ADITIONAL ENGLISH THIRD SEMESTER
THE ACADEMIC YEAR 2018-2019
UNIT-2 Play
The Death Trap- HH Munro
Introduction Hector Hugh Munro
Hector
Hugh Munro (18 December 1870 – 14 November 1916), better known by the pen
name Saki and also frequently as H. H. Munro, was a British
writer whose witty, mischievous and sometimes macabre stories
satirize Edwardian society and culture.
Characters
Dr. Stronetz (The prince friend)
Col. Girnitza
Major Vontieff Officers of the Kranitzki Regiment of
Guards
Captain Shultz
So, Dimitri’s enemies hatch a plan to assassin him and they are waiting for the
right moment to execute it. Three Military Regiments (Andrieff Regiment,
Lonyadi Regiment and Kranitzki Regiment) guard the Prince Dimitri, the reigning
Prince of Kedaria. Dr. Stronetz, a faithful physician, is also very loyal to
the prince Dimitri.
The Kranitzki Regiment is being loyal to the enemy and the three officers of
this Regiment, Colonel Girnitza, Major Vontieff and Captain Shultz are all set
to murder Prince Dimitri as soon as the loyal Andrieff Regiment leaves from its
duty. These officers of Kranitzki Regiment are disloyal to prince Dimitri but
very loyal to Prince Karl, who is willing to kill prince Dimitri and want to
become the king of Kedaria. When the play “The Death Trap” opens where three
guards of Kranitzki Regiment are seen plotting the assassination of Prince
Dimitri so that Prince Karl can ascend the throne.
The conversation among the three disloyal guards reveals that they are openly
conspire to murder the prince. They are very aware that the Prince Dimitri is
already suspecting them. Yet, they go ahead with murder plan because they are
being backed by the political support of Prince Karl. Following the
conversation between the Prince Dimitri and his loyal physician Dr. Stronetz,
we get to know that Prince Dimitri came to power at his very young age when he
did not know anything about the rules of governance or responsibility.
This shows his helplessness, which is now an advantage to his enemies. 45
Prince Dimitri is well aware that he is “trapped” and that his own guards are
plotting to kill him. This is a painful realization for him. He also knows very
well that he would be killed at any moment as soon as his loyal Andrieff
Regiment leaves. He has no weapons to defend himself. No one is allowed to see
him except his friend and personal physician Dr. Stronetz. Out of kindness and
loyalty Dr. Stronetz devices a clever plan as a physician. Instantly, he asks
the Prince to remove his robes for a fake of physical examination, which will
help him to fool the officers of the disloyal Kranitzki Regiment.
His efforts are only temporarily delay the murder of the Prince. But this delay
helps the Prince to take revenge on disloyal officers. However, the hard truth
behind the physical examination of the Prince reveals that he is really
suffering from an incurable heart disease. This is another shocking realization
to the Prince. He decides to commit suicide instead of being killed in the
hands of his disloyal guards. He requests Dr. Stronetz to provide him a phial
of poison, which can kill him so that he can invite his death as a ruler
without being killed.
Dr. Stronetz gives him a phial of poison. But as final act of revenge, when
death is inevitable to him, the Prince Dimitri wants to die only after
punishing his enemies. So he mixes the entire phial of poison in a bottle of
wine and invites the three officers for a final drink. He shares the poisoned
wine after drinking it himself. It is a sight of pity for the Prince but at the
same time he shows a clever act of revenge. The Prince thus overcomes his
helplessness by his intelligence even though he cannot avoid his own death.
Act I, Scene 1
Scene 2
Sidney arrives back at his den, having picked up Clifford at the train
station. After socializing briefly, Sidney determines that there are no other
carbon copies or xeroxes of the play in existence and escalates the sense that
he may kill Clifford. To Myra's horror, Sidney appears to choke the young man
to death and drags him off to bury him.
Scene 3
As Sidney returns from disposing of Clifford's body, psychic Helga ten Dorp
comes to the Bruhl home to warn Sidney and Myra that she is having visions of
terrible pain coming from the Bruhl home. Helga wanders around the house
revealing visions that appear to be only partially correct. Sidney, relieved
that Helga has not accurately envisioned the murder, reassures Myra to the
point that she admits her own secret wish that Sidney was going to go through
with the murder to steal the script. As Sidney and Myra are about to go to bed,
Clifford, covered in mud, snatches Sidney from behind, and apparently beats
Sidney to death. Myra, shocked and terrified, collapses and dies from a heart
attack. Clifford confirms Myra's death and exclaims to Sidney that their plan
has been successful: Clifford's murder had been staged to shock and kill Myra.
Act II, Scene 1
Two weeks have elapsed, Clifford is working on his manuscript but Sidney
continues to suffer from writer's block. Porter Milgrim, Sidney's attorney,
throws suspicions on Clifford by alerting Sidney that he has seen Clifford
locking his manuscript into his desk drawer. Sidney surreptitiously reads
Clifford's manuscript and discovers that Clifford is writing a play
called Deathtrap based directly on the plot to cause Myra's
heart attack. Sidney confronts Clifford, who threatens to move out and write
the play regardless of whether Sidney wants him to or not. Sidney agrees to
help Clifford write his play.
Scene 2
Helga comes again to warn Sidney that Clifford is going to attack him.
Sidney tells Clifford that he has completed work on the second act but needs to
see if what he's written will be believable. By "trying out" these
bits, Sidney believes that he is laying the groundwork to make his intended
murder of Clifford (to stop Clifford from actually writing the play about
Myra's murder) look like self-defense. Clifford, however, is several steps
ahead of Sidney. He has put blanks in Sidney's gun and now forces Sidney to
handcuff himself to a chair. Sidney's attempt to kill Clifford has given Clifford
the plot details he needs to complete his play. The handcuffs prove to be fake,
and Sidney escapes and shoots Clifford with a crossbow. Sidney starts to
telephone the police, but Clifford rises up behind him, pulls the arrow from
his own body, and stabs Sidney. Both die.
Scene 3
Helga and Porter return to Sidney's den. She envisions what has actually
occurred and tells Porter. Both realize simultaneously that the story would
make an excellent thriller and that the title Deathtrap is
ideal, but immediately argue and threaten each other over whether they will
share in the rewards their "one set, five character" play, Deathtrap will
undoubtedly reap.
The scene opens about ten o'clock in the evening.
An ante-chamber, rather sparsely furnished. Some rugs of Balkan manufactured on
the walls. A narrow table in center of room, another table set with wine
bottles and goblets near window, R. Some high-backed chairs set here and there
round room. Tiled stove, L. Door in center.
(Girnitza, Vontieff and shultz are talking together as curtain rises.)
Girnitza: The prince suspects something: I can see it in his manner.
Shultz: Let him suspect. He will know for certain in an half hour.
Girnitza: The moment the Andrieff Regiment has marched out of the town we are
ready for him. Shultz (drawing revolver from case and aiming it at an imaginary
person): And then short shrift for your Royal Highness! I don’t think many of
my bullets will go astray.
Girnitza: The revolver was never a favorite weapon of mine. I shall finish the
job with this (half draws his sword and sends it back into its scabbard with a
click).
Vontieff: Oh, we shall do for him right enough. It's pity he's such a boy,
though. I would rather we had a grown man to deal with.
Girnitza: We must take our chance when we can find it. Grown men marry and
breed heirs and then one has to massacre whole family. When we have killed this
boy we have killed the last of the dynasty, and laid the way clear for prince
Karl. As long as there was one of this brood left our good Karl could never win
the throne.
Vontieff: Oh, I know this is our great chance. Still I wish the boy could be
cleared out of our path by the finger of heaven rather than by our hands.
Shultz: Hush! Here he comes. (Enter, by door, center, prince Dimitri, in
undress cavalry uniform. He comes straight into room, begins taking cigarette
out of a case, and looks coldly at the three officers.)
Dimitri: You needn't wait. (They bow and withdraw, Shultz going last and
staring insolently at the prince. He seats himself at table, center. As door
shuts he stares for a moment at it, then suddenly bows his head on his arms in
attitude of despair … A knock is heard at the door.
Dimitri leaps to his feet. Enter Stronetz, in civilian attire.)
Dimitri (eagerly): Stronetz! My God, how glad I am to see you!
Stronetz: One wouldn’t have thought so, judging by the difficulty I had in
gaining admission. I had to invent a special order to see you on a matter of
health. And they made me give up my revolver; they said it was some new
regulation.
Dimitri (with a short laugh): they have taken away every weapon I possess,
under some pretext or another. My sword has gone to be reset, my revolver is
being cleaned my hunting knife has been mislaid.
Stronetz (horrified): My God,
Dimitri! You don’t mean … ?
Dimitri: Yes, I do. I am trapped. Since I came to the throne three years ago as
a boy of fourteen I have been watched and guarded against this moment, but it
has caught me unawares.
Stronetz: But your guards!
Dimitri: Did you notice the uniforms? The Kranitzki Regiment. They are heart
and soul for prince Karl; the artillery are equally disaffected. The Andrieff
Regiment was the only doubtful factor in their plans, and it marches out to
camp to night. The Lonyadi Regiment comes in to relieve it an hour or so later.
Stronetz: They are so loyal surely!
Dimitri: Yes, but their loyalty will arrive an hour or so too late.
Stronetz: Dimitri! You mustn't stay here to be killed! You must get out quick!
Dimitri: My dear good Stronetz, for more than a generation the Karl faction
have been trying to stamp our line out of existence. I am the last of the lot;
do you suppose that they are going to let me slip out of their claws now? They
are so damned silly.
Stronetz: But this is awful! You sit there and talk as if it were a move in a
chess game.
Dimitri (rising): Oh, Stronetz! If you knew how I hate death! I'm not a coward,
but I do so want to live. Life is so horribly fascinating when one is young,
and I've tasted so little of it yet. (Goes to window.) Look out of the window
at that fairyland of mountains with the forest running up and down all over it.
You can just see Grodvitz where I shot all last autumn, up there on the left,
and far away beyond it all is Vienna. Were you ever in Vienna, Stronetz? I've
only been there once, and it seemed like a magic city to me. And there are
other wonderful cities in the world that I've never seen. Oh, I do so want to
live. Think of it, here I am alive and talking to you, as we've talked dozens
of times in this grey old room, and tomorrow a fat stupid servant will be
washing up a red stain in that corner – I think it will probably be in that
corner. (He points to corner near stove, L.)
Stronetz: But you mustn't be butchered in cold blood like this, Dimitri. If
they have left you nothing to fight with I can give you a drug from my case
that will bring you a speedy death before they can tough you.
Dimitri: Thanks, no old chap. You had better leave before it begins; they won't
touch you. But I won't drug myself. I've never seen anyone killed before, and I
shan't get another opportunity.
Stronetz: Then I won't leave you; you can see two men killed while you are
about it. (A band is heard in distance playing a march.)
Dimitri: The Andrieff Regiment marching out! Now they won't waste much time!
(He draws himself up tense in corner by stove.) Hush, they are coming!
Stronetz (rushing suddenly towards Dimitri): Quick! An idea! Tear open your
tunic! (He unfastens Dimitri's tunic and appears to be testing his heart. The
door swings open and the three officers enter. Stronetz waves a hand commanding
silence, and continues his testing. The officers stare at him.)
Girnitza: Dr. Stronetz, will you have the goodness to leave the room? We have
some business with His Royal Highness. Urgent business, Dr. Stronetz.
Stronetz (facing round): Gentlemen, I fear that my business is more grave. I
have the saddest of duties to perform. I know you would all gladly lay down
your lives for your prince, but there are some perils which even your courage
cannot avert. Girnitza (puzzled): What are talking of, sir?
Stronetz: The prince sent for me to prescribe for some disquieting symptoms
that have declared themselves. I have made my examination. My duty is a cruel
one … I cannot five him six days to live! (Dimitri sinks into chair near table
in pretended collapse. The officers turn to each other, nonplussed.)
Girnitza: You are certain? It is a grave thing you are saying. You are not
making any mistake?
Stronetz: (laying his hand on Dimitri's shoulder): Would to God I were! (The
officers again turn, whispering to each other.)
Girnitza: It seems our business can wait.
Vontieff (to Dimitri): Sire, this is the finger of Heaven.
Dimitri (brokenly): Leave me. (They salute and slowly withdraw. Dimitri slowly
raises his head, then springs to his feet, rushes to door and listens, then
turns round jubilantly to Stronetz.)
Dimitri: Spoofed them! Ye gods, that was an idea, Stronetz! Stronetz (who
stands quietly looking at
Dimitri): It was not altogether an inspiration, Dimitri. A look in your eyes
suggested it. I had seen men who were stricken with a moral disease look like
that.
Dimitri: Never mind what suggested it, you have saved me. The Lonyadi Regiment
will be here at any moment and Girnitza's gang daren't risk anything then.
You've fooled them, Stronetz, you've fooled them.
Stronetz (sadly): Boy, I haven't fooled them … (Dimitri stares at him for a
long moment.)
It was a real examination I made while those brutes were waiting there to kill
you. It was a real report I made; the malady is there. Dimitri (slowly): Was it
all true, what you told them?
Stronetz: It was all true. You have not six days to live.
Dimitri (bitterly): Death has come twice to me in one evening. I'm he must be
in earnest; (Passionately.) Why didn't you let them kill me? That would have
been better than this "to be left till called for" business. (Paces
across to window, R., and looks out. Turns suddenly.)
Stronetz! You offered me a way of escape from a cruel death just now. Let me
escape now from a crueler one. I'm a monarch. I won't be kept waiting by death.
Give me that little bottle. (Stronetz hesitates, then draws out a small case,
extracts bottle and gives it to him.)
Stronetz: Four or five drops will do what you ask for.
Dimitri: Thank you. And now, old friend, goodbye. Go quickly. You've seen me
just a little brave I may not keep it up. I want you to remember me as being
brave. Good bye, best of friends, go. (Stronetz wrings his hand and rushes from
the room with his face hidden in his arm. The door shuts.
Dimitri looks for a moment after his friend. Then he goes quickly over to side
table and uncorks wine bottle. He is about to pour some wine into a goblet when
he pauses as if struck by a new idea. He goes to door, throws it open and
listens, then calls, "Girnitza, Vontieff, Shultz!" Daring back to the
table he pours the entire phial of poison into the wine bottle, and thrusts
phial into his pocket. Enter the three officers.)
Dimitri (pouring the wine into four goblets): The prince is dead – long live
the prince! (He seats himself.) The old feud must be healed now, there is no
one left of my family to keep it on, prince Karl must succeed. Long life to
prince Karl! Gentlemen of the Kranitzki Guard, drink to your future sovereign.
(The three officers drink after glancing at each other.)
Girnitza: Sire, we shall never serve a more gallant prince than your Royal
Highness.
Dimitri: That is true, because you will never serve another prince. Observe, I
drink fair! (Drains goblet.)
Girnitza: What do you mean, never serve another prince? Dimitri (rises): I mean
that I am going to march into the next world at the head of my Kranitzki
Guards. You came in here tonight to kill me. You found that death had
forestalled you. I thought it a pity that the evening should be wasted, so I've
killed you, that's all!
Shultz: The wine! He's poisoned us! (Vontieff seizes the bottle, and examines
it. Shultz smells his empty goblet.)
Girnitza: Ah! Poisoned! (He draws his sword and makes a step towards Dimitri,
who is sitting on the edge of the center table.)
Dimitri: Oh, certainly, if you wish it. I'm due to die of disease in a few days
and of poison in a minute or two, but if you like to take a little extra
trouble about my end, please yourself. (Girnitza reels and drops sword on table
and falls back into chair groaning. Shultz falls across table and Vontieff
staggers against wall. At that moment a lively march is heard approaching.
Dimitri seizes the sword and waves it.)
Dimitri: Aha! The Lonyadi Regiment marching in! My good loyal Kranitzki Guards
shall keep me company into the next world. God save the prince! (Laughs
wildly.) colonel Girnitza, I never thought death .. could be … so amusing. (He
falls dying to the ground.) Curtain
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