The Blake Adventures: Curtain Call
June 1960
"Alright, everyone, that's all for today. And let's please try to be off-book by tomorrow," the director begged, dismissing the actors from rehearsal.
Jean sighed and went backstage to gather her things. She'd been trying to memorize her lines, but had been running into more trouble than expected. Miraculously, Robert Manifold had chosen a play for the Church Dramatic Society that called for a female-heavy cast. Susan Tyneman had been cast in the lead, as always, but Jean had managed to get the largest supporting role. She'd never had such a big part before, and adjusting to the sheer volume of her lines was still eluding her. Plus, it had been quite a while since she'd done a play with the Dramatic Society, so she was out of practice. Turning down Robert's proposal had been difficult at the time, what with her shame at saying no to a lovely man in order to remain the housekeeper of a man who barely noticed her. But Robert had since married a widow from Bendigo, and Jean Beazley had since become Jean Blake. She felt no reason to stay away from the theatre anymore, and she had missed it.
Lost in her thoughts, Jean accidentally bumped into Lisa Baxter, one of the younger ladies in the play. "Oh goodness, Lisa, I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going," Jean apologized.
Lisa looked up at her with her golden-brown eyes wide with worry. "Oh, no, I'm sorry Jean." She immediately averted her eyes downward and mumbled more apologies as she rushed away. She looked as though she were about to cry.
Jean watched her hurry off and saw Robert standing nearby. "Is Lisa alright?" she asked.
"She's just disappointed, I think. I know she wanted a bigger part. It's been almost two weeks since we cast the play but it doesn't look like she's gotten over it," Robert replied.
"Poor girl. She's so very young. Barely twenty, isn't she?"
"Eighteen. She had to get her father's permission to join. She snuck into the audition, and honestly, she was incredible. But you know how these things are. Sponsors want to see their wives in the bigger parts."
"Yes, I know how the Tynemans do things," Jean grumbled.
"And the Blakes," Robert added knowingly.
Jean was taken aback. "I beg your pardon?!"
"Isn't that why you've come back? I just assumed that since you're the wife of a doctor now, you'd be getting top billing along with the rest of the well-to-do wives."
Jean was appalled. "Did Lucien say something to you?" She didn't want to believe that her husband had done something like this.
"Oh, Jean, I'm sorry, I thought you…I didn't mean to…" Robert stammered.
Without another word, Jean brushed past him and stormed out. Lucien was waiting by the car to drive her home from rehearsals.
"Hello, love!" he greeted warmly. "Rehearsals run long today? How was it?"
Jean got in the car, barely containing her anger. She waited until he'd started the engine before shouting, "How could you!"
Lucien was stunned. "How could I, what!?"
"You got me my part with a bribe!"
"What on earth are you talking about?" he asked confusedly.
Jean pressed on, "I just spoke with Robert who let it slip, I suppose, that the sponsors of the Dramatic Society get the perk of seeing their wives in the larger roles. I knew that's how Susan Tyneman got to be the lead in everything, but I never thought you'd stoop so low as to throw your money around like Patrick Tyneman!"
Lucien didn't quite like being yelled at while driving, so he pulled over on the side of the road so he and Jean could have it out properly. "Jean, I don't know what would make you think that I'd do something like that!"
"So you deny it?"
"Of course I do! Jean, I'm not even sponsoring the Church Dramatic Society! If I was, I would have told you. And even if I was, I wouldn't use that as leverage to get you a part in some play. Honestly, you think so little of your own ability? You got that part because you're wonderful. You'd be the lead in everything if it weren't for the Tynemans and their rotten tricks," he said bitterly.
Jean suddenly felt very embarrassed. She sat in the car quietly for a moment, thinking and starting at her fidgeting hands in her lap. "So you're not sponsoring the play?" she asked quietly.
"No, but I could if you'd like me to."
"Then why would Robert have said that to me?"
"I don't know. Perhaps since it's been a few years since you've been in the Dramatic Society, only returning after we got married, he might have assumed that the reason was so that I could get you a part in the play?" Lucien theorized.
"I suppose if that's the typical way about it, he might have just assumed he was supposed to give me this part." She huffed in frustration, "But that's just awful! I don't want to play a role I didn't earn!"
"You did earn it, Jean! You're a wonderful actress!" he insisted.
"I'm having a terrible time learning my lines, so I doubt I'll even be able to say the words, let alone act them."
"You'll learn your lines. I have no doubt. And regardless of how you got cast in that part, you're going to do a bang-up job!"
"Thank you, Lucien."
"Everything will turn out alright. Have confidence, darling."
Jean smiled at his kind words.
He reached over and tilted her chin up. "There now, that's the smile of a leading lady."
"I may have far too many lines, but I am still only a supporting player."
"Well, you'll always be my leading lady." He leaned in and gave her a kiss. "Let's go home and we can run your lines after dinner, eh?"
Lucien had sat at the kitchen table and read through Jean's script as she cooked, commenting on the story as he went. It warmed her heart to see him take such an interest. After she washed up after dinner, they retired to the living room, where they rehearsed Jean's lines for a little while. Lucien was very patient with all of her mix-ups, gently encouraging her to the right words.
As was often the case, they were interrupted by the telephone ringing. Jean stood up to answer it, but Lucien stopped her. "Here, I'll get it. You read through your part in the next act. I shan't be a moment," he said. He was only gone for about a minute. He returned with a somber expression. "That was Charlie. I'm needed at the Tyneman house."
"What?!" Jean asked with shock.
"Patrick and Susan are fine. Their butler was found dead in the kitchen.'
"Oh my god! Do you want me to come with you?"
Lucien paused, considering. "Actually, yes. Leave a note for Mattie when she gets back from her late shift so she doesn't worry."
Jean quickly scribbled something down for Mattie and got in the car with her husband. They rushed to the most elite part of town to the Tyneman mansion. There were a number of police cars there. Charlie was waiting to take the Blakes inside. He was mildly surprised to see Jean there, but he led them both in.
Chief Superintendent Carlyle was deep in conversation with Patrick Tyneman, who was carrying on with his typical blustering annoyance. Sergeant Hobart was very awkwardly trying to comfort Susan Tyneman. Susan noticed Jean walk in and cried out.
"Jean! Oh you dear, thank you for coming," Susan sobbed. She put her arms around Jean and continued to cry.
Jean looked to Lucien with wide eyes, confused at this display from Susan Tyneman, a woman with whom she'd never really gotten along. Lucien just shrugged in response and followed Charlie to the kitchen. Jean sighed and rolled her eyes. "There, there, Susan," she said, trying to be comforting.
Lucien found the body on the floor beside the refrigerator. His face and hands were red, as though he'd been very hot or sweaty just before he died.
Charlie explained, "His name is Lloyd Conroy. He's been the Tynemans' butler for almost ten years. They called him Conroy. He lives in the house, in the servants' quarters."
Lucien was curious about this body. No visible injury; the body was even still a little warm. "He died recently. In the last two hours, I'd guess. Who discovered him?"
"Patrick. He came to the kitchen for something to eat and found him like this. He immediately called the station when Conroy didn't wake and wasn't breathing."
"And when was he last seen alive?" Lucien asked.
"Earlier tonight. The Tynemans went out for dinner on a whim, and they didn't see Conroy when they returned home," Charlie replied.
"Alright, well I'll need to do an autopsy. It looks like asphyxiation, but there are no external marks to indicate strangulation or smothering. Let's transport the body to the morgue, and Dr. Harvey and I can do a further examination in the morning."
Lucien left the body for Charlie to deal with and went out into the foyer to see the others. Jean had gone to another room with Susan. Patrick was still speaking with the Chief Superintendent.
"Patrick, what do you think happened to your butler?" Lucien asked, interrupting whatever else was being said.
"I don't bloody know, do I? That's why I called the police!" Patrick answered angrily.
"Did Conroy have any health problems?"
Patrick averted his gaze. "He…ah…I don't know. He didn't speak about himself."
Lucien took that to mean that the Tynemans never bothered to ask about Conroy or care to hear about him at all. "Anyone who might have wanted him dead?"
Frank Carlyle interrupted before Patrick could answer. "You think this was murder, Blake?"
"Not sure yet. But if there's a motive for murder, that would be something good to know," Lucien reasoned.
For the first time, Patrick Tyneman looked properly concerned. His silence was quite telling.
"Patrick, I suggest you and Susan try to get some rest tonight. It might do to take a room at the Club for the time being," Frank suggested.
"And if either of you need anything to help you sleep over the next few days, don't hesitate to call," Lucien added. He then turned to Frank. "I'll do the autopsy with Dr. Harvey tomorrow. If that's all for now, I'll take Jean home."
On the drive back, Jean complained about Susan Tyneman the entire way. "I'd have sympathy for anyone who had someone die in their home, but you know what Susan kept going on about? How were they going to cope without Conroy? How would they get the position filled if the last butler had died on the job? Can you believe the nerve? To be so heartless. I couldn't have imagined it, not even from the Tynemans."
"I think Patrick had something to do with this," Lucien said, interrupting the tirade.
"You think Patrick killed the butler?" Jean asked in surprise.
"Not at the moment, no. Even if, for some reason, Patrick did have reason to want someone dead, he wouldn't do it himself. No, I think there's more to this than the Tynemans are letting on. Patrick knows something, or at least suspects it. I won't know what to look for until I do the autopsy tomorrow, but I'd bet my hat Patrick knows more than he's told us. Possibly Susan too."
Jean sighed, "I think I see where this is going."
Lucien couldn't resist a small smile. "Well you are in the play with her, dear."
"I cannot believe you're going to make me be friendly with Susan Tyneman," Jean whined.
"Have I mentioned lately how much I appreciate your help?" he offered with a grin.
She growled slightly. "You're going to owe me much more than just stating your appreciation."
With a slight smirk and a sparkle in his eyes, Lucien posited, "Perhaps I can take you upstairs and give you a backrub. Well, start with a backrub."
Jean was glad for the darkness of the car driving through the Ballarat night, as she was sure she was blushing furiously. "Only if Mattie is already in bed and we can close the bedroom door and stay quiet when Charlie gets home."
"I promise I'll make it worth your while," Lucien assured her, taking one hand off the steering wheel to place on top of her knee. Jean quickly covered his hand with hers to ensure that he didn't move it any higher and kept his focus on the road.
