The Mousetrap and Other Plays (126 page)

ELSA
. That particular tune?

AMYAS
. (
not understanding
) What? (
He sings
) “When we are married, why what shall we do?” (
He grins
) Not very tactful.

(
CAROLINE
enters by the door up
L
,
carrying a bottle of beer
)

CAROLINE
. (
moving down
C
;
coldly
) Here's your beer. I'm sorry the ice was forgotten.

AMYAS
. Oh, thank you, Caroline. Open it for me, will you? (
He holds out his glass
)

(
CAROLINE
takes the glass, crosses to the trolley, and with her back to the audience, opens the bottle and pours the beer.
AMYAS
begins to whistle the same tune, realizes this, and checks himself.
CAROLINE
takes the bottle and the glass of beer to
AMYAS
)

CAROLINE
. Here's your beer.

AMYAS
. (
taking the glass
)
And
you hope it chokes me. (
He grins
) Here's to hoping! (
He drinks
) Phew, this tastes worse than the other. Still, it
is
cold.

(
CAROLINE
places the bottle beside the paintbox, goes into the room and exits up
C
.
AMYAS
resumes painting.
MEREDITH
enters breathlessly down
L
)

MEREDITH
. Is Phil about?

AMYAS
. He went to meet you.

MEREDITH
. Which path?

AMYAS
. Lower one.

MEREDITH
. I came by the other.

AMYAS
. Well, you can't go on chasing each other. Better hang on and wait.

MEREDITH
. (
taking out his handkerchief and wiping his brow
) I'm hot. I'll go inside. It's cooler. (
He crosses to the french windows
)

AMYAS
. Get yourself a cold drink. Get one of the women to get it for you.

(
MEREDITH
goes into the room, and hesitates, uncertain what to do
)

(
He looks at Elsa
) You've wonderful eyes, Elsa. (
He pauses
) I'll leave the hands—concentrate on the eyes. I haven't quite got them.

(
MEREDITH
moves to the french windows and looks out to the terrace
)

Move your hands as much as you like—I'm getting it. Now for God's sake don't move or talk.

(
MEREDITH
turns and crosses in the room to
RC
)

ELSA
. I don't want to talk.

AMYAS
. That's a change.

(
ANGELA
enters up
C
,
carrying a tray with a jug of iced lemonade and two glasses, which she places on the table
R
)

ANGELA
. Refreshments!

MEREDITH
. Oh, thank you, Angela. (
He moves to the tray and pours a glass of lemonade
)

ANGELA
. (
crossing to the french windows
) We aim to please. (
She goes on to the terrace. To Amyas
) Did you get your beer all right?

AMYAS
. Sure I did. You're a great gal.

ANGELA
. (
laughing
) Very kind, aren't I? Ha, ha. You wait and see.

(
ANGELA
runs into the room and exits up
C
,
closing the door behind her.
MEREDITH
sips his lemonade
)

AMYAS
. (
suspicious
) That kid's up to something. (
He rubs his right shoulder
) That's funny.

ELSA
. What's the matter?

AMYAS
. I'm very stiff this morning. Rheumatism, I suppose.

ELSA
. (
mocking
) Poor creaking old man.

(
PHILIP
enters down
L
)

AMYAS
. (
chuckling
) Creaking with age. Hullo, Phil. Merry's inside waiting for you.

PHILIP
. Good (
He crosses and goes into the room
)

(
MEREDITH
puts his glass on the tray and meets
PHILIP
at
C
.
AMYAS
resumes painting
)

MEREDITH
. Thank goodness you've come. I didn't know what to do.

PHILIP
. What is all this? Caroline and the governess were in the room when you rang up.

MEREDITH
. (
in a low voice
) There's a bottle missing from my lab.

PHILIP
. So you told me. But what's in it?

MEREDITH
. Conine.

PHILIP
. Hemlock?

MEREDITH
. Yes, conine's the pure alkaloid.

PHILIP
. Dangerous?

MEREDITH
. Very.

PHILIP
. And you've no idea whatsoever who could have taken it?

MEREDITH
. No. I always keep the door locked.

PHILIP
. You locked it yesterday?

MEREDITH
. You know I did. You saw me.

PHILIP
. You're sure about this—you haven't just mislaid the bottle—shoved it away somewhere? (
He crosses to
R
)

MEREDITH
. I showed it them all yesterday. And then I put it back in its place on the shelf.

PHILIP
. (
turning; sharply
) Who came out of the room last?

MEREDITH
. (
unwillingly
) Caroline—I waited for her.

PHILIP
. But you weren't watching her?

MEREDITH
. No.

PHILIP
. (
with decision
) Well, then Caroline took it.

MEREDITH
. You really think so?

PHILIP
. (
crossing above Meredith to
L
) So do you, or you wouldn't be in such a state.

MEREDITH
. That's what she had in mind yesterday—when she said everything was finished for her. She meant to do away with herself. (
He sinks on to the stool, and faces upstage
)

PHILIP
. Well, cheer up, she hasn't done any with herself yet.

MEREDITH
. You've seen her this morning. Is she all right?

PHILIP
. Seems just the same as usual to me.

MEREDITH
. What are we going to do?

PHILIP
. You'd better tackle her.

MEREDITH
. I don't know—how shall I go about it?

PHILIP
. I should just stay straight out—“You pinched my conine yesterday. Hand it back, please.”

MEREDITH
. (
doubtfully
) Like that?

PHILIP
. (
crossing above Meredith to
R
) Well, what do you want to say?

MEREDITH
. I don't know. (
He brightens
) We've got plenty of time, I imagine. She wouldn't take the stuff until she goes to bed, would she?

PHILIP
. (
dryly
) Probably not. If she means to take it at all.

MEREDITH
. You think she doesn't?

PHILIP
. (
crossing below Meredith to
L
) She may want it to make a theatrical scene with Amyas. Give up that girl or I'll swallow this and kill myself.

MEREDITH
. That wouldn't be like Caroline.

PHILIP
. Well—you know her best. (
He moves up
LC
)

MEREDITH
. You're always bitter about Caroline. You used to be crazy about her once—don't you remember? (
He rises
)

PHILIP
. (
turning; annoyed
) A brief attack of calf love. It wasn't serious.

MEREDITH
. And then—you turned against her.

PHILIP
. (
exasperated
) Let's stick to the present, shall we?

MEREDITH
. Yes. Yes, of course.

(
CAROLINE
enters up
C
)

CAROLINE
. Hullo, Merry, stay to lunch, won't you? It'll be ready in a moment. (
She moves to the french windows
)

MEREDITH
. Well, thanks.

(
CAROLINE
goes on to the terrace and stands by the easel, looking at Amyas
)

ELSA
. (
to Amyas; as Caroline comes out
) I shall have a break.

AMYAS
. (
rather indistinctly
) Stop where you are, damn you.

MEREDITH
. (
to Philip
) After lunch, I'll take Caroline out in the garden and tackle her. All right?

(
PHILIP
nods, closes the door up
C
and moves to the french windows.
ELSA
rises and stretches.
MEREDITH
moves to the table
R
and picks up his half-finished lemonade
)

CAROLINE
. (
urgently
) Amyas . . .

PHILIP
. (
moving on to the terrace
) You seem very preoccupied this morning, Caroline.

CAROLINE
. (
to Philip; over her shoulder
) I? Oh, yes, I'm very busy getting Angela off. (
To Amyas. Very urgently
) You will do it, Amyas. You
must.
This afternoon.

(
PHILIP
moves above the bench.
AMYAS
passes his hand over his forehead. He has lost control of clear speech
)

AMYAS
. All ri-right. I'll see—her packing . . .

CAROLINE
. (
turning to the french windows
) We—we do want Angela to get off without too much fuss. (
She goes into the room and stands above the stool
)

(
PHILIP
crosses to the french windows.
ELSA
sits on the bench.
AMYAS
shakes his head to try and clear his brain
)

PHILIP
. (
to Caroline
) You spoil that brat.

CAROLINE
. (
plumping cushions on the sofa
) We shall miss her terribly when she's gone.

PHILIP
. (
stepping into the room
) Where's little Carla?

(
MEREDITH
crosses to the armchair
L
with his drink, and sits
)

CAROLINE
. She's gone to stay with her godmother for a week. She'll be home the day after tomorrow.

MEREDITH
. What's Miss Williams going to do with herself when Angela's gone?

CAROLINE
. She's got a post at the Belgian Embassy. I shall miss her.

(
A dinner gong sounds off in the hall
)

Lunch.

(
ANGELA
bursts in up
C
)

ANGELA
. (
as she enters
) I'm starving. (
She runs on to the terrace. To Elsa and Amyas
) Lunch, you two.

(
MISS
WILLIAMS
appears in the doorway up
C
.
CAROLINE
crosses to the table
RC
and picks up her cigarette case
)

ELSA
. (
rising and picking up her pullover
) Coming.

(
ANGELA
goes into the room
)

(
To Amyas
) Lunch?

AMYAS
. I—ah!

MISS
WILLIAMS
. Do try not to shout so, Angela, it really isn't necessary.

ANGELA
. I'm not shouting.

(
ANGELA
exits up
C
.
MISS
WILLIAMS
follows her off
)

CAROLINE
. (
moving to the door up
C
;
to Meredith
) I should bring that in with you.

(
MEREDITH
rises
)

PHILIP
. (
looking at Meredith
) What—lemonade?

CAROLINE
. (
to Philip
) For you, we've got a lovely bottle of . . .

PHILIP
. Château Neuf du Pape? Good! Hasn't Amyas finished it yet?

CAROLINE
. (
to Meredith
) What a nice surprise to see you.

MEREDITH
. I really came over to see Philip, but I'm always happy to stay to lunch.

(
CAROLINE
and
PHILIP
exit up
C
.
ELSA
comes into the room
)