The Mousetrap

RAYMOND. I—I . . . (He breaks off.)

SARAH. (Loudly and firmly) Won’t you introduce me to your mother?

MRS. BOYNTON. Where have you been, Raymond?

RAYMOND. I—went out . . .

SARAH. Won’t you introduce me, Raymond?

RAYMOND. This is Miss King, Mother.

SARAH. How do you do?

MRS. BOYNTON. How do you do? You were wanting the lift? (She moves aside.)

(SARAH looks once at RAYMOND to see if he is resenting MRS. BOYNTON’s rudeness, then slowly exits to the lift. RAYMOND is staring at MRS. BOYNTON. The door closes and the lift ascends.)

(She crosses to the chair above the table Centre) Who is that girl, Ray?

RAYMOND. I—I told you. Sarah King.

MRS. BOYNTON. Oh, yes, the girl you were talking to on the train last night. (She sits.)

(RAYMOND moves to Left of MRS. BOYNTON. HIGGS enters on the terrace from Left and sits Right of the table under the sunshade.)

Have you made plans to see her again?

(RAYMOND stands like a prisoner in the dock and speaks like an automaton.)

RAYMOND. Yes, we were going out together after dinner.

MRS. BOYNTON. (Watching him) I don’t think, you know, she is quite our style. We’ll keep ourselves to ourselves. That’s the best way. (She pauses) You understand, Ray?

(NADINE turns, moves in a little and watches. LENNOX relapses into complete vacancy.)

RAYMOND. (Automatically) Yes.

MRS. BOYNTON. (With authority) So you won’t be meeting her this evening.

RAYMOND. No—no . . .

MRS. BOYNTON. That’s quite settled, isn’t it?

RAYMOND. Yes.

MRS. BOYNTON. You’ll have nothing more to do with that girl?

RAYMOND. No.

(The lift descends and the door opens. SARAH enters from the lift and crosses to RAYMOND.)

SARAH. I forgot my parcel. Oh. You’ve got it in your hand.

(RAYMOND looks down, stares at the parcel, then hands it to SARAH without looking at her.)

(She turns to go. Cheerfully) See you later.

MRS. BOYNTON. You’d better explain to Miss King, Raymond.

(SARAH stops and turns.)

RAYMOND. (With clenched hands; stiffly) I’m so sorry, Miss King. I shan’t be able to go out this evening.

(SARAH gives a quick glance towards MRS. BOYNTON.)

SARAH. (Belligerently) Why not?

(RAYMOND opens his mouth to speak, then shakes his head.)

MRS. BOYNTON. My son prefers to remain with his family.

SARAH. Can’t your son speak for himself?

MRS. BOYNTON. Tell her, son.

RAYMOND. I—I prefer to be with—with my family.

SARAH. (Angrily) Really? What devotion! (With a contemptuous glance atRAYMOND, she crosses below the table Centre toLADYWESTHOLME.) Thank you for suggesting that I should come to Petra with your party, Lady Westholme. I should like to very much.

LADYWESTHOLME. Excellent.

(MRS. BOYNTON turns her head and looks at LADY WESTHOLME and SARAH. Her face shows no expression.)

On Tuesday, then, ten o’clock. So pleased you are joining us, Miss King.

(SARAH crosses and exits quickly to the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends. LADY WESTHOLME rises and follows SARAH to the lift, but the door closes as she arrives. She angrily rings the bell. MRS. BOYNTON continues to observe LADY WESTHOLME. HIGGS rises and moves to the desk.)

LENNOX. (Moving Left Centre) Do you want to go up now, Mother?

MRS. BOYNTON. What?

LENNOX. Do you want to go up now?

MRS. BOYNTON. Not just now. You and Ray go. I want my spectacles. You two go on. Nadine and I will follow.