The Mousetrap

GERDA. You see, it all happened so suddenly. I’d gone back to the house. I was just coming downstairs to fetch my leathercraft bag, and I heard a shot—came in here and there was John—lying all twisted up—and blood—blood . . .

(MIDGE moves to the chair down Right and sits.)

INSPECTOR. What time was this, Mrs. Cristow?

(LADY ANGKATELL and MIDGE exchange looks.)

GERDA. I don’t know. It might have been twelve o’clock—or half past.

INSPECTOR. Where had you been before you came downstairs?

GERDA. In my room.

INSPECTOR. Had you just got up?

GERDA. No, I’d been up for about three-quarters of an hour. I’d been outside. Sir Henry was very kindly teaching me how to shoot—but I did it so badly I couldn’t hit the target at all.

(LADY ANGKATELL and MIDGE exchange looks.)

Then I walked round a little—for exercise—came back to the house for my leatherwork bag, went upstairs, came down and then—as I told you—I heard a shot and came in here—and there was John dead.

HENRIETTA. (Coming down the steps up Centre) Dying. (She moves to the drinks table, puts down her cup, takes a cigarette from the box on the table and lights it from the one she is smoking.)

(They all look at HENRIETTA.)

GERDA. I thought he was dead. There was the blood and the revolver. I picked it up . . .

INSPECTOR. Why did you pick it up, Mrs. Cristow?

(There is a tense pause. All look at the INSPECTOR.)

GERDA. I don’t know.

INSPECTOR. You shouldn’t have touched it, you know.

GERDA. Shouldn’t I?

(MIDGE takes a cigarette from the case in her bag.)

INSPECTOR. And then what happened?

GERDA. Then the others all came in and I said, “John’s dead—somebody’s killed John.” But who could have killed him? Who could possibly have wanted to kill him?

(SIR HENRY strikes a match suddenly and lights his pipe. EDWARD looks at him for a moment.)

John was the best of men, so good, so kind. He did everything for everyone. He sacrificed himself. Why, his patients all adored him. It must have been some sort of accident, it must—it must.

MIDGE. Couldn’t it have been suicide?

(MIDGE feels in her bag for her lighter.)

INSPECTOR. No. (He crosses below the sofa to Right of it.) The shot was fired from at least four feet away.

GERDA. But it must have been an accident.

INSPECTOR. It wasn’t an accident, Mrs. Cristow. (He takes his lighter from his pocket and lights MIDGE’s cigarette.) There was no disagreement between you?

GERDA. Between John and me? No.

(MIDGE rises and crosses above the sofa to the steps up Centre.)

INSPECTOR. Are you sure of that?

GERDA. He was a little annoyed with me when we drove down here. I change gear so badly. I—I don’t know how it is, whenever I’m in the car with him, I never seem to do anything right. I get nervous.

INSPECTOR. There was no serious disagreement? No—quarrel?

GERDA. Quarrel? Between John and me? No, Inspector. No, John and I never quarrelled. He was so good, so kind. (She starts to cry.) I shall never see him again.

(MIDGE moves to Left of the sofa.)

(The INSPECTOR nods and moves up Right.)

MIDGE. Yes. Come and have a rest. You’ll feel better.

LADYANGKATELL. Tell Simmonds—a hot-water bottle.

(MIDGE leads GERDA to the door Left and they exit together.)

(To the INSPECTOR.) She adored him.

INSPECTOR. Just so. (He moves down Right.) Now, I should like to talk to you all, one at a time. Perhaps, Lady Angkatell, you wouldn’t mind . . . ?

LADYANGKATELL. (Delighted) Oh no, of course not, Inspector. I want to do everything I can to help you. (She eases to Left of the sofa.) I feel that we must all be very very cooperative.

INSPECTOR. That’s certainly what we should like.

LADYANGKATELL. (Confidentially) Actually, this is my first murder.

INSPECTOR. Indeed?

LADYANGKATELL. Yes, an old story to you, of course. I suppose you’re always rushing about here and there, arresting people, sending out flying squads?

INSPECTOR. We’re not quite so dynamic as all that.