ACT THREE Flashcards

0
Q

Ben: ….. especially that motive for the strangulation of Lord Clive!

A

But what other explanation fits the facts?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

lights go on

A

Are you quite sure you’ve got it all straight now, Ben?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Ben: Well, when you put it that way-

A

Good.

Shall we start the summing up, sir?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Ben: Yes, I suppose we should. How do I look?

A

Splendid, sir. The consummate Great Detective in the flesh!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Ben: You really think so?

A

You’ll strike terror into every guilty heart in the room!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Nancy: Now-?

A

Now.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Chloe: Algy, will you please stop admitting you did it?

A

Where are Tom Groggins and Mimosa?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Ben: … I suppose that is a bit more accurate-

A

It is not! Chief Inspector Braddock will tell you all precisely what happened!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Pierre: Do we even get to argue with on various points?

A

Not unless you want this denouement to drag on till dawn!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Ben: Sergeant Threedle, I hereby authorize you to shoot the next person who interrupts me!

A

But, Ben, I’m not armed.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Ben: Alma, why didn’t you fire?

A

At whom? They all interrupted in unison!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Monica: …. Sergeant, but I simply must interrupt!

A

Ben-?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Pierre: What are you suggesting, Inspector?

A

Shall I shoot him, sir?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Ben: … damnable side-excursions into their own conversations.

A

As you wish, sir.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Ben: …. Now why would the old skinflint do a thing like that? Lady Monica-?

A

I don’t shoot at people merely answering questions, milady.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Algy: …. Chloe Custardine!

A

My trigger-finger is getting very itchy-!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Ben: …. I had a roomate-

A

Ben-

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Ben: She was a lovely little thing, but rather strapped, financially-

A

Ben-

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Ben: Duh-uh-well–

A

Ben!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Ben: Yes, Sergeant?

A

I told you to tell this part about my college days, remember?!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Ben: Shoot that man!

A

Oh, come on, Ben! Now that you’ve blown it, let me handle this part of the solution, all right?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Ben: All right.

A

My college roomate, of whom Ben spoke, had taken this job as a hotel maid. But about that same time, she needed an operation. A cervical laminectomy with fusion.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Nancy: The same as Monsooer Pourri’s!

A

Precisely. Unfortunately, there is a side-effect to this surgery about which neurosurgeons never think to warn their patients. My friend lost her job at the hotel because of it.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Fredonia: What side-effect?

A

She could no longer change the pillow casings when making up rooms!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Mimosa: What is a C.L.w/F. anyhow?

A

A disk had ruptured between two of the vertebrae in the neck, causing pain and often paralysis as it presses on the spinal nerves there.it is vital that this disk be surgically removed, and the two vertebrae surrounding it fused together, usually with a small sliver of bone from the hip, or there might ensue paralysis, or even death.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Remley: …. cause your friend to lose her job in the hotel?

A

There are seven vertebrae in the neck. After the fusion, in effect, the person now has only six flexible vertebrae, since two now move as one. It prevents the person’s chin from reaching the person’s chest.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Monica: …. But- what in the world does this have to do with Pierre?

A

He could no longer put his trousers on a hanger!

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

O.E.B.: What?!

A

Ask any man how it’s done: Two hands must hold the trousers at the sides, in order to maintain their crease, whole the cuffs of the trousers are held between chin and chest as the hanger is maneuvered into position. Pierre could no longer hang up his trousers neatly-

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Ben: So his sartorial appearance in that area became distressingly messy-

A

And, naturally, his engagement to a prominent fashion designer was over!

29
Q

Ben: … nor why she’s dressed like that.

A

Benjamin, you silly goose! Haven’t you recognized her yet? It’s your own girlfriend, Maisie Magoo!

30
Q

Ben: … Those frumpy clothes and sensible shoes?

A

That part of it I don’t know!

31
Q

Ben: Then how did you recognize her?

A

By that haunting perfume, of course. Librarian or not, she always wears it.

32
Q

Bibi: Pretending?

A

Well, of course, Lord Clive didn’t know Pierre intended to really kill him!

33
Q

Chloe: ….. and writing that mysterious message-

A

And that calypso note that got me and Ben over here in the first place, don’t forget!

34
Q

Pierre: …… to be sure there were police on the premises!

A

Ah, but what police?

35
Q

O.E.B.: You’re not the police?!

A

No-no, you misunderstand: What I meant was, Lord Clive didn’t send for the police in general- he sent for Benjamin Braddock!

36
Q

Fredonia: But how could Clive know the sort of investigator Inspector Braddock was?

A

From the soirée at the Marquis’s about a fortnight ago: While Ben was busy observing Lady Monica and her chitchat about sour mash bourbon, Lord Clive was busy observing Ben! It didn’t take him long to realize this was the perfect man to come around here and muck up the investigation!

37
Q

Ben: Alma! How could you?!

A

Now-now, Ben, you’re not as stupid as all that. I mean, you had the good sense to select me as your assistant!

38
Q

Ben: As a matter of fact- you are! And right now, with no further delay!

A

If you will all kindly get back to exactly where you were at the moment just before the lights went out…?

39
Q

Maisie: ….. Should I go out there?

A

How did you get into the house, Maisie?

40
Q

Fredonia: … Everyone always forgets about Jasmine!

A

That was the secret to her success as an extortionist- she was a most unnoticeable person. Actually, though, no one need play her part. She did nothing while the lights were out.

41
Q

Ben: Except cringe a bit in the dark.

A

Now, here’s what you are to do when the inspector gives the signal to begin-

42
Q

Pierre: Oh, very well.

A

There now, do you have it all straight, Mister Groggins?

43
Q

Tom: …. and the falling down and dying?

A

Quite correct. Now then, everyone, shall we begin?

44
Q

Fredonia: …. Surely there’s far too much to be done in that short interval?

A

You’d be surprised how much can be done in a short space of time. Five seconds is a lot longer than you imagine. But here, you have nothing to do when the activity starts. Take this- and when the activities begin, press the start button.

45
Q

Fredonia: Oh, yes. I used to coach my schools track team.

A

Splendid! Then- if everyone is ready to go-?

All right, then. Ben-?

46
Q

Ben: TIME!

A

Well, Mrs. Custardine?

47
Q

Monica: Excuse me, but- where did Pierre run to, just now?

A

To change his shirt, of course, and put a bandage upon the bloody area of his chest.

48
Q

Pierre: ….. Fortunately, nobody noticed!

A

I noticed.

49
Q

Remley: What was the point of the message?

A

To throw suspicion upon Pierre, of course.

50
Q

Ben: ….. his wife would thus be suspected of his murder!

A

Yet he sent that calypso-message in the secondary hope that suspicion would fall upon Mimosa.

51
Q

Pierre: ….. how does that gibberish on the page behind the desk incriminate me?

A

It’s not gibberish, Monsieur Pourri. His lordship’s hobby was creating palindromes, after all.

52
Q

O.E.A.: By “M”?!

A

The French abbreviation for the word “Monsieur”!

53
Q

Mimosa: But why did he cry out “Sauce, Sauce!” when he was being strangled?

A

To point yet another finger of guilt at Pierre, who was a naval person!

54
Q

Ben: …. Surely you’re all familiar with “S.O.S.”?

A

Being in the process of strangulation, Lord Clive simply didn’t have time to spell it out!

55
Q

Bibi: …. Why drop the pistol into the teapot?

A

Having fired the pistol in total darkness, Lord Clive could not be certain the bullet hadn’t struck someone. It would be quite sticky for him if he “resurrected” later on to face a charge of manslaughter.

56
Q

Monica: For the love of reason, Inspector, why not?

A

Because Lord Clive Wickenham is not dead!

57
Q

Ben: ….. but when you two men picked him up-

A

-his body jackknifed and his internal organs obviously pushed against his diaphragm and started his breathing again!

58
Q

Ben: What good would that do us?

A

Since Lord Clive is not in his bedroom!

59
Q

O.E.B.: Then where is he?!

A

Standing right next to his bride-to-be!

60
Q

Tom: …. My disguise was flawless!

A

You gave yourself away, Lord Clive! You made three appallingly stupid errors.

61
Q

Ben: ….. you entered this room as dry as toast!

A

What you actually did, after Remley and Algy left Jasmine’s body on your bed, was to get into your disguise and climb down onto the balcony, after the storm had abated!

62
Q

Clive: That’s merely one error. What are the others?

A

In our re-enactment of the crime, just now, when Pierre began to strangle you, you cried out “Sauce, Sauce!”

63
Q

Clive: So what if I did? That’s precisely what I cried out when he really tried it while the lights were out!

A

But who told you what was cried out? I certainly didn’t! I merely told you where to move and what to do- not what to say!

64
Q

Clive: I don’t see the error in that-?!

A

But you were supposed to be in love with Mimosa. About to elope with her, in fact!

65
Q

Ben: ….. doesn’t ask her what happened?!

A

But you didn’t have to ask- because as Lord Clive you’d put it that bruise there- just two days earlier!

66
Q

Ben: Sergeant Threedle- take the prisoner away!

A

With pleasure, sir!

67
Q

Maisie: Oh, Benjy!

A

The prisoner’s all handcuffed and waiting in the car, Ben…. Ben-?

68
Q

Fredonia: I believe he’s occupied at the moment, Sergeant.

A

It seems to be contagious! Oh, but, I say!vive just thought of the title for my book on Inspector Braddock’s latest exploit! What with Algy being engaged to Bibi but loving Chloe- and Lord Clive being married to Lady Monica but loving Bibi- and Mimosa engaged to Tom but actually loving Remley-!

69
Q

Monica: What will you call your book?

A

“THE BERMUDA TRIANGLES”!