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Helen Dauer is already in the room.

John Hobbes, Victoria Beaumont and Damian Maseko enter.

[8] Damian Maseko: What’s wrong?

[9] Helen Dauer: He’s… He’s killed Eve…

[7] Victoria Beaumont: Who’s Eve? Are you hurt?

There’s a thunderclap. A body falls to the floor.

[1] John Hobbes: Oh my goodness…

Tony Dauer enters.

[4] Tony Dauer: What’s going on?

[7] Victoria Beaumont: I don’t know… We’ve only just found her.

Martha Galley enters.

[5] Martha Galley: Oh dear… Another one…

[8] Damian Maseko: We heard someone in here a moment ago. Did anyone see where he went?

[4] Tony Dauer: I didn’t pass anyone…

Ann Beaumont enters.

[2] Ann Beaumont: What’s happening? Why is everyone in here?

[7] Victoria Beaumont: Annie… I’m glad you’re all right.

Oswald Galley enters.

[3] Oswald Galley: So it’s true… They’re coming back…

[5] Martha Galley: Get that man away from me!

[3] Oswald Galley: I have done nothing! Whatever evil has come into your house, I have no part in it!

[8] Damian Maseko: Everyone, calm down! Can anyone tell me who she was?

[2] Ann Beaumont: Is she… Is she dead?

[5] Martha Galley: It’s the same as all the others. Someone’s trying to scare us. I’m sure they must have been dead for a while…

[8] Damian Maseko: I don’t think so… The body’s still warm.

[7] Victoria Beaumont: Surely someone would’ve noticed if four people were walking around the house! I don’t understand where they came from.

[2] Ann Beaumont: Wait, this is the fourth?

[4] Tony Dauer: It could be some sort of disease. Maybe they all escaped from some hospital nearby.

[5] Martha Galley: Tony, please take this seriously!

[2] Ann Beaumont: Isn’t anyone going to point out that there are already two strangers in the room?

[4] Tony Dauer: Thanks, Ann. At least John and I were invited.

[2] Ann Beaumont: Were you?

[7] Victoria Beaumont: Shut up, you two!

[8] Damian Maseko: Listen… We’re all going to go to bed and lock our doors. Do all the doors have locks?

[5] Martha Galley: Yes, darling — they lock from the inside.

[8] Damian Maseko: Then we’ll all go to bed, and we’ll see where we’re at in the morning.

[1] John Hobbes: You called the police, didn’t you, Martha?

[5] Martha Galley: I… Yes. I called them earlier. They said they won’t be able to get here until the morning.

[8] Damian Maseko: Good. Until then, lock your doors, and don’t let any strangers in. Can we all agree on that?

[4] Tony Dauer: I’m not agreeing to anything.

[8] Damian Maseko: Fine. Everyone else, go straight to your rooms. We’ll talk again tomorrow morning.

Edmund Galley is already in the room.

A set of billiard balls is racked. Helen Dauer enters.

[9] Helen Dauer: Eddie? Where is everyone? [6] Edmund Galley: They should be around somewhere… If you go and wait in the living room then I’m sure they’ll turn up. I’ll be there later — I just… I need to sort something out.

[9] Helen Dauer: I’ve hardly seen anyone all day! You know, if there’s something going on, then I ought to know about it. Otherwise, it seems like you’re disappearing off for hours at a time and leaving me and my son to entertain ourselves!

[6] Edmund Galley: I do apologise, Mrs Dauer. I just need a little time, and then things will be back to normal.

Someone hits a billiard ball into a group of other balls.

[6] Edmund Galley: I would think you can be patient for another hour or so on your own, can’t you?

[9] Helen Dauer: I don’t appreciate the flippancy, young man. Tell me what’s going on.

[6] Edmund Galley: Very well. Three dead bodies have appeared around the house and we suspect that one of our guests is trying to scare us. But we’re dealing with it. Everything’s under control.

Someone hits a billiard ball into another ball, which falls into a pocket.

[9] Helen Dauer: Well, I don’t see why you let that stranger in here in the first place! It’s your own fault, as far as I can see. Go and tell him to find somewhere else to stay, Eddie.

[6] Edmund Galley: Please don’t try and tell me what to do! Like I said, I’m sorting it out.

[9] Helen Dauer: It certainly doesn’t look like you’re doing much of anything! Did you find the ring, or did you just give up?

[6] Edmund Galley: The ring? Yes… I found it. You can have it back if you like… I don’t want it.

[9] Helen Dauer: I gave you this ring for a reason, Eddie. Where is my daughter?

[6] Edmund Galley: Your daughter?

[9] Helen Dauer: I should hope you haven’t forgotten about her in all this commotion! I think I made it very clear earlier what I expected of you. If something’s happened to her, Edmund, then there’ll be consequences.

[6] Edmund Galley: I found the ring, like you asked. If you expected me to do anything else, then you should have told me!

[9] Helen Dauer: Now, don’t be like that with me, young man. Where is she?

[6] Edmund Galley: Well, I haven’t seen anyone else arrive, and I’ve kept track of everyone who’s come through the door. Unless…

[9] Helen Dauer: I thought she was asleep in your room. You ought to go there now and reconcile with her! And take the ring, Eddie.

[6] Edmund Galley: Oh God… I’m so sorry…

[9] Helen Dauer: Eddie?

[6] Edmund Galley: She… Your daughter’s dead, Mrs Dauer.

[9] Helen Dauer: What do you mean? That can’t be right. Why wouldn’t you have told me earlier?

[6] Edmund Galley: I… I didn’t know! You should have told me you had a daughter, and then I might have done something about it!

[9] Helen Dauer: You’re making things up, Eddie! Go and find her and make sure she’s all right.

[6] Edmund Galley: I already told you…

[9] Helen Dauer: Don’t play games with me, Edmund Galley! You’re responsible for my daughter’s safety! And frankly, this disgusting behaviour is scaring me, and it’s completely unbecoming of a host!

[6] Edmund Galley: I don’t know who your daughter is! Why do you think I have anything to do with this?

[9] Helen Dauer: Excuse me?

[6] Edmund Galley: If you cared about your daughter, then you would have mentioned her earlier! You can’t expect me to look out for everyone just because I’m the man of the house!

[9] Helen Dauer: You’re a monster, Eddie! How dare you talk about my family like that? Stay away from my children!

[6] Edmund Galley: What are you talking about? You don’t even have a daughter, do you? Are you part of this too?

[9] Helen Dauer: Stay away from me! I’ll scream! I will, and my son has a gun!

[6] Edmund Galley: I don’t know why I trusted you! All along, I’ve been trying to be polite and courteous, and for what? You’re as much a stranger to me as anyone.

There’s a very loud scream.

[6] Edmund Galley: Great! Now everyone else will be rushing in to save you. That suits me just fine.

Edmund Galley leaves.

A door opens. Damian Maseko enters.

[8] Damian Maseko: Oh — I’m sorry to disturb you. Madam? Madam, are you awake? I’d like to ask you a few questions. Madam? I’m looking for a pocket watch. If you could just tell me whether you’ve seen it or not, then I’ll leave you to get back to your sleep. Madam? Oh God… She’s still warm…

Oswald Galley is already in the room.

A drawer opens and closes. A drawer opens and closes. A wardrobe opens and closes.

Tony Dauer enters.

[4] Tony Dauer: What are you doing? Were you going through my things?

[3] Oswald Galley: No! No, not at all! I was just having a look around. I didn’t realise this room was occupied.

[4] Tony Dauer: Right. It’s Oswald, is it?

[3] Oswald Galley: Oswald Galley. I don’t believe we’ve met?

[4] Tony Dauer: My sister mentioned you. What are you doing in my room?

[3] Oswald Galley: Well, back when I was younger, this used to be our nursery —

[4] Tony Dauer: It’s not your nursery any longer, is it? Don’t come in here again.

[3] Oswald Galley: Is this how you’d normally treat a new acquaintance?

[4] Tony Dauer: Don’t test my patience. Get out of my room.

[3] Oswald Galley: There’s no need to be suspicious, boy. I’m leaving.

Oswald Galley leaves.

A drawer is opened. Something is moved in a drawer. A drawer is closed.

Oswald Galley is already in the room.

Helen Dauer enters.

[9] Helen Dauer: Excuse me? I don’t think we’ve met.

[3] Oswald Galley: No… I don’t think we have.

[9] Helen Dauer: Helen Dauer — pleasure to meet you. I’m sorry — is there something out there?

[3] Oswald Galley: It’s too dark to see it properly, but the chapel sits somewhere out there on the hill. I would have liked to have visited it… But perhaps I’ll get the chance tomorrow.

[9] Helen Dauer: I think you’d have to be quite mad to go out there in this weather!

[3] Oswald Galley: Hmm… Forgive me! I am very distracted this evening. My name is Oswald Brian Arthur Galley — I used to live here a long time ago. It’s a pleasure to meet you too.

[9] Helen Dauer: Oh, I see! I think Eve mentioned you. Could you remind me how you are related to the family?

[3] Oswald Galley: I’m the last of my family, I’m afraid. I have no relation to our hosts, other than through the house itself.

[9] Helen Dauer: I’m sorry to hear that. Do you mind if I ask whether you’re married?

[3] Oswald Galley: I’ve always preferred to live alone. Now that I think of it, it is perhaps a shame that the line of true Galleys won’t continue. Do you have any children yourself?

[9] Helen Dauer: Yes, two of them. They’re somewhere around the house, although I can never seem to hold onto them as much as I might like.

[3] Oswald Galley: And is Mr Dauer here?

[9] Helen Dauer: No. No, he’s away. He’s doing something else. But he said he would have liked to have been here.

[3] Oswald Galley: Well, it’s been lovely meeting you, Mrs Dauer.

[9] Helen Dauer: Yes. Thank you.