"You'll find your names beside your places. Please be seated."
All the guests find their places except Colonel Mustard. Haruka set down Miss. Scarlet's drink on the table much to her pleasure. Colonel Mustard looked to the head chair then began asking Haruka questions.
"Is this place for you?"
"Oh indeed no sir, I'm merely a humble butler." Haruka answered.
"And what exactly do you do?"
"I buttle sir."
"Which means what?"
"The butler is head of the kitchen and dining room. I keep everything…tidy. That's all"
Colonel Mustard attempted to ask Haruka more questions but was interrupted by Mrs. Peacock.
"Well, what's this all about, butler, this dinner party?" she questioned happily.
"Ours is not to reason why…Ours is but to do and die" said Haruka.
"Die?" repeated Professor Plum with a voice of uncertainty.
Haruka smiled lightly at Professor Plum reaction.
"Merely quoting, madam, from Alfred Lord Tennyson." Haruka reassured her.
Colonel Mustard finally seated himself next to Miss. Scarlet and decided he wanted to be part of the conversation.
"Hm. I prefer Kipling, myself. "The female of the species is more deadly than the male"." he quoted before looking to Miss. Scarlet and passing her a tray of appetizers.
"You like Kipling Miss. Scarlet?"
"Sure I'll eat anything." she answered while taking a piece of food from the tray and putting it into her mouth.
Minako came through the door from the kitchen carrying a tray. She stopped first at Mrs. Peacock, placing a plate in front of her.
"Shark Fin Soup, madam."
Colonel Mustard, yet again wanting some answers pointed to the head chair.
"So is this for our host?" he asked.
Haruka replied calmly,
"No sir. For the seventh guest Mr. Boddy."
Mrs. White looked up to Haruka.
"I thought Mr. Boddy was out host." she commented in confusion.
The other guests began asking the same question. As Haruka began pouring Mrs. White a drink she asked another question.
"So who is our host Mr. Haruka?"
Haruka chuckled with a closed smile then walked to the other guests pouring them drinks as well. Professor Plum unfolded her napkin and set it on her lap.
"Well, I want to start while its still hot." she said.
"Oh, now shouldn't we wait for the other guest?" Mrs. Peacock asked.
"I will keep somesing warm for em." said Minako as she set Miss. Scarlet's food down in front of her. The young blonde's cleavage right in the aqua haired woman's face.
"What did you have in mind dear?" questioned Miss. Scarlet slyly.
With that said everything got quite. The guests eyed their meal cautiously when Professor Plum decided to try it first. Bringing the spoon to her lips she slurped the soup down the looked to Mrs. White who was looking at her with a disapproving look on her face, but she too slurped the soup. Everyone except Mrs. Peacock sat there staring at them, their spoons half ways to their mouths. As the slurping continued Mrs. Peacock became a little uncomfortable with the awkward silence and began to speak breathlessly,
"Well, someone's got to break the ice, and it might as well be me. I mean, I'm used to being a hostess; it's part of my husband's work, and it's always difficult when a group of new friends meet together for the first time to get acquainted, so I'm perfectly prepared to start the ball rolling…I mean, I have absolutely no idea what we're doing here, or what I'm doing here, or what this place is about, but I am determined to enjoy myself and I'm very intrigued and oh, my, this soup's delicious isn't it?"
Everyone just sat there staring at her in bewilderment. Mrs. White decided that she would now break the silence.
"You say you are used to being a hostess as part of your husbands work?"
"Yes it's an integral part of your life when you are the wife of a…oh, but then I forgot we're not supposed to say who we really are, though heavens to Betsy, I don't know why." rambled Mrs. Peacock.
"Don't you?" scoffed Colonel Mustard.
"I know who you are." said Mrs. Green with a slight smile on her face.
"Aren't you going to tell us?" Miss. Scarlet asked Mrs. Green with interest.
Mrs. Peacock removed her glasses nervously.
"How do you know who I am?" her voice showing how anxious she was.
"I work in Tokyo too." answered Mrs. Green slyly.
Professor Plum looked to Mrs. Peacock.
"Oh, so you're a politician's wife." she said.
"Yes I-I am." stuttered Mrs. Peacock as she put her cat glasses back on.
"Well come on then who's your husband?" Colonel Mustard asked with intrigue.
Right at that moment Haruka came through the kitchen door into the room. Everything was silent once again for a few moments. When Mrs. Peacock, yet again, broke it by speaking to Mrs. White.
"So what does your husband do--"
"Nothing." Mrs. White answered firmly.
"Nothing?" repeated Mrs. Peacock in confusion.
"Well, he…just…lies around on his back all day." she answered more calmly.
"Sounds like hard work to me." said Miss. Scarlet jokingly.
Minako, in the kitchen, opened the partition suddenly. The noise coincided with a crash of thunder. Mrs. Green, jumpy as ever, placed her hand quickly onto the table, hitting her spoon causing it to fly out of the bowl and spill soup all over Miss. Scarlet.
"I'm…sorry. I'm afraid I'm a little accident-prone." she said as she began to pat down Miss. Scarlet with her napkin, accidentally going down a little to far.
"Ah--watch it." said Miss. Scarlet sternly.
Mrs. Green stopped immediately as Minako began serving the main meal. Mrs. Peacock took one taste then turned to Haruka who was walking away with the bowls.
"Mmm! this is one of my favorite recipes!" she pointed out happily.
"I know madam." commented Haruka.
Once Haruka had gone back into the kitchen, the dead conversation was once again underway.
"So, what do you in Tokyo Mrs. Green?" asked Mrs. Peacock.
She got no answer.
"Come on, what do you do? I mean, how are we to get acquainted if we don't say anything about ourselves?"
"Perhaps she doesn't want to get acquainted with you!" said Miss. Scarlet angrily, obviously getting annoyed with Mrs. Peacock's constant talking.
"Well, I'm sure I don't know, but if I wasn't trying to keep the conversation going, then we would just be sitting here in an embarrassed silence." countered Mrs. Peacock.
"Are you afraid of silence Mrs. Peacock?" ask Professor Plum.
"Yes! What? No! Why?" Mrs. Peacock said defensively.
"Oh, it just seems to me that you seem to suffer from what we call pressure of speech." explained Professor Plum.
"We"? Who's "we"? Are you a shrink?" asked Miss. Scarlet.
"I do know a little bit about psychological medicine, yes." replied Professor Plum.
"Are you a doctor?" asked Mrs. White.
"I am, but I don't practice." answered Professor Plum.
"Practice makes perfect. Ha. I think most men need a little practice, don't you, Mrs. Peacock?" said Miss. Scarlet.
Mrs. Peacock shrugged, very uncomfortably.
"So what do you do, Professor?" asked Mrs. White.
"I work for UNO, the United Nations Organization." said Professor Plum proudly.
"Another politician. Jesus!" laughed Colonel Mustard.
"No, I work for a branch of UNO. W.H.O., the World Health Organization." explained Professor Plum.
"Well, what is your area of special concern?" asked Mrs. Peacock.
"Family planning." answered Professor Plum.
"What about you, Colonel? Are you a real colonel?" Professor Plum asked Colonel Mustard.
"I am, madam." Colonel Mustard answered in a serious tone.
"You're not going to mention the coincidence that you also live in Tokyo?" asked Miss. Scarlet quietly.
"How did you know that? Have we met before?" Colonel Mustard asked in a scared kind of way.
"I've certainly seen you before. Although you may not have seen me." answered Miss. Scarlet.
"So, Miss Scarlet, does this mean that you live in Tokyo, too?" asked Mrs. Green.
"Sure do." answered Miss Scarlet.
"Does anyone here not live in Tokyo?" asked Mrs. Peacock.
"I don't." said Professor Plum.
"Yes, but you work for the United Nations. That's a government job. And the rest of us all live in a government town. Anyone here not earn their living from the government in one way or another?" asked Mrs. Green.
Colonel Mustard stood up suddenly, throwing his napkin down onto the table and walked to Haruka who had been standing in the dining room listening to them all talk.
"Haruka, where's our host, and why have we been brought here?"
Before Haruka could say anything the doorbell rang. Haruka walked out of the dining room and into the hall, answering the door. Everyone sat quietly so them could hear what was going on.
"Ah! Good evening. You are eagerly awaited." said Haruka as she closed the door and locked it.
"You lockin' me in? I'll take the key." said a male voice.
"Over my dead body, sir. May I take your bag?"
"No. I'll leave it here 'til I need it."
"It contains evidence, I presume?"
"Surprises, my friend. That's what it contains--surprises!"
Haruka walked back into the dining followed by the new guest. He was a tall man dressed in a black suit with slicked back black hair.
"Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. Boddy." said Haruka.
"What are they all doin' here?" asked Mr. Boddy as he looked at everyone.
"Eating dinner. Do sit down, Mr. Boddy." said Haruka leading him to his chair.
"Thanks." said Mr. Boddy as he sat down.
Minako came out of the kitchen with a bowl of soup for Mr. Boddy.
"Nah, you can take that away, honey." said Mr. Boddy in a devilish voice.
Minako sated at him for a moment before turning around and going back into the kitchen. Mrs. Peacock hit the table angrily.
"Look. I demand to know what's going on. Now why have we all been dragged up to this horrible place?" she said angrily.
"Well. I believe we all received a letter. My letter says, "It will be to your advantage to be present on this date because a Mr. Boddy will bring to an end a certain long-standing confidential and painful financial liability." It is signed, "A friend." Said Haruka.
"I received a similar letter." said Mrs. Green.
"So did we, didn't we." said Miss. Scarlet looking towards Professor Plum.
"I also received a letter." said Mr. Boddy.
Minako came out of the kitchen yet again with the main meal for Mr. Boddy.
"No thanks, Minako. I just ate." said Mr. Boddy.
"Now, how did you know her name?" Mrs. Green asked him.
"We know each other. Don't we, dear?" Mr. Bossy said smoothly as he began putting his hand up Minako's skirt causing her to jerk away from him.
"Forgive my curiosity, Mr. Boddy, but did your letter say the same thing?" asked Haruka.
"No." Mr. Boddy answered simply.
"I see…can I interest any of you in fruit or dessert?" Haruka asked everyone.
She got no response.
"In that case, may I suggest we adjourn to the study for coffee and brandy, at which point I believe our unknown host will reveal his intentions."
The study was by far the most comfortable room so far. Decorated in subdued tan colors with several couches, a bookshelf, a table with drinks, and a desk. The guests entered and looked around for their host.
"Well, there's no one here." pointed out Mrs. Green/
"Please help yourself to brandy and be seated." said Haruka as she walked to the desk, picking up a manilla envelope from it. It read For Haruka Open AFTER DINNER. Haruka opened the envelope perusing the contents.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm instructed to you what you all have in common with each other. Unless you would care to do the honors, Mr. Boddy?" Haruka offered.
"Why me? They know who I am?" Mr. Boddy asked her.
"I don't think so. You've never identified yourself to them, I believe." countered Haruka.
Mr. Boddy stood suddenly.
"It's a hoax! I suggest we all leave." He said as he took off out the study door.
"I'm sorry, sir, you cannot leave this house!" yelled Haruka as she chased him.
Mr. Boddy went to the front door, followed closely by Haruka and the other guests.
"No? Who's gonna stop me?" asked Mr. Boddy as he tried to open the front door.
"There's no way out. All the windows have bars, all the doors are locked." Haruka said.
"This is an outrage! You can't hold us prisoner!" shouted Mr. Boddy.
The guests, in confusion, agreed.
"Ladies and gentlemen, please! Please return to the study. Everything will be explained." said Haruka calmly.
The guests filed unhappily back into the study. Mr. Boddy walked right past Haruka toward the rear of the hall.
"You too, Mr. Boddy." said Haruka.
Mr. Boddy started running.
"Other way!" shouted the blonde as she began chasing him.
The conservatory, a humid room, with plants all around. Three of the walls were brick, and the fourth was glass, leading to the outside. The rain pounded against the glass as Mr. Boddy ran in, picking up a brick and preparing to throw it through the glass when Haruka came through the doorway.
"You can't get out that way." said Haruka, sounding very sure of herself.
"Why not? It's only glass!" laughed Mr. Boddy.
Suddenly, a vicious Doberman jumped at the glass, barking and snarling. Mr. Boddy stared at the dog then dropped the brick.
The guests sat in the study waiting patiently as Haruka and Mr. Boddy came back in. Haruka took up her envelope again.
"Ladies and gentlemen, you all have one thing in common. You're all being blackmailed. For some considerable time, all of you have been paying what you can afford and, in some cases, more than you can afford to someone who threatens to expose you. And none of you know who's blackmailing you, do you?" Haruka questioned.