Swamp sounds- frogs, whooping birds, splashes. Crickets, insects. Lawyer jumps ashore from a canoe (offstage). Sound of paddling.

Crosby:

Pick me up in two hours.

Boatman:

Sorry señor - no boats in the darkness. In the morning we return.

Crosby:

What? Wait-

Boatman:

Goodbye señor. I hope to see you in the morning. (chuckle)

Crosby:

You – but…! (looks around and turns up collar) Good god, having to spend the night here ! How Cyrus stood it I’ll never know.

(Massive splash)

What was that? Good lord - a huge alligator.

(Crosby crosses to door and knocks in a panic. Longish wait and door creaks open - no one there)

Mrs Dietweiller:

(appears) So- you have come at last.

Crosby:

Oh - Mrs D? How long have you been here?

Mrs D:

I have always been here. I was born in this house.

Crosby:

I meant - but surely you did not remain here, alone, all these years?

Mrs D:

Not alone.

Crosby:

But - there are no staff here with you are there?

Mrs D:

No. No staff.

Crosby:

Well - who do you mean then?

Mrs D:

I am not lonely.

(Pause. Lights flicker.)

Crosby:

What was that?

Mrs D:

Sometimes they get into the machinery.

Crosby:

What does?

Mrs D:

(ignores this) Where are the rest of the relatives? They did not travel in your boat?

Crosby:

I hoped they were here already.

Mrs D:

I hear them coming now.

(Crosby listens)

Crosby:

I hear nothing.

Mrs D:

I hear many things that others do not.

(Lights up on stage right, where rest of relatives are picking their way to the door.)

Aunt Susan:

Yes, second cousins twice removed. My great Aunt Maude had ten children. She was - what’s the word?

Fred:

Prolific?

Cicely:

Unlucky?

Susan:

Anyway Cyrus absolutely doted on me, so – well, it’s not exactly a foregone conclusion, but the reading of the will tonight might be a bit of a disappointment for some.

Cicely:

I’m just looking forward to meeting Wally Campbell. I didn’t even know he was a relative of mine before I got the letter inviting us all here! I’m just a ball of nerves!

Susan:

Bag.

Cicely:

Pardon?

Fred:

Well - I think we’re here. Quite a walk from the landing stage - I think our boatman was in a hurry to get back.

Susan:

My goodness - ten years have really left their mark. The swamp has reclaimed the land, and the damp has rotted the house- I wouldn’t have known it. Watch out for that step- the wood has completely disintegrated.

Cicely:

29.

Susan:

Eh?

Cicely:

Alligators. I’ve seen 29 since we left the boatyard.

(Fred knocks on the door. They wait)

Fred:

Who’s that? Oh- it’s you, Charlie.

(Charlie approaches from stage left)

Charlie:

Aunt Susan! And is this little Cicely? Hello Fred.

(Fred turns away pointedly.)

Fred:

Why doesn’t someone open up and let us in?

(Door opens suddenly.)

Mrs D:

So - four more of you. Only two to come now. Enter.

(They exchange looks and pass her uneasily.)

Aunt Susan:

So Mrs Dietweiller - you’re still here? What on earth have you been doing for the last ten years? Not maintenance anyway!

Mrs D:

I have been following the wishes of Mr Cyrus.

Cicely:

But - he’s dead! (nervous giggle)

Susan:

Hush Cicely. Of course he is!

Mrs D:

Yes, ten years to the very night - almost to the very moment.