"SCURVY"

                                                              FADE IN:

               INT. ISLAND INN - NIGHT
                (VERA, MRS. ROGERS, DOCTOR ARMSTRONG, LOMBARD)

               MUSIC- MASTERPIECE-THEATRE STYLE HARPSICHORD

               A WELL-APPOINTED SITTING ROOM WITH PRETTY FURNITURE. 
               DOCTOR ARMSTRONG, MRS. ROGERS, VERA, AND LOMBARD LOLL ABOUT
               IN POSES OF AFFECTED EASE.  LOMBARD SWIRLS A DRINK AND
               LIGHTNING FLASHES.

                                   VERA

                      So it's possible that we'll not be

                      rescued before the sunrise?

                                   MRS. ROGERS

                      Ah.  Finally a coherent thought

                      appears in that pretty head.

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      I say, it is unlikely that a boat

                      could reach us through that storm.

                                   LOMBARD

                      At least the 'ouse 'as got whiskey.

               LOMBARD RAISES THE DRINK TO HIS LIPS.  DOCTOR ARMSTRONG
               STAYS HIS HAND BEFORE HE CAN DRINK.

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG 

                      Steady on, old boy.  We've got to

                      keep clear heads through this

                      business.

                                   LOMBARD

                      To each 'is own, guv'nor.

               LOMBARD TAKES A SWIG OF THE DRINK, GAGS, TWITCHES, AND
               DIES.  DOCTOR ARMSTRONG APPLIES A STETHOSCOPE TO LOMBARD'S
               CORPSE.

               SFX- THEATRICAL ORGAN STING 

                                   VERA

                      Doctor, is he--

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Dead.  Yes.

                                   VERA

                      What killed him?

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Scurvy.

                                   MRS. ROGERS
                          (You idiot)

                      Scurvy?!

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Scurvy!

                                   VERA

                      Doctor, what causes scurvy?

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      A deficiency of vitamin C in the

                      diet.  This man definitely died of

                      scurvy.

                                   MRS. ROGERS

                      That is the perfect pinnacle of

                      idiocy.

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Yes.  He should have eaten more

                      citrus fruits.

                                   MRS. ROGERS

                      You are an utter and complete arse. 

                      I will tolerate your claptrap no

                      longer. 

               THE LIGHTS CUT TO BLACK.  IN THE BLACKNESS, THERE ARE TWO
               GUNSHOTS AND A SINGLE SCREAM.  THE LIGHTS RETURN.  MRS.
               ROGERS LAYS DEAD ON THE FLOOR.  VERA AND THE DOCTOR RUSH TO
               MRS. ROGERS'S BODY.  DOCTOR ARMSTRONG PROBES WITH THE
               STETHOSCOPE.

               SFX- THEATRICAL ORGAN STING

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Scurvy!

                                   VERA

                      Doctor, she has a bullet hole in her

                      head--

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      I'm a medical man.  Thirty years of

                      experience in forensics, my dear.  

                      Look at this inflammation. 

               DOCTOR ARMSTRONG WAVES MRS. ROGERS'S ARM AROUND LIKE A DEAD
               FISH.

                                   VERA

                      Doctor, the onset seemed so sudden. 

                      I thought that scurvy sort of crept

                      up on you over time--

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Not true.  The classic signs are all

                      there: slight inflammation of the

                      soft tissues. 

                      I'm going to see if there are any

                      sources of vitamin C on this island 

                      - lemons, oranges, that sort of

                      thing.  You wait here.

                                   VERA

                      Doctor, shouldn't we keep together,

                      or something along those lines?

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Nonsense, my dear.  I'm a medical

                      man.  Thirty years of experience in

                      forensics, my dear.

               DOCTOR ARMSTRONG LEAVES.  VERA NOTICES, FOR THE FIRST TIME,
               A CLOSED DOOR.  WE HEAR A SINGLE, DISCORDANT SYNTHESIZER
               SOUND.  SHE WALKS SLOWLY, SLOWLY TOWARD THE DOOR, AND IS
               ABOUT TO OPEN IT WHEN THE DOCTOR RETURNS.  HE STAGGERS
               SLOWLY INTO THE ROOM.

                                   VERA

                      Oh, Doctor, you're returned.  I was

                      just about to wander into that

                      closet--

               THE DOCTOR DOES A HALF-TURN TO VERA.  WE SEE AN AXE IS
               STICKING OUT OF HIS BACK.

                                   VERA (CONT'D)

                      And I wonder if you'd be so good as

                      to check the closet with me...

                      Doctor, are you all right!

                                   DOCTOR ARMSTRONG

                      Scurvy!

               SFX- THEATRICAL ORGAN STING

               DOCTOR ARMSTRONG DROPS TO HIS KNEES AND DIES.  VERA
               SCREAMS. 
               SHE SHAKES NERVOUSLY A BIT, AND THEN NOTICES THE DOOR
               AGAIN.  SYNTHESIZER SOUND AS BEFORE.  SHE WALKS CLOSER AND
               CLOSER TO THE DOOR, PUTS HER HAND ON THE DOORKNOB, AND
               YANKS THE DOOR OPEN.  IMMEDIATELY SHE IS PELTED WITH ABOUT
               FIFTY ORANGES.  SHE SCREAMS AND DIES. 

               SFX- THEATRICAL ORGAN STING

                                                        FADE TO BLACK.