Read Complete Works, Volume I Online

Authors: Harold Pinter

Complete Works, Volume I (5 page)

BOOK: Complete Works, Volume I
2.26Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

MEG
. Yes?

GOLDBERG
. We spoke to your husband last night. Perhaps he mentioned us? We heard that you kindly let rooms for gentlemen. So I brought my friend along with me. We were after a nice place, you understand. So we came to you. I'm Mr Goldberg and this is Mr McCann.

MEG
. Very pleased to meet you.

They shake hands.

GOLDBERG
. We're pleased to meet you, too.

MEG
. That's very nice.

GOLDBERG
. You're right. How often do you meet someone it's a pleasure to meet?

MCCANN
. Never.

GOLDBERG
. But today it's different. How are you keeping, Mrs Boles?

MEG
. Oh, very well, thank you.

GOLDBERG
. Yes? Really?

MEG
. Oh yes, really.

GOLDBERG
. I’m glad.

GOLDBERG
sits at the table, right.

GOLDBERG
. Well, so what do you say? You can manage to put us up, eh, Mrs Boles?

MEG
. Well, it would have been easier last week.

GOLDBERG
. It would, eh?

MEG
. Yes.

GOLDBERG
. Why? How many have you got here at the moment?

MEG
. Just one at the moment.

GOLDBERG
. Just One?

MEG
. Yes. Just one. Until you came.

GOLDBERG
. And your husband, of course?

MEG
. Yes, but he sleeps with me.

GOLDBERG
. What does he do, your husband?

MEG
. He's a deck-chair attendant.

GOLDBERG
. Oh, very nice.

MEG
. Yes, he's out in all weathers.

She begins to take her purchases from her bag.

GOLDBERG
. Of course. And your guest? Is he a man?

MEG
. A man?

GOLDBERG
. Or a woman?

MEG
. No. A man.

GOLDBERG
. Been here long?

MEG
. He's been here about a year now.

GOLDBERG
. Oh yes. A resident. What's his name?

MEG
. Stanley Webber.

GOLDBERG
. Oh yes? Does he work here?

MEG
. He used to work. He used to be a pianist. In a concert party on the pier.

GOLDBERG
. Oh yes? On the pier, eh? Does he play a nice piano?

MEG
. Oh, lovely. (
She sits at the table.
) He once gave a concert.

GOLDBERG
. Oh? Where?

MEG
(
falteringly
). In . . . a big hall. His father gave him champagne. But then they locked the place up and he couldn't get out. The caretaker had gone home. So he had to wait until the morning before he could get out. (
With confidence
.) They were very grateful (
Pause.
) And then they all wanted to give him a tip. And so he took the tip. And then he got a fast train and he came down here.

GOLDBERG
. Really?

MEG
. Oh yes. Straight down.

Pause.

MEG
. I wish he could have played tonight.

GOLDBERG
. Why tonight?

MEG
. It's his birthday today.

GOLDBERG
. His birthday?

MEG
. Yes. Today. But I'm not going to tell him until tonight.

GOLDBERG
. Doesn't he know it's his birthday?

MEG
. He hasn't mentioned it.

GOLDBERG
(
thoughtfully
). Ah! Tell me. Are you going to have a party?

MEG
. A party?

GOLDBERG
. Weren't you going to have one?

MEG
(
her eyes wide
). No.

GOLDBERG
. Well, of course, you must have one. (
He stands.
) We'll have a party, eh? What do you say?

MEG
. Oh yes!

GOLDBERG
. Sure. We'll give him a party. Leave it to me.

MEG
. Oh, that's wonderful, Mr Gold—

GOLDBERG
. Berg.

MEG
. Berg.

GOLDBERG
. You like the idea?

MEG
. Oh, I'm so glad you came today.

GOLDBERG
. If we hadn't come today we'd have come tomorrow. Still, I'm glad we came today. Just in time for his
birthday.

MEG.
I wanted to have a party But you must have people for a party.

GOLDBERG
. And now you've got McCann and me. McCann's the life and soul of any party.

MCCANN
. What?

GOLDBERG
. What do you think of that, McCann? There's a gentleman living here. He's got a birthday today, and he's forgotten all about it. So we're going to remind him. We're going to give him a party.

MCCANN
. Oh, is that a fact?

MEG
. Tonight.

GOLDBERG
. Tonight.

MEG
. I'll put on my party dress.

GOLDBERG
. And I'll get some bottles.

MEG
. And I'll invite Lulu this afternoon. Oh, this is going to cheer Stanley up. It will. He's been down in the dumps lately.

GOLDBERG
. We'll bring him out of himself.

MEG
. I hope I look nice in my dress.

GOLDBERG
. Madam, you'll look like a tulip.

MEG
. What colour?

GOLDBERG
. Er—well, I'll have to see the dress first.

MCCANN
. Could I go up to my room?

MEG
. Oh, I've put you both together. Do you mind being both together?

GOLDBERG
. I don't mind. Do you mind, McCann?

MCCANN
. No.

MEG
. What time shall we have the party?

GOLDBERG
. Nine o'clock.

MCCANN
(
at the door
). Is this the way?

MEG
(
rising
). I'll show you. If you don't mind coming upstairs.

GOLDBERG
. With a tulip? It's a pleasure.

MEG
and
GOLDBERG
exit laughing, followed by
MCCANN
.
STANLEY
appears at the window. He enters by the back
door. He goes to the door on the left, opens it and listens. Silence, He walks to the table. He stands. He sits, as
MEG
enters. She crosses and hangs her shopping bag on a hook. He lights a match and watches it burn.

STANLEY
. Who is it?

MEG
. The two gentlemen.

STANLEY
. What two gentlemen?

MEG
. The ones that were coming. I just took them to their room. They were thrilled with their room.

STANLEY
. They've come?

MEG
. They're very nice, Stan.

STANLEY
. Why didn't they come last night?

MEG
. They said the beds were wonderful.

STANLEY
. Who are they?

MEG
(
sitting
). They're very nice, Stanley.

STANLEY
. I said, who are they?

MEG
. I've told you, the two gentlemen.

STANLEY
. I didn't think they'd come.

He rises and walks to the window.

MEG
. They have. They were here when I came in.

STANLEY
. What do they want here?

MEG
. They want to stay.

STANLEY
. How long for?

MEG
. They didn't say.

STANLEY
(
turning
). But why here? Why not somewhere else?

MEG
. This house is on the list.

STANLEY
(
coming down
). What are they called? What are their names?

MEG
. Oh, Stanley, I can't remember.

STANLEY
. They told you, didn't they? Or didn't they tell you?

MEG
. Yes, they. . . .

STANLEY
. Then what are they? Come on. Try to remember.

MEG
. Why, Stan? Do you know them?

STANLEY
. How do I know if I know them until I know their names?

MEG
. Well . . . he told me, I remember.

STANLEY
. Well?

She thinks.

MEG
. Gold—something.

STANLEY
. Goldsomething?

MEG
. Yes. Gold. . . .

STANLEY
. Yes?

MEG
. Goldberg.

STANLEY
. Goldberg?

MEG
. That's right. That was one of them.

STANLEY
slowly sits at the table, left.

Do you know them?

STANLEY
does not answer.

Stan, they won't wake you up, I promise. I'll tell them they must be quiet.

STANLEY
sits still.

They won't be here long, Stan. I'll still bring you up your early morning tea.

STANLEY
sits still.

You mustn't be sad today. It's your birthday.

A pause.

STANLEY
(
dumbly
). Uh?

MEG
. It's your birthday, Stan. I was going to keep it a secret until tonight.

STANLEY
. No.

MEG
. It is. I've brought you a present. (
She goes to the side-board, picks up the parcel, and places it on the table in front of him.
) Here. Go on. Open it.

STANLEY
. What's this?

MEG
. It's your present.

STANLEY
. This isn't my birthday, Meg.

MEG
. Of course it is. Open your present.

He stares at the parcel, slowly stands, and opens it. He takes out a boy

s drum.

STANLEY
(
flatly
). It's a drum. A boy's drum.

MEG
(
tenderly
). It's because you haven't got a piano. (
He stares at her, then turns and walks towards the door, left.
) Aren't you going to give me a kiss? (
He turns sharply, and stops. He walks back towards her slowly. He stops at her chair, looking down upon her. Pause. His shoulders sag, he bends and kisses her on the cheek.
) There are some sticks in there. (
STANLEY
looks into the parcel. He takes out two drumsticks. He taps them together. He looks at her.
)

STANLEY
. Shall I put it round my neck?

She watches him, uncertainly. He hangs the drum around his neck, taps it gently with the sticks, then marches round the table, beating it regularly,
MEG
,
pleased, watches him. Still beating it regularly, he begins to go round the table a second time. Halfway round the beat becomes erratic, uncontrolled.
MEG
expresses dismay. He arrives at her chair, banging the drum, his face and the drumbeat now savage and possessed.

Curtain

 

 

Act Two

MCCANN
is sitting at the table tearing a sheet of newspaper into five equal strips. It is evening. After a few moments
STANLEY
enters from the left. He stops upon seeing
MCCANN
,
and watches him. He then walks towards the kitchen, stops, and speaks.

STANLEY
. Evening.

MCCANN
. Evening.

Chuckles are heard from outside the back door, which is open.

STANLEY
. Very warm tonight. (
He turns towards the back door, and back.
) Someone out there?

MCCANN
tears another length of paper.
STANLEY
goes into the kitchen and pours a glass of water. He drinks it looking through the hatch. He puts the glass down, comes out of the kitchen and walks quickly towards the door, left.
MCCANN
rises and intercepts him.

MCCANN
. I don't think we've met.

STANLEY
. No, we haven't.

MCCANN
. My name's McCann.

STANLEY
. Staying here long?

MCCANN
. Not long. What's your name?

STANLEY
. Webber.

MCCANN
. I'm glad to meet you, sir. (
He offers his hand.
STANLEY
takes it, and
MCCANN
holds the grip.
) Many happy returns of the day. (
STANLEY
withdraws his hand. They face each other.
) Were you going out?

STANLEY
. Yes.

MCCANN
. On your birthday?

STANLEY
. Yes. Why not?

MCCANN
. But they're holding a party here for you tonight.

STANLEY
. Oh really? That's unfortunate.

MCCANN
. Ah no. It's very nice.

Voices from outside the back door.

STANLEY
. I'm sorry. I'm not in the mood for a party tonight.

MCCANN
. Oh, is that so? I'm sorry.

BOOK: Complete Works, Volume I
2.26Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

Other books

Ever, Sarah by Hansen, C.E.
House Revenge by Mike Lawson
Play Me by Tracy Wolff
Saving Grace by Elle Wylder
The Wedding Sisters by Jamie Brenner
Flytrap by Piers Anthony
Four Just Men by Edgar Wallace
Naughty List by Willa Edwards