TRENCH: But who are you, Old Tom? You have never said.
OLD TOM: I think that some mysteries are best left unsolved. Don’t you think that knowing would somehow spoil the magic?
TRENCH: Yes, yes I suppose it would. So, the armchair detective has solved his last ever case, then?
OLD TOM: You have finished your tea, Trench – it is time.
TRENCH: Yes, I’m sorry – I’d better go.
OLD TOM: We’ve had some fun, though.
(‘The Armchair Detective’ mystery music starts playing in the background.)
OLD TOM: We discovered that it was Jill Masterson manipulating events behind Mayflower Court…
TRENCH: … and that Marcus Dreadbury’s missing fiancé was a lot closer to his manor-house home than we first suspected…
OLD TOM: … and the best celebrity stalkers always turn out to be the spouse…
TRENCH … the brothers Quinn mystery at Fisherman’s Cove was a family affair…
TRENCH: - and shopped a shoplifter! And, finally, found that it was Max and Dominic who were behind a dastardly revenge plot to pave paradise – err the Stokeham Herald – and put up a parking lot. Funny, that sounds like a song.
(The background music fades away.)
(We hear the remarkable sound of OLD TOM rising…)
TRENCH: Old Tom, you’ve stood up – from your armchair! What’s happening?
OLD TOM: I cannot abide people lolling around on chairs all day! Come on, stand up man – I’m here to shake your hand.
TRENCH: I’m speechless, but I will rise to the occasion.
(TRENCH gets up, and they warmly shake hands.)
TRENCH: Old Tom, I would like to thank…
OLD TOM: No, Trench – there’s really no need. There is only one more thing we need to say to each other – and we don’t require a clue from any black box to know what that is, do we?
TRENCH: No, no we don’t. Here goes then…
CLOSING MYSTERY MUSIC
CAST LIST (continued)
DOMINIC JENKINS
MAX STERLING
BLACK BOX
JILL MASTERSON
SAWN-OFF
DARNIA STORM
GORDON
GEOFFREY
SHOPPER
SERGEANT STRONG
Read more…
Read The Invisible Detective, a ‘sideways glance’ which is intended to accompany and compliment this script in an original and thought-provoking way.
Look out for PLAY OF THE MONTH at www.thearmchairdetective.moonfruit.com
www.thearmchairdetective.moonfruit.com