The Mousetrap and Other Plays (20 page)

SARAH
. (
Belligerently
) Why not?

(
RAYMOND
opens his mouth to speak, then shakes his head.
)

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. My son prefers to remain with his family.

SARAH
. Can't your son speak for himself?

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Tell her, son.

RAYMOND
. I—I prefer to be with—with my family.

SARAH
. (
Angrily
) Really? What devotion! (
With a contemptuous glance at
RAYMOND
,
she crosses below the table Centre to
LADY
WESTHOLME
.) Thank you for suggesting that I should come to Petra with your party, Lady Westholme. I should like to very much.

LADY
WESTHOLME
. Excellent.

(
MRS
.
BOYNTON
turns her head and looks at
LADY
WESTHOLME
and
SARAH
.
Her face shows no expression.
)

On Tuesday, then, ten o'clock. So pleased you are joining us, Miss King.

(
SARAH
crosses and exits quickly to the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends.
LADY
WESTHOLME
rises and follows
SARAH
to the lift, but the door closes as she arrives. She angrily rings the bell.
MRS
.
BOYNTON
continues to observe
LADY
WESTHOLME
.
HIGGS
rises and moves to the desk.
)

LENNOX
. (
Moving Left Centre
) Do you want to go up now, Mother?

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. What?

LENNOX
. Do you want to go up now?

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Not just now. You and Ray go. I want my spectacles. You two go on. Nadine and I will follow.

(
LENNOX
and
RAYMOND
move to the lift door. The lift descends and the door opens.
LADY
WESTHOLME
,
LENNOX
and
RAYMOND
exit to the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends.
MRS
.
BOYNTON
smiles to herself, then turns her head and looks at
NADINE
.)

HIGGS
. (
To the
CLERK
) 'Ere! What floor's 'er ladyship goin' oop to?

CLERK
. Second floor, sir.

HIGGS
. Ho! And another thing. I'm goin' on this trip to Petra. There's room in the car?

CLERK
. Yes, sir. I've a seat reserved for you.

HIGGS
. Ho! And is 'er ladyship comin'?

CLERK
. Yes, sir.

HIGGS
. Ho! Well, I'm not ridin' on t'roof, see.

(
HIGGS
exits up Right.
)

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Nadine.

NADINE
. (
Moving to Right of
MRS
.
BOYNTON
) Yes, Mother?

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. My spectacles.

(
The lift descends and the door opens.
COPE
enters from the lift and goes to the desk.
)

NADINE
. (
Holding out the spectacles
) They were on the table.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Don't give them to me. Take them upstairs. And will you see that Jinny has some hot milk?

NADINE
. She doesn't like hot milk.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. It's good for her. Go along, my dear. I'll just have a little talk with your friend Mr. Cope.

(
NADINE
exits to the lift. The door closes and the lift ascends.
)

COPE
. (
Moving Left Centre
) Delighted, Mrs. Boynton.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Such a good daughter to me—quite like a real daughter. I don't know what we should all do without Nadine.

COPE
. Yes, indeed, I can quite appreciate how you rely upon her.

(
The
CLERK
exits up Left.
)

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. We're a very devoted family.

COPE
. I know—I know . . .

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. (
Looking sharply at him
) What's on your mind?

COPE
. Why—nothing.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Don't mind saying it.

COPE
. Well—maybe you'll think it great cheek on my part . . .

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. I like frankness.

COPE
. Well, frankly, then, I just wondered . . . Oh, don't misunderstand me—I only meant that—well—one can shield people too much from the outside world.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. You mean—(
She smiles
) I'm too fond of my children?

COPE
. Let's say—you're over-anxious about them. They—they've got to learn to stand on their own feet sometime, you know. (
He sits Left of the table Centre.
)

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. You're probably quite right. That's partly, you know, why I brought them abroad. I didn't want them to become provincial. Travel, they say, broadens the mind.

COPE
. Yes, indeed.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. It was very dull. (
Reminiscently
) Day after day—no savour to things. Yes, it was dull. (
She chuckles
) It's not dull here.

COPE
. No, Jerusalem is a mighty interesting place.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. And I've been thinking of what you said earlier—about Petra.

COPE
. Yes?

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. I feel—the children ought to see Petra.

COPE
. (
Rising
) Why, that's grand. You'll do as I suggested, split up. Someone's got to stay and look after you, of course.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. No, I'm going to Petra, too.

COPE
. Oh, but really, Mrs. Boynton, I don't think you realize the difficulties. It's right off the beaten track. Two long days motoring and the last stage is on horses or mules.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. I'm an old woman with many physical disabilities, but I don't allow that to interfere with my—(
She pauses
) pleasures. These things can be arranged—by the expenditure of money. The last stage can be done in a carrying chair with bearers or a kind of litter.

COPE
. It sounds quite biblical.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. Yes—quite biblical.

COPE
. But really, you know, I don't think you're wise. Your health isn't too good, you know. Your heart . . .

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. I don't take my heart into account when I'm planning a pleasure party for other people. It's a bad plan to think too much of oneself. One should think of others. That's settled, then?

COPE
. Well, I do really take my hat off to you, Mrs. Boynton. You're the most unselfish woman. Always thinking of the youngsters.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. It wouldn't be the same for them if I wasn't there. You'll travel with us?

COPE
. Why, certainly, I shall be delighted.

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. That will give Nadine great pleasure, I'm sure. You're very fond of Nadine, aren't you?

COPE
. (
Moving a little down Left; embarrassed
) Well, I . . .

MRS
.
BOYNTON
. You'll make the arrangements, won't you?

COPE
. (
Crossing up Right
) Certainly. I'll go and make enquiries now.

(
COPE
exits Right.
MRS
.
BOYNTON
is left alone. Presently she begins to laugh, a silent laugh that shakes her like a jelly. Her face is malevolent and full of glee as—the Curtain falls.
)

CURTAIN

ACT TWO

Scene I

SCENE
:
The Traveller's Camp at Petra. Early afternoon, a week later. Fantastic scarlet rocks rise all round so that the stage has the appearance of an amphitheatre. On an upper level up Right there is a path, masked by rocks, giving access to a cave. An exit Right Centre leads to the sleeping tents. A slope of rock Left leads to the path out of the camp. Down Left is the entrance of a big marquee dining tent. A camp table and three chairs are set Left Centre, there is a camp armchair with a tea chest behind it down Left and a deckchair stands down Right. On the rock up Right, in front of the cave, are two camp stools.

When the Curtain rises,
RAYMOND
is seated in the deckchair down Right, lost in thought.
MRS
.
BOYNTON
is sitting on a stool outside the cave on the rock up Right, her stick by her side, reading. She looks like a monstrous idol in a niche. The
DRAGOMAN
is standing Centre, looking benevolent.
LADY
WESTHOLME
,
MISS
PRYCE
and
GERARD
enter from the marquee Left.
LADY
WESTHOLME
picks up a “Baedeker” from the table Left Centre and crosses to Right Centre.
MISS
PRYCE
stands Left Centre.
GERARD
moves down Left.

DRAGOMAN
. You had nice luncheon? You rested after big expedition this morning?

MISS
PRYCE
. Yes, thank you. It was most interesting.

DRAGOMAN
. I tell you all about Babatesh architecture. I tell you ancient history. Very interesting place, Petra. I show place high up there. Place of sacrifice.

LADY
WESTHOLME
. There is no need to hear it all over again. You were wrong on several points. I have just been checking up in
Baedeker.

DRAGOMAN
. No, no, lady. You not believe everything you read. You believe Aissa. Aissa educated Christian mission, learn speak truth. Everything I tell you truth and just like Holy Bible.

(
SARAH
enters from the marquee, sees
RAYMOND
,
turns abruptly back and goes inside again.
)

LADY
WESTHOLME
. You were educated at a mission?

DRAGOMAN
. Yes, lady, American Mission.

LADY
WESTHOLME
. Oh, American!

DRAGOMAN
. I learn poetry—very beautiful. (
Rapidly, and with an indescribable intonation
) “Hail-to-the-blysprut Birtoneverwort.”

GERARD
. I beg your pardon?

DRAGOMAN
. (
Repeating
) “Hailtotheblysprut Birtoneverwort.” (
He beams.
)

MISS
PRYCE
. (
After a pause
) I
think
it's Shelley's “Skylark.”

DRAGOMAN
. (
Beaming
) That's right, lady. Percy Bish Shelley. I know Willyam Wordwort, too. “I wonder lonely asaclout . . .”

GERARD
.
Assez, assez.

DRAGOMAN
. I full of culture and higher education.

GERARD
. Civilization has much to answer for.

LADY
WESTHOLME
. The thing, Mahommed, is not only to learn by heart, but to assimilate what you learn.

DRAGOMAN
. You not call me Mahommed, lady. That Moslem name. You not like “Aissa,” you call me Abraham. Like Father Abraham, I got clean bosom, very snowy. (
He opens his tunic.
) Wear clean clothes every day.

GERARD
. (
To
LADY
WESTHOLME
) Which was more than Abraham did, I expect.

DRAGOMAN
. (
Moving close to
MISS
PRYCE
and displaying his chest
) All clean like Abraham's bosom.

MISS
PRYCE
. (
Embarrassed
) Oh, yes, yes, very nice, I'm sure.

DRAGOMAN
. What you like to do this afternoon? Another expedition or you like rest? Most of my ladies and gentlemen like rest on day when have done big expedition to place of sacrifice.

MISS
PRYCE
. It certainly was rather tiring. Such a very steep climb. But perhaps . . . (
She looks doubtfully at
LADY
WESTHOLME
.)

LADY
WESTHOLME
. I never feel fatigue. But I don't think another expedition. Perhaps a stroll later.

DRAGOMAN
. You take nice walk-after-tea? I show you maiden hairyfern.