The Shakespeare Murders

Author and Screenwriter, Peter Turner, wakes on the first day of shooting excited and energised. Learning of the arrival of his sister, Petra, puts a hitch in his stride momentarily but so enthused he shakes it off, only to clash with the Director over the first scene. Further tension arises when the military and dialect coaches confront Peter about the parts they had auditioned for but failed to get clearly unhappy. PETER TURNER (56) Self-published Author and Screenwriter, continually seeking to be accepted whether professionally or personally, even within his own family. MONICA TURNER (54) Peter's Ex wife and closest friend. Loves and cares for Peter, detests his family with a passion. GRAHAM TURNER (81) Peter's Father. Constantly competes, belittles, and undermines Peter. Selfish always has his own best interests at heart and acts towards Peter as if owed. PETRA RUTHERS (48) Peter's sister. Highly strung, Overly dramatic, quick to take offense, feels she is owed, money orientated, takes after their father. Tired and mentally battered and bruised, Peter returns to the budget hotel he is staying out to discover his Father, Graham and two brothers, Steve and Nick, have also turned up. Petra learns Peter's Will, leaving the bulk of his estate to Monica, his ex wife, has yet to be signed. In a night of emotional turmoil, Peter learns he will no longer share in any inheritance, accused of hoarding his assumed wealth when compared to author J. K. Rowling's financial status having published more books, and not only promises to find his younger brother, Nick, some work on set, hands over a wad of cash and pays for his hotel room. Later that night, Graham arrives at Peter's door, not only to receive the cash for the meal he had made a big show of paying for, but also to ask for a £400k loan. Peter, shocked his Father would think he had that kind of money to give out, refuses. His Dad walks away. The following day, Nick proudly shows off his official movie jacket before heading off for some sleep, having landed the night shift security role. Later that night, Steve retrieves a box from his car marked Steve's Exotic Pet Stores but, on approaching the rear fire door to the building, sees someone stand there as the door opens so returns to his car. The following morning, Nick is found murdered, stabbed twice and tipped in a Cauldron, one of the props for the movie. Peter calls on his old friend, Detective Superintendent Clifford Wainwright, to investigate the case. Arriving with his colleague, Detective Sergeant Caroline Evens, they begin their investigation. Over the next few days, as the list of suspects mounts, the case is further muddied by a paternity suit for over £1m is levied at Peter and his supposed child, Zara works on the set, suggesting a case of mistaken identity with Peter being the original target. During a conversation between Monica and Zara, we learn Monica has a sister. The investigation is further confused when an attempt on Monica's life is interrupted. Word spreads of popularity in Peter's novels in India, buoying the actor's morale as they see more profitable work ahead. Failing to find a connection between the two victims, a third victim, Graham, is discovered dead in a ditch. Piecing together the clues, Clifford puts Peter at the top of his suspect list. The remaining members of the family discover Peter is broke, having put everything he has into the making of the movie. Wendy makes the link between the deaths at hand and deaths in Shakespeare's plays, having helped her girlfriend, Zara, studied for her studies in English Literature. The Detective learns that it was Steve's car that killed Graham. Taking advantage that there's another killer on the loose, Petra plans on killing Peter Monica, spotting Petra as she adds something to Peter's drink, swaps wine glasses as everyone is distracted, only for Steve, not trusting his sister, to take Petra's glass and drink the snake venom himself. As everyone rushes to Steve's aid. Petra slips out and makes her escape. Driving fast, chased by Clifford and Caroline, Petra's driving causes the white box on the back seat to fall, allowing the snake within is slither forth and fatally bite her on the ankle. Steve alerts the medic of the type of poison he swallowed, survives and reveals it was Petra's plan to kill Peter, and upon hearing the Will had been signed, Monica as well. A year later, Peter is watching the closing scenes of the premier of his movie, ecstatically happy as the audience rise to their feet he succumbs to a fatal heart attack. A few months later we see Monica, with her identical twin sister Lilly, enjoying the high life on a beach. Lilly is reading a book about Shakespeare's death scenes. Within her bag, we see Peter's medication. Flashbacks to the murders show how the twins killed Nick and Graham, staged the attempted on Monica's life and created the distraction, allowing Monica to switch wine glasses. Petra's death proving most fortuitous, both my ending the threat on Peter and taking the blame for the deaths, seeking to be the sole inheritor of both her father's and brother's estates. Thank you for your time Simon