Title: The Case of the Missing Painting

Characters:

DETECTIVE JAMES, a middle-aged detective

JENNY, a young woman in her 20s

MR. RICHARDSON, an art collector in his 60s

THOMAS, Mr. Richardson's butler

Setting: The living room of Mr. Richardson's mansion

Act 1, Scene 1:

(Detective James is sitting in a chair, looking through a file. Jenny walks in and greets him.)

Jenny: Detective James, I'm so glad you could come. Mr. Richardson is beside himself with worry.

Detective James: (nodding) Yes, I heard about the missing painting. Can you give me some more
information?

Jenny: (sighing) It's one of Mr. Richardson's most prized possessions. It's a portrait of his late wife,
painted by a famous artist. He discovered it missing from his collection yesterday.

Detective James: (curious) Any leads?

Jenny: (shaking her head) None, as far as we know. The security system didn't show any signs of a break-
in, and no one has been in the mansion except for Thomas, Mr. Richardson's butler.
Detective James: (nodding) I'd like to speak with Thomas first. Can you arrange that?

(Jenny nods and leaves the room. A few minutes later, Thomas walks in.)

Detective James: (greeting him) Thomas, I'd like to ask you a few questions about the missing painting.

Thomas: (nervously) Of course, Detective.

Detective James: (skeptical) Did you notice anything unusual yesterday?

Thomas: (pausing) No, not really. It was a quiet day, as usual.

Detective James: (pressing) Did anyone come to the mansion yesterday?

Thomas: (thinking) No, I don't believe so. It was just Mr. Richardson and myself.

Detective James: (scrutinizing him) And you didn't notice anything out of the ordinary?

Thomas: (shaking his head) No, Detective. I swear it.

(Detective James nods and dismisses Thomas. He looks thoughtful.)

Act 1, Scene 2:

(Detective James and Jenny are in Mr. Richardson's study.)

Detective James: (addressing Mr. Richardson) Mr. Richardson, I have some questions for you about the
painting.

Mr. Richardson: (anxiously) Yes, yes, anything. Please, find my wife's portrait.

Detective James: (calmly) Can you think of anyone who would want to steal it?

Mr. Richardson: (puzzled) No, I can't imagine who would. It's a private collection, and I rarely show it to
anyone.

Detective James: (nodding) And Thomas, your butler. Do you trust him completely?

Mr. Richardson: (surprised) Why, yes, of course. He's been with me for years.

Detective James: (doubtfully) I see. Well, I have one more question. Have you noticed anything else
missing from your collection?

Mr. Richardson: (thinking) Now that you mention it, there was a small sculpture that I can't seem to find.

Detective James: (interested) Can you describe it for me?

Mr. Richardson: (thinking) It was a small bronze statue of a horse. It's not worth much, but it's
sentimental to me.

Detective James: (nodding) Thank you, Mr. Richardson. I'll be in touch if I have any updates.
(Jenny and Detective James leave the study

Act 2, Scene 1:

(Detective James and Jenny are walking in the hallway, discussing their findings.)

Jenny: (looking worried) Do you think it was Thomas?

Detective James: (skeptical) I'm not sure. He seems sincere, but something about him is off.

Jenny: (nodding) And what about the missing sculpture? Could it be connected to the painting?

Detective James: (considering) It's possible. We should look into it.

(They continue walking and come across Thomas in the hallway.)

Detective James: (addressing Thomas) Thomas, I'd like to ask you a few more questions, if you don't
mind.

Thomas: (nervously) Of course, Detective.

Detective James: (serious) Mr. Richardson mentioned that a small bronze horse sculpture is also missing
from his collection. Do you know anything about that?

Thomas: (shocked) No, Detective, I didn't even know it was missing.

Detective James: (skeptical) Are you sure about that? It's quite a coincidence that two valuable items
went missing from the mansion at the same time.

Thomas: (defensive) Detective, I swear on my mother's grave, I had nothing to do with it.

Detective James: (skeptical) We'll see about that. (pauses) I have one more question. Have you seen
anyone suspicious lurking around the mansion in the past few days?

Thomas: (shaking his head) No, Detective, I haven't.

Detective James: (nodding) Thank you, Thomas. That will be all for now.

(Thomas leaves, and Detective James and Jenny continue walking.)

Jenny: (worried) What if it was Thomas? What will happen to him?

Detective James: (soberly) If it was him, he'll have to face the consequences of his actions. But we need
to be sure first.

Act 2, Scene 2:

(Detective James is in his office, looking through files and notes. Jenny walks in.)

Jenny: (eagerly) Did you find anything?

Detective James: (nodding) I've been reviewing the security footage, and something caught my eye.
Jenny: (interested) What is it?

Detective James: (holding up a picture) This person was caught on camera sneaking into the mansion
late at night.

Jenny: (examining the picture) Do you recognize him?

Detective James: (nodding) Yes, it's an art dealer named Marcus. He's known for dealing in stolen art.

Jenny: (shocked) So he's our thief?

Detective James: (nodding) It's possible. I'm going to pay him a visit and see what he has to say.

Act 3, Scene 1:

(Detective James is in Marcus's art gallery, looking around. Marcus walks in.)

Marcus: (greeting him) Can I help you with something, Detective?

Detective James: (serious) I'm here to ask you about a missing painting.

Marcus: (innocently) I'm afraid I don't know anything about that.

Detective James: (holding up the picture) Is this you, Marcus?

Marcus: (defensive) What if it is? It doesn't prove anything.

Detective James: (firmly) It proves that you were at Mr. Richardson's mansion on the night the painting
went missing. And I have reason to believe that you deal in stolen art.

Marcus: (nervously) I don't know what you're talking about.

Detective James: (leaning in) Cut the act, Marcus. I know you

Act 3, Scene 2:

(Marcus looks defeated as Detective James continues to question him.)

Detective James: (firmly) You're going to tell me where the painting is, Marcus. And you're going to tell
me now.

Marcus: (sighing) Okay, okay. I have the painting, but I was just holding it for someone else.

Detective James: (raising an eyebrow) Who?

Marcus: (hesitant) I can't say.

Detective James: (leaning in) You can and you will, Marcus. It's in your best interest.

(Marcus hesitates for a moment before finally giving in.)

Marcus: (sighing) Fine. It was Thomas. He needed the money, and he promised me a cut of the profits if I
helped him sell it.
Detective James: (nodding) Thank you, Marcus. That's all I needed to know.

(Marcus looks relieved as Detective James leaves the art gallery.)

Act 4, Scene 1:

(Detective James and Jenny are walking back into the mansion, where Thomas is waiting for them.)

Thomas: (anxious) Detective, I swear I didn't steal the painting.

Detective James: (calmly) I know, Thomas. It was Marcus who stole it, and you were just trying to sell it
for him.

Thomas: (shocked) What? I didn't know it was stolen.

Detective James: (nodding) I believe you. And fortunately, Mr. Richardson has agreed not to press
charges if we can retrieve the painting and return it to him.

Jenny: (smiling) That's great news, Thomas.

Thomas: (grateful) Thank you, Detective. I don't know how to repay you.

Detective James: (smiling) Just keep out of trouble from now on, Thomas.

Act 4, Scene 2:
(Detective James and Jenny are at Marcus's art gallery, where Marcus is waiting for them.)

Marcus: (sighing) I suppose you're here to arrest me.

Detective James: (nodding) That's the plan.

Marcus: (resigned) I don't suppose there's any chance of a plea deal?

Detective James: (shaking his head) Sorry, Marcus. You'll have to face the consequences of your actions.

Marcus: (defeated) I understand.

(Detective James arrests Marcus, and he and Jenny leave the art gallery.)

Epilogue:

(Detective James and Jenny are walking out of the mansion.)

Jenny: (smiling) That was quite the case, Detective. And we solved it in record time.

Detective James: (smiling) Yes, we did. And I have to admit, I couldn't have done it without you, Jenny.

Jenny: (blushing) Oh, thank you, Detective.

Detective James: (serious) But let's not forget, there are always more cases to be solved. And we'll be
ready for them
Haania Ammar