Dateline: 2 June, 1925 – SCENE 01 – The RMS Excalibur limps into the port of Melbourne. A swarm of reporters, interested lookers-on, relatives of the passengers, and at least 50 police officers from no less than 3 precincts are waiting on the dock.

The police immediately board the ship and begin removing the deceased, along with various emergency services (a few reporters manage to sneak on board as well). Several dozen passengers are taken away in ambulances, George Allen being one of them, having been badly injured by Evangeline Larkin.

The investigators gather with Captain Pendracopolous and the Chief of Police to explain what happened. Though in the end the Chief is satisfied with the story he tells the investigators to stay in Melbourne for a few days while they conduct more detailed interviews.

While Allen’s large rifles are confiscated by the police, Ishaq Rahad uses a trick he learned in the Egyptian Revolution and hides some weapons in a sheet which is dangled just above the waterline on the seaward-facing side of the ship; that evening he rows out and cuts the weapons down, taking them to their suite of rooms at the “Vic”: Victoria Hotel.

SCENE 02 – Once the RMS Excalibur was within radio distance of Melbourne, Miss Shosenberg sent a telegram to Gordon Ramsey, who in turn sent telegrams to Dr Cyril Eden, museum curator; and Vincent Duffy, cat burglar of no small repute. The newspapers alert them to the arrival of the investigators days before they set foot on dry land.

Dateline: 5 June, 1925 – SCENE 03 – Duffy arrives at the Vic looking for Miss Shosenberg. The front desk informs him that she is not in and he says he will wait. Grabbing a newspaper to look inconspicuous, he sits down on a chair and pretends to read, the headlines still talking about the doomed ocean liner. Duffy never saw Ishaq Rahad, who was standing watch in the lobby, overhear his request, and likewise never noticed Ishaq Rahad approach until he had a concealed knife between his ribs. Ishaq Rahad orders Duffy to go upstairs with him.

SCENE 04 – Once inside suite 3B, Duffy explains who he is and why he’s there. Ishaq Rahad says, if you’re such a good thief, then open up the safe we have in this room. Duffy, utterly flustered by Ishaq Rahad’s menacing appearance, cannot manage to open it up. However, Ishaq Rahad says he believes Duffy and tells him to return at supper time.

Ishaq Rahad visits Allen in the hospital and gives him a general warning about Duffy in case Duffy is lying; he tucks a revolver under Allen’s pillow “just in case”.

SCENE 05 – Miss Shosenberg visits Dr Eden in his office and gives him the briefest of explanations and says she can explain more fully over dinner when the rest of her party is available. She inquires about Professor Cowle’s friend, Professor Dodge. Eden tells Miss Shosenberg that he knows Dodge and would be happy to escort them to Sydney. He also tells Miss Shosenberg that he knows a great driver/pilot/adventurer by the name of Daniel “Donk” Davis; a man utterly trustworthy and with just the kind of skills she requires. Miss Shosenberg seems somewhere between unimpressed and amused with the description, but says he can come along to dinner as well.