The Mousetrap
by Agatha Christie
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Act 1, Scene 1 Quotes

In connection with the murder, the police are anxious to interview a man seen in the vicinity, wearing a dark overcoat, light scarf and a soft felt hat.

Related Characters: Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning)
Related Symbols: Overcoat
Page Number and Citation: 10
Explanation and Analysis:
At the beginning of the play, a voice on the radio reports the recent murder of a woman named Maureen Lyon. According to this report, the only person spotted near the scene of the crime was someone wearing “a dark overcoat, light scarf and a soft felt hat.” Such a vague description suggests that the suspect could be nearly anyone. These nondescript articles of clothing don’t sufficiently identify the suspect, and in fact these winter clothes could have helped disguise them by obscuring their stature, face, and other physical features. Now anyone wearing an overcoat, scarf, and hat is under Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque e

But I do so like knowing all about people. I mean, I think people are so madly interesting […] They’re all interesting, because you never really know what anyone is like—or what they are really thinking.

Related Characters: Christopher Wren (speaker), Mollie Ralston
Page Number and Citation: 20
Explanation and Analysis:
Soon after arriving at Monkswell Manor as the first guest, Christopher Wren enthusiastically asks his host, Mollie Ralston, questions that she finds invasive. But Christopher doesn’t realize he’s being rude. From his perspective, he’s simply trying to get know her because he “like[s] knowing all about people.” He thinks “people are so madly interesting,” so he tries to understand them, even if his way of going about this falls outside of social norms. At the same time, Christopher believes “you never really know what anyone is like—or what they are really thinking.” To Christopher, people are like puzzles that can’t Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaq

I adore nursery rhymes, don’t you? Always so tragic and macabre. That’s why children like them.

Related Characters: Christopher Wren (speaker), Mrs. Boyle, Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning)
Related Symbols: “Three Blind Mice”
Page Number and Citation: 27
Explanation and Analysis:
As a snowstorm rages outside Monkswell Manor, Christopher sings a nursery rhyme about the north wind bringing snow. Then he declares how much he “adore[s]” nursery rhymes because they’re “so tragic and macabre.” His love of nursery rhymes makes him seem childish and peculiar to everyone else at the guesthouse—particularly Mrs. Boyle, who complains about his odd, off-putting manners. Moreover, Christopher’s interest in nursery rhymes for being “tragic and macabre” lends to his strangeness. That he likes dark, disturbing songs and believes children are inherently drawn to them as well frames Christopher as an abnormal young man. The implication is Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore

Yes—the unexpected guest. The guest that you did not invite. The guest who just arrived—from nowhere‚ out of the storm. It sounds quite dramatic, does it not? Who am I? You do not know. Where do I come from? You do not know. Me, I am the man of mystery.

Related Characters: Mr. Paravicini (speaker), Giles Ralston, Mollie Ralston
Page Number and Citation: 38
Explanation and Analysis:
When “the unexpected guest” Mr. Paravicini secures a room at Monkswell Manor, he draws attention to the fact that he has “just arrived—from nowhere, out of the storm.” He enjoys the drama of being a mysterious stranger whom no one knows anything about. In fact, he’s the one who emphasizes that his identity and origins are completely unknown, and he calls himself “the man of mystery.” As he delights in being an enigma, Mr. Paravicini raises everyone else’s suspicions. None of the residents of Monkswell Manor have any reason to trust him, and Mollie and Giles swiftly grow uneasy at Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earu

Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes

CHRISTOPHER: Snow’s rather lovely, isn’t it? So peaceful—and pure…It makes one forget things.

CASEWELL: It doesn’t make me forget […] Ice on a bedroom jug, chilblains, raw and bleeding—one thin, ragged blanket—a child shivering with cold and fear.

Related Characters: Christopher Wren (speaker), Miss Casewell (Kathy Corrigan) (speaker)
Page Number and Citation: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
In the afternoon of his second day at Monkswell Manor, Christopher peers out a window and comments on how “lovely” the snow looks. He describes it as “peaceful” and “pure,” saying that it “makes one forget things.” Christopher’s words paint a calm picture of clean, white snow covering the landscape like a blanket, quieting the outside world. This positive imagery contrasts sharply against what Miss Casewell says next. She replies that she associates snow with terrible memories: “ice,” “chilblains” (blisters caused by exposure to the cold), a “thin, ragged blanket,” and “a child shivering with cold and fear.” These memories Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit b

The Corrigans. Two boys and a girl. Brought before the court as in need of care and protection. A home was found for them with Mr and Mrs Stanning at Longridge Farm. One of the children subsequently died as the result of criminal neglect and persistent ill-treatment.

Related Characters: Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan) (speaker), Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning), John Stanning
Page Number and Citation: 62
Explanation and Analysis:
Upon arriving at Monkswell Manor, Detective Sergeant Trotter investigates who among the residents has any connection to the Longridge Farm case. The case, as he explains, was one of child abuse. The Corrigan children were “in need of care and protection,” but at the hands of their foster parents, they received “criminal neglect and persistent ill-treatment” instead. This harsh juxtaposition between what the children needed and what they actually faced highlights the injustice of how they were treated. As young kids, the Corrigans were vulnerable; they deserved a safe home and responsible caretakers. However, they were failed by the court Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Molli

Really, Major Metcalf. I can hardly be held responsible. We had reports from welfare workers. The farm people seemed very nice and were most anxious to have the children. It seemed most satisfactory.

Related Characters: Mrs. Boyle (speaker), Major Metcalf, John Stanning, Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning)
Page Number and Citation: 70
Explanation and Analysis:
When confronted by Major Metcalf, Mrs. Boyle reluctantly reveals her connection to the Longridge Farm case, which she had hoped to keep secret. Years ago, when she still served as a magistrate, she was responsible for sending the Corrigan children to live with John and Maureen Stanning, who cruelly neglected and abused the three kids. However, Mrs. Boyle dismissively claims that she “can hardly be held responsible” for the children’s fates because she had no idea that the Stannings would mistreat them. As she focuses on defending herself from blame, Mrs. Boyle fails to acknowledge the harm done to the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidun

MOLLIE: But sometimes things happen—to make you remember…

CASEWELL: Don’t give in. Turn your back on them.

MOLLIE: Is that really the right way? I wonder. Perhaps that’s all wrong. Perhaps one ought really to…face them.

Related Characters: Mollie Ralston (speaker), Miss Casewell (Kathy Corrigan) (speaker)
Page Number and Citation: 73
Explanation and Analysis:
As Mollie and Miss Casewell talk about their childhoods, Miss Casewell reveals that she had an unhappy childhood. But, she claims, she has since moved on and no longer looks back at the past. She instructs Mollie to do the same in her life. Specifically, Miss Casewell’s advice is to not “give in” to reminders of the past (as if these are temptations that must be rejected) and to “turn [her] back on them.” Miss Casewell gives these brief directions to Mollie as though these things are easy to do. But Mollie clearly struggles with leaving certain events in her Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaqu

Nothing from the past is going to affect me—except in the way I want it to.

Related Characters: Miss Casewell (Kathy Corrigan) (speaker), Mollie Ralston
Page Number and Citation: 74
Explanation and Analysis:
While describing to Mollie how she deals with the past, Miss Casewell claims that she never looks back on her unhappy childhood. She says fiercely, “Nothing from the past is going to affect me—except in the way I want it to.” Because she can’t change the past, she focuses on controlling her reactions to it through concentrated effort and discipline. More than this, however, Miss Casewell seems to be trying to escape her past. She doesn’t want distressing memories to follow her into the future, nor does she want long-lasting consequences of past events to impact her present life. Although Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tem

Act 2, Scene 1 Quotes

Listen, Christopher, you can’t go on—running away from things—all your life. […] You’ve got to grow up some time, Chris.

Related Characters: Mollie Ralston (speaker), Mrs. Boyle, Christopher Wren
Page Number and Citation: 102
Explanation and Analysis:
After being accused of murdering Mrs. Boyle, Christopher turns to Mollie for help. He asks her to hide him somewhere in Monkswell Manor so he won’t be arrested. However, Mollie tells him gently, “Listen, Christopher, you can’t go on—running away from things—all your life.” Most literally, Mollie means that hiding will only make Christopher seem more guilty; in this situation, running away won’t help him at all, but rather make things worse. But Mollie also means that, in general, Christopher can’t avoid all hardship by running away, hiding, or relying on someone else to help him. He must learn to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus c

Considering that I never saw you until yesterday, we seem to know each other rather well […] I suppose there’s a sort of—sympathy between us.

Related Characters: Mollie Ralston (speaker), Christopher Wren
Page Number and Citation: 104–105
Explanation and Analysis:
As Mollie and Christopher confide in each other, they discover that they’re both running away from their pasts. Knowing that they share this experience helps them understand one another better and feel less alone. Just as Mollie suggests, there’s a “sympathy,” or understanding, between them that brings them closer together. While Mollie is pleased to have developed this bond with Christopher, she also expresses surprise that she and Christopher have connected so quickly. She says, “Considering that I never saw you until yesterday, we seem to know each other rather well.” Only a day ago, Mollie and Christopher were strangers. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis co

That’s what happens in a nightmare. You’re somewhere in the middle of friends and then you suddenly look at their faces and they’re not your friends any longer—they’re different people—just pretending. Perhaps you can’t trust anybody—perhaps everybody’s a stranger.

Related Characters: Mollie Ralston (speaker), Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning), Giles Ralston
Page Number and Citation: 107
Explanation and Analysis:
After Mollie learns about Giles’s secret trip to London, she’s horrified by the possibility that he could have killed Maureen Stanning. The idea of her own husband being a murderer causes Mollie to fear that everything she knew about Giles is wrong, and this fear spirals into paranoia as Mollie wonders if she can trust anybody. As if in a trance, she mutters aloud, “That’s what happens in a nightmare. You’re somewhere in the middle of friends and then you suddenly look at their faces and they’re not your friends any longer—they’re different people—just pretending.” While she speaks, Mollie’s thoughts Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et

GILES: You’ve only got to look at him to see he’s barmy.

MOLLIE: He isn’t. He’s just unhappy. I tell you, Giles, he isn’t dangerous.

Related Characters: Giles Ralston (speaker), Mollie Ralston (speaker), Christopher Wren
Page Number and Citation: 109
Explanation and Analysis:
Giles tries to convince Mollie to agree that Christopher must be the murderer. His argument is that Christopher is obviously “barmy,” or crazy, so anyone in their right mind should conclude that he’s the only reasonable suspect. As Giles’s wording indicates, Giles is judging Christopher by entirely superficial means. He encourages Mollie to just “look at him,” as though Christopher’s appearance or demeanor is enough to prove his guilt. Giles’s accusation against Christopher isn’t based on any real evidence. Instead, it arises from Giles’s dislike of the young man, which itself comes from his aversion to Christopher’s strange personality and Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi ear

GILES: Mollie, what’s come over you? You’re different all of a sudden. I feel as though I don’t know you any more.

MOLLIE: Perhaps you never did know me. We’ve been married how long—a year? But you don’t really know anything about me. What I’d done or thought or felt or suffered before you knew me.

Related Characters: Giles Ralston (speaker), Mollie Ralston (speaker), Christopher Wren, Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan)
Page Number and Citation: 112–113
Explanation and Analysis:
The more Giles and Mollie doubt each other’s trustworthiness, the more they feel like strangers to each other. Giles exclaims that Mollie is acting “different all of a sudden.” He says, “I feel as though I don’t know you any more.” Giles is concerned that Mollie has almost become a different person. But Mollie hasn’t undergone any drastic changes in the past two days. Giles’s own view of his wife has shifted. Suspicion clouds his perspective, making him fear that Mollie is no longer the same as the woman he married. That doubt and suspicion work so quickly on Giles, Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum

Three blind mice. Two mice cancelled out—a third mouse still to be dealt with.

Related Characters: Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan) (speaker), Mrs. Boyle, Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning)
Related Symbols: “Three Blind Mice”
Page Number and Citation: 119
Explanation and Analysis:
During his investigation into Mrs. Boyle’s murderer, Sergeant Trotter tries to impress upon everyone at Monkswell Manor that they’re still in danger. He believes that the killer’s whistling of the tune “Three Blind Mice” is a clue that there will be three total victims. As he says, there are “two mice cancelled out”—Maureen Stanning and Mrs. Boyle—but there is “a third mouse still to be dealt with.” Curiously, Trotter refers to the murderer’s targets as “mice.” By doing so, Trotter suggests that the nursery rhyme is a kind of ominous warning that the murderer will kill his three targets, just Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque p

But such a gay little tune? Don’t you think? She cut off their tails with a carving knife—snick, snick, snick—delicious. Just what a child would adore. Cruel little things, children. (Leaning forward) Some of them never grow up.

Related Characters: Mr. Paravicini (speaker), Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan), Mollie Ralston
Related Symbols: “Three Blind Mice”
Page Number and Citation: 121
Explanation and Analysis:
Mr. Paravicini teases Mollie by suggesting he has been the murderer all along and humming “Three Blind Mice.” He lightheartedly refers to it as a “gay little tune,” describing it as cheerful even as he acknowledges that the nursery rhyme is quite violent. He gleefully uses onomatopoeia—“snick, snick, snick”—to evoke cutting off mice’s tails with a knife. Additionally, he calls this gory action “delicious,” an unsettling adjective. Mr. Paravicini’s delight in the dark nursery rhyme is disturbing, which is its intended effect. He’s trying to frighten Mollie, as well as heighten her suspicion that he may actually be the killer. Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis.

That nasty, cruel woman killed him. They put her in prison. Prison wasn’t bad enough for her. I said I’d kill her one day . . . I did, too, in the fog. It was great fun. I hope Jimmy knows. “I’ll kill them all when I’ve grown up.” That’s what I said to myself.

Related Characters: Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan) (speaker), Mollie Ralston, Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning)
Page Number and Citation: 143
Explanation and Analysis:
As soon as Sergeant Trotter reveals to Mollie that he’s actually Georgie Corrigan, his entire demeanor changes. He becomes childish and angry, and his speech grows choppier as he recalls how Maureen Stanning, the “nasty, cruel woman,” killed his younger brother Jimmy. His childish manner suggests that, emotionally, Georgie hasn’t grown up. Ever since his traumatic experiences on Longridge Farm, he has been consumed by painful childhood memories, grief for his dead brother, and hatred toward his abusive foster parents. Georgie is trapped not only in the past but also in his feelings of intense animosity toward the people who Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta

It’s all right, Georgie. I’m taking you somewhere where they will look after you, and see that you won’t do any more harm.

Related Characters: Miss Casewell (Kathy Corrigan) (speaker), Mollie Ralston, Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan)
Page Number and Citation: 144
Explanation and Analysis:
Right before Georgie Corrigan (previously disguised as Sergeant Trotter) attacks Mollie, Miss Casewell intervenes. She reveals that she’s actually Kathy Corrigan and, as Georgie’s younger sister, persuades him not to hurt anyone. She does so gently, telling him, “It’s all right, Georgie. I’m taking you somewhere where they will look after you, and see that you won’t do any more harm.” Her primary goal is to ensure that, after murdering two women, Georgie won’t commit any more violence. But she also has no desire to subject Georgie to any more suffering than he has already undergone. Kathy isn’t here to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error.

It wasn’t my fault—but he thought I could have saved that child.

Related Characters: Mollie Ralston (speaker), Mrs. Boyle, Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan), Maureen Lyon (Mrs. Stanning)
Page Number and Citation: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
After surviving Georgie Corrigan’s attempt to kill her, Mollie processes what Georgie revealed to her, especially the fact that he blamed her for his younger brother Jimmy’s death. She understands now that “he thought [she] could have saved” Jimmy but chose not to. Because Georgie believed for years that Mollie had deliberately allowed the Corrigan children’s abuse to continue, he considered her responsible for what they suffered. Therefore, he planned to kill her to get justice for his brother, just as he killed Maureen Stanning and Mrs. Boyle. But Mollie knows that she never directly harmed the Corrigan children, nor Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corpor

GILES: Darling, you should have told me.

MOLLIE: I wanted to forget.

Related Characters: Mollie Ralston (speaker), Giles Ralston (speaker), Detective Sergeant Trotter (Georgie Corrigan)
Page Number and Citation: 145
Explanation and Analysis:
At the end of the play, Mollie reunites with Giles, who now knows how she was involved in the Longridge Farm case years ago. He says to her, “Darling, you should have told me.” He’s not reproaching Mollie; rather, he’s expressing his regret that Mollie never confided in him. Because he loves and cares about her, he wishes she would have told him about her guilt regarding the youngest Corrigan child’s death. Had he known, Giles could have supported her and shared the burden of her knowledge of what happened to the Corrigan children. In turn, this could have helped Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis consectetur et. Dicta impedit ut. Ducimus possimus quo. Non inventore in. Eligendi atque placeat. Molestiae earum eum. Libero sit beatae. At a deserunt. Sint aperiam consequatur. Minima porro perferendis. Sit neque odit. Tenetur qui dignissimos. Qui et ut. Voluptate labore corporis. Hic tempore laborum. Nisi quia ea. Quia soluta itaque. Deleniti nisi earum. Ad tenetur laboriosam. Eum accusamus harum. Accusantium iusto voluptas. Totam quae corporis. Impedit non ut. Incidunt rerum est. Aperiam doloremque eum. Animi soluta perspiciatis. Ut minima autem. Modi omnis iure. Sint qui qui. Qui similique pra
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