Complete Works, Volume III Read Free Page A

Theatre, New York, on 5 January, 1967 with one change in the cast: the part of Teddy was played by Michael Craig.

     

    SUMMER
    An old house in North London.
    A large room, extending the width of the stage.
    The back wall, which contained the door, has been removed. A square arch shape remains. Beyond it, the hall. In the hall a staircase, ascending up left, well in view. The front door up right. A coatstand, hooks, etc.
    In the room a window, right. Odd tables, chairs. Two large armchairs. A large sofa, left. Against the right wall a large sideboard, the upper half of which contains a mirror. Up left, a radiogram.

     
    Act One
    Evening.
    LENNY is sitting on the sofa with a newspaper, a pencil in his hand. He wears a dark suit. He makes occasional marks on the back page.
    MAX comes in, from the direction of the kitchen. He goes to sideboard, opens top drawer, rummages in it, closes it.
    He wears an old cardigan and a cap, and carries a stick.
    He walks downstage, stands, looks about the room.
    MAX . What have you done with the scissors?
    Pause.
    I said I'm looking for the scissors. What have you done with them?
    Pause.
    Did you hear me? I want to cut something out of the paper.
    LENNY . I'm reading the paper.
    MAX . Not that paper. I haven't even read that paper. I'm talking about last Sunday's paper. I was just having a look at it in the kitchen.
    Pause.
    Do you hear what I'm saying? I'm talking to you! Where's the scissors?
    LENNY ( looking up, quietly ). Why don't you shut up, you daft prat?
    MAX lifts his stick and points it at him .
    MAX . Don't you talk to me like that. I'm warning you.
    He sits in large armchair.
    There's an advertisement in the paper about flannel vests.
    Cut price. Navy surplus, I could do with a few of them.
    Pause.
    I think I'll have a fag. Give me a fag.
    Pause.
    I just asked you to give me a cigarette.
    Pause.
    Look what I'm lumbered with.
    He takes a crumpled cigarette from his pocket.
    I'm getting old, my word of honour.
    He lights it.
    You think I wasn't a tearaway? I could have taken care of you, twice over. I'm still strong. You ask your Uncle Sam what I was. But at the same time I always had a kind heart. Always.
    Pause.
    I used to knock about with a man called MacGregor. I called him Mac. You remember Mac? Eh?
    Pause.
    Huhh! We were two of the worst hated men in the West End of London. I tell you, I still got the scars. We'd walk into a place, the whole room'd stand up, they'd make way to let us pass. You never heard such silence. Mind you, he was a big man, he was over six foot tall. His family were all MacGregors, they came all the way from Aberdeen, but he was the only one they called Mac.
    Pause.
    He was very fond of your mother, Mac was. Very fond. He always had a good word for her.
    Pause.
    Mind you, she wasn't such a bad woman. Even though it made me sick just to look at her rotten stinking face, she wasn't such a bad bitch. I gave her the best bleeding years of my life, anyway.
    LENNY . Plug it, will you, you stupid sod, I'm trying to read the paper.
    MAX . Listen! I'll chop your spine off, you talk to me like that! You understand? Talking to your lousy filthy father like that!
    LENNY . You know what, you're getting demented.
    Pause.
    What do you think of Second Wind for the three-thirty?
    MAX . Where?
    LENNY . Sandown Park.
    MAX . Don't stand a chance.
    LENNY . Sure he does.
    MAX . Not a chance.
    LENNY. He's the winner.
    LENNY ticks the paper.
    MAX . He talks to me about horses.
    Pause.
    I used to live on the course. One of the loves of my life. Epsom? I knew it like the back of my hand. I was one of the best-known faces down at the paddock. What a marvellous open-air life.
    Pause.
    He talks to me about horses. You only read their names in the papers. But I've stroked their manes, I've held them, I’ve calmed them down before a big race. I was the one they used to call for. Max, they'd say, there's a horse here, he's highly strung, you're the only man on the course who can calm