Death comes to Downturn – Large group script
Downturn Shabby, the ancestral home of the Earl and Countess of Grandham is hosting a shooting party, but when the Earl is found dead in the library suspicion falls not on the blood-thirsty men who are grouse-shooting, but the gossiping, tea-drinking ladies who have gathered for the evening’s dinner party.
The question on everyone’s lips is who hand bagged the Earl and why?
This Game is Rated:
Mature
What is included?
Example pre-printed boxed set
Reviews:
How it works:
How a large group works
These games require 7-13 cast and involve the rest of the audience by getting them to ask pre-set questions – which are provided to them on paper by the inspector at the start of each round.
They run in a similar way to a dinner party, so are an ideal first choice for novice hosts and acing teams with little or no experience running large scale events.
These games work best as a sit down event with 6-12 tables of guests, with a suspect on each table.
As a rough guide these mysteries take approximately 2-3 hours to complete with a three course meal.
During the game the audience will listen to five short sets of dialogue from the cast and pose pre-scripted questions (which the cast answer with pre-scripted answers). There are three rounds which can be evenly spread throughout the night or, if preferred, the question and answer rounds can be bunched together into one large round.
At the end of the final round the guests are given time to decide who is the murderer, and once the guests have decided who did it, how and why (i.e. the murderer and motive) they will complete the answer sheet and hand it in.
How these games usually run.
Introductory Round: Introductions by the cast and the facilitator “inspector character”.
Rounds 1, 2 and 3: Scripted dialogue from the cast, followed by pre-set questions and answers.
Concluding Statements and solution: conclusions by the cast and denouement from the inspector.
There is one “inspector character” who acts as facilitator during the event and is essential to the cast.
Reducing the cast size will reduce the length of time required to solve the mystery.
How does a “download and print at home” kit work?
Each “download and print at home” kit is provided as a zip file containing a set of PDF files for you to print at home, and a selection of MP3 files to use on the night.
Each dinner party game requires use of a printer and A4 paper (approx. 80 sheets for a 6 player kit – 240 sheets for a 20 player kit), envelopes so you can send out your invitations, and either a laptop or MP3 player (e.g. an ipod) to play the inspector MP3s; OR a CD burner so you can burn the MP3s onto a CD to run in an ordinary CD player.
When you order the game you’ll be sent a link to download the files you need. The file will be a zip file. This can be opened with a zip compatible program on your computer. If you struggle to open zip files – we can email you the game directly over several emails instead – just contact us after purchase to arrange this.
You will download the following files:
- How to use this game
- Instructions for running the murder mystery
- Making the most of your theme- ideas for decoration / activities.
- Invitations
- Character Booklets (available in single sided printer and double sided printer format)
- Scripted for the inspector character (available in single sided printer and double sided printer format)
- Solution script for the inspector character (needed when printing from the single sided copy)
- MP3 files for the inspector character (dialogue and solution)
- Hints and tips
- Recipe suggestions
- Money off voucher towards next purchase
How does a “Pre-printed box set” work?
This is the easiest way to play. Everything you need will arrive in a box, pre-printed, directly to your door.
You will receive through the post:
- Instruction booklet (includes hints and tips)
- Invitations and envelopes for all the guests
- Character booklets
- CD of the inspector
- Inspector script in a sealed envelope so you don’t find out the solution by accident!
- Making the most of your theme and recipe suggestion booklet.
- Money off voucher towards next purchase (printed inside the booklets)
We always ship within 24 hours meaning orders arrive as quickly as possible.
As each game is printed on demand, we can also provide a customisation service on any order. See details further down the page on what we can do to tailor this game to your party.
Characters in the game:
Prudence Tuppeny – Ladies detective from the 2nd Ladies detective agency. Willing and able and very intrusive when she needs to be, Prudence can get to the bottom of the murder with help from those around her!
Countess Flora Rawley – Lady of the manor
Flora is cool, calm and very sophisticated. With her beaded headband and long velvet jacket, she just oozes sophistication.
Lady Martha Rawley – Daughter of the Earl of Grandham
Languid and beautiful, Lady Martha wears jet beads, long black gloves and an evening gown.
Lady Ethel Rawley – Daughter of the Earl
Extremely elegant in her empire-line dress, string of pearls and white silk gloves, Ethel’s dressed to impress but no one notices or cares.
Mrs Pratmore – Cook
With her rolling pin stuffed in her apron, a mob cap to hide her unruly hair and her finger bandaged and bloody, she’s the last person you’d want to cook your dinner!
Maisy – Cook’s assistant
Pale and pasty, like her pastry. With her sleeves rolled up and her pinny at the ready, Maisy’s usually moaning about something.
Miss O’ Ryan – Former lady’s maid
Wearing a severe black dress, travelling bonnet and cape and with her hair in a bun, Miss O’Ryan looks to be a formidable lady.
Prudence Tuppeny – Ladies detective from the 2nd Ladies detective agency. Willing and able and very intrusive when she needs to be, Prudence can get to the bottom of the murder with help from those around her!
Countess Flora Rawley – Lady of the manor
Flora is cool, calm and very sophisticated. With her beaded headband and long velvet jacket, she just oozes sophistication.
Lady Martha Rawley – Daughter of the Earl of Grandham
Languid and beautiful, Lady Martha wears jet beads, long black gloves and an evening gown.
Lady Ethel Rawley – Daughter of the Earl
Extremely elegant in her empire-line dress, string of pearls and white silk gloves, Ethel’s dressed to impress but no one notices or cares.
Mrs Pratmore – Cook
With her rolling pin stuffed in her apron, a mob cap to hide her unruly hair and her finger bandaged and bloody, she’s the last person you’d want to cook your dinner!
Maisy – Cook’s assistant
Pale and pasty, like her pastry. With her sleeves rolled up and her pinny at the ready, Maisy’s usually moaning about something.
Miss O’ Ryan – Former lady’s maid
Wearing a severe black dress, travelling bonnet and cape and with her hair in a bun, Miss O’Ryan looks to be a formidable lady.
Lady Carnavit – Countess
In a pith helmet, khaki shorts, shirt and sand boots, Lady Carnavit has just returned from an archaeological expedition in Egypt.
Mrs Snooze – Housekeeper
In her long black skirt, blouse and jacket and with a bunch of keys around her waist, Mrs Snooze yawns her way through the corridors of Downturn.
Prudence Tuppeny – Ladies detective from the 2nd Ladies detective agency. Willing and able and very intrusive when she needs to be, Prudence can get to the bottom of the murder with help from those around her!
Countess Flora Rawley – Lady of the manor
Flora is cool, calm and very sophisticated. With her beaded headband and long velvet jacket, she just oozes sophistication.
Lady Martha Rawley – Daughter of the Earl of Grandham
Languid and beautiful, Lady Martha wears jet beads, long black gloves and an evening gown.
Lady Ethel Rawley – Daughter of the Earl
Extremely elegant in her empire-line dress, string of pearls and white silk gloves, Ethel’s dressed to impress but no one notices or cares.
Mrs Pratmore – Cook
With her rolling pin stuffed in her apron, a mob cap to hide her unruly hair and her finger bandaged and bloody, she’s the last person you’d want to cook your dinner!
Maisy – Cook’s assistant
Pale and pasty, like her pastry. With her sleeves rolled up and her pinny at the ready, Maisy’s usually moaning about something.
Miss O’ Ryan – Former lady’s maid
Wearing a severe black dress, travelling bonnet and cape and with her hair in a bun, Miss O’Ryan looks to be a formidable lady.
Lady Carnavit – Countess
In a pith helmet, khaki shorts, shirt and sand boots, Lady Carnavit has just returned from an archaeological expedition in Egypt.
Mrs Snooze – Housekeeper
In her long black skirt, blouse and jacket and with a bunch of keys around her waist, Mrs Snooze yawns her way through the corridors of Downturn.
Virginia Woof – Writer
Wearing a floaty dress, beads and with a poetry book in her hand, Virginia is always looking for life’s similes and metaphors.
Joanna Carsteers – Yachtswoman
Tattooed, cheroot-chewing, trouser-wearing yachty who carries her doll, Lord Doddery Waddle, everywhere she goes.
Prudence Tuppeny – Ladies detective from the 2nd Ladies detective agency. Willing and able and very intrusive when she needs to be, Prudence can get to the bottom of the murder with help from those around her!
Countess Flora Rawley – Lady of the manor
Flora is cool, calm and very sophisticated. With her beaded headband and long velvet jacket, she just oozes sophistication.
Lady Martha Rawley – Daughter of the Earl of Grandham
Languid and beautiful, Lady Martha wears jet beads, long black gloves and an evening gown.
Lady Ethel Rawley – Daughter of the Earl
Extremely elegant in her empire-line dress, string of pearls and white silk gloves, Ethel’s dressed to impress but no one notices or cares.
Mrs Pratmore – Cook
With her rolling pin stuffed in her apron, a mob cap to hide her unruly hair and her finger bandaged and bloody, she’s the last person you’d want to cook your dinner!
Maisy – Cook’s assistant
Pale and pasty, like her pastry. With her sleeves rolled up and her pinny at the ready, Maisy’s usually moaning about something.
Miss O’ Ryan – Former lady’s maid
Wearing a severe black dress, travelling bonnet and cape and with her hair in a bun, Miss O’Ryan looks to be a formidable lady.
Lady Carnavit – Countess
In a pith helmet, khaki shorts, shirt and sand boots, Lady Carnavit has just returned from an archaeological expedition in Egypt.
Mrs Snooze – Housekeeper
In her long black skirt, blouse and jacket and with a bunch of keys around her waist, Mrs Snooze yawns her way through the corridors of Downturn.
Virginia Woof – Writer
Wearing a floaty dress, beads and with a poetry book in her hand, Virginia is always looking for life’s similes and metaphors.
Joanna Carsteers – Yachtswoman
Tattooed, cheroot-chewing, trouser-wearing yachty who carries her doll, Lord Doddery Waddle, everywhere she goes.
May Pickup – Silent movie star
With her fur stole, pearls and red lipstick, May epitomizes Hollywood glamour.
Lady Astra – The first female Member of Parliament
Wearing a long silk dress, a police helmet and carrying her whistle and truncheon, this American aristocrat fears vice lurks in every corner of society.
