The Mousetrap and Other Plays (14 page)

(
LOMBARD
,
revolver in hand, rushes to window, looks out, then returns slowly to room.
VERA
sits down Left.
)

LOMBARD
. Blore's got his.

VERA
. How?

LOMBARD
. A booby trap—all set—a wire across the door attached to something above.

VERA
. Is he . . . ?

LOMBARD
. Yes. Crushed. Head stove in. That great bronze bear holding a clock, from the landing.

VERA
. A bear? Oh, how ghastly! It's this awful childishness!

LOMBARD
. I know. God, what a fool Blore was!

VERA
. And now there are two.

LOMBARD
. (
To down Left
) Yes, and we'll have to be very careful of ourselves.

VERA
. We shan't do it. He'll get us. We'll never get away from this island!

LOMBARD
. Oh, yes, we will. I've never been beaten yet.

VERA
. Don't you feel—that there's someone—now—in this room—watching us, watching and waiting?

LOMBARD
. That's just nerves.

VERA
. Then you do feel it?

LOMBARD
. (
Fiercely
) No, I don't.

VERA
. (
Rises, to Centre
) Please, Philip, let's get out of this house—anywhere. Perhaps if that was a boat, they'll see us.

LOMBARD
. All right. We'll go to the top of the island and wait for relief to come. It's sheer cliff on the far side and we can see if anyone approaches from the house.

VERA
. Anything is better than staying here.

LOMBARD
. Won't you be rather cold in that dress?

VERA
. I'd be colder if I were dead.

LOMBARD
. Perhaps you're right. (
Goes to window
) A quick reconnaissance.

VERA
. Be careful, Philip—please! (
Follows him to window.
)

LOMBARD
. I'm not Blore. There's no window directly above. (
He goes out on balcony and looks down. He is arrested by what he sees.
) Hullo, there's something washed up on the rocks.

VERA
. What? (
She joins him
) It looks like a body.

LOMBARD
. (
In a strange new voice
) You'd better wait in there. I'm going to have a look.

(
He exits to Left on balcony.
VERA
back into room. Her face is full of conflicting emotions.
)

VERA
. Armstrong—Armstrong's body—

LOMBARD
. (
Comes in very slowly
) It's Armstrong drowned—Washed up at high-water mark.

VERA
. So there's no one on the island—no one at all, except us two.

LOMBARD
. Yes, Vera. Now we know where we are.

VERA
. Now we know where we are?

LOMBARD
. A very pretty trick of yours, with that wire. Quite neat. Old Wargrave always knew you were dangerous.

VERA
. You—

LOMBARD
. So you did drown that kid after all.

VERA
. I didn't! That's where you're wrong. Please believe me. Please listen to me!

LOMBARD
. (
Crossing down Left
) I'm listening. You'd better make it a good story.

VERA
. (
Above Right sofa
) It isn't a story. It's the truth. I didn't kill that child. It was someone else.

LOMBARD
. Who?

VERA
. A man. Peter's uncle. I was in love with him.

LOMBARD
. This is getting quite interesting.

VERA
. Don't sneer. It was hell. Absolute hell. Peter was born after his father's death. If he'd been a girl, Hugh would have got everything.

LOMBARD
. Well-known tale of the wicked uncle.

VERA
. Yes—he was wicked—and I didn't know. He said he loved me, but that he was too poor to marry. There was a rock far out that Peter was always wanting to swim to. Of course, I wouldn't let him. It was dangerous. One day we were on the beach and I had to go back to the house for something I'd forgotten. When I got back to the rock, I looked down and saw Peter swimming out to the rock. I knew he hadn't a chance, the current had got him already. I flew towards the beach and Hugh tried to stop me. “Don't be a fool,” he said. “I told the little ass he could do it.”

LOMBARD
. Go on. This is interesting.

VERA
. I pushed past him—he tried to stop me, but I got away and rushed down. I plunged into the sea and swam after Peter. He'd gone before I could get to him.

LOMBARD
. And everything went off well at the inquest. They called you a plucky girl, and you kept discreetly quiet about Hugh's part in the business.

VERA
. Do you think anyone would have believed me? Besides, I couldn't! I really was in love with him.

LOMBARD
. Well, it's a pretty story. And then I suppose Hugh let you down?

VERA
. Do you think I ever wanted to see him again?

LOMBARD
. You certainly are an accomplished liar, Vera.

VERA
. Can't you believe the truth when you hear it?

LOMBARD
. Who set the trap that killed Blore? I didn't—and Armstrong's dead. I've broken most of the Commandments in my time—and I'm no saint. But there's one thing I won't stand for and that's murder.

VERA
. You won't stand for murder. What about those natives you left to die in Africa?

LOMBARD
. That's what's so damn funny—I didn't.

VERA
. What do you mean?

LOMBARD
. For once—just once, mark you—I played the hero. Risked my life to save the lives of my men. Left them my rifle and ammunition and all the food there was—and took a chance through the bush. By the most incredible luck it came off—but it wasn't in time to save them. And the rumour got around that I'd deliberately abandoned my men. There's life for you!

VERA
. Do you expect me to believe that? Why, you actually admitted the whole thing.

LOMBARD
. I know. I got such a kick out of watching their faces.

VERA
. You can't fool me with a stupid lie like that.

LOMBARD
. (
Completely losing his temper
) Blast you!

VERA
. (
To Right window
) Why didn't I see it before? It's there in your face—the face of a killer—

LOMBARD
. You can't fool me any longer.

VERA
. Oh—(
VERA
sways forward as if fainting.
LOMBARD
runs to catch her. She wrests the revolver from him.
) Now!

LOMBARD
. (
Backing away down Left
) You cunning little devil!

VERA
. If you come on one step nearer, I'll shoot.

LOMBARD
. You—young, lovely, and quite, quite mad.

(
LOMBARD
makes a movement to
VERA
.
She shoots. He falls down Left. She goes over to him, her eyes full of horror, as she realizes what she has done. The revolver falls from her hand. Suddenly she hears a low laugh coming from the study door. She turns her head slowly in that direction. The laughter grows louder, the Right door slowly opens and
WARGRAVE
enters. He carries a rope in his hand.
)

WARGRAVE
. It's all come true. My Ten Little Indian plan—My rhyme—my rhyme—

VERA
. Ah! (
Stifted scream.
)

WARGRAVE
. (
Angrily
) Silence in Court! (
Looks around suspiciously
) If there is any more noise, I shall have the Court cleared. (
Down Right Centre
) It's all right, my dear. It's all right. Don't be frightened. This is a Court of Justice. You'll get justice here. (
Crosses Left; locks doors Left 2 and Left 1.
VERA
to Right. Confidentially
) You thought I was a ghost. You thought I was dead. (
Above Right sofa
) Armstrong said I was dead. That was the clever part of my plan. Said we'd trap the murderer. We'd fix up my supposed death so I should be free to spy upon the guilty one. He thought it an excellent plan—came out that night to meet me by the cliff without suspicion. I sent him over with a push—so easily. He swallowed my red herring all right. (
VERA
is petrified with horror. In a confidential manner
) You know, Vera Claythorne, all my life I've wanted to take life—yes, to take life. I've had to get what enjoyment I could out of sentencing the guilty to death. (
VERA
moves to revolver
) I always enjoyed that—but it wasn't enough. I wanted more—I wanted to do it myself with my own hands—(
WARGRAVE
follows
VERA
to Left.
VERA
leans against Left 1 door. Suddenly curbs excitement and speaks with severe dignity
) But I'm a Judge of the High Court. I've got a sense of justice. (
As if listening to an echo
) As between our Sovereign Lord the King and the prisoner at the Bar—will true deliverance make—Guilty, my Lord. Yes. (
Nods head
) Guilty. You were all guilty, you know, but the Law couldn't touch you, so I had to take the Law into my own hands. (
Holds up hands in a frenzy of delight
) Into my own hands! Silence in the Court! (
VERA
hammers on Left 1 door.
WARGRAVE
takes her arm and drags her to Right above Left sofa.
) Anthony Marston first. Then Mrs. Rogers. Barbitone in the brandy. MacKenzie—stabbed. Got Rogers with an axe when he was chopping sticks. Doped Emily Brent's coffee so she couldn't feel the hypodermic. Booby trap for Blore. (
Confidentially
) Blore was a fool. I always knew it would be easy to get Blore. Returning that revolver was a clever touch. Made the end interesting. I knew you two would suspect each other in the end. The question was, who'd win out? I banked on you, my dear. The female of the species. Besides, it's always more exciting to have a girl at the end. (
He steps on to sofa, and
VERA
falls to the ground.
) Prisoner at the Bar, have you anything to say why sentence should not be passed on you? Vera Elizabeth Claythorne, I sentence you to death—

(
WARN Curtain.
)

VERA
. (
With a sudden outcry
) Stop! Stop! I'm not guilty! I'm not guilty!

WARGRAVE
. Ah, they all say that. Must plead not guilty. Unless, of course, you're going all out for a verdict of insanity. But you're not mad. (
Very reasonably
) I'm mad, but you're not.

VERA
. But I
am
innocent! I swear it! I never killed that child. I never wanted to kill him. You're a judge. You know when a person is guilty and when they're innocent. I swear I'm telling the truth.

WARGRAVE
. So you didn't drown that boy after all? Very interesting. But it doesn't matter much now, does it?

VERA
. What—(
Makes inarticulate sounds as the rope swings in front of her.
)

WARGRAVE
. I can't spoil my lovely rhyme. My ten little Indian boys. You're the last one. One little Indian boy left all alone. He went and hanged himself. I must have my hanging—my hanging—

(
LOMBARD
comes slowly to, picks up revolver and shoots.
WARGRAVE
falls back off the sofa.
)

VERA
. Philip—Philip—

(
BOTH
sit on floor in front of sofa.
)

LOMBARD
. It's all right, darling. It's all right.

VERA
. I thought you were dead. I thought I'd killed you.

LOMBARD
. Thank God, women can't shoot straight. At least, not straight enough.

VERA
. I shall never forget this.

LOMBARD
. Oh, yes, you will. You know there's another ending to that Ten Little Indian rhyme:

“One little Indian boy left all alone,

We got married—and then there were none!”

(
Takes rope and puts his head in noose too. He kisses her.
)

(
There is the sound of a motor hooter.
)

CURTAIN

Appointment with Death

Produced at the Piccadilly Theatre, London, on
31
st March
1945
, with the following cast of characters:

(
in the order of their appearance
)