The Mousetrap

GINEVRA. You have a house there?

(GERARD nods.)

A castle?

GERARD. (With a smile) No, a clinic.

GINEVRA. (Doubtfully) Oh. (With curiosity) Should I like it there?

GERARD. Yes, you would do real things with your mind—and the unreal things would not be interesting any more.

GINEVRA. Real things. You wouldn’t tell me that I am ill all the time?

GERARD. No, for you are not ill.

GINEVRA. (With a gesture towardsMRS. BOYNTON) She says I am ill. She—she wants me to be ill—she makes me ill. She says—she says—they are going to shut me up—(Her voice rises) to shut me up. (She rises and moves Right.)

GERARD. (Rising and moving above the table to Centre.) No, no, you must be calm.

GINEVRA. I want to come with you.

GERARD. I know.

GINEVRA. Why can’t I? Because she won’t let me go?

GERARD. For the moment, that is true.

GINEVRA. She won’t let me go.

(GERARD moves to GINEVRA and puts a hand on her shoulder.)

GERARD. You must hold on, Jinny—hold on. Do you understand? It is just a question of waiting—perhaps not waiting very long.

GINEVRA. (Drawing away; emphatically) When she is dead, I can go. That is what you mean, isn’t it? When she is dead. When she is dead we can all go.

GERARD. Don’t talk like that.

GINEVRA. Why not? (She crosses to Left.) They did.

GERARD. Who did?

(GINEVRA looks at him sideways and laughs.)

GINEVRA. I heard them. They didn’t know I was there. They said that she’d got to be killed—that it was the only way.

GERARD. (Crossing to her) Who said that? (He takes both her hands in his.)

GINEVRA. They said one of us would have to do it—for the sake of the others.

GERARD. Who said so?

GINEVRA. Lennox and Raymond.

GERARD. You’re inventing again.

GINEVRA. No, this is really true.

GERARD. So you admit the other isn’t?

GINEVRA. (Angrily) I hate you. Let me go. Let me go.

(GINEVRA twists away from him, runs across and exits Right. NADINE enters Right as GINEVRA exits.)

NADINE. (Crossing to Centre) What’s the matter with Jinny?

(GERARD picks up the knife and shows it to NADINE.)

What’s that? A knife. That’s bad—that’s very bad.

GERARD. Yes, the case grows serious. (He puts the knife on the table.)

NADINE. (Moving Left Centre) But it’s not too late. She could have treatment.

GERARD. Yes, there is still time, but you understand—not much.

NADINE. (Crossing down Left) Do you believe in the Devil, Doctor Gerard?

GERARD. You mean, do I believe in Evil, positive Evil? Yes, I do.

NADINE. So do I.

(GERARD and NADINE look up at MRS. BOYNTON.)

GERARD. And we can do nothing.

NADINE. Don’t be too sure of that.

(COPE enters Right and crosses to Centre. He looks radiant.)

COPE. Must be nearly supper time.

GERARD. Yes, I must go and wash. (He picks up his case of drugs and crosses to Right.)

COPE. It seems almost chilly after the heat of the afternoon.

GERARD. Yes, there is a sharp fall of temperature at sunset.

(GERARD exits Right.)

COPE. (Crossing toNADINE) Hadn’t I better get you a wrap, Nadine?

NADINE. No, thank you, it will be hot in the marquee. Jeff, I was just—talking about Jinny to Doctor Gerard.

COPE. (His face becoming worried) Oh—Jinny. I was talking to Doctor Gerard yesterday, and he was quite confident that by treatment in his sanatorium he could effect a perfect cure. It’s a well-known place and bears the highest reputation. I said as much to Mrs. Boynton.

NADINE. So you talked to her about it. What did she say?

COPE. She said a mother’s care was worth all the newfangled doctors’ cures put together.

NADINE. (Crossing to Right Centre) She isn’t Jinny’s mother.

COPE. Why, no, that’s true. (He moves Left Centre) But I know she’s only anxious for Jinny’s good.

NADINE. (Impatiently yet tenderly) Oh, Jeff—the worst of a nice person like you—you’re so—so trusting.

COPE. I trust in you.

NADINE. Don’t.

COPE. You haven’t—changed your mind?