The %$#@ing Parlour Scene... - CrimeSpace2024-03-29T09:13:13Zhttp://crimespace.ning.com/forum/topics/537324:Topic:68205?commentId=537324%3AComment%3A68382&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHeh - great suggestions, all.…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-01:537324:Comment:687802007-09-01T17:17:00.215ZSimon Spurrierhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sispurrier
Heh - great suggestions, all.<br />
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Unfortunately the nature of this novel prevents me from deviating too far from the established tropes. Without giving too much away, the story is a 100% Traditional, Sticking-to-the-rules Agatha Christie stylee murder mystery, which happens to be set in...<br />
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Well. Somewhere very very odd. Which provides us with all the weirdosity and convention-breaking we need.<br />
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The idea has been to try and play it competely straight whilst stuck in a thoroughly bizarre scenario.…
Heh - great suggestions, all.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the nature of this novel prevents me from deviating too far from the established tropes. Without giving too much away, the story is a 100% Traditional, Sticking-to-the-rules Agatha Christie stylee murder mystery, which happens to be set in...<br />
<br />
Well. Somewhere very very odd. Which provides us with all the weirdosity and convention-breaking we need.<br />
<br />
The idea has been to try and play it competely straight whilst stuck in a thoroughly bizarre scenario. Imagine Poirot trying to present his findings in a paleolithic swamp, or Miss Marple solving murders in hell. It's that sort of vibe: trying to play by the rules in the face of obvious oddity.<br />
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So I find myself forced to try and get the parlour scene absolutely right - in the traditional sense. I strongly suggest anyone tempted towards murder mysteries steers weeeeell clear. It's like pulling teeth. It just struck me - if you se…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-09-01:537324:Comment:686742007-09-01T07:01:06.312ZTom Barclayhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MacCZpilot
It just struck me - if you set the location as a House Of Ill Repute, it could be a genuine %$#@ing Parlour!
It just struck me - if you set the location as a House Of Ill Repute, it could be a genuine %$#@ing Parlour! You've set yourself quite a t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-31:537324:Comment:686082007-08-31T23:49:23.662ZVicki Delanyhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/VickiDelany
You've set yourself quite a task. When done well, the parlour scene works beautifully. I'd only suggest that you throw in lots of alcohol. In the parlour aren't the suspects always having drinks. And the guilty person has too many. Or maybe the PI has too many! Anyway, have fun with it.
You've set yourself quite a task. When done well, the parlour scene works beautifully. I'd only suggest that you throw in lots of alcohol. In the parlour aren't the suspects always having drinks. And the guilty person has too many. Or maybe the PI has too many! Anyway, have fun with it. Feel free - I'll probably use…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-31:537324:Comment:685512007-08-31T18:14:54.800ZTom Barclayhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MacCZpilot
Feel free - I'll probably use it, too - including the plumber and the cherry pits.
Feel free - I'll probably use it, too - including the plumber and the cherry pits. Hey - that could work. Or som…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-31:537324:Comment:684672007-08-31T08:02:00.945ZSimon Spurrierhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sispurrier
Hey - that could work. Or something like it... Cheers!
Hey - that could work. Or something like it... Cheers! Ah. Sorry.
How about; greatl…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-31:537324:Comment:684072007-08-31T00:55:08.700ZTom Barclayhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MacCZpilot
Ah. Sorry.<br />
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How about; greatly-fraught character starts screaming about the danger s/he's in; protagonist says no; screaming continues about how could protag possibly know s/he's not in danger (other characters enter to see what screaming's about); quietly, protag quietly says s/he knows what happened and is now only waiting for The Authorities/dawn/phone repair/invention of steam car to arrest the guilty parties; screamer screams more, attracts still more/other characters to location, attacks…
Ah. Sorry.<br />
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How about; greatly-fraught character starts screaming about the danger s/he's in; protagonist says no; screaming continues about how could protag possibly know s/he's not in danger (other characters enter to see what screaming's about); quietly, protag quietly says s/he knows what happened and is now only waiting for The Authorities/dawn/phone repair/invention of steam car to arrest the guilty parties; screamer screams more, attracts still more/other characters to location, attacks protagonist as a liar; protagonist comes under considerable pressure to explain for the sake of the safety of the innocent (if there are any).<br />
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I'd want to play it for laughs, I think. Appreciate the suggestions, t…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-30:537324:Comment:683822007-08-30T22:53:18.608ZSimon Spurrierhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/sispurrier
Appreciate the suggestions, ta.<br />
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It's not so much the nuts-and-bolts of the Denoument itself - that's all been very carefully plotted for a long long time. And as much as I like the idea of the Sleuth buggering it all up, I'm afraid that won't work within the confines of the plot.<br />
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My problem is more about finding some convenient narrative conceit which allows him to move from explaining Red Herring #1, to Red Herring #2, and on to Genuine Solution #3, without it looking like a list being read…
Appreciate the suggestions, ta.<br />
<br />
It's not so much the nuts-and-bolts of the Denoument itself - that's all been very carefully plotted for a long long time. And as much as I like the idea of the Sleuth buggering it all up, I'm afraid that won't work within the confines of the plot.<br />
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My problem is more about finding some convenient narrative conceit which allows him to move from explaining Red Herring #1, to Red Herring #2, and on to Genuine Solution #3, without it looking like a list being read out from a clipboard.<br />
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I think it's probably just one of those things I'll have to keep on chipping away at until it seems right. I like Christa's suggestion;…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-30:537324:Comment:683602007-08-30T21:33:30.827ZTom Barclayhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/MacCZpilot
I like Christa's suggestion; it would be pretty funny to have the sleuth screw up the logic, to have it untwisted and untangled by The Ingenue or Jeeves or an observant plumber on housecall who sees the significance of the cherry pits in the ashtray next to Major Cadwallader.<br />
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Many plot-makers work backwards, starting with the conclusion and diffusing the clues and Scarlet Smackerals as they retrace their steps to the start of the outline. All LAW & ORDER screenplays are done this way, I'm…
I like Christa's suggestion; it would be pretty funny to have the sleuth screw up the logic, to have it untwisted and untangled by The Ingenue or Jeeves or an observant plumber on housecall who sees the significance of the cherry pits in the ashtray next to Major Cadwallader.<br />
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Many plot-makers work backwards, starting with the conclusion and diffusing the clues and Scarlet Smackerals as they retrace their steps to the start of the outline. All LAW & ORDER screenplays are done this way, I'm told.<br />
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But "avoiding such scenes at all costs" is the surest way to avoid their coincident pains. You could always write a "red…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-30:537324:Comment:682652007-08-30T17:29:27.951ZChrista M. Millerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/christammiller
You could always write a "red herring" parlor scene. Very tongue-in-cheek. Keep your murderer's reaction. And let the screw-up be a lesson in humility for your protag!
You could always write a "red herring" parlor scene. Very tongue-in-cheek. Keep your murderer's reaction. And let the screw-up be a lesson in humility for your protag! I avoid such scenes at all co…tag:crimespace.ning.com,2007-08-30:537324:Comment:682382007-08-30T14:23:28.331ZI. J. Parkerhttp://crimespace.ning.com/profile/Ingpark
I avoid such scenes at all costs. Revelations come in bits and pieces, and sometimes in dialogue.
I avoid such scenes at all costs. Revelations come in bits and pieces, and sometimes in dialogue.