The Mousetrap

KARL. But you must, you must. It’s essential that you should be able to read German. (He crosses above the table RC to the bookcase R and takes a book) The books I give you to read, you do not read properly. I ask you questions and your answers are superficial. (He puts the books in his brief-case)

HELENmoves below the sofa.

HELEN. (kneeling on the sofa in rather a languid pose) It’s such a bore, working.

KARL. But you were eager to study, to take your diploma.

HELEN. The diploma can go to hell for all I care.

KARL. (dumping his brief-case on the left arm of the sofa in amazement) Then I don’t understand. You force me to teach you, you made your father come to me.

HELEN. I wanted to see you, to be near you. Are you quite blind, Karl? I’m in love with you.

KARL. (turning and taking a pace toC; amazed) What? But, my dear child . . .

HELEN. Don’t you like me even a little bit?

KARL. (crossing and standing downR) You’re a very desirable young woman but you must forget this nonsense.

HELEN. (rising and standing behindKARL) It’s not nonsense, I tell you I love you. Why can’t we be simple and natural about it all? I want you and you want me. You know you do—you’re the kind of man I want to marry. Well, why not? Your wife’s no good to you.

KARL. How little you understand. You talk like a child. I love my wife. (He crosses toC)

HELEN. (sitting on the sofa) Oh, I know. You’re a terribly kind person. You look after her and bring her cups of Bengers and all that, no doubt. But that isn’t love.

KARL. (crossing below the sofa toR; rather at a loss what to say) Isn’t it? I think it is. (He sits on the right arm of the sofa)

HELEN. Of course you must see that she’s properly looked after, but it needn’t interfere with your life as a man. If we have an affair together your wife needn’t know about it.

KARL. (firmly) My dear child, we’re not going to have an affair.

HELEN. I had no idea you were so straight-laced. (She is struck by an idea) I’m not a virgin, you know, if that’s what’s worrying you. I’ve had lots of experience.

KARL. Helen, don’t delude yourself. I am not in love with you.

HELEN. You may go on saying that till you’re blue in the face, but I don’t believe you.

KARL. Because you don’t want to believe me. But it is true. (He rises and moves down R) I love my wife. She is dearer to me than anyone in the world.

HELEN. (like a bewildered child) Why? Why? I mean, what can she possibly give you? I could give you everything. Money for research or for whatever you wanted.

KARL. But you would still not be Anya. (He sits on the right arm of the sofa) Listen . . .

HELEN. I dare say she was pretty and attractive once, but she’s not like that now.

KARL. She is. We don’t change. There is the same Anya there still. Life does things to us. Ill health, disappointment, exile, all these things from a crust covering over the real self. But the real self is still there.

HELEN. (rising, impatiently, moving downLCand turning to faceKARL) I think you’re talking nonsense. If it were a real marriage—but it isn’t. It can’t be, in the circumstances.

KARL. It is a real marriage.

HELEN. Oh, you’re impossible! (She moves down L)

KARL. (rising) You see, you are only a child, you don’t understand.

HELENcrosses above the armchair toLofKARL. She is losing her temper.

HELEN. You are the child, wrapped up in a cloud of sentimentality, and pretence. You even humbug yourself. If you had courage—now, I’ve got courage and I’m a realist. I’m not afraid to look at things and see them as they are.

KARL. You are a child that hasn’t grown up.

HELEN. (exasperated) Oh! (She crosses above the armchair to the desk and stares rather furiously out of the window)

TheDOCTORpushesANYAin downR.

DOCTOR. (as they enter; cheerfully) All very satisfactory.

KARLtakes over from theDOCTORand pushesANYAto her usual placeC. TheDOCTORgoes upC.

ANYA. (as she is going across) That’s what he says. All doctors are liars.