The murder at 9 p.m
Characters:
Amanda Blackeney - detective
Josephine Smith - victim
Mrs. Smith - mother in law of Josephine Smith
Ann Kingsley - mentally ill person
Gardner
Scene 1:
Amanda: (talking to the audience)
My name is Amanda Blakeney. I am a detective for 25 years. I solved many cases, but last year I had my most extraordinary one.
Everything started out with the dismissal of Ann Kingsley from the mental hospital. At the same time Josephine Smith, the doctor, who had hospitalised Ann, visited her mother in law for a coffee-klatsch.
Scene 2:
Josephine:
Thanks for the coffee. The cake was delicious, but I have to go know.
Smith:
All right. I hopefully see you soon. Bye, bye!
Josephine:
Bye!
(Josephine gets in her car and drives down the driveway. She hits the little dog, which was playing there.)
Smith:
Oh my god! Wolly!
(to Josephine) What did you do?
Josephine:
I´m sorry, I didn´t see Wolly. I am so sorry. Really! But I have to go now. I apologise. Bye.
(gets in the car and drives away)
Smith: (mad faced)
I will never ever excuse that. (crying) Oh, Wolly!
Scene 3:
Amanda: (talking to the audience)
Some days later Josephine Smith was shot in front of her house.
Scene 4:
Josephine:
(Scream)
(Sound of a shot and Josephine falls down on the floor)
Scene 5:
Amanda: (talking to the audience)
I got informed and went to the place of happening immediately.
(Amanda walks to the victim and looks at her; background: a gardener is working)
After some research I spoke to Mrs Smith, the mother in law.
Scene 6:
(In the garden of Mrs. Smith, Mrs Smith stands in front of Wolly ´ s grave, Mrs. Smith lies a rose on it while Amanda is coming, background: a gardener is working)
Amanda:
Mrs Smith? My name is Amanda Blakeney. I am from the police station. Could I talk to you for a minute?
Smith:
Police? Well, of course you may. But what happened? (They are sitting down)
Amanda:
I am sorry that I have to tell you that. But I am straight away. Your daughter in law got shot in front of her house at 9 o´clock yesterday evening.
Smith:
Oh my god, Josephine! It must be a confusion.
Amanda:
Did she have any enemies?
Smith:
Not as far as I know. But her patients at the mental hospital sometimes do crazy things. Maybe she has enemies there.
Amanda:
Well, thank you for your time. I don´t have anymore questions right know. But if you remember something suspect, please call me. Here is my number.
Smith:
Thanks, I will.
Amanda:
If I may ask one more question - whose grave is this?
Smith:
Wolly my dog is laying there. He died in a car accident recently.
Amanda:
I am sorry. How did it happen?
Smith:
Wolly was playing in front of the house. Josephine hit him with her car. That was the end of him.
Amanda:
Poor dog. Well, thank you a lot for your time. Bye.
Scene 7:
Amanda: (talking to the audience)
A dead dog and after some weeks a dead women. Mrs Smith was very suspicious.
After some phone calls I also found out that Ann Kingsley, the young woman who was dismissed just a couple weeks ago, had been a patient of the victim. Another very strange circumstance! So I went to see her, too.
Scene 8:
Amanda:
Good afternoon! Are you Ann Kingsley? I am detective Blakeney, from the police station. May I ask you some questions?
Ann: (behaves like in trance)
Yes, but what is going on? And don´t forget in an hour my spaceship is picking me up.
Amanda:
Well, your doctor Mrs Smith was killed yesterday at 9 p.m..
Ann:
She never believed in aliens. Probably they wanted revenge.
Amanda:
Probably. But did you help them?
Ann:
They are picking me up in an hour.
Amanda:
All right. I don´t want you to miss your spaceship, so I better get going. It was nice meeting you. Bye.
Scene 9:
Amanda: (talking to the audience)
I have to admit I was confused. A mother in law with a dead dog and a confound woman. But who did murder Josephine Smith.
After torturing my brain for a while I finally had the answer.
Frequently asked questions about "The murder at 9 p.m"
Who are the main characters in the play?
The main characters are Amanda Blakeney (a detective), Josephine Smith (the victim), Mrs. Smith (Josephine's mother-in-law), Ann Kingsley (a mentally ill person), and a Gardner.
What is the initial setup of the play?
The play begins with Amanda Blakeney introducing herself and mentioning a significant case from the previous year. Ann Kingsley has just been released from a mental hospital, and Josephine Smith visits her mother-in-law for coffee.
What happens during Josephine's visit to her mother-in-law?
After coffee, Josephine leaves and accidentally hits Mrs. Smith's dog, Wolly, with her car. Mrs. Smith is distraught and blames Josephine, who quickly apologizes and leaves.
What event leads to Amanda Blakeney's involvement?
Josephine Smith is shot in front of her house, prompting detective Amanda Blakeney to investigate.
How does Amanda begin her investigation?
Amanda visits the crime scene and then interviews Mrs. Smith about Josephine's death. She learns about the incident with Wolly and the possibility of Josephine having enemies at the mental hospital.
What does Amanda find out about Ann Kingsley?
Amanda discovers that Ann Kingsley was a patient of Josephine's at the mental hospital and decides to interview her.
What is Ann Kingsley's demeanor and alibi?
Ann Kingsley behaves erratically, claiming to be waiting for a spaceship and suggesting that aliens may have sought revenge on Josephine for not believing in them. She provides no concrete alibi.
How does Amanda solve the crime?
After contemplating the evidence, Amanda realizes who the murderer is and arrests them. The play concludes with the reveal of the murderer and a song, implying the gardener was responsible.
Who is revealed to be the murderer?
The gardener is revealed to be the murderer. The stage directions explicitly state that Amanda walks up to the gardener and arrests him/her. The play ends with the line "Und es war wieder der G ä rtner..."
- Quote paper
- Juliane Braun (Author), 2000, The murder at 9 p.m., Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/100522
