LIFE IS A MIXTURE OF LOVE AND HATE an Interactive Drama Live Action Freeform Role Playing Scenario for 9 players (2 male and 7 female) written by Carol Yeh, Iris Liu, and Stephanie Chang Written as an assignment in English Conversation One, an English as a Foreign Language course taught for freshmen by Dr. Brian David Phillips in the Department of English at National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, Fall Semester, 1998. Copyright 1998 by Carol Yeh, Iris Liu, and Stephanie Chang. About This Game This is a detective game for murderer hunting, originally designed for two boys and seven girls to play (if you have more than two boys, you can always change some character's gender as you like). The whole game is divided into two sections, and there will be at least one killer. How to play Rules Do not tell the others your secrets. Murderers can lie, while the others must tell truth whenever are asked. Also, the murder can set up anyone else you don't like, for you can't be found by the other players. Some of these characters have their special missions. If you are one of these characters, try to achieve it. During the two sections, talk to as many players as possible. After playing this game, all the players can vote who is the killer, however the killer should not vote for himself. Instructions As the whole game is divided into two sections, during each section, one player will get an instruction. Whoever gets this instruction reads it out loud, and then announces to start the game. Clues For each section, almost every player will have a clue sheet. Also, there might be a suggestion on it, telling you what to do next. Background Settings For Jack and Robert are Brian's close friends, even after Brian has been dead for years, they still are good friends of the Kennedy's family. This summer, the Kennedy family invited them to have their vacation together. They stay in Grant Hotel where the Kennedy's family usually spends their vacation while in the South of Missouri. Rose, the housemaid, and Claire, the Kennedy's family doctor, are going with them, too. Maria, single-mother, brought Tina up by herself with great efforts. This summer they go to Missouri for holiday, too. Character Backgrounds Grace Kennedy Senator Brian Kennedy's wife Though in your late thirties and with one daughter, you remain beautiful and charming. You, Brian, Jack and Robert were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the three boys admired you, and had become your pursuers, but you chose Brian as your boyfriend and then married him. Your secret In fact, though being Senator's wife, you know clearly that Jack is the true love in your life. Even after married Brian, you still love him, and have delivered a baby, named Victoria, for him 17 years ago. Except Jack and Nancy-the nurse who helped you deliver a baby, no one knows that, even your husband believed that Victoria was his child. You also know that in your marriage your husband had a love affair 17 years ago. But now, his kept woman, Maria, came to you for she wants her daughter, Brian's daughter- Tina, to be accepted in Kennedy family. For you have to fight for the reputation of the Kennedy's family, you reject her. And if Tina became a member of this family, she will have a right in the heritage, which makes you worried about your daughter. Also, if anyone found that Victoria was not Brian's real daughter, she would get nothing. However, Nancy- the nurse who helped you deliver the baby and knew that Victoria was Jack's daughter- came to you for her reward for keeping this secret during these years. Though you have given her a large sum of money, asked her to make her own career, and you don't want to see her on your life. She now comes back to blackmail you. You still don't want anyone to know anything about the Victoria's birth. Jack Judge, a friend of Kennedy's family Though in your late thirties, married and with two children studying abroad, you remain attractive. You, Grace, Brian, and Robert were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the boys admired Grace, and you were not the exception. Though Grace chose Brian as her boyfriend and then married him. Your secret In fact, though Grace has become Senator's wife, you know clearly that she is your true love in your life. And even after she married Brian, she still loves you. For both of your love, she has delivered a baby, named Victoria, for you17 years ago. Except you and the nurse who helped you deliver a baby no one knows that and even Brian believed that Victoria was his child. Robert Scientist, a friend of Kennedy's family Though now in your early forties, you remain single. You, Grace, Brian, and Jack were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the boys admired Grace, and you were not the exception. Though Grace chose Brian as her boyfriend and then married him. Your secret In fact, though Grace is Senator's wife, you know clearly that she is your true love in your life. Even after she married Brian, you still love her. Rose Housemaid Your family has worked for Kennedy's family for generations. And you have work in Senator Brian's house for a long period of time, you know quite well about this family. Also, you know that Grace, Brian, Jack and Robert were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the three boys admired Grace, and had become her pursuers, but she chose Brian as her boyfriend and then married him. Sophie Journalist You know that Grace, Brian, Jack and Robert were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the three boys admired Grace, and had become her pursuers, but she chose Brian as her boyfriend and then married him. Your secret You were Brian's ex-girlfriend. You once got a baby for him, but he forced you to have an abortion. Then he dumped you to marry Grace, you now want to take revenge on him and his family. Your Mission Take revenge on Kennedy family. Tina Maria's daughter You are now 16 years old. Your Secret After your mother was dead, in her diary you found that she once was Senator Brian's paramour (kept woman) 17 years ago. Victoria Kennedy Senator's daughter You are now 17 years old. Also, you know that your parents, Jack and Robert were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the three boys admired Grace, and had become her pursuers, but she chose Brian as her boyfriend and then married him. Your secret You once have saw your mother's diary, and found that you are not Brian's real daughter. You are wondering whether uncle Jack or Robert is your father, but still can't find out. Your Mission Find out who is your father. Claire Kennedy family's doctor Your family has been working for Kennedy family as family doctor. You have taken this profession and work for Brian's family about 17 years. Vivian Prosecutor You know that Grace, Brian, Jack and Robert were classmates in high school. In these old days, all of the three boys admired Grace, and had become her pursuers, but she chose Brian as her boyfriend and then married him. Your Mission Needless to say, it is to find out who is the killer. SECTION ONE Maria, 39 female, found dead in the garden of the Grand Hotel last night. She was found hanged on the tree. Vivian You don't believe that Maria would commit suicide while spending her holiday with her daughter. Therefore, you want to find out who is the killer. Suggestion Unless you find out the killer, no one can leave this place. Ask everyone in the hotel what he knows about Maria's death. You have asked doctor Claire to exam that body. Now ask her whether she has found anything. CLUE Grace When the murder happened, you slept in the bedroom with your daughter, Victoria. Your secret You Killed Maria. Maria gave you a letter saying that she wants to meet you at midnight in the garden. During that meeting, you two had a fierce quarrel, for she won't give her way unless her daughter has her father's family name. If you don't agree, she would sue the Kennedy family. She irritated you so much that you knocked her senseless, and hanged her on the tree with a rope. Usually before going to bed, you would take sleeping pills, or you won't sleep well. Last night, for you have to meet Maria at midnight, you don't take these pills. Claire For the prosecutor asked you to check Maria's body, you find that she got a bruise on her head, meaning that she can't hang herself on the tree while senseless. As Kennedy's family doctor, you know that Grace need to take sleeping pills, or she won't sleep well. You give her that pill everyday, for you are very careful with the dose of that medicine. Last night Grace has come to you for sleeping pills as usual. Sophie You are concerned about Maria's death, for she is not just an ordinary woman. You know that she was once Senator Brian's paramour (kept woman). Only because you don't have enough evidence to say this, so you don't reveal this to the public. Also, you believe that Maria's daughter, Tina, is Brian's illegitimate daughter. Suggestion Tell the prosecutor what you know, for they might be helpful. Victoria Last night you slept sound with mother in your room. You are shocked that someone was dead last night, but you don't know anything about it. Robert Last night you slept sound in your room. You are shocked that someone was dead last night, but you have no idea about it. Rose Last night you slept sound in your room. You are shocked that Maria was dead last night, for you know that she was once the Senator Brian's paramour. However, you have no idea about Maria's death. Also, as a housemaid, you know that Grace need to take sleeping pills, or she won't sleep well. Tina You don't believe that your mother would commit suicide. For so far as you know her, she not that kind of person while facing difficulty would run away from it. Jack Last night you slept sound in your room. You are shocked that someone was dead, but you have no idea about it SECTION TWO After Maria's death, Nancy, the owner of the hotel, was found dead in the swimming pool this early morning. CLUE Sophie You found Nancy's body first this early morning. Nancy had come to you for she wanted to something that you would be highly interested, and also it would make a scoop for you. You two made an appointment to meet each other this early morning beside the swimming pool. However, as soon as you got there, you found her body. All that you know is its something secret about Kennedy family. Suggestion Tell the prosecutor what you know. Then let her to find out who is the murderer. Ask everyone in the hotel what he knows about Nancy's death, because you still want to write a story about the whole event. Claire You are surprised about Nancy's death, because you have known her since you were a medical student. At that time, she worked for your father as a nurse in your family's hospital. But 17 years ago after she inherited some money from her relative, she resigned and went to make her own career. Since then, you have not seen her, and now you have no idea about her death. Suggestion Tell the prosecutor what you know, for they might be helpful. Grace Last night you, Jack, Robert, and Victoria went to dinner together. During that dinner you felt a little tired, and Jack accompanied you to your room upstairs. Your secret Last night you asked Jack to go to meet Nancy with you in the garden, for she asked you to pay her more money for keeping the secret about Victoria's birth. You asked her to give you some time to get the money she wanted. Though, she died this early morning, you know clearly that it is not because of you. However, you can't tell the others that you met Nancy last night, for they may ask why you have to meet with her.... Suggestion If anyone see you going out after dinner last night, make up a reason. Jack Last night you, Grace, Robert, and Victoria went to dinner together. During that dinner Grace felt a little tired, and you accompanied her to her room upstairs. Your secret You killed Nancy this early morning. After accompanied Grace to her room, you left her room first. Because latter you and Grace had made an appointment to meet Nancy in the garden, for she asked you to pay her more money for keeping the secret about Victoria's birth. You two need to go there separately, for you don't want others to have doubts about the relationship between you and Grace. And because you are tired of Nancy greed, you don't believe she will keep this secret forever. For your career, your marriage, your children, and the most important of all for Grace, you believe that only way to solve this is to kill Nancy, since "the dead won't tell the truth". So you drowned her in the swimming pool this early morning. Robert Last night you, Grace, Jack, and Victoria went to dinner together. During that dinner Grace felt a little tired, and Jack accompanied her to her room upstairs. Tell when necessary Last night, after dinner, you went back to your room. Because you couldn't sleep, you went down to the garden and wanted to have a walk. However, you saw Grace, together with Jack, were in the garden. You were so angry and jealous that you went straight back to your room. Victoria Last night you, Grace, Robert, and Jack went to dinner together. During that dinner your mother felt a little tired, and Jack accompanied her to her room upstairs. Tell when necessary Last night, after dinner, you went back to your room, but you didn't see your mother. So you went to find her. Then you saw her, together with uncle Jack, were in the garden last night. Before they could find you, you went back to your room. Rose Last night, you saw that Jack accompanied Grace to her room. After Jack left Grace's room, Grace dressed up and went out of her room. You didn't know where she went, because you have to prepare baggage for returning home. Vivian Suggestion Though you don't have any information, you can still ask the other players what their clues are, and try to find out the killer. Tina Suggestion Though you don't have any information, you can still ask the other players what their clues are, and try to find out the killer.