The Mousetrap and Other Plays (100 page)

LISA
. She has been very depressed and in bad spirits today. Yesterday she seemed a little better and more cheerful.

DOCTOR
. (
sitting on the sofa at the right end
) Yes, yes, that's the way it goes. (
He sighs
) Is Karl with her now?

LISA
. Yes.

DOCTOR
. He never fails her.

The barrel organ music ceases.

You realize, my dear, don't you, that Karl is a very remarkable man? People feel it, you know, they're influenced by him.

LISA
. He makes his effect, yes.

DOCTOR
. (
sharply
) Now, what do you mean by that, young woman?

LISA
. (
taking the book from under her arm
) “There are no fields of amaranth this side of the grave.”

The
DOCTOR
takes the book from
LISA
and looks at the title.

DOCTOR
. H'm. Walter Savage Landor. What's your exact meaning, Lisa, in quoting him?

LISA
. Just that you know and I know that there are no fields of amaranth this side of the grave. But Karl doesn't know. For him the fields of amaranth are here and now, and that can be dangerous.

DOCTOR
. Dangerous—to him?

LISA
. Not only to him. Dangerous to others, to those who care for him, who depend on him. Men like Karl . . . (
She breaks off
)

DOCTOR
. (
after a pause
) Yes?

Voices are heard off down
R
, and as
LISA
hears them she moves to the work-table up
L
and sets it
R
of the armchair.
KARL
enters down
R
pushing
ANYA
HENDRYK
in a wheelchair.
ANYA
is a woman of about thirty-eight, fretful and faded with a trace of former prettiness. On occasions her manner shows she has at one time been a coquettish and pretty young girl. Mostly she is a querulous and whining invalid.

KARL
. (
as he enters
) I thought I heard your voice, Doctor.

DOCTOR
. (
rising
) Good evening, Anya, you look very well this evening.

KARL
pushes the wheelchair to
C
and sets it
R
of the work-table.

ANYA
. I may look well, Doctor, but I don't feel it. How can I feel well cooped up here all day?

DOCTOR
. (
Cheerfully
) But you have that nice balcony outside your bedroom window. (
He sits on the sofa
) You can sit out there and get the air and the sunshine and see what's going on all around you.

ANYA
. As if there's anything worth looking at going on round me. All these drab houses and all the drab people who live in them. Ah, when I think of our lovely little house and the garden and all our nice furniture—everything gone. It's too much, Doctor, it's too much to lose everything you have.

KARL
. Come, Anya, you still have a fine upstanding husband.

LISA
brings the flowers from the table
RC
and puts them on the work-table.

ANYA
. Not such an upstanding husband as he was—(
To
LISA
) is he?

LISA
laughs at
ANYA
's little joke and exits up
C
.

You stoop, Karl, and your hair is grey.

KARL
. (
sitting on the left arm of the sofa
) That is a pity, but you must put up with me as I am.

ANYA
. (
miserably
) I feel worse every day, Doctor. My back aches and I've got a twitching in this left arm. I don't think that last medicine suits me.

DOCTOR
. Then we must try something else.

ANYA
. The drops are all right, the ones for my heart, but Lisa only gives me four at a time. She says that you said I mustn't take more. But I think I've got used to them and it would be better if I took six or eight.

DOCTOR
. Lisa is carrying out my orders. That is why I have told her not to leave them near you in case you should take too many. They are dangerous, you know.

ANYA
. It's just as well you don't leave them near me. I'm sure if you did, one day I should take the whole bottle and finish it all.

DOCTOR
. No, no, my dear. You wouldn't do that.

ANYA
. What good am I to anyone, just lying there, ill and a nuisance to everyone? Oh, I know they're kind enough, but they must feel me a terrible burden.

KARL
. (
rising and affectionately patting
ANYA
's shoulder
) You are not a burden to me, Anya.

ANYA
. That's what you say, but I must be.

KARL
. No, you're not.

ANYA
. I know I am. It's not as though I am gay and amusing like I used to be. I'm just an invalid now, fretful and cross with nothing amusing to say or do.

KARL
. No, no, my dear.

ANYA
. If I were only dead and out of the way, Karl could marry—a young handsome wife who would help him in his career.

KARL
. You would be surprised if you knew how many men's careers have been ruined by marrying young handsome wives when they themselves are middle-aged.

ANYA
. You know what I mean. I'm just a burden on you.

KARL
shakes his head at
ANYA
, gently smiling.

DOCTOR
. (
writing a prescription on his pad
) We'll try a tonic. A new tonic.

LISA
enters up
C
.
She carries a tray of coffee for four which she puts on the table
RC
.

LISA
. Have you seen your flowers, Anya? Karl brought them for you. (
She pours the coffee
)

KARL
moves above the work-table and picks up the vase for
ANYA
to see.

ANYA
. I don't want to be reminded of spring. Spring in this horrible city. You remember the woods and how we went and picked the little wild daffodils? Ah, life was so happy, then, so easy. We didn't know what was coming. Now, the world is hateful, horrible, all drab grey, and our friends are scattered, and most of them are dead, and we have to live in a foreign country.

LISA
hands a cup of coffee to the doctor.

DOCTOR
. Thank you, Lisa.

KARL
. There are worse things.

ANYA
. I know you think I complain all the time, but—if I were well I should be brave and bear it all.

ANYA
puts her hand out and
KARL
kisses it.
LISA
hands a cup of coffee to
ANYA
.

KARL
. I know, my dear, I know. You have a lot to bear.

ANYA
. You don't know anything about it.

The front door bell rings.
LISA
exits in the hall to
R
.

You're well and strong and so is Lisa. What have I ever done that this should happen to me?

KARL
. (
taking her hand in his
) Dearest—dearest—I understand.

LISA
. (
off
) Good afternoon.

HELEN
. (
off
) Could I see Professor Hendryk, please?

LISA
. (
off
) Would you come this way, please.

LISA
enters up
C
from
R
.
HELEN
ROLLANDER
follows her on.
HELEN
is a beautiful and self-assured girl of about twenty-three.
KARL
moves above the armchair.

(
She stands
L
of the doors
) Miss Rollander to see you, Karl.

HELEN
goes straight toward
KARL
.
Her manner is assured and charming.
LISA
watches her sharply. The
DOCTOR
rising, is intrigued and interested.

HELEN
. I do hope you don't mind my butting in like this. I got your private address from Lester Cole.

LISA
crosses to the table
RC
and pours more coffee.

KARL
. (
moving up
L
of
ANYA
) Of course I do not mind. May I introduce you to my wife—Miss Rollander.

HELEN
stands
R
of
ANYA
.
LISA
gives
KARL
a cup of coffee.

HELEN
. (
with great charm
) How do you do, Mrs. Hendryk?

ANYA
. How do you do? I am, you see, an invalid. I cannot get up.

HELEN
. Of course not. I'm so sorry. I hope you don't mind my coming, but I'm a pupil of your husband's. I wanted to consult him about something.

KARL
. (
indicating them in turn
) This is Miss Koletzky and Dr. Stoner.

HELEN
. (
to
LISA
) How do you do? (
She crosses to the
DOCTOR
and shakes hands
) How do you do? (
She moves up
C
)

DOCTOR
. How do you do?

HELEN
. (
looking round the room
) So this is where you live. Books, books, and books. (
She moves down to the sofa, then sits on it
)

DOCTOR
. Yes, Miss Rollander, you are very fortunate in being able to sit down. I cleared that sofa only five minutes ago.

HELEN
. Oh, I'm always lucky.

KARL
. Would you like some coffee?

HELEN
. No, thank you. Professor Hendryk, I wonder if I could speak to you for a moment alone?

LISA
looks up sharply from her coffee at
KARL
.

KARL
. (
rather coldly
) I'm afraid our accommodation is rather limited. This is the only sitting-room.

HELEN
. Oh, well, I expect you know what I'm going to say. You told me today that your time was so taken up that you couldn't accept any more private pupils. I've come to ask you to change your mind, to make an exception in my favour.

KARL
crosses above
ANYA
to
L
of
HELEN
,
looks at
LISA
as he passes and hands her his cup and saucer.

KARL
. I'm very sorry, Miss Rollander, but my time is absolutely booked up.

HELEN
speaks with great pace and assurance, almost gabbling.

HELEN
. You can't put me off like that. I happen to know that after you refused me you agreed to take Sydney Abrahamson privately, so you see you had got time. You preferred him to me. Why?

KARL
. If you want an honest answer . . .

HELEN
. I do. I hate beating about the bush.

KARL
. I think Sydney is more likely to profit than you are.

HELEN
. Do you mean you think he's got a better brain than I have?

KARL
. No, I would not say that, but he has, shall I say, a greater desire for learning.

HELEN
. Oh, I see. You think I'm not serious?

KARL
does not answer.

But I am serious. The truth is you're prejudiced. You think that because I'm rich, because I've been a deb, and done all the silly things that debs do—you think I'm not in earnest.

ANYA
. (
finding
HELEN
's chatter is too much; interrupting
) Karl.

HELEN
. But, believe me, I am.

ANYA
. Oh, dear—I wonder—Karl!

KARL
. (
moving to
R
of
ANYA
) Yes, my darling?

ANYA
. My head—I don't feel terribly well.

HELEN
is put out by
ANYA
's interruption, and takes some cigarettes and a lighter from her handbag.

I'm sorry—er—Miss Rollander, but if you'll excuse me I think I'll go back to my own room.

HELEN
. (
rather bored
) Of course, I quite understand.

KARL
pushes the chair towards the door down
R
.
The
DOCTOR
moves to the door, opens it and takes charge of the chair.
KARL
stands
R
of the sofa.