The Mousetrap

She did it herself. (She catches RAYMOND’s arm excitedly) Do you understand? She did it herself.

CARBERY. Well, that seems to clinch matters. There will be traces of digitoxin in the barrel, and in all probability deceased’s fingerprints. That, and Miss Pryce’s evidence, seems conclusive. Mrs. Boynton took her own life.

RAYMOND. Sarah!

SARAH. (Half crying) Miracles do happen. Darling Miss Pryce, you’re better than any Lourdes water.

CARBERY. Well, we must be getting along. The plane is waiting at Ain Musa. (He moves up Centre.)

(The ARAB BOY enters from the marquee. He carries a cablegram which he hands to CARBERY.)

GINEVRA. (Moving toGERARD) Doctor Gerard—I—I did invent those things. Sometimes—(Confusedly) I really thought they were true. You will help me, won’t you?

GERARD. Yes, chérie, I will help you.

CARBERY. (Handing the cablegram toLADYWESTHOLME) Lady Westholme, there’s a cable they brought along for you.

(LADY WESTHOLME opens the cable and reads it. HIGGS enters from the marquee.)

LADYWESTHOLME. Dear me. Sir Eric Hartly-Witherspoon is dead.

HIGGS. So’s Queen Anne.

LADYWESTHOLME. (Radiant) This is most important. I must return to England at once.

CARBERY. A near relation?

LADYWESTHOLME. No relation at all. Sir Eric was Member for Market Spotsbury. (Pronounced Spurry) That means a by-election. I am the prospective Conservative candidate and I may say that when I get into the House again . . .

HIGGS. Yer seem mighty sure about it.

LADYWESTHOLME. Market Spotsbury has always returned a Conservative.

HIGGS. Aye—but times is changin’ and “always” ’as a ’abit of becomin’ “never no more.” ’Oo’s yer opponent?

LADYWESTHOLME. I believe some Independent candidate.

HIGGS. What’s ’is name?

LADYWESTHOLME. (Nonplussed) I’ve no idea. Probably someone quite unimportant.

HIGGS. Ah’ll tell yer ’is name—it’s Alderman ’Iggs—and if I can keep you out of the first floor in Jerusalem—by gum—I’ll keep yer out of the ground floor in Westminster.

CURTAIN

The Hollow

Presented by Peter Saunders at the Fortune Theatre, London, on 7th June 1951, with the following cast of characters:

(in the order of their appearance)

 

HENRIETTA ANGKATELL

Beryl Baxter

 

 

SIR HENRY ANGKATELL, KCB

George Thorpe

 

 

LADY ANGKATELL

Jeanne de Casalis

 

 

MIDGE HARVEY

Jessica Spencer

 

 

GUDGEON

A.J. Brown

 

 

EDWARD ANGKATELL

Colin Douglas

 

 

DORIS

Patricia Jones

 

 

GERDA CRISTOW

Joan Newell

 

 

JOHN CRISTOW, MD, FRCP

Ernest Clark

 

 

VERONICA CRAYE

Dianne Foster

 

 

INSPECTOR COLQUHOUN, CID

Martin Wyldeck

 

 

DETECTIVE SERGEANT PENNY

Shaw Taylor

 

The play directed by Hubert Gregg

The play was subsequently transferred to the Ambassadors Theatre

 

SYNOPSIS OF SCENES

The action of the play passes in the garden room of Sir Henry Angkatell’s house, The Hollow, about eighteen miles from London

ACT I

A Friday afternoon in early September

ACT II

SCENE1   Saturday morning

SCENE2   Later the same day

ACT III

The following Monday morning

The lights are lowered during Act III to denote the passing of one hour

Time: the present

ACT ONE

SCENE: The garden room ofSIRHENRYANGKATELL’s house, The Hollow, about eighteen miles from London. A Friday afternoon in early September.