The Mousetrap

CAROLINE. (searching in her handbag for her cigarettes) It’s the work of a young Norwegian sculptor, Amyas thinks very highly of him. We’re thinking of going over to Norway next year to visit him.

ELSA. That doesn’t seem to me very likely.

CAROLINE. Doesn’t it, Elsa? Why?

ELSA. You know very well.

CAROLINE. (lightly) How very cryptic. Miss Williams, would you mind—my cigarette case—(she indicates the table RC) it’s on that little table.

(MISS WILLIAMS goes to the table RC, picks up the cigarette case, opens it and offers a cigarette to Caroline. PHILIP takes out his cigarettes, rises and offers them to Caroline)

(She takes a cigarette from her own case) I prefer these—do you mind?

(MISS WILLIAMS moves to the table up LC and puts the case on it. PHILIP lights Caroline’s cigarette, then takes one of his own and lights it)

ELSA. (rising and moving below the stool) This would be quite a good room if it was properly fixed. All this litter of old-fashioned stuff cleared out.

(There is a pause. PHILIP looks at Elsa)

CAROLINE. We like it as it is. It holds a lot of memories.

ELSA. (loudly and aggressively) When I’m living here I shall throw all this rubbish out.

(PHILIP crosses to Elsa and offers her a cigarette)

No, thank you.

(PHILIP crosses to R)

Flame-coloured curtains, I think—and one of those French wallpapers. (To Philip) Don’t you think that would be rather striking?

CAROLINE. (evenly) Are you thinking of buying Alderbury, Elsa?

ELSA. It won’t be necessary for me to buy it.

CAROLINE. What do you mean?

ELSA. Must we pretend? (She movesC) Come now, Caroline, you know perfectly well what I mean.

CAROLINE. I assure you I’ve no idea.

ELSA. (aggressively) Oh, don’t be such an ostrich, burying your head in the sand and pretending you don’t know all about it. (She turns, moves to R of the stool, tosses the magazine on to the armchair R and moves up R) Amyas and I love each other. It’s his house, not yours.

(ANGELA runs on down L, crosses to the french windows, stops outside and listens. PHILIP and MISS WILLIAMS are frozen)

And after we’re married I shall live here with him.

CAROLINE. (angrily) I think you must be crazy.

ELSA. Oh, no, I’m not. (She sits on the sofa at the left end) It will be much simpler if we’re honest about it. There’s only one decent thing for you to do—give him his freedom.

CAROLINE. Don’t talk nonsense!

ELSA. Nonsense, is it? Ask him.

(AMYAS enters up C. ANGELA, unseen, exits by the door up L)

CAROLINE. I will. Amyas, Elsa says you want to marry her. Is it true?

AMYAS. (after a slight pause; to Elsa) Why the devil couldn’t you hold your tongue?

CAROLINE. Is it true?

(AMYAS, leaving the door open, crosses to the armchair R, picks up the magazine and sits)

AMYAS. We don’t have to talk about it now. (He looks at the magazine)

CAROLINE. But we are going to talk about it now.

ELSA. It’s only fair to Caroline to tell her the truth.

CAROLINE. (icily) I don’t think you need bother about being fair to me. (She rises and crosses to Amyas) Is it true, Amyas?

(AMYAS looks hunted and glances from Elsa to Caroline)

AMYAS. (to Philip) Women.

CAROLINE. (furiously) Is it true?

AMYAS. (defiantly) All right. It’s true enough.

(ELSA rises, triumphant)

But I don’t want to talk about it now.

ELSA. You see? It’s no good your adopting a dog-in-the-manger attitude. These things happen. It’s nobody’s fault. One just has to be rational about it. (She sits on the stool, facing upstage) You and Amyas will always be good friends, I hope.

CAROLINE. (crossing to the door upC) Good friends! Over his dead body.

ELSA. What do you mean?