The Mousetrap

OGDEN. A kind offer on her part. (He crosses toRof theDOCTOR) We interviewed Miss Rollander at the time and I see no reason to doubt her story. She stayed for a short time and then Mrs. Hendryk asked her to leave since she felt tired. (He moves above the armchair)

KARL. Go to Helen now. Tell her what has happened. Tell her what I have asked you to tell her.

OGDEN. (to theDOCTOR) Just when did Professor Hendryk tell you that Miss Rollander had killed his wife? Within the last hour, I should imagine.

DOCTOR. That is so.

KARL. We met in the street. (He moves below the sofa)

OGDEN. Didn’t it strike you that if this was true, he would have come to us as soon as she admitted to him what she had done?

DOCTOR. He’s not that kind of man.

OGDEN. (ruthlessly) I don’t think you’re really aware what kind of man he is. (He moves to KARL’s coat on the desk chair) He’s a quick and clever thinker, and he’s not over scrupulous.

KARLstarts towards theINSPECTOR, but theDOCTORcrosses quickly toLofKARLand restrains him.

This is your coat and an evening paper, I see. (He draws the evening paper from the pocket)

KARLmoves downRof the sofa. TheDOCTORmoves upLof the sofa.

KARL. Yes, I bought it on the corner, just before I came in. I haven’t had time to read it, yet.

OGDEN. (movingC) Are you sure?

KARL. Yes—(He moves RC) I am quite sure.

OGDEN. I think you did. (He reads from the paper) “Sir William Rollander’s only daughter, Helen Rollander, was the victim of a regrettable accident this morning. In crossing the road she was knocked down by a lorry. The lorry driver claims that Miss Rollander gave him no time to brake. She walked straight into the road without looking right or left, and was killed instantly.”

KARLslumps on to the sofa.

I think that when you saw that paragraph, Professor Hendryk, you saw a way out to save your mistress by accusing a girl who could never refute what you said—because she was dead.

The lightsBLACK-OUTas—

TheCURTAINfalls.

Scene III

SCENE: The same. Two months later. Late afternoon.

When theCURTAINrises, the lights come up.KARLis seated on the sofa. TheDOCTORis leaning against the tableRC, reading the “Walter Savage Landor.”LESTERis pacing up and downLC. The telephone rings. They all start.LESTER, who is nearest to the telephone, lifts the receiver.

LESTER. (into the telephone) Hello? . . . No. (He replaces the receiver) These reporters never stop. (He moves down L)

TheDOCTORcrosses and sits in the armchair.KARLrises and circles the sofa toC.

KARL. I wish I had stayed in court. Why didn’t you let me stay?

DOCTOR. Lisa specially asked that you shouldn’t remain in court to hear the verdict. We’ve got to respect her wish.

KARL. You could have stayed.

DOCTOR. She wanted me to be with you. The lawyers will let us know at once . . .

KARL. They can’t find her guilty. They can’t. (He moves up R)

LESTER. (moving downC) If you’d like me to go back there . . .

DOCTOR. You stay here, Lester.

LESTER. If I’m any use. If there’s anything I could do . . .

DOCTOR. You can answer that damn telephone that keeps ringing.

KARL. (moving below the sofa) Yes, my dear boy. Stay. Your presence here helps me.

LESTER. Does it? Does it, really?

KARL. She must be, she will be acquitted. I can’t believe that innocence can go unrecognized. (He sits on the sofa)

LESTERmoves upC.

DOCTOR. Can’t you? I can. One’s seen it often enough. And you’ve seen it, Karl, time and time again. Mind you, I think she made a good impression on the jury.

LESTER. But the evidence was pretty damning. It’s that frightful Roper woman. The things she said. (He sits L of the table RC)

DOCTOR. She believed what she was saying, of course. That’s what made her so unshakeable under cross-examination. It’s particularly unfortunate that she should have seen you and Lisa embracing each other on the day of the inquest. She did see it, I suppose.