A casting call for a murder mystery

[Drinking Cap]

Well, I've never started my own thread before but I thought I might give it a shot. I'm sure a murder mystery has been done here but it's a basic start and I think that with the right mix of writers it could be a really good thread.

The setting I was thinking of was aristocratic London in the swinging 70's. Robert Fartherington, a wealthy merchant, has been awarded a knighthood and invites his closest friends and family members to his country estates to celebrate. While there the soon to be Sir Fartherington is found murdered and a sleuth is called in to investigate. While I'd like this to be done with a straight face, the Sleuth will be (hopefully) comically inept and bumble his way towards the solution. With any luck there will be plenty of opportunities for comedy, suspense and romantic entaglements.

Some of the potential characters I was thinking of were:

The dead man's wife

The dead man's son

The dead man's daughter

His mistress

His Wife's boyfriend

His business partner

And so on. But if you want to make up your own character, with reasons to be at the celebration then PM me and I'm sure it can be accomodated. I'm looking for good writers, the characters will take care of themselves.

Once we have a good number of players, I'll PM one of the writers and inform them that they are, in fact, the killer. Hopefully we can keep it full of suspense until the reveal scene at the end.

P.S. I'll be writing for the deceased(One post only however), The Sleuth and the Butler

 

[Foeh]

I'll try to play His Wife's BF

name : Vincent
age : 22
Job : a young magician who perform for wealthy people.

Vincent is a young man, with a great shape 5 7" , and high confidence. He become roberts wife's BF since the last 2 months, and no one know about their relationship.
Vincent is a cunning young man who has desire for older woman, and now trying to seduce his GF daughter. He come to the part because he got invited by Robert who saw him play magic for the queen..

ps : sorry for my grammar, since i'm not from USA or UK, I'm from asia.

 

[StarvingHeart]

I'd like to be the daughter.

Name: Sarah
Age: 20
Job: College student
Looks: Long, golden brown hair, blue eyes, light complexion, 5'5, 115 lbs

Sarah is very close to her father. Not so much with her mom. She suspects her mother is sleeping around, but doesn't take it into to much thought. The young lady is fairly popular with friends, and always productive; either school, or out having a good time.

 

[krazykyotee]

If still open, i'd like to take the business partner.


Name: Blake Connelly
Age: 34
Occupation, Chief Financial Officer, Fartherington Enterprises
Appearance: Medium height, in decent shape, brown hair, brown eyes, fully "in the 70s groove"
with light blue leasure suit, open shirt, gold chain with astrological symbol

Blake has known Robert since their school days, and conned him into giving him the position hes in.
He is not a terribly good executive, using his charm and underhanded dealings to keep him where he is
When not at the office sipping a mini-bar drink, hes always at the swankest nightclubs, trying to score.
He even occasionally suceeds.

 

[Drinking Cap]

Good to have you aboard KK and SH. I like the characters.

 

[PogueMahone]

Robert Fartherington JR

Hello,
If the role is still open I'd like to try my hand at writing the son of the soon to be deceased.

Name: Robert Fartherington Jr. also known as Junior.
Age: 25 years old
Occupation: Nothing. Junior has been living off the small allowance his father gives him since graduating from University three years ago.

Robert is 5'8" and in good shape for a young man his age although he does have the beginning of a small beergut. His long dark hair and scraggly beard are often the source of numerous arguments with his father as is his continued state of unemployment. Junior has no ambitions beyond finding the next party and doesn't agree with his father on anything. He suspects his mother is sleeping around and actually encourages her to as he enjoys the idea of his father being cheated. Despite his lack of ambition and drunken behavior, Robert actually possesses a keen intellect and sharp business skills which he is reluctant to admit to anyone.

 

[Elayne]

I'd be game to play either the wife or the mistress.

If I was playing the wife though, could it be a younger wife? Like a second marriage?

 

[Drinking Cap]

I'd be game to play either the wife or the mistress.

If I was playing the wife though, could it be a younger wife? Like a second marriage?

Sure thing. That works just as well. Which ever one suits you best.

Okay folks, after that the only crucially important role unfilled is which ever one Elayne doesn't take but other ideas are still welcome.

 

[Elayne]

Madeline Fartherington
Age: 26
Occupation: Trophy wife/wealthy widow

Madeline is the second wife of Robert, whom he married after his first wife died. She's only 26, a good 30 years younger than her husband was and the same age as his children.

Madeline attended the same university as Robert Jr and was in his business program, earning her Master's Degree in Business Administration. When Robert was down to visit his son, he met the young and beautiful Madeline and within 3 months the were married. This naturally causes quite a bit of tension between Madeline and her step children.

In fact, her step-daughter, Sarah, insisted that Robert Sr have an earn clad prenuptial agreement with Madeline to prevent her from divorcing him to steal his estate. However, the pre nuptial agreement states that after five years of marriage, she stands to inherit his estate. Robert Sr was murdered six months after their fifth anniversary.

Madeline is a tall young woman, 5'9", with long very dark, almost black hair, and dark brown eyes. She has pale skin and a slender build, with high pert breasts and long, trim legs. She is the epitome of elegance and class, meshing perfectly in the upper class surroundings around her.

Despite her poise and social graces, Madeline is actually from a very poor background. Her parents are both factory workers and since her marriage, Madeline has cut them off, trying to completely fit into her new, wealthy life and sweep aside her working class background.

 

[Drinking Cap]

Bumpity bump. Still looking for a writer to play the mistress.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

I'll play the Mistress if you would like...?

Will post a character for consideration soon ... x

DM

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Mistress:

Lady Carina Ryecart

At the age of 32 Lady Carina Ryecart is most likely the most “mature” lady in Robert Fartherington’s life.
Both marked by past tragedy, they share a kinship and a passion that bridges the age gap, a gap though notable, is still less than that between Robert and his second wife.

Carina was 27 when Robert entering into his second marriage; 6 years his new wife’s Senior.
At the time when Robert was embarking on a new phase in his life, hers was falling apart.
Cruelly widowed, Carina retreated from her previous social whirl in London to take refuge in the country needing time to mourn the tragic death of her impetuous and reckless husband. After avoiding marriage to staid and respectable suitors until the age of 25, the family disapproval at this loss swelled leaving her bereft of comfort; a comfort aleviated only by the sizeable fortune which added to her own superb lineage now making her the most eligible of “catches”.

But, as before, Carina wanted none of it.
Though childless, she had no urge to marry and settle and do what still seemed to be “expected” of her.

By the time she returned to London, launching herself, albeit reluctantly at first, once more upon the social circuit, she found herself the focus of much unwanted attention. Labelled as a “merry widow” with a reputation for being “unattainable” she refused many honourable and less honourable proposals and propositions, all which were inevitable due to her much talked about wealth and social status.

Her association with Robert was accidental.
Being happily married, he was one of the few men not “on the hunt”. Intelligent, cultured with an innate abundance of style and charm, she found herself drawn to his company until she realised that he too was lonely, vulnerable. A casual acquaintance deepened to friendship and companionship and before she realised it they fell into the most tender and passionate of affairs.

In London they were very circumspect: Carina was received everywhere, as was Robert.
There were times when she met both him and his wife socially.
Carina had never understood how his wife could not know her husband was unfaithful, but if Madeline did suspect at all there seemed to be a pact of silence, a façade of respectability that was being maintained between them.

This deception would seem laughable to her, if only she were not involved in playing the same game:
In Carina's opinion Robert's wife was insecure, clinging. In so many ways she did not fit into Robert’s life, into the existing family. She just didn't belong!
Madeline’s very presence was the cause of so much discord and hurt but Carina knew that to be drawn to comment upon Robert’s tempestuous home life would be “detrimental” to her relationship.
And so she secretly harboured the opinion that this second marriage was a mistake.
Not that she would have married Robert!
Carina liked her independence. She needed her freedom.
And yet …
She wished those stolen times of passion could last forever.
How ironic that his estates were so close to her own “retreat”.
Whilst London remained the social hub of her lifestyle, she much preferred the secret intimacy that could only be risked outside London.
Such was the price of having such a high social profile.

And so … it was inevitable that she, along with many other friends and acquaintances should receive an invitation to attend a party in celebration of Robert’s much deserved Knighthood …


Carina:

http://www.klassylady.com/SH20143.JPG

 

[Drinking Cap]

Great character DM. Happy to have you aboard. The thread will be up shortly. For the record my two characters will be

Alistair Jeeves
Age: 54
Height: 5'8
Weight 200 lbs
Balding grey hair

Jeeves is the Fartherington family butler. He's been with the family for nearly 25 years and is Fartherington's most loyal and dedicated employee. He knows all of his employers secrets and keeps a close eye on the comings and goings of the family.

And

Nigel Montgomery
Age: 26
Height: 6'
Weight: 165 lbs
short brown hair

Detective Nigel Montgomery was recently transferred from Scotland Yard HQ to the small countryside constabulary at his own request. The London authorities didn't seem to want to advance Nigel to the rank of Detective Inspector. Nigel believed it was because they were jealous of his astounding deductive powers, in fact it was because he was constantly fouling up even the most basic of cases. The small countryside precinct was desperate for an experienced Detective and Nigel's bosses were eager to get rid of him. Nigel is a habitual marijuana smoker as he believes it clears his mind and allows him to focus on the case at hand.

 

[krazykyotee]

Great introduction...will there be a 'party" post we jump in on, or?

 

[Drinking Cap]

Great introduction...will there be a 'party" post we jump in on, or?

I was thinking everyone could post something about waking up to find out that Mr. Fartherington was dead. But I hadn't thought that far ahead, unfortunately.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Don't you need to decide who discovers the body, who tells who etc, or do you want us just to make it up as we go?

I guess the party events will now all be in flashback as your detective interviews?

Without people having the chance to write for their own characters in a party scene, it makes it difficult for us to write about others, let alone for others. ie. How did the Mistress interact with the family?

I assume that Robert had a chance to be alone with every character/suspect in order for a motive to be established, or not. Do we plan that for the time when our characters are interviewed?

Sorry for questions, but like Krazy, not sure how to get started on this.

DM x

 

[krazykyotee]

Nods, like DM said. THis has all the earmarks of a great thread, jus tinterested in starting to write on it. Heh, and I have not forgotten you Maiden =P heh

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Nods, like DM said. THis has all the earmarks of a great thread, jus tinterested in starting to write on it. Heh, and I have not forgotten you Maiden =P heh

I know Krazy!

*ggls and flushes guiltily*

I have stuff to do this morning then I'm settling down to write some.
You're top of my list hun!

*blows kiss and gives sassy grin *

DM x

 

[Drinking Cap]

I assume that Robert had a chance to be alone with every character/suspect in order for a motive to be established, or not. Do we plan that for the time when our characters are interviewed?

Sorry for questions, but like Krazy, not sure how to get started on this.

Don't be sorry. As I said I'm new to starting threads of my own so it's nice to have the help along the way. I'll make a few posts today that will hopefully clear things up. Plus I'll send some people some PM's about some suggestions for motives.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Or ask people to PM you with their ideas...?

Chances are people have thought through their characters and a possible motive ...

If you post and don't allow them an opener to establish their identities then makes life difficult for us all to remember who is who and what they're like.

DM

 

[Drinking Cap]

Or ask people to PM you with their ideas...?

Chances are people have thought through their characters and a possible motive ...

If you post and don't allow them an opener to establish their identities then makes life difficult for us all to remember who is who and what they're like.

DM

Oh, yeah, yeah. I just meant I'd make a post establishing where they were at the moment and what they'd knew. Obviously any character development is up to you.

And good call with the PM's. Send them to me about possible motives you had and secrets you might want to drop as it goes by. I think that works best.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Question:

I assumed there was a party to which Carina had been invited.
Summoning her from her house does kinda put her out of the frame.
In your first post you said there was a party.
Any motives might need the Mistress character around - even as red herring?

Just a thought.

DM x

 

[Drinking Cap]

Question:

I assumed there was a party to which Carina had been invited.
Summoning her from her house does kinda put her out of the frame.
In your first post you said there was a party.
Any motives might need the Mistress character around - even as red herring?

Just a thought.

DM x

Ah, well, I had thought that while she would have been at the party the previous evening, it would be somewhat awkward for the man's mistress to have actually spent the night with his wife in the house. That's not to say that she wouldn't have snuck back in for a late night rendezvous or to, say, kill him. Your character description said she had a house close by so it's not a stretch for your character to, say, theoretically have killed him and then made it back to her house.

That's what I was thinking anyway.

 

[DeliciousMaiden]

Ah, well, I had thought that while she would have been at the party the previous evening, it would be somewhat awkward for the man's mistress to have actually spent the night with his wife in the house. That's not to say that she wouldn't have snuck back in for a late night rendezvous or to, say, kill him. Your character description said she had a house close by so it's not a stretch for your character to, say, theoretically have killed him and then made it back to her house.

That's what I was thinking anyway.

Great idea! Yes that's logical and works well!

*grins*

What a sleuth!

Are we supposed to post about being told about the murder?
Before your Detective gets to characters in the parlour?

DM x

 

[Drinking Cap]

Great idea! Yes that's logical and works well!

*grins*

What a sleuth!

Are we supposed to post about being told about the murder?
Before your Detective gets to characters in the parlour?

DM x

If you like. I figured that would be a good way for people to introduce their characters and their relationship with the deceased.