The Mousetrap

CARLA. I could still—give it all up—go back to Canada—forget. Shall I?

JUSTIN. (quickly) No! No—er—not now. You’ve got to go on.

CARLA. (sitting in the armchair) That’s not what you advised in the first place.

JUSTIN. You hadn’t started then.

CARLA. You still think—that my mother was guilty, don’t you?

JUSTIN. I can’t see any other solution.

CARLA. And yet you want me to go on?

JUSTIN. I want you to go on until you are satisfied.

(There is a knock on the hall door. CARLA and JUSTIN rise. CARLA goes to the hall, opens the door and steps back. JUSTIN crosses to R of the armchair and faces the hall. MEREDITH BLAKE enters the hall from L. He is a pleasant, rather vague man with a thatch of grey hair. He gives the impression of being rather ineffectual and irresolute. He wears country tweeds with hat, coat and muffler)

MEREDITH. Carla. My dear Carla. (He takes her hands) How time flies. May I? (He kisses her) It seems incredible that the little girl I knew should have grown up into a young lady. How like your mother you are, my dear. My word!

CARLA. (slightly embarrassed; gesturing to Justin) Do you know Mr. Fogg?

MEREDITH. My word, my word! (He pulls himself together) What? (To Justin) Ah, yes, I knew your father, didn’t I? (He steps into the room)

(CARLA closes the door then moves into the room and stands L of the arch)

JUSTIN. (moving toRof Meredith) Yes, sir. (He shakes hands) May I take your coat?

MEREDITH. (unbuttoning his coat; to Carla) And now—tell me all about yourself. You’re over from the States—

(JUSTIN takes Meredith’s hat)

—thank you—no, Canada. For how long?

CARLA. I’m not quite sure—yet.

(JUSTIN eyes Carla)

MEREDITH. But you are definitely making your home overseas?

CARLA. Well—I’m thinking of getting married.

MEREDITH. (removing his coat) Oh, to a Canadian?

CARLA. Yes.

(MEREDITH hands his coat and muffler to JUSTIN who hangs them with the hat, in the hall)

MEREDITH. Well, I hope he’s a nice fellow and good enough for you, my dear.

CARLA. Naturally I think so. (She gestures to Meredith to sit in the armchair)

(MEREDITH goes to sit in the armchair, sees Justin’s brief-case and picks it up. JUSTIN moves above the armchair)

MEREDITH. Good. If you’re happy, then I’m very happy for you. And so would your mother have been.

CARLA. (sitting on the settee at the upstage end) Do you know that my mother left a letter for me in which she said she was innocent?

MEREDITH. (turning and looking at Carla; sharply) Your mother wrote that?

CARLA. Does it surprise you so much?

(JUSTIN sees Meredith is uncertain what to do with the briefcase and offers to take it)

MEREDITH. Well, I shouldn’t have thought Caroline . . . (He hands the brief-case to Justin)

(JUSTIN puts the brief-case on the table R)

I don’t know—I suppose she felt—(he sits in the armchair) it would distress you less . . .

CARLA. (passionately) It doesn’t occur to you that what she wrote me might be true?

MEREDITH. Well, yes—of course. If she solemnly wrote that when she was dying—well, it stands to reason that it must be true—doesn’t it? (He looks up at Justin for support)

(There is a pause)

CARLA. What a rotten liar you are. (She rises)

MEREDITH. (shocked) Carla!

(CARLA goes into the hall and picks up her handbag)

CARLA. Oh, I know it was meant to be kind. But kindness doesn’t really help. I want you to tell me all about it. (She steps into the room and searches in her bag)

MEREDITH. You know the facts—(to Justin) doesn’t she?