The Mousetrap

(COPE moves to the marquee entrance. MRS. BOYNTON says nothing. She sits glaring in front of her and shaking with rage.)

LENNOX. Nadine.

NADINE. Yes? (She signs toCOPEto go.)

(COPE exits to the marquee.)

LENNOX. (Rising) Nadine.

(NADINE crosses to LENNOX. MRS. BOYNTON fumbles with the bottles on the table.)

Is it true—that you’re going away with Cope?

NADINE. Yes.

(NADINE looks at LENNOX, then turns, crosses and exits to the marquee. There is a pause. The ARAB BOY enters from the marquee. He carries a tray with a cup and saucer on it.)

BOY. (Moving toMRS. BOYNTON) I bring you tea, lady, tea.

(MRS. BOYNTON strikes the table with her stick.)

(He squeals, drops the tray on the ground and runs to the marquee entrance.) Allah Kerim! Very bad devil. Very bad devil . . .

(The ARAB BOY runs into the marquee. RAYMOND enters from the marquee, looks at MRS. BOYNTON then crosses to LENNOX.)

LENNOX. (Quietly) That’s it. One of us has got to kill her.

(RAYMOND stares at LENNOX, then crosses to MRS. BOYNTON, who rises. RAYMOND helps her up on the rock up Right and settles her on the stool outside the cave. LENNOX stares out front. RAYMOND comes down and stands slightly behind LENNOX.)

RAYMOND. What did you say?

CURTAIN

Scene II

Scene: The same. Three hours later.

When the Curtain rises, it is just before sunset.MRS. BOYNTONis seated at the mouth of the cave up Right, but the cave is now in very deep shadow.GINEVRAenters cautiously from the marquee, hears voices off Right and slips back again. TheDRAGOMAN, HIGGSandLADYWESTHOLMEtrail in Right in single file. They are tired, hot and cross.HIGGScrosses and collapses into the chair Left of the table.LADYWESTHOLMEcrosses and sits in the chair Right of the table. TheDRAGOMANstands Centre.

HIGGS. (Mopping his brow) Well, I reckon we’ve earned our supper. Ah reckon Miss Pryce knew what she was about, turning back wi’ headache. I’m fagged out, I am.

LADYWESTHOLME. I never feel fatigue.

HIGGS. I see—you’re as strong as a horse.

DRAGOMAN. Yes. You very strong lady. You walk up, down over—you just like goat.

LADYWESTHOLME. (Indignantly) Mahommed!

HIGGS. (Laughing) Aye, that’s it, Abraham, like a goat.

(LADY WESTHOLME freezes, and if looks could kill . . . )

(He mops his brow) Eh, but I’m in muck sweat.

LADYWESTHOLME. (At last finding her tongue again) Your sense of humour, Mr. Higgs, is only equalled by your choice of epithet. “Muck sweat” is applied to horses.

HIGGS. Now I come to think of it, you look more like a horse than a goat. (To theDRAGOMAN) Bring a big bottle of beer along to my tent, Abraham—aye, and take the same along to ’er ladyship, and charge it oop ter me. That’ll show there’s no ill feeling.

LADYWESTHOLME. Thank you—but I prefer a pot of tea.

DRAGOMAN. Too late make tea, lady. Supper now.

LADYWESTHOLME. Nonsense, there must be a kettle on the boil.

DRAGOMAN. No, lady, kettle him not boil now.

HIGGS. (Rising) That’s the best o’ beer, yer doan’t ’ave ter boil it. Yer know, I doan’t reckon much to this afternoon—why, we didn’t see nowt.

DRAGOMAN. (Crossing toHIGGS) oh, yes, please. You see maiden hairyfern, all hang down.

HIGGS. Well, ah can see that hanging oop in me green-’ouse at ’ome. Ah doan’t want to come abroad to ’eathen parts to see it ’angin’ down.

DRAGOMAN. Very good, I get beer.