The Cat and the Canary Page #2

Oh, tell me. Tell me.

Miss Lu? Miss Lu?

Tell me the name, Master.

The name.

Miss Lu!

What?

What was that noise,

like a gong?

It's the warning.

It came just before

the master died.

You know, I've been thinking

there's no use in my staying here.

After all, I've never inherited

anything, except hay fever.

So if nobody objects, I think

I'll swim back to the mainland.

You're going to

stay right here...

Yeah, but I can...

I have a million

questions to ask you.

Yeah, well, ask her one for

me about those seven bells.

They are the spirits.

They mean

seven may live.

There are eight people

in this room.

One will die

before morning.

I feel very faint.

Yeah, well, it's been nice knowing

you all but honestly, it's hot in here,

I have to get

some air. I...

Now, wait, wait.

Stop all this, Miss Lu.

Do you want to frighten these

ladies out of their wits?

There's not much

danger of that.

It has happened.

The insane asylums

are full of people who've lost

their minds through fright.

Oh, may we hear

the will, please?

Yes, let's hear it.

I'll bet you two to one

that Joyce is the heir.

What's that?

Oh, did I speak

out of turn?

What was at the back

of your remark?

Oh, why,

nothing.

Come on,

you know something.

Oh, nothing

really.

Well, it's just that in practically

every mystery play I've been in,

the leading lady turns out to be the heir.

You have the power.

Yes, I... Me?

There are spirits

all around you.

Well, could you put some

in a glass with little ice?

I need it badly.

Don't you ever

stop babbling?

Attention, please.

Usual date and so on.

"I, Cyrus Canby Norman,

being of sound mind and body,

"do hereby bequeath all my money,

bonds, securities and estate

"under the following

provisions.

"Whereas I believe a streak of

insanity to be in the family,

"in the event that the heir

hereinafter named

"should prove to be

of unsound mind,

"or if said heir

should become insane

"or should meet death

within a month of inheriting,

"then my estate

is to be given to the person

"whose name is contained

in envelope number two."

Was that

his idea or yours?

What's wrong with it?

Well, that will is practically

an invitation to commit murder.

Murder?

Certainly.

What's behind that "meeting death or

insanity within a month of inheriting"?

That's easily explained.

Mr. Norman was afraid that the

shock of inheriting the fortune

might prove too much

for an unbalanced brain.

And it's also a strong

encouragement to the number two heir

to do everything possible to unbalance

the brain of the number one heir.

Fred, come off. You're

talking a lot of nonsense.

Yeah? Murder is committed frequently

for less money than old Cyrus left.

That, gentlemen,

is precisely the reason

why the name of the alternative

heir was sealed in this envelope,

so that no one should

know his identity.

Yeah?

You know who it is,

don't you?

Naturally, I drew the will.

"I therefore will that my

entire estate be divided equally

"among such descendants of

mine of sound mind and body

"who are assembled

in my library at midnight

"on the 10th anniversary

of my death,

"who bear the surname

of Norman."

Norman?

Well, I'm the only one

here with that name.

What did I tell you?

I knew it.

It becomes my pleasant duty to proclaim

you the sole heiress of the Norman fortune

and the new mistress

of this old house.

And I sincerely trust that this

second envelope shall never be opened.

Thank you.

Oh, it's wonderful,

Joyce, I'm so glad.

Thanks, Charlie.

I congratulate you

with all my heart, Joyce.

Well, that's sweet

of you, Fred.

It's so unexpected,

I can hardly believe it.

I wish I

couldn't believe it.

I'm sorry, Cicily.

You're not

a bit sorry.

I know I shouldn't be

if I were the heir.

Well, I congratulate you, dear,

with definite reservations.

Oh, thanks, darling.

Well...

Well, aren't you

going to congratulate me?

Oh, sure. I'll do

more than that.

I'll recommend a nice,

quiet bombproof cellar to you

for the next 30 days.

Thanks.

Here are the keys

to the house, Miss Norman.

Oh, well, won't you

remain as my housekeeper?

Mr. Norman told me to give

this letter to the heir

after the will was read.

How did he know

you'd be here?

I told him I would be.

It's the first

I've known of it.

Well, what do you

suppose...

That's probably

about the buried treasure.

Buried treasure!

What are you

talking about?

Yeah, well, there's always a

buried treasure, isn't there?

You know a pot of gold, or

a diamond necklace, or a...

Don't pin me down.

It's very peculiar that you

should mention a necklace.

Yeah? Why?

There was one.

See!

Well, did somebody

tell you about it?

Now let me think. Oh, it

must have been my mother.

The last time you saw your

mother, you were three years old.

Yeah, I was

just...

I doubt if you'd remember the conversation.

What sort of a necklace

was it, Aunt Susan?

Diamonds and emeralds,

worth a fortune.

After Cyrus had it made,

it was stolen.

Who stole it?

Well, don't look at me.

I just got here.

I've never believed

it was stolen.

I always thought Mr. Norman

hid it here in this house.

Why would he

do that?

Because he

was a nut.

There's food

in the dining room.

I don't want

anything to eat.

Personally, I've changed

my plans and I'm leaving.

That's impossible, there are no

more trains out until morning,

even if you could

get to the mainland.

Why can't we

get to the mainland?

Because of members of Local Number

2 of the Bayou Canoe Paddlers

and Putt Putt Pushers Union

won't putt after midnight.

You mean we've got to stay

here whether we like it or not?

I arranged it that way and I think

you'll all be very comfortable.

So shall we eat,

drink and be merry?

For tomorrow,

we...

It's on the house.

My house, come on.

Cicily.

I could

use a drink.

Yeah, I could, too.

I think I could stiff.

Might as well be a live

stiff as a dead stiff.

Since we are all to be prisoners in this

terrible house until tomorrow morning,

I suggest that you and I sleep together.

I suggest we all

sleep together.

Miss Lu knew we'd have to stay here and...

Oh, Miss Lu.

I don't know much

about the house yet,

but are there rooms

for everyone?

Yes, Miss Norman. The main

bedroom, your bedroom, is here.

Mr. Campbell, at the head of

the stairs, Lawyer Crosby...

What happened?

They do that when you don't pay

your bill. Are you all right?

Yes, of course, but...

Well, how am I?

I'm all right, I always

shake this way. Don't...

Well, what in the world's

the matter, Miss Lu?

Miss Lu?

Did you have to break one

of those old crystal glasses?

I didn't break it.

It was knocked out of my hand.

Come on.

Don't take it so big.

Go ahead.

Keep your shirt on.

I'm just telling you,

you keep away from Joyce.

What's the matter? Not afraid of a

little healthy competition, are you?

I'm not afraid of anything you've

got to offer. I'm just warning you.

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