The Mousetrap

KAY. (Moving on to the rostrum.) That’s what she is. A crafty, cunning, scheming, little . . .

NEVILE. (Moving to Kay and gripping her arms.) Stop it!

KAY. (Releasing herself.) Leave me alone! (She moves slowly toL. of the chaise.) What the hell do you want?

NEVILE. (Turning and facing upstage.) I can’t go on. I’m every kind of worm you like to call me. But it’s no good, Kay. I can’t go on. (Kay sits on the chaise. He turns.) I think—really—I must have loved Audrey all the time. I’ve only just realized it. My love for you was—was a kind of madness. But it’s no good—you and I don’t belong. It’s better to cut our losses. (He moves above the chaise to R. of it.)

KAY. (In a deceptively quiet voice.) What exactly are you suggesting, Nevile?

NEVILE. We can get a divorce. You can divorce me for desertion.

KAY. You’d have to wait three years for it.

NEVILE. I’ll wait.

KAY. And then, I suppose, you’ll ask dear, sweet, darling Audrey to marry you all over again? Is that the idea?

NEVILE. If she’ll have me.

KAY. She’ll have you all right. And where do I come in?

NEVILE. Naturally, I’ll see you’re well provided for.

KAY. (Losing control of herself.) Cut out the bribes. (She rises and moves to Nevile.) Listen to me, Nevile. I’ll not divorce you. (She beats her hands against his chest.) You fell in love with me and you married me and I’m not going to let you go back to the sly little bitch who’s got her hooks into you again.

NEVILE. (Throwing Kay on to the chaise.) Shut up, Kay. For God’s sake. You can’t make this kind of scene here.

KAY. She meant this to happen. It’s what she’s been playing for. She’s probably gloating over her success now. But she’s not going to bring it off. You’ll see what I can do. (She flings herself on the chaise in a paroxysm of hysterical sobbing. Nevile gives a despairing gesture. Treves enters by the French windows and stands watching. At the same moment there is a brilliant flash of lightning, a rolling peal of thunder and the storm bursts as—the curtain falls.)

CURTAIN

ACT TWO

Scene I

SCENE: The same. Early the following morning.

When the curtain rises, it is a fine morning with the sun streaming in through the bay window. The French windows are open. The butler’s tray has been removed. The room is empty. Royde enters by the French windows. He is sucking at his pipe which appears to have become stopped up. He looks around for an ashtray, sees one on the coffee table, moves to it and knocks out the ashes from his pipe. Finding it is still stopped up, he takes a penknife from his pocket and gently probes the bowl. Treves enters downL.

TREVES. Good morning, Thomas.

ROYDE. (Moving above the coffee table.) ’Morning. Going to be another lovely day by the look of it.

TREVES. Yes. (He goes on to theL. end of the rostrum and looks out of the window.) I thought possibly the storm might have broken up the spell of fine weather, but it has only removed that oppressive heat—which is all to the good. (He moves to the R. end of the rostrum.) You’ve been up for hours as usual, I presume?

ROYDE. Since just after six. Been for a walk along the cliffs. Only just got back, as a matter of fact.

TREVES. Nobody else appears to be about yet. Not even Miss Aldin.

ROYDE. Um.

TREVES. Possibly she is fully occupied attending to Lady Tressilian. I should imagine she may be rather upset after that unfortunate incident last night. (He moves toL. of the chaise.)

ROYDE. (Blowing down his pipe.) Bit of a rumpus, wasn’t there?