The Mousetrap

SIRWILFRID. (With all the force of his personality.) Look here, Vole, you’re not the first young man I’ve known who’s been so crazy over a woman that he’s been blinded to what she’s really like. That woman did her level best to put a rope round your neck.

MAYHEW. And don’t you forget it.

LEONARD. Yes, but why? I can’t see why. She’s always seemed so devoted. I could have sworn she loved me—and yet all the time she was going with this other fellow. (He shakes his head.) It’s unbelievable—there’s something there I don’t understand.

WARDER. (Enters upL. and moves toL. of the table.) Just two or three minutes more, sir. We’ll slip you out to a car by the side entrance.

LEONARD. Is there still a crowd?

(ROMAINE, escorted by the POLICEMAN, enters up L.)

POLICEMAN. (In the doorway.) Better wait in here, ma’am. The crowd’s in a nasty mood. I’d let them disperse before you try to leave.

ROMAINE. (Moving downL. of the table) Thank you.

(The POLICEMAN and the WARDER exit up L. ROMAINE crosses towards LEONARD.)

SIRWILFRID. (InterceptingROMAINE) No, you don’t.

ROMAINE. (Amused) Are you protecting Leonard from me? Really, there’s no need.

SIRWILFRID. You’ve done enough harm.

ROMAINE. Mayn’t I even congratulate Leonard on being free?

SIRWILFRID. No thanks to you.

ROMAINE. And rich.

LEONARD. (Uncertainly.) Rich?

MAYHEW. Yes, I think, Mr. Vole, that you will certainly inherit a great deal of money.

LEONARD. (Boyishly) Money doesn’t seem to mean so much after what I’ve been through. Romaine, I can’t understand . . .

ROMAINE. (Smoothly.) Leonard, I can explain.

SIRWILFRID. No!

(SIR WILFRID and ROMAINE look at each other like antagonists.)

ROMAINE. Tell me, do those words the Judge said mean that I shall—go to prison?

SIRWILFRID. You will quite certainly be charged with perjury and tried for it. You will probably go to prison.

LEONARD. (Awkwardly.) I’m sure that—that everything will come right. Romaine, don’t worry.

MAYHEW. Will you never see sense, Vole? Now we must consider practicalities—this matter of probate.

(MAYHEW draws LEONARD down R., where they murmur together. SIR WILFRID and ROMAINE remain, measuring each other.)

SIRWILFRID. It may interest you to know that I took your measure the first time we met. I made up my mind then to beat you at your little game, and by God I’ve done it. I’ve got him off—in spite of you.

ROMAINE. In spite—of me.

SIRWILFRID. You don’t deny, do you, that you did your best to hang him?

ROMAINE. Would they have believed me if I had said that he was at home with me that night, and did not go out? Would they?

SIRWILFRID. (Slightly uncomfortable) Why not?

ROMAINE. Because they would have said to themselves: this woman loves this man—she would say or do anything for him. They would have had sympathy with me, yes. But they would not have believed me.

SIRWILFRID. If you’d been speaking the truth they would.

ROMAINE. I wonder. (She pauses.) I did not want their sympathy—I wanted them to dislike me, to mistrust me, to be convinced that I was a liar. And then, when my lies were broken down—then they believed . . . (In the Cockney accent of the WOMAN who visited SIR WILFRID at his office.) So now you know the whole story, mister—like to kiss me?

SIRWILFRID. (Thunderstruck.) My God!

ROMAINE. (As herself) Yes, the woman with the letters. I wrote those letters. I brought them to you. I was that woman. It wasn’t you who won freedom for Leonard. It was I. And because of it I shall go to prison. (Her eyes close.) But at the end of it Leonard and I will be together again. Happy—loving each other.

SIRWILFRID. (Moved.) My dear . . . But couldn’t you trust me? We believe, you know, that our British system of justice upholds the truth. We’d have got him off.

ROMAINE. I couldn’t risk it. (Slowly.) You see, you thought he was innocent . . .

SIRWILFRID. (With quick appreciation.) And you knew he was innocent. I understand.

ROMAINE. But you do not understand at all. I knew he was guilty.

SIRWILFRID. (Thunderstruck.) But aren’t you afraid?

ROMAINE. Afraid?

SIRWILFRID. Of linking your life with a murderer’s.