The Mousetrap and Other Plays (102 page)

KARL
. They are quite simple. Please do sit down. (
He indicates the sofa
) Your daughter is charming and intelligent, but she is not in my opinion the stuff of which true scholars are made.

ROLLANDER
. (
sitting on the sofa at the left end
) Isn't that rather an arbitrary decision?

KARL
. (
smiling
) I think you have the popular belief that learning is a thing that can be stuffed into people as you put stuffing into a goose. (
He sits on the right arm of the sofa
) Perhaps it would be easier for you to understand if it was a question of music. If your daughter had a pretty and tuneful voice and you brought her to a singing teacher and wanted her trained for opera, a conscientious and honest teacher would tell you frankly that her voice was not suitable for opera. Would never be suitable with all the training in the world.

ROLLANDER
. Well, you're the expert. I must, I suppose, bow to your ruling on that.

KARL
. Do you, yourself, really believe that your daughter wants to take up an academic career?

ROLLANDER
. No, quite frankly, I do not think so. But she thinks so, Professor Hendryk. Shall we put it as simply as this, that I want my daughter to have what she wants.

KARL
. A common parental weakness.

ROLLANDER
. As you say, a common parental weakness. My position, however, is more uncommon than that of some parents. I am, as you may or may not know, a rich man—to put it simply.

KARL
. I am aware of that, Sir William. I read the newspapers. I think it was only a few days ago that I read the description of the exotically fitted luxury car which you were having specially built as a present for your daughter.

ROLLANDER
. Oh, that! Probably seems to you foolish and ostentatious. The reasons behind it, let me tell you, are mainly business ones. Helen's not even particularly interested in the car. Her mind at the moment is set on serious subjects. That, I may say, is something for a change, for which I am thankful. She's run around for a couple of years now with a set of people whom I don't much care for. People without a thing in their heads except pleasure. Now she seems to want to go in for serious study and I am behind her one hundred per cent.

KARL
. I can quite understand your point of view, but . . .

ROLLANDER
. I'll tell you a little more, Professor Hendryk. Helen is all that I have. Her mother died when she was seven years old. I loved my wife and I've never married again. All that I have left of her is Helen. I've always given Helen every single mortal thing she wanted.

KARL
. That was natural, I'm sure, but has it been wise?

ROLLANDER
. Probably not, but it's become a habit of life, now. And Helen's a fine girl, Professor Hendryk. I dare say she's made her mistakes, she's been foolish, but the only way you can learn about life is by experience. The Spanish have a proverb, “ ‘Take what you want and pay for it,' says God.” That's sound, Professor Hendryk, very sound.

KARL
. (
rising and crossing to
R
of the work-table
) The payment may be high.

ROLLANDER
. Helen wants private tuition from you. I want to give it to her. I'm prepared to pay your price.

KARL
. (
coldly
) It's not a question of price, Sir William. I'm not in the market for the highest fees I can get. I have a responsibility to my profession. My time and energy are limited. I have two good scholars, poor men, but they rate with me in priority above your daughter. You will forgive me for speaking frankly.

ROLLANDER
. I appreciate your point of view, but I am not so insensitive as you may think. I quite realize it isn't just a question of money. But in my belief, Professor Hendryk—and I'm a business man—every man has his price.

KARL
shrugs his shoulders and sits in the armchair.

KARL
. You are entitled to your opinion.

ROLLANDER
. Your wife is, I believe, suffering from disseminated sclerosis.

KARL
. (
surprised
) That is quite true. But how—did you . . . ?

ROLLANDER
. (
interrupting
) When I approach a proposition I find out all about it beforehand. That disease, Professor Hendryk, is one about which very little is known. It responds to palliatives but there is no known cure, and although the subject of it may live for many years, complete recovery is unknown. That, I think, speaking in non-medical terms, is fairly correct?

KARL
. Yes, that is correct.

ROLLANDER
. But you may have heard or read of a sensational new treatment started in America, of which there are great hopes. I don't pretend to speak with any kind of medical knowledge or accuracy, but I believe that a new expensively produced antibiotic has been discovered which has an appreciable effect upon the course of the disease. It is at present unprocurable in England, but a small quantity of the drug—or whatever you call it—has been sent to this country and will be used on a few specially selected cases. I have influence in that direction, Professor Hendryk. The Franklin Institute, where this work is going on, will accept your wife as a patient if I exert my influence there.

LISA
rises and moves to
L
of
KARL
.

KARL
. (
quietly
) Bribery and corruption.

ROLLANDER
. (
unoffended
) Oh, yes, just as you say. Bribery and corruption. Not personal bribery, it wouldn't work in your case. You would turn down any financial offer I made you. But can you afford to turn down a chance of your wife's recovering her health?

There is a pause, then
KARL
rises and goes to the double doors up
C
.
He stands there for quite a while, then turns and comes down
C
.

KARL
. You are quite right, Sir William. I will accept your daughter as a pupil. I will give her private tutition and as much care and attention as I would my best pupil. Does that satisfy you?

ROLLANDER
. It will satisfy her. She is the kind of girl who doesn't take no for an answer. (
He rises and faces
KARL
C
) Well, you have my word for it that when they are ready at the Franklin Institute, your wife will be accepted as a patient. (
He shakes hands with
KARL
) That will probably be in about two months' time.

LISA
moves to the doors
C
, opens them, then stands to one side.

It only remains for me to hope the treatment will be as successful as these cases in the United States seem to have been, and that I may congratulate you in a year's time on your wife's being restored to health and strength. Good night, Professor Hendryk. (
He starts to go then stops and turns
) By the way my daughter is waiting in the car downstairs to hear the result of my embassy. Do you mind if she comes up for a moment or two? I know she'd like to thank you.

KARL
. Certainly, Sir William.

ROLLANDER
exits up
C
to
R
.
LISA
follows him off.
KARL
moves to the desk chair and leans on the back of it.

ROLLANDER
. (
off
) Good night.

LISA
. (
off
) Good night, Sir William.

LISA
re-enters, leaving the doors open. She stands up
LC
.

So the girl wins.

KARL
. Do you think I should have refused?

LISA
. No.

KARL
. I have made Anya suffer so much already. For sticking to my principles I was turned out of the university at home. Anya has never really understood why. She never saw my point of view. It seemed to her that I behaved foolishly and quixotically. She suffered through it far more than I did. (
He pauses
) So now there is a chance of recovery and she must have it. (
He sits at the desk
)

LISA
. What about those two students? Won't one of them have to go to the wall?

KARL
. Of course not. I shall make the time. I can sit up late at night to do my own work.

LISA
. You're not so young as you were, Karl. You're already overworking yourself.

KARL
. Those two boys mustn't suffer.

LISA
. If you have a breakdown, everybody will suffer.

KARL
. Then I mustn't have a breakdown. It's fortunate that no principle is involved here.

LISA
. Very fortunate—(
She looks towards the door down
R
) for Anya.

KARL
. What do you mean by that, Lisa?

LISA
. Nothing, really.

KARL
. I don't understand. I'm a very simple man.

LISA
. Yes. That's what's so frightening about you.

The thump of
ANYA
's stick is heard off
R
.

KARL
. (
rising
) Anya is awake. (
He moves towards the door down
R
)

LISA
. (
moving down
C
) No, I'll go. Your new pupil will want to see you. (
She goes towards the door down
R
)

KARL
. (
as she passes him
) You do believe that I have done right? (
He moves and stands below the armchair
)

HELEN
enters up
C
from
R
.

LISA
. (
pausing at the doorway and turning to
KARL
) What is right? How do we ever know till we see the result?

LISA
exits down
R
.

HELEN
. (
in the doorway
) The door was open so I came straight in. Is that all right?

KARL
. (
rather far away and staring after
LISA
) Of course.

HELEN
. (
moving to
R
of the armchair
) I do hope you're not angry. I dare say you feel I'm not much good as a scholar. But you see, I've never had any proper training. Only a silly sort of fashionable education. But I will work hard, I will, really.

KARL
. (
coming back to earth
) Good. (
He goes to the desk and makes some notes on a sheet of paper
) We will commence a serious life of study. I can lend you some books. You shall take them away and read them, then you will come at an hour that we fix and I shall ask you certain questions as to the conclusions you draw from them. (
He turns to
HELEN
) You understand?

HELEN
. (
moving up
C
) Yes. May I take the books now? Daddy's waiting for me in the car.

KARL
. Yes. That is a good idea. You'll need to buy these. (
He gives her the list he has written
) Now, let me see. (
He goes to the bookcase
R
of the double doors and picks out two large volumes, murmuring under his breath as he does so.
)

HELEN
watches
KARL
.

KARL
. (
Almost to himself as he picks the volumes
) You must have Lecomte, yes, and possibly Wertfor. (
To
HELEN
) Do you read German? (
He moves to
L
of the table
RC
)

HELEN
. (
moving to
L
of
KARL
) I know a little hotel German.

KARL
. (
sternly
) You must study German. It is impossible to get anywhere without knowing French and German thoroughly. You should study German grammar and composition three days a week.

HELEN
makes a slight grimace.

(
He looks sharply at
HELEN
and hands her the two books
) The books are rather heavy, I'm afraid.

HELEN
. (
taking the books and nearly dropping them
) Ooh—I should say they are. (
She sits on the left arm of the sofa and glances through the books
) It looks rather difficult. (
She leans on
KARL
's shoulder slightly as she looks at the books
) You want me to read all of it?

KARL
. I should like you to read it through with especial attention to chapter four and chapter eight.

HELEN
. (
leaning almost against him
) I see.

KARL
. (
crossing to the desk
) Shall we say next Wednesday afternoon at four o'clock?

HELEN
. (
rising
) Here? (
She puts the books on the sofa
)

KARL
. No. At my room in the university.