The Mousetrap

The section of the Court Room seen has a tall rostrum, the bench, running from downR. to upC. On it are the armchairs and desks for the Judge, his Clerk and the Alderman. Access to the bench is by a door in the upR. from the floor of the court. On the wall over the Judge’s chair are the Royal Arms and the Sword of Justice. Below the bench are small desks and chairs for the Clerk of the Court and the Court Stenographer. There is a small stoolR. of the desks for the Usher. The witness box is immediately below the upC. end of the bench. UpC. is a door leading to the Barristers’ robing room and upL.C. are glass-panelled double doors leading to a corridor and other parts of the building. UpL.C., between the doors, are two pews for the Barristers. Below the pews is a table with three chairs and a stool. The dock isL. and is entered by a door in theL. wall and a gate in the upstage rail. There are chairs in the dock for Leonard and the Warder. The jury box is downR., only the back of the three end seats being visible to the audience.

When the Curtain rises, the Court has opened. The Judge, MR. JUSTICEWAINWRIGHT, is seatedR. of him and theALDERMANis seatedL. of the Judge. TheCLERKOFTHECOURTand theSTENOGRAPHERare in their seats below the bench.MR. MYERS, Q.C., for the Prosecution, is seatedR. of the front row of Barristers with hisASSISTANTL. of him.SIRWILFRID, for the Defence, is seatedL. of the front row of Barristers with hisASSISTANTR. of him. FourBARRISTERS, one a woman, are seated in the back row of the Barristers’ seats.LEONARDis standing in the dock with theWARDERbeside him.DR. WYATTis seated on the stoolR. of the table. TheINSPECTORis seated on the chair above theR. end of the table.MAYHEWis seatedL. of the table. APOLICEMANstands at the double doors. ThreeMEMBERSof theJURYare seen, the first a man, theFOREMAN, the second aWOMANand the third aMAN. TheUSHERis administering the oath to theWOMANJURORwho is standing.

WOMANJUROR. (Holding the Bible and oath card) . . . lady the Queen and the prisoner at the Bar whom I shall have in charge, and a true verdict give according to the evidence. (She hands the Bible and oath card to the USHER, then sits.)

(The USHER gives the Bible and oath card to the FOREMAN.)

FOREMAN. (Rising) I swear by Almighty God that I will well and truly try and true deliverance make between our sovereign lady the Queen and the prisoner at the Bar whom I have in charge, and a true verdict give according to the evidence. (He hands the Bible and oath card to theUSHER, then sits.)

(The USHER puts the Bible and card on the ledge of the jury box, then sits on his stool down R.)