The Mousetrap

LENNOX. (Without looking at her; unhappy and frightened) Please, Nadine. Don’t let’s talk like this. (He crosses below her to Left.) Must we go into it all again?

NADINE. (Following him) Let’s go away, Lennox, let’s go away.

LENNOX. How can we? We’ve no money.

NADINE. You can earn money.

LENNOX. How can I earn money? I’m untrained—unqualified.

NADINE. I could earn enough for both of us.

LENNOX. (His voice rising) It’s impossible—hopeless—(His voice trails away) hopeless.

NADINE. (Moving Left Centre; bitterly) It’s our present life that is hopeless.

LENNOX. I don’t know what you mean. Mother is very good to us. She gives us everything we want.

NADINE. Except liberty.

LENNOX. You must remember she’s getting old and she’s in bad health. When she dies Father’s money will come to us.

NADINE. (Desperately) When she dies it may be too late.

LENNOX. Too late for what?

NADINE. Too late for happiness. (Appealingly) Lennox, I still love you. It’s not too late. Won’t you do what I ask?

LENNOX. I—I can’t. It isn’t possible.

(NADINE draws away. Her manner changes back to its usual quiet reserve.)

NADINE. I see. So it’s up to me. To do—what I want to do—with my own life. (She goes on to the terrace.)

(LENNOX follows NADINE and stands behind her. LADY WESTHOLME and the DRAGOMAN enter up Right. He is thrusting curios upon her notice. LADY WESTHOLME moves down Centre.)

DRAGOMAN. (Moving to Right ofLADYWESTHOLME) No other dragoman got anything like these. Very special—I make for distinguished English lady very special price. The owner, he friend of mine. I get them very cheap.

LADYWESTHOLME. Now let us understand each other, Mahommed. (Forcefully) I don’t buy rubbish.

DRAGOMAN. (Howling in anguish) Rubbish? (He holds up a long rusty nail.) The original nail from the toe of Balaam’s ass.

(NADINE moves along the terrace to Right of it. LENNOX follows her.)

LADYWESTHOLME. I said rubbish. If I want to buy anything I will inform you of the fact and I will allow you a reasonable commission. The truth is that you have imposed upon tourists too much. I am not a tourist, and I have a very good sense of values.

DRAGOMAN. (With a sudden ingratiating smile) You very clever English high-up lady. Not want buy cheap junk. You want enjoy yourself, see sights. You like see Gilly-Gilly men? Bring chickens out of everywhere—(He demonstrates on her) out of sleeves, out of hat, out of shoes—everything. (He twiches and lifts her skirt.)

LADYWESTHOLME. (Hitting him with her folded newspaper) Certainly not. (She crosses, sits in the chair down Right and reads her paper.)

(The DRAGOMAN crosses and exits up Left. SARAH and RAYMOND enter up Right. RAYMOND carries a small parcel.)

RAYMOND. (As they enter) There is a moon. I noticed it last night from the train.

(NADINE turns from LENNOX and stands with her back to him.)

SARAH. It really will be simply heavenly. That curly street and the gate where the donkeys were.

(LENNOX moves to Centre of the terrace.)

RAYMOND. (Carelessly) Hullo, Len. (ToSARAH) This is my brother Lennox. (He crosses to the lift.)

SARAH. (Hardly noticingLENNOX) How d’you do? (She follows RAYMOND to the lift.)

(The ITALIAN GIRL rises and exits on the terrace to Right.)

Could we go to that courtyard place outside the mosque, or is it shut at night?

(RAYMOND rings the lift bell.)

RAYMOND. We can easily find out.

SARAH. I must get my camera—you think there’s enough light, still?

(The lift descends and the door opens. MRS. BOYNTON enters from the lift, leaning on her stick. RAYMOND stands paralysed. SARAH is taken aback.)