GAME BOOKLET

MADELEINE O’CONNOR

You have been invited to a dinner game at the Grand Hotel in

New York. Please arrive as follows:

Time + Date

Host

Street address

Town + Postcode
 IMPORTANT
This Game Booklet
is intended for
Madeleine O’Connor only.
It is very important that
you bring it to the game
evening! Read the first
sealed section alone
in advance!
EVEN MORE MORTALE Welcome
– [Link] –

You have been invited to a game of Culinario Mortale. Along

with the other players, you are one of the main suspects in a
mysterious criminal case this evening.

The objective of the game is to identify the perpetrator, who is

sitting with you at the table. This can only be achieved if the
players discuss the course of events among themselves and
compare their experiences of what happened. But be careful:
all the characters have their own dark secrets, which they’d be
better off keeping to themselves.

Please choose somewhere where you can open and read the
following pages and the first sealed section undisturbed. This
will give you all the important information you need on the
Y Game Rules, Y Structure of the Game and your Y Role.
In this section you will also find out whether or not your
character, Madeleine O’Connor, is the perpetrator.

Please do not read the sealed sections concerning the different

rounds yet. They should not be opened until the game evening,
and then only after being prompted by the host. Please note that
the sealed sections in this booklet are intended for your eyes only.

Please arrive on time. You might wish to dress up to match your

role. If you have any questions, you can turn to the host at any
time.
 The following
­section should
be read by
Madeleine O’Connor
Structure in advance.

Game Rules of the Game

You all gather after the crime and attempt to piece together your Start of the Game
memories, with the aim of identifying the perpetrator. In each The host reads aloud the Y Game Rules, Y Structure of the Game
round, you recall more and more about the circumstances of the (this text) and Y Background. The players introduce themselves
crime, as each round deals with a different period of time from the in a couple of sentences. Following this, F­ rederic Price reads the
evening the crime was committed. This means the crime cannot Y Prologue from the incident booklet.
be fully reconstructed until Y Round 3. You are of course free to
flick back through your game booklet at any time. You decide as Round 1
a group if the discussion is starting to go round in circles, and After being prompted by the host, all players read Y Round 1 in
when you want to move on to the next round. A rough estimate is silence. You should then discuss the period of time between 3:00 pm
30 – 60 minutes per round. and 6:00 pm. The host begins the discussion.

Your game booklet is intended for your eyes only. Only the sections Round 2
on Y Game Rules, Y Structure of the Game and Y Background All players read Y Round 2 in silence. The host reads Y Incident A
are the same for every player. You are allowed to withhold from the incident booklet. You should then discuss the period of
information, but you must not lie! If you get asked a specific time between 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm.
question, you must tell the truth. The perpetrator is the only person
who is allowed to lie and mislead other players. You can, however, Round 3
present the truth in such a way that it casts you in the best possible All players read Y Round 3 in silence. The host reads Y Incident B
light. You decide for yourself what information you wish to share. from the incident booklet. You should then discuss the period of
But be careful: if you fail to share enough with the group, you time between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
may not be able to solve the crime. You can only succeed together!
If you share too much too soon, you may come under suspicion Accusation and Defence
from other players. If you accidentally lied and you are not the Each player makes an accusation against one other player. All the
perpetrator, simply try to correct your mistake as soon as you can. accused have a chance to defend themselves. Following this, the
group votes on who they want to accuse of the crime.
You will find out whether you are the perpetrator in the following
section, which contains information on your character. The Solution
perpetrator will never be one of the absent characters. They are The Y Solution is read aloud. Did you manage to find the
always presumed innocent. perpetrator, or were they able to escape undetected?
 Your role:
Background Madeleine O’Connor (31)

New York, August 1962. Welcome to the city that never sleeps! You are an American of French heritage. Your husband, Jack, is
Everybody who was anybody had come to Manhattan to celebrate the youngest senator in the history of the State of Connecticut.
the opening of the magnificent Grand Hotel – aspiring politicians, He originally wanted to marry your older sister Brigitte. But since
powerful industrialists and beautiful actresses. The largest luxury ­Brigitte was already divorced at the time, Jack’s strict Catholic
hotel in the United States was set on redefining the term “five-star”, parents refused to consent to the marriage and urged him to take
and was also to be the crown jewel in the empire of Frederic Price. you as his wife instead. As the shy, reserved daughter of a banker,
The hotel tycoon was one of the richest men in the country. Since you were good marriage material.
his marriage to the actress Dóra Galor, he was now even better
known than before. Yours was a marriage of convenience. You’re sure there’s some
truth to the rumours about Jack’s extramarital affairs and that he’s
The opening speeches were full of praise, and the guests ate and cheating on you behind your back. You just wish he were a little
drank copious amounts from the five-course menu. The evening more discreet, because your family’s reputation is very important
had all the hallmarks of an incredible coming-together of American to you. After all, you have a clear goal in mind. You want to become
high society. Once the official part of the event was over, the guests First Lady of the United States at all costs. That’s why you support
gathered for an exuberant cocktail party at the longest hotel bar in your husband’s political career in every way you can. You encour-
the entire city. But the evening took a tragic turn when the young aged him to run for his party’s presidential nomination next year.
actress Monique Moreau was found dead in the bathtub of her In an attempt to counteract the rumours about Jack, you accepted
hotel suite late in the evening. The idea that the young woman, Frederic’s invitation to New York. Jack is to give a speech in the
described by the media as the next Dóra Galor, would take her own evening. Photos of you on the red carpet together will no doubt be
life is rejected by everyone as incredible. excellent PR. Your husband is also hoping for Frederic’s financial
support for the election campaign.
The police were informed immediately. But it will take the
authorities hours to search the entire hotel and secure all the Your Task
relevant evidence. You have all been requested to stay here in Try to find out who killed Monique Moreau. Protect your husband’s
the lobby. Until the police have questioned everybody, you are all career and your own ambitions.
on your own in solving the mystery, asking the questions: what
happened this evening? How could the opening celebration end so This information is for you only. You are not the perpetrator.
tragically? You must not lie.
The Circle of Suspects

Jack O’Connor ( 42 ) Baron Theodor von Gollwitz ( 48 )

… is your husband. Your marriage is more of a business relation- … is a well-known talent agent and part of Hollywood’s inner
ship. You are both set on making it to the top. And you are both circle. You don’t know him personally.
willing to do anything to achieve it. You just wish he’d learn to
keep his flies zipped shut. You can only hope that his affairs don’t Brigitte Dupont ( 34 )
jeopardise your shared plans. … is your older sister. In the past you were often in competition
with each other, but over time you’ve developed in different direc-
Dr Gustaf Hellström ( 37 ) tions. While you learned to adapt socially, she has remained a rebel.
… you only know of him by reputation. As a doctor, the native She divorced her first husband at an early age and set up her own
Swede specialises in the mental suffering of his patients. He is publishing house. She never takes no for an answer, which often
apparently very successful, and charges exorbitant fees. Luckily you causes conflict, with men in particular.
are not in need of his services.

Frederic Price ( 65 )
… is the American dream come true. The hotelier is one of the
richest men in America. Jack is trying to secure Frederic’s financial
support for his presidential candidacy, which hasn’t been made
public yet.

Dóra Galor-Price ( 39 )
… used to be a famous actress. A few years ago, she retired from The Murder Victim
the film business totally unexpectedly in order to marry the hotel
magnate Frederic Price. You are trying to make a good impression
on her so that she puts in a good word about Jack to her husband. Monique Moreau ( 29 )
… was a young, aspiring actress and supposedly one of your
Olivia Wilson ( 38 ) husband’s affairs. You have met her at several evening events. It
… is the daughter of a well-known British porcelain manufacturer. would be hypocritical of you to shed even a single tear for her.
Apparently she now runs the Wilson family business herself. You But of course you cannot say this openly. That’s why you’re acting
wonder why she came all the way from England for the opening. shocked.
 Open
carefully
on the evening
of the game and
only after being
prompted by
the host.

1
ROUND
 Try to present
the truth in such a
way that it casts you in
the best possible light. You
must not lie. You should
Welcome to pass on information about
other players and
New York City about the crime.

Your flight from Washington landed in New to welcome. Dóra was kind enough to show you
3:30 PM York at 3:30 pm. You bought a celebrity-gossip and Jack to your suite on the 15th floor. That was
You and Jack magazine in the arrivals hall. The cover featured 5:00 PM around 5:00 pm. You talked for a few minutes be-
lands in New York Monique Moreau. You had heard rumours that Dóra shows you fore Dóra left you alone and you both unpacked
your husband was spending time with this C-list to your suite your suitcases in silence.
actress. On reading the magazine, you found out
that Monique, too, had been invited to the open- 5:20 PM At 5:20 pm Jack left the room because he wanted
ing ceremony. Jack goes to to make a phone call. You’re sure that in truth he
make a phone call simply couldn’t stand the tense silence between
4:15 PM At 4:15 pm you got into the back of a waiting you, and was fleeing to the bar. This left you
You get driven limousine, which took you to the hotel. You ample time to get dressed and do your make-up
to the hotel deliberately left the magazine plainly visible on for the gala dinner.
your lap. When you talked to Jack about the fact
that Monique was coming to the party, he tried 5:40 PM Once you were finished, around 5:40 pm, you
to claim there was no truth to the rumours. But You call your sister dialled reception from your suite and asked to
you’d had enough of his lies, and interrupted be connected to your sister’s room. You asked to
him. You said that if he couldn’t keep his flies visit her briefly, but she didn’t have time as she
zipped shut, he should at least make an effort still needed to get ready for the party. So you took
not to get caught. You wouldn’t tolerate being the magazine you had bought at the airport and
publicly humiliated. leafed through it aimlessly until 6:00 pm.

4:45 PM At 4:45 pm you were welcomed by Frederic and After reading, discuss the period of time
Frederic and Dóra his wife Dóra. You all posed on the red carpet ­between 3:00 pm and 6:00 pm together.
welcome you for the photographers, before Frederic proudly Duration of the round: 30 – 60 minutes.
presented the marble lobby and the longest hotel Players will not receive clues concerning the
bar in the city. You found the flamboyance of it subsequent progression of the crime until the
rather flashy and lacking in taste, but you kept following round.
your opinion to yourself. After about ten minutes,
Frederic excused himself, as he had other guests
 Open
carefully
on the evening
of the game and
only after being
prompted by
the host.

2
ROUND
 Try to present
the truth in such a
way that it casts you in
the best possible light. You
must not lie. You should
During the pass on information about
other players and
Gala Dinner about the crime.

At 6:00 pm you decided to go and take a look 7:00 PM Shortly before 7:00 pm, you took a seat in the
at the hotel’s observation deck. It was supposed The gala dinner ballroom next to Jack, Dóra and Frederic. You
6:05 PM to have unique view over Central Park. Five begins in the were struggling to hold back your tears, and
You see Frederic minutes later, while passing by the landing, you ballroom barely touched your food. Eventually you couldn’t
and Monique saw Frederic knocking at a door while carrying handle it anymore. You said you weren’t feeling
a briefcase. When Monique opened the door, well and needed some fresh air. Jack offered to
your curiosity got the better of you, and you accompany you, but you politely declined. You
hid around a corner. Monique tried to grab the went out into the hotel garden on your own and
briefcase, but Frederic held it away from her. He let your tears flow. Suddenly you felt a hand on
uttered the words, “We need to talk,” and disap- your shoulder, and your sister appeared beside
peared into her suite. you. After you had told Brigitte everything, she
told you to try to stay calm and speak to Jack in
6:25 PM At 6:25 pm you left the terrace and went down- private later on. She then sent you to your room
You go to the bar stairs to the bar. You had just ordered a drink to tidy up your make-up.
when you encountered your sister. You greeted
each other and talked for a while until you saw 8:15 PM At 8:15 pm you redid your make-up in your suite,
Theodor at the reception. This was your chance You redo your before taking your seat back in the ballroom
to talk to him about the rumours about Jack and make-up 20 minutes later. You assured everyone you were
Monique. You apologised to Brigitte and walked feeling better. Luckily dinner was just coming to
towards Theodor. Since he had Monique in tow, an end. Frederic and Dóra invited all the guests
you asked to speak to him in private. That was to continue the party at the bar.
6:50 PM around 6:50 pm. When you were alone, you
Conversation demanded that his floozy stay away from Jack. The host reads Y Incident A aloud. You
with Theodor His reaction was unexpectedly harsh. His voice should then discuss the period of time between
strained, he accused your trophy husband of 6:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Duration of the round:
getting his girl pregnant. He said if Jack didn’t 30 – 60 minutes. Players will not receive
persuade Monique not to have the baby, he would clues concerning the subsequent progression
make sure Monique wasn’t the only one whose of the crime until the following round.
career would be over.
 Open
carefully
on the evening
of the game and
only after being
prompted by
the host.

3
ROUND
 1

Try to present
the truth in such a
way that it casts you in
the best possible light. You
must not lie. You should
Murder at pass on information about
other players and
the Grand Hotel about the crime.

You were talking to Jack and Frederic away from You told him Frederic was a good acquaintance
the bar when Monique requested everybody’s of yours, meanwhile filling up his glass gener-
9:10 PM attention at around 9:10 pm. She was stand- ously. The young man downed his drink in just
Monique sings ing beside the pianist, singing a song. She kept a few minutes. While you were refilling his glass,
a song shooting provocative glances in Jack’s direction he told you what a great role model Mr Price was.
while singing, which caused the other guests to You briefly considered getting your own back on
whisper. Exasperated, you left the lobby with your Jack by going to bed with the young man. But
husband. that wouldn’t help you on your path to the White
House. After two glasses of bourbon, you gave the
9:20 PM When you were alone in your suite at 9:20 pm, waiter a generous tip and accompanied him to
Argument with you gave Jack a resounding slap, which led to the door.
Jack in your suite a heated argument. You let Jack know that you
knew about Monique’s pregnancy. You would not 10:25 PM Just a few moments later, at around 10:25 pm,
allow yourself to become a laughing stock, and Jack returns Jack returned. He was as white as a sheet and
demanded that he take care of the problem. Your looked as if he had seen a ghost. He told you
words were: “If you don’t do it, I’ll end this miser- he had found Monique dead in her suite. Your
able life”. Jack left the room shortly afterwards, sympathy was obviously limited. You asked
9:50 PM at around 9:30 pm. You watched 20 minutes of him coldly whether he had killed her, which he
You order a bottle TV absent-mindedly before calling reception in vehemently denied. You spoke for a while until,
of bourbon frustration and ordering a bottle of bourbon. 10:50 PM at around 10:50 pm, the waiter from moments
A waiter before came knocking at the door. He notified
You had just put on your nightgown when there alerts you you of Monique’s death and asked you to follow
10:00 PM was a knock at the door at 10:00 pm. In front of him to the lobby. You encountered Frederic, who
A waiter brings you stood a good-looking young man, in uni- joined you in the lift on the 12th floor.
your order form, carrying a tray. You closed the door behind
him and invited him to drink a glass of bourbon The host reads Y Incident B aloud.
with you. The waiter was visibly uncomfortable You should then discuss the period of time
with the situation, but you did not let up. ­between 9:00 pm and 11:00 pm.
Duration of the round: 30 – 60 minutes.