Cordelia Bench

Dame Cordelia Bench is a character in *Privates*, a segment of *It's All Been Done Radio Hour*. She is a wealthy woman who claims to know everything that happens concerning her family. She enjoys drinking whiskey.

She lives in a large mansion. From the front entrance, the study is to the right and the dining room is to the left.

**First appearance:** *Privates* #1.04 "Ex Marks the Spot Chapter 4"

**Number of appearances in *Privates*:** 2 (of 6)

**Actor:** Samantha Stark

## **Backstory**

It has not been mentioned how old Cordelia is, though she is at least middle-aged and has wrinkles. Nor is it said where her title comes from, nor anything about her relationship with her daughter's father, though Cordelia appears free to date.

Cordelia has never been physically violent with her boyfriend, Frank Berry.

## **Prior** **Relationship With Dame Judy Bench**

Judy is Cordelia's daughter. Jake Cotton thinks Judy and Cordelia share some similarities, including both being forceful in getting what they want.

Cordelia always liked Jake, and though the two didn't always listen to one another, she thought Jake could make her daughter happy.

Cordelia coveted Judy's pet leopard for its pelt, and had tried to buy it many times. Judy refused ("Ex Marks the Spot Chapter 1").

Cordelia loves Judy.

## "**Ex Marks the Spot"**

Dame Cordelia is away in Timbuktoo when Jake Cotton begins looking for Judy's pet leopard, Spot. Which makes her an unlikely suspect, dismissed by Judy Bench, but Jake isn't so sure ("Ex Marks the Spot Chapter 1").

Jake soon learns Cordelia broke up with Frank Berry last week. Though heartbroken, Frank considers their split a temporary tiff. He tells Jake he has something Cordelia wants, but hasn't been able to obtain. Frank didn't know that Cordelia had left the country ("Ex Marks the Spot Chapter 2").

Jake and Frank are brought to her in Africa, where Cordelia says she didn't kidnap them, she just heard of their troubles and sent her manservant, Johan, to escort them to her. She is cold towards Jake and unhappy to see Frank, telling them to freshen up before they talk further ("Ex Marks the Spot Chapter 4").

Alone, though, Cordelia and Frank happily reconcile, as she didn't want to break up with him, she was just trying to protect him. And they are thrilled when Jake and Judy appear to do the same. Until Jake reveals the whole blackmail plot threatening Cordelia, and how she is selling off her own possessions and those of people close to her, like Spot the leopard. Furthermore, Jake reveals Judy to be in on it, which shocks Cordelia, though Cordelia had signaled Jake that something was wrong by being cold to him ("Ex Marks the Spot Chapter 6").

## **Her Missing Fortune**

Cordelia invites Jake over for Christmas Ever dinner later that year with the enticement of a job offer. But before she will give it to him, she makes him dine with the household. She then reveals she has lost tens of millions, and offers Jake a 5% finder's fee for every dollar he gets back. She says Jake is the only one she trusts to get it back, being a good man. Frank, who she is tired of having around the house all the time, manages to convince Jake they should partner up, and Cordelia is delighted Frank will finally earn some money ("Ex Mas").

Cordelia meets Judy for lunch at the 13th Street Club at noon on December 26th ("Frank in the Bank, Jake in the Bed").

Frank figures out the case quickly, and not keeping secrets from Cordelia, tells her everything. At which point Cordelia begins working with Frank (and roping an unwitting Judy in) to thwart Jake's efforts on the case she hired him for. Cordelia doesn't like how Frank is handling things, but understands and respects his reasons. She is surprised Jake doesn't figure things out quickly ("Dirty Laundry").