Scarlett Investigates - Part 1

 

Scarlett Investigates

Scarlett O’Connell hadn’t expected to be investigating a sabotaged play. She just wanted to learn to improve her art while investigating minor campus mysteries. She had made some backdrop pieces for the campus production of The Tempest and had arrived at the college’s theater to find something wrong. The stage was a mess. She saw that the curtain had fallen completely. “Something’s not right here,” she said as she fidgeted with her tablet.

 

“It’s a curse,” someone said nearby,

 

Scarlett turned, and saw that it was Daniel Fields, a theater student on her floor. “What do you mean?” she asked, as she fidgeted with a keyring in her pocket.

 

“Minor incidents have been occurring all week.”

 

“All week?”

 

“Yes, mostly broken props, but now the curtain has fallen,” Daniel answered.

 

“Sounds like sabotage,” Scarlett said as she sketched the scene.

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“That these incidents aren’t just the normal chaos of theater.”

 

“How can you be sure?” Daniel asked with skepticism.

 

“I’m not certain,” Scarlett admitted. She was certain, something about the curtain having fallen and Daniel admission of minor incidents, piqued her interest and she knew she wanted to find out what was going on. “I’m going to investigate,” she declared.

 

 

“Wait, Scarlett,” Daneil said as she ran off. “You can’t just…” He paused as she dashed through a door backstage.

 

 

Backstage, Scarlett wondered where to start. “I’ll need to know who’s involved in the production. But who would have the cast sheet, and would it be comprehensive?” she asked as she absentmindedly sketched the scene around her.

 

“You there!”

 

Scarlett turned. “Um, I’m investigating,” she said to the girl who was coming towards her.

 

“You shouldn’t be here!”

 

“I know, but I can help!”

 

“How?” the other girl asked, as she tossed her long brown hair back like a supermodel.

 

“I notice things that others don’t. I’m Scarlett by the way.” Scarlett then held out her hand.

 

“You don’t know who I am, Scarlett?” the other asked in faux surprise.

 

“Should I?” Scarlett asked with a slight bounce, her eyes wide.

 

“I’m the lead actress of this production, playing Ariel.”

 

“Still no clue.”

 

“I’m Victoria Calder! I can’t believe you don’t know who I am.

 

“Oh, that Victoria Calder!” Scarlett said. She had indeed heard of the theater major who was known for her diva attitude and epic tantrums when her demands weren’t met in a timely manner. “Sorry, I hadn’t put face to name.”

 

“Unbelievable!” Victoria said with a huff. “Still, Scarlett.”

 

Scarlett’s attention had wandered.

 

Victoria snapped her fingers. “Hey!”

 

“Sorry. ADHD,” Scarlett said.

 

“Right. You shouldn’t be here.”

 

“You said that before. But I can notice things others miss.”

 

“You seem sincere,” Victoria said. “But only if I supervise you.”

 

“No.”

 

“What was that?” Victoria responded, tears coming to her eyes.

 

“I said no,” Scarlett said, not wanting Victoria to be a possible millstone.

 

“I can help!” Victoria added with her voice raised and actual tears beginning to flow.

 

“No!”

 

“Victoria balled her hands into fists and started to screech.”

 

Scarlett resisted the urge to block her ears . It was too much. ‘Not an overload, not now!’ she thought. “Alright,” she said. “You can help.”

 

Victoria calmed down and wiped her tears with a handkerchief embroidered with her initials. “Thanks,” she said.

 

Scarlett was still little overwhelmed. “What have you noticed so far?” she asked as she fidgeted with her sketchbook.

 

“Some things,” Victoria answered. “We can talk in my dressing room.”

 

“That would be good.”

 

 

Victoria’s dressing room was chaotic, but it was quieter than the backstage complex outside. Scarlett relaxed a bit, although she was still overstimulated.

 

She sat on one of the side chairs. “Now, what do you know?”

 

Victoria began. “It was during the initial read through. There was a loud crash that interrupted us as we reached the scene where Caliban recruits the two sailors.”

 

Scarlett sketched the scene, showing Caliban as bestial. “Maybe someone is objecting to the way Caliban is portrayed,” she blurted.

 

“No differently than the way the Bard originally wrote it. Just’s not jump to conclusions!”

 

“Sorry. I was musing aloud. Something I do. I don’t have much of a filter,” Scarlett admitted as she tapped her stylus against her tablet.

 

“Must you do that?”

 

“Do what?”

 

“The fidgeting,” Victoria exclaimed.

 

“Sorry. It helps me focus.”