The Mousetrap

(GINEVRA starts, looks at MRS. BOYNTON, opens her mouth to speak but says nothing. The sound of a bus arriving outside and the murmur of native voices is heard off up Right. MRS. BOYNTON and NADINE look towards the arch up Right. GINEVRA and LENNOX have no reaction. An ARAB BOY, carrying some baggage, enters up Right and crosses to the desk. He gets some directions from the CLERK and exits with the baggage up Left. LADY WESTHOLME, MISS AMABEL PRYCE and DOCTOR GERARD enter up Right and cross to the desk. LADY WESTHOLME is a large important-looking woman in tweeds, very British and country. MISS PRYCE is a typical spinster with a large terai hat and many bead chains and scarves. DOCTOR GERARD is a good-looking, middle-aged Frenchman. He carries a newspaper.)

LADYWESTHOLME. (Announcing the fact) I am Lady Westholme.

CLERK. (Indicating a pile of registration forms) You will register, please.

LADYWESTHOLME. You received my wire from Cairo?

CLERK. Certainly, Lady Westholme. Your rooms are reserved. One-one-eight and one-one-nine on the second floor.

LADYWESTHOLME. I prefer the first floor.

CLERK. I am afraid we have nothing vacant on the first floor.

(The ARAB BOY enters up Left.)

LADYWESTHOLME. (Overpoweringly) I have chosen to stay here instead of at the High Commissioner’s and I expect to be treated properly. If there are no rooms vacant on the first floor, somebody must be moved. You understand?

CLERK. (Defeated) If your ladyship will go temporarily to the second floor we will arrange something before tonight. Can I have your passport, please? (He indicates the form) Surname, Christian names and nationality, please.

(LADY WESTHOLME fills up the form.)

LADYWESTHOLME. (As she writes; loudly) British.

GERARD. (Softly) Very definitely.

CLERK. (To theARABBOY) Boy. (He hands a key to theARABBOY.)

(The ARAB BOY moves to the lift. LADY WESTHOLME follows him. MRS. BOYNTON follows LADY WESTHOLME with her eyes. MISS PRYCE struggles with her form.)

MISSPRYCE. Oh, dear, I hope I’ve filled this in right. I always find these forms so confusing.

GERARD. (HelpingMISSPRYCE) The nationality here. You, too, are British.

(The ARAB BOY rings the lift bell and returns to the desk. LADY WESTHOLME waits impatiently.)

MISSPRYCE. Oh, well—yes, certainly—at least—really, you know—(Confidentially) I’m Welsh—but still, it’s all the same. (She drops her handbag.)

GERARD. (Picking up the handbag) Allow me.

MISSPRYCE. (Taking the bag) Oh, thank you. (To theCLERK) Have you—is there—I believe you have a room booked for me—one with a view towards the Dead Sea, I asked for.

CLERK. The name?

MISSPRYCE. Oh, dear me—how stupid of me. Pryce. Miss Pryce. Miss Amabel Pryce.

(The lift descends and the door opens. LADY WESTHOLME exits to the lift.)

CLERK. (To theARABBOY) Number four-eighty-four. (He hands him a key.)

(The ARAB BOY moves to the lift. MISS PRYCE drops her handbag. GERARD picks up the bag.)

MISSPRYCE. So stupid of me. (She takes the bag.) Thank you so much.

(The ARAB BOY exits to the lift.)

(She hurries to the lift. Wait for me! Wait for me!

(MISS PRYCE exits to the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends.)

GERARD. (To theCLERK) Doctor Theodore Gerard. (He fills in a form.)

CLERK. Oh, yes, Doctor Gerard. Number one-eight-four. (He hands him a key.)