Murder Mystery Script Package
Murder Before Midnight - John McDermott (1997)
(8,433 words - including Dramatis Personae)
3 male characters; 3 female characters
Sir Brian Burrows lives in Stocksley Grange but he cannot be said to appreciate its history. Sir Brian is a self-made businessman who has made his money by running his own publishing company. Unfortunately, Sir Brian's appreciation of the literary arts extends as far as his understanding of his accountant's ledger. Money, for Sir Brian, is not the means by which he can enjoy the fruits of life with the literati, but a symbol of his achievement and power. He holds the former Lord of the Manor, Sir Guy Stocksley, in contempt as someone who "is a loser", born with a silver spoon who now deserves the wooden spoon.
Sir Brian is the cuckoo in Sir Guy's former nest and wouldn't Sir Guy just love to be rid of him. Not a chance? Well, so Sir Brian seems to think. But if he knew the news of Sir Guy's Canadian inheritance would he be so sure? A move back to the manor for Sir Guy would be popular with many, not least Catchpole, the much put-upon servant bequeathed to Sir Brian as part of the deeds of sale when the manor changed hands. Catchpole, professional at all times, still shows first loyalty to his former master, a fact which irritates Sir Brian and gives Catchpole himself a firm motive for murder. But did he get there first? Sylvia Burrows, Brian's wife, gave up a glittering acting career in the West End to become Lady of the Manor.
And what thanks has she received for such a sacrifice? A husband who drinks too much and makes unreciprocated passes at Mimsie Baker, his secretary and clandestine lover of Sir Guy. Mimsie is very protective of Sir Guy, who is now suffering from ill health due to a bout of pneumonia. They live together in The Lodge, the former servants' house, located in the grounds of The Grange.
Like Ruth Conrad, their motive for murder is strong. Ruth is Sir Brian's leading moneymaker and talented author. She intends to sue her employer who, she believes, is paying her a pittance and far less that she deserves. But how can she hope to succeed against a man who has built an empire on ruthlessness and watertight contracts. How could anyone succeed against such a man, unless, of course, murder was their game?
| Music - play lengths | |
| Opening | 00:39 seconds |
| Play Out | 00:27 seconds |
| Sound Effects Included on this CD | |
| Doorbell 3 rings | 00:09 seconds |
| telephone 3 rings | 00:22 seconds |
| Crash | 00:05 seconds |
To obtain this CD, when ordering just select the Music Cd as an additional item.