The Mousetrap

SERGEANT. We’ll get round to it. (He crosses to the INSPECTOR.) Think the wife did shoot him? (He takes his notebook from the INSPECTOR, then eases to Right of the sofa.)

INSPECTOR. Wives so often have excellent reasons for shooting their husbands that one tends to suspect them automatically.

SERGEANT. It’s clear enough that all the others think she did it.

INSPECTOR. Or do they probably all want to think she did it?

SERGEANT. Meaning exactly?

INSPECTOR. There’s an atmosphere of family solidarity in this house. They’re all blood relations. Mrs. Cristow’s the only outsider. Yes, I think they’d be glad to be sure she did it.

SERGEANT. (Crossing above the sofa to Centre.) But you’re not so sure?

INSPECTOR. Actually anyone could have shot him. There are no alibis in this case. (He rises and stands Right of the sofa.) No times or places to check. Just look at the entrances and exits. You could shoot him from the terrace, pop round the house and—(He indicates the window Right) in by this window. Or through the front door and hall and in by that door, and if you say you’ve come from the farm or the kitchen garden or from shooting in the woods, nobody can check that statement. (He looks through the window Right.) There are shrubs and undergrowth right up to the house. You could play hide-and-seek there for hours. (He moves above the sofa.) The revolver was one of those used for target practice. Anyone could have picked it up and they’d all handled it, though the only clear prints on it are those of Mrs. Cristow and Henrietta Angkatell. (He moves Left of the sofa.) It all boils down really to what sort of a man John Cristow was. (He moves below the sofa.) If you know all about a man, you can guess who would have wanted to murder him.

SERGEANT. We’ll pick up all that in London, in Harley Street. Secretary, servants.

INSPECTOR. (Sitting on the sofa at the Left end of it) Any luck with the servants here?

SERGEANT. Not yet. They’re the starchy kind. There’s no kitchen maid unfortunately. I always had a success with kitchen maids. (He moves above the armchair Left Centre to the fireplace.) There’s a daily girl as underhousemaid I’ve got hopes of. I’d like to put in a little more work on her now, sir, if you don’t want me.

(The INSPECTOR nods. The SERGEANT grins and exits Left. The INSPECTOR rises, moves to the window Right, looks out for a moment, then turns, moves up Centre and goes out on to the terrace. After a few moments he moves to the sofa and sits on it at the Left end. He becomes aware of something under the cushion behind him, moves the cushion and picks up VERONICA’s red handbag. He opens the bag, looks into it and shows considerable surprise. He closes the bag, rises, moves to Left of the sofa and weighs the bag in his hand. As he does so voices are heard off Left. He immediately replaces the bag on the sofa and covers it with the cushion.)

MIDGE. (Off Left) Oh, there you are, Henrietta. The Inspector would like to see you.

HENRIETTA. (Off Left) Thank you, Midge. Lucy’s just told me. I’m going in to see him now.

MIDGE. (Off Left) Oh good. I thought she might forget.

(The INSPECTOR crosses to Left of the sofa. HENRIETTA enters Left.)

HENRIETTA. (Closing the door) You wanted to see me? (She crosses to the sofa and sits on it at the Left end.)

INSPECTOR. Yes, Miss Angkatell. You’re a relation as well, aren’t you?

HENRIETTA. Yes, we’re all cousins. It’s rather confusing because Lady Angkatell married her second cousin and is actually an Angkatell herself.

INSPECTOR. Just a family party—with the exception of Doctor and Mrs. Cristow?

HENRIETTA. Yes.