The auctionhall was crowded. Small groups were talking in hushed voices. There was a feeling of anticipation in the air. When the auctioneer came in and made his way to the front of the room the conversations died away.

"-Welcome to todays auction. I suppose you all know why we're here...."

To begin with, he wanted to make the rules and regulations of the auction clear to the bidders. This would be a timed auction, where the bidders only had a limited amount of time to place bids on the paintings. He went on to explain that some of the paintings had already been sold to museums and that the amounts recieved would go to the heir or heirs of Brian O'Donnel. It was time to start the bidding. One by one the paintings were brought to the front of the room and were described by the auctioneer. The starting bids were between 100 000 and 200 000 irish pounds, but apparently the paintings were worth more to some of the bidders. It was no problem getting the paintings sold.

Suddenly, Vincent gets up from his seat and walks up to the auctioneer. He presents himself as the representative of Mrs. Achilles-O'Donnel. He is there on her behalf to claim all the funds colllcted from the sale of the paintings. Before anyone has a chance to react the door opens. A woman comes in and announces that these paintings are not Brian O'Donnel's. In fact, these paintings were made by a group of six painters, that all went under the name of Brian O'Donnel. She is an expert from Christie's in London. After the mistake in the first evaluation was discovered she had rushed to be there in time to stop the auction, but her train had been delayed in Dublin and she had not been able to reach them by phone.

For a few seconds the room is in a stunned silence, then a loud sorl breaks out. How can this be? What about the paintings they just bought? The auctioneer and the attourney are almost arguing with the expert when two security guards come in, carrying the last painting. It had been forgotten when all the commotion started.

This is just too much for one of the women sitting among the others; Mrs. Achilles-O'Donnel. She jumps up with a sharp knife and slashes the painting before any of the security guards have a chance to stop her. She quickly gets apprehended by a guard. But it is too late, the painting is ruined. The auctioneer and the expert agree that it is irreparable, and as no one can have the painting they decide to give everyone a piece of it.

The final curtain.
Or is it?