The Mousetrap

GINEVRA. I want Nadine to come. (Her handkerchief slips from her fingers to the floor.)

NADINE. (Putting her sewing on the table) Then, of course, I will. (She rises.)

MRS. BOYNTON. The child prefers to go by herself. (She fixesGINEVRAwith her eye) Don’t you, Jinny?

GINEVRA. (After a pause; mechanically) Yes—I’d rather go alone. Thank you, Nadine. (She crosses slowly to the lift.)

(MRS. BOYNTON follows GINEVRA with her eyes. NADINE resumes her seat and picks up her sewing. The lift descends and the door opens. The ITALIAN GIRL enters from the lift. She has changed into a very revealing sunsuit, and carries a magazine and an unlighted cigarette in a long holder.

GINEVRApasses theGIRL, and exits into the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends. TheGIRLgoes to theCLERK, who lights her cigarette for her.)

GIRL. (To theCLERK) I would like a Martini on the terrace, please. (She goes on to the terrace and sits Right of the table under the sunshade.)

(The ARAB BOY enters up Left, with GERARD’s drink on a tray. He crosses above the table Centre and puts the glass on the table beside GERARD. He then returns to the desk, takes the GIRL’s order from the CLERK and exits up Left.

JEFFERSONCOPEenters breezily up Right. He is about forty-five; a pleasant, normal, rather old-fashioned American.)

COPE. (Moving to Right of the table Centre) I was looking around for you all. (He shakes hands all round, then stands Right of the table.) How do you find yourself, Mrs. Boynton? Not too tired by the journey from Cairo?

MRS. BOYNTON. (Suddenly very gracious) No, thank you. My health’s never good, as you know . . .

COPE. Why, of course. (Sympathetically) Too bad, too bad.

MRS. BOYNTON. But I’m certainly no worse. (She looks at NADINE.) Nadine takes good care of me, don’t you, Nadine?

NADINE. (Without expression) I do my best.

COPE. (Heartily) Why, I bet you do. Well, Lennox, and what do you think of King David’s city?

(LENNOX continues to look at his book and does not answer.)

MRS. BOYNTON. Lennox!

LENNOX. (As from the very far away) Sorry—what did you say, Cope?

COPE. (Crossing above the table to Left Centre) I asked what you thought of King David’s city.

LENNOX. Oh—I don’t know.

COPE. Find it kind of disappointing, do you? I’ll confess it struck me that way at first. But perhaps you haven’t been around much yet?

LENNOX. We can’t do much because of Mother.

MRS. BOYNTON. A couple of hours’ sightseeing is about all I can do.

COPE. I think it’s wonderful you manage to do all you do, Mrs. Boynton.

MRS. BOYNTON. I don’t give in to my body. It’s the mind that matters—(With secret zest) yes, the mind.

(RAYMOND BOYNTON enters up Right and moves to Right of the table. He is a good-looking young man of twenty-four. He is smiling and looking happy. He carries a wrapped bottle of medicine.)

COPE. Hullo, Ray, caught sight of you just now as I came in—but you were too busy to see me. (He laughs.)

MRS. BOYNTON. Busy? (She turns her head slowly to look atRAYMOND.)

(RAYMOND’s smile vanishes)

Did you get my medicine at the chemist?

RAYMOND. Yes, Mother, here it is. (He hands her the package, avoiding her eye.)

COPE. That was a nice-looking girl you were talking to, Ray.