Catherine runs into the study with her mother, who quickly locks the door behind them.
Mom
I’m calling Aunt Agnes.
Catherine
How is she going to help us?!
Catherine’s mother ignores her comment as she picks up the phone, dialing frantically.
Mom
Agnes? The puppet is moving.
Catherine can’t make out Aunt Agnes’s muffled response.
Mom
Yes, of course I’m sure!
There’s a full beat of silence before Catherine’s mother answers Aunt Agnes’s question.
Mom
I don’t know how this could have happened, Agnes.
This time, as Catherine’s mother listens to Aunt Agnes speak, she eyes her daughter nervously.
Mom
Yes, please, as soon as you can.
Mom
We’re in the study. Thank you.
Catherine’s mother hangs up the phone and fiddles her fingers nervously.
Catherine
What were you guys talking about?
Catherine’s mother jumps at the sound of her daughter’s voice.
Mom
Oh, Catherine! I almost forgot you were here.
Catherine
Whatever. What were you talking to Aunt Agnes about?
Catherine
Have you seen the puppet before?
Mom
What? No. Of course not.
Mom
Let’s just try to stay calm until Aunt Agnes gets here.
Catherine
Aunt Agnes is coming here?!
Mom
Catherine, stop whining. You’re not a child anymore.
Mom
Aunt Agnes is very smart. She’ll know what to do.
Catherine lets out a dramatic sigh, and then whispers a complaint under her breath.
Catherine
Yeah, except Aunt Agnes is a complete loony…
Catherine
Nothing, it’s just…Aunt Agnes is kind of all over the place, isn’t she?
Mom
Aunt Agnes is my sister.
Mom
We should trust and rely on our family.
Catherine
Ugh, I miss Dad.
Catherine
He would have known what to do.
Mom
We’re still a strong family, Catherine. Even without your father.
Mom
Us women have to stick together!
Catherine’s mom smiles and embraces her, but Catherine keeps her arms at her side.
Thirty minutes later, there’s a loud banging on the window.
Catherine
Something’s outside!
Mom
Hide behind the desk!
Catherine
Please be careful, Mom.
Catherine’s mom slowly approaches the window and lifts the curtain to peer outside.
Mom
We need to let her in.
Catherine
Geez! That freaked me out.
Catherine
Now do you see what I was talking about?
Catherine
Aunt Agnes couldn’t come through the front door like a normal person!?
Mom
Honey, you know it’s not safe for us to leave the study. She was doing us a favor.
Mom
Come help me open the window. It’s stuck.
Catherine and her mother both pull upward on the window, but it doesn’t budge.
Mom
There’s no time for this.
Catherine’s mother grabs the lamp off of the study desk and smashes the glass window.
Catherine
Why did you do that?!
Mom
No time to waste. Come, help me pull Aunt Agnes up.
Mom
You grab one arm and I’ll grab the other.
Catherine and her mom both heave Agnes in through the window.
Once inside, Agnes stands up and dusts off her gaudy dress.
She straightens her spectacles, and readjusts the many trinkets hanging from her neck and ears.
Agnes
Marie, my dear sister! And little Catherine!
Agnes
Oh, I’ve been so worried about both of you!
Agnes
I’m so glad you called me here in this time of grave danger.
Mom
Thank you for coming, Agnes.
Mom
I know this isn’t an…ideal situation.
Agnes
Yes, of course. Where is the puppet then?
Mom
It’s locked in Catherine’s closet.
Agnes
And the puppet is mobile, you say?
Mom
Yes, it moved itself to Catherine’s bedroom.
Agnes
Can it communicate?
Catherine
It moved its mouth!
Catherine
But it didn’t make any sound.
Aunt Agnes pauses to think for a moment.
In the silence, Catherine can hear her pulse pounding in her ears.
Agnes
The only solution I can see is to destroy the puppet permanently.
Suddenly, a loud crack echoes through the house.
Agnes
Stay put, Catherine!
Agnes rushes out of the study, and Catherine’s mother follows.
Two minutes pass. To Catherine, it feels like an eternity.
Her chest is tight with worry. She strains to hear any sounds from her mother and aunt outside.
Finally, when the anxiety becomes overwhelming, she calls out…
Catherine
Mom? Aunt Agnes?
Catherine
Can I come out?
Catherine pokes her head out first, and when she sees only the empty hallway before her,
She walks out of the study slowly. When she reaches her bedroom…
She sees Aunt Agnes and her mother standing closely together, peering inside.
She looks beyond them and sees the puppet sitting patiently on her bed.
Catherine
It got out of the closet?!
Catherine’s mother and Agnes both jump and wheel around at the sound of her voice.
Mom
Catherine! Go back to the study!
Catherine
No way -- if that thing can break down doors, we need to leave this house.
Agnes
I think that’s an excellent idea, Catherine.
Agnes
You and your mother should leave.
Agnes
Go -- wait at my house.
Mom
I’m not leaving you here alone, Agnes.
Agnes
Marie, it’s best if Catherine is as far from the puppet as possible.
Catherine’s mother nods her head and begins to gather a few items before they depart.
Catherine continues to stare at the puppet. It’s sitting motionless on her bed.
Agnes
Marie, I said that you and your daughter need to leave. Right now.
Mom
C’mon, Catherine. Aunt Agnes is right.
Mom
Let’s get out of here.
Catherine’s mother reaches for her hand.
But Catherine pulls her hand away…
And locks the door behind her.
