The Mousetrap

HELENmoves toRofANYA, takes her wrist and feels the pulse. When she finds that it has stopped she gasps and flings the hand down in horror, then backs slightly downR. She moves below the armchair, round it and stands above the work-table, without taking her eyes offANYA. She stands staring for some moments atANYA, then shakes herself back to reality, sees the glass on the work-table, picks it up and wipes it on her handkerchief, then leans over and puts it carefully intoANYA’s left hand. She then goes and leans exhausted over the left arm of the sofa. Again she pulls herself together, moves to the bookcaseRand picks up the medicine bottle and dropper. She wipes her fingerprints off the bottle and crosses toRofANYA. She gently pressesANYA’s right hand round the bottle, then moves above the work-table, puts the bottle down, takes the dropper out and leaves it beside the bottle. She moves slightly upC, looks around, then goes quickly to the sofa for her bag and gloves and moves quickly to the doors upC. She stops suddenly and dashes to the shelf for the water jug, wiping it with her handkerchief as she crosses to the work-table, where she puts down the jug. She again goes to the doors upC. The sound of a barrel organ is heard off.HELENflings open the right door and exits in the hall toR. The front door is heard to slam. There is quite a pause, then the front door is heard opening and closing.MRS. ROPERpops her head in the doorway upC.

MRS. ROPER. I got the tea.

MRS. ROPERwithdraws her head and disappears toL. She reappears in the doorway, taking off her hat and coat. These she hangs on a hook offRof the double doors.

And I got the bacon and a dozen boxes of matches. Isn’t everything a price these days? I tried to get some kidneys for young Muriel’s supper, tenpence each they were, and they looked like little shrunken heads. (She crosses above the table RC towards the door down R) She’ll have to have what the others have and like it. I keep telling her money doesn’t grow on trees.

MRS. ROPERexits downR. There is a considerable pause, then the front door opens and closes.LISAenters upCfromR, putting her doorkey into her bag.

LISA. (as she enters) Have I been long? (She crosses to the desk, glances atANYAand thinking she is asleep, smiles, turns to the window and removes her hat. After putting her hat on the desk she turns towardsANYAand begins to realize that possiblyANYAis more than asleep) Anya? (She rushes toRofANYAand lifts her head. She takes her hand away andANYA’s head falls again. She sees the bottle on the work-table, moves above the wheelchair, picks up the glass and then the bottle)

MRS. ROPERenters downRasLISAis holding the bottle.