Bessie — The Socialite

Who you are

Looks don't need talent, but baby, you were born with both. You've never quite been satisfied, and Eddie isn't the first man you'll have married. There's nowhere to go from here but down, so you plan to enjoy it all the way up. You're ravishing in public and ravenous in private, and you never once believed the rules that apply to other people apply to you.

You are on your second marriage, about to be very famous for reasons you can't fully admit — your fiancé left his previous life for you, and everyone in every newsroom on both sides of the Atlantic is whispering about it.

Your catchphrase: "bygones be bygones." Drop it at least once per act. Delivery tic: say it while touching your pearls or smoothing a collar. Thomas will quote every catchphrase during the reveal — make yours land.

How to play

• Don't show anyone your sheets. Not the envelopes, not this page, not the handwriting.
• Lie with flair. You can lie about yourself and your actions. You can't lie about things you've literally said tonight — that's lawyering and it ruins the fun.
• Bribe. Be bribed. Thomas sells clues; so can you. Negotiate.
• Your goal is to solve the mystery. Figure out the real-life figures behind each character, both murderers, their motives, the subplots. The host picks a Detective of the Night at the end, based on the sharpest questions and the truest motives named out loud.
• When someone asks a question that would expose you, you don't have to answer. You can redirect, flirt, lie, or offer a bribe.

Intro — open when Thomas reads the Hindenburg broadcast

You choke back a sob, but your eyes are still watering. Why was she so insistent to go on that bloody thing? You shouldn't be making such a show of it — Eddie is giving you that look again. Still, you're allowed to feel sad, aren't you?

Eddie receives a telegram. A sigh of relief replaces the consternation that had painted his face. "Darling, great news. Emilia's survived the crash. She's been taken to the hospital. They think she'll be all right."

Emilia? Oh. Yes. Of course. She was on board as well, wasn't she.

You think back to the night at Small's Paradise — the Saucy Soiree, everyone's calling it now. You'd had rather a lot to drink. You remember a bartender — a beautiful acrobat moonlighting behind the taps, ruby lipstick, a back hallway. You walked out with more of the lipstick on you than on her. You don't even remember her name. Josephine? Joanne? Something. Let's let bygones be bygones on that one — you're the hostess, after all.

You also remember, vaguely, that George Putnam — the publisher, sweet man, so earnest — was lurking near the back hallway when you emerged. He saw.

That's going to cost you.

Act 1 — The Engagement Party (London) — open when Thomas announces Act 1

You breathe a sigh of relief at seeing Josephine turn up as a hired acrobat — your little Saucy Soiree indiscretion, mercifully here on your payroll rather than somewhere writing memoirs. You quickly move on. Eddie is waiting. It's time to make the rounds.

There really is no going back now. Not for you, not for him. You spot George with one of his generic-George smiles. The man had made the most awkward request — asking to be invited to your engagement party as a couple with Emilia, of all people. Well, fine. Hopefully this squares you away, though you'd have preferred to disinvite him entirely.

Remember:

• You agreed to marry Eddie because of how easily he becomes fascinated — by ideas, by causes, by you. It was charming when he was fascinated by your lack of deference. It's less charming when he's going on about whales.
• Eddie has become suspiciously friendly with Spencer — your ex-husband. Let bygones be bygones.
• Do not mention to Eddie that you hooked up with a staff member at the Saucy Soiree. Awkward conversation to be had at your own engagement party.

What you want to find out:

• Who else was at the Hindenburg crash site?
• Did Emilia have a romantic rendezvous at the Saucy Soiree?

Hush money (mandatory): You owe George $5 in hush money tonight. He saw you leave the hallway at the Saucy Soiree. Pay him in cash before the end of Act 1. If you can't make it happen directly, try to win $5 off another guest first — the goal is to net $5 to George and not to be down at the end of the act.

Your catchphrase: "bygones be bygones." Slip it in.

Act 2 — The Whaling Agreement (Seville) — open when Thomas opens Act 2

Well, at least you had a few days of a real honeymoon before ending up here. You wanted the spotlight — maybe you'd forgotten that fame isn't all parties and drinking and tabloids. Well, somebody had to save the whales, and at least it will make for boastful conversation at the next party.

You got Josephine to come along as a — guide. Was Eddie really that blind? Well, you'd be having fun on your honeymoon one way or another.

Your speech (delivered jointly with Eddie, after his). Smoldering annoyance at being on the public stage on day five of your honeymoon. Smile through your teeth:

I married this man because so many people are stuck in their old ways — but together, we look with vision upon a new world. Now I will say this isn't quite what I expected for our honeymoon, but we've both always been passionate people, and I am excited for the role we get to play on this monumental day. We couldn't have made it through all the early-morning plannings and long-night phone calls without all of your support. Truly. I mean all of you.

Remember:

• Your honeymoon isn't quite what you expected. You've had fun with Eddie. You've had more fun with Josephine.
• Eddie turned in early last night, knowing today would be a big day. You went down to the hotel bar. The bartender cut you off after two drinks — at midnight. Preposterous man.
• Spencer has been asking after Emilia. You're not sure what angle he's playing. Do they even know each other?
• Eddie abandoned you for the Whaling Agreement today. Naturally, you invited Josephine up to take breakfast in the honeymoon suite.
• George has been asking if you have time for an interview about Emilia. You don't know what he thinks you could add.
• Cecil, the photographer you hired for the wedding week, has been shooting candids in the lobby for three days. You love his eye. You also have no idea what else he's seen through that lattice on the third floor. You should probably ask. Or — better — pay him not to answer.

What you want to find out:

• Someone was shouting angrily on the hotel phone last night. You hope it wasn't Eddie.
• Josephine has a surprising amount of cash for her station. Someone's been passing her money. Why?
• Emilia's big trip is soon — does she have everything prepared?

Your catchphrase: "bygones be bygones." Still dropping it.

Act 3 — Takeoff from New Guinea — open when Thomas announces Act 3

After your honeymoon, Josephine extorted you. The gall of that woman. She said if you don't keep paying, she'll give Eddie the photograph. You knew it wasn't love, but this stoops too low even for someone of her position.

Things with Eddie are going well, though it is odd he still hasn't noticed anything. Could he have been too occupied with his own affairs…?

Remember:

• You had dinner alone last night. Eddie said he had last-minute business to take care of.
• Spencer looks oddly calm lately for a man whose ex-wife is about to be in every paper on earth.

Hush money (mandatory): Make sure Josephine gets $5 from you this round. Or risk a premature ending to your marriage. Again — if you can win $5 from someone else and route it, so much the better.

Your catchphrase: "bygones be bygones."

BREAKING NEWS (when Thomas reads it):

FAMED AVIATOR IN TROUBLE. REPEATED RADIO CONTACT HAS GONE UNANSWERED. AUTHORITIES FEAR THE WORST. LAST SPOTTED NEAR HOWLAND ISLAND, FLYING AT TOO LOW OF AN ALTITUDE. PILOT AND CO-PILOT PRESUMED DEAD.

Someone has tampered with Emilia's plane. Emilia has come back as a ghost to haunt the party until her killer is named. Help identify the killer, or — if you have reason to deflect — do that instead. (You don't. You didn't kill her. But nothing stops you from lying.)