Hannah
Wha—what did you just say to me?
Hannah feels her hands shaking the moment she digests Lionel’s threat.
Lionel
I said that you should get out of here. Now.
Hannah
But…why do you want me to leave?
Lionel
Because the past needs to stay in the past.
Lionel
Look, how much is she paying you to write that book?
Lionel
But only if you leave tonight.
Hannah
I could never accept your money.
Hannah
Because for one thing, it isn’t actually your money.
Hannah
Wouldn’t it be coming from your wife?
Hannah
Doesn’t she keep her checkbook locked in a drawer?
Lionel
Don’t worry. I can pay you in cash.
Lionel
She doesn’t need to know.
Hannah
I’m sorry, Mr. Pynchon, but I won’t be bribed.
Hannah
And now you’ve only made me more determined to stay.
Hannah
What could you possibly need to hide?
Hannah walks off before he can say another word.
She heads out a back door of the mansion for some fresh air,
And takes in the stunning grounds of the estate.
Lush green grass undulates before her.
Majestic oak trees seem to wave at her.
The view calms and restores her until…
Hannah feels a push and suddenly finds herself flat on the grass.
Hannah sees Tyler standing above her, his hand outstretched.
Tyler
I’m sorry, Hannah. Here, let me help you up.
And he pulls her upright.
The feel of his hand sends a bolt of energy through her body.
Seemingly without thinking, Tyler pulls Hannah into an embrace.
Hannah
Yes, yes. I’m fine.
They stand there, embracing, until finally Tyler pulls away from her.
He points to a large piece of a statue on the ground.
It is the top portion of a face with blank, lifeless eyes.
Tyler
THAT fell off the roof and almost hit you.
Tyler
It could have killed you.
Hannah
Oh my god, thank you.
Tyler
Although I think they need to inspect their roof.
Tyler
What if there are other loose statues up there?
Tyler
I’m going to have a word with Ms. Pynchon about this.
Hannah
Thank you. I’m just glad you happened to be here.
Tyler
I have a confession to make.
Tyler
I saw you from the window and came down to talk to you.
Tyler
So I didn’t just happen to be here.
Hannah
What did you want to talk to me about, the book?
Tyler
No, I wanted to talk to YOU.
Lucinda
There you are, Tyler!
Lucinda
I need to discuss some business about the foundation with you.
Tyler
Lucinda, look what fell off the roof.
Tyler
It almost hit Hannah.
Lucinda
Are you all right?
Tyler
It looks like one of the statues that decorates the roof.
Lucinda
You’re right. How embarrassing!
Lucinda
You’d think a full staff of servants could maintain a home properly!!
Lucinda
I’ll talk to Grandma.
Lucinda
But for now, can we talk in the conservatory, Tyler?
Lucinda
See you at dinner, Hannah.
Tyler
See you, Hannah. We’ll talk later.
Hannah is paralyzed by her conflicting feelings as she watches Tyler walk off with Lucinda.
She strongly suspects that the falling statue is no accident.
There is definitely someone who does not want her to be here.
But at the same time, she can still feel Tyler’s hand.
What had he wanted to ask her before Lucinda interrupted them?
And now, right before Tyler slips out of view…
Hannah sees him turn around to look at her one more time.
She returns the look and then races to her room, to text Megan with an update.
Her sister responds right away.
Megan
Hannah, I don’t like the sound of this.
Megan
First the rug in the hallway that you tripped over.
Megan
And that moaning noise…
Megan
And the dead bird in your bed.
Megan
AND now a piece of a statue almost kills you!
Hannah
I know. The person who’s doing this doesn’t want me here.
Hannah
He—or she—doesn’t want me to find out something.
Hannah
Something from the past.
Hannah
And now I REALLY want to find out what it is.
Megan
But is it worth losing your life over?
Megan
I’m afraid for you, Hannah.
Megan
I think you should leave.
Hannah
That’s exactly what Virginia Pynchon’s husband said to me today.
Megan
He was threatening you?
Hannah
AND he tried to bribe me to leave, too!
Megan
I don’t like the sound of that either.
Megan
Please Hannah. Get out of there.
Hannah
But what about Tyler Grant?
Hannah
Things are heating up between us.
Megan
Hannah! You can pursue that after you get home.
Hannah
What, you mean like call him?
Megan
Say you need to talk to him for the book.
Hannah
There won’t be a book if I leave tonight.
Hannah
And Tyler and I have momentum right now.
Megan
The momentum provided by someone trying to kill you?
Megan
You’ll lose any momentum you have if you’re dead!
Megan
Hannah, I’m TRYING to scare you. For your own good.
Hannah
I’ll right. I’ll think about it.
That evening, Hannah suffers through a terrible dinner.
Ms. Pynchon is not there.
Lionel, at the table, and Bernadette, from the kitchen, bombard her with evil stares.
Hannah had looked forward to seeing Tyler, remembering their embrace.
But he is unexpectedly cold to her now…
And talks almost exclusively to Lucinda.
Wounded and confused, Hannah nevertheless approaches Tyler after dinner.
Hannah
Thank you again for saving me from that falling statue.
Tyler
Yes, well, it was nothing.
Hannah
Nothing! You said it yourself—I could have been injured.
Tyler
I’m glad I happened to be there.
There is an awkward silence.
Tyler
Is that all? I have some work to do.
Hannah
Tyler, was there…something you wanted to ask me?
Tyler
Ask you? No. What do you mean?
Embarrassed, Hannah returns to her room.
After her eventful day, Hannah decides to go to bed early.
She turns back the satin sheets and finds…
Bigger and blacker than the last one.
