OLIVIA. What are you waiting for, Corrine?

Corrine (thirty-eight, attractive) enters.

CORRINE. Why are we putting them in the attic, Mother? There are so many bedrooms far away from Daddy.

OLIVIA [snapping]. What about the servants? They clean those bedrooms periodically. Bring them in, or take them out of this house.

Corrine hesitates.

OLIVIA. Well?

Corrine turns slowly.

CORRINE. Bring in the twins, Christopher, Cathy.

Christopher (seventeen) comes in first with seven-year-old Cory. Christopher is a very bright, mature young man. Cathy (fifteen) follows, carrying Carrie. Cathy is pretty.

OLIVIA. Your children are beautiful, but do they have some hidden afflictions? It’s best I know immediately.

CORRINE. My children are perfect.

OLIVIA. As Lucifer was thought to be in heaven.

CATHY. Why are we up here?

CHRISTOPHER. Why did we have to come in the back way?

OLIVIA [with a cold smile]. Apparently, you have told them nothing. I’m not surprised.

Olivia pulls a dusty cover off a sofa.

OLIVIA. Sit them here while I do what you were supposed to do.

CORRINE. Mother, they’re tired.

OLIVIA. Then why waste any more time? [To Christopher and Cathy.] Sit.

Cathy looks to Christopher. He nods. She moves to the sofa, Carrie still clinging tightly to her hand. Christopher moves to the sofa and sets Cory beside him.

OLIVIA. Now, you two older children listen to me and listen well. It will be your responsibility to keep your brother and sister quiet. There’s to be no running and jumping and especially no banging on these walls. Nothing is to be broken, and most important of all, stay away from the windows.

CARRIE. I want to go home, Momma.

CORY. Me, too!

CORRINE. Please, just listen to your grandmother, children.

OLIVIA. In the morning, I’ll bring you your breakfast. Later, I’ll bring you your lunches and dinners. Is this understood? Your mother will show you where the bathroom is up here. Don’t leave the water running or throw something you shouldn’t down the toilet. [To Corrine.] I assume she’s had her first period.

CHRISTOPHER. Of course she has. She’s fifteen.

OLIVIA. How do you know so much about her body?

CORRINE [trying to make light of it]. Christopher hopes to become a doctor someday.

OLIVIA. I don’t want any doctor-patient games going on here.

CHRISTOPHER [smiling]. What?

CORRINE. My children are good, Mother.

OLIVIA. That would be a miracle. Show them the bathroom. I’m sure you remember where it is. You spent so much time up here when you wanted to hide your sinful deed.

CATHY. What sinful deed?

CORRINE. I’ll explain it all to them.

OLIVIA. Do that. And when you do, explain it all to me.

She turns and walks out, closing the door behind her. Cathy jumps up instantly.

CATHY. What is this, Momma? You said we’d be living in a palace. You didn’t say we’d be locked in an attic and our grandmother was someone out of Nightmare on Elm Street.

Corrine moves upstage and faces the audience. First, Christopher gets up with Cory and steps up beside her on the right, and then Cathy takes Carrie’s hand and steps up on her left.