The Mousetrap

LATIMER. Good night. (Mary exitsL. Treves moves on to theL. end of the rostrum.) I must be running along myself. With luck I shall get across the ferry and back to the hotel before the storm breaks. (He moves above the chaise. Royde enters by the French windows.)

ROYDE. Are you going, Latimer? Would you like a raincoat?

LATIMER. No, thanks, I’ll chance it.

ROYDE. (Moving on to the rostrum.) Hell of a storm coming.

TREVES. Is Audrey on the terrace?

ROYDE. I haven’t the faintest idea. (He crosses to the door L.) I’m for bed. Good night. (Royde exits L. There is a flash of lightning and a low rumble of thunder is heard off.)

LATIMER. (With malice.) It would seem that the course of true love has not run smoothly. Was that thunder? Some way away still—(He moves to the French windows.) but I think I’ll make it.

TREVES. I’ll come with you and bolt the garden gate. (He crosses to the French windows. Latimer and Treves exit by the French windows.)

AUDREY. (Off, to Latimer.) Good night. (Audrey enters rather quickly by the French windows. There is a flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder. Audrey stands for a moment looking around the room, then moves slowly on to the rostrum, sits on the window-seat and looks out at the night. Nevile enters by the French windows and moves above the chaise.)

NEVILE. Audrey.

AUDREY. (Rising quickly and moving to theL. end of the rostrum.) I’m going to bed, Nevile. Good night.

NEVILE. (Moving on to the rostrum.) Don’t go yet. I want to talk to you.

AUDREY. (Nervously.) I think you’d better not.

NEVILE. (Moving toR. of her.) I must. I’ve got to. Please listen to me, Audrey.

AUDREY. (Backing to theL. wall of the window bay.) I’d rather you didn’t.

NEVILE. That means you know what I’m going to say. (Audrey does not reply.) Audrey, can’t we go back to where we were? Forget everything that has happened?

AUDREY. (Turning a little.) Including—Kay?

NEVILE. Kay will be sensible.

AUDREY. What do you mean by—sensible?

NEVILE. (Eagerly.) I shall tell her the truth—that you are the only woman I’ve ever loved. That is the truth, Audrey. You’ve got to believe that.

AUDREY. (Desperately.) You loved Kay when you married her.

NEVILE. My marriage to Kay was the biggest mistake I ever made. I realize now what a damned fool I’ve been. I . . . (Kay enters by the French windows.)

KAY. (Moving toR. C.) Sorry to interrupt this touching scene, but I think it’s about time I did.

NEVILE. (Moving toC. of the rostrum.) Kay, listen . . .

KAY. (Furiously.) Listen! I’ve heard all I want to hear—too much.

AUDREY. (With relief.) I’m going to bed. (She moves to the door L.) Good night.

KAY. (Crossing toR. of Audrey.) That’s right. Go to bed! You’ve done all the mischief you wanted to do, haven’t you? But you’re not going to get out of it as easily as all that. I’ll deal with you after I’ve had it out with Nevile.

AUDREY. (Coldly.) It’s no concern of mine. Good night. (Audrey exits L. There is a flash of lightning and a peal of thunder off.)

KAY. (Looking after Audrey.) Of all the damned, cool . . .

NEVILE. (Moving toR. of the coffee table.) Look here, Kay, Audrey had absolutely nothing to do with this. It’s not her fault. Blame me if you like . . .

KAY. (Working herself up.) And I do like. What sort of man do you think you are? (She turns to Nevile. Her voice rises.) You leave your wife, come bald-headed after me, get your wife to divorce you. Crazy about me one minute, tired of me the next. Now I suppose you want to go back to that—(She looks towards the door L.) whey-faced, mewling, double-crossing little cat . . .

NEVILE. (Angrily.) Stop that, Kay.