The Mousetrap

(SIR WILFRID is too quick for the WOMAN and picks up the money. The WOMAN quickly retrieves the letters.)

SIRWILFRID. Just a moment. I suppose this is her handwriting?

WOMAN. It’s her handwriting all right. She wrote ’em. It’s all fair and square.

SIRWILFRID. We have only your word for that.

MAYHEW. Just a moment. I have a letter from Mrs. Vole—not here, but at my office.

SIRWILFRID. Well, madam, it looks as though we’ll have to trust you—(He hands her the notes.) for the moment. (He takes the letters from her, smooths them out and begins to read.)

(The WOMAN slowly counts the notes, carefully watching the OTHERS meanwhile. MAYHEW moves to SIR WILFRID and peers at the letters. The WOMAN rises and crosses towards the door.)

(To MAYHEW.) It’s incredible. Quite incredible.

MAYHEW. (Reading over his shoulder) The cold-blooded vindictiveness.

SIRWILFRID. (Crossing to theWOMAN) How did you get hold of these?

WOMAN. That’d be telling.

SIRWILFRID. What have you got against Romaine Vole?

(The WOMAN crosses to the desk, suddenly and dramatically turns her head, swings the desk lamp so that it flows on to her face on the side that has been turned away from the audience, pushing her hair back as she does so, revealing that her cheek is all slashed, scarred and disfigured. SIR WILFRID starts back with an ejaculation.)

WOMAN. See that?

SIRWILFRID. Did she do that to you?

WOMAN. (Crossing toC.) Not her. The chap I was going with. Going with him steady, I was too. He was a bit younger than me, but he was fond of me and I loved him. Then she came along. She took a fancy to him and she got him away from me. She started to see him on the sly and then one day he cleared out. I knew where he’d gone. I went after him and I found them together. (She sits L. of the desk.) I told ’er what I thought of ’er and ’er set on me. In with one of the razor gangs, he was. He cut my face up proper. “There,” he says, “no man’ll ever look at you now.”

SIRWILFRID. Did you go to the police about it?

WOMAN. Me? Not likely. ’Sides it wasn’t ’is fault. Not really. It was hers, all hers. Getting him away from me, turning ’im against me. But I waited my time. I followed ’er about and watched ’er. I know some of the things she’s bin up to. I know where the bloke lives who she goes to see on the sly sometimes. That’s how I got hold of them letters. So now you know the whole story, mister. (She rises, thrusts her face forward and pushes her hair aside.) Want to kiss me?

(SIR WILFRID shrinks back.)

I don’t blame yer. (She crosses to L.)

SIRWILFRID. I’m deeply sorry, deeply sorry. Got a fiver, John?

(MAYHEW shows his empty wallet.)

(He takes his wallet from his pocket and extracts a fivepound note.) Er—we’ll make it another five pounds.

WOMAN. (Grabbing the note) ’Oldin’ out on me, were yer? Willin’ to go up another five quid. (She advances on SIR WILFRID.)

(SIR WILFRID backs towards MAYHEW.)

Ah, I knew I was being too soft with you. Those letters are the goods, aren’t they?

SIRWILFRID. They will, I think, be very useful. (He turns toMAYHEWand holds out a letter.) Here, John, have a butcher’s at this one.

(The WOMAN slips quickly out of the door.)

MAYHEW. We’ll have a handwriting expert on these for safety’s sake, and he can give evidence if necessary.

SIRWILFRID. We shall require this man’s surname and his address.

MAYHEW. (Looking around) Hullo, where has she gone? She mustn’t leave without giving us further particulars. (He crosses to C.)

SIRWILFRID. (Crosses and exits hurriedly. Off, calling) Carter! Carter!

CARTER. (Off.) Yes, Sir Wilfrid?

SIRWILFRID. (Off.) Carter, where did that young woman go?

CARTER. (Off.) She went straight out, sir.