Hannah immediately recognizes the man whose car she dented earlier in the day.
Man
You seem to have a habit of crashing into people.
Man
Fortunately, there was no damage this time!
Whenever Hannah is in close proximity to a man she finds attractive,
She stutters—struggles—but…
Hannah
But…what are YOU doing here?
Man
I should be the one asking you that question.
Man
My name is Tyler Grant, and I’m here by order of Virginia Pynchon.
Man
Now would you mind telling me who YOU are?
Man
Wait, let me find a light switch.
Suddenly, light fills the hallway,
Which is lined with sullen family portraits.
They all seem to be staring at Hannah.
Hannah
I’m Hannah Bright.
Hannah
Virginia Pynchon has asked me to be here too.
Slowly, realization dawns on Tyler Grant’s face.
He breaks into a smile that Hannah finds dazzling.
But she does her best not to show it.
Tyler
So you’re the one who’s responsible for ruining my weekend!
Hannah tries to suppress her strong attraction to Tyler Grant
By kicking into journalist mode.
Hannah
You’re the CEO of Greathall Industries, aren’t you?
Hannah
One of the youngest CEO’s of a Fortune 500 company, as I recall.
Tyler
Guilty as charged. And you’re Hannah Bright.
Tyler
The journalist who’s been chosen to write Virginia Pynchon’s biography.
Tyler
The very one who ruined my weekend plans.
Hannah
But I had no idea you would be here!
Hannah
Or that I was ruining anyone’s plans.
Tyler
But Ms. Pynchon knew.
Tyler
And what Ms. Pynchon wants, Ms. Pynchon gets.
Hannah
Well, since you’re here, I look forward to interviewing you about the company.
Tyler
And I look forward–
Both Tyler and Hannah jump as they are interrupted by a loud moaning noise.
The moan seems to have come from one of the bedrooms down the hall.
Hannah
What was that? WHO was that?
Tyler
I don’t know. I think it came from that room down there.
Hannah
Oh my god! That one’s right next to my bedroom!
Together, they hurry to the room.
The door is open. The room is dark.
Tyler
Hello, is anyone there?
He turns on the bedroom light switch and they both walk inside.
There’s a four-poster bed in the middle of the huge gloomy room, but otherwise—
Tyler
Let me check the closet to be sure we’re alone.
Hannah
I’ll look under the bed.
Tyler
Well, we couldn’t have imagined it.
Tyler
We both heard it, after all.
Tyler
Maybe it came from the room above?
Suddenly Lucinda enters the room, wearing a low-cut black silk robe.
Hannah can’t help but notice Tyler eyeing Lucinda.
Lucinda
Do you mind if I join the party?
Lucinda
And what a very late party it is!
Tyler
Lucinda! Did you hear that loud moaning noise?
Tyler
We were investigating it.
Lucinda
Tyler, what are you doing in the Blue Wing?
Lucinda
Your room is in the Red Wing. Near mine.
Tyler
You know it’s my first time at the estate.
Tyler
And I’m a natural born explorer.
Tyler
I ran into Hannah here—literally.
Tyler
And then we heard a noise. It was as if someone was in pain.
Lucinda
Yes, that’s why I came by again.
Lucinda
I wanted to tell Hannah not to worry about any strange noises.
Lucinda
Bernadette has the room above this one.
Lucinda
And sometimes she has nightmares.
Hannah
I could have sworn it came from this room.
Lucinda
No. Sounds carry easily in this old house.
Hannah
Oh. Well…thanks for coming by to let me know, but…
Hannah
Is there any way I could change rooms?
Hannah
I might have trouble sleeping with those noises.
Lucinda
Hannah, Bernadette has a very sad past.
Lucinda
We all try to make allowances.
Lucinda
Do you think you could too? It would mean a lot.
Tyler
Oh, I feel bad for Bernadette. That’s very sad.
Lucinda
Yes. She sleepwalks sometimes too.
Lucinda
Just so you know, Hannah.
Tyler
Listen, how did you happen to hear her, Lucinda?
Tyler
All the way from the Red Wing?
Lucinda
I was checking on her.
Lucinda
I know she doesn’t like any change in her routine.
Lucinda
Sometimes visitors upset her.
Lucinda
Tyler, should we return to our rooms?
For a moment, Hannah wonders if she sees regret on Tyler’s face.
Is he upset that he isn’t able to say goodnight, alone, to Hannah?
No. She must be imagining it.
It must be wishful thinking.
Tyler
It was nice running into you. Again.
Lucinda looks at Tyler quizzically.
Tyler
I’ll explain later.
Lucinda
Goodnight Hannah. Again.
Hannah
Goodnight you two.
Hannah hates herself for feeling stirrings of jealousy
As she watches Lucinda and Tyler walk together toward the Red Wing.
Tired at last from her adventurous day, she goes to her room,
And pulls back the satin sheets on her canopied bed.
Suddenly, she jumps back in horror.
Because in the middle of the bed is a large dead bird.
