The Mousetrap and Other Plays (38 page)

MIDGE
. Abominably rude, sometimes. (
She sits on the pouffe.
) It's their privilege.

EDWARD
. (
Crossing to the fireplace; horrified
) But my dear girl, that's all wrong. (
He puts his glass on the mantelpiece.
) If I'd only known . . .

(
He takes his case from his pocket and offers
MIDGE
a cigarette.
)

MIDGE
. (
Taking a cigarette
) How should you know? Your world and mine are so far apart.

(
EDWARD
lights
MIDGE
's cigarette.
)

I'm only half an Angkatell. The other half's just plain business girl, with unemployment always lurking round the corner in spite of the politicians' brave words.

SIR
HENRY
. (
Crossing to
MIDGE
with two drinks
) You be a good girl and drink that. (
He hands one drink to her.
) What's rubbed your fur up the wrong way, kitten? (
He offers the other drink to
LADY
ANGKATELL
.)

LADY
ANGKATELL
. (
To
SIR
HENRY
) Sherry for me, dear.

(
SIR
HENRY
moves to drinks table.
)

Edward does have that effect sometimes.

(
GERDA
enters left. She wears an evening frock.
)

GERDA
. (
Crossing to Right of
LADY
ANGKATELL
) I'm so sorry if I'm late.

LADY
ANGKATELL
. (
Holding
GERDA
's hand
) But you're not at all late, my dear.

MIDGE
. We've just come down.

SIR
HENRY
. What will you have, Mrs. Cristow—sherry—gin?

(
JOHN
enters Left. He wears dinner clothes.
)

GERDA
(
Crossing to Left of the drinks table
) Oh—thank you, gin and something, please.

JOHN
. Am I the last? (
He crosses down Right.
)

LADY
ANGKATELL
. Henrietta isn't down yet.

(
SIR
HENRY
crosses with a drink to
LADY
ANGKATELL
and hands it to her, then returns to the drinks table and pours a drink for
GERDA
.
The conversations overlap in a hubbub of talk.
)

(
VERONICA
CRAYE
enters on the terrace up Centre from Left and stands posed in the French windows. She is a very beautiful woman and knows it. She wears a resplendent evening gown and carries an evening bag. Her appearance causes a sensation.
JOHN
stares at her like a man dazed.
MIDGE
and
LADY
ANGKATELL
rise. They all turn and stare at
VERONICA
.)

VERONICA
. (
Moving to Right of
LADY
ANGKATELL
) You must forgive me—for bursting in upon you this way. I'm your neighbour, Lady Angkatell—from that ridiculous cottage, Dovecotes—and the most awful thing has happened. (
She moves Centre and dominates the scene.
) Not a single match in the house and my lighter won't work. So what could I do? I just came along to beg help from my only neighbour within miles.

LADY
ANGKATELL
. Why, of course. How awkward for you.

VERONICA
. (
Turning Right and affecting to see
JOHN
quite suddenly
) Why, surely—
John
! Why, it's John Cristow. (
She crosses to Left of
JOHN
and takes hold of both his hands.
) Now isn't that amazing? I haven't seen you for years and years and years. And suddenly—to find you—here. This is just the most wonderful surprise. (
To
LADY
ANGKATELL
) John's an old friend of mine. (
She retains hold of
JOHN
's left hand.
) Why, John's the first man I ever loved.

SIR
HENRY
. (
Moving above the sofa with two drinks
) Sherry? Or dry Martini?

VERONICA
. No, no, thank you.

(
JOHN
takes a sherry from
SIR
HENRY
.)

LADY
ANGKATELL
. (
Resuming her seat in the armchair Left Centre
) Midge dear, ring the bell.

(
MIDGE
moves below the fireplace and presses the bell-push.
)

VERONICA
. I hope you don't think it's just too awful of me butting in like this.

LADY
ANGKATELL
. Not at all.

SIR
HENRY
. (
Moving up Centre
) We are honoured. (
He indicates
MIDGE
.) My cousin, Miss Harvey. Edward Angkatell. (
He looks towards
GERDA
.) Er . . .

(
GERDA
eases down Right of
JOHN
.)

JOHN
. And this is my wife, Veronica.

VERONICA
. (
Crossing below
JOHN
to Left of
GERDA
and taking her by the hand
). Oh, but how lovely to meet you.

(
GUDGEON
enters Left
)

GUDGEON
. You rang, m'lady?

LADY
ANGKATELL
. A dozen boxes of matches, please, Gudgeon.

(
GUDGEON
is momentarily taken aback, but regains his normal impassivity immediately and exits Left.
)

SIR
HENRY
. And how do you like living at Dovecotes?

VERONICA
. (
Turning
)
I adore it
(
She crosses up stage to Left of the sofa and looks off Right.
) I think it's so wonderful to be right in the heart of the country—these lovely English woods—and yet to be quite near London.

SIR
HENRY
. You've no idea what a thrill you've caused in the neighbourhood. But you must be used to that sort of thing.

VERONICA
. Well, I've signed a few autograph books, (
She eases below the Left end of the sofa
) but what I like about it here is that one isn't in a village, and there's no one to stare or gape. (
She sits on the sofa at the Left end.
) I just appreciate the peacefulness of it all.

(
GUDGEON
enters Left. He carries a packet of a dozen boxes of matches on a salver.
)

LADY
ANGKATELL
. (
Indicating
VERONICA
) For madam.

(
GUDGEON
crosses to
VERONICA
.)

VERONICA
. (
Taking the matches
) Oh dear, Lady Angkatell—I can't really accept . . .

LADY
ANGKATELL
. Please. It's nothing at all.

VERONICA
. Well, I do appreciate your kindness.

(
GUDGEON
crosses and exits Left.
)

John, do you live in this neighborhood too?

JOHN
. No—no, I live in London. I'm just down here for the weekend.

VERONICA
. Oh, I just can't get over meeting you again after all these years.

(
HENRIETTA
enters Left and moves to Left of
LADY
ANGKATELL
.
She wears an evening frock.
)

(
She glances at
HENRIETTA
and rises.
) Now—I must get back—carrying my spoils with me. John, will you see me down the lane?

(
LADY
ANGKATELL
rises.
)

JOHN
. Yes, of course.

VERONICA
. (
Crossing to Right of
LADY
ANGKATELL
) And thank you a thousand times. (
She smiles at
SIR
HENRY
and
EDWARD
but ignores the ladies.
) You've all been very kind.

(
JOHN
moves to the drinks table and puts his glass on it.
)

LADY
ANGKATELL
. Not at all.

VERONICA
. (
Crossing above the sofa to
JOHN
) Now, John, you must tell me all you've been doing in the years and years since I've seen you.

(
GUDGEON
enters Left.
)

GUDGEON
. Dinner is served, m'lady.

(
He exits Left.
)

VERONICA
. Oh, I mustn't take you away just as dinner is ready.

SIR
HENRY
. Won't you stay and dine with us?

VERONICA
. No, no, no. I couldn't dream of it. John, can't you come over after dinner? I'm just dying to hear all your news. I'll be expecting you. (
She goes up the steps, turns and stands in the French window up Centre.
) And thank you all—so much.

(
She exits up Centre to Left.
JOHN
stands Right of the French window up Centre and looks after her.
LADY
ANGKATELL
hands her glass to
EDWARD
,
who puts it on the mantelpiece.
MIDGE
puts her glass on the mantelpiece, moves to the door Left and opens it.
JOHN
goes on to the terrace.
)

LADY
ANGKATELL
. What a beautiful performance! Shall we go in to dinner? (
She crosses to the door Left.
)

(
SIR
HENRY
crosses to the door Left. A hubbub of conversation breaks out and the following speeches overlap as the exits are made.
)

I remember seeing that girl in a film. She was wearing a sari very low down.

(
She exits Left.
)

EDWARD
. I've seen her too, but I can't remember the name of the film.

MIDGE
.
San Francisco Story
—it must be. It was revived two months ago.

(
She exits Left.
)

EDWARD
. Which theatre? Did you see
San Francisco Story?

SIR
HENRY
. She must have changed her hair. She had it flowing down her back. Mrs. Cristow, what do you think of our film star?

(
GERDA
crosses to the door Left.
)

GERDA
. She's very nice, very nice indeed, really.

(
She exits Left.
)

EDWARD
. Yes, she is. Isn't she, Henry?

SIR
HENRY
. Not so tall as I should have thought, seeing her on the films.

(
He exits Left.
)

EDWARD
. No, I agree, but they are very different in real life.

(
He exits Left. The conversation continues off stage.
JOHN
,
oblivious of everything else, stands on the terrace looking off Left.
HENRIETTA
moves to the door Left and turns.
)

HENRIETTA
. Are you coming, John?

JOHN
. H'm? Oh yes—yes, of course.

(
HENRIETTA
exits Left
.
JOHN
crosses to the door Left and follows her off as—the Curtain falls.
)

CURTAIN

ACT TWO

Scene I

SCENE
:
The same. Saturday morning.

When Curtain rises, it is a fine morning. The clock is striking eleven. The French windows are open, and music is coming softly from the radio. The tune is “I cried for you.”
JOHN
enters briskly Left. He is humming, looks happy and good-tempered. He moves to Left Centre, checks his watch with the clock on the mantelpiece, goes on to the terrace up Centre, takes a cigarette from his case and lights it.
GUDGEON
enters Left. He carries a salver with a note on it.

GUDGEON
. (
Moving Left Centre
) A note for you, sir.

JOHN
. (
Moving to Right of
GUDGEON
;
 
surprised
) For me? (
He takes the note.
)