The Mousetrap

BATTLE. Can you place the time exactly?

ROYDE. About twenty past ten I should think.

BATTLE. Twenty past ten. You didn’t hear anything else?

ROYDE. Strange slammed the door when he left.

BATTLE. You heard nothing more after that?

ROYDE. (Crossing below Battle to the card table.) Only rats. (He knocks out his pipe in the ashtray.)

BATTLE. (Moving to the chaise.) Never mind the rats. (He picks up the niblick. Royde fills and lights his pipe. He moves toL. of Royde.) Does this belong to you, Mr. Royde? (Royde, engrossed with his pipe, does not reply.) Mr. Royde!

ROYDE. (Looking at the niblick.) No. All my clubs have got T.R. scratched on the shaft.

BATTLE. Do you know to whom it does belong?

ROYDE. No idea. (He moves upR.)

BATTLE. (Replacing the niblick on the chaise.) We shall want to take your fingerprints, Mr. Royde. Have you any objection to that?

ROYDE. Not much use objecting, is it? Your man’s already done it. (Benson laughs quietly.)

BATTLE. Thank you, then, Mr. Royde. That’s all for the present.

ROYDE. Do you mind if I go out for a bit? Feel like some fresh air. Only out on the terrace, if you want me.

BATTLE. That’ll be quite all right, sir.

ROYDE. Thanks. (Royde exits by the French windows. Benson sits on the window-seat.)

BATTLE. (MovingC.) The evidence seems to be piling up against Mr. Strange, sir.

TREVES. (Rising and moving toR. of the card table.) It’s incredible—incredible. (Leach enters L. and crosses to L. C.)

LEACH. (Jubilantly.) The fingerprints are Nevile Strange’s all right.

BATTLE. That would seem to clinch it, Jim. He leaves his weapon—he leaves his fingerprints; I wonder he didn’t leave his visiting card.

LEACH. Been easy, hasn’t it?

TREVES. It can’t have been Nevile. There must be a mistake. (He pours himself a glass of water.)

BATTLE. It all adds up. We’ll see what Mr. Strange has to say, anyhow. Bring him in, Jim. (Leach exits L.)

TREVES. I don’t understand it. I’m sure there’s something wrong. (Battle moves down L. C.) Nevile’s not a complete and utter fool. Even if he were capable of committing such a brutal act—which I refuse to believe—would he have left all this damning evidence strewn about so carelessly? (He moves up R.)

BATTLE. Well, sir, apparently he did. (He moves toR. of the easy chairL. C.) You can’t get away from facts. (Nevile and Leach enter L. Nevile looks worried and a little nervous. He stands a moment in the doorway. He indicates the chair L. of the card table.) Come and sit down, Mr. Strange.

NEVILE. (Crossing to the chairL. of the card table.) Thank you. (He sits. Treves crosses slowly above the others and stands downL.)

BATTLE. We should like you to answer certain questions, but it’s my duty to caution you that you are not bound to answer these questions unless you wish.

NEVILE. Go ahead. Ask me anything you wish.

BATTLE. (MovingC.) You realize that anything you say will be taken down in writing and may subsequently be used in evidence in a court of law?

NEVILE. Are you threatening me?

BATTLE. No, no, Mr. Strange. Warning you.

TREVES. (Moving below the easy chairL. C.) Superintendent Battle is obliged to conform to the regulations, Nevile. You need say nothing unless you wish to?

NEVILE. Why shouldn’t I wish to?

TREVES. It might be wiser not to.

NEVILE. Nonsense! Go ahead, Superintendent. Ask me anything you like. (Treves makes a despairing gesture and sits in the easy chairL. C. Benson rises.)

BATTLE. (Crossing below Nevile and standing downR.) Are you prepared to make a statement?

NEVILE. If that’s what you call it. I’m afraid, though, I can’t help you very much.

BATTLE. Will you begin by telling us exactly what you did last night? From dinner onwards? (He sitsR. of the card table.)