The Armchair Detective and the Peculiar Pocket Watch: Series Three by Shimwell Ian

Author:Shimwell, Ian [Shimwell, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Shimwell's Scripts
Published: 2014-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

Act Three

TRENCH: Well, I suppose I’d better make a start on next weeks’ features.

(TRENCH begins typing away, but stops when the office door is flung open.)

DEBSY: (Says guiltily:) Good morning, Trench.

TRENCH: Good afternoon, Debsy – you’re late. What’s wrong – had a late night?

DEBSY: Not particularly – I just had a problem with the alarm clock.

TRENCH: Go on, let’s hear it then – this should be good.

DEBSY: All right. The clock had ticked itself off my bedside table thingy, but instead of falling onto the floor, it fell into a drawer I’d left open. When the alarm clock happily went off this morning, the clothes in the drawer muffled the sound and, hence, I didn’t hear the thing and slept on.

TRENCH: Can I write that down? It’s a brilliant excuse, I mean reason. It could only happen to you though, Debs.

DEBSY: Err… thanks – I think.

TRENCH: At least my pocket watch seems more reliable than your alarm clock. (He opens the pocket watch.) Oh no it isn’t – it’s stuck on eleven o’clock again.

DEBSY: But it’s a quarter past eleven.

TRENCH: Tell me about it. And how did your ‘date’ go with ravishing Richard?

DEBSY: So, so – average meal and like the cheap champagne, his conversation wasn’t exactly sparkling.

TRENCH: (Says trying his best to sound sincere:) I am sorry it didn’t seem to work out – what went wrong?

DEBSY: Oh, he seemed more interested that I included a message in the paper before today’s deadline – you know, concerning that silly pocket watch.

TRENCH: What message?

DEBSY: Now where did I put that slip of paper he made me swear to look after? Hah, here it is. ‘Not much time left, but come forward at the appointed hour.’ What does that mean?

TRENCH: I’m not really sure, but Rhonda Abbot telephoned the office with an equally bizarre message for print: ‘Learn from ignorance to uncover the secret of the pocket watch. Be late.’

DEBSY: Odd, really odd. Maybe the best thing to do is simply ask them what they mean.

TRENCH: Good thinking Debs – but who shall we visit first?

DEBSY: Richard. Err, I mean, he’s nearest – isn’t he?

TRENCH: I thought you were going to say him, for some reason…

DEBSY: And we’d better make sure those mysterious messages are included in tomorrow’s edition…

(Mysterious ticking sounds change the scene.)

(DEBSY rings the doorbell. They wait a few moments.)

DEBSY: No answer – Richard must be out.

TRENCH: Brilliant deduction, Debs.

DEBSY: Yes, I know – thank you so much.

TRENCH: Come on, I’ll take you for a coffee in town. Then we’ll try again.

DEBSY: Or visit ravishing Rhonda?

TRENCH: Something like that.

DEBSY: It’s a date then.

(A steady ticking moves things on.)

DEBSY: I love these outdoor style coffee shops – you know with tables and chairs outside.

TRENCH: Even when it’s cold?

DEBSY: I don’t believe it. Look, there’s Richard drinking a coffee.

TRENCH: And sat by the table next to him is none other than Rhonda.

DEBSY: It’s so strange – they seem to be looking at each other longingly, but not at the same time.

TRENCH: Funny, they’re both reading the Stokeham Herald.

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