Scene 2
SOUND EFFECT: Footsteps on pavement
SOUND EFFECT: Bustle of the city
MRS. HUDSON:
Tell me about this stew our Susan's found herself in. What's gone missing that they think she stole?
ABIGAIL:
A great jewel, ma'am. From a necklace her mistress wore to a ball the family put on last night. An India ruby the size of a plover's egg called the Heart of Bombay.
MRS. HUDSON:
Oh, Lord keep us.
ABIGAIL:
The house put in for extra butter for the banquet, so I've been by three times this week. Near as I can tell from the servants' chatter, Miss Hope Evanston borrowed the necklace from her grandmother, the Duchess of Chiswick. The ruby went missing last night, the very night of the party, and with no one else to lay blame upon, they all turned to poor Susan and slung it on her.
MRS. HUDSON:
Well shan, that's service for you! Devote yourself to a house, give them nary a moment's trouble, and then see yourself tossed to the wolves at the first rumblings of doubt. I'd rather keep tenants in my own house and my own ways in it, thank you very much.
ABIGAIL:
Good work, if you can get it.
(Pause.)
ABIGAIL:
How did you come into it? The flat, I mean.
MRS. HUDSON:
My late husband meant it for our retirement. He was a mason for nigh on twenty years when we lived in Glasgow, and he thought keeping city rooms for gentlefolk would be easier on his bones.
ABIGAIL:
You must have been putting by a long time, for a flat in Westminster.
MRS. HUDSON:
Took us all his life. Then he passed, only just two years after we bought it.
ABIGAIL:
I'm sorry.
MRS. HUDSON:
Life has twists and turns for us all. He left me taken care of, at least.
ABIGAIL:
Sounds as if you both took care. And now you've got the means to take care of yourself.
MRS. HUDSON:
Hm. I suppose.
ABIGAIL:
Must be nice. Not to be beholden to anyone.
MRS. HUDSON:
Just Mr. Holmes and all the strife that comes with him. But heaven help me, I'm fond of him, for all of it.
(Pause.)
ABIGAIL:
My mum wants me to go into service, you know.
MRS. HUDSON:
I suppose it's steady respectable work. And there's always a place to sleep.
ABIGAIL:
But most folk who get into it never come out of it. I don't know if I want that for the rest of my life. But perhaps that's silly of me. It isn't as if I'm fit for much else.
MRS. HUDSON:
Here, now! How can you say that?
ABIGAIL:
I couldn't even do anything for Susan! Except run and beg for someone else's help. And I couldn't even find him.
MRS. HUDSON:
But you did find help, Abby. And we're on our way now.
ABIGAIL:
But it's like you said, Mrs. Hudson. We're no detectives.
MRS. HUDSON:
No more we are. Heaven knows I've no taste for the cocaine! But perhaps that's not the only way to do our girl a bit of good.
ABIGAIL:
What can we do, Mrs. Hudson?
MRS. HUDSON:
Well. We've come, haven't we?
ABIGAIL:
Why, yes, we have— and here's now the place now.
MRS. HUDSON:
My goodness. Sloane Square— a very fine address.
ABIGAIL:
It's a very fine house.
MRS. HUDSON:
Hmm. At one time, maybe— but I wouldn't say it's been kept up. Haven't wanted to pay for paint nor shingle in some years, I'd say.
SOUND EFFECT: Policemen speaking to each other
MRS. HUDSON:
My word! There are still bobbies all about! Who's been robbed here, Her Majesty the Queen?
(Enter HOPE.)
HOPE:
Good gracious, haven't you found anything yet? Oh, I don't know at all what I shall tell my grandmother! We've not had a moment's peace over it!
ABIGAIL:
That must be Miss Hope, the lady Susan works for. Oh, this can't be good for her! Here, now, follow me about to the servant's entrance.
(Exit HOPE.)
SOUND EFFECT: Footsteps on gravel
SOUND EFFECT: Back bell rings
SOUND EFFECT: Door opens
(Enter MRS. DUNLOP.)
MRS. DUNLOP:
Why, Abigail, you're back! Come in, girl, before all that lot comes after you. And, bless you, you've brought Sherlock Holmes—
(Pause.)
MRS. DUNLOP:
Beg pardon but you're not as the papers describe you.
ABIGAIL:
Mrs. Dunlop, this is Mrs. Hudson. She's Mr. Holmes's landlady.
MRS. DUNLOP:
And… is this what happens when a detective falls behind on his rent?
MRS. HUDSON:
Course not. But Mr. Holmes is taken away on business, and I hated to send the girl off with no one. I'd like to help your Miss Kirkwood if I can.
MRS. DUNLOP:
She does need whatever help there is. I'm cook here, have been eight years now, and I know the girl well enough to swear by her.
MRS. HUDSON:
Can I talk with her? Ask about what happened the night of the ball?
MRS. DUNLOP:
Those brutes in uniform have her in her room under house arrest. No one's had words nor laid eyes on her since.
ABIGAIL:
What shall we do? Mrs. Hudson?
(Pause.)
MRS. HUDSON:
She's not eaten since yesterday, has she?