The Mousetrap

GUDGEON. The Inspector would like to see you in the dining room, sir.

EDWARD. (Rising) Oh yes, certainly.

(He exits Left. GUDGEON closes the door after him. MIDGE moves above the armchair Left Centre to Right of it. During the ensuing dialogue, GUDGEON collects the tray from the coffee table, gets the coffee cups and saucers and puts them on it.)

MIDGE. Is Mrs. Cristow still resting?

GUDGEON. As far as I know, Miss, yes. Doctor Murdock left her some tablets and Simmonds has instructions to administer one every two hours.

MIDGE. Would you like one of us to go up to her?

GUDGEON. I hardly think that necessary, Miss. Simmonds is quite reliable.

MIDGE. I’m sure she is.

GUDGEON. (Moving to the door Left.) Thank you, Miss. Thank you.

(He exits Left taking the tray and coffee cups with him. MIDGE closes the door behind him. HENRIETTA enters the terrace up Centre from Left and taps on the window. MIDGE runs up Centre, lets HENRIETTA in, then closes the window behind her.)

MIDGE. How you startled me. (She nods Right.) I expected you to come in that way.

HENRIETTA. (Crossing to the fire) I’ve been walking round and round the house. I’m glad you lit a fire.

MIDGE. (Moving to Left of the sofa; accusingly) What did you do to Edward?

HENRIETTA. (Absently) Edward?

MIDGE. Yes, when I came in just now, he was looking dreadful—so cold and grey.

HENRIETTA. (Turning) Midge—Midge, if you care so much for Edward, why don’t you do something about him?

MIDGE. Do something? What do you mean?

HENRIETTA. (Impatiently) I don’t know. Stand on a table and shout. Draw attention to yourself. Don’t you know that’s the only hope with a man like Edward?

MIDGE. (Sitting on the sofa at the Left end of it) I don’t think Edward will ever care for anyone but you, Henrietta.

HENRIETTA. Then it’s very unintelligent of him.

MIDGE. Perhaps—but there it is.

HENRIETTA. He doesn’t even know what I’m like. He just goes on caring for his idea of what I once was. Today—I hate Edward.

MIDGE. You can’t hate Edward. Nobody could hate Edward.

HENRIETTA. I can.

MIDGE. But why?

HENRIETTA. Because he reminds me of a lot of things I’d like to forget.

MIDGE. What things?

HENRIETTA. Ainswick.

MIDGE. Ainswick? You want to forget Ainswick?

HENRIETTA. Yes, yes. I was happy at Ainswick. (She moves Left Centre.) Don’t you understand that I can’t bear just now to be reminded of a time when I was happy?

(LADY ANGKATELL enters Left. MIDGE rises.)

(Abruptly) I shall never go back to Ainswick.

(She moves to the door Left, ignores LADY ANGKATELL and exits.)

LADYANGKATELL. What did she say?

MIDGE. (Crossing to Right.) She said she would never go back to Ainswick.

LADYANGKATELL. (Closing the door) Oh, I think she will, darling.

MIDGE. You mean she’ll—marry Edward?

LADYANGKATELL. Yes. (She crosses to the drinks table, picks up the box of chocolates, then moves to Left ofMIDGE.) I think so. (Cheerfully) Now that John Cristow’s out of the way. Oh yes, I think she’ll marry Edward. Everything’s working out quite for the best, isn’t it?

MIDGE. Perhaps John Cristow wouldn’t think so.

LADYANGKATELL. No, well, I wasn’t thinking of him.

(The INSPECTOR enters Left. He is followed on by DETECTIVE SERGEANT PENNY. The SERGEANT is in plain clothes. He carries a notebook to which he frequently refers, and in which he makes further notes.)

INSPECTOR. Is Miss Angkatell about?

MIDGE. She went upstairs to change, I think. Shall I fetch her?

LADYANGKATELL. (Crossing to Left.) No, no, I’ll go. I want to see how Gerda is. (She offers the chocolates to the INSPECTOR.) Sweetie? Soft centres.

INSPECTOR. No, thank you.

LADYANGKATELL. (Offering the sweets to theSERGEANT) There’s a jelly baby there.