A Mystery is Upon Us

Cast of Characters

Character 1:  Piper Amherst        age 35 writer and activist

Character 2: Ella Levine           age 34 longest friend of Piper

Character 3: Penelope Allen        age 35 Friend of both Piper and Ella who they met in college.

Scene

A group of friends gather at Piper’s home to celebrate her writing award.

Time

The events within this play transpire after 11pm.

SCENE 1

(Piper, Ella, and Penelope enter Piper’s home and head for the kitchen/dining room area. It is there that they crack open a bottle of wine and begin celebrating the amazing night they had just experienced.)

PIPER AMHERST

It still doesn’t feel real guys.

(Piper walks and puts her award in the center of her mantel in the dining room for all to see.)

PENELOPE ALLEN

You deserve it girl. We saw how much you put into that book.

ELLA LEVINE

Literal blood, sweat, and tears is what you put into that bad boy! You deserved tonight Pipes.

(Piper, Ella, and Penelope gather at the dining room table.)

PIPER AMHERST

Thank you, ladies. You are too good to me.

ELLA LEVINE

And that my dear is what best friends are here for.

PENELOPE ALLEN

So, what is next for Piper Amherst?

PIPER AMHERST

I have a few ideas floating around up here, but I haven’t committed to anything just yet. I honestly plan to sit back and relax until the idea hits me. I will know when the time is right, it is the beauty of my creativity.

PENELOPE ALLEN

I think that will be great for you. Especially after all the work you have put in over the past two years.

ELLA LEVINE

I completely agree!

PIPER AMHERST

I seriously would be lost without you two. So, what is going on in your lives? I know I am not the only one in this room worth talking about.

(Suddenly the room goes dark, and we hear the girls scream. The lights then are turned back on)

PENELOPE ALLEN

Oh my god, Piper! Your award it is gone!!!

(Piper, Ella, and Penelope look at each other in shock.)

(BLACKOUT – END OF SCENE)

SCENE 2

(Piper, Ella, and Penelope are gathered in front of the mantle. It is there that they find a typed note in place of the award)

PIPER AMHERST

If you want your award returned follow these clues.

(She looks up at Ella and Penelope)

There is a riddle on the other side.

PENELOPE ALLEN

What does it say!?!?

PIPER AMHERST

It says:

“This thing all things devours;
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats mountain down.”

ELLA LEVINE

Wow, Gollum, ok I see you stranger who is obliviously screwing with us.

PIPER AMHERST

Screwing with us? This cannot be happening right now.

(Piper begins to frantically pace around the room looking for the award)

Guys, I pulled some strings and had that custom made. In the base is a hidden compartment. I was going to use it to store my writing that I transfer to usb ports, but tonight I put all the diamond jewelry I was wearing for the awards inside. I took them off when I got in the car because they were uncomfortable. I am supposed to give them back to my manager when I meet her at her office before the Women’s March tomorrow.

ELLA LEVINE

Whoa, pipes take a breath. Sorry, that was a poorly timed joke. Let’s gather our thoughts here and figure this out.

PENELOPE ALLEN

She is right Pipes, take a deep breath and gain some clarity.

(They all take deep breaths in and exhale)

What was the clue again?

ELLA LEVINE

It was Gollum’s riddle.

“This thing all things devours;
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats mountain down.”

PIPER AMHERST

Isn’t the answer, time?

ELLA LEVINE

It is!

(The girls begin to turn in place to scan their surroundings.)

PENELOPE ALLEN

The Grandfather clock!

ELLA LEVINE

Good eyes Pen.

(The girls dash to the Grandfather clock across the room and Penelope grabs another note out of the clock.)

PENELOPE ALLEN

If you are reading this, you have made it to clue number two. That is one down and one to go. These next two clues are about those that you know. When you find your answer ask them their favorite treat.

“My first displays the wealth and pomp of kings,
Lords of the earth! their luxury and ease.
Another view of man, my second brings,
Behold him there, the monarch of the seas!”

PIPER AMHERST

Ok, just to clarify, the “you” in this note is referring to me? And these next two clues are about you two?

ELLA LEVINE

That is the vibe I am getting here.

PIPER AMHERST

Ok just making sure I was understanding. That is the riddle that Emma solves.

PENELOPE ALLEN

Well, that is obviously a nod to my rejection of Earl. The decision that launched my life into unimaginable places. Speaking of Earl, this is starting to give me flash backs from college. Do you guys remember the mystery party we threw senior year?

(She takes a seat at the nearby table and looks at the note in her hand.)

PIPER AMHERST

Yes, that was such a great day, wasn’t that also the day you got the call from the bank approving your small business loan Ella?

ELLA LEVINE

Yea, Yea it was! We celebrated hard after the murder mystery dinner!

(Piper and Ella also take a seat at the table)

PENELOPE ALLEN

You guys don’t think someone from our college days could be messing with us, do you?

PIPER AMHERST

Surly not.

ELLA LEVINE

I mean, there is Earl…

PENELOPE ALLEN

And there is also you.

ELLA LEVINE

Wait, what?

PENELOPE ALLEN

Are you kidding me? This is right up your alley of things you would do.

ELLA LEVINE

Well, sorry to disappoint but this is not my handy work. I would not of used an Emma quote as a clue for you. You are more of a Daisy from Gatsby, in my opinion.

PENELOPE ALLEN

I mean, if the shoes fits, I will wear it. You may be trying to insult me, but I do not see it that way. Although Daisy is a fool, she is also wealthy so at least she isn’t struggling. Which clearly, we all know I am not. Yea I am in a not-so-great marriage, you got me there, but at least I have the means to do as I please and see the world around me without having to lift a finger.

ELLA LEVINE

Do you really think that is a life that is worth living? A life with meaning and purpose?

(Piper stands up from the table)

PIPER AMHERST

Ok, I am going to interject now, before you two start this same fight once again. Let’s not forget that I just had diamonds that are stashed in my award stolen; with us in the same room. We have much bigger problems here aside from your constant disagreement of what life should be.

PENELOPE ALLEN

You are right Piper. We should be helping each other instead of making accusations against one another. I’m sorry Ella.

ELLA LEVINE

I get it, hell I was the one who set up that mystery dinner party. I am sorry too. Let’s find these diamonds before Piper has an aneurysm, what did the card say we have to ask the person the clue was about?

(Penelope looks down at the note that is still in her hand.)

PENELOPE ALLEN

Ask them their favorite treat.

ELLA LEVINE

So, Pipes? Do you have cheesecake?

(BLACKOUT – END OF SCENE)

SCENE 3

(The girls have made their way to the fridge, open the door, and grab out a cheesecake sampler from the store.)

ELLA LEVINE

Ok so what is the tea on me?

(She picks up the note that is taped on top)

You have made your way to the third clue only one more and the award is yours.

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

(Ella laughs out loud)

This is clearly a nod to my madness and love for Alice, but that gives us nothing to work with here.

PENELOPE ALLEN

Maybe the answer isn’t the “obvious” answer, like in Wonderland.

Ella Levine

I got you, “out of the box thinking” I like it.

(The girls start to scan the room once more)

PIPER AMHERST

Valerie is going to be so pissed if I don’t find those diamonds. I can see her glare now. I am always losing the important shit I just don’t get my brain sometimes.

ELLA LEVINE

I mean, in your defense it was technically stolen from you this time.

PIPER AMHERST

Yes, but I put the diamonds in the award and left them there. What the hell was I thinking? I was more worried about being comfortable that I lost my mangers jewelry. Who does that?

ELLA LEVINE

Well, you.

(She chuckles)

Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh but we all know how forgetful you can be. I was honestly shocked when she suggested it for the awards.

PENELOPE ALLEN

Same, but I didn’t have the heart to say anything. Listen, Piper we WILL find the diamonds. We just have to stay calm and put our teamwork power to work here.

ELLA LEVINE

She is right, Pipes. We always figure it out.

PIPER AMHERST

What was the clue again?

ELLA LEVINE

“Why is a raven like a writing desk?”

PENELOPE ALLEN

I am not seeing anything in this room that suggest Alice. Maybe the clue is referencing your love for Ravens?

ELLA LEVINE

You know, I bet you are right!

(The girls look around the room with more intent than before)

PENELOPE ALLEN

I see a Raven on the bookshelf!

(The girls move in front of the bookshelf)

ELLA LEVINE

That is odd.

(She leans in closer to look at the Raven and then looks at Piper and Penelope)

There isn’t another note.

PIPER AMHERST

Wait, that doesn’t make any sense.

ELLA LEVINE

Hmmmm, maybe it isn’t about the raven and more about where it is positioned?

(She leans forward to take a closer look at where the raven was placed.)

Ah Ha! Look at what book the raven is sitting in front of.

(Piper and Penelope look closer as well)

PENELOPE ALLEN

Little Women

(She reaches to grab the book off the shelf.  It only slightly moves and sets off a clicking sound)

ELLA LEVIN

Oh snap, secret door!

(The girls look at each other as the door opens. They then step inside.)

(BLACKOUT – END OF SCENE)

SCENE 4

(Piper, Ella, and Penelope have walked into a secret room behind the wall. It is decorated as an office/lounge area for three. Sitting on one desk is Piper’s award)

PIPER AMHERST

Welcome to our brand-new space! Designed to meet all our business and personal needs. A thank you for the support you have dedicated to make sure I succeed these past two years.

ELLA LEVIN

Holy crap, Pipes!

PENELOPE ALLEN

Are you serious right now!?!

PIPER AMHERST

As serious as Emily Dickinson is about her obsession with death. I would not have been nearly as successful as I was with out you two by my side the entire time.

(BLACKOUT)

(END OF PLAY)*