Act 1 (Scene 2) Flashcards
(Mollie) Giles
Yes
(Mollie) Can you shovel the snow away again from the back door?
Coming
(Mollie) Hullo Hullo
Mollie, do you know where there’s another spade?
(Mollie) They’re sending our an inspector or a sergeant or something
But he’ll never get here
(Mollie) That’s what I told them. But they seemed quite confident that he would
Nonsense. Even a jeep couldn’t get through today. Anyway, what’s it all about
(Mollie) That’s what I asked. But he wouldn’t say. Just said I was to impress on my husband to listen very carefully to what Sergeant Trotter, I think it was, had to say, and to follow his instructions implicitly. Isn’t it extraordinary
What on earth do you think we’ve done?
(Mollie) Do you think it’s those nylons from Gibraltar
I had a rather near shave with the car the other day but it was entirely the other fellow’s fault.
(Mollie) We must have done something
Probably something to do with running this place. I expect we’ve ignored some tinpot regulation of some Ministry or other.
(Mollie) Oh, dear. I wish we’d never started this place. We’re going to be snowed up for days and everyone is cross, and we shall go through all our reserve of tins
Cheer up, darling. Everything’s going all right at the moment. I’ve filled up all the coalscuttles and brought in the wood. You know, Mollie, come to think of it, it must be something pretty serious to send a police sergeant trekking out in all this.
(Boyle) I am paying seven guineas a week here - seven guineas and I do not want to freeze
I’ll go and check the furnace
(Mollie) They rang up. Just now. To say they’re sending a sergeant out here. But I don’t think he’ll ever get here
Hullo, is anything the matter
(Metcalf) I hear the police are on their way here. Why
Oh, that’s all right. No-one can get through in this. Why the drifts must be five feet deep. The roads are all banked up. Nobody will get here today. Excuse me, Mr. Paravicini. May I put these down?
(Trotter) Are you Mr. Ralston?
Yes
(Mollie) But I didn’t
Er- this is Detective Sergeant Trotter
(Trotter) Now can we get down to business, Mr. Ralston. Mrs. Ralston?
Do you want to see us alone? If so, we can go into the library
(Trotter) That’s right madam. The first thing I want to know is if any of you were acquainted with this Mrs. Lyon?
Never heard of her
(Trotter) Her husband was a farmer, John Stanning, who resided at Longridge Farm not very far from here
Longridge Farm! Wasn’t that where those children…
(Trotter) The other was was Monkswell Manor
What?
(Trotter) find out if you knew of any connection between this house or anyone in this house and the Longridge Farm Case
There’s nothing - absolutely nothing. It must be coincidence
(Trotter) I thought fit to ensure the safety of the household
Safety? What danger does he think we’re in? Good Lord he’s not suggesting that somebody is going to be killed here.
(Trotter) I don’t want to frighten any of the ladies - but frankly, yes, that is the idea
But - why?
(Trotter) That’s what I’m here to find out
But the whole thing’s crazy
(Mollie) Three Blind Mice See How They Run. They All Ran After The Farmers’ Wife. Oh it’s horrible
There were three children and one died?
(Trotter) Yes, the youngest, a boy of eleven
What happened to the other two?
(Trotter) Now you state sire that you yourself have never had any connection with the Longridge Farm Case?
No
(Trotter) I wonder. It may have been cut
Cut? But who could cut it?
(Trotter) Mr. Ralston… Just how much do you know about these people who are staying in your guest house?
I - we - we don’t really know anything about them.
(Trotter) Unless he’s here already
Here already?
(Trotter) Why not, Mr. Ralston? All these people arrived here yesterday evening. Some hours after the murder of Mrs. Stanning. Plenty of time to get here.
But except for Mr. Paravicini, they’d all booked beforehand
(Trotter) Well, why not? These crimes were planned
Crimes? There’s only been one crime. In Culver Street. Why are you sure there will be another here?
Trotter looks for the phone wire
Let me help you (sees glove and bus card)
(Trotter) Is there an extension?
Ignore
(Trotter) Is there an extension?
I beg your pardon. Did you say something?
(Trotter) Yes, Mr. Ralston, I said Is there an extension?
Yes up in our bedroom
