Chimneys are all contained in Notebook 67. It is a tiny, pocket-diary sized notebook and the handwriting is correspondingly small and frequently illegible. In addition to the very rough notes for some of The Thirteen Problems the Notebook contains sketches of some Mr Quin short stories, including notes for a dramatisation of the Quin story ‘The Dead Harlequin’. Overall, the notes for Chimneys do not differ greatly from the final version of the play, but substantial changes have been made from the original novel.
The first page reads:
People
Lord Caterham
Bundle
Lomax
Bill
Virginia
Tredwell
Antony
Prince Michael
Now what happens?
Incidents likely to retain – V[irginia] blackmailed
Idea of play
Crown jewels of Herzoslovakia stolen from assassinated King and Queen during house party at Chimneys – hidden there.
And twenty-five pages later an amended cast of characters:
Lord C
George
Bill
Tredwell
Battle
Inspector
Isaacstein
Bundle
Virginia
Antony
Lemaitre
Boris
The entire action of the play moves between the Library and the Council Chamber of Chimneys. Chapter 16 of the novel has a brief reference to visitors being shown over the house and it is with such a scene that the play opens:
Act I Scene I – The Council Chamber
Lord C[aterham] in shabby clothes – Tredwell showing party over. ‘This is the . . . .’ A guest comes back for his hat tips Lord C. Bundle comes – ‘First bit [of honest money] ever earned by the Brents.’ She and Lord C – he complains of political party Lomax has dragged him into. Bundle says why does he do it? George arrives and B goes. Explanation etc. about Cade – the Memoirs – Streptiltich … the Press – the strain of public life etc. Mention of diamond – King Victor – stolen by the Queen, 3rd rate actress – more like a comic opera – she killed in revolution
Despite the crossing-out and amended heading, the following passage appears in the script as Act I, Scene ii. It corresponds to Chapter 9 of the novel, although there it takes place in Virginia’s house. I have broken up the extract and added punctuation to aid clarity.
Scene II – The Same (Evening)
Act II Scene I
That evening Antony arrives first – then V. He says about a poacher – shots – They do go to bed early – no light except in your window … – not this side of the house. Then she talks about the man – his queer manner – didn’t ask for money – wanted to find out. Then discovery of body – she screams. He stops her – takes her to chair.
‘It’s all right my dear, it’s all right.’
‘I’m quite all right.’
‘You marvellous creature – anyone else would have fainted.’
‘I want to look.’
He goes, coming back with revolver.
‘Yes – stay.’
He asks her to look.
‘You are marvellous’
‘Have you ever seen him before?’
‘Have I – Oh! Why, it’s the man – he’s different. He had horn-rimmed glasses – spoke broken English.’
‘This man wasn’t … He was educated at Eton and Oxford’
‘How do you know?’
‘Oh, I know all right. I’ve – I’ve seen his pictures in the newspapers’
‘Have you ever had a pistol?’
‘No’
‘It’s [an] automatic.’ Shows her.
‘It’s got my name on it.’
‘Did you tell anyone – anyone see come down here?
‘Go up to bed.’
‘Shouldn’t I shut the window after you?’
‘No – no …’
‘But …’
‘No tell tale footprints’
V goes. A. comes round – examines body. A little earth – he sweeps it up – wipes fingerprints from handles inside. Then goes out, looking at pistol.
Christie reorganises her earlier listing of acts and scenes, although the sequence is somewhat confused:
Act II Scene I – The Library
[Act II] Scene II – The Council Chamber
Act III
Act II Scene I – The same (evening)
Scene II – The Library (next morning)
Act III The Council Chamber (that evening)
[Scene] II The same – the following evening
[Act II] Scene II The library next morning
Bundle and her father (the police and doctor)
Then begins – splutters – I’ve got Battle. Battle comes in, asks for information. Scene much as before – plenty of rope – gets him to look at body next door – watches him through crack – Antony slips out unnoticed
And the third act is sketched twice, the second time in a more elaborate version:
Act III Scene I The following evening
Assembled in library – George and Battle read code letter – Richmond – they wait – struggle in darkness. Lights go up – Antony
