The Mousetrap

NADINE. (Moving to him) Why should you think I have? What’s the good of staying with Lennox? I must start a new life—with you. (She gives him her hand.)

COPE. It shall be a happy life, I promise you.

NADINE. Can anybody promise that?

(RAYMOND enters Right, moves to the deckchair down Right and sits lost in a brown study.)

COPE. I feel I ought to speak to Lennox. I don’t want to be anything but straightforward about this business.

NADINE. No, Jeff—please. No, I mean it.

DRAGOMAN. (Off, calling) Dinner, him ready.

NADINE. You go on.

(COPE hesitates, then exits to the marquee. LENNOX enters Right and crosses to NADINE.)

LENNOX. Nadine.

NADINE. Yes.

LENNOX. You took me by surprise this afternoon. Wait until we get back to Jerusalem. Things may be different then.

NADINE. (Turning to look at him) Different? How should they be different?

(The DRAGOMAN enters from the marquee. He holds a gong, which he beats with enjoyment.)

DRAGOMAN. Dinner, him ready.

(NADINE exits to the marquee. LENNOX follows her off. The ARAB BOY enters from the marquee. He has a tray of drinks which he puts on the table. He then exits to the marquee. HIGGS enters Right.)

HIGGS. (To theDRAGOMAN) Steady on, lad, we’re not deaf.

DRAGOMAN. Dinner, him ready.

HIGGS. All right, we ’eard yer first time.

(LADY WESTHOLME enters Right. The DRAGOMAN crosses and exits Right.)

LADYWESTHOLME. (Crossing and sitting Right of the table) Perfectly barbarous! Really, natives are just like children.

HIGGS. (Moving above the table) Aye, my kids at ’ome love bangin’ gong. (He pours drinks for LADY WESTHOLME and himself.) ’Ave you got any kids, Lady Westholme?

LADYWESTHOLME. No.

HIGGS. Soom’ow I didn’t think you ’ad. (He sits Left of the table.)

(GERARD enters Right and moves to RAYMOND.)

LADYWESTHOLME. Indeed!

(LADY WESTHOLME and HIGGS sip their drinks.)

GERARD. (ToRAYMOND) Lost in thought?

RAYMOND. I was thinking of our expedition this morning—to the place of sacrifice.

GERARD. Yes.

RAYMOND. You know, I think one can attach too much regard to life. Death isn’t really as important as we make out. Sometimes, I think a sacrifice is really necessary.

GERARD. You mean—the sacrifice of human life?

RAYMOND. Yes.

GERARD. It is expedient that one man should die for the people? Is that your idea?

RAYMOND. Yes, there’s a great truth there.

(The ARAB BOY enters on to the rock from Right and unsuccessfully tries to rouse MRS. BOYNTON.)

GERARD. A man may lay down his life, that is one thing—to be forcibly deprived of it is another. I doubt if that has ever advanced human progress or human happiness.

RAYMOND. (Rising, excitedly) I don’t agree with you. It might be the only thing to do. There are deaths that would result only in good—deaths that would set people free—deaths that would save misery and disaster. The kind of death that would only mean advancing the clock a little. All that is needed is courage—yes, courage.

(The ARAB BOY comes down to GERARD and whispers in his ear. GERARD and the ARAB BOY exit Right. During the ensuing lines, GERARD enters on to the rock from Right and bends over MRS. BOYNTON. LADY WESTHOLME finishes her drink, rises and exits to the marquee. LENNOX enters Right and moves to RAYMOND.)

HIGGS. (ToRAYMOND) Courage is a funny thing, young man. There’s men as’ll face machine guns and run from mother-in-law.

(MISS PRYCE enters Right.)

MISSPRYCE. Oh, I do hope you haven’t been waiting for me.

HIGGS. (Rising and placing a chair forMISSPRYCE) ’Ow’s t’cadache? (He pours a drink for MISS PRYCE.)