Stage Plays by Ian Hornby
A
Dish Served Cold
Thriller - single set - 3m 3f
Synopsis
When gold-digging wife Lynn discovers her husband is chatting on the Internet with another woman, and fearing someone else will move in on her wealthy lifestyle, she sets about planning to kill him.
The plan seems foolproof, except that when she carries it through and shoots him, she is contacted by the other woman, who has witnessed the murder, unbeknown to Lynn, on a web camera, and has recorded it as evidence. And she wants Lynn’s inheritance.
Lynn and her policeman boyfriend entrap the blackmailer and attempt to destroy the evidence, but the woman is one step ahead - unless she enters a secret password every day, all the evidence will be sent to the police...
| Character | Lines |
| Jay retired, older man |
89 |
| Lynn Jay's (younger) trophy wife |
423 |
| Gabby Jay's "mistress" |
84 |
| Duncan CID detective sergeant |
218 |
| Jane CID detective inspector |
82 |
| Carla Lynn's friend |
51 |
| Note that the part of Jane could easily be played by a man, and retitled to John | |
Author's
notes
"A Dish Served Cold" refers, of course, to revenge.
The play uses modern technology, in the form of a computer, a webcam, email and passwords to weave the plot and its solution, with a few red herrings and betrayals on the way.
I used to design computers for a living, so adding them into plots is second nature to me, but don't be put off if you're not au fait - the one used in this play is purely a non-functioning prop.
