Manhattan Murder Mystery Page #6

- Tell them your story.

- I don't have a story.

- I got nothing.

- That's right, you've got nothing.

- Unless I locate her, huh?

- Yeah, okay.

- Okay?

- Sit down. We're going to the theatre.

Jack, you were there when Mrs. House

died, right? You saw her?

- You saw her?

- She was lying on the floor.

- You're sure it was her, right?

- I'm sure.

- He's sure.

- Right. Right.

My wife's had bad dreams and

doesn't know what she's talking about.

This is for the times I call you to fix

the faucet and you show up months late.

The super is a drunk.

But we've seen him smelling

of Jack Daniel's. Remember?

- Yeah, but...

- Well...

- I know he didn't see Mrs. House.

- Lf she's a twin, it's a different story.

- You don't feel she is.

- I don't know.

Oh, I know.

Unless he's in on it.

The super's in on it?

The super can't change a fuse.

I mean, she...

- What?

- Well, she's alive. My question is:

- Who was in that bag? I mean...

- She's not alive unless she's a twin.

- Okay? Now, keep quiet.

- Look, somebody...

Somebody got cremated, Larry.

Somebody.

Shut up.

Lillian House. Maiden name Lillian

Beale. Born in Pennsylvania, 1935.

Married Paul House.

She was not a twin.

Had a sister who went to England 20

years ago, a brother who died in 1987.

- This is it.

- This is where we were.

I know. And I was sitting there

after you left, having some wine.

- I looked out and saw...

- You saw her after I left?

I saw her on a bus. It was passing...

It was, like...

You're absolutely sure you saw her?

- You saw her face?

- I saw her.

Excuse me.

- I'm telling you.

- What was the bus number?

I don't know the number,

but it was heading west to east.

- It obviously was a cross-town bus.

- It's a cross-town bus.

The end of the line

is a few blocks down.

- She had to get off somewhere.

- Her destination was the next 6 blocks.

So let's look around.

Maybe we'll see...

...like, you know,

a clue or something.

- Maybe we'll see her. You saw her face?

- Don't doubt me. I'm not kidding.

- I think we reached the end of the line.

- This is it.

- Watch out. Watch...

- Yeah, what? Oh.

Look. See? See, he's turning. That's it.

- What do you think?

- What?

Think we should retrace our steps?

- You wear a tie with a dress.

- I don't even know if it looks...

- It'd be too masculine with pants.

- Just don't wear it with pants.

Ted.

- Look.

- At what?

- That hotel.

- What about it?

Waldron. I was in his apartment,

I pressed the last number dialled.

- They answered and said "Waldron. "

- Let's get to a phone.

Hello. Mrs. House, please?

Mrs. House.

Can you ring her room for me, please?

- Really?

- Well?

What? Maybe...

Well, maybe she checked out.

- Oh, God.

- Nobody. Nobody at all.

What about...?

Yeah, what about Helen Moss. Moss.

You're sure? Nobody.

Nobody at all. All right.

All right, okay. I'm sorry. Thank you.

Great.

Oh, God. It looks like

it's gonna rain again.

Well?

If I get two kings, I take one.

Otherwise, I fold. Got it?

I never go out.

- I just, I can't...

- That's how you wind up on welfare.

But I need the action,

for some reason. Okay, just...

- Cut?

- No, go ahead. I trust you. Lay it on me.

- You seem in a strange mood.

- I'm probably a little drunk.

- On Perrier?

- What? I had rum cake.

- Want any cards?

- One second.

Let me see what possibilities

I got here.

Yeah. I'm gonna have...

I'll have...

- I'm gonna have four cards.

- Four.

- Cruisin' for a bruisin'.

- Inside and outside straight.

You're in trouble now.

I can't escape the feeling that my wife

is becoming attracted to somebody else...

...and it's really bothering me.

- Really?

Yeah, that's why

I'm not playing my best.

This guy's more adventurous than I am,

and they just hit it off.

I'm gonna be very lonely,

you know, if this happens.

- You must love her a lot.

- Yeah, I do. I do.

If you want to hold on to her,

make some effort. Who's the guy?

- Ted. The guy that I fixed you up with.

- Ted?

Well, we could always switch.

Ted gets Carol, I can be your date.

Maybe I should actually make

a greater effort with Carol.

- So you bored?

- It's more fun than the Wagner opera.

Yeah. Well, to me, it's one of the most

exciting adventures I've ever been on.

Would you rather be here with Ted?

Well, he has a more enthused attitude.

- More enthused?

- Yeah.

- He's a fun guy. I'm a heavy guy.

- You used to be a lot of fun.

If you have a heavy scavenger hunt,

he's the man.

I know, but...

- Do you know that this neighbourhood...

- What?

...was where I first took you

when we started going out?

You've gotten so stodgy

in your old age.

- Remember there was a movie house...?

- Yes! Yeah, I remember.

I took you to see

Last Year at Marienbad.

I had to explain it to you

for six months.

Who knew they were flashbacks?

You know...

We've got plenty of time

to be conservative. You know?

It's like this tantalizing plum

has just dropped into our laps.

Life is such a dull routine

and here we are, right?

We're on the threshold

of a genuine mystery.

You gonna burst into song?

We're in a car.

Don't make fun of me.

I'm open to new experiences.

Let me ask a personal question.

Did you ever sleep with Ted?

- Don't get nervous.

- Sleep? What, are you nuts?

We were on an eating tour of France.

You spent an evening together.

I know. What about you?

Remember?

You spent the evening with Julie.

That meant nothing.

Julie despised me. You know that.

She thought I was a lowlife, a roach.

Jump in any time you want to defend me.

I'm waiting for you to say something

I don't agree with, okay?

Hey, you're nailing me. Jesus.

Larry.

Larry, Larry, look.

It's her! I'd say it's her!

- Oh, my God, it is.

- See what I mean? I was right.

- Are you sure?

- I'm positive. Yes.

- Oh, my God.

- Right? Right? I mean, I was...

- Jesus, I'm... That is her.

- I know. Well, come on.

- I told you so.

- What do you mean? You're nuts.

- Oh, Jesus.

- You're white.

I know. All the blood

rushed to my brother.

- Let's find out what's going on.

- I don't want to.

- You're not afraid of her?

- No. I'm a virile male.

Yet, somehow, I am scared.

Maybe because she's dead.

- I'm gonna break this thing wide open.

- Well, how?

- God, if only Ted were here.

- Don't give me Ted.

- Let's get out of here.

- No, I got an idea.

I know. We'll surprise her.

We'll sneak into the hotel.

- How?

- Yeah, no. Come on.

- Excuse me. Hi.

- Hi.

Did you see a woman come in? She was

a little woman, about five foot three?

- She had on a grey sweater?

- Older?

- Mrs. Caine? Dark hair?

- Mrs. Caine? Oh, yes. That's her.

- We had a present for her.

- That's right. What room?

- 611.

- 611. Really. Thanks a lot.

We may need information. I'll take good

care of you, if you play ball with us.

- What are you making a face for?

- Will you come on?

- I'm coming.

- What are you doing?

Okay.

- 607.

Rate this script:4.0 / 1 vote