21.1 INTRODUCTION
The Death Trap is a moving one-act play with a surprise end. Three officers of the Kranitzki Regiment of Prince Dimitri of Kedaria get ready to kill their ruler because they are loyal to Prince Karl and want to make him the ruler king. They cleverly disarm and trap Prince Dimitri . But what happens? Does Dimitri get killed? What happens to the officers? Does Prince Karl became the king?
Read this exciting play full of suspense and find out the answer for yourself.
21.2 OBJECTIVES
After reading this play and answering the questions, you will be able to—
• follow the sequence of the play;
• list the different regiments loyal to Prince Dimitri and Prince Karl;
• describe the plan to kill Prince Dimitri;
• explain why and how Dr. Strontenz wanted to save the Prince.
21.3 READING TEXT
CHARACTERS
DIMITRI reigning Prince of Kedaria
DR. STRONETZ
COL. GIRNITZA ---- Officers of the Kranitzki Regiment of guards.
MAJOR VONTIEFF ---- Officers of the Kranitzki Regiment of guards.
CAPTAIN SHULTZ ---- Officers of the Kranitzki Regiment of guards.
(Scene : An ante-chamber in the Prince's Castle at Tzem Time : The present day. The scene opens about ten o'clock in the evening.} Section A
(An ante-chamber, with very little furniture. Some rugs qfBallcan manufacture on the walls. A narrow table in centre of room, another table set with wine bottles and goblets near window (right). Some highbacked chairs set here and there round the room. Tiled stove (left). Door in centre].
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'll know for certain in half an hour's time.
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 a quick death for his Royal Highness! I don't think many of my bullets will go astray.
GIRNITZA : The revolver was never a favourite weapon of mine. I shall kill him with this and throw it away. (Half draws his sword and sends it back into its scabbard with a click.}
VONTIEFF : Oh, I shall do for him right enough. It's a 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 have children and then one has to kill a whole family. When we've killed this boy we've killed the last of the dynasty, and the way is clear for Prince Karl.
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 rattier than by our hands.
SHULTZ : Hush! Here he comes.
(Enter, by door. center. PRINCE DIMITRI. in cavalry uniform. He comes straight into ttie 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 lastand staring insolently at the Prince. He seats himself at table, centre. 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 dress.)
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 entering the castle. 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 rule.
DIMITRI (with a short laugh): They have taken away every weapon. I possess, under some pretext or another. My sword has gone to be sharpened, my revolver is being cleaned, my hunting-knife has been lost and can't be found,
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 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 loyal to Prince Karl. The Andrieff Regiment which is loyal to me marches out to camp tonight. The Lonyadi Regiment comes in to relieve it an hour or so later.
STRONETZ : They are loyal, surely?
DIMITRI : Yes, but their loyalty will arrive an hour or so too late.
STRONETZ : Dimitri! You must not stay here to be killed! You must get out quick! Section C
Dimitri : My dear good Stronetz, for more than a generation the people loyal to Prince Karl have been trying to kill members^of our family. 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 not so damned silly.
STRONETZ : But tills is awful! You sit mere and talk as if it were a move in a chess game.
DIMITRI (rising): Oh, Stronetz! If you knew how I hate death! I am not a coward, but I do so want to live. Life is so lovely when one is young, and I have lived for such short while, (goes to window} Look out of the window and the lovely mountains and the forest. You can just see Grodvitz where I hunted all autumn, up there on the left, and far away beyond it all is Vienna. Were you ever in Vienna, Stronetz? I have only been there once, and it seemed like a magic city to me. And there are other wonderful cities in the world that I have never seen. Oh. I do so want to live. Think of it: here I am alive and talking to you and tomorrow I'll be dead.
(He points to corner near stove, left}
STRONETZ : But you mustn't be killed like this, Dimitri. If they have left you nothing to fight with I can give you a drug that will bring you a speedy death before they can touch 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 shall not 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 comer by stove.) Hush, they are coming!
Section D
STKONETZ (rushing suddenly towards DIMITRI): Quick! Ail idea! Tear open your coat.(He unfastens DIMITRl'S coat 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 leave the room? We have some business with His Royal Highness. Urgent business. Dr. Stronetz.
STRONETZ (facing round): Gentleman, I fear my business is more serious. I have the saddest of duties to perform. I know you would all gladly die for your Prince, but there are some danger which even your courage cannot prevent.
GIRNITZA(puzzled) : What are you talking of, Sir?
STRONETZ : The Prince sent for me because he was feeling very ill. I have mode my examination. My duty is a cruel one.. he will not life for more than six days.
(DIMITRI sinlcs into chair near table pretending to be shocked. The officers turn to each other confused)
GIRNITZA: You are certain? It is a serious thing you are saying. You are not making any mistake?
STRONETZ (laying his hand on DIMITRI's shoulder}: I wish it was a mistake.
(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 go out. Dimitri slowly raises his head, then springs to his feet rushes to door and listens, then turns excitedly round to STRONETZ.}
Section E
DIMITRI : Fooled them ! That was a clever idea, Stronetz!STRONETZ (who stands quietly looking at DJMJTRJ) : It was not a clever idea, DIMITRI. A look in your eyes suggested that you were really sick.
DIMITRI : Never mind what suggested it, you have saved me. The Lonyadi Regiment will be here at any moment and Cirnitza's gang daren't risk anything then. You have fooled them, Stronetz, you have fooled them.
STRONETZ (sadly): Boy, I have not fooled them. (DIMITRI stares athimfora 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: you are really ill.
DIMITRI (slowly) : Was it all true, what you told them?
STRONETZ: It was all true. You have about six days to live.
DIMITRI (bitterly): Death has come twice for me in one evening, (passionately). Why did not you let them kill me? That would have been better (Paces across to window, right, 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 crueller one. I am a prince. I won't wait for them to kill me. Give me the little bottle.
(STRONETZ hesitates, then pulls out a bottle and gives it to him.)
STRONETZ: Four or five drops will do what you ask for.
DIMITRI: Thank you. And now old friend, good-bye. Go quickly. You have seen me Just a little brave....1 may not keep it up. I want you to remember me as being brave. Good-bye, best of friends, go.
(STRONETZ rushes from the room with his face hidden in his arm. The door shuts, Section F
DIMITRI looks/or 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 glass when he stops
as if struck by a new idea. He goes to door, throws it open and listens, then calls
'Gimitza, Vontieff, Shultz!' Running to the table he pours the entire bottle of poison
into the wine bottle. Enter the three officers.)
DIMITRI [pouring the wine into four goblets and sitting down): Now, I am sure of dying and there will be no one left of my family. Prince Karl must succeed. Long life to Prince Karl! Gentlemen of the Kranitzki guards, drink to your future prince. (The three officers drink after glancing at each other.)
GIRNITZA: Sire, we shall never serve a more brave Prince than your Royal Highness.
DIMITRI: That is true, because you will never serve another Prince. Look I am drinking with you.
GIRNITZA: What do you mean, never serve another Prince?
DIMRTRI (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. [They all start.) You found that death had upset your plans. I did not want to waste my last evening, so I have killed you, that is all .
SHULTZ: The wine! He's poisoned us!
(Vontieff seizes bottle and examines it SHULTZ smells his empty glass.)
GIRNITZA: Ah! Poisoned!
(He draws his sword and takes a step towards DIMITRI, who is sitting on the edge of the center table.)
DIMITRI: Oh, certainly, if you wish it. I am 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 death please do so.
(GIRNITZA drops sword on table and/alls back into chair, groaning. SHULTZ falls across table and VONTIEFF walk unsteadily to the wall. At that moment a lively march is heard approaching. Dimitri seizes the sword and waves it.)
DIMITRI: Ah! the Lonyadi Regiment marching in. My good loyal Kranltzki Guards keep me company into the next world. I never thought...death....could be...so amusing.
(He falls dying to the ground)
CURTAIN
(Adapted and simplified from The Death Trap by Saki—M.H, Munro)
21.4 UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
Read Section A carefully and complete these sentences.
1. The three officers are planning to ........................................................
2. These officers are loyal to ...................................................................
3. Of the three officers, Vontieff is a kind man because
(a) ....................................................................................................
(b) ....................................................................................................
4. Girnitza was keen on killing Dimitri when young because.......................
In Section A the three officers plot or plan to do some thing,.
In Section B we meet Prince Dimitri and his friend—Dr. Stronetz. In this section we get to know more details of the plot.
Read Section B and complete these sentences.
5. It was not easy for Dr. Stronetz to get into the castle and he had to........
.............................................................................to enter the castle.
6. According to the new rule Dr. Stronetz was not allowed to .................................................................
7. Read this sentence from section B and answer the questions that follow:
"They have taken away every weapon I possessed, under some pretext or another".
(a) Who does 'they' refer to here?
(b) What three weapons did the Prince possess?
(c) Tick (ü) the correct meaning of pretext
i) reason ( )
ii)excuse ( )
iii) rule ( )
Complete the following sentences.
8. Prince Dimitri felt trapped because ...................................................
9. Prince Dimitri is .................. years old.
10. ............................... and ............................... regiments are loyal to Prince
Dimitri and ............................... regiment is loyal to Prince Karl.
11. The officers plan to ............................... after the Andrieff regiment
................................ and before ...................................
In Section C Prince Dimitri explains the officers' plan to his friend. Dr. Stronetz proves to be a good friend of Prince Dimitri and wants to help him out.
Read Section C and complete these sentences.
12. Prince Dimitri does not want to die because
(a) .....................................................
(b) .....................................................
(c) .....................................................
13. We can say that Dr. Stronetz is a good friend of Prince Dimitri because
(a) .....................................................
(b) .....................................................
(c) .....................................................
In Section D Dr. Stronetz wants to help Prince Dimitri and he has a plan. For a while he seems to have succeeded.
Answer Questions 14 and. 15 in about 1 or 2 sentences each.
14. Girnitza says they have some 'urgent business' with Prince Dimitri. What is the 'urgent business?'
15. Dr. Stronetz says he lias 'the saddest of duties to perform'. What is it? Complete these sentences.
16. Girnitza says their business can wait because .................................... .
In Section E we see that Dr. Stronetz's plan appeared to be a success but failed after all. What went wrong? Complete these sentences for the answer.
17. Prince Dimitri was very happy because .............................................
but soon he becomes very sad because .............................................
18. After he gets to know about his illness. Prince Dimitri wants to
............................... by ...............................
In Section F we read that Prince Dimitri is very depressed to know that he was going to die. But he does not want to give in very easily. He plans to kill his disloyal officers before he dies. Answer questions 19, 20 and 21 in two sentences each.
19. Prince Dimitri wanted to die by drinking poison but he gets a new idea.
What is it?
20. Did the officers know that the Prince was aware of their plan to kill him?
Give a reason.
21. Why does Prince Dimitri say that 'J never thought death could be so
amusing?'
21.5 READ, THINK AND ANSWER
2. Prince Dimitri says 'death has come for me twice in one evening.' Describe briefly how this happens. Write your answer in two short paragraphs.
Hints : Para 1 The officers' plan.
Para 2 Prince Dimitri's disease]
3. The guards had made a very good plan to kill the prince. Why then did their plan fail?
[Hints : Para 1. Describe the plan
Para 2. Write why the guards decided to give up their plan
Para 3. Write how the guards died]
21.6 CHECK POINT
1. why did the officers’ want to kill the Prince?
2. How did Dr. Stronetz try to save the Prince ?
3. Before he himself died Prince Dimitri wanted to kill the guards. What was his plan?
21.7 SUGGESTED ANSWERS
I. Understanding the Text
1. Kill Prince Dimitri
2. Prince Karl.
3. (a) he did not like to kill a small boy
(b) he wished that the boy would die of something else.
4. When he grows up he will get married, then the whole family will have to be killed.
5. Think of an excuse to examine Prince Dimitri.
6. Carry weapon into the castle.
7. (a) The officers
(b) Sword, revolver, hunting knife
(c) ii (excuse)
8. His weapons were taken away and he was helpless.
9. Seventeen
10. Andrieff, Lonyadi, Kranitzki
11. Kill Prince Dimitri, has left; before the Lonyadi regiment takes over.
12. a) he hates death
b) he wants to live, as life is lovely
c) he wants to travel and see the world (e.g. Vienna)
d) he is very young (any three of the above are acceptable)
13. a) offers him a drug which will help him to die quickly
b) is prepared to die with him
c) thinks of an idea to save him.
14. to kill him
15. to tell them that the Prince will not live long, will not live for more than six days.
16. in any case the Prince was going to die.
17. he thought that he was saved; Dr. Strenetz told him that he was realty going to die.
18. kill himself; taking a poison drug.
19. Mixes poison in the wine and offers it to his officers.
20. No, they drink the poisoned wine without suspecting anything; they were very surprised when the Prince told them that he knew that they wanted to kill him.
21. Just when he thought that Dr. Stronetz had saved him from death he was told that he was very ill and would die soon.
He managed to kill those who wished to kill him before he died.
II Read, Think and Answer
1. e, c, g, a, b, h, d, f. 2. and 3. Hints already provided.
Note - No answers are provided for Check Point