The Mousetrap

(HENRIETTA enters Left and moves to Left of LADY ANGKATELL. She wears an evening frock.)

(She glances at HENRIETTA and rises.) Now—I must get back—carrying my spoils with me. John, will you see me down the lane?

(LADY ANGKATELL rises.)

JOHN. Yes, of course.

VERONICA. (Crossing to Right ofLADYANGKATELL) And thank you a thousand times. (She smiles atSIRHENRYandEDWARDbut ignores the ladies.) You’ve all been very kind.

(JOHN moves to the drinks table and puts his glass on it.)

LADYANGKATELL. Not at all.

VERONICA. (Crossing above the sofa toJOHN) Now, John, you must tell me all you’ve been doing in the years and years since I’ve seen you.

(GUDGEON enters Left.)

GUDGEON. Dinner is served, m’lady.

(He exits Left.)

VERONICA. Oh, I mustn’t take you away just as dinner is ready.

SIRHENRY. Won’t you stay and dine with us?

VERONICA. No, no, no. I couldn’t dream of it. John, can’t you come over after dinner? I’m just dying to hear all your news. I’ll be expecting you. (She goes up the steps, turns and stands in the French window up Centre.) And thank you all—so much.

(She exits up Centre to Left. JOHN stands Right of the French window up Centre and looks after her. LADY ANGKATELL hands her glass to EDWARD, who puts it on the mantelpiece. MIDGE puts her glass on the mantelpiece, moves to the door Left and opens it. JOHN goes on to the terrace.)

LADYANGKATELL. What a beautiful performance! Shall we go in to dinner? (She crosses to the door Left.)

(SIR HENRY crosses to the door Left. A hubbub of conversation breaks out and the following speeches overlap as the exits are made.)

I remember seeing that girl in a film. She was wearing a sari very low down.

(She exits Left.)

EDWARD. I’ve seen her too, but I can’t remember the name of the film.

MIDGE. San Francisco Story—it must be. It was revived two months ago.

(She exits Left.)

EDWARD. Which theatre? Did you see San Francisco Story?

SIRHENRY. She must have changed her hair. She had it flowing down her back. Mrs. Cristow, what do you think of our film star?

(GERDA crosses to the door Left.)

GERDA. She’s very nice, very nice indeed, really.

(She exits Left.)

EDWARD. Yes, she is. Isn’t she, Henry?

SIRHENRY. Not so tall as I should have thought, seeing her on the films.

(He exits Left.)

EDWARD. No, I agree, but they are very different in real life.

(He exits Left. The conversation continues off stage. JOHN, oblivious of everything else, stands on the terrace looking off Left. HENRIETTA moves to the door Left and turns.)

HENRIETTA. Are you coming, John?

JOHN. H’m? Oh yes—yes, of course.

(HENRIETTA exits Left. JOHN crosses to the door Left and follows her off as—the Curtain falls.)

CURTAIN

ACT TWO

Scene I

SCENE: The same. Saturday morning.

When Curtain rises, it is a fine morning. The clock is striking eleven. The French windows are open, and music is coming softly from the radio. The tune is “I cried for you.”JOHNenters briskly Left. He is humming, looks happy and good-tempered. He moves to Left Centre, checks his watch with the clock on the mantelpiece, goes on to the terrace up Centre, takes a cigarette from his case and lights it.GUDGEONenters Left. He carries a salver with a note on it.