The Mousetrap

CAROLINE. (turning in the open doorway) I mean that I’d kill Amyas before I’d give him up to you.

(CAROLINE exits up C. There is a frozen silence. MISS WILLIAMS sees Caroline’s bag on the armchair L, picks it up and exits hurriedly up C)

AMYAS. (rising and crossing to the french windows) Now you’ve done it. We’ll have scenes and ructions and God knows what.

ELSA. (rising) She had to know some time.

AMYAS. (moving on to the terrace) She needn’t have known till the picture was finished.

(ELSA moves to the french windows)

(He stands behind the bench) How the hell can a man paint with a lot of women buzzing about his ears like wasps.

ELSA. You think nothing’s important but your painting.

AMYAS. (shouting) Nothing is to me.

ELSA. Well, I think it matters to be honest about things.

(ELSA rushes angrily out up C. AMYAS comes into the room)

AMYAS. Give me a cigarette, Phil.

(PHILIP offers his cigarettes and AMYAS takes one)

(He sits astride the stool) Women are all alike. Revel in scenes. Why the devil couldn’t she hold her tongue? I’ve got to finish that picture, Phil. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. And a couple of damn women want to muck it up between them. (He takes out his matches and lights his cigarette)

PHILIP. Suppose she refuses to give you a divorce?

AMYAS. (abstracted) What?

PHILIP. I said—suppose Caroline refuses to divorce you. Suppose she digs her toes in.

AMYAS. Oh, that. Caroline would never be vindictive. (He tosses the spent match out of the french windows) You don’t understand, old boy.

PHILIP. And the child. There’s the child to consider.

AMYAS. Look, Phil, I know you mean well, but don’t go on croaking like a raven, I can manage my own affairs. Everything will turn out all right, you’ll see.

PHILIP. Optimist!

(MEREDITH enters up C, closing the door behind him)

MEREDITH. (cheerily) Hullo, Phil. Just got down from London? (To Amyas) Hope you haven’t forgotten you’re all coming over to me this afternoon. I’ve got the car here. I thought Caroline and Elsa might prefer it to walking this hot weather. (He crosses to LC)

AMYAS. (rising) Not Caroline and Elsa. If Caroline drives Elsa will walk, and if Elsa rides, Caroline will walk. Take your pick. (He goes on to the terrace, sits on the stool and busies himself with painting)

MEREDITH. (startled) What’s the matter with him? Something happened?

PHILIP. It’s just come out.

MEREDITH. What?

PHILIP. Elsa broke the news to Caroline that she and Amyas planned to marry. (Maliciously) Quite a shock for Caroline.

MEREDITH. No! You’re joking!

(PHILIP shrugs, moves to the armchair R, picks up the magazine, sits and reads)

(He goes on to the terrace and turns to Amyas) Amyas! You—this—it can’t be true?

AMYAS. I don’t know yet what you’re talking about. What can’t be true?

MEREDITH. You and Elsa. Caroline . . .

AMYAS. (cleaning his brush) Oh, that.

MEREDITH. Look here, Amyas, you can’t just for the sake of a sudden infatuation, break up your whole married life. I know Elsa’s very attractive . . .

AMYAS. (grinning) So you’ve noticed that, have you?

MEREDITH. (crossing below Amyas toR; much concerned) I can quite understand a girl like Elsa bowling any man over, yes, but think of her—she’s very young, you know. She might regret it bitterly later on. Can’t you pull yourself together? For little Carla’s sake? Make a clean break here and now, and go back to your wife.

(AMYAS looks up thoughtfully)

(He crosses to the bench and turns) Believe me, it’s the right thing. I know it.

AMYAS. (after a pause; quietly) You’re a good chap, Merry. But you’re too sentimental.

MEREDITH. Look at the position you’ve put Caroline in by having the girl down here.

AMYAS. Well, I wanted to paint her.

MEREDITH. (angrily) Oh, damn your pictures!

AMYAS. (hotly) All the neurotic women in England can’t do that.