The Mousetrap

The scene shows a section of the house, with the Garden RoomRand the terraceLwith communicating french windows between them. The room is at an angle, so that the terrace extends and tapers off below it toR. Doors backC, in the room, and at the upstage end of the terrace, lead to the house. An exit, at the upstage end of a vine-covered pergolaL, leads to the garden. There is another door downRin the room. Above this door is a small alcove with shelves for decorative plates and ornaments. A console table stands under the shelves. There is a tableLof the doorC, on which there is a telephone and a carved wooden head. On the wall above the table is the portrait of Elsa, painted by Amyas. There is a sofaRof the doorC, with a long stool in front of it. Armchairs standRandL, and there is an occasional tableLof the armchairR. There is a stone benchCof the terrace.

When theCURTAINrises, the stage is in darkness, then theLIGHTScome up to show the house shrouded in darkness and the terrace bathed in moonlight. The long stool is on the sofa and both are covered with a dust sheet. The armchairs are also covered with dust sheets. The window curtains are closed. After a few moments, voices are heard off upC.

CARLA. (off) Which way do we go?

MEREDITH. (off) This way, mind that little step. (He is heard to stumble) I always used to fall over it.

JUSTIN. (off; stumbling) Good heavens! Shall I leave the door?

MEREDITH. (off) Few things as depressing as an unlived-in house. I do apologize.

(MEREDITH enters up C and the LIGHTS on the room snap up. He wears an overcoat, and has an old fishing hat, pulled down. He moves down R. CARLA follows Meredith on. She wears a loose coat and a head scarf. She moves L. JUSTIN enters last. He carries his bowler hat. He moves down C, turns and looks around the room)

This is what we call the garden room. Cold as a morgue. Looks like a morgue, too, doesn’t it? (He laughs and rubs his hands) Not that I’ve ever seen the inside of a—hum . . . I’ll just remove these. (He goes to the sofa and removes the dust sheet)

JUSTIN. Let me help you. (He moves toLof the sofa and takes the dust sheet from Meredith)

(CARLA moves to the armchair L and removes the dust sheet which she gives to Justin)

MEREDITH. This bit of the house has been shut up, you see, ever since . . . (He indicates the long stool on the sofa) Ah, that’s an old friend. (He takes the stool from the sofa) Let me see, I think it went somewhere there. (He places the stool RC) It’s sad, somehow. It was so alive, once, and now it’s dead.

(CARLA sits on the left end of the stool and looks at the portrait)

CARLA. Is that the picture?

MEREDITH. What? Yes. Girl in a yellow shirt.

CARLA. You left it here?

MEREDITH. Yes. I—somehow couldn’t bear to look at it. It reminded me too much . . . (He recollects himself, crosses to the french windows and opens the curtains)

CARLA. How she’s changed.

MEREDITH. (turning) You’ve seen her?

CARLA. Yes.