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Characters: Mason and Peter
Mason: It's turning out to be quite an evening. Yet another Lockridge in the Capwell home.
Peter: Oh yeah? Who's that?
Mason: Lionel, Augusta's husband. Do you know him?
Peter: Slightly.
Mason: Hmm, not quite the same way you know Augusta. Let's all be grateful for that.
Peter: He's probably here about his daughter.
Mason: No doubt.
Peter: Expecting a problem, Mason?
Mason: Well, any time the Capwells and the Lockridges have collided in the past, we've had major
problems, but maybe tonight we'll be lucky.
Peter: Well, I hope so.
Mason: Are you feeling lucky, Peter?
Peter: What do you mean?
Mason: Oh, it just occurred to me that it might be a lucky time for us. I mean Lionel Lockridge is
here, Laken Lockridge is here, Warren doesn't live at home, and the old lady is probably asleep.
Who does that leave.
Peter: Augusta.
Mason: Very good! Augusta! Yes, alone and at your mercy.
Peter: I understand what you mean, Mason.
Mason: Very good! Augusta! Yes, alone and at your mercy.
Peter: I understand what you mean, Mason.
Mason: I advise you get over there, now.
Peter: I don't think now is a very good time.
Mason: Why's that?
Peter: Well, it is getting a little late. You know?
Mason: Well, it's barely nine o'clock. You might catch her in her nightgown. Could you handle that?
Peter: I just don't feel good about it, Mason.
Mason: How you feel about it is irreverent, Peter. Do what you have to do, wake her up if need be,
ply her with brandy if that will help. The bottom line is, get the information on the property.
Peter: Mason, this isn't the way I do things.
Mason: Peter, don't be such a boy scout.
Peter: I'm not a boy scout.
Mason: I'll second that.
Peter: I just have my own way that I want to handle it.
Mason: Peter, this is a world of awards and punishments. We learn that as children, and learn and
relearn it as adults.
Peter: Mason, I understand that.
Mason: Good. Go to Augusta now, then. Be your most charming self. Flatter her if she responds to
flattery. Lead her to believe that she has you in the palm of her hand. In so doing, you'll have her
exactly where she thinks she has you.
Peter: Yeah, I just hope it's that easy.
Mason: There's no question in my mind, she's controlled by her ego.
Peter: She's also a very smart lady.
Mason: Smarter than you? Smarter than an ex-prep school physics teacher.
Peter: All right! All right, Mason! (Gulps down his drink).
Mason: I promise I won't tell my father you bolted down his 100-year-old cognac. I don't think you'll
find courage in the bottom of an expensive brandy sniffer anyway, Peter.
Peter: I'll do my best, Mason. (Starts to leave the room).
Mason: Good. Peter go the other way.
Peter: What?!
Mason: I'm sorry. Have I offended you?
Peter: Well, it's just all these orders and instructions; I don't know how many more of them I can
take.
Mason: Well, we've hardly begun. You're not even in the family, yet.
Peter: Well I don't come into the family as your lackey.
Mason: Peter, don't be silly. I'm merely suggesting that in this conspiracy that it might be brighter of
us if you went out the back door. See, that way Lionel Lockridge won't get the idea that you're
going off to horn swagger his wife.