

Well, he did.

SCARLET:

Ha!

PEACOCK:

Oh, how disgusting.

WADSWORTH:

(swooping down on her)

Are you making moral judgements, Mrs. Peacock?

How, then, do you justify taking bribes in return for delivering your

husband Senator Peacock's vote to certain lobbyists?

PEACOCK:

My husband is a paid consultant. There is nothing wrong with that!

WADSWORTH:

Not if it's publicly declared, perhaps.

But if the payment is delivered by slipping used greenbacks

in plain envelopes under the door of the men's room,

how would you describe that transaction?

SCARLET:

I'd say it stinks.

PEACOCK:

Well, how would you know. When were you in that men's room?

PLUM:

So it's true!

PEACOCK:

(standing)

No, it's a vicious lie!

WADSWORTH:

I'm sure we're all glad to hear that.

But you've been paying blackmail for over a year now to keep that

story out of the papers.

WHITE:

(to Peacock)

Well, I am willing to believe you.

I too am being blackmailed for something I didn't do.

GREEN:

Me too.

MUSTARD:

And me.

SCARLET:

Not me.

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