The Mousetrap

TheDOCTORexits upC, closing the doors behind him.LISAmoves toLofKARLand hands him the glass of sherry. There is a pause.

(She moves to the door down R) I’d better go to Anya.

KARL. No. She said she wanted to be left to rest a little. (He pauses) I’m afraid it upset her, that girl coming.

LISA. Yes, I know.

KARL. It’s the contrast between her life and—the other. And she says she gets jealous, too. Anya’s always convinced I’m going to fall in love with one of my students.

LISA. (sitting besideKARLon the sofa) Perhaps you will.

KARL. (sharply and significantly) Can you say that?

LISA. (turning away and shrugging her shoulders) It might happen.

KARL. Never. And you know it.

There is a rather constrained pause. They both stare into their glasses.

Why do you stay with us?

LISAdoes not answer.

(After a pause) Why do you stay with us?

LISA. You know perfectly why I stay.

KARL. I think it’s wrong for you. I think perhaps you should go back.

LISA. Go back? Go back where?

KARL. There’s nothing against you and never was. You could go back and take up your old post. They’d leap at the chance of having you.

LISA. Perhaps, but I don’t want to go.

KARL. But perhaps you should go.

LISA. Should go? Should go? What do you mean?

KARL. This is no life for you.

LISA. It’s the life I choose.

KARL. It’s wrong for you. Go back. Go away. Have a life of your own.

LISA. I have a life of my own.

KARL. You know what I mean. Marry. Have children.

LISA. I do not think I shall marry.

KARL. Not if you stay here, but if you go away . . .

LISA. Do you want me to go? (She pauses) Answer me, do you want me to go?

KARL. (with difficulty) No, I don’t want you to go.

LISA. Then don’t let’s talk about it. (She rises, takes KARL’s glass and puts it with her own on the bookcase shelf)

KARL. Do you remember the concert in the Kursaal that day? It was August and very hot. An immensely fat soprano sang the Liebestod. She did not sing it well, either. We were not impressed, either of us. You had a green coat and skirt and a funny little velvet hat. Odd isn’t it, how there are some things that one never forgets, that one never will forget? I don’t know what happened the day before that, or what happened the day after it, but I remember that afternoon very well. The gold chairs and the platform, the orchestra wiping their foreheads and the fat soprano bowing and kissing her hand. And then they played the Rachmaninoff piano concerto. Do you remember, Lisa?

LISA. (calmly) Of course.

KARLhums the tune of the “Rachmaninoff piano concerto.”

KARL. I can hear it now. (He hums)

The front door bell rings.

Now, who’s that?

LISAturns abruptly and exits upCtoR.

ROLLANDER. (off) Good evening. Is Professor Hendryk in?

KARLpicks up a book and glances through it.

LISA. (off) Yes. Will you come in, please?

SIRWILLIAMROLLANDERenters upCfromR. He is a tall, grey-haired man of forceful personality.LISAfollows him on, closes the doors and stands behind the armchair.

ROLLANDER. (moving downC.) Professor Hendryk? My name is Rollander. (He holds out his hand)

KARLrises, puts the book on the tableRCand shakesROLLANDER’s hand.

KARL. How do you do? This is Miss Koletzky.

ROLLANDER. How do you do?

LISA. How do you do?

ROLLANDER. I have a daughter who studies under you, Professor Hendryk.

KARL. Yes, that is so.

ROLLANDER. She feels that the attending of lectures in a class is not sufficient for her. She would like you to give her extra private tuition.

KARL. I’m afraid that is not possible. (He moves away below the right end of the sofa)

ROLLANDER. Yes, I know that she has already approached you on the matter and that you have refused. But I should like to reopen the subject if I may.

LISAsits in the desk chair.

KARL. (calmly) Certainly, Sir William, but I do not think that you will alter my decision.