The Guests Reconvene in the Dining Hall

(As the guests return to the Dining hall, their glasses are filled with vintage claret and, as they imbibe, the background subdued murmur starts to rise in volume until the hall is filled with conversation. Payne returns to the room with a list in his hands and slightly worse for wear, having glugged several glasses of his excellent reds. He goes to sit at the head of the table but almost misses his chair. His Burgundy slops around the wide bowl of his glass and a few drops spill onto the white tablecloth. He clears his voice to make a pronouncement.)

 

Payne : Oh the trauma ! The trauma ! Let us drown our dreadful sorrows ! (he looks down at the long piece of paper in his hand) The police have asked me to reveal some facts to you all in the hope that maybe, in so doing, your memories may be jogged in some way. (the room falls silent once again).

 

 

Payne: Following the initial interviews with each of you, the police can confirm the following the following items which were about your persons

 

Elsie

A business letter from Raymond confirming that he alone will be the entrepreneur hosting the Elvis show at the Coliseum and that he is in direct discussions with Elvis

 

Wayne

A picture of Raymond with his eye cut out

 

Mama

A sachet marked ‘Hotter than Hell’

 

Dingo

A comb with a very sharp edge which you could give yourself a nasty nick with

 

Gigi

A small bottle of perfume called Deadly Nightshade

 

Scandi

A small tin of fish from Sweden with the word Red on it

 

Georgie Le Bon

A rusty pistol

 

Queen Jenny

A birth certificate

 

Payne

A manuscript from three years earlier (1963) with the title ‘Goodbye to Soho’

 

 

 

Payne : May the Lord have mercy upon us all ! Any one of you might have killed the poor chap !