The Mousetrap

(CHRISTOPHER exits up Right.)

Mr. Paravicini, will you go up to Mr. Wren’s room. By the back stairs is the most convenient way. Major Metcalf, will you go up to Mr. Ralston’s room and examine the telephone there. Miss Casewell, would you mind going down to the cellars? Mr. Wren will show you the way. Unfortunately, I need someone to reproduce my own actions. I am sorry to ask it of you, Mr. Ralston, but would you go out by that window and follow the telephone wire round to near the front door. Rather a chilly job—but you’re probably the toughest person here.

MAJORMETCALF. And what are you going to do?

TROTTER. (Crossing to the radio and switching it on and off) I am enacting the part of Mrs. Boyle.

MAJORMETCALF. Taking a bit of a risk, aren’t you?

TROTTER. (Reeling against the desk) You will all stay in your places and remain there until you hear me call you.

(MISS CASEWELL rises and exits up Right. GILES moves behind the refectory table and opens the Right curtain. MAJOR METCALF exits up Left. TROTTER nods to PARAVICINI to leave.)

PARAVICINI. (Shrugging his shoulders) Parlour games!

(PARAVICINI exits up Right.)

GILES. No objection to my wearing a coat?

TROTTER. I should advise it, sir.

(GILES fetches his overcoat from the front hall, puts it on and returns to the window. TROTTER moves Centre below the refectory table and writes in his notebook.)

Take my torch, sir. It’s behind the curtain.

(GILES climbs out through the window and exits. TROTTER crosses to the library door up Left and exits. After a short pause he reenters, switches off the library light, goes up to the window, shuts it and closes the curtain. He crosses to the fire and sinks into the large armchair. After a pause he rises and goes to the door down Left.)

(Calling) Mrs. Ralston, count twenty and then begin to play.

(TROTTER shuts the door down Left, moves to the stairs and looks off. “Three Blind Mice” is heard being played on the piano. After a pause, he moves down Right and switches off the Right wall brackets, then moves up Right and switches off the Left wall brackets. He moves quickly down to the table lamp and switches it on, then crosses down Left to the door.)

(Calling) Mrs. Ralston! Mrs. Ralston!

(MOLLIE enters down Left and moves below the sofa.)

MOLLIE. Yes, what is it?

(TROTTER shuts the door down Left and leans against the downstage side of the door reveal.)

You’re looking very pleased with yourself. Have you got what you wanted?

TROTTER. I’ve got exactly what I wanted.

MOLLIE. You know who the murderer is?

TROTTER. Yes, I know.

MOLLIE. Which of them?

TROTTER. You ought to know, Mrs. Ralston.

MOLLIE. I?

TROTTER. Yes, you’ve been extraordinary foolish, you know. You’ve run a very good chance of being killed by holding out on me. As a result, you’ve been in serious danger more than once.

MOLLIE. I don’t know what you mean.

TROTTER. (Moving slowly above the sofa table to Right of the sofa; still quite natural and friendly) Come now, Mrs. Ralston. We policemen aren’t quite so dumb as you think. All along I’ve realized that you had first-hand knowledge of the Longridge Farm affair. You knew Mrs. Boyle was the magistrate concerned. In fact, you knew all about it. Why didn’t you speak up and say so?

MOLLIE. (Very much affected) I don’t understand. I wanted to forget-forget. (She sits at the Left end of the sofa.)

TROTTER. Your maiden name was Waring?

MOLLIE. Yes.