Read Online The Mousetrap and Other Plays by Agatha Christie - Free Book Online Page B

Miss?
    VERA . That would be a good idea.
    LOMBARD . ( Crossing Right ) Very sound scheme, Rogers. ( He sits on fender; puts on shoes. )
    ROGERS . ( Goes towards Left 1 door—is going through, but comes back and asks ) Excuse me, but does anybody know what’s become of the top bathroom curtain?
    LOMBARD . Really, Rogers, are you going bats too?
    BLORE . ( Blankly ) The bathroom curtain?
    ROGERS . Yes, sir. Scarlet oilsilk. It’s missing.
    ( They look at each other. )
    LOMBARD . Anybody seen a scarlet oilsilk curtain? No good, I’m afraid, Rogers.
    ROGERS . It doesn’t matter, sir, only I just thought as it was odd.
    LOMBARD . Everything on this island is odd.
    ROGERS . I’ll get some sticks and a few knobs of coal and get a nice fire going. ( Goes out Left 2. )
    VERA . I wonder if he would like some hot coffee. He’s very wet. ( Runs out after him, calling “Rogers.” )
    LOMBARD . What’s become of Armstrong?
    WARGRAVE . He went to his room to rest.
    LOMBARD . Somebody’s probably batted him one by now!
    WARGRAVE . I expect he had the good sense to bolt his door.
    BLORE . It won’t be so easy now that we’re all on our guard. ( Lights cigarette at mantelpiece. )
    ( A rather unpleasant silence. )
    WARGRAVE . I advise you, Mr. Blore, not to be too confident. I should like shortly to propose certain measures of safety, which I think we should all adopt.
    LOMBARD . Against whom?
    WARGRAVE . ( Up Centre ) Against each other. We are all in grave danger. Of the ten people who came to this island, three are definitely cleared. There are seven of us left—seven little Indian boys.
    LOMBARD . One of whom is a bogus little Indian boy.
    WARGRAVE . Exactly.
    BLORE . ( To Right Centre ) Well, in spite of what Miss Claythorne said just now, I’d say that you, Sir Lawrence, and Doctor Armstrong are above suspicion. He’s a well-known doctor, and you’re known all over England.
    WARGRAVE . ( Interrupts him ) Mr. Blore, that proves nothing at all. Judges have gone mad before now. So have doctors. ( Pause ) So have policemen.
    LOMBARD . Hear, hear. ( VERA enters Left 2 ) Well, does he want some coffee?
    VERA . ( Crossing Right to tabouret Right Centre; lightly ) He’d rather make himself a nice cup of tea! What about Doctor Armstrong? Do you think we ought to take him up a cup?
    WARGRAVE . I will take it up if you like.
    LOMBARD . I’ll take it. I want to change.
    VERA . Yes, you ought to. You’ll catch cold.
    WARGRAVE . ( Smiling ironically ) I think Doctor Armstrong might prefer to see me. He might not admit you, Captain Lombard. He might be afraid of your revolver.
    BLORE . Ah, that revolver. ( Meaningly ) I want a word with you about that—
    VERA . ( To LOMBARD ) Do go and change.
    ( WARGRAVE takes cup from her and, passing behind, goes out Left 2. )
    LOMBARD . ( Up Right Centre to BLORE ) What were you going to say?
    BLORE . I’d like to know why you brought a revolver down here on what’s supposed to be a little social visit.
    LOMBARD . You would, would you? ( After a momentary pause ) I’ve led a rather adventurous life. I’ve got into the habit of taking a revolver about with me. I’ve been in a bit of a jam once or twice. ( Smiles ) It’s a pleasant feeling to have a gun handy. ( To BLORE ) Don’t you agree?
    ( Enter ARMSTRONG Left 1; stands down Left. )
    BLORE . We don’t carry them. Now then, I want the truth about this gun—
    LOMBARD . What a damned suspicious fellow you are, Blore!
    BLORE . I know a fishy story when I hear one.
    ARMSTRONG . If it’s about that revolver, I’d like to hear what you’ve got to say.
    LOMBARD . ( Crossing down Left ) Oh, well, I got a letter, asking me to come here as the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Owen—It would be worth my while. The writer said that he had heard I’d got a reputation for being a good man in a tight place. There might be some danger, but I’d be all