The Mousetrap

DOCTOR. Yes, Miss Rollander, you are very fortunate in being able to sit down. I cleared that sofa only five minutes ago.

HELEN. Oh, I’m always lucky.

KARL. Would you like some coffee?

HELEN. No, thank you. Professor Hendryk, I wonder if I could speak to you for a moment alone?

LISAlooks up sharply from her coffee atKARL.

KARL. (rather coldly) I’m afraid our accommodation is rather limited. This is the only sitting-room.

HELEN. Oh, well, I expect you know what I’m going to say. You told me today that your time was so taken up that you couldn’t accept any more private pupils. I’ve come to ask you to change your mind, to make an exception in my favour.

KARLcrosses aboveANYAtoLofHELEN, looks atLISAas he passes and hands her his cup and saucer.

KARL. I’m very sorry, Miss Rollander, but my time is absolutely booked up.

HELENspeaks with great pace and assurance, almost gabbling.

HELEN. You can’t put me off like that. I happen to know that after you refused me you agreed to take Sydney Abrahamson privately, so you see you had got time. You preferred him to me. Why?

KARL. If you want an honest answer . . .

HELEN. I do. I hate beating about the bush.

KARL. I think Sydney is more likely to profit than you are.

HELEN. Do you mean you think he’s got a better brain than I have?

KARL. No, I would not say that, but he has, shall I say, a greater desire for learning.

HELEN. Oh, I see. You think I’m not serious?

KARLdoes not answer.

But I am serious. The truth is you’re prejudiced. You think that because I’m rich, because I’ve been a deb, and done all the silly things that debs do—you think I’m not in earnest.

ANYA. (findingHELEN’s chatter is too much; interrupting) Karl.

HELEN. But, believe me, I am.

ANYA. Oh, dear—I wonder—Karl!

KARL. (moving toRofANYA) Yes, my darling?

ANYA. My head—I don’t feel terribly well.

HELENis put out byANYA’s interruption, and takes some cigarettes and a lighter from her handbag.

I’m sorry—er—Miss Rollander, but if you’ll excuse me I think I’ll go back to my own room.

HELEN. (rather bored) Of course, I quite understand.

KARLpushes the chair towards the door downR. TheDOCTORmoves to the door, opens it and takes charge of the chair.KARLstandsRof the sofa.

ANYA. My heart feels—very odd tonight. Doctor, don’t you think you could . . . ?

DOCTOR. Yes, yes, I think we can find something that will help you. Karl, will you bring my bag?

TheDOCTORwheelsANYAoff downR. KARLpicks up theDOCTOR’s bag.

KARL. (toHELEN) Excuse me please.

KARLexits downR.

Poor Mrs. Hendryk, has she been an invalid long? (She lights her cigarette)

LISA. (drinking her coffee and watchingHELEN) Five years.

HELEN. Five years! Poor man.

LISA. Poor man?

HELEN. I was thinking of him dancing attendance on her all the time. She likes him to dance attendance, doesn’t she?

LISA. He’s her husband.

HELEN. (rising, crossing below the armchair and standing downL) He’s a very kind man, isn’t he? But one can be too kind. Pity is weakening, don’t you think? I’m afraid I’m not in the least kind. I never pity anybody. I can’t help it, I’m made that way. (She sits on the left arm of the armchair)

LISAmoves to the work-table and takesANYA’s cup and saucer to the tray.

Do you live here, too?

LISA. I look after Mrs. Hendryk and the flat.

HELEN. Oh, you poor dear, how awful for you.

LISA. Not at all. I like it.

HELEN. (vaguely) Don’t they have household helps or something who go around and do that sort of thing for invalids? (She rises and moves above the armchair) I should have thought it would be much more fun for you to train for something and take a job.

LISA. There is no need for me to train. I am already a trained physicist.

HELEN. Oh, but then you could get a job quite easily. (She stubs out her cigarette in the ashtray on the desk)

LISA. I already have a job—here.