Event+4

draft 1:

Charlie and Star decided to go out to dinner after a strange day at the factory. They decided to go to down town London and go to the new restaurant on the corner. Star was dressed in one of her long night dresses, with lace draping over the dark green silk. Her corset was not as tight as usual, for she was too tired to make it nearly suffocate her. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun, with a few small black feathers tucked in to the bun. Charlie had on a nice stripped suit and his top hat that he always wore not matter what the occasion. As soon as they got a table towards the back of the restaurant, they ordered two waters and they took a look at the menus. Star orders the three cheeses plate and Charlie got the meatloaf. As they were waiting for their food to come, Star calmly said, “Interesting day, hmm?” “Yes,” Charlie replied, “Very strange. Poor Helga, she was always such a good woman to have around.” Star just replied with a little squeal and said, “And what big fight Tom had with her just before she was found.” Charlie was beginning to lose interest in the conversation and began to play with the table cloth. “Uh, yes,” he simply replied. “Well, do you think that’s a bit suspicious?” Star asked. “Why would it be suspicious? Tom just got into a fight with her, that’s all. Tom’s a good man, Star; he wouldn’t be able to kill someone.” Charlie blandly replied. “Well I did see him staying behind after lunch. Don’t you think // that’s //suspicious?” Star asked, not taking her stare off of Charlie. “You don’t think… it couldn’t be… Tom?... but why… well I guess… it just doesn’t make sense. I still don’t think Tom would kill someone, especially someone so innocent like Helga.” “Charlie who else could it be,” Star argued back. “He was the only one left in the lunch room, he is the only one in the entire factory who doesn’t really like Helga, and face it sweet heart, he is a bit crazy.” “Do you really think it was him? Sure he can be a bit weird sometime, but we might need more proof then what we have if we really though it was him.” “Well, it was just a thought,” Start said quickly, taking a sip of her water. “So, for our new apartment, I think the living room should have the red…” Star kept on taking about their new apartment, but Charlie tuned her out. He kept on thinking if Tom could actually be the killer. As much as he didn’t want to think of it, all of the signs pointed right to Tom. Even the smallest thing could send Tom right of the edge. “Charlie? Charlie? “Charlie heard Star’s voice again. “Huh,” he managed to get out. “Are you alright? You look a bit pale. I was asking you if you liked the brown pillow better then the white ones?” She asked “You chose, really,” Charlie quickly replied. “You really don’t look good though, how about I walk you home so you can get some rest for another day at the factory tomorrow.”  So they got they got the check and Charlie and Star walked home hand in hand.

Draft 2:

After work at the factory, Charlie asked Star is she wanted to go down to the local pub for a small dinner and some drinks. Star said yes so they met there at 7:45. “Weird day today, huh?” Charlie asked Star. “Yes,” she replied, “I can’t believe someone killed Mildred, she was so kind.” “Well,” Charlie began, “I just hope they find the killer.” As he finished up his sentence, a waiter appeared at their table with the menus. They only took a little glance at it, Star ordered the cheese plate and Charlie got the salad. Star began to talk about something that she was working on in the factory, but Charlie wasn’t listening. He was just staring into her eyes longingly. He loved everything about her. From her petite pointy nose to her slightly bucked teeth and her hair that fell down her back like a sea of dark curls, she was perfect to him. If only he could know if she felt the same about him. They had been going out to dinner as friends so much, but it was nothing special. Tom always told Charlie to stay away from Star because he thought there was something not quite right, but Charlie always ignored his comments. He thought that Tom was just jealous of Star because everyone liked her and not so many people liked Tom. “Charlie?” Star’s voice sounded very far off to Charlie. “Charlie?” He heard again. “What?” Charlie replied, waking up from his thoughts. “I was talk about how weird Tom was being today, did you hear //any// of that?” She asked jokingly, giving Charlie a little nudge on his arm at the end of her sentence. “No, not really,” Charlie said, smiling and blushing a little. “Well, like I was saying, Tom was acting very strange today. I mean, really weird. I know he is always an odd one, but today… I don’t know” Star trailed off. “What do you mean?” Charlie asked perplexed. “Well,” she started again, “He got into a big fight with Mildred just for marking him late and not you? I just think he over reacted a bit too much. But then Mildred is found dead?” “Are you suggesting Tom killed her?” Charlie asked. “Well, sort of. I mean, I don’t know for sure but…” Star was cut off with the squeal of a woman across the room. All the heads in the restaurant turn towards the source of the noise. Then all eyes were on a rat scampering across the floor towards Charlie and Star’s table. Charlie’s eyes grew large in fright but he could not show this in front of Star. So he picked up his chair and was about to lunge it at the rat when Star jumped in his way and screamed at him. “What are you doing?” She said franticly. “Don’t kill the rat, poor thing.” Remarks from all around the room like “Yes do it” and “just throw the chair, man.” Charlie didn’t know what to do, but he listened to the love of his life and put the chair down. All of the women in the pub were on their chairs squealing (even some of the men) as Star opened the front door and freed the rat. “There we go, he’s gone. You can all get off the chairs now,” Star said awkwardly and walked back to their table. All eyes on her were disgusted, but she didn’t pay them any attention. “Well, that was brave,” Charlie said, very surprised. “I never thought of you as such an animal lover.” Star just shrugged, obviously not wanting to talk about the subject, and began to eat her cheeses that just arrived. “So, back to Tom,” she said fixing her eyes on Charlie. “I think maybe you should talk to him about it.” She slowly reached over and put her small hand on Charlie’s, giving him a pity look, fluttering her eyes the smallest bit. Charlie just sighed and looked down, then back at her. “Well I guess I could, but I’m not accusing him of the murder. I’ll just see if everything’s alright.” “Okay,” Star said sympathetically, giving Charlie a flirty pouty face. “but do talk to him, for me?” “Alright,” Charlie said, giving Star a little smile. "Tom is just so werid."  "Well," Chalrie sighed, "He means well, and he is such a nice man. Don't be too hard on him. Mildrid//did // always mark him late, and that cut down on his salary. He has actually been struggling a lot trying to pay off his rent."  Star just sighed and said, "And why does he love rats so much?"  "Well you love rats too. Telling from the ways you just saved that one," Charlie exclaimed, raiseing his eyebrows and pointing toward the door.  "I don't //love // rats though. I love all types of animals. But Tom and his little pet rat-- what's his name?" She asked.  "Scabbers."  "Yes, Scabbers. They never leave each other's side. And, Tom know everything there is to know about rats. I hate it. I mean, I get enough stuff with rats everyday and -"  Charlie cut her off, "We just work on the assembly line. It's really not that much."  "Oh, well yes, of course but still, it's annoying," Star stuttered. "I'm sorry," she sighed,  "Tom is your friend. I have no business insulting him. Can you forgive me?" She asked, placing her petite hand once again on his and fluttering her eyelashes, just a little bit more then last time.  Charlie smiled and said, "Thats okay. You don't know Tom that well." And with that, Charlie and Star continued on their food, but Charlie couldn't help but think about everything Star had said. Could Tom really be Mildred's killer? Charlie would talk to him, but not accuse him of being the killer.  After dinner was over, Charlie walked Star home and they both got big rests for their next day at the factory.

Draft 3:

After Tom had abruptly left the room, and the doors had stopped swaying back and forth, Star was the first to speak. "Well, wha' ya think about tha', eh Charlie?" Charlie just concentrated on his work, still not liking the fact that everyone was fussing at Tom, even when Charlie told them to stop. "Em, yeah. Bu' I still don't think i' was Tom. He would nevah hu't a fly." "Well, he would nevah hu't a rat eithah," this little remark made everyone who heard it chuckle under their breath. "Ey, dont be so ha'd on 'im. Sure he has a pet rat and 'e's always spi'in out rat facts, bu' he's a good man. Like i said, he would nevah hu't a fly or a rat for that mattah, and i dont want you oll pickin' on him so much." This made the entire room fall silent. No one knew what to say, no one except Star, she always new what to say and she seemed strangely fascinated in this particular subject. "Ri' then Charlie, who do ya think i' was, eh?" Star asked, raising one eyebrow a bit. "If you ah so sure it wasnt Tom, then who else could it be?" Charlie didn't like arguing with Star. If they were ever going to get past just being friends, they would have to agree on everything. "I -I mean, you oll could be ri' abou' Tom. Bu' I jus' dont think so. I have no ideah who it could be, bu' I dont think it was Tom," Charlie didnt think he was arguing back in any way, but just stating his opinion. "Charlie think abou' it would ya? Tom was the only pu'son in this entire room who don't like Mildred. For God's sake, he would a'gue with her every bluhdy day," the man sitting on the other side of Charlie exclaimed. "Cha'lay, I belayve Stah," the woman sitting across from Charlie said. 'Its jus' Tom's my friend, i dont think we can pin the blame on anyone qui'e ye'. Jus', jus' drop it, kay?" Charlie said. At that everyone stopped talking about it except Star. "Charlie, lis'en tuh me," Star said in a hushed tone, waving her hand signaling Charlie to lean in closer. "Whe'e do ya think Tom was those five extrah minutes aftah break, eh?" Charlie shrugged, "I dont know, the bothrum?" Well," she exclaimed, "I think I saw 'im wo'k to the front of the factory whe'e Mildred wo'ked. Wha' do ya think abou' tha'?" Charlie really did not want to argue with the love of his life. He did not want to go agains his best friend either. So he simply said, "I think we should stop to'king abou' this subject befor' Tom comes back." He tried to say this in the sweetest way possible, but Star had a strange look on her face. It was a mix between hatred, sorrow, and determination. Charlie didn't know what else to say. He didn't want to bring up Mildred's murder again, but that seemed to be the thing on everyone's mind. So Charlie then continued with, "But how strange ri'? Gna' ma'ks oll ovah her boday. How did those ge' the'e?" Star replied with a very stern, "You we'e ri', we should stop to'king abou' this. Y-you know, s-so Tom won' 'ear us, t-tha's why we should stop." And then she began to work again, but Charlie noticed she wasn't being herself. She normally worked so smoothy, like she was a pro at it, but now she was being very awkward and twitchy. She would mumble things to her self every now and again like, "Bloody 'ell, i hate him." And sometimes, "Da'n you, Tom, you could 'ave been a bi' mo'e obvious," that what Charliw could make out, but he wasn't quite sure what she was saying so he just ignored her and kept on with his work.