Stuart: Did you have a good look around last night after he went to bed?

Renee: Yes, of course I did, but I can’t really remember much about what stuff was in this house. Cynthia lived in it for longer than I did. But I think that there were very pretty china candle holders on the mantle piece and I can’t see them anywhere.

Stuart: Maybe he just put them away, or broke them or something.

Renee: It was always thought that they were the most valuable antiques in the house, so I doubt he would have put them away. Did he seem rather low to you last night?

Stuart: Well, he wasn’t as friendly as I had hoped, and he did seem to answer all our questions rather shortly. And he seemed anxious for a phone call, and when it came, he did seem more relaxed, but he wouldn’t give away anything about it.

(They quickly concentrate on their eating, as they hear Ernest coming into the room.)

Renee: Morning, Dad. Did you sleep well?

Ernest: As well as I usually do. Don’t seem to need as much sleep these days.

(Renee pours him a cup of coffee and he sits down at the table.)

Stuart: I must say your house is looking very cared for. Have you hired yourself a cleaner?

Ernest: What should I need to do that for? Beryl comes around and tidies up for me. Says she enjoys doing it. Why should I take away her pleasure? She says it makes her feel like your mother is still around, handling her possessions.

Renee: Talking about possessions, Dad - I was wondering what happened to those pretty green candle sticks we used to have on the mantle piece. You know the ones I mean?

Ernest: I suppose you have been talking to your sister. She seems to think that you children have some sort of right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my possessions.

Renee: Well, yes, we did talk to her, and she was concerned about the picture. She said you were talking about getting it valued. I suppose that is a good thing to do - for insurance purposes. Did your group leader friend find out anything interesting about it?

Ernest: As a matter of fact he did. It was painted in 1860 by John Bennett and his work is worth a pretty penny these days. I was amazed when he told me what it would fetch at auction.

Stuart: And did you auction it then? Did you actually sell that without consulting with the family?

Ernest: I don’t like your tone one bit, Stuart. I remember that it was you who was trying to get me to go and live with you after the funeral.

Stuart: We only had your best interests at heart. And to get to the point, we all think that you should appoint one of your children, like Renee, with your power of attorney. You aren’t getting any younger, and you could have a stroke at any time, and lose control of your faculties. You need to think ahead, when you get old.

Ernest: (Angry. He stands up and shakes his hand at them.)  I can’t believe this. You talk about my best interests. You all have your own pocketbooks at heart, is more like it. Yes, to answer your question, and your dozens of sly hints that you have been making ever since you arrived. Yes, the picture is sold. Yes, the china candle sticks are sold. And yes, I have sold many other items too and plan to sell even more. My antiques group have gone through the house, and we took what looked interesting to auction, and we had great fun seeing how much they all made. But the money from them is mine - just as the possessions were mine before they were sold. And how I choose to spend my money is my business - and only my business. So if you have found out what you came for, perhaps you would get dressed now and get out of my house. And don’t come back, any of you, until I invite you. It is MY house you know. And when I decide to give away my power of attorney, I think it would be much more in my interest to give it to an attorney, rather than a relative!

(Renee and Stuart get up and quickly exit the room. Ernest waits for them to go and then goes to the window, pushes back the curtain, and gives a smiling thumbs up gesture, obviously to the lady in the next door house.)

  Curtain down.