Bergman Manor

by Tara J. Stone

Genres: Ghost; Historical Fiction; Historical Mysteries; Cozy Mystery; mystery; detective; clean; ghost fiction; 1920s; screenplay

Synopsis

It's 1925, and the purportedly haunted summer retreat house Bergman Manor has seen the deaths of several guests in recent years. When Clem, a penniless playboy, learns that his P.I. uncle is the Manor's latest victim, he poses as a well-to-do guest in order to secretly conduct his own investigation. He soon discovers the connection between all the recent deaths: the Manor's pretty but prickly young maid, Dorothy.

Taken in by Bergman Manor's proprietor as a small child, Dorothy has never known life outside the Manor. As she's grown into a beautiful young woman, the Manor's male guests have begun to pay her much more attention. But the consequences when they get too close are deadly. It doesn't take long for Dorothy to discover Clem's true purpose at the Manor, and desperate to stop the killings, she joins forces with him to find the truth.

As Clem and Dorothy search for answers, they begin to unravel the twisted history of Bergman Manor and the peculiar guests who spend their summers there.

Release date: May 19, 2020

Publisher: Tara J. Stone

Print pages: 118

Sample

FADE IN:

EXT. BERGMAN MANOR - GARDEN - NIGHT (1925)

Moonlight filters through a swirling mist to bathe a well kept garden in an eerie glow. Towering over the garden is a huge mansion -- Bergman Manor.

All is quiet except for WAVES CRASHING against a cliff somewhere nearby.

Until a DOOR SLAMS.

GRAVEL CRUNCHES under RUNNING FEET.

The RUNNER, a young man in a dinner jacket, glances over his shoulder and slips on the gravel as he turns a corner around a hedge of bushes.

He ducks behind a bush and tries to calm his breathing long enough to listen.

There’s nothing for a beat or two. And then...

SLOW, MEASURED FOOTSTEPS on the GRAVEL. Coming CLOSER.

The Runner braces himself, takes a breath, and sprints.

OVER BLACK

A BLOOD-CURDLING SCREAM. Impossible to tell if it comes from a man or a woman.

CUT TO:

INT. BERGMAN MANOR - DOROTHY’S ROOM - SAME

A pretty young woman no more than 20, DOROTHY FRANCIS, sits up in bed as if waking from a nightmare.

There’s a BONE-CRACKING THUD, THUD, THUD...

DOROTHY

No. Not again.

Dorothy covers her ears, and when that doesn’t seem to work, she hides her face under her pillow.

EXT. BERGMAN MANOR - CLIFF - NIGHT

Clouds obscure the moonlight.

The Runner’s face seems to float over the ground. He’s being dragged.

FROM BELOW

A body tumbles over the edge and hurtles TOWARD CAMERA.

CUT TO BLACK.

FADE IN:

CLOSE UP

Wide, staring eyes. They look lifeless... until they blink.

EXT. PARK BENCH - MORNING

The eyes belong to CLEM BEAUREGARD, a disheveled but handsome fella in his early 20s. He’s sprawled on a park bench, just waking up.

He sits up slowly and puts a hand to his aching head. He looks around, trying to figure out where he is and how he got there.

He does a quick pat of all his pockets and feels something in the inside pocket of his jacket. He pulls it out: it’s a champagne cork.

He remembers and smiles.

He picks a flower from a bush nearby.

INT. OFFICE - MORNING

The words on the glass door read:

“J. ALAN MONTGOMERY

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR”

Clem comes in silently and hangs his hat on the rack. He still doesn’t look quite put together.

The secretary, JANE MILLER (20s), has her back to the door, leaning over a filing cabinet.

Clem sneaks up behind her and gives her a peck on the cheek. When she turns in shock, he holds up the flower from the park. She rolls her eyes, but she’s not angry -- this is a game they’ve played before.

JANE

The answer is still no.

CLEM

How come?

She buttons Clem’s top shirt button and tightens his tie. Then she takes the flower from him and sticks it in a small vase full of several other flowers in various states of wilted-ness.

JANE

Because I only date men. Not boys.

Clem glances toward the door leading to the inner office.

CLEM

Is he in?

JANE

And furious.

CLEM

Because I’m late?

JANE

Because he knows why.

CLEM

Wish me luck.

JANE

You’ll need more than that.

Clem goes through a door and into...

INT. MONTGOMERY’S OFFICE - SAME

PAPERS SHUFFLE across the floor when Clem opens the door.

MONTY, an intense-looking man in his 30s, stands in the middle of a room littered with newspapers. He flips through a paper yellow with age. Half of the middle finger on his right hand is missing.

Clem treads carefully, trying to avoid stepping on a potentially important article, but it’s impossible.

MONTY

Where have you been? Never mind, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know.

CLEM

What’s all this?

He motions to all the papers strewn around the room.

MONTY

A case.

Clem waits for Monty to explain further, but he doesn’t.

CLEM

What are you looking for?

Monty throws aside the paper he has and walks around the room looking at the dates on the papers on the floor.

MONTY

Summer, 1923.

Clem looks around for any corresponding dates.

CLEM

What happened in the summer of 1923?

MONTY

Aha!

He picks up a paper and flips through it. He finds what he’s looking for and becomes engrossed.

Clem waits.

MONTY

That makes...

(counting on his fingers)

Four in the last five years.

CLEM

Four what?

Suddenly Monty looks up.

MONTY

Clem, you’re fired.

CLEM

What?

MONTY

I’ve gone too easy on you for too long. Look at you, you can’t even get your buttons right.

Clem looks down at his vest, and indeed, the buttons are off by one hole. He goes about fixing them.

MONTY

Give me one good reason I should keep paying you to come in late every morning and do nothing.

CLEM

I’ll do better, Uncle Monty. Honest. If you’d just let me join you on a case --

Monty snorts.

MONTY

This job takes brains, Clem. And hard work. Not exactly your strong suits.

CLEM

That’s hardly fair. In five years the closest I’ve come to a case is organizing the paperwork after it's been solved. You’ve never even given me a chance.

MONTY

To do what? Uncover information that has the power to destroy or save lives? You think I should hand that kind of responsibility over to a dewdropper like you?

Monty gathers up several papers that he’s organized into one neat pile in the midst of the surrounding chaos.

CLEM

So that’s it. No warning or anything. I’m just... fired.

Monty looks at Clem and sighs.

MONTY

I’ll give you one more shot, but only because your sainted mother made me promise to look after you. I’ll be gone for several days. If you can manage to show up to work on time every day and hold down the fort until I get back, you can join me on my next case. If Jane tells me you’ve been late even once... you’re fired. Got it?

Clem nods. Monty waves a hand at the mess of newspapers.

MONTY

You can start by cleaning this up.

And he’s gone.

Clem stands in the middle of the trashed room, bewildered. Finally, he bends to gather up the papers.

INT. OFFICE - MORNING

When Clem emerges from the inner office, Monty is gone. Jane looks up expectantly.

CLEM

He almost fired me.

JANE

I know.

CLEM

Sometimes I think he’s sorry he ever took me in.

JANE

That can’t be true.

CLEM

Sure seems that way.

JANE

Well, things aren’t always what they seem.

EXT. JAZZ CLUB - EVENING

Clem strolls down the sidewalk of a busy downtown street, hands in his pockets. A couple comes out of an unassuming door, and JAZZ MUSIC floats out behind them.

Clem stops and looks at the door. He turns to keep walking, but he can’t resist. He goes inside.

EXT. STREET - EARLY MORNING

Clem stumbles out of another club door with his arm around a GIRL. They laugh drunkenly. Clem blinks at the morning light. He checks his watch and sobers.

CLEM

Oh, gee. I gotta get to work.

GIRL

Aw, come on. We could go to my place. My roommate’s out of town.

She leans in for a kiss, but Clem uses every ounce of willpower to resist.

CLEM

I can’t. I’m sorry. I’ll call you later.

He trots toward a taxi on the corner, leaving the Girl standing on the sidewalk with her hands on her hips.

INT. OFFICE - MORNING

Clem flies through the door. Jane looks up from the desk and looks at the clock on the wall.

JANE

Just made it.

Clem breathes a sigh of relief.

JANE

Tomorrow you should try a fresh set of clothes though.

Clem looks down at his rumpled suit, chastened.

INT. APARTMENT BUILDING - HALLWAY - AFTERNOON

Clem approaches his door. He inserts his latchkey, but it doesn’t work. He tries again, and jiggles the handle.

Suddenly, the door flies open, and a large MAN in an UNDERSHIRT opens the door.

UNDERSHIRT MAN

What the hell is going on out here?

CLEM

Who are you? What are you doing in my apartment?

UNDERSHIRT MAN

Oh, so you’re the bum who used to live here.

He reaches behind the door and produces a large sack. He shoves it into Clem’s hands.

UNDERSHIRT MAN

Your things.

He’s about to shut the door, but Clem slaps a hand on the door to keep it open.

CLEM

Wait, what is this?

UNDERSHIRT MAN

Guess you shoulda been better ‘bout paying your rent. You got a problem, talk to the landlord.

He SLAMS the DOOR shut. Clem is stunned.

EXT. APARTMENT BUILDING - MOMENTS LATER

Clem comes out of the building, clutching his sack of belongings to his chest. A HOBO sits just feet away from the door.

HOBO

Hey, pal. Can you spare some change?

Clem looks around at the Hobo. He digs into a pocket and pulls out a handful of coins. He starts to count it out, but he looks back at the Hobo and gives him the whole handful.

HOBO

Thanks, buddy. You look like you could use a drink.

The Hobo holds up a paper sack.

Clem seriously considers it for a moment, but finally shakes his head and walks away.

EXT. PARK BENCH - EVENING

Clem sits on the park bench, his sack leaning nearby.

He watches a happy couple walking arm-in-arm.

A soft wind blows, and Clem pulls up his collar and wraps his jacket more tightly around him.

A rowdy group of FLAPPER GIRLS and their handsome fellas on their way to a nightclub or a party approaches. Clem tries to hide his face from them, but it’s too late.

FLAPPER GIRL

Clem Beauregard, is that you?

Clem comes out from behind his jacket collar.

CLEM

Hiya!

FLAPPER GIRL

Hey, we’re on our way to Quincy’s new club. Want to join?

CLEM

No, really. I shouldn’t tonight.

FLAPPER GIRL

All right. Well, enjoy your bench!

They all laugh and move on.

Clem rubs his hands together to warm them. He sticks them in his pockets and discovers something there. He pulls out a key.

INT. OFFICE - NIGHT

Light from the hallway filters through the glass door, making a shadow of Monty’s name across the floor.

A silhouette appears outside the door. Inserts a key in the door. The door swings open.

INT. MONTGOMERY’S OFFICE - NIGHT

The light flickers on. Clem stands in the doorway with his sack of stuff.

He eyes the sofa against the wall opposite the desk.

He sighs.

INT. OFFICE - MORNING

Jane unlocks the door and enters. She takes off her hat and settles into the seat at her desk.

She rifles through the papers on her desk, grabs a couple, and walks to the door leading to Monty’s office.

INT. MONTGOMERY’S OFFICE - SAME

Jane opens the door and turns on the light... and screams!

Clem flies off the sofa. He’s wearing pajamas.

CLEM

What? What happened?

JANE

Clem, you scared the daylights out of me! What are you doing here?

CLEM

Never mind that. I’m here on time, right?

JANE

You’re not telling me you stayed here all night just to be punctual. Anyway, I don't think it really counts if you’re not dressed.

CLEM

Okay, you win. My landlord kicked me out.

JANE

Well, you can’t stay here. If Monty finds out...

CLEM

I know, I know. I just need time to find a new place, that’s all.

A voice floats in from the reception area.

VOICE (O.S.)

Hello?

INT. OFFICE - SAME

A sweaty, middle-aged man in a brown suit, DETECTIVE GATES, stands before the desk. Jane comes from the inner office and shuts the door behind her. Detective Gates eyes her salaciously.

JANE

Good morning, sir. May I help you?

Detective Gates looks back at the name on the door.

DETECTIVE GATES

You Mr. Montgomery’s secretary?

JANE

Yes, sir.

DETECTIVE GATES

Name’s Gates. Detective Gates.

He produces a badge.

DETECTIVE GATES

Can you tell me who Mr. Montgomery’s next-of-kin is?

JANE

Why? Has something happened?

DETECTIVE GATES

If you’ll just answer my question, please.

JANE

I suppose it would be his nephew, Clem. Clement Beauregard.

DETECTIVE GATES

Can you tell me how to get in touch with Mr. Beauregard?

JANE

As a matter of fact, he’s here. Just one moment, please.

She’s clearly unsettled, but she picks up the phone.

JANE

Clem, there’s a Detective Gates here. He wants to see Mr. Montgomery’s next-of-kin. Are you dress-- are you able to see Detective Gates?

Detective Gates catches the slip and gives her a knowing look. She sets the phone down.

JANE

Go right in, Detective.

Detective Gates walks through the door leading to the inner office.

INT. MONTGOMERY’S OFFICE - SAME

Clem finishes buttoning his shirt as Detective Gates enters.

Detective Gates glances back toward Jane’s desk and gives Clem a look almost like admiration.

Clem offers a hand, and Detective Gates takes it.

CLEM

What can I do for you, Detective?

DETECTIVE GATES

Clement Beauregard? You work here?

CLEM

Yes. And please, call me Clem.

DETECTIVE GATES

You’re Mr. Montgomery’s nephew?

CLEM

That’s right. He’s my uncle. My mother’s younger brother.

(off Gates’ look)

Much younger.

Gates helps himself to the seat in front of Montgomery’s desk and motions for Clem to sit as well.

CLEM

What’s this all about, Detective?

DETECTIVE GATES

Forgive me. I suppose I should have started with a proper introduction. I’m with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department.

He produces his badge again.

CLEM

Lincoln County? What brings you all the way down here?

DETECTIVE GATES

The worst part of my job, Mr. Beauregard. I’m here to inform you that Mr. Montgomery is dead.

Clem is shocked.

DETECTIVE GATES

Am I to understand you had no knowledge of Mr. Montgomery’s whereabouts?

CLEM

No. What happened?

DETECTIVE GATES

Did Mr. Montgomery ever mention a place called Bergman Manor?

CLEM

I don’t think so.

DETECTIVE GATES

Are you aware of any cases Mr. Montgomery might have been working on that would have taken him to Bergman Manor?

CLEM

No. He told me he would be gone for several days, but he didn’t tell me where he was going or why.

DETECTIVE GATES

Would the secretary know?

Clem picks up his phone.

CLEM

Jane, could you come in here, please?

He sets down the phone, and Jane appears within seconds.

JANE

Yes, sir?

CLEM

Jane, Monty’s dead.

Jane covers her mouth.

DETECTIVE GATES

Do you know what he was working on at Bergman Manor?

Jane looks from Clem to Detective Gates and takes her time answering.

JANE

No. I’m sorry, I don’t.

Detective Gates doesn’t know if he should believe her.

DETECTIVE GATES

Uh-huh. Well, that’s all the confirmation I need.

CLEM

Confirmation of what?

DETECTIVE GATES

Self-inflicted.

CLEM

Suicide?

DETECTIVE GATES

Maybe. Maybe an accident. Mr. Montgomery drowned in the ocean.

CLEM

How can you be sure no one else forced him to drown? Were there any witnesses?

DETECTIVE GATES

No, but everyone else at the Manor had an alibi. No one there acknowledged any connection to him. Most didn’t even know his name. So if you say he wasn’t working a case there... What other conclusion can I draw?