DEATH BEHIND THE MASQUE an Interactive Drama Live Action Freeform Role Playing Scenario for 9 players (4 male and 5 female) written by Ugiene Lin, Robert Chang and Jacob Huang Written as an assignment in English Conversation One, an English as a Foreign Language course taught for freshmen by Dr. Brian David Phillips in the Department of English at National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, Fall Semester, 1998. Copyright 1998 by Ugiene Lin, Robert Chang, and Jacob Huang. Introduction Duke Williams has just moved in a brilliant villa designed by Gautier. You are invited to the Masque Party held by Duke Williams. The List of Guests The original designer of the villa: Gautier The Washington post reporter, who is eager to scoop out all kinds of news and infamy for his greedy of money: Sasha Duke Williams' bosom friends: Mr. Johnson and Mrs. Johnson Duke Williams' only brother, who is also the successor of his property: Smith Williams And Duke Williams' ex-wife Mary , who is not on the list , is also there. The next morning after the Party, the house keeper found Duke Williams dead in his own room, with a pen stuck into his eye. Sasha Washington Post Reporter About Yourself: You are an ambitious person. You take advantage of every opportunity to get exclusive news. Because of your extravagance, you almost run out of your money. You now have problem paying back the money you borrowed from loan shark. Keep the secrets! If being asked, you can lie! You are the killer. You are eager to be famous and try any means to achieve your evil goal. Besides, you are threatened to pay much money back to the loan shark or you'll be killed by them. You need a large amount of money urgently. Duke Williams is a celebrity, so you killed him to get the exclusive news and solve your emergency. That's the fastest method to solve your emergency. You don't want anyone to find out that you murdered Duke Williams, so all you have to do is to shirk the responsibility. Spread the rumors that the ex-wife, Mary, killed Duke Williams. Make up the details. Gautier Architect About Yourself: Duke Williams is your old friend. You are a well-know architect and designer. You only design villas for the rich. You had introduced Carol to Duke Williams, so Carol could get the job. You had a poor childhood and that's why you are so greedy now. You seem to care nothing but money. You revealed your talent for art when you were very little. You like to have opinions about others' clothes. You can get a lot of information from the Johnsons. Keep the secrets unless you are asked: You dislike Duke Williams, especially his taste. The reason why you work for him is all because of money. You know that Duke Williams has the habit of collecting diamonds; thus you bribed Carol, the house keeper, to find out where Duke Williams hides those priceless treasures. After that, you have given Carol an USD-50000 check. Smith Williams Duke Williams' brother About Yourself: You're the only brother of Duke Williams. Nevertheless, you often quarreled with Duke Williams and had a bad relationship with him. In spite of this, you still can get the heritage from your brother after he died. That's all because Duke Williams has no child and you're the only consanguinity. Besides, you know your brother has the habit of collecting priceless values. Keep the secrets unless you're asked. You know that you can get lots of property from Duke Williams if he died. Actually, you had the idea of killing your own brother before but didn't make it. When you knew that your brother had died, you were really gleeful. But it would be quite strange to gloat over your own brother's death, so you try to hide your real feeling. Mark Bodyguard of Duke Williams About Yourself: You are the bodyguard of Duke Williams. You are faithful to your master and Duke Williams trusts you very much. You have know that your master and his only brother, Smith Williams, have poor relationship for a long time. Therefore, you pay good attention to Duke Williams every so often. You know that Smith may try to kill his brother some day for the property. However, Duke Williams was dead anyway. When you found Duke Williams' body, you also noticed that there was a love letter on Tien's desk. Besides, several days ago, you found a check for Carol. You think it's quite weird. Another thing you also have to reveal is that at the night when Duke Williams was killed, you saw his wife, Tien, was embracing someone and kissing each other, whose face wasn't seen by you. Mrs. Johnson Extremely intimate friend of Duke Williams About Yourself: You are bosom friend of Duke Williams and the wife of Mr. Johnson. You have known Duke Williams for a very long time, thus, you know almost everything about him and his family. As for Duke Williams' death, you know that his only brother, Smith Williams, was quite gleeful to see this. Since they've long been in poor relationship and the death of his brother means Smith will inherit all of Duke Williams' property. Keep the secrets unless you're asked: You know the reason why Duke Williams wanted to invited all guests to his party is to show off. You also know that why the reporter, Sasha, is invited is because Duke Williams wanted to be more famous in the whole society. Besides, you know that the reporter is in need of money and threatened to pay the money back to the loan shark urgently. You know that he might do any thing to get the money. Tien The wife of Duke Williams About Yourself: You are now the wife of Duke Williams. Mary and you are bosom friends. You were introduced to Duke Williams by Mary. You soon fell in love with Duke Williams and asked him to get divorced with Mary, so that you could marry to him. You feel sorry for Mary because you have betrayed your best friend. Keep the secrets unless you're asked: Actually you're a " bisexual ". Mary and you were lovers. You broke up with Mary and married Duke Williams. However, you couldn't forget the past romance with her. After your husband's death, you again felt so lonely. You want to win Mary back, but you just dare not to talk to her. However, Mary met you in the garden at the night when Duke Williams was killed. Although you are very surprised to see Mary, you're still very excited. You and Mary talked a lot about those good old days you have been through. After that, Mary asked you to return to her, and kissed you at that night. You also get a love letter from Mary but you got lost of it. Mary Ex-wife of Duke Williams About Yourself: You were the ex-wife of Duke Williams. Tien is your close friend. Two years ago, you introduced Tien to your husband, Duke Williams. However, you didn't know that they soon fell in love and Duke Williams got divorced with you and married Tien. You are an unexpected visitor. That is, you're not on the list of the party. Keep the secrets unless you're asked: Actually, you are a " bisexual ". Tien and you were lovers before. Even though you married to Duke Williams, you still kept in touch with Tien. However, you didn't know that Tien would soon fell in love with your husband. You felt like being betrayed and that's why you were at the party. You want to make up with Tien again. Try to talk to Tien and keep on asking her to come back to you. You have written a love letter to Tien and left the letter in her room. The night when Duke Williams was killed, you had talks with Tien and kissed her in the garden. Mr.Johnson Extremely intimate friend of Duke Williams About Yourself: You are bosom friend of Duke Williams. You have known Duke Williams for a very long time, thus you know almost everything about him and his family. As for Duke Williams' death, you know that his only brother, Smith Williams, was quite gleeful to see this. Since they've long been in poor relationship and the death of his brother means Smith will inherit all of Duke Williams' property. Keep the secrets unless you're asked: As a matter of fact, you have always doubted that there are some embarrassing relationships between the architect (Gautier) and the house keeper (Carol). Besides, it's a wonder that the acting and talking between Tien and Duke Williams' ex-wife (Mary) are doubtful too. Carol The House Keeper About Yourself: You were introduced to Duke Williams by Gautier. You have worked for Duke Williams for years. Duke Williams trusts you very much because you work really hard and you show your loyalty to him in front of him. Unfortunately, Your parents have suffered from cancers for years and you need more money to afford the expenses of therapy. Keep the secrets unless you're asked. Yes, you did accept Gautier's bribe, and he had given you a check of USD 50000. Gautier wants you to find out where Duke Williams hides his diamonds. You didn't mean to take the bribe. It's all because you need the money to pay the high expenses of therapy. Therefore, the relationship between you and Gautier is quite embarrassing. However, you lost the check somewhere in the villa. You are nervous if someone would find out the secret. You will be misconstrued as the murderer, but you're not. Try to explain the situation if someone finds out the check. Evidence NCCU Bank Check Payable to Carol: US$ 50,000.00 Love Letter My Dear Tien: I couldn't realize why such a romantic thing, love, becomes so cruel. Leave him and come to me. I cannot forget those good old days between us. An unexpected lover.