The Mousetrap

ROMAINE. When it is murder. I cannot come into Court and lie and say that he was there with me at the time it was done. I cannot do it. I cannot do it.

MYERS. So what did you do?

ROMAINE. I did not know what to do. I do not know your country and I am afraid of the police. So I write a letter to my ambassador, and I say that I do not wish to tell any more lies. I wish to speak the truth.

MYERS. That is the truth—that Leonard Vole returned that night at ten minutes past ten. That he had blood on the sleeves of his coat, that he said to you, “I have killed her.” That is the truth before God?

ROMAINE. That is the truth.

(MYERS resumes his seat.)

SIRWILFRID. (Rising) When the prisoner went through this form of marriage with you, was he aware that your first husband was still alive?

ROMAINE. No.

SIRWILFRID. He acted in good faith?

ROMAINE. Yes.

SIRWILFRID. And you were very grateful to him?

ROMAINE. I was grateful to him, yes.

SIRWILFRID. You’ve shown your gratitude by coming here and testifying against him.

ROMAINE. I have to speak the truth.

SIRWILFRID. (Savagely.) Is it the truth?

ROMAINE. Yes.

SIRWILFRID. I suggest to you that on the night of October the fourteenth Leonard Vole was at home with you at nine-thirty, the time that the murder was committed. I suggest to you that this whole story of yours is a wicked fabrication, that you have for some reason a grudge against the prisoner, and that this is your way of expressing it.

ROMAINE. No.

SIRWILFRID. You realize that you are on oath?

ROMAINE. Yes.

SIRWILFRID. I warn you, Mrs. Heilger, that if you care nothing for the prisoner, be careful on your own account. The penalty for perjury is heavy.

MYERS. (Rising and interposing) Really, my lord. I don’t know whether these theatrical outbursts are for the benefit of the Jury, but I do most respectfully submit that there is nothing to suggest that this witness has spoken anything but the truth.

JUDGE. Mr. Myers. This is a capital charge, and within the bounds of reason I would like the defence to have every latitude. Yes, Sir Wilfrid.

(MYERS resumes his seat.)

SIRWILFRID. Now then. You have said—that there was blood on both cuffs?

ROMAINE. Yes.

SIRWILFRID. Both cuffs?

ROMAINE. I have told you, that is what Leonard said.

SIRWILFRID. No, Mrs. Heilger, you said, “He told me to wash the cuffs. They had blood on them.”

JUDGE. That is precisely my note, Sir Wilfrid.

SIRWILFRID. Thank you, my lord. (ToROMAINE.) What you were saying is that you had washed both cuffs.

MYERS. (Rising) It is my friend’s turn to be inaccurate now, my lord. Nowhere has this witness said she washed both cuffs, or indeed that she washed even one. (He sits.)

SIRWILFRID. My friend is right. Well, Mrs. Heilger, did you wash the sleeves?

ROMAINE. I remember now. It was only one sleeve that I washed.

SIRWILFRID. Thank you. Perhaps your memory as to other parts of your story is equally untrustworthy. I think your original story to the police was that the blood on the jacket came from a cut caused while carving ham?

ROMAINE. I said so, yes. But it was not true.

SIRWILFRID. Why did you lie?

ROMAINE. I said what Leonard told me to say.

SIRWILFRID. Even going so far as to produce the actual knife with which he was cutting the ham?

ROMAINE. When Leonard found he had blood on him, he cut himself to make it seem the blood was his.

LEONARD. (Rising) I never did.

SIRWILFRID. (SilencingLEONARD) Please, please.

(LEONARD resumes his seat.)

(To ROMAINE.) So you admit that your original story to the police was all lies? You seem to be a very good liar.

ROMAINE. Leonard told me what to say.

SIRWILFRID. The question is whether you were lying then or whether you are lying now. If you were really appalled at murder having been committed, you could have told the truth to the police when they first questioned you.

ROMAINE. I was afraid of Leonard.

SIRWILFRID. (Gesturing towards the woeful figure ofLEONARD) You were afraid of Leonard Vole—afraid of the man whose heart and spirit you’ve just broken. I think the Jury will know which of you to believe. (He sits.)

MYERS. (Rising) Romaine Heilger. I ask you once more, is the evidence you have given the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

ROMAINE. It is.

MYERS. My lord, that is the case for the prosecution. (He sits.)

(ROMAINE stands down and crosses to the door up L. The POLICEMAN opens the door.)