The Mousetrap

KARL. She didn’t know what she was doing because life has not yet taught her understanding and compassion. (He moves above the armchair)

LISAenters downR, closing the door behind her.

LISA. (movingRC; to theDOCTOR) Have you made him see sense?

DOCTOR. Not yet.

LISAshivers.

You’re cold.

LISA. No—I’m not cold. I’m afraid. (She moves towards the doors up C) I shall make some coffee.

LISAexits upC. TheDOCTORrises and moves below the sofa.

KARL. (moving downLof the armchair) I wish I could get you and Lisa to see that revenge will not bring Anya back to life again.

DOCTOR. (moving upLC) And suppose our little beauty goes on disposing of wives that happen to stand in her way?

KARL. I will not believe that.

TheSERGEANTandOGDENenter downR. The sergeant stands above the tableRCandOGDENstands downR.

OGDEN. I gather some of your wife’s clothing and effects have already been disposed of?

KARL. Yes. They were sent off to the East London Mission, I think.

TheSERGEANTmakes a note.

OGDEN. (moving toRof the sofa) What about papers, letters?

KARL. (crossing to the tableRC) I was going through them this morning. (He indicates the little drawer) Though what you expect to find . . .

OGDEN. (evading the issue; vaguely) One never knows. Some note, a memorandum set down . . .

KARL. I doubt it. Still, look through them, of course, if you must. I don’t expect you’ll find . . . (He picks up a bundle of letters tied with ribbon) Will you need these? They are the letters I wrote to my wife many years ago.

OGDEN. (gently) I’m afraid I must just look through them. (He takes the letters from KARL)

There is quite a pause, thenKARLturns impatiently towards the doors upC.

KARL. I shall be in the kitchen if you want me, Inspector Ogden.

TheDOCTORopens the right half of the doors upC. KARLexits upC. TheDOCTORfollows him off, closing the door behind him.OGDENmoves toRof the tableRC.

SERGEANT. Do you think he was in on it?

OGDEN. No, I don’t. (He starts to go through the papers in the drawer) Not beforehand. Hadn’t the faintest idea. I should say. (Grimly) But he knows now—and it’s been a shock to him.

SERGEANT. (also going through the papers, etc., in the drawer) He’s not saying anything.

OGDEN. No. That would be too much to expect. Doesn’t mean to be much here. Not likely to be, under the circumstances.

SERGEANT. If there had been, our Mrs. Mop would have known about it. I’d say she was a pretty good snooper. That kind always knows the dirt. And did she enjoy spilling it!

OGDEN. (with distaste) An unpleasant woman.

SERGEANT. She’ll do all right in the witness-box.

OGDEN. Unless she overdoes it. Well, nothing additional here. We’d better get on with the job. (He moves to the doors up C, opens one and calls) Will you come in here, please. (He moves below the armchair)

LISAenters upCand moves downC. TheDOCTORenters upCand moves downRof the sofa.KARLenters upCand stands upLof the sofa. TheSERGEANTmoves to the doors upC, closes them and stands in front of them.

Miss Koletzky, there are some additional questions I would like to ask you. You understand that you are not forced to answer anything unless you please.

LISA. I do not want to answer any questions.

OGDEN. Perhaps you’re wise. Lisa Koletzky, I arrest you on the charge of administering poison to Anya Hendryk on March the fifth last—

KARLmoves toRofLISA.

—and it is my duty to warn you that anything you say will be taken down and may be used in evidence.

KARL. (horror struck) What’s this? What are you doing? What are you saying?

OGDEN. Please, Professor Hendryk, don’t let’s have a scene.

KARL. (moving behindLISAand holding her in his arms) But you can’t arrest Lisa, you can’t, you can’t. She’s done nothing.