The Mousetrap

MEREDITH. (sitting on the bench) It’s disgraceful the way you’ve always treated Caroline. She’s had a miserable life with you.

AMYAS. I know—I know. I’ve given Caroline one hell of a life—and she’s been a saint about it. (He rises and moves down R) But she always knew what she was letting herself in for. Right from the start I told her what an egotistic loose-living bastard I was. (He turns) But this is different.

MEREDITH. (quickly) This is the first time you’ve brought a woman into the house and flaunted her in Caroline’s face.

AMYAS. (crossing to the trolley) What you don’t seem to understand, Meredith, is that when I’m painting, nothing else matters—least of all a pair of jealous, quarrelling women. (He turns to the trolley and picks up the glass of beer)

(ANGELA enters by the door up L and moves slowly to easel. She is now clean and tidy, in a cotton frock)

Don’t worry, Merry, everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see. (He sips the beer) Oh, it’s warm. (He turns and sees Angela) Hullo, Angy, you’re looking remarkably clean and tidy.

ANGELA. (abstracted) Oh—yes. (She crosses to Amyas) Amyas, why does Elsa say she’s going to marry you? She couldn’t. People can’t have two wives. It’s bigamy. (Confidentially) You can go to prison for it.

(AMYAS glances at Meredith, puts his glass on the trolley, puts an arm around Angela’s shoulder and leads her to RC)

AMYAS. Now, where did you hear that?

ANGELA. I was out here. I heard it through the window.

AMYAS. (sitting on the stool by the easel) Then it’s time you got out of the habit of eavesdropping.

(ELSA enters up C with her bag and gloves, which she puts on the table up LC)

ANGELA. (hurt and indignant) I wasn’t—I couldn’t help hearing. Why did Elsa say that?

AMYAS. It was a kind of joke, darling.

(CAROLINE enters by the door up L and moves down L)

CAROLINE. It’s time we started. Those of us who are going to walk.

MEREDITH. (rising) I’ll drive you.

CAROLINE. I’d rather walk.

(ELSA comes on to the terrace)

Take Elsa in the car. (She crosses below Amyas to Angela)

ELSA. (moving toRof Meredith) Don’t you grow herbs and all sorts of exciting things?

CAROLINE. (to Angela) That’s better. You won’t be able to wear jeans at school, you know.

ANGELA. (crossing angrily downL) School! I wish you wouldn’t keep on about school.

MEREDITH. (continuing to Elsa) I make cordials and potions. I have my own little laboratory.

ELSA. It sounds fascinating. You must show me.

(CAROLINE crosses to Angela, looking at Elsa on the way. She straightens Angela’s pig-tails)

MEREDITH. I shall probably deliver a lecture. I’m terribly enthusiastic about my hobby.

ELSA. Doesn’t one pick certain herbs by the light of the moon?

CAROLINE. (to Angela) You’ll like school, you know, once you get there.

MEREDITH. (to Elsa) That was the old-fashioned superstition.

ELSA. You don’t go as far as that?

MEREDITH. No.

ELSA. Are they dangerous?

MEREDITH. Some of them are.

CAROLINE. (turning) Sudden death in a little bottle. Bella-donna. Hemlock.

(ANGELA runs between Elsa and Meredith and puts her arms around his waist)

ANGELA. You read us something once—about Socrates—and how he died.

MEREDITH. Yes, conine—the active principle of hemlock.

ANGELA. It was wonderful. It made me want to learn Greek.

(They all laugh. AMYAS rises and picks up his paintbox)

AMYAS. We’ve talked enough. Let’s get started. (He moves towards the door up L) Where’s Phil? (He glances in the french windows and calls) Phil.

PHILIP. Coming.

(AMYAS exits by the door up L. PHILIP rises and puts down the magazine. ELSA goes into the room and collects her gloves and bag)