The Mousetrap

DOCTOR. (moving to the tableRCand putting the sandwiches in front ofLESTER) Finish them up, my boy. Always hungry at your age.

LESTER, by now deep in the book, does not look up but automatically helps himself to a sandwich.

LESTER. Well, thanks. I don’t mind if I do.

LISA. (off; calling) Karl.

KARL. (rising and putting his cup on the work-table) Excuse me a moment. (He calls and crosses to the door downR) Yes, I am coming.

KARLexits downR, closing the door behind him.

LESTER. He’s terribly cut-up, isn’t he, Doctor?

DOCTOR. (taking out his pipe) Yes.

LESTER. It seems odd in a way, at least I don’t mean odd, because, I suppose—what I mean is, it’s so difficult to understand what other people feel like.

DOCTOR. (moving downCand lighting his pipe) Just what are you trying to say, my boy?

LESTER. Well, what I mean is, poor Mrs. Hendryk being an invalid and all that, you’d think, wouldn’t you, that he’d get a bit impatient with her or feel himself tied.

TheDOCTORputs the matchstick in the ashtray on the tableRC, then sits on the sofa at the left end.

And you’d think that really, underneath, he’d be glad to be free. Not a bit. He loved her. He really loved her.

DOCTOR. Love isn’t just glamour, desire, sex appeal—all the things you young people are so sure it is. That’s nature’s start of the whole business. It’s the showy flower, if you like. But love’s the root. Underground, out of sight, nothing much to look at, but it’s where the life is.

LESTER. I suppose so, yes. But passion doesn’t last, sir, does it?

DOCTOR. (despairingly) God give me strength. You young people know nothing about these things. You read in the papers of divorces, of love tangles with a sex angle to everything. Study the columns of deaths sometimes for a change. Plenty of records there of Emily this and John that dying in their seventy-fourth year, beloved wife of So-and-so, beloved husband of someone else. Unassuming records of lives spent together, sustained by the root I’ve just talked about which still puts out its leaves and its flowers. Not showy flowers, but still flowers.

LESTER. I suppose you’re right. I’ve never thought about it. (He rises, moves and sits R of the DOCTOR on the sofa) I’ve always thought that getting married is taking a bit of a chance, unless, of course, you meet a girl who . . .

DOCTOR. Yes, yes, that’s the recognized pattern. You meet a girl—or you’ve already met a girl—who’s different.

LESTER. (earnestly) But really, sir, she is different.

DOCTOR. (good-humouredly) I see. Well, good luck to you, young fellow.

KARLenters downR. He carries a small pendant. TheDOCTORrises.KARLcrosses toC, looking at the pendant.

KARL. Will you give this to your daughter, Doctor? It was Anya’s and I know she would like Margaret to have it. (He turns and hands the pendant to the DOCTOR)

DOCTOR. (moved) Thank you, Karl. I know Margaret will appreciate the gift. (He puts the pendant in his wallet then moves towards the doors upC) Well, I must be off. Can’t keep my surgery patients waiting.

LESTER. (rising and moving upRC; toKARL) I’ll go, too, if you’re sure there’s nothing I can do for you, sir.

KARL. As a matter of fact there is.

LESTERlooks delighted.

Lisa has been making up some parcels of clothes and things like that—she is sending them to the East London Mission. If you would help her to carry them to the post office . . .

LESTER. Of course I will.

LESTERexits downR.

DOCTOR. Good-bye, Karl.

TheDOCTORexits upC. LESTERenters downR. He carries a large box wrapped in brown paper, which he takes to the desk and fastens with sellotape.LISAenters downR. She carries a brown paper parcel and a small drawer containing papers, letters, etc., and a small trinket box.