The Mousetrap

When Curtain rises, MRS. BOYNTONis seated above the table Centre. She is a vast obese woman, rather like an idol, with an expressionless face. She moves her head and eyes, but not her body. A stick is beside her chair. Her family are grouped round her like courtiers round a queen.GINEVRABOYNTON, her daughter, sits Right ofMRS. BOYNTON. She is a pretty girl of nineteen with a lost, vacant expression. She sits staring into space: occasionally her lips move as though she is talking to herself. Her fingers are picking at a handkerchief which she is tearing in little bits. This is partly masked by the table.NADINEBOYNTON, the daughter-in-law, sits Left ofMRS. BOYNTON. She is a quiet woman of twenty-eight. She is sewing.LENNOXBOYNTON, MRS. BOYNTON’s elder son andNADINE’s husband, sits Left ofNADINE. He is holding a book upside down and appears to be reading. TheHOTELCLERKis behind his desk. A glamorousITALIANGIRLenters up Right and crosses to the desk.

GIRL. (To theCLERK) La mia chiave, per favore.

CLERK. (Puzzled) I beg your pardon?

GIRL. (Emphasizing) Chiave. Ah, you do not understand. My—key—please.

CLERK. Oh. Certainly, signorina. (He hands her a key.)

GIRL. Grazie, signor. (She moves towards the lift.)

(The lift door opens. ALDERMAN HIGGS enters from the lift. He is a portly, middle-aged man and has a broad Lancashire accent. He stands aside to let the GIRL pass, half-raising his hat.)

(She acknowledges HIGGS’ courtesy with a smile) Signor.

(The GIRL exits to the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends. HIGGS glances curiously at the BOYNTONS, as though slightly fascinated by their static quality, crosses hurriedly towards the arch up Right, then stops, turns and moves to the desk.)

HIGGS. (To theCLERK) Any letters for me? Name of ’Iggs.

CLERK. Letters are at the concierge’s office in the hall, sir.

HIGGS. Conciurge? Moost you call ’im by these fancy names? What’s wrong with “porter”?

CLERK. (Indifferently) Just as you please, sir.

HIGGS. Five quid a day you’re charging me ’ere, and I don’t think so mooch of this place. (He looks around) Give me the Midland at Manchester even if it ’asn’t got so many fancy columns. (He moves to the arch up Right, then stops and returns a step or two) See ’ere, if one of them Dragomen chaps turn oop from Cook’s, askin’ for me, you tell ’im to wait till I coom back. See?

(HIGGS turns and exits up Right. There is silence. You expect the BOYNTONS to speak, but they do not. NADINE drops her scissors. As she picks them up, MRS. BOYNTON’s head turns to look at her, but she does not speak. GINEVRA’s lips move. She smiles. Her fingers work. A faint whispering sound comes from her. MRS. BOYNTON transfers her attention to GINEVRA, contemplates her in silence for a moment, then speaks in a deep voice.)

MRS. BOYNTON. Jinny!