Harold Pinter Plays 2 Read Online Free Page B

here.
    DAVIES. Right, mister.
    ASTON goes towards the door.
    (Anxiously). What do I do?
    ASTON. Just switch it on, that’s all. The fire’ll come on.
    DAVIES. I tell you what. I won’t bother about it.
    ASTON. No trouble.
    DAVIES. No, I don’t go in for them things much.
    ASTON. Should work. (Turning). Right.
    DAVIES. Eh, I was going to ask you, mister, what about this stove? I mean, do you think it’s going to be letting out any … what do you think?
    ASTON. It’s not connected.
    DAVIES. You see, the trouble is, it’s right on top of my bed, you see? What I got to watch is nudging … one of them gas taps with my elbow when I get up, you get my meaning?
    He goes round to the other side of stove and examines it.
    ASTON. There’s nothing to worry about.
    DAVIES. Now look here, don’t you worry about it. All I’ll do, I’ll keep an eye on these taps every now and again, like, you see. See they’re switched off. You leave it to me.
    ASTON. I don’t think.…
    DAVIES (coming round). Eh, mister, just one thing … eh .… you couldn’t slip me a couple of bob, for a cup of tea, just, you know?
    ASTON. I gave you a few bob last night.
    DAVIES. Eh, so you did. So you did. I forgot. Went clean out of my mind. That’s right. Thank you, mister. Listen. You’re sure now, you’re sure you don’t mind me staying here? I mean, I’m not the sort of man who wants to take any liberties.
    ASTON. No, that’s all right.
    DAVIES. I might get down to Wembley later on in the day.
    ASTON. Uh-uh.
    DAVIES. There’s a caff down there, you see, might be able to get fixed up there. I was there, see? I know they were a bit short-handed. They might be in the need of a bit of staff.
    ASTON. When was that?
    DAVIES. Eh? Oh, well, that was … near on … that’ll be … that’ll be a little while ago now. But of course what it is, they can’t find the right kind of people in these places. What they want to do, they’re trying to do away with these foreigners, you see, in catering. They want an Englishman to pour their tea, that’s what they want, that’s what they’re crying out for. It’s only common sense, en’t? Oh, I got all that under way … that’s … uh … that’s … what I’ll be doing.
    Pause.
    If only I could get down there.
    ASTON. Mmnn. ( ASTON moves to the door.) Well, I’ll be seeing you then.
    DAVIES. Yes. Right.
    ASTON goes out and closes the door.
    DAVIES stands still He waits a few seconds, then goes to the door, opens it, looks out, closes it, stands with his back to it, turns swiftly, opens it, looks out, comes back, closes the door, finds the keys in his pocket, tries one, tries the other, locks the door. He looks about the room. He then goes quickly to ASTON’S bed, bends, brings out the pair of shoes and examines them.
    Not a bad pair of shoes. Bit pointed.
    He puts them back under the bed. He examines the area by ASTON’S bed, picks up a vase and looks into it, then picks up a box and shakes it.
    Screws!
    He sees paint buckets at the top of the bed, goes to them, and examines them.
    Paint. What’s he going to paint?
    He puts the bucket down, comes to the centre of the room, looks up at bucket, and grimaces.
    I’ll have to find out about that. (He crosses right, and picks up a blow-lamp.) He’s got some stuff in here. (He picks up the Buddha and looks at it.) Full of stuff. Look at all this. (His eye falls on the piles of papers.) What’s he got all those papers for? Damn pile of papers.
    He goes to a pile and touches it. The pile wobbles. He steadies it.
    Hold it, hold it!
    He holds the pile and pushes the papers back into place.
    The door opens.
    MICK comes in, puts the key in his pocket, and closes the door silently. He stands at the door and watches DAVIES.
    What’s he got all these papers for? ( DAVIES climbs over the rolled carpet to the blue case. )Had a sheet and pillow ready in here. (He opens the case.) Nothing. (He shuts the case.) Still, I had a sleep though. I don’t make no