Complete Works, Volume I Read Free Page B

drawer.
    MEG . I'm going to wake that boy.
    PETEY . There's a new show coming to the Palace.
    MEG . On the pier?
    PETEY. No. The Palace, in the town.
    MEG . Stanley could have been in it, if it was on the pier.
    PETEY . This is a straight show.
    MEG . What do you mean?
    PETEY. No dancing or singing.
    MEG . What do they do then?
    PETEY . They just talk.
    Pause.
    MEG . Oh.
    PETEY . You like a song eh, Meg?
    MEG. I like listening to the piano. I used to like watching Stanley play the piano. Of course, he didn't sing. ( Looking at the door. ) I'm going to call that boy.
    PETEY . Didn't you take him up his cup of tea?
    MEG . I always take him up his cup of tea. But that was a long time ago.
    PETEY . Did he drink it?
    MEG . I made him. I stood there till he did. I'm going to call him. ( She goes to the door. ) Stan! Stanny! ( She listens. ) Stan! I'm coming up to fetch you if you don't come down! I'm coming up! I'm going to count three! One! Two! Three! I'm coming to get you! ( She exits and goes upstairs. In a moment, shouts from STANLEY, wild laughter from MEG. PETEY takes his plate to the hatch. Shouts. Laughter. PETEY sits at the table. Silence. She returns .) He's coming down. ( She is panting and arranges her hair. ) I told him if he didn't hurry up he'd get no breakfast.
    PETEY. That did it, eh?
    MEG . I'll get his cornflakes.
    MEG exits to the kitchen . PETEY reads the paper. STANLEY enters. He is unshaven, in his pyjama jacket and wears glasses. He sits at the table.
    PETEY . Morning, Stanley.
    STANLEY . Morning.
    Silence, MEG enters with the bowl of cornflakes, which she sets on the table.
    MEG . So he's come down at last, has he? He's come down at last for his breakfast. But he doesn't deserve any, does he, Petey? ( STANLEY stares at the cornflakes. ) Did you sleep well?
    STANLEY . I didn't sleep at all.
    MEG . You didn't sleep at all? Did you hear that, Petey? Too tired to eat your breakfast, I suppose? Now you eat up those cornflakes like a good boy. Go on.
    He begins to eat.
    STANLEY. What's it like out today?
    PETEY . Very nice.
    STANLEY . Warm?
    PETEY . Well, there's a good breeze blowing.
    STANLEY .Cold ?
    PETEY . No, no, I wouldn't say it was cold.
    MEG . What are the cornflakes like, Stan?
    STANLEY . Horrible.
    MEG . Those flakes? Those lovely flakes? You're a liar, a little liar. They're refreshing. It says so. For people when they get up late.
    STANLEY . The milk's off.
    MEG . It's not. Petey ate his, didn't you, Petey?
    PETEY . That's right.
    MEG . There you are then.
    STANLEY . All right, I'll go on to the second course.
    MEG . He hasn't finished the first course and he wants to go on to the second course!
    STANLEY . I feel like something cooked.
    MEG . Well, I'm not going to give it to you.
    PETEY . Give it to him.
    MEG ( sitting at the table, right ) . I'm not going to.
    Pause.
    STANLEY . No breakfast.
    Pause.
    All night long I've been dreaming about this breakfast.
    MEG . I thought you said you didn't sleep.
    STANLEY . Day-dreaming. All night long. And now she won't give me any. Not even a crust of bread on the table.
    Pause.
    Well, I can see I'll have to go down to one of those smart hotels on the front.
    MEG ( rising quickly ). You won't get a better breakfast there than here.
    She exits to the kitchen. STANLEY yawns broadly . MEG appears at the hatch with a plate.
    Here you are. You'll like this.
    PETEY rises, collects the plate, brings it to the table, puts it in front of STANLEY, and sits.
    STANLEY . What's this?
    PETEY . Fried bread.
    MEG ( entering ). Well, I bet you don't know what it is.
    STANLEY . Oh yes I do.
    MEG . What?
    STANLEY . Fried bread.
    MEG . He knew.
    STANLEY . What a wonderful surprise.
    MEG . You didn't expect that, did you?
    STANLEY . I bloody well didn't.
    PETEY ( rising ). Well, I'm off.
    MEG . You going back to work?
    PETEY . Yes.
    MEG . Your tea! You haven't had your tea!
    PETEY . That's all right. No time now.
    MEG . I've got it made inside.
    PETEY . No, never mind. See you