The Mousetrap

JUSTIN. You didn’t give me time to answer. I wouldn’t particularly want to marry the daughter of a murderer, or of a drunkard or of a dope-fiend or of anything else unpleasant. (He picks up the cigarette box, crosses above Carla to the desk and puts the lighter and cigarette box on it) But what the hell, if I loved a girl, she could be the daughter of Jack the Ripper for all I cared.

CARLA. (looking around the room) I don’t believe you would mind as much as Jeff does. (She shivers)

JUSTIN. Do you find it cold?

CARLA. I think your central heating’s kind of low.

JUSTIN. It’s kind of non-existent, I’m afraid. (He smiles) I mean, we haven’t any. Shall I get them to light the fire for you?

CARLA. No, please.

(JUSTIN looks at the window, sees it is open, quickly closes it, then leans over the desk to Carla)

JUSTIN. This Mr—er . . . This Jeff . . . ?

CARLA. You’ll see him. He’s coming to call for me, if you don’t mind. (She looks at her wrist-watch) Hell, I’m wasting time. I didn’t come to consult you about my love life. (Struck) At least, I suppose I did. I’ve got to find out the truth, you see.

JUSTIN. I told you just now that there were extenuating circumstances. Your mother was found guilty, but the jury made a strong recommendation to mercy. Her sentence was commuted to imprisonment.

CARLA. And she died in prison three years later.

JUSTIN. (sitting at the desk) Yes.

CARLA. In her letter, my mother wrote that she wanted me to know definitely that she was innocent. (She looks defiantly at Justin)

JUSTIN. (unimpressed) Yes.

CARLA. You don’t believe it?

JUSTIN. (carefully finding his words) I think—a devoted mother—might want to do the best she could for her daughter’s peace of mind.

CARLA. No, no, no! She wasn’t like that. She never told lies.

JUSTIN. How can you know? You were a child of five when you saw her last.

CARLA. (passionately) I do know. My mother didn’t tell lies. When she took a thorn out of my finger once, she said it would hurt. And going to the dentist. All those things. She was never one to sugar the pill. What she said was always true. (She rises quickly, and turns up L) And if she says she was innocent then she was innocent. You don’t believe me—but it’s so. (She takes a handkerchief from her bag and dabs her eyes)

JUSTIN. (rising) It’s better, always, to face the truth.

CARLA. (turning to him) That is the truth.

JUSTIN. (shaking his head; quietly) It isn’t the truth.

CARLA. How can you be so sure? Does a jury never make a mistake?

JUSTIN. There are probably several guilty people walking around free, yes; because they’ve been given the benefit of the doubt. But in your mother’s case—there wasn’t any doubt.

CARLA. You weren’t there. It was your father who attended the case . . .

JUSTIN. (interrupting) My father was the solicitor in charge of the defence, yes.

CARLA. Well—he thought her innocent, didn’t he?

JUSTIN. Yes. (Embarrassed) Yes, of course. You don’t quite understand these things . . .

CARLA. (cynically) You mean that it was technical only?

(JUSTIN is slightly at a loss how to explain)

(She moves C, in front of her chair) But he himself, personally—what did he think?

JUSTIN. (stiffly) Really, I’ve no idea.

CARLA. Yes, you have. He thought she was guilty. (She turns and facesL) And you think so, too. (She pauses, then turns to Justin) But how is it that you remember it all so well?

JUSTIN. (looking steadily at her) I was eighteen—just going up to Oxford—not in the firm, yet—but—interested. (Remembering) I was in court every day.

CARLA. What did you think? Tell me. (She sitsC. Eagerly) I have to know.

JUSTIN. Your mother loved your father desperately—but he gave her a raw deal—he brought his mistress into the house—subjected your mother to humiliation and insult. Mrs. Crale endured more than any woman could be expected to endure. He drove her too far. The means were to hand—try and understand. Understand and forgive. (He crosses above the desk and stands down L)

CARLA. I don’t need to forgive. She didn’t do it.

JUSTIN. (turning to her) Then who the devil did?