The Mousetrap

ELSA. Her marriage to Amyas had been a failure from the start—if she’d really cared for him as much as she pretended, she’d have given him a divorce. There was plenty of money—and she’d probably have married someone else who would have suited her better.

CARLA. How easily you arrange other people’s lives. (She moves down R) Meredith Blake says I may come down to Alderbury. I want to get everyone there. Will you come?

ELSA. (arrested, but attracted by the idea) Come down to Alderbury?

CARLA. (eagerly) I want to go over the whole thing on the spot. I want to see it as though it were happening all over again.

ELSA. Happening all over again . . .

CARLA. (politely) If it’s too painful for you . . .

ELSA. There are worse things than pain. (Harshly) It’s forgetting that’s so horrible—it’s as though you were dead yourself. (Angrily) You—stand there so damned young and innocent—what do you know about loving a man? I loved Amyas. (With fire) He was so alive, so full of life and vigour, such a man. And she put an end to all that—your mother. (She rises) She put an end to Amyas so that I shouldn’t have him. And they didn’t even hang her. (She pauses. In an ordinary tone) I’ll come to Alderbury. I’ll join your circus. (She picks up her coat and holds it out to Carla)

(CARLA crosses to Elsa and helps her on with her coat)

Philip, Meredith—Angela Warren—all four of us.

CARLA. Five.

ELSA. Five?

CARLA. There was a governess.

ELSA. (collecting her bag and gloves from the settee) Oh, yes, the governess. Very disapproving of me and Amyas. Devoted to Caroline.

CARLA. Devoted to my mother—she’ll tell me. I’m going to see her next. (She goes into the hall and opens the door)

ELSA. (moving to the hall) Perhaps you’ll get your legal friend to telephone me, will you?

(ELSA exits. CARLA closes the door and moves C)

CARLA. The governess!

TheLIGHTSdim toBLACK-OUT

Scene IV

SCENE—Miss Williams’ bed-sitting-room.

It is an attic room with a small window in the sloping roofL. The door is presumed to be in the “fourth wall.” There is a fireplace, fitted with a gas fire, backC. There is a divan with cover and cushionsR. A gate-legged table stands under the window. A small table with a table-lamp on it isRof the fireplace. Upright chairs standLof the fireplace and downLand there is an old-fashioned armchair with a footstool under it,C. An electric kettle is plugged into the skirting,Rof the fireplace.

When theLIGHTScome up, the lamp is on, but the window curtains are not yet closed. A tray of tea for two is on the tableL. The kettle is steaming and the teapot is beside it. The gas fire is lit.MISSWILLIAMSis seated in the armchairC. She is sixty odd, intelligent, with clear enunciation and a pedagogic manner. She wears a tweed skirt and blouse, with a cardigan and a scarf round her shoulders.CARLAis seated on the divan, looking through a photograph album. She wears a brown dress.

CARLA. I do remember you. It’s all coming back. I didn’t think I did.

MISSWILLIAMS. You were only five years old.

CARLA. You looked after me?

MISSWILLIAMS. No, you were not my responsibility. I was in charge of Angela. Ah, the kettle’s boiling. (She rises, picks up the teapot and makes the tea) Now, are you going to be happy there, dear?

CARLA. I’m fine, thanks.

MISSWILLIAMS. (pointing to the album) That’s Angela—you were only a baby when that was taken.

CARLA. What was she like?