The Mousetrap

MARY. I daresay we could find you an umbrella if necessary, or Nevile could lend you his raincoat. (Mary exits by the French windows.)

LATIMER. (Moving upC.) Interesting woman, that—bit of a dark horse.

KAY. I feel rather sorry for her. (She moves to the armchairL. C., sits and sips her drink.) Slaving for that unpleasant old woman—and she won’t get anything for it, either. All the money comes to me and Nevile.

LATIMER. (Moving toR. of Kay.) Perhaps she doesn’t know that.

KAY. That would be rather funny. (They laugh. Audrey and Treves enter by the French windows. Treves is wearing an old-fashioned dinner suit. Audrey is in evening dress. She notices Latimer and Kay together, then moves below the chaise. Treves stops in the doorway and speaks over his shoulder.)

TREVES. I shall enjoy a little gossip with Lady Tressilian, Miss Aldin. With, perhaps, the remembering of a few old scandals. A touch of malice, you know, adds a certain savour to conversation. (He crosses to the door L.) Doesn’t it, Audrey?

AUDREY. She chooses the person she wants and summons them by a kind of Royal Command.

TREVES. Very aptly put, Audrey. I am always sensible of the royal touch in Lady Tressilian’s manner. (Treves exits L.)

AUDREY. (Listlessly.) It’s terribly hot, isn’t it? (She sits on the chaise.)

LATIMER. (With a step towards the butler’s tray.) Would you—like a drink?

AUDREY. (Shaking her head.) No, thank you. I think I shall go to bed very soon. (There is a short silence. Nevile entersL. He is wearing a dinner suit and is carrying a magazine.)

KAY. What have you been doing all this time, Nevile?

NEVILE. I had a couple of letters to write—thought I might as well get ’em off my chest.

KAY. (Rising.) You might have chosen some other time. (She moves to the butler’s tray and puts her glass on it.)

NEVILE. (Crossing and standing above the coffee table.) Better the hour, better the deed. By the way, here’s the Illustrated News. Somebody wanted it.

KAY. (Holding out her hand.) Thank you, Nevile.

AUDREY. (At almost the same moment.) Oh! Thank you, Nevile. (She holds out her hand. Nevile hesitates between them, smiling.)

KAY. (With a slight note of hysteria.) I want it. Give it to me.

AUDREY. (Withdrawing her hand, slightly confused.) Oh, sorry. I thought you were speaking to me, Nevile. (Nevile hesitates for a moment, then holds out the magazine to Audrey.)

NEVILE. (Quietly.) Here you are, Audrey.

AUDREY. Oh, but I . . .

KAY. (In suppressed fury, and almost crying.) It is stifling in here. (She moves quickly to the coffee table, picks up her evening bag and rushes below the chaise to the French windows.) Let’s go out in the air, Ted. I can’t stand being cooped up in this lousy hole any longer. (Kay almost stumbles as she exits by the French windows. Latimer, with an angry look at Nevile, follows Kay off. Nevile tosses the magazine on to the coffee table.)

AUDREY. (Rising, reproachfully.) You shouldn’t have done that, Nevile.

NEVILE. Why not?

AUDREY. (Crossing below the coffee table and standing downL.) It was stupid. You’d better go after Kay and apologize.

NEVILE. I don’t see why I should apologize.

AUDREY. I think you’d better. You were very rude to your wife. (Mary enters by the French windows and stands above the chaise.)