Anna starts looking about in the house for clues. Mark is getting increasingly annoyed at Anna’s obsessive behaviour. He says: “You are just like your Mum, always digging around.”
Mark has his coat on and is standing at the door. “Coffee, bread, dinner, candles, anything else?”
“No,” she replies. She looks tired.
“You should get some sleep. Do that.”
After Mark leaves to do the shopping, Anna makes herself a pot of coffee.
The Estate Agent appears at the door. He is invited in to look around.
“Before I go, I should take look at the basement,” he says to Anna.
“You can’t. The door is locked. I can’t find the key.”
* * *
He leaves. With some effort she places a chest of drawers in front of the cellar door. The wee girl appears outside again. Anna persuades her to come inside this time.
They decide to play Hide and Seek. The girl runs away and hides. Anna cannot find her.
Mark returns. “What are you doing?” he asks.
“Lucy and I got dressed up and are playing Hide and Seek.”
“Lucy?”
“Yes, be quiet, she is hiding.”
“I’ll go and unpack.” Mark is not amused at all this carry-on.
Anna is getting worried as she cannot find Lucy. She heads, slowly, towards a cupboard in which the door has swung open. There is a map poking out of a old box. Anna bends down to see what it is. There is an ear-splitting shrill scream.
A screaming figure leaps out of the cupboard and dives onto Anna, wrapping her arms around Anna’s neck. It is the wee girl. Anna gets a really bad scare. “You frightened me,” she says with a serious face. The wee girl laughs heartily. She is so amused at this.
“Lucy, it is not nice to scare people.” Anna is really rattled. Her face is still solemn. The little girl doesn’t like being told off, and runs out of the house, slamming the main door behind her. Anna looks at the picture on the wall, the one that had fallen down earlier, the old picture of a the young girl in the frame. Mark appears.
“What’s going on?” he asks. He looks annoyed.
“Nothing.”
“Something is going on.” He grasps her arm.
“A lot is happening actually,” Anna replies indignantly. “Sounds in the house, Lucy having problems, the girl who disappeared and my Mum who died.”
“I can help you,” says Mark.
“I’m fine.”
“Yes, you’re fine. Is that what you were discussing with the doctor on the 23rd ?”
“Are you talking about our child? Have you been on my mobile?”
Mark is getting angry. “You should talk to me first!” He is now grasping both her arms, tightly, and shaking her.
“I need to be alone,” she pleads.
“No, I’m staying.” Mark tells her.
“Leave now! Let go of me!”
“I’m staying here. I love you. I’m staying.” He crushes her arms with his strength.
“Let go of me!” she screams. Mark lashes out and hits her, full pelt, on the face. She falls to the ground.
“I’m sorry,” Mark kneels over her. He does look shocked … and he does appear sorry.
Anna struggles to get up from the floor. She raises her head. “Get out!” she shouts at him.
Mark runs out the door and jumps in his car. Her handyman has gone. He was not so handy after all. She’s glad to see the back of him.
