The Mousetrap

MACKENZIE. It was quite easy. Mistakes were being made all the time. All anyone could say was that I’d lost my nerve a bit, made a blunder, sacrificed one of my best men. Yes, it was quite easy—(Pause) Lesley never knew. I never told her I’d found out. We went on as usual—but somehow nothing was quite real any more. She died of pneumonia. (Pause) She had a heartshaped face—and grey eyes—and brown hair that curled.

VERA. Oh, don’t.

MACKENZIE. (Rises) Yes, I suppose in a way—it was murder. Curious, murder—and I’ve always been such a law-abiding man. It didn’t feel like that at the time. “Serves him damn well right!” that’s what I thought. But after—(Pause) Well, you know, don’t you?

VERA. (At a loss) What do you mean?

MACKENZIE. (Stares at her as though something puzzles him) You don’t seem to understand—I thought you would. I thought you’d be glad, too, that the end was coming—

VERA. (Draws back, alarmed. Rises; backs down Left.) I—(She eyes him warily.)

MACKENZIE. (Follows her—confidentially) We’re all going to die, you know.

VERA. (Looking round for help) I—I don’t know.

MACKENZIE. (Vaguely toVERA) You’re very young—you haven’t got to that yet. The relief! The blessed relief when you know that you’ve done with it all, that you haven’t got to carry the burden any longer. (Moves up Right.)

VERA. (Follows him—moved) General—

MACKENZIE. Don’t talk to me that way. You don’t understand. I want to sit here and wait—wait for Lesley to come for me. (Goes out on balcony and draws up chair and sits. The back of his head down to shoulders is visible through window. His position does not change throughout scene.)

VERA. (Stares after him. Her composure breaks down. Sits Left sofa.) I’m frightened—Oh! I’m frightened—

(LOMBARD comes in up Right.)

LOMBARD. (Crosses Left) All correct. No secret passage—one corpse.

VERA. (Tensely) Don’t!

LOMBARD. I say, you do look low. How about a drink to steady your nerves?

VERA. (Rises, flaring up) A drink! Two corpses in the house at nine o’clock in the morning and all you say is “Have a drink!” An old man going quite crackers—“Have a drink!” Ten people accused of murder—that’s all right—just have a drink. Everything’s fine so long as you have a drink.

LOMBARD. All right. All right.—Stay thirsty. (Goes to Left 2 door.)

VERA. Oh, you—you’re nothing but a waster—an adventurer—you make me tired. (Moves to fireplace.)

LOMBARD. (Crossing to her) I say, you are het up. What’s the matter, my sweet?

VERA. I’m not your sweet.

LOMBARD. I’m sorry. I rather thought you were.

VERA. Well, you can think again.

LOMBARD. Come now—you know you don’t really feel like that. We’ve got something in common, you and I. Rogues and murderers can’t fall out. (He takes her hand—she draws away.)

VERA. Rogues and murderers—!

LOMBARD. Okay. You don’t like the company of rogues and murderers—and you won’t have a drink. I’ll go and finish searching—(Exits Left 1.)

(EMILY enters Left 1. VERA moves up to window.)

EMILY. Unpleasant young man! I can’t find it anywhere. (Sees VERA’s face) Is anything the matter? (To above Left sofa.)

VERA. (Low) I’m worried about the General. He really is ill, I think.

EMILY. (Looks fromVERAtoMACKENZIE, then goes out on balcony and stands behind him. In loud, cheerful voice, as though talking to an idiot child) Looking out for the boat, General? (VERAto down Left.MACKENZIEdoes not answer.EMILYwaits a minute, then comes slowly in. Unctuously) His sin has found him out.

VERA. (Angrily) Oh, don’t.

EMILY. One must face facts.

VERA. Can any of us afford to throw stones?

EMILY. (Comes down Centre; sits Right sofa.) Even if his wife was no better than she should be—and she must have been a depraved woman—he had no right to take judgement into his own hands.

VERA. (Coldly angry) What about—Beatrice Taylor?

EMILY. Who?