The Mousetrap

NADINE. One just doesn’t believe it can be true.

RAYMOND. But it is. She can’t harm us now. She can’t stop us from doing what we want.

(SARAH and RAYMOND move slowly up Centre during the following speech.)

(Seriously) Look here, Sarah, I’ve got to do something with my life. I’ve got to work at something—something that matters. And I don’t even know what capabilities I’ve got—I don’t know what I can do—I don’t even know if I’ve got any brains at all.

(SARAH and RAYMOND exit up Left.)

LENNOX. (CatchingNADINE’s hand) Nadine. You aren’t going to leave me?

NADINE. You think not?

LENNOX. I shan’t let you go.

NADINE. Why did you never say that before?

LENNOX. Why? Why? I can’t imagine. (He crosses to Left.) What’s been the matter with me? Why couldn’t I feel like I feel today? How did she do it? Why did she have that effect on me—on all of us? Just an ordinary, rather tyrannical old woman.

NADINE. No, Lennox, she was more than that. She had—(Gropingly) power. There is such a thing as positive Evil. We’ve seen it in the world—working on nations. This was a small private instance that happened in a family—but it’s the same thing—a lust for power, a delight in cruelty and torture . . . (She breaks off.)

LENNOX. (Tenderly) Nadine—my dear. It’s all over. We’ve escaped.

NADINE. Yes, we’ve escaped. She can’t harm us now.

(COLONEL CARBERY enters on the rock from Right. He is a tall, middle-aged Englishman in uniform. He has a vacant face and seems the huntin’, shootin’ and fishin’ type, but every now and then shows disturbing shrewdness. He is carrying a small sheaf of papers. He examines the stools on the rock, looks into the cave and makes some notes. The DRAGOMAN enters from the marquee.)

DRAGOMAN. (Crossing to Left Centre) Good morning, sir and lady. I hope you sleep well in spite of sad and tragic occurrence. Very old lady, heat too much for her. You try not grieve too much. You have very fine funeral in Jerusalem—very nice cemetery there, very expensive. I take you to high-class monumental shop, have very nice memorial. You have big stone angel with wings? Or big slab Jerusalem stone and very fine text from Bible. My friend he make you very special price if I ask him. He very big man—all best dead people go to him.

NADINE. (IndicatingCARBERY) Who is that up there?

DRAGOMAN. That Colonel Carbery. Carbery Pasha. Big man Transjordania. He head of Transjordanian police.

(CARBERY exits up Right.)

NADINE. (Sharply) Police.

DRAGOMAN. (Smiling) I send policeman off last night—made report. Any death got to be reported.

LENNOX. Eh? Oh, yes, of course.

DRAGOMAN. So Carbery Pasha he come himself, arrange everything. (He beams.) All ver’ official and first-class.

LENNOX. (Slowly) I think—I ought to go and speak to him.

NADINE. Yes—yes. I’ll come with you.

(LENNOX and NADINE cross and exit Right. HIGGS strolls on from the marquee.)

HIGGS. Ee, what’s to do?

DRAGOMAN. Make arrangements take back old lady’s body. Get horses for others. We leave camp this afternoon.

HIGGS. We do, do we? Ee, lad, I paid down me money for four days. I’ll want a rebate on that.

DRAGOMAN. Very sad circumstances alter cases.

HIGGS. Ee, I’ve not noticed anybody looking sad.

(LADY WESTHOLME and MISS PRYCE enter Right. LADY WESTHOLME crosses to Centre.)

(To LADY WESTHOLME) This chap says we’re going back this afternoon.

DRAGOMAN. (Moving betweenLADYWESTHOLMEandMISSPRYCE) I take you two ladies and gentleman nice walk this morning. Show you interesting architecture and more maiden hairyfern. You see best of Petra before you go back.

LADYWESTHOLME. I think it would be extremely bad taste to go on an expedition this morning.

DRAGOMAN. (Concerned) Something you eat taste bad? You tell Abraham. Abraham scold cook.

HIGGS. No use kicking our heels here. Might as well do a bit of sightseeing. Coom on. (He moves to Left ofLADYWESTHOLMEand takes her arm.)

(LADY WESTHOLME jerks her arm away.)