DEADLY MANNERS

CHAPTER 1: "THE BIG BASH"

Written by

Ali Garfinkel

MAIN CHARACTERS

VERONICA BILLINGS (late 30s): made of money. She lives to host. If the party is bad, it is a reflection upon her. And we can't have that.

WILLIAM BILLINGS (40s): Veronica's husband. He doesn't care much for parties, but he loves his wife, god dammit. And if she's happy, he's happy. Happy wife, happy life. Or so he's heard.

OLIVIA BILLINGS (18): the Billings' adopted African daughter. Smart, sharp, and totally disillusioned with her parents’ lifestyle.

BUTLER (GEORGE) (60s): as stated. He is quick, sneaky, and always manages to appear when you least expect.

MAID (BEATRICE) (20s): simple, sweet, minds her manners (sometimes) and does her job.

SIDE CHARACTERS

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLE (30s): flamboyant magician.

ROGER AND NANCY CLARK (50s): a politician and his wife

JOSEPH AND ESTHER FEINSTEIN (40s): charity benefactors.

RANDOM PARTY GUEST VOICES

TIME OF DAY

NIGHT

CHAPTER ONE

EFX: party chatter and live jazz piano fills the room

NARRATORIt was the winter of 1954, and the annual dinner gala at the Billings’ estate was packed with politicians, philanthropists, people of all enormous wealth and status. Par for the course, of course.

EFX: fork clinking glass and chatter dies down.

NARRATOR (CONT’D)This event was the brainchild of Veronica Billings...

VERONICA BILLINGSAhem!

NARRATORA blue blood by birth, but she swore it ran green.

VERONICA BILLINGSWelcome, welcome, welcome to our home, everyone!

EFX: Crowd cheer and applause

VERONICA BILLINGS (CONT’D)It is that time of year again where we all gather and celebrate the blessing that is life!

WILLIAM BILLINGS(yelling from back)

My wallet seems to think that time comes more than once a year!

EFX: laughter

NARRATORBill Billings wasn’t much for public fanfare, but he always played his part. He raised his glass in acknowledgement, but immediately left the spotlight of attention his wife had garnered.

2.

VERONICA BILLINGSAnd of course, my husband William, who you all know and, I hope, love as much as I do. Well, maybe not as much. We are married, after all!

EFX: more laughter

VERONICA BILLINGS (CONT’D)Olivia? Olivia darling, where are you?

NARRATOROlivia Billings was Veronica and William’s adopted daughter. A young Veronica had plucked her from her impoverished land of Liberia when she was just a child. She cared not about the laws of her own segregated country, for the wealthy had their own segregation: The only things that truly separated their kind from the others were commas and zeroes.

OLIVIA BILLINGSHere, mama.

VERONICA BILLINGSWell come forward, won’t you?

(to all)A shy Billings! I could swear you weren’t even mine.

OLIVIA BILLINGSI’m not.

EFX: scattered laughter

NARRATORLike her father, Olivia did not enjoy the spotlight as much. At least, not when she had to share it with her mother.

VERONICA BILLINGSFor those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, this is my daughter, Olivia. I saved her from a life of nothing, isn’t that grand?

EFX: cheers

3.

NARRATOROlivia smiled with gratitude. Or tried to, at least.

VERONICA BILLINGSNow, everyone eat, drink, and keep the party going!

EFX: applause, crowd “woo’s”

NARRATORVeronica schmoozed her way across the room, greeting guests with endless effervescence.

BUTLERMadam.

EFX: Veronica gasping, glass dropping, shattering

Music: Theme

VERONICA BILLINGSHeavens! You know you mustn’t sneak up on me like that!

BUTLERMy mistake. The chef wanted to know when the main course should be circulated, as you had not determined a time prior.

NARRATORGeorge, the ever-faithful Butler, had a knack for appearing when he was least expected, a rather exasperating talent.

VERONICA BILLINGSOh you know scheduling takes all the fun out of it! But all right, I suppose eight o’clock is sufficient. And make sure the aperitif is served immediately before.

BUTLEROf course, madam. I will ring for the maid and have her clean this up. Again, my apologies for startling you so.

Music: Cue Maid Theme

4.

NARRATORThe Maid, Beatrice, entered the room, and all eyes instantly fell on her. She was young and effortlessly beautiful, two things Veronica clung to with every ounce of her being. She quickly made her way over to the broken glass and began sweeping up the mess.

EFX: dustpan sweeping, glass pieces clinking

VERONICA BILLINGSMake sure you get every last piece.

MAIDOf course, ma’am.

VERONICA BILLINGSAnd what did I tell you about calling me “ma’am”?

EFX: high heel crunching glass beneath it

NARRATORVeronica glared sharply at the help, giving the shards of glass a run for its money.

MAIDMy apologies.

NARRATORVeronica sauntered away to the other guests who demanded her presence. The Maid watched her go, briefly connecting eyes across the room with Olivia, who glared at her pitifully.

Music: Enter Feinstein Theme

VERONICA BILLINGSJoseph and Esther Feinstein. My most trusted benefactors. I’m so glad you could make it.

ESTHER FEINSTEINWell you know it wasn’t easy with this awful snowstorm coming. The radio said we’re due for fourteen inches! Can you believe that?

5.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINEsther, enough about the weather. I had to hear about it the entire drive here!

VERONICA BILLINGSNow now, let’s not grab at each other’s throats like that. We’re all just here to have a good time, right?

JOSEPH FEINSTEINSpeaking of here, where is Senator Clark?

ESTHER FEINSTEINAnd you tell me not to start!

JOSEPH FEINSTEINI have some ideas, that’s all. I don’t see what the big deal is about talking shop with a powerful man.

ESTHER FEINSTEINHe’s trying to change the property taxes so he stops losing money on his terrible building investments.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINThey’re not terrible, I’m being robbed by the government! A few individuals in particular, I’m almost certain of it. I have names. I think.

ESTHER FEINSTEINI didn’t realize I married Joseph McCarthy.

VERONICA BILLINGSDon’t even joke like that! My husband is still a bit sensitive about this whole ‘communist’ business.

NARRATORVeronica scanned the room for her husband. She spotted him across the way amidst a small crowd, being greatly entertained by their hired magician.

Efx: Footsteps to the other side of the room

6.

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLEPick a card, any card!

NARRATORWilliam pulled a card from the deck. It was the Jack of Diamonds.

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLENow put it back in the deck. Face down. Don’t let me see it!

EFX: cards shuffling

NARRATORWilliam did just so. After a few moments of shuffling, Enrique pulled a random card from the stack.

EFX: card noises?

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLEIs this your card?

WILLIAM BILLINGSNo sir.

NARRATORHe put it face down on the table and pulled another.

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLEHow about this?

WILLIAM BILLINGSWrong again.

NARRATOREnrique put that one face down as well, and pulled a third card.

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLEThis?

NARRATORWilliam shook his head. Enrique put the third card face down in front of him.

ENRIQUE ENSEMBLEHmmm... Well, sir, if none of those three cards were yours... Then explain... THIS!

7.

NARRATOREnrique flipped over the three face down cards to reveal: THREE JACK OF DIAMONDS.

EFX: crowd gasping, applause

WILLIAM BILLINGSMy goodness, man! A triumph! Truly outstanding.

NARRATOREnrique bowed fantastically, soaking up the sounds of pleasure he craved so desperately from his audience.

OLIVIA BILLINGSA trick deck for a tricky man. Nothing exceptionally magical about that.

WILLIAM BILLINGSDon’t be rude, Olivia. It’s unbecoming.

NARRATOROlivia rolled her eyes, sipping at her drink in disdain.

Efx: Exhale

OLIVIA BILLINGSI’m going upstairs.

Efx: Walking away

NARRATORVeronica noticed her daughter’s hasty exit and approached her husband.

VERONICA BILLINGSNow what was that all about?

WILLIAM BILLINGSChampagne problems.

VERONICA BILLINGSWhat? What’s wrong with the champagne?

8.

WILLIAM BILLINGSNo, my sweet, I simply mean she is being a teenager. You know how it can be. You were that young once.

NARRATORHis eyes drifted over to where the Maid was clearing out a row of downed drinks. Veronica noticed.

VERONICA BILLINGSYes, well, time passes. For us all.

NARRATOROutside, the snow had started its earthly assault, chunks of white colliding with the ground like frosty missiles.

ESTHER FEINSTEINSee? I told you it was going to be bad. How are we supposed to get home? Maybe we should leave now.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINYou know Veronica would never allow that. Besides, we haven’t even had dinner yet. Perhaps it’ll subside by then.

ESTHER FEINSTEINAll right.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINWill you hold my drink? I’m off to the rest room.

Efx: Footsteps away

EFX: fork tapping glass

VERONICA BILLINGSAttention, attention everyone! As you may have noticed, there is a bit of a storm raging around us. Rest assured, should roads become undriveable, you are all welcome to stay here until it lets up. We have plenty of space, plenty of heat, and I can’t afford to have anything happen to any of you. Literally!

EFX: crowd chuckles

9.

NARRATORThe lights in the room flickered.

EFX: lights buzzing

VERONICA BILLINGSPerhaps I should go grab some candles, just in case.

NARRATORVeronica left, and the guests chattered on, forks feeding into hungry mouths, plates being scraped, glasses clinking together, the sound of a soft piano. It was a lavish affair and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

EFX: Crowd Surge and plates dropping

Efx: crowd gasps

NARRATOR (CONT’D)Until the power went out completely.

PARTY GUESTSWhere’s the light? / This isn’t good. / Turn the power back on!

NARRATORAnd then...

EFX: A GUNSHOT

PARTY GUESTS(whispering)

What was that sound? / Was that a gunshot? / Couldn’t have been.

NARRATORWhen the lights came on, a shriek was heard from a nearby room.

EFX: Veronica screaming

Efx: Footsteps.

10.

NARRATOR (CONT’D)In the Billiards room, everyone found an astonished Veronica, standing over the dead, bleeding body of the formerly fabulous Enrique Ensemble, a bullet hole through his head, a silver pistol on the ground beside him. William rushed to his wife’s side.

WILLIAM BILLINGSWhat the hell happened here?

OLIVIA BILLINGSLooks like he made his life disappear.

WILLIAM BILLINGSA suicide?

OLIVIA BILLINGSMaybe it’s another trick.

VERONICA BILLINGSDon’t be so crass, Olivia. A man is dead. Oh dear, and on my Parisian rug! How cruel.

BUTLERMadam.

NARRATORA shaken Veronica clutched her chest in fright.

VERONICA BILLINGSGeorge!

Efx: Pick up old phone

BUTLERApologies again. But it appears as though the phone lines are down.

WILLIAM BILLINGSThen how are we supposed to call the police?

OLIVIA BILLINGSWe’re not, it seems.

MAIDShould I take care of the...

11.

OLIVIA BILLINGS (INTERRUPTING)I wouldn’t touch it.

ESTHER FEINSTEINOH! Dear god! Is that...

Efx: Picking up old revolver

NARRATOREveryone looked at where Esther was pointing. It was to the silver pistol on the floor, engraved with the letters “J.F.”

ESTHER FEINSTEINJoseph, why is your gun on the floor?!

EFX: crowd murmurs

NARRATORJoseph patted his pockets in disbelief while Esther grabbed the gun.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINI have no idea.

ESTHER FEINSTEINPlease tell me you didn’t do this.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINOf course not! I was in the rest room.

OLIVIA BILLINGSSo you say.

VERONICA BILLINGSOlivia!

ESTHER FEINSTEINHow did this man get your gun?

OLIVIA BILLINGSMaybe he didn’t.

WILLIAM BILLINGS(bluntly)

Olivia.

OLIVIA BILLINGSWhat? This party was so boring until now.

12.

VERONICA BILLINGSBoring?!

JOSEPH FEINSTEINHe was a magician. He could have easily taken it from my pocket.

NARRATORJoseph felt the prying eyes of a curious crowd. His wife backed away from him.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINEsther, please.

ESTHER FEINSTEINI think I need to lie down. Excuse me.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINEsther!

NARRATORHe went to go after her, but William stopped him.

Efx: sound of struggling

JOSEPH FEINSTEINWhat are you doing? Let me go!

WILLIAM BILLINGSJust calm down, Joe.

Efx: Joseph stumbling backwards

VERONICA BILLINGSPerhaps you should stay in here for now, Joseph. At least until the police come.

JOSEPH FEINSTEINYou can’t be serious. You can’t possibly think I had anything to do with this!

OLIVIA BILLINGSClearly she does.

VERONICA BILLINGSTo your room, Olivia. Now.

EFX: Footsteps

13.

Efx: Door closes

Efx: Maid walking to the dresser, grabbing a key, and locking the door.

JOSEPH FEINSTEIN(Muffled)

Wait! You have to come back.

ROGER CLARKI always knew you couldn’t trust his kind.

Efx: Roger America Theme

NARRATORProminent politician Roger Clark sneered at the now ostracized Joseph Feinstein. His wife Nancy looked at him, embarrassed.

NANCY CLARKRoger, don’t start.

ROGER CLARKIt’s bad enough the world of politics is filled with scandal, now this Jew is bringing chaos to what is supposed to be a perfectly wonderful evening!

WILLIAM BILLINGSWe don’t know what happened or why. And attacking a man for his religious beliefs will not be tolerated in this house. As you can see, all kinds are accepted here.

ROGER CLARKI like you Billings, but you liberals make me sick. This guy is clearly a murderer! Should I just sit back and accept that too?

EFX: dinner bell ringing

VERONICA BILLINGSWell I suppose that’s the sound of dinner... if anyone’s still hungry.

EFX: crowd murmurs, people start to leave

VERONICA BILLINGS (CONT’D)Please, don’t go!

14.

EFX: lots of footsteps

NARRATORVeronica followed the exiting crowd to the front doors of her house. Through the windows, everyone could see that the snow outside had piled halfway high up the window already.

NANCY CLARKIt’s too dangerous to go now.

ROGER CLARKSo is staying in the house with a murderer!

NARRATORRoger tried to open the doors, but they were frozen shut.

EFX: doors rattling

WILLIAM BILLINGSRoger, relax. Let’s wait for the police to arrive and we’ll sort everything out. Until then, why don’t we all have some dinner, and at least try to enjoy what’s left of this night.

VERONICA BILLINGSYes, my incredible husband once again has a very good point. We don’t know how long this storm is to last, and we all need to eat. So let’s at least do that, and try to keep ourselves busy until help arrives.

NARRATORVeronica gave her husband a loving kiss. Everyone looked at them adoringly. Except the Maid. Who turned her back to the ensuing affection and aggressively attended to a nearby dusty table. The party-goers filed back into the living room where plates of food had been laid out before them.

Efx: Sit down

BUTLERDinner is served.

15.

EFX: sounds of forks on plates, eating, clanging, drinks pouring

VERONICA BILLINGSThank you, George.

BUTLEROf course, madam.

Beat.

NARRATORThe festive raucousness had dwindled to a low murmur, one of Veronica’s worst fears.

WILLIAM BILLINGSAre you all right, my dear?

VERONICA BILLINGSI don’t know. This whole situation has made me feel rather ill.

WILLIAM BILLINGSKeep people’s spirits up. It’s what you do best. We’re going to be all right.

EFX: smooch

VERONICA BILLINGSPerhaps we should play a game! Would everybody like that?

EFX: scattered subdued agreement

VERONICA BILLINGS (CONT’D)How about some charades?

NANCY CLARKI think that’s a superb idea, Veronica.

VERONICA BILLINGSWhy don’t I go first? I’ll act something out and you all try to guess what it is. Ready?

NANCY CLARKTwo words.

EFX: putting hands on hips

16.

NANCY CLARK (CONT’D)A person!

NARRATORVeronica nodded, then grabbed an ornate black candlestick holder from the mantle.

EFX: swooshing swings

NANCY CLARKBaseball player?

(Beat)Hmm... Don’t really know many sports players... Honey?

ROGER CLARK(begrudgingly)

Yogi Berra?

PARTY GUESTSMickey Mantle? / Hank Aaron? / Nellie Fox?

NARRATORVeronica saw Olivia lurking around the doorway. She grabbed her and pulled her over so that she was front and center. Veronica pointed to her daughter’s skin, then made the swinging motion again.

PARTY GUESTSJackie Robinson!

VERONICA BILLINGSYes!

EFX: cheering and clapping

VERONICA BILLINGS (CONT’D)Oh good! That was so fun!

NARRATOROlivia yanked her arm away from her mother.

OLIVIA BILLINGSFor who?

VERONICA BILLINGSNow Olivia...

17.

OLIVIA BILLINGSAnd you can’t use props... of any kind.

Efx: Footsteps

NARRATORVeronica watched as her daughter crossed the room to her father. She could see her carrying on while William nodded and consoled her.

VERONICA BILLINGSSomeone else take a turn! I should check on our Esther.

NARRATOROn the other side of the room, Roger chatted up the Maid, who was trying to clear some of the empty plates.

EFX: plates clinking.

ROGER CLARKAren’t you just the sweetest little thing. You must be horrified at this whole ordeal.

NARRATORHe fingered the frills of her uniform. The Maid evaded his unwelcome touch.

MAIDPerhaps, sir, you should console your wife.

ROGER CLARKCome on now. It’s a party. I’m a powerful man. Isn’t there something you want?

MAIDCertainly. But not from you.

NARRATORShe tried to leave.

Efx: Roger grabbing the maid’s arm.

ROGER CLARKYou’re making a mistake.

18.

MAIDI suppose we’ll see about that.

NARRATORThe Maid yanked herself free and fled. But not before being spotted by Roger’s wife Nancy, who witnessed the entire thing as she flawlessly acted out her charades...

Efx: Footsteps and Veronica’s voice is coming closer.

VERONICA BILLINGSEsther? Are you all right? You should eat something, darling.

ESTHER FEINSTEINHow am I supposed to eat when my husband could be a killer?!

VERONICA BILLINGSYou don’t know that yet.

ESTHER FEINSTEINDoesn’t mean it isn’t true. You know, I always had a feeling about him. He was always very secretive with his business dealings. He could have been up to anything.

VERONICA BILLINGSCould be worse, couldn’t it? He could have been the one who died.

ESTHER FEINSTEINI’d almost prefer it.

VERONICA BILLINGSYou don’t mean that. You’re just shaken up. Regardless, you still need to take care of yourself. Come, let’s go downstairs and rejoin the party.

ESTHER FEINSTEINYou go ahead. I need a few more minutes.

NARRATORVeronica gave her a quick hug, and made her exit.

EFX: Footsteps going downstairs

19.

Efx: Party getting loud again

NARRATOR (CONT’D)The party seemed to be ramping up again, people desperate to forget that only a few feet away lie a dead man locked in a room with his supposed killer. Veronica scanned the room, pleased that her night was not yet completely lost.

VERONICA BILLINGS(to everyone)

In a few moments the Butler will come by with more cocktails. Please, everyone help yourselves and let him know if you need anything else.

EFX: murmurs of understanding, piano playing

NARRATORVeronica rejoined her husband, who sat at their grand piano, playing a jaunty tune.

VERONICA BILLINGSKeeping the spirits up too, I see.

WILLIAM BILLINGSI may not love these parties of yours, but I do love you. And it pains me to see you so upset.

VERONICA BILLINGSWhat are we going to do? What if we’re snowed in for days? The body will certainly start to smell. Oh, what an awful smell that would be! And Joseph... What are we to do with him? You don’t think he actually did it, do you?

WILLIAM BILLINGSAs much as I don’t want to believe he’s capable of such a thing, people always have ways of surprising you.

VERONICA BILLINGSI just keep thinking about poor Esther. What will become of her?

20.

WILLIAM BILLINGSEsther is strong and resilient. Just like you. No matter what happens, she will be fine, and so will we.

VERONICA BILLINGSI do hope you’re right.

Efx: Man stumbling and glass breaks

VERONICA BILLINGS (CONT’D)Oh no...

NARRATORVeronica noticed a significantly drunker Roger harassing a freshly emerged Esther.

ROGER CLARK(slurring)

You people, despicable. That’s what you are. Buncha Christ killers. No wonder you murder. It’s in your blood!

ESTHER FEINSTEINMr. Clark I find your comments reprehensible and I--

ROGER CLARKI don’t give a shit what you find.

(hiccup)You and your people can go to hell for all I care!

OLIVIA BILLINGSJewish people don’t believe in hell.

ROGER CLARKOh good, the moor has something to say. Speak up child, unless you want a whippin’ from your ‘massa’.

VERONICA BILLINGSNow that is ENOUGH of that! Don’t you dare speak to my daughter that way!

ROGER CLARKDon’t you know who I am? I’m the most powerful man in this room!

(MORE)

21.

I could buy and sell all of you at the drop of a hat.

NARRATORWilliam quickly rushed to Roger and escorted him away.

Efx: Two sets of footsteps. One is walking and the other is stumbling.

WILLIAM BILLINGSLet’s go take a breather, shall we?

VERONICA BILLINGSI’m so sorry Olivia. Are you all right?

OLIVIA BILLINGSI hate your friends.

EFX: lights buzzing

VERONICA BILLINGSSorry everyone, this storm is truly wreaking havoc on our electrical system. Let me make sure we’re on course for dessert.

Efx: Footsteps

NARRATORVeronica left. A few moments later, the power went out again. Everyone kept talking and carrying on, knowing that it was all they could do. When the lights finally came back on, Veronica had returned.

VERONICA BILLINGSEsther, I know you’re upset, but we do have to at least feed your husband.

ESTHER FEINSTEINDo we?

VERONICA BILLINGSI’ll come with you. Don’t worry, there’s nothing to be afraid of. After all, you’re the one with the gun now, aren’t you?

ESTHER FEINSTEINYou’re right. Let’s go.

ROGER CLARK (CONT'D)

22.

NARRATORThe two women grabbed a plate of food and went to the room where Joseph Feinstein was quartered off. Veronica grabbed the key from the dresser...

Efx: The door unlocking, door knob is turned, and long squeaking sound of door opening.

Efx: Esther and Veronica start screaming.

Efx: Footsteps of crowd rushing to them.

NARRATOR (CONT’D)A familiar ornate black candlestick holder covered in blood laid next to the now dead body(beat)of Joseph Feinstein.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

23.